[Acute Traumatic Intervertebral Disc Herniation]. / Akutní traumatická hernie intervertebrálního disku.

Acute traumatic intervertebral disc herniation of the thoracic spine is a rather rare injury with only a few reported cases to date. In this manuscript, we present a case of a 58-year-old male patient who sustained a car accident-related high-energy trauma, resulting in a disc herniation of the thoracic spine. Furthermore, we also discuss the possible implications of late diagnosis of such condition. The patient was initially referred from the Emergency Department as a case of head contusion with a left upper limb paresis. Due to only minimal bony trauma visible on the initial spine CT scan, the neurological deficit was attributed to the cranial trauma. The diagnosis of a traumatic disc herniation was therefore established only after the rapid onset of paraparesis, which gradually progressed into paraplegia, and a following spine MRI scan. Despite the subsequent urgent spinal decompression, the neurological functions of the lower limbs were not restored. This manuscript addresses the indications for performing MRI scans in polytrauma patients with a CT-verified spine trauma. Although it may be complicated to perform routine MRI scans in all such patients in daily practice, it can certainly help diagnose such injuries earlier and thus prevent potential permanent neurological damage to the patients. Key word: spine injury, traumatic disc herniation, thoracic spine, spine surgery.

A patient with severe metformin-associated lactic acidosis complicated by acute coronary syndrome: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Metformin-associated lactic acidosis (MALA) is a rare but life-threatening condition. Here, we report the outcome of a patient with MALA complicated by acute coronary syndrome. CASE PRESENTATION: A 47-year-old obese woman of Caucasian ethnicity was admitted for syncope and tachypnea with Kussmaul breathing. She had a type-2 diabetes and was on oral antidiabetic therapy. Hemoglobin A1c was 6.6%. On admission, a severe acute kidney injury (serum creatinine: 1251 µmol/L) with hyperkalemia (7.5 mmol/L) and severe lactic acidosis (ph:7.042, bicarbonate: 9.9 mmol/L, partial pressure of carbon dioxide: 21.8 mmHg, lactate: 20.0 mmol/L) was found. Despite bicarbonate therapy, ph further decreased. Within 2.5 h of admission, a temporary hemodialysis catheter was placed, and one session of a high-efficiency hemodialysis was performed. 8 h after admission, a continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration was initiated and maintained for 2 days. The metformin therapy was stopped. Supplemental oxygen, intravenous catecholamines (4 days) and antibiotic therapy (7 days) were applied. During this therapy of lactic acidosis, an acute coronary syndrome evolved by day 2 after admission and resolved by day 5 in hospital. After recovery, the patient was transferred to a general ward on day 7 and left the hospital on day 11. By discharge, both the acute kidney injury and the acute coronary syndrome were reversible. CONCLUSION: In the patient with MALA complicated by acute coronary syndrome, the combination of a high-efficiency hemodialysis and, consecutively, continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration led to a favorable outcome.

A standardised diagnostic approach to pituitary neuroendocrine tumours (PitNETs): a European Pituitary Pathology Group (EPPG) proposal.

The 2017 World Health Organization (WHO) classification proposes to type and subtype primary adenohypophyseal tumours according to their cell lineages with the aim to establish more uniform tumour groups. The definition of atypical adenoma was removed in favour of high-risk adenoma, and the assessment of proliferative activity and invasion was recommended to diagnose aggressive tumours. Recently, the International Pituitary Pathology Club proposed to replace adenoma with the term of pituitary neuroendocrine tumour (PitNET) to better reflect the similarities between adenohypophyseal and neuroendocrine tumours of other organs. The European Pituitary Pathology Group (EPPG) endorses this terminology and develops practical recommendations for standardised reports of PitNETs that are addressed to histo- and neuropathologists. This brief report presents the results of EPPG's consensus for the reporting of PitNETs and proposes a diagnostic algorithm.

[Non-Hodgkin´s B-lymphoma of the ovaries with an unfavourable prognosis - incidental finding during caesarean section]. / Non-Hodgkinuv B-lymfom ovarií s nepríznivou prognózou - náhodný nález pri císarském rezu.

