[Aggressive angiomyxoma - case report]. / Agresivní angiomyxom - kazuistika.

OBJECTIVE: We present a case report of 47-years old woman with a rare mesenchymal tumor misdiagnosed as a cyst Bartholins gland. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Department of Gynecology, Hospital Atlas, EUC, in ZlínConclusion: Aggressive angiomyxoma is a rare mesenchymal tumor, which is occuring more in women, affects the vulva, perineum and pelvis. Typical is slowly and infiltrative growth with high-risk of local recurence.

Azoospermia with variable testicular histology after 7 months of treatment with a deslorelin implant in toms.

The main aim of the study was to assess whether the longer use of a GnRH-agonist implant (deslorelin 4.7 mg, Suprelorin) in toms would lead to the suppression of spermatogenesis comparable with histologic appearance in juvenile animals as was previously described in dogs. The other aims were to monitor the progression of the testes size decrease and development of azoospermia 5 to 7 months after treatment with a GnRH-agonist implant. In animals, 5, 6, and 7 months after GnRH-agonist implant insertion, variable histological appearance of germinal epithelium was found, when tubules with elongating spermatids, round spermatids, spermatocytes, and spermatogonia as the most developed germinal cells were found in each group of toms. In all male cats, 5, 6, and 7 months after implant insertion, testosterone concentrations and testes size significantly differed between the first and the last visit. All animals, except one tom castrated 5 months after implant insertion, developed complete azoospermia. However, in this tom, all spermatozoa were immotile. Treatment with the subcutaneous GnRH-agonist implant was well tolerated, and no treatment-related adverse effects were noted. These results reported the efficacy of 4.7-mg deslorelin implant (Suprelorin) during its 7 months of use. The complete azoospermia confirms its contraceptive effect. However, the histologic evaluation revealed a great individual variability in the degree of spermatogenic suppression. The question as to whether spermatogenesis in toms can be suppressed in all males to the level of spermatogonia/primary spermatocytes after prolonged exposure to deslorelin has yet to be answered.

Novel metabolites in cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii with potencies to inhibit gap junctional intercellular communication.

Despite intensive research into toxic bloom-forming cyanobacteria, the majority of their metabolites remain unknown. The present study explored in detail a novel bioactivity identified in cyanobacteria, i.e. inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC), a marker of tumor promotion. The extracellular mixture (exudate) of the cyanobacterial strain Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (SAG 1.97) was fractionated by semi-preparative reversed phase HPLC, and the fractions assessed for their potencies to inhibit GJIC. Two non-polar fractions that significantly inhibited GJIC were further fractionated, tested and analyzed using multiple mass spectrometric methods. Investigations led to the identification of a putative chemical compound (molecular formula C18H34O3, m/z 299.2581 for the [M+H](+) ion) responsible for observed bioactivities. Specific inhibitors of signaling pathways were used to screen for biochemical mechanisms beyond GJIC inhibition, and the results indicate the involvement of ERK1/2 kinases via a mechanism related to the action of epidermal growth factor EGF but clearly distinct from other anthropogenic tumor promoters like polychlorinated biphenyls or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The chemical and in vitro toxicological characterizations of the newly described metabolite provide important insights into the still poorly understood health impacts of complex toxic cyanobacterial blooms and indicate that currently applied monitoring practices may underestimate actual risks.

Estrogenic activity in extracts and exudates of cyanobacteria and green algae.

