[Importance of determination of serum beta-2-microglobulin levels in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma]. / Význam stanovení sérové hladiny beta-2-mikroglobulinu u nemocných s Hodgkinovým lymfomem.

The authors evaluated retrospectively in a group of 69 adult patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma the relationship between the beta-2-microglobulin serum level, basic demographic parameters (age, sex) and factors characterizing the extent (stage III and IV, "bulk" or mediastinal mass, number of affected areas of lymph nodes) and activity of the tumour (presence of B-symptoms, red cell sedimentation rate, haemoglobin, albumin and lactate dehydrogenase level, number of leucocytes and lymphocytes). They analyzed also the possible prognostic impact of beta-2-microglobulin on the therapeutic response risk of relapse and patient's survival. Methods of univariant statistical analysis confirmed the correlation of beta-2-microglobulin level with all investigated metric parameters of patients (advanced age, number of affected nodes, red cell sedimentation rate and lactate dehydrogenase level, lower albumin, haemoglobin level, numbers of leucocytes and lymphocytes). In multivariant analysis however the only independent metric markers significantly associated with an elevated protein level were more advanced age of the patients (P = 0.0002) and a lower number of leucocytes (P = 0.05). The values of beta-2-microglobulin was not influenced by the extent of the tumour (stage III and IV, "bulk" or mediastinal mass, higher number of affected areas of lymph nodes). Significantly more frequently elevated protein values were recorded in patients with manifestations of B symptoms associated with the diagnosis (P = 0.0003). Multivariant analysis did not prove the importance of the serum level of beta-2-microglobulin as a prognostic factor in the sense of predicted remission, development of a relapse or death in conjunction with progression of Hodgkin's lymphoma.

[Interferon-alpha in the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia]. / Interferon alfa v lécbe nemocných s chronickou myeloidní leukémií.

A retrospective analysis of the treatment with Interferon alpha in 18 patients with Ph positive chronic myeloid leukaemia is presented and compared with the results of peroral chemotherapy with Hydroxyurea or Busulphan in 20 patients. Patients treated with Interferon were significantly younger than the control group (median age 40.5 versus 55.5) (p = 0.01) and were followed-up for shorter period of time (median 10.5 months versus 36.5 months) ( p = 0.002), but did not differ in other parameters. Despite the shorter period of observation and treatment, significantly more complete haematological remissions were achieved with Interferon (86%) than with peroral chemotherapy (25%) (p = 0.03). 6 major and 2 minor (44%) cytogenetic responses were observed after Interferon, despite the fact that 8 patients had been treated for less than one year. Interferon was not the optimal therapy in the patients with additional or complex cytogenetic abnormalities at the time of diagnosis, which were the most significant negative prognostic factor. In general, our short-term results confirm the importance and effectiveness of Interferon in the patient with CML providing the therapy was started early, with an effective dose and with simultaneous cytogenetic monitoring. Longer observation of the patients is needed to confirm the impact of Interferon on the survival of patients.

Prognostic factors in astrocytomas: relationship of p53, MDM-2, BCL-2 and PCNA immunohistochemical expression to tumor grade and overall patient survival.

The immunohistochemically detected expression of p53, BCL-2, MDM-2 and PCNA proteins in samples of tumor tissues of 42 patients with astrocytomas or glioblastoma multiforme was statistically compared to degree of malignancy and overall survival. We found relation between p53 protein expression and survival in the high grade astrocytomas group (more cases of p53 immunonegative tumors with longer survival), and significantly higher BCL-2 protein expression as well as significantly higher MDM-2 protein expression in the group of low grade astrocytomas. PCNA protein expression showed any relation to tumor grade or survival. Despite the rather small number of samples these results support the hypothesis that MDM-2 protein may be a potent regulator of functional p53, expressed in low grade astrocytoma only.

The spring-fall variations in the prevalence of environmental mycobacteria in drinking water supply system.

