[Relationship between quality of life and BODE index of stable ex-smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. / Vztah mezi kvalitou zivota a BODE indexem u bývalých kuráku ve stabilní fázi chronické obstrukcní plicní nemoci.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: This study was carried out to assess relationship between quality of life (QoL) and disease severity expressed by multifactorial prognostic index (BODE) in ex-smokers suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), minimally 8 weeks free of exacerbation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The evaluation was performed in 98 randomly recruited COPD patients enrolled into a cross-sectional, observational CILIARY study at the Department of Pneumology, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové. In them, quality of life evaluation using the SGRQ questionnaire and the BODE index calculation was performed. We statistically compared interrelationship between BODE and COPD stages, SGRQ and COPD stages and interrelation of BODE and SGRQ. RESULTS: We found significant differences in QoL of COPD patients and QoL in group of healthy volunteers (p <0.001). Lower QoL and higher BODE score were associated with a higher stages of COPD (p < 0.001), with the exception non-significant difference in QoL (SGRQ score) and BODE index between stages I and II. Our study found positive correlation between the all SGRQ scores and multidimensional prognostic BODE index (r = 0.431-0.704). The strongest correlation (r = 0.704) was evident in activity domain of SGRQ. CONCLUSION: Our results proved close correlation ofquality of life (SGRQ) and multidimensional prognostic score (BODE) in stable COPD exsmokers' population. Both these scoring systems are useful tools for the assessment of clinical course and stratification of severity of COPD. However at present both scales are minimally used in the Czech Republic.

[Examination of function and structure of respiratory cilia of adult patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)--comparison of nasal and bronchial mucosa (pilot of CILIARY STUDY)]. / Porovnání struktury a funkce nazální a bronchiální sliznice u nemocných s CHOPN (pilotní projekt ciliární studie).

INTRODUCTION: Borderline between upper and lower respiratory tract pathology is probably artificial (bronchial asthma). Also inflammation of bronchial mucosa during chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is likely combined with inflammatory involvement of nasal mucosa. Ciliary edge of respiratory epithelium is very important part of mucosa layer. AIM: To investigate and compare nasal and bronchial ciliary beat frequency (CBF), degree of nasal and bronchial ciliary dyskinesia, presence of ciliary akinesia and incidence of spinocellular metaplasia in the both mucosa localities among of stable COPD patients (pts). METHOD: Nasal and bronchial mucosa were obtained in the course of bronchoscopy examination of COPD pts in general intravenous anesthesia. Native samples of mucosa tissue were assessed by digital high-speed video microscopy (1,000x magnification). Paired t-test was used to evaluate differences in average frequencies. Significance level was alpha = 0.05. Mode was used to describe "index of dyskinesia", as a measure of association was used K coefficient. MATERIAL: Seventeen COPD pts (6 weeks free of exacerbation) at the age 47-80 (average 64.2 years +/- 9.7) were examined (13 male), average FEV1 61% predic. value (21-81, +/- 15). All patients were active smokers (average 42 pack years +/- 22.8) and all suffered from bronchitic (daily sputum production) phenotype of COPD. RESULTS: We did not find any difference in average ciliary beat frequencies between nose (6.0 Hz +/- 1.3) and bronchus (5.9 +/- 1.3) locality (p = 0.427). We find weak association between nose and bronchus in "ciliary akinesia" (kappa = 0.282) but medium association in "metaplasia" (kappa = 0.485), in index of dyskinesia (kappa = 0.733). CONCLUSION: We did not find in our data any difference in nasal and bronchial ciliary beat frequencies and we found medium association between nasal and bronchial spinocellular metaplasia and index of ciliary dyskinesia. Possible generalization of these results would require further investigation and analysis.

[Rare tumours of myometrium--intravenous leiomyomatosis and benign metastatic leiomyoma]. / Vzácné nádory myometria--intravenózní leiomyomatóza a benigní metastazující leiomyom.

Leiomyomas are the most common benign uterine neoplasms of the myometrium. Rarely, can be observed unusual manifestations of these tumours. We present a case of intravenous leiomyomatosis in a 52-year-old woman and a case of benign metastasizing leiomyoma in a 45-year-old woman. Intravenous leiomyomatosis is an uncommon condition in which morphologically benign smooth muscle is present within the lumina of the veins. Benign metastasizing leiomyoma is a very rare phenomenon where histologically benign smooth muscle tumours are present at distant sites, particularly in the lungs, in women having histologically benign uterine leiomyoma. The diagnostic features, etiology, histology, therapeutic management and prognosis of these extremely rare conditions are discussed.

[Serous microcystic adenoma of the pancreas: cytologic and histologic features]. / Serózní mikrocystický adenom pankreatu: cytologický a histologický obraz.