Here is presented some of the first information on interactions of compounds produced by cyanobacteria and green algae with estrogen receptor signaling. Estrogenic potency of aqueous extracts and exudates (culture spent media with extracellular products) of seven species of cyanobacteria (10 different laboratory strains) and two algal species were assessed by use of in vitro trans-activation assays. Compounds produced by cyanobacteria and algae, and in particular those excreted from the cells, were estrogenic. Most exudates were estrogenic with potencies expressed at 50% of the maximum response under control of the estrogen receptor ranging from 0.2 to 7.2 ng 17ß-estradiol (E(2)) equivalents (EEQ)/L. The greatest estrogenic potency was observed for exudates of Microcystis aerigunosa, a common species that forms water blooms. Aqueous extracts of both green algae, but only one species of cyanobacteria (Aphanizomenon gracile) elicited significant estrogenicity with EEQ ranging from 15 to 280 ng 17ß-estradiol (E(2))/g dry weight. Scenedesmus quadricauda exudates and extracts of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae were antagonistic to the ER when coexposed to E(2). The EEQ potency was not correlated with concentrations of cyanotoxins, such as microcystin and cylindrospermopsin, which suggests that the EEQ was comprised of other compounds. The study demonstrates some differences between the estrogenic potency of aqueous extracts prepared from the same species, but of different origin, while the effects of exudates were comparable within species. The observed estrogenic potencies are important namely in relation to the possible mass expansion of cyanobacteria and release of the active compounds into surrounding water.

[Drug-induced toxic hepatitis]. / Medikamentös-toxische Hepatitis.

A 55-year-old male patient was hospitalized with severe nausea, vomiting and icterus. Laboratory testing showed hepatocellular damage. After exhaustive testing, the exclusion diagnosis of a toxic hepatitis was reached. There was a strong temporal correlation with the ingestion of Hong Hua 29, a preparation from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This medication had been started twelve days prior to the first appearance of symptoms. The existing drug regimen included gabapentin (Neurontin), esomeprazole (Nexium) and prednisone (Prednison Streuli) for the therapy of an acute sensory and motor neuropathy of unknown aetiology. After cessation of Hong Hua 29, gabapentin and esomeprazole, transaminase levels started to declined and normalized within three months. According to the Swissmedic criteria of imputability, a causal correlation between the observed symptoms and the administration of Hong Hua 29 is possible.

Pharmacokinetics and distribution of 125I-PLA-b-PEO block copolymers in rats.

The PLA-b-PEO block copolymers were studied as potential carriers for anti-inflammatory and anticancer drugs. The copolymers were labeled with 125I, and their micelles in physiological saline were prepared by dialysis. Copolymer 1, with Mw = 12,360 (PLA/PEO = 7000/5000), formed particles of about 300 nm in diameter (Rh was 150 nm), whereas copolymer 2, with Mw = 20,470 (6000/14,000), made up micelles of about 72 nm in diameter (Rh was 35.8 nm). Their pharmacokinetic and biodistribution profiles were compared in normal rats and rats with carrageenan-induced inflammation after intravenous application of about 5 mg/kg of each copolymer. Copolymer 2, forming smaller particles, showed longer distribution and elimination half-lives. Both copolymers under study exhibited significantly higher uptake by inflammatory tissue compared with noninflammatory one. The study indicates that PLA-b-PEO copolymers, having different molecular weight of the chains, have similar biological behavior in most organs and tissues. Differences in the uptake by some organs (mainly kidney and bowels) and in activity level in blood at later time intervals were found. Significantly different clearance values are due to different ratios of hydrophobic and hydrophilic chains of the copolymers.

[A review of radiodiagnosis of inflammations]. / Prehled radiodiagnostik zánetu.

Inflammation is a complex reaction of the organism which develops as a response to invasion of an infectious subject or as a response to injury to cells or tissues. Correct and early localization of infection or an inflammatory lesion allows removing the inflammatory cause quickly. Over the recent thirty years, a wide range of radiopharmaceuticals, more or less applicable in scintigraphic imaging of inflammatory and infectious diseases, have been developed. The aim has been to develop new substances that are non-toxic, do not provoke immune reactions, and produce a minimal absorbed radioactive dose. Furthermore, these substances should accumulate significantly in the target tissue (i.e. in inflammation), while the accumulation in non-target tissues should be minimal or the elimination of radiopharmaceuticals from non-target tissues must be quick. The goal is that these substances may also be easily available and inexpensive. Another purpose is to develop such substances that could possess not only sufficient sensitivity but also specificity in relation to certain types of inflammation and infection. The main indications for radionuclide imaging are as follows: inflammatory bowel disease, soft tissue sepsis, predominantly abdominal sepsis, musculoskeletal infection, and fever of unknown origin.