The fluctuation in the prevalence of environmental mycobacteria in relation to nutritional conditions in nature was repeatedly described in literature. The seasonal difference in potable water supply system has not yet been documented. Potable water samples from water supply systems of 16 localities were analyzed. The samples of running water, and tap swabs or tap scrapings were collected twice a year, in the spring and in the autumn. McNemar's test was used to analyze the difference of the occurrence of environmental mycobacteria between the vernal and the autumnal samples. A significant change in the presence of environmental mycobacteria in the potable water supply system was observed: the vernal samples yielded more positive results. This finding supports other observations of superficial water. We infer that this effect in potable water supply system may be caused by the change in temperature. Contamination rates were similar with no statistically significant difference between running water samples and that of swabs or scraping. No time trend in the period 1984-1989 in the prevalence of mycobacteria was detected. Direct microscopy showed massive colonisation with environmental mycobacteria of potable water supply system. Public health consequences of these findings should be further evaluated, as colonisation of water pipes can be associated with outbreaks of mycobacterial disease in immunocompromised patients. There has been also an increase in the incidence of mycobacterioses in North Moravian Region in recent years.

Expression of p53 in glioblastoma multiforme cells: relationship to survival, proliferation and glycosylation.

Immunohistochemically assessed p53 expression was correlated with overall survival in 20 patients with glioblastoma multiforme. Various epitopes of p53 molecule were detected using DO-1, DO-7, CM-1 and BP-12-53 antibodies, proliferative activity was estimated using anti-PCNA and anti-Ki-67 antibodies and assessment of glycosylation changes using lectin histochemistry completed the study. The results show a statistically significant correlation between DO-1 binding and survival. However, we failed to find any similar statistically significant relationship using other antibodies used in this study. Nor the intensity of proliferative activity show any correlation with either p53 expression or overall survival. Glycosylation in glioblastoma multiforme cells reflected unspecific changes in tumor cells regardless of any relationship to p53 expression. The findings do not provide clear evidence for the predictive value of p53 expression. On the other hand, relatively larger numbers of p53 immunonegative cases may indicate that other mechanisms are involved in the development of this tumor.

Seasonal variations in the occurrence of environmental mycobacteria in potable water.

A fluctuation in the prevalence of environmental mycobacteria in relation to nutritional conditions in nature has been repeatedly described in the literature. A seasonal difference in the potable water supply system has not yet been documented. Potable water samples from the supply systems of 16 identical localities were analyzed. Samples of running water and tap swabs or tap scrapings were collected twice a year, in the spring and in the autumn. The samples were processed as stipulated by the international standards. McNemar's test was used to analyze the difference in the occurrence of environmental mycobacteria between the vernal and the autumnal samples. A significant change in the presence of environmental mycobacteria in the potable water supply system was observed, the vernal samples yielding more positive results. This finding supports other observations respecting surface water. We suggest that this effect on the potable water supply system may be caused by the change in temperature. Contamination rates were similar, with no statistically significant differences between running water samples and those from swabs or scrapings. No time trend in the period 1984-1989 respecting the prevalence of mycobacteria was detected. Direct microscopy showed massive colonization with environmental mycobacteria of the potable water supply system. The public health consequences of these findings should be further evaluated, as colonization of water pipes can be associated with outbreaks of mycobacterial disease in immunocompromised patients. There has also been an increase in the incidence of mycobacterioses in the North Moravian region in recent years.

Chest diameters in the body mass forecast.

Two other body mass indices have been studied in the paper, by means of which the density is to measure human body has on the surface and in the volume of the hypothetic cylinder with the height equal to that of stature and with the circumference computed from the transverse and sagittal diameters of the chest. Thus we have to do with a modification of the procedure where the width and depth of chest were given by its circumference (mesosternale). The reason which made this modification interesting for us was in that the measurement of the transverse and sagittal diameter of the chest did not depend--when compared with the chest circumference measurement--so much on the muscular and fat tissue of the human body. Both these body mass indices have been used also to forecast body mass adequate to the respective skeletal space--surface and volume of the cylinder constructed by means of the dimensions of the skeleton: stature and transverse and sagittal diameter of the chest. Prediction efficiency of both these formulas has been verified numerically by means of an extensive data material of the Czechoslovak Spartakiade 1985, in dependence on sex and age. Information contribution of the chest diameters in the adequate body mass forecast proved to be doubtless. Besides it the possibility has been discussed to increase prediction reliability of body mass by combining both procedures under consideration with respect to the values of skeletal dimensions of the respective proband.

