Narcolepsy-Associated HLA Class I Alleles Implicate Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity.

Study Objectives: Narcolepsy with cataplexy is tightly associated with the HLA class II allele DQB1*06:02. Evidence indicates a complex contribution of HLA class II genes to narcolepsy susceptibility with a recent independent association with HLA-DPB1. The cause of narcolepsy is supposed be an autoimmune attack against hypocretin-producing neurons.

DQB1 locus alone explains most of the risk and protection in narcolepsy with cataplexy in Europe.

Study Objective: Prior research has identified five common genetic variants associated with narcolepsy with cataplexy in Caucasian patients. To replicate and/or extend these findings, we have tested HLA-DQB1, the previously identified 5 variants, and 10 other potential variants in a large European sample of narcolepsy with cataplexy subjects.

Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Adrenal metastases.

The adrenal gland is a frequent location for metastatic spread of a various number of malignant tumors. Among all tumors, carcinoma of lung, breast, ovary and malignant melanoma count to the most frequent ones. In nononcological and unselected populations, the prevalence of adrenal metastases is 0-21 %.

Non-dipping morning blood pressure and isolated systolic hypertension in elderly.

Objective: Morning hypertension is currently the blind spot in the clinical practice of hypertension, home 24-hour blood pressure measurement has been recommended in patients with a high clinic blood pressure and patients with target organ damage.

Aim: To assess whether an increased early morning blood pressure surge, established via a single 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, in treated elderly hypertensive's is related to more prominent target organ damage.

Material And Methods: 310 treated hypertensive patients randomly attended the out-patient clinic of our hypertension centre.

Histochemical detection of monoamine oxidases in rat female genital organs during preimplantation period of pregnancy.

Objective: Localization of monoamine oxidases (MAO) in rat female gonads during preimplantation period of pregnancy was determined.

Material And Methods: Pregnant females were killed on their first, third, and fifth days of pregnancy and animals were transcardially perfused with PBS and fixative solutions. Ovaries, oviducts and uteri were immediately removed and they served for the determination of MAO localization employing the method of enzymatic histochemistry.

Improved efficacy of prebiotic by flaxseed oil and horse chestnut in experimental colon cancer.

Objectives: This experimental work was designed to investigate the efficacy of prebiotic by itself and in combination with Hyppocastani extractum siccum, and Lini oleum virginale on selected parameters in rats with dimethylhydrazine induced colon cancer.

Methods: Rats were randomly divided into 5 experimental groups of 12 rats each. Rats were fed with high fat (HF) diet containing 10 % of fat, supplemented by prebiotic at a dose of 2 % of HF diet itself and in combination with Hyppocastani extractum siccum at a dose of 1 % of diet and Lini oleum virginale at a dose of 2 % of diet.

Pulmonary administration of activated recombinant factor VII.

Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage (DAH) is a serious pulmonary complication seen in patients with autoimmune disorders and patients treated with chemotherapy or after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The clinical management of DAH is complex and the condition has a high mortality rate. During inflammation, tissue factor is expressed in the lung alveoli and therefore pulmonary administration of human recombinant activated factor VIIa (rFVIIa) could be a rational treatment option (4.

Polycystic ovary syndrome and autoimmunity.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by laboratory and/or clinical features consisting of hyperandrogenism with chronic anovulation and is currently one of the most common endocrinopathies in women of fertile age. PCOS is associated with a variety of endocrine and metabolic disturbances. It was demonstrated that the prevalence of autoimmune thyroiditis is high among these patients.

Chronophysiologic aspects of ECG changes during a systemic asphyxic episode and subsequent reoxygenation in an experimental rat model.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of ventilatory manoeuvres on some ECG parameters as a function of the light-dark (LD) cycle in in vivo conditions. The PQ and QT intervals were measured in ketamine/xylazine-anaesthetized female Wistar rats (100 mg/15 mg/kg, i.m.

Serum level of IGFBP3 and IGF1/IGFBP3 molar ratio in addition to PSA and single nucleotide polymorphism in PSA and CYP17 gene may contribute to early diagnostics of prostate cancer.

The aim of the paper is to determine whether IGF1, IGFBP3 and IGF1/IGFBP3 molar ratio in addition to PSA and one-nucleotide polymorphism in PSA and CYP17 gene might contribute to early diagnostics of prostate cancer (PCa). Serum level of PSA, IGF1 and IGFBP3 in the group of 158 individuals (92 PCa and 66 controls) was examined by RIA method and IGF1/IGFBP3 was calculated. PCR RLFP method was used to examine one- nucleotide polymorphism in PSA and CYP 17 gene.

Prebiotic foodstuffs and their health benefits in experiment.

Objectives: The aim of the present experimental study was to evaluate the effect of prebiotic on chemically induced carcinogenensis in rats fed with high fat diet (HF).

Methods: Wistar albino rats were divided into control and experimental groups. In experimental group rats were treated with prebiotic at the dose of 2% of HF diet.

Meningeal carcinomatosis as the first manifestation of malignant carcinomatosis.

Meningeal carcinomatosis (MC) is a malignant infiltration of the leptomeninges and subarachnoid space and can be a devastating complication of a systemic malignancy. Although often found in patients with known metastatic malignancies, MC can also be the initial manifestation of an underlying malignancy. We report four case studies where back pain, dizziness, cognitive decline, headache and headache with the cranial nerve VI palsy were the first signs of MC.