OBJECTIVE: Presentation of a rare finding non-Hodgkin´s B-lymphoma of the ovary in a patient during caesarean section. DESIGN: Case report. SETTINGS: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Regional Hospital Liberec, a.s.; First Internal Clinic - Clinic of Hematology, First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital, Charles University in Prague; Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Praque and Motol University Hospital. RESULTS: Pregnant woman, 31-years old, primiparous, with a history of caesarean section was examinated in our department due to nonspecific abdominal pain during her pregnancy. During the caesarean section of fetal indication we found bilateral ovarian tumours. We performed unilateral adnexectomy. Preliminary diagnosis from frozen section was thecoma, but final diagnosis (after definitive histology, imunohistochemistry and molecular investigation) was high-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin´s lymphoma with c-myc and bcl-6 gene rearrangement (double-hit lymphoma) resulting in an unfavourable prognosis. The patient consequently completed 6 cycles of chemotherapy with a biological treatment, and achieved a complete remission. However, after 6 months, an early generalisation to the CNS appeared, leading to intracranial hypertension refractory to anithypertensive and anti-oedematous therapy, consequently leading to death. CONCLUSION: Non-Hodgkin´s lymphoma of the ovary in pregnancy is a rare adnexal tumour whose treatment requires interdisciplinary cooperation.

Etiology and clinical relevance of elevated platelet count in ICU patients : A retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Thrombocytosis is a common phenomenon in critically ill patients. Although thrombocytosis is an independent risk factor for complications, it does not seem to influence mortality in intensive care (ICU) patients. OBJECTIVES: Our investigation aimed to evaluate the etiological and clinical relevance of a platelet count greater than 450 × 109/l in ICU patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients admitted for a minimum of 4 days to an interdisciplinary ICU during a 45-month period were enrolled in this retrospective observational study. Thrombocytopenic patients (platelet count <150 × 109/l in at least one measurement) were excluded. The study patients were divided into two groups: thrombocytosis group (thrombocytes >450 × 109/l in at least one measurement) and control group (thrombocytes = 150 - 450 × 109/l during ICU stay). Univariate and multiple regression analysis were used to determine the influence of severe co-morbidities on the development of thrombocytosis and the association of elevated platelet count with thrombotic embolism, length of stay (LOS) in ICU, and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 307 patients were analyzed, of whom thrombocytosis was observed in 119 cases. Independent risk factors for the development of thrombocytosis included SIRS, mechanical ventilation, and acute bleeding. Increasing age reduced the risk of thrombocytosis. Thromboembolism occurred in 16 patients (13.4%) with an elevated platelet count and only in nine patients (4.7%) with physiological platelet values (OR: 3.1; 95% CI: 1.3-7.2; p = 0.009). Mean duration of LOS was significantly longer in patients with thrombocytosis (25.2 vs.11.7 days, p < 0.0001). Elevated platelet count showed a negative correlation with ICU mortality (OR: 0.32; 95%-CI: 0.12-0.83; p = 0.019). CONCLUSION: In our retrospective analysis the occurrence of thrombocytosis in a cohort of interdisciplinary ICU patients was associated with a higher rate of complications and longer LOS in the ICU. Despite these findings, thrombocytosis seems to reduce mortality in critical ill patients.

Histologic, Clinical, and Radiologic Findings of Alveolar Bone Expansion and Osteomyelitis of the Jaws in Cats.

The objective of this study was to characterize clinical, radiologic, and histologic patterns of alveolar bone expansion and osteomyelitis in cats. Based on case materials submitted as surgical biopsy specimens, alveolar bone pathology was diagnosed in 28 cats. These cats had a total of 37 oral lesions with clinical and radiologic changes that involved bone and/or teeth, including periodontitis, bone expansion, tooth resorption, and/or chronic osteomyelitis; 32 lesions were evaluated by histopathology. Canine teeth were affected in 19 cats (27 affected teeth), with bilateral lesions in 5 (26.3%) cats. The caudal premolar and/or molar regions were affected in 10 cats (10 affected sites). All biopsy sites evaluated by a review of clinical images and/or radiographs had evidence of periodontitis. Clinical photographs showed expansion of alveolar bone in 13 of 16 (81%) biopsy sites evaluated. Radiologically, rarifying osseous proliferation of alveolar bone was seen at 26 of 27 (96%) biopsy sites, and tooth resorption occurred at 15 of 18 (83%) sites. Histologically, the tissue samples from canine sites had compressed trabeculae of mature remodeled bone, loose fibrous stroma with paucicellular inflammation, and mild proliferation of woven bone. Tissue samples from the premolar/molar biopsy sites were often highly cellular with mixed lymphoplasmacytic and chronic suppurative inflammation, ulceration with granulation tissue, and robust proliferation of woven bone. Alveolar bone expansion and osteomyelitis in cats occurs in conjunction with periodontal inflammation and frequently with tooth resorption.