Sex determination from the hyoid bone by means of discriminant analysis.

Sex diagnosis of skeletal remains represents one of the main problems in the forensic osteological practice. The purpose of the paper was to apply discriminant analysis as the method of its solution--in the set of measurements carried out on the hyoid bone. Classical procedure by R. A. Fisher yielded the set of linear discriminant functions applicable also in cases of injured bones, which is the relatively frequent situation. Information efficiency of the method proved to be quite satisfactory--in case of complete set of all six measurement level of misclassification should not reach over four per cent of the items to diagnose.

Modified allometric function in the body mass forecast.

This paper is a contribution to the problem of an optimum forecast of body mass by means of the skeletal dimensions stature and chest circumference. Application of the basic equation valid for allometric functions made it possible to estimate the power of chest circumference in the forecast formula as approximately 1.7 for males and 1.6 for females. In such a formula the respective body mass index seems to be almost independent of age, for both males and females. Reliability of the procedure under consideration will be the object of an evaluation in another study.

Effect of some drugs, experimental stress and estrus on unstable and fixed conditioned alimentary motor reflexes in cats. Reproduction and stress. Part V.

Reproduction of fixed conditioned alimentary motor reflexes in long-time laboratory kept cats in the course of the year is remarkably influenced by the sexual cycle. Estrus, anestrus, gestation and deliveries act upon the reflex reproduction in a similar way like deliberate application of experimental stress of various intensity. The study of the antistress efficacy of drugs modifying psychological functions and mental states in the method of reproduction of fixed alimentary motor reflexes under stress must specify the actual effect of experimental stress. Experimental sensory stress represented by intermittent sound of 98 dB and intermittent light (0.6 joules) acting with simultaneous frequency of 6 Hz was found to generally impair reflex reproduction over the whole period of twelve months. Correct response latencies were significantly prolonged and incorrect motor reactions significantly increased. If reflex reproduction was impaired due to the sexual cycle, simultaneous sensory stress still aggravates the impairment. The definition of the actual efficacy of experimental stressing thus necessarily requires regular control experiments in the course of the year with reproduction influenced neither by stress nor drugs at least at forthightly intervals.

Effect of some drugs, experimental stress and estrus on unstable and fixed conditioned alimentary motor reflexes in cats. Meclophenoxate, chlorprothixen, caffeine, piracetam. Part VI.

A group of 10 cats, both sexes, were studied for the effect of peroral administration of the meclophenoxate (Cetrexin, Léciva, 1.5 mg kg-1) + chlorprothixen (Chlorprothixen, Spofa, 0.045 mg kg-1) + caffeine (Coffeinum natrium benzoicum, Spofa, 0.15 mg kg-1) combination upon the fixation of conditioned alimentary motor reflexes to a sound signal in the course of a 10-week experiment. The mentioned combination of drugs demonstrated a beneficial protective influence on the fixed alimentary motor reflexes against laboratory stress. The results were compared with the earlier fixation of the same reflexes in another group of 11 cats under piracetam (Nootropil, U.C.B. 20 mg kg-1, s.c.). In both groups of animals, the development of reflexes was performed in regular alterations of experiments under the effect of the drugs and control experiments. The drugs were administered 1 hour before the experiments. Both groups of animals showed significantly fewer intersignal and other incorrect motor reactions on the days they were given the drugs than the controls did. The number of fixed correct reactions and their latencies displayed only moderate insignificant differences between the pharmacological trials and the controls. The conclusions is that the actual development of conditioned alimentary motor reflexes was not found to be influenced by the action of the mentioned drugs modifying psychological functions and mental states.

On acute effects of some drugs on the higher nervous activity in man. Ethanol (0.5 g/kg) and its interaction with diazepam (5 mg) and meclophenoxate (100 mg). Part LVIII.