[The Castillo-Morales method in children with orofacial hypotonia]. / Aplikace metody Castillo-Morales u detí s orofaciální hypotonií.

Recently great attention is paid to hypotonia of the orofacial region because this disorder is a great handicap for mentally normal children. In the submitted paper the authors demonstrate treatment of a girl who suffered from hypotonia of the orofacial region with hypersalivation to the age of four years. After intensive therapy complete normalization of this developmental defect was achieved.

Mental health and possibility of treatment of young people in pedodontic practice.

The comparison of findings in individual groups supported our experience with easy treatment of normal individuals. The striking and frequent cases of impossible treatment of children attending the first class of primary school indicate that more attention should be paid to them, including various psychological methods (rational-convincing) Ginott's method, principles of psychoprophylaxis, psychodontic (psychopedodontic, suggestive methods). The patients with mental disorders behaved, in contrast to other two groups, in the same manner during examination and stomatological procedure. This is due to the fact that noncooperating oligophrenic patients are, after the first visual examination when stomatological intervention is indicated, treated under general anesthesia in all cases. Unsuccessful attempts to treat these patients may induce stressing experience, in addition to a possible imperfect stomatological intervention, so that the patient must be anyway treated under general anesthesia. The obtained results provide an orientation survey of the behavior of children and adolescents. The application of all suitable methods, including psychotherapy and premedication of mentally healthy patients, are recommended in order to avoid the difficulties during stomatological treatment.

Behavior of individuals with mental disorders during stomatological treatment.

The paper deals with the types of stomatological treatment of patients with mental deficiency aged from 3 to 23 years attending daily the Institute of Social Care. Interesting enough was that nearly 75% of patients with serious intellectual deficiency could be examined and treated under normal conditions. Few patients had to be given premedication and only 7% of patients were treated under general anesthesia.

[The effectiveness of psychotherapeutic methods in paedodontics]. / Cinnost psychoterapeutických metod v pedodoncii.

The authors divide psychotherapeutis procedures and method influencing the patient's behavior during dental treatment into preventive methods and those facilitating treatment and making treatment possible. At the same time they evaluate their effectiveness in a group of 269 "untreatable patients" with a different intellectual level. They found that these methods were successful in almost half the patients when treating preschool and primary school children.

[Effect of psychotherapy on problem behavior of children and adolescents in stomatological office]. / Studien zur Beeinflussung der Behandlungsbereitschaft von Kindern und Jugendlichen in der zahnärztlichen Praxis.

The group of 269 "untreatable patients" aged 3-18 years was followed up for the effectiveness of psychotherapeutical management of problem behavior (in %). The used psychotherapeutical methods appeared to be most effective in individuals attending primary school (81.5%), satisfactory were in patients attending the school with special education (44.8%). No effects of psychotherapy were observed in oligophrenic patients who refused cooperation during the first stomatological treatment.

[Effectiveness of the pediatric psychiatry consultation in stomatologic patients who are difficult to treat]. / Die Effektivität der pädopsychiatrischen Konsultation bei den stomatologisch schwer zu behandelnden Patienten.

The obtained results suggest that the pedopsychiatric consultation is advantageous with regard to its psychotherapeutical effect on problem patients with normal intellectual capacity and with mental deficiency at debility level, i.e. individuals attending primary and special school. When some highly debile, or imbecile and idiotic children and adolescents refuse to cooperate during the stomatological attendance, the pedopsychiatric consultation fails. In these cases, stomatological attendance has to be performed under general anesthesia.