Retrospective evaluation of canine and feline maxillomandibular trauma cases. A comparison of signalment with non-maxillomandibular traumatic injuries (2003-2012).

OBJECTIVES: To determine differences in signalment between maxillomandibular (MM) and non-maxillomandibular (non-MM) trauma patients to help predict the type of injury sustained. METHODS: A medical records database was searched from December 2003 to September 2012 to identify all MM trauma patients. A random sample of non-MM trauma patients was generated for comparison. Patient species, age, sex, weight, and injury aetiology were recorded for both populations. RESULTS: Sixty-seven MM trauma patients and 129 non-MM trauma patients were identified. Feline patients were almost twice as likely to be presented for MM trauma compared with non-MM trauma. The median weight of canine patients suffering MM injury was significantly less than that of non-MM patients (p = 0.025). A significant association existed between the causes of injuries associated with MM and non-MM trauma populations (p = 0.000023). The MM trauma patients were more likely to sustain injury as a result of an animal altercation (Bonferroni p = 0.001) while non-MM injuries were more likely to result from motor vehicle accidents (Bonferroni p = 0.001). Overall, animals that were less than one year of age with traumatic injuries were overrepresented (65/196) in comparison to the entire patient population. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The results of this study may help guide clinicians in the evaluation and screening of trauma patients that are presented as an emergency. Cats, small dogs and animals suffering from animal altercations should all be closely evaluated for MM injury.

Retrospective evaluation of canine and feline maxillomandibular trauma cases. Comparison of lunar cycle and seasonality with non-maxillomandibular traumatic injuries (2003-2012).

OBJECTIVES: To determine relationships between seasonality and lunar cycle and the frequency of maxillomandibular (MM) and non-maxillomandibular (non-MM) injury in canine and feline trauma patients. METHODS: A medical records database was searched to identify all MM trauma patients (n = 67) and a random sample of non-MM trauma patients (n = 129) according to search criteria. Season of injury, moon phase, and moon luminosity were calculated for the date of injury. RESULTS: Maxillomandibular injury occurred predominately in the spring and decreased through winter while non-MM injury occurred more frequently in the summer and fall. The difference in the frequency of MM and non-MM injuries during different seasons was not significant (p = 0.071). When comparing the amount of moon illuminated when injuries occurred during the quarters before or after the full moon, a difference (p = 0.007) was noted with a greater number of injuries occurring immediately following the full moon. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: These results may guide clinicians to closely evaluate trauma patients that are presented on emergency during a particular season or lunar phase. Based on the season at the time of injury, close evaluation for MM versus non-MM trauma may be appropriate.

Predictive value of outcome scores in patients suffering from cardiogenic shock complicating AMI: APACHE II, APACHE III, Elebute-Stoner, SOFA, and SAPS II.

BACKGROUND: Scoring systems in critical care patients are essential for prediction of outcome and for evaluation of therapy. In this study we determined the value of the APACHE II, APACHE III, Elebute-Stoner, SOFA, and SAPS II scoring systems in the prediction of mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this prospective, observational study, patients who were admitted to the ICU with CS complicating AMI were consecutively included. Data for the APACHE II, APACHE III, Elebute-Stoner, SOFA, and SAPS II scores were recorded on admission and during the following 96 h. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to estimate the predictive ability (mortality) of the scoring systems on admission and the maximum value. RESULTS: Mortality among the 41 patients included in this study was 44 %. On admission, the mean APACHE II (p = 0.035), APACHE III (p = 0.003), SAPS II (p = 0.001), and SOFA (p = 0.042) scores were significantly higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors. At maximum score, APACHE II (p = 0.009), APACHE III (p < 0.001), and SAPS II (p < 0.001) appeared to have higher significance. On admission, the discrimination for APACHE III was 0.786, for SAPS II 0.790, and for APACHE II 0.691. The maximum-score AUC for APACHE II was 0.726, for APACHE III 0.827, and for SAPS II 0.832. Elebute-Stoner and SOFA did not yield valuable results at maximum score or, in the case of Elebute-Stoner, on admission. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that at the time of diagnosis and at maximum value, the SAPS II, APACHE III, and APACHE II scores may be useful in predicting a high probability of survival of patients with CS complicating AMI.

Prevalence and nature of dentoalveolar injuries among patients with maxillofacial fractures.

OBJECTIVE: Although not previously reported, experience suggests that dentoalveolar injury is -common among patients with maxillofacial fractures. The objective of this study was to evaluate and describe the prevalence and nature of dentoalveolar injuries in patients identified with maxillofacial fractures. METHODS: Medical records of 43 dogs and cats diagnosed with maxillofacial fractures between 2005 and 2012 were reviewed to identify patients with concurrent dentoalveolar injury. Medical records of patients with dentoalveolar injury were abstracted for the following information: signalment (including sex, age and skull type), mechanism of maxillofacial trauma, location and number of maxillofacial fractures, dentoalveolar injury type and location and the number of dentoalveolar injury per patient. Statistical evaluation was performed to determine associations between signalment, mechanism of trauma, location and number of maxillofacial fractures and the prevalence and nature of concurrent dentoalveolar injury. RESULTS: Dentoalveolar injuries are common among patients with maxillofacial trauma. Age and mechanism of trauma are significant predictors of the presence of dentoalveolar injuries in patients with maxillofacial trauma. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The findings of this study serve to encourage veterinarians to fully assess the oral cavity in patients with maxillofacial fractures as dentoalveolar injuries are common and can be predicted by age and mechanism of trauma.

[Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis / Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (HNL/K-F) and its differential diagnosis: analysis of 19 patients]. / Histiocytární nekrotizující lymfadenitida /Kikuchiho-Fujimotova choroba (HNL/K-F) a její diferenciální diagnostika: analýza 19 prípadu

Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis / Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (HNL/K-F) is being recognized with an increasing frequency not only in the East Asia but also on the American continents and in the Europe. Still the diagnostics of HNL/K-F is not easy and difficulties with its proper classification persist. In a group of 19 patients diagnosed primarily or as consults at our department there were 12 woman and 7 men. An average age at diagnosis was 28 years, median 25 years. Cervical lymph nodes were involved in 18 patients. Bilateral lymphadenopathy was present in one patient, the remaining 17 were unilateral. Inguinal lymph node was affected in one patient. In one other patient there were enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes simultaneously with a cervical lymphadenopathy. The size of the lymph nodes varied between 5 mm to 32 mm. The subclassification showed the necrotizing type in 14 patients, in one there was a predominant xanthomatous tissue reaction around the necrotic areas (xanthomatous type), and in 4 patients the disease was recognized as the proliferative type without necrosis (in two with a variously intense apoptosis of the proliferating lymphocytes). Of 10 consult cases the tumor was primarily evaluated as B cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (1x), peripheral T cell lymphoma (1x), classical Hodgkin lymphoma of mixed cellularity (1x); two patients were submitted with a differential diagnosis between peripheral T cell lymphoma and HNL/K-F; in one diagnosis of probable EBV lymphadenitis and in one diagnosis HNL/K-F was made. There were no data submitted in the remaining three cases. The authors stress diagnostic features which should lead to the diagnosis of the disease and should prevent unnecessary oncological staging investigations and potential chemotherapy for a lymphoma. Among diagnostic features of HNL/K-F identification of the proliferating cells - CD8 activated lymphocytes with apoptotic decay prevail, there are frequent plasmacytoid monocytes and a striking reaction of macrophages which are CD68/myeloperoxidase positive. There are virtually no neutrophil granulocytes and there is a miminal participation of plasma cells. In case of necrotizing and xanthomatous type infectious causes are to be ruled out as well. In case we still need to distinguish HNL/K-F from a lymphoma PCR analysis of a rearrangement of the immunoreceptor gene in T cell population should be investigated.

[Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage]. / Aneurysmatisch bedingte Subarachnoidalblutung.

Acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a severe and acute life-threatening cerebrovascular disease. Approximately 80% of all acute non-traumatic SAHs are the result of a ruptured cerebrovascular aneurysm. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment a high morbidity and mortality still exists. Apart from the primary cerebral damage there are also secondary complications, such as vasospasm, rebleeding, hydrocephalus, cerebral edema or hydrocephalus. For an appropriate therapy an understanding of the extensive pathophysiology, the options in diagnostics and therapy and the complications of the disease are essential. Anesthesiologists are decisively involved in the therapy of the primary and secondary damages and subsequently in the outcome as well. This article provides an overview of the perioperative and intensive care management of patients with SAH.

Maxillary ameloblastic fibroma in a dog.

A 4-year-old spayed female Golden Retriever was presented for evaluation of a rostral maxillary gingival mass. An en bloc resection was performed after histologic diagnosis of ameloblastic fibroma from an incisional biopsy specimen. Histologically, the tumor was composed of (1) poorly differentiated vimentin-positive mesenchymal cells that surrounded islands and (2) thin anastomosing trabeculae of odontogenic epithelium that variably coexpressed pancytokeratin and vimentin. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of ameloblastic fibroma in a dog. The clinical, radiographic, and histologic findings in this case are compared to those in other domestic animals and humans.

Dissociation in non-clinical and clinical sample of Czech adolescents. Reliability and validity of the Czech version of the Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine psychometric properties of the Czech language version of the Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale (A-DES) [2]. METHOD: 653 non-clinical participants and 162 adolescent psychiatric inpatients completed Czech versions of the A-DES and the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20), and provided further information (data regarding demographic variables, diagnoses, further psychopathology). RESULTS: The Czech A-DES has very good internal consistency, test-retest reliability and a good validity, though its predictive power is limited. The ADES scores significantly correlate with the measure of somatoform dissociation, a presence of clinician-observed dissociative symptoms, reported traumatic experiences, self injurious behavior, and polysymptomatic diagnostic picture. A-DES scores were significantly higher in ADHD group, but not in a group with a diagnosis of a dissociative disorder. CONCLUSION: The authors stress that all adolescent psychiatric patients who show more complex behavioral disturbances, have histories of trauma, show self-injurious behaviors or have ADHD diagnosis should be screened for dissociation.

[Sedation concepts with volatile anaesthetics in intensive care: practical use and current experiences with the AnaConDa system]. / Sedierung mit volatilen Anästhetika auf der Intensivstation : Praktische Anwendung und derzeitige Erfahrungen mit dem AnaConDa-System.

The use of volatile anaesthetics in intensive care medicine has so far been limited by the lack of equipment suitable for daily routine use and the need for an anaesthetic machine. The new Anaesthetic Conserving Device (AnaConDa) enables the routine use of volatile anaesthetics for long-term sedation via intensive care ventilators. The Anaesthetic Conserving Device replaces the common heat and moisture exchanger in the ventilation circuit. The volatile anaesthetic is continuously applied in liquid status via a syringe pump to a form of mini-vaporiser where the anaesthetic agent is vaporised. The expired anaesthetic gas is stored in the carbon filter and approximately 90% of the gas is resupplied into the breathing cycle. The current experiences suggest that volatile anaesthetics present an alternative for long-term sedation in intensive care units, providing optimised pathways, from a medical as well as from an economical point of view. It must, however, be emphasized that the use of volatile anaesthetics for longer periods of time is an off-label use and should only undertaken by medical professionals at their own risk.

Temperature gradient between brain tissue and arterial blood mirrors the flow-metabolism relationship in uninjured brain: an experimental study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present experimental study was to determine the feasibility and usefulness of brain temperature measurement (T(br)) and the calculated difference between brain temperature and arterial blood temperature (DeltaT(br-a)) in uninjured brain during variations of cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) and concomitant changes of the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). METHODS: Nine anaesthetized pigs were subjected to controlled CPP decrease to assess the lower cerebral autoregulation threshold. A parenchymal intracranial pressure (ICP) sensor combined with a microthermistor for temperature measurement, a miniaturized Clark-type electrode measuring brain tissue oxygenation (p(ti)O(2)), a small flexible intraparenchymal thermodilution probe for measuring rCBF and cerebral microdialysis were inserted carefully in the frontal white matter. RESULTS: Analysing the p(ti)O(2) during controlled CPP decrease, we found significant breakpoints of p(ti)O(2) at a CPP of 40 mmHg and 20 mmHg, related to an rCBF of 20 ml/100 g/min and approximately 10 ml/100 g/min. Similarly, the relationship between DeltaT(br-a), and CPP or rCBF revealed a characteristic increase of DeltaT(br-a) in the negative direction up to more than -0.30 degrees C assuming a strong flow dependency. CONCLUSION: The temperature difference between brain tissue and arterial blood DeltaT(br-a) mainly reflects the cerebral blood flow-brain tissue oxygenation-metabolism relationship as far as the estimation of the individual lower cerebral autoregulation threshold.

Local and systemic hemorheological effects of cerebral hyper- and hypoperfusion in a porcine model.