1. Acute effects of ethanol (0.5 g/kg of body weight) and its interactions with diazepam (5 mg) and meclophenoxate (100 mg) and placebo on the higher nervous activity were tested on a group of 16 healthy and unfatigued volunteers-university students (8 females, 8 males, aged 21 years). The experimental subjects were given the following combinations of the studied drugs: (a) Ethanol plus meclophenoxate, (b) Ethanol plus placebo, (c) Ethanol plus diazepam, (d) Placebo solution plus placebo. The method of artificial conditioned speech connections was made use of. Three statistically balanced trials were always carried out: before, and one and two hours after the administration of the tested drug combinations during the early and late forenoon hours. The investigation-sets consisted of two optic, two complex tactile, and two acoustic associations. The criteria for the evaluation of the results were the number of repetitions necessary for mastering the given task, then the number of correct responses and the frequencies of responses in the first eight repetitions of the sets when the active knowledge of the persons under investigation was tested. 2. One hour after the application, there appeared a statistically significant impairment in NNR and NCR, both after ethanol alone and ethanol in combinations with diazepam and meclophenoxate. The frequency of responses was impaired only after the combination of ethanol plus diazepam. 3. Two hours after the administration, the combinations of ethanol plus diazepam and ethanol plus meclophenoxate impaired significantly the number of necessary repetitions. NCR impairment was observed only after application of ethanol with diazepam. Ethanol administered separately did not impair the followed up characteristics of learning. 4. The most marked effect appeared during the formation of artificial conditioned speech connections with acoustic stimuli.

Acute effects of ethanol (0.5 mg/kg) and its interaction with diazepam (5 mg) and meclophenoxate (100 mg) on the blood pressure, the body temperature and the heart rate in man.

1. In the course of an experiment in which acute effects of perorally applied ethanol alone (0.5 g/kg of body weight) or in combination with diazepam (5 mg) and meclophenoxate (100 mg) on verbal learning were studied, the values of the blood pressure, the body temperature and the heart rate of experimental subject were simultaneously registered with the help of polyphysiograph Physiomat. 2. The method of artificial conditioned speech connections was adopted. The experimental subjects were 16 healthy and unfatigued volunteers - university students (8 females, 8 males, age 21 years). The investigation-sets consisted of two optic, two complex tactile, and two acoustic associations. Three trials were always carried out: before, and one and two hours after the administration of the studied drugs. 3. The values of the blood pressure, the body temperature and the heart rate were not significantly influenced by the applied substances. Only two hours after application of ethanol in combination with diazepam, a marked decrease of systolic and diastolic blood pressure was registered in comparison with the values observed after application of placebo.

Sample entropy and uniformity of distractors functioning in the achievement test.

This paper completes knowledge of the theoretical probability distribution of the sample entropy under the hypothesis that the distractors operate uniformly as a basis for the statistical test of this hypothesis.

Reliability of the body mass prediction by means of indices.

By the body mass indices the density is given, human body has in some abstract skeletal space. This skeletal space has been delimited by means of stature and chest circumference of the subject; these indices can serve not only as the characteristics of body composition, but also as a tool through which the body mass is to evaluate, adequate to the given skeletal space. Eight body mass indices of this kind have been introduced and the prediction formulas studied in our previous papers; besides it the procedure of computation of the prediction reliability has been derived, based on the mean square deviation between the actual and predicted values of body mass in the reference set of subjects. Relative reliability of the particular prediction formulas is depending not only on the sex and age of a subject, but also on the part of the skeletal space into which the subject belongs. The purpose of the study is to search for the rules which enable to optimize the choice of the prediction formula in dependence on the sex, age and skeletal dimensions of the subject, the adequate body mass of whom is to compute.

Body mass indices based on the chest diameters.

There is a series of indices used in the physical anthropology by means of which human body mass is related to some dimensions or functions of dimensions of the skeleton. Physical dimension of these indices is that of the density - in the lengths, surfaces or volumes. Among those functions also the cylinder is considered the height of which coincides with that of the body and the circumference of which is the same as the chest circumference. Main advantage of the chest circumference to use is the simplicity of its measurement by means of the tape easy to apply; disadvantage is that chest circumference is not the purely skeletal dimension. Skeleton cylinder of this kind can be defined also through the procedure where chest circumference is substituted by the transversal and sagittal diameter of the chest. In the paper body mass indices have been introduced based on these chest diameters, the formulas derived of the adequate body mass prediction and those for the computation of overweight as well. Applicability of the formulas derived theoretically has been verified in some particular cases.