Antioxidant potential of essential oil from Lavandula angustifolia in in vitro and ex vivo cultured liver cells.

Lavender is a commonly used herb in traditional medicine in Asia and Europe. It has been reported to be an effective medical plant in treating inflammation, depression and stress, thanks to its sedative and anxiolytic action, thrombotic, and antimicrobial properties. In the present study we investigated the protective effects of essential oil from Lavandula angustifolia (LO) against hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide -induced DNA damage. Also the effects of LO on the levels of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants (SOD-superoxide dismutase, GPx-glutathione peroxidase, GSH-glutathione) were evaluated in in vitro (human hepatoma cell line HepG2) and in ex vivo (freshly isolated rat hepatocytes) systems. The results showed that the oxidant-induced DNA lesions were significantly reduced in both systems pre-treated with the Lavandula angustifolia. The observed DNA-protective activity could be explained by both elevation of GPx activity in cells pre-treated with LO and antioxidant activity of LO.

[Registry of neuroendocrine tumors (NET) in Czech Republic after three years of data collection]. / Registr neuroendokrinních nádoru (NET) v CR po trech letech sberu dat.

BACKGROUND: Neuroendocrine tumors are traditionally considered to be "rare" diseases. On contrary, the prevalence of neuroendocrine tumors is high. Therefore, the diagnostics, treatment and follow-up of neuroendocrine tumors are subjected to an evolving interest. There are various specifics of neuroendocrine tumors requiring an appropriate feedback of each intervention i.e. data collection and central data evaluation. The "Cooperative Group for Neuroendocrine Tumors" (KSPNN) has been conducting a nationwide neuroendocrine tumors registry since June 2009. The first data summary after three years is aimed at evaluation of feasibility and data utility. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The anonymous data on diagnostics, therapