Incarcerated metastasis as the first manifestation of a rare sarcoma.

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor belongs to a group of soft tissue sarcomas. It is a rare disease, since its discovery in 1989, only hundreds of cases have been described in the literature. Due to the rare incidence of the tumor, this disease remains unknown in common medical practice. It occurs most often in men at young age. Its prognosis is serious and the average survival of patients ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 years. Treatment options include surgical resection, chemo-, radio- and targeted therapy. Our work presents a case report of a 40 year-old patient sufferred from this sarcoma. The first manifestation of the disease was an incarcerated epigastric hernia with omentum and sarcoma metastasis. A resection of the incarcerated part of the omentum was performed with a biopsy from another intra-abdominal lesion. Biopsy specimens were sent for histopathological evaluation. For the generalization of the disease, further surgery was not indicated and systemic palliative chemotherapy in the VDC-IE regimen was chosen. At the time of submitting the manuscript, the patient has survived 6 months since the surgical procedure.

Partial jejunal diversion (PJD) with jejunocolic anastomosis preliminary results of a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Bariatric-metabolic surgery is an effective tool in the treatment of severe obesity and related diseases. Its importance has increased even more in the era of the type II diabetes mellitus and COVID 19 pandemics. The aim of our study is to present the initial results of a new operation that minimizes surgical trauma. METHODS: In the prospective study, laparoscopic side-to-side anisoperistaltic jejunocolic anastomosis was constructed in order to derive part of the chyme by the anastomosis. Patients were operated in the period of IV/2018VII/2019; their mean age was 48.43±10.36 years, mean weight 112.3±16.6 kg and mean BMI 41.9±5.2. Patients were examined one month before surgery and then followed at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. We evaluated weight loss and changes in carbohydrate metabolism. RESULTS: We did not record any perioperative or postoperative surgical complications. There was a statistically significant weight loss during the study period. There was a significant decrease in absolute weight in kilograms (p.

CT evaluated sarcopenia signals: Shorter survival for small cell lung cancer patients.

Sarcopenia is an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality in patients suffering from small cell lung cancer (SCLC), however, a universal indicator of sarcopenia usable in clinical practice is still missing. A novel indicator for describing the severity of cancer could be helpful in tailoring the anti-tumor therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the computed tomography (CT) scans of total muscle area and radiation attenuation in patients suffering from small cell lung cancer. We used staging CT scans performed at the time of diagnosis to measure total muscle area (TMA) and average psoas density (PD) at level of the 3rd lumbar vertebra. TMA and PD were statistically evaluated in association with overall survival and disease staging. We used Mann-Whitney test and Spearman´s correlation coefficient for statistical testing and p-value under 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Retrospectively we examined 47 patients suffering from SCLC (mean age 65.05+/-7.3 years, BMI 23.97+/-4.4 kg/m2, BSA 1.77+/-0.2 m2, 30-day mortality was 4.3 % with 10 months median survival). As sarcopenia was pointed TMA under 55 and 39 cm2/m2 for men and women respectively. The sarcopenic patients had significantly shorter median survival (7 vs. 11 months, p=0.05). We observed a significant relationship between survival and performance status (Spearman´s correlation, R=-0.39, p=0.05). The patients were divided into two groups according to the extensive (ED, n=34) or limited (LD, n=13) form of the disease. We observed significant difference in PD (42.49+/-6.1 vs. 47.67+/-4.5 HU, p=0.006) between ED vs. LD groups.

Ultrasonic study of hyaluronan interactions with Septonex-A pharmaceutical cationic surfactant.

Interactions between hyaluronan and the cationic surfactant Septonex were studied using high resolution ultrasound spectroscopy. Four different interaction regions were identified in aqueous solution in a narrow interval of surfactant concentrations. In contrast, in 0.15 mol/L NaCl solution, essentially only two principal regions were observed. Hyaluronan-Septonex aggregates were generally less compressible than Septonex monomers or micelles and their formation in water was not appreciably affected by hyaluronan molecular weight. In the presence of NaCl, the effect of hyaluronan molecular weight was more profound, which can be ascribed to its conformational sensitivity to ionic strength combined with its role as a surfactant counterion. Hyaluronan-Septonex interactions were closer to interactions with CTAB than with TTAB. Differences in structure or Krafft temperature (solubility) between Septonex and CTAB were thus not significantly reflected in these interactions. The basic characteristics of Septonex surfactant were also determined.

Facile synthesis and rheological characterization of nanocomposite hyaluronan-organoclay hydrogels.

We report a facile methodology for the synthesis of inorganic-organic hydrogels based on integrative assembly of aminopropyl magnesium phyllosilicate (aminoclay) and sodium salt of hyaluronic acid. The viscoelastic materials produced by electrostatic interactions and crosslinking of hyaluronan in the presence of exfoliated synthetic organoclay results in the formation of gel-like behavior retaining a high amount of water. This was confirmed by a rheological study revealing significant dominance of the elastic response over the entire deformation frequency range used. The mechanical strength of the aminoclay-hyaluronan hydrogels was found to be higher than that for related materials based on poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-aminoclay hydrogels.

Non-invasive assessment of vascular system function and damage induced by anthracycline treatment in the pediatric cancer survivors.

Anthracyclines represent one of the important classes of anti-cancer drugs; however, their major disadvantage is their profound cardiovascular toxicity. This study aimed to evaluate influence of anthracyclines on cardiovascular stiffness parameters estimated from pulse wave (PW). PW was measured in 59 cancer survivors treated with anthracyclines in childhood and in 248 healthy age-matched controls. Both patients and controls were divided into three age groups (13 - 15, 16 - 18 and 19 - 24 years). Central PW augmentation index (C-AI75) and augmentation pressure (C-AP75), both normalized to heart rate 75 bpm, were calculated as parameters of arterial wall stiffness. Central Buckberg sub-endocardial viability ratio (SEVR) was calculated as a parameter of diastolic function. Patients and controls were compared in each age group. C-AI75 and C-AP75 were significantly increased in patients in age groups 16 - 18 and 19 - 24 years. SEVR was decreased in patients in the oldest age group. Our results suggest that although toxic influence of anthracyclines to arterial wall and heart are developing during childhood and puberty, they can be detected rather in the adulthood. These changes are yet subclinical; however, their presence indicates potentially increased cardiovascular risk in childhood cancer survivors treated with anthracyclines during childhood.

Study of interactions between hyaluronan and cationic surfactants by means of calorimetry, turbidimetry, potentiometry and conductometry.

The thermodynamics of the micelle formation of the cationic surfactants tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) with and without the addition of hyaluronan of two molecular weights was studied in aqueous solution by titration calorimetry. Macroscopic phase separation, which was detected by calorimetry and also by conductometry, occurs when charges on the surfactant and hyaluronan are balanced. In contrast, turbidimetry and potentiometry showed hyaluronan-surfactant interactions at very low surfactant concentrations. The observed differences between systems prepared with CTAB and TTAB indicate that besides the electrostatic interactions, which probably predominate, hydrophobic effects also play a significant role in hyaluronan interactions with cationic surfactants.

[Lumbar sympathectomy literature review over the past 15 years]. / Lumbálna sympatektómia prehlad svetovej literatúry za posledných 15 rokov.