Left atrial volume as a predictor of heart function.

Objectives: This study was designed to identify an association between left atrial volume and systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricle.

Background: Several studies have shown a relationship between the left atrial volume and different cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: Transthoracic echocardiographic results of 268 patients (136 women and 132 men, mean age 60.

Use of probiotics for prevention of radiation-induced diarrhea.

Probiotics can be applied in therapy and mainly in prevention of many civilization disorders. Experimental studies in animal models and clinical trials of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have consistently shown that the use of probiotic organisms may effectively down-modulate the severity of intestinal inflammation by altering the composition and metabolic and functional properties of indigenous flora of the gut. Previous studies showed a protective effect of probiotic administration after radiation therapy, and probiotic may play an important role in the pathogenesis of radiation enteropathy.

An intravenous immunoglobulin therapy of serious autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) have been widely used in clinical practice for more than 35 years. Their efficacy has been established in many clinical trials for the treatment of autoimmune rheumatic diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus, ANCA positive vasculitis and dermatomyositis, but these indications are classified as the "off label" treatment. For the diseases mentioned above there are no generally accepted therapeutic guidelines.

Cardiac biomarkers and chronic renal diseases.

Accelerated atherosclerosis can lead to an increased prevalence of coronary artery disease, heart failure, brain stroke and peripheral arterial disease. Thus, subjects with chronic renal failure are exposed to increased morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular events. A strong and pervasive link exists between kidney failure and cardiac disease.

Antagonistic effect of low deprenyl dose on the preimplantation embryo development in rat.

To investigate the role of potent MAO-B inhibitor deprenyl in fertilized females, we have evaluated the effect of chronic treatment with deprenyl at a low dosage on preimplantation embryo development in Wistar rats. We have found that the number of isolated embryos per rat did not differ between experimental and control groups. But morphological analysis of embryos isolated from deprenyl-treated animals had revealed improved rates in the distribution pattern compared with controls.

The risk of cancer in relationship to diet.

Globally, colorectal cancer is the leading cause of mortality due to malignant diseases. Probiotics are live microbial food supplements or functional foods containing specific nonpathogenic organisms that beneficially affect the host by improving the intestinal microbial balance. Therefore they can be used as an innovative tools to alleviate intestinal inflammation, normalize gut mucosal dysfunction, and down-regulate hypersensitivity reactions.

Vertex extradural haematoma with associated lesions--improving clinical course with sudden death. Conservative versus surgical treatment.

Although precise criteria have not been assessed yet, small haematomas and clinical improvement claim only close observation according to literature. However a question can arise how to advance in patient with vertex epidural haematoma (VEPH) thinner than 10 mm associated with intradural lesions, when his neurological state is improving. The authors present a case of a man who was conservatively treated due to an epidural clot at the vertex associated with intracerebral haematomas, subarachnoid haemorrhage and haemocephalus diagnosed by computed tomography (CT).

Endobronchial actinomycosis presenting as haemoptysis.

Actinomycosis is an infrequent chronic progressive granulomatous and suppurative disease caused by Actinomyces israelii, a natural inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tract. We report a rare case of a 68-year-old man with primary endobronchial actinomycosis who presented in the emergency respiratory ward with massive hemoptysis and dyspnea. An urgent fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed hypertrophic mucosa and a narrowed lingular bronchus with a pale extruding exophyt.

Short chain fatty acids and colonic health.

Recently, colonic health has been linked to the maintaining overall health status and reducing the risk of diseases by changes in lifestyle. Functional foods, such as "prebiotics" and "probiotics", dietary fibers, and other dietary components that target the colon and affect its environment enhancing short fatty acid (SCFA) production have been at the forefront. The topic of this review is the key end products of colonic fermentation, the SCFA butyric, acetic, and propionic acids.

Immunohistochemical detection of MDR proteins in Wilms' tumour.

Objectives: The aim of our work was to determine the expression of three MDR proteins (MDR1/Pgp, MRP1 and LRP/MVP) in 15 tissue samples of nephroblastoma (Wilms' tumour).

Background: The majority of Wilms' tumours respond well to chemotherapy and are successfully cured, but a small subset displays resistance to therapy. The molecular mechanisms of drug resistance in this tumour type of childhood are still poorly analyzed.

Diagnostic yield of adenosine and nitroglycerine stimulated tilt test in patients with unexplained syncope.

Objectives: We aimed to compare diagnostic yield of adenosine tilt test (A-HUT) with nitroglycerine tilt test (NTG-HUT) in patients with unexplained syncope and to assess the use of adenosine tilt test as an alternative to routine tilt testing.

Background: Adenosine could provoke a vasovagal response in susceptible patients. Adenosine stimulated tilt testing is less time consuming than conventional tilt testing.

Ischaemic-reperfusion damage of tissue and critical limb ischaemia.

Recently, the quality of the critical limb ischaemia therapy (CLI) has evidently increased due to the development of the surgical techniques, material and endovascular methods. Most vascular surgeons, in their effort to help patients, advocate an active approach to re-vascularisation also in those patients who in the past had to undergo primary amputation. The fact that the best results of re-vascularisation are referred from large specialised centres cannot be contested.