Using a well defined pig model, we investigated whether cerebral hypertension and hypotension influence hemorheological factors. After surgical preparation and stabilization, periods of hyperventilation, controlled periods of cerebral perfusion pressure increases and decreases were utilized. After each period, blood samples were collected from the cannulated femoral artery and vein, and from the superior sagittal sinus. Erythrocyte deformability, whole blood and plasma viscosity and hematological parameters were determined. Erythrocyte deformability significantly worsened in arterial samples after hypertension and hypotension, and in sinus samples it was impaired after hypotension period. Hematocrit significantly increased in arterial and sinus samples during hypertensive period, accompanied by similar alterations in whole blood viscosity. We conclude that hemodynamic changes caused by hyperventilation, hyper- or hypotension can influence hemorheological factors, and suggest that the rheological alterations can affect local hemodynamic and metabolic conditions.

Use of catheters with the AgION antimicrobial system in kidney transplant recipients to reduce infection risk.

Microbial blood infection represents a high risk for immuno-suppressed patients. Of all catheter-related infections in the bloodstream, 90% result from the use of central venous catheters, the main cause being microbial colonization at the catheter's insertion point or the catheter hub. Between January 2003 and December 2004, 102 patients received a renal transplant including 57 who received a triple-lumen central venous catheter (CVC) during the procedure. Two catheters were used: a standard polyurethane catheter placed in the jugular veina or the subclavian veina for group I, and polyurethane catheters with the AgION antimicrobial system always placed in the subclavian veina for group II. Care and maintenance of the CVCs was standardized in both groups. After catheter removal, the tips were analyzed microbiologically. Of 57 (43.9%) CVCs, 25 were found to be contaminated. In the first group 24 out of 41 CVCs (58.5%) showed bacterial growth, whereas in group II only one catheter (6.6%) had a biofilm. The most common contaminant (18 out of 25, 72%) was Staphylococcus epidermidis. In group II, two patients had positive blood cultures yet a microbiologically sterile CVC. None of the catheters with the AgION antimicrobial system had to be removed owing to local infection or intolerance. The continuous release of silver ions increases the protection against bacteria and fungi during the entire time of catheterization. Use of catheters with the AgION antimicrobial system lead to a marked reduction in catheter-associated infections of the bloodstream.

[Molecular diagnosis of malignant B-cell lymphoma: detection of clonality and a brief review of problems with our results]. / Molekulární diagnostika maligních lymfomu rady B: detekce klonality a strucný prehled problematiky s vlastními výsledky.

BACKGROUND: Diagnostic approach to non-Hodgkin's lymphomas requires a combination of laboratory methods. Methods used in morphology constitute the basis of the diagnostics; in many instances it is necessary to combine them with methods of molecular genetics. The latter method plays a key role in the detection of B cell clonality using identification of the rearrangement of IGH and/or IGK genes and in detection of the chromosomal translocations specific for some lymphomas. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using PCR we investigated 113 patients with malignant B cell lymphomas of different types (follicular--FL, mantle cell--MCL, small cell--CLL/SLL, diffuse large cell--DLBCL). We established the IGH gene clonal rearrangement in 85% of the cases (96/113), and the clonal rearrangement of the IGK gene in 58.3% patients (42/72). Combination of both approaches (IGH and IGK) revealed a positive result in 90.3% (102/113). The highest yield was rendered in patients with CLL/SLL and with MCL (100%), and it was 86 and 87% in cases with FL and DLBCL. CONCLUSIONS: The detection of clonality in lymphomas helps to distinguish a malignant disease from polyclonal hyperplastic and lymphoproliferative disorders of B cells. The recognition of clonal rearrangements of the IGH and IGK genes serves for a long term monitoring of the disease activity in cases in which there are no other molecular markers available. The demonstration of lymphoma characteristic translocations is relatively specific and useful but at present its usefulness is reduced in cases with variable breakpoint regions.

[New aspects of MALT lymphomas of the stomach]. / Nové pohledy na problematiku MALT lymfomu zaludku.

The knowledge about MALT lymphomas has dramatically changed in the last few years. The genesis of MALT lymphomas has become clearer, and new tools in modern diagnostics are available. This article, as a concise review, summarises the latest data and the clinical and morphological characteristics with the aspect of routine diagnostics. The characteristic translocation t(11;18) and its chimeric transcript API2-MALT1 with antiapoptotic function is emphasised.