INTRODUCTION: Lumbar sympathectomy (LS) irreversibly damages a part of the sympathetic trunk and adjacent ganglia between L1 and L5, typically between L2 and L4. The first LS was performed in 1923. Initially, it used to be performed very often; however, with the progress of vascular and endovascular surgery its importance gradually continues to decline. The aim of the paper is to present literature review focusing on LS over the past 15 years. METHOD: Literature review of 113 academic articles found in academic journal databases. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: Irreversible interruption of the efferent innervation leads to relative vasodilation of small vessels in lower extremities (α1-receptors blockade), and it reduces the volume of sweat due to inactivation of eccrine glands and nociception from lower limbs. INDICATION: Raynaud´s phenomenon, thromboangitis obliterans, non-revascularizable peripheral arterial disease (PAD) (Fontain grade III-IV), hyperhidrosis, persistent pain in lower extremities, chronic pain of amputation stump, frostbites, chilblains.Effect: The three largest studies showed a positive effect in 63.6-93.4% cases of PAD and in 97%100% cases of hyperhidrosis. The positive effect was defined as warmer lower extremities, increased blood flow, acceleration of chronic defects healing, sweating disappearance and pain reduction. CONCLUSION: Lumbar sympathectomy still remains a useful method in the treatment of above mentioned diseases if properly indicated. KEY WORDS: lumbar sympathectomy - Raynaud´s phenomenon - thromboangitis obliterans -peripheral arterial disease - hyperhidrosis.

Densitometry and ultrasound velocimetry of hyaluronan solutions in water and in sodium chloride solution.

The densities of hyaluronan solutions in water and 0.15M NaCl were measured in the temperature range from 25 to 50°C for the hyaluronan molecular weights from 10 to 1,750 kDa. The density increased linearly with concentration and decreased with temperature. The data were fitted by the equation describing the density as a linear function of concentration and a quadratic function of temperature. The effect of molecular weight was negligible and thus single equation was sufficient to describe all data. The apparent and partial specific volumes were calculated from the density data including their extrapolated values to infinite dilutions. The measurement of ultrasound speed in the same solutions under the same conditions enabled to calculate the compressibility and its dependence on concentration and temperature. The compressibility decreased with both the concentration and the temperature but the effect of the concentration was only slight mild. The compressibility was used to estimate the hydration numbers which slightly decreased with increasing temperature and concentration. The addition of NaCl changed only the numerical values of density and ultrasound velocity while not changing the character of their dependence on temperature and concentration. Measured and calculated data indicate that hyaluronan does not disturb the specific water structure in the studied concentration range and support the idea of the existence of water clusters or nanodroplets hydrating the hyaluronan chains in solution.

The effect of hyaluronan on the aggregation of hydrophobized amino acids--a fluorescence study.

The influence of the addition of native hyaluronan of different molecular weights (1.36 MDa and 106 kDa) on the aggregation behavior of hydrophobically modified amino acids in aqueous solution and in 0.15M NaCl was investigated using pyrene as a solubilization probe. Hyaluronan decreased the critical aggregation concentration in aqueous solution in the case of amino acids modified by a single alkyl chain whereas no change was observed in physiological solution. The aggregation of amino acids modified by two alkyl chains was insensitive to the presence of hyaluronan.

Antibacterial activity and cell viability of hyaluronan fiber with silver nanoparticles.

Silver has been used since time immemorial in different chemical form to treat burns, wounds and several different infections caused by pathogenic bacteria, advancement of biological process of nanoparticles synthesis is evolving into a key area of nanotechnology. The current study deals with the green synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of the biological activity and cell viability of hyaluronan fibers with incorporated silver nanoparticles (HA-Ag NPs). Hyaluronan fiber was prepared by the dissolving of sodium hyaluronate (HA) in aqueous alkaline solution to prepare a transparent solution, which was used for the preparation of fibers by a wet-spinning technique. Consequently, hyaluronan fiber was used as capping and stabilizing agent for the preparation of fibers with silver nanoparticles. HA-Ag NPs were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, UV/VIS spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, thermal analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. HA-Ag NPs showed high antibacterial activity of against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Cell viability tests indicated that hyaluronan, hyaluronan fibers and hyaluronan fibers with silver nanoparticles were non-toxic on the cell growth. Two different particles size of Ag NPs (10, 40 nm) had not any toxicity till the concentration limit. These tests were performed using mouse fibroblast cell line 3T3.