Cytologic and histologic features in a case of serous microcystic adenoma of the pancreas in a 61-year-old female are presented. In fine-needle aspiration materials, epithelial cells arranged singly, in small clusters and in monolayer sheets were found. The neoplastic cells had round to oval nuclei with finely distributed chromatin and inconspicuous nucleoli. Nuclear atypia and mitoses were not seen. The cytoplasm was moderately abundant and finely granular. Histologically, the encapsulated tumor was composed of multiple small cysts lined by a single layer of flat to cuboidal cells. The tumor cells contained clear cytoplasm with glycogen and centrally located round to oval nuclei with inconspicuous nucleoli without any atypia. Mitoses were absent. The intervening stromal septa were hypocellular. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells revealed diffuse positivity of cytokeratins and epithelial membrane antigen. Proliferative antigen Ki-67 was positive only in sporadic cells. No immunoreactivity for vimentin, carcinoembryonal antigen and S-100 protein was found. Chromogranin A and synaptophysin were expressed only in Langerhans' islets in the tumor capsula. In differential diagnosis, it is important to distinguish serous microcystic adenoma mainly from lymphangioma, cavernous hemangioma, serous cystadenocarcinoma, mucinous cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma, solid and pseudopapillary epithelial tumour, acinar cell cystadenocarcinoma, renal cell carcinoma and mesothelioma.

[Papillary fibroelastoma of the aortic valve as a cause of sudden death: case report]. / Papilární fibroelastom aortální chlopne jako prícina náhlé smrti: kazuistika.

A case of 80-year-old woman who died suddenly is presented. Her medical history comprised syncopes and hospitalisation for myocardial infarction 6 months before death. At the autopsy a large papillary fibroelastoma of the aortic valve was found. This probably produced intermittent obstruction of the coronary artery ostia.

[Solid and papillary epithelial tumor of the pancreas: cytologic and histologic features]. / Solidní a papilární epiteliální tumor pankreatu: cytologický a histologický obraz.

Cytologic and histologic features in a case of solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm (SPEN) of the pancreas in a 34-year-old female are presented. In the fine-needle aspiration material, there was a predominance of pseudopapillary fragments with delicate fibrovascular core lined with one or more layers of uniform tumor cells with clear cytoplasm. There were also acinar-like or rosette-like structures and dispersed tumor cells. Tumor cells had small, round to oval nuclei, with finely granular chromatin and inconspicuous nucleolus. Rarely, nuclear grooves were present. Mitoses were not seen. Histologically, the encapsulated tumor was predominantly solid, with focal pseudocystic and pseudopapillary areas; foreign body granulomas were focally present. Tumor cells were small and uniform with clear cytoplasm. Mitoses were extremely rare. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells revealed diffuse positivity of vimentin, and focal positivity for alpha 1-antitrypsin and CD68. No immunoreactivity for chromogranin, synaptophysin, cytokeratin, HMB 45, estrogen and progesterone receptors was found. In differential diagnosis, it is important to distinguish SPEN mainly from mucinous tumors of the pancreas, microcystic adenoma and pseudocysts, but also from endocrine tumors of the pancreas, acinic cell carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, adrenal cortical adenoma and primary extrapulmonary sugar tumor.

Sensitivity and specificity of the fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid: clinical point of view.

INTRODUCTION: The rates of sensitivity and specificity of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) for the diagnosis of thyroid malignancy differ considerably among various reported series. These values are influenced by three factors: (a) whether only clearly positive and negative results are considered, or whether the commonly encountered 10-20% of indeterminate/suspicious ones are included; (b) whether adenomas are considered as neoplasms in one group with carcinomas; and (c) whether only histologically proven cases are used in calculations or whether patients with benign clinical follow-up are included. AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of FNABs performed at this institution in the last 7 years from the clinical point of view, considering only benign vs. suspicious/malignant FNAB results (indicating surgery), and benign (including adenomas) vs. malignant definitive histology. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study comparing pre-operative FNAB results with definitive histological examination after operation. PATIENTS: A total of 2492 FNABs were performed in 2100 patients (1875 women and 225 men); their ages ranged from 9 to 85 years, with a median of 46 years. Clinical diagnosis was multinodular goitre in 1330, single nodule in 591, Hashimoto's thyroiditis in 147 and subacute thyroiditis in 32 cases. In 148 instances, the nodule was cystic. A history of previous treatment for carcinoma of the thyroid was present in 12 patients. Five hundred and thirty-six patients subsequently underwent thyroid surgery. STATISTICS: The values of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and diagnostic accuracy were calculated. RESULTS: The sensitivity was 86%, specificity 74%, PPV 34%, NPV 97% and diagnostic accuracy 75%. CONCLUSIONS: The specificity and positive predictive value are low when fine needle aspiration biopsy results are divided into two categories only (these being indication for surgery or not), and when only suspicious/malignant fine needle aspiration biopsies with subsequent malignant histology are considered to be true positive. Nevertheless, the ability to discriminate 11.7% of patients with a 34% probability of malignancy (suspicious/malignant cytology) from 81.2% of patients (benign cytology) with a probability of only 3% is very helpful.

[Calciphylaxis in a patient on long-term dialysis]. / Kalcifylaxe u dlouhodobe dialyzované nemocné.

Calciphylaxis is a special form of soft tissue calcification (in particular blood vessels), affecting specially patients with chronic renal insufficiency and associated secondary hyperparathyroidism. Most severely affected are small arteries with a diameter of 0.2-0.5 mm at the interface of the corium and subcutaneous layer. Calcification of the vascular media with subsequent narrowing of the lumen causes ischaemic changes manifested by the development of painful reddish-violet spots on the skin with necrosis and ulcerations. The authors describe the case of a 73-year-old diabetic female patient with regular dialyzation treatment. The patient developed reddish-violet spots on the lower extremities shortly before admission to hospital. At the site of the spots rapidly progressing necroses developed. The cause of these ischaemic changes were calciphylactic changes confirmed on post-mortem examination and by histological examination.