Intraventricular placement of a spring expander does not attenuate cardiac atrophy of the healthy heart induced by unloading via heterotopic heart transplantation.

An important complication of the prolonged left ventricle assist device support in patients with heart failure is unloading-induced cardiac atrophy which proved resistant to various treatments. Heterotopic heart transplantation (HTx) is the usual experimental model to study this process. We showed previously that implantation of the newly designed intraventricular spring expander can attenuate the atrophy when examined after HTx in the failing heart (derived from animals with established heart failure). The present study aimed to examine if enhanced isovolumic loading achieved by implantation of the expander would attenuate cardiac post-HTx atrophy also in the healthy heart. Cardiac atrophy was assessed as the ratio of the transplanted-to-native heart weight (HW) and its degree was determined on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after HTx. The transplantation resulted in 32±3, 46±2, 48±3 and 46±3 % HW loss when measured at the four time points; implantation of the expander had no significant effect on these decreases. We conclude that enhanced isovolumic loading achieved by intraventricular implantation of the expander does not attenuate the development of cardiac atrophy after HTx in the healthy heart. This indicates that such an approach does not represent a useful therapeutic measure to attenuate the development of unloading-induced cardiac atrophy.

[Ethylene glycol poisoning]. / Otrava etylenglykolem.

Ethylene glycol is a common substance in various antifreeze preparations. Intoxication is caused by ingestion either as a suicide attempt or by an accident. The clinical course of intoxication is always severe, however, immediate launching of proper treatment can reverse the poor prognosis. Intoxication clinically proceeds in three stages: 1. Depressive CNS disturbances that can lead to coma. 2. Organ manifestations. 3. Acute renal failure. The case report of 46-year-old man admitted after ingestion of ethylene glycol in suicidal attempt summarises the essential principles of therapy--monitoring of vital functions, administration of ethanol solution as an antidote and hemodialysis to remove toxic components.

[Reversible long-term tachycardia and hypertension as a symptom of autonomic neuropathy in combination with sensorimotor polyneuropathy in a patient with newly discovered type 1 diabetic mellitus]. / Reverzibilní dlouhodobá tachykardie a hypertenze jako projev autonomní neuropatie v kombinaci se senzorickomotorickou polyneuropatií u nemocné s cerstvým záchytem diabetes mellitus 1. typu.

The case of 22 years old woman admitted with ketoacidotic coma and newly diagnosed insulin dependent diabetes mellitus is described. The signs of mixed sensoromotoric polyneuropathia in this patient have been discovered. After the correction of ketoacidotic hyperglycemic coma the significant tachycardia and hypertension with the abnormalities of diurnal rhythm with necessity of the intensive treatment persisted for the period of the several monthes. These changes we attributed to the significant dysfunction of the autonomic system. In the course of 1 year of good diabetes compensation the above mentionned hemodynamic changes subsided completely. In the same time the signs of mixed polyneuropatia and the incipient retinopathia disappeared. The causes of the described changes are discussed, mainly the importance of reversible microvascular changes.

[Postural trauma and rhabdomyolosis causing acute renal failure]. / Pozicní trauma s rabdomyolýzou a následným akutním renálním selháním.

Rhabdomyolysis (damage of the muscles of various origin) leads to the efflux of the intracellular fluids in the circulation. The common complication of this status is the renal failure. The early diagnosis and the proper treatment makes the fall of renal function reversible. That is why the possibility of the rhabdomyolysis must be consider. The case report describes the development of renal failure in young, previously healthy men, followed by trauma mechanism after drug and alcohol abuse.

[A rare case of necrotizing fasciitis and subsequent sepsis with multiorgan failure caused by Vibrio vulnificus]. / Vzácný prípad nekrotizující fasciitidy a následné sepse s multiorgánovým selháním zpusobený agens Vibrio vulnificus.

The authors report a rare case of necrotizing fasciitis, sepsis caused by a strain of Vibrio vulnificus rare in Czech Republic.

[Secondary hemophagocytic syndrome in a systemic disease]. / Sekundární hemofagocytující syndrom pri systémovém onemocnení.

20 year old man 2 years treated for the seropositive rheumatoid arthritis was admitted for fever accompanied with jaundice, anemia and leukopenia. The underlying disease has been compensated already for long period of time, before his admission only Prednisone (in the dose of 5 mg daily) and Methotrexate (15 mg once a week) was given. His physical examination of admission was without any significant abnormalities, out of the routine laboratory examination the value of leukocytes count was 2.1 x 10(9)/L, erythrocytes 3.7 x 10(12)/L, hemoglobin 95 g/l, hematocrit 0.29, platelets 156 x 10(9)/L. Since admission to hospital the hepatic enzymes ALT, AST, GMT, ALP were about ten times elevated comparing to normal values, the coagulation examination has shown the decrease of Quick test to 55%. With respect to the permanent leukopenia the bone marrow aspiration was taken with the finding of the increase number the RES elements (18.4%) with the signs of hemophagocytosis. The phagocytic reticulum absorbs blood elements erythrocytes, normoblasts, granulocytes, platelets. According to the literature experience we started the combination of the immunosuppressive treatment consisting of corticosteroids and Cyclosporine. Already the day following the application of the high dose of corticosteroids the fever subsided, icterus went away gradually with the normalization of the liver tests. After 20 days of hospitalisation the patient was discharged in good shape. Now, after 4 months the is stabilized on the follow-up treatment of Prednisone a Cyclosporine.

[Severe sepsis with organ failure in necrotizing fasciitis of the right leg caused by infection with Vibrio vulnificus]. / Tezká sepse s orgánovým selháním pri nekrotizující fasciitide pravého bérce vyvolané infekcí Vibrio vulnificus.

Vibrio vulnificus is a human pathogen which can cause the septicemia and necrosis of the soft tissue, especially fasciitis. The occurrence is most common in the summer, the source of infection can be sea water or the sand on the beaches, however the infection after eating seafood was described as well. The patient with predominant liver dysfunction are more often affected. The clinical course is characterized by severe sepsis, and massive skin lesion. The mortality more than 60% is reported. This case report describes the course of disease in 64 year old patient, who has spent his vacation in Bulgaria. After return he was admitted with severe sepsis with multiorgan failure and despite the intensive therapy and high amputation of the limb which was performed, the patient died.

[Evaluation of nutritional state in hospitalized patients with cerebrovascular stroke]. / Hodnocení stavu výzivy u hospitalizovaných pacientu s cévní mozkovou príhodou.

The cerebrovascular stroke is serious disease with the high mortality and resulting in invalidity. The result of its treatment is not yet encouraging. The stress situation which is characteristic for the acute stage of disease leads to catabolic status. This condition can be worsen if nutritional parameters are not properly monitored and the nutrition is not sufficient. We examined 30 patients admitted to our medical ward with the diagnosis of ischemic cerebrovascular stroke. We have not applied any nutritional intervention. We measured some anthropometric, biochemical and imunological parameters of nutrition at the time of admission to ward and after 14 days of hospitalization. Our results showed that nutritional status has worsen during this period according to the significant deterioration of the followed anthropometric and biochemical parameters. Malnutrition has the detrimental impact on rehabilitation and mobilization of the patients and extends time of hospitalization. Nutritional status should be monitored and corrected since the start of disease, preferably in intensive care unit.

[Tissue amino acids in patients with colorectal carcinoma]. / Tkánový aminoacidogram u nemocných s kolorektálním karcinomem.

Different catabolic conditions have their special characteristics of intracellular biochemical changes. The objective of the presented work is to assess the concentration of free amino acids in muscles of patients with colorectal carcinoma. In a group of 17 patients the free amino acid level was assessed in tissues and plasma. Material was collected on operation by biopsy of the rectus abdominis muscle, the concentration of different amino acids was assessed by the HPLCV method with fluorescent detection. For statistical evaluation the T-test was used. From the results ensues that in patients with colorectal cancer in plasma statistically significantly lower taurine, glutamine, valine, tyrosine levels were found, intracellularly significantly reduced levels of taurine, glutamic acid, methionine and ornithine were recorded. Significantly elevated intracellular levels of valine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine and phenylalanine were found. Assessment of the tissue aminoacidogram is the first step when attempting to influence the intracellular amino acid concentration by defined dietetic preparations.

[Realimentation in patients with anorexia nervosa and critical malnutrition--personal experience]. / Realimentace pacientu s mentální anorexií a kritickou malnutricí--nase zkusenosti.

The objective of the work is to find a suitable realimentation procedure for patients with anorexia nervosa and critical malnutrition, whose mortality is round 6%. In a group of 10 patients aged 22.3 +/- 2.33 years during hospitalization for 10.0 +/- 6.11 days a weight increment of 5.0 +/- 1.16 kg was achieved. According to hitherto assembled experience and consistent with data in the literature it is best to start immediately after admission complete parenteral nutrition with a hyperalimentation regime regardless of the amount of food ingested by the patient. Thus within the shortest time maximum weight increments are achieved and the patients can be referred to the care of psychiatrists, which is the only causal treatment. Attempts of realimentation by enteral nutrition or increased oral ingestion in these patients were not successful and led only to a prolonged period of hospitalization.

[Malnutrition in a patient with short-bowel syndrome]. / Malnutrice nemocného se syndromem krátkého streva.

The short bowel syndrome is a relatively frequent complication of extensive resection and by reducing the absorption capacity the function of the gut is markedly impaired. An important part of postoperative care is therefore to ensure nutrition of these patients. The authors demonstrate on the case-history of a 40-year-old patient after repeated revision of the abdominal cavity on account of adhesions the development of severe malnutrition after jejunotransversoanastomosis. As the small intestine was not resected (concurrent blind loop syndrome), the patient was indicated for surgery. After surgery all complaints disappeared and the nutritional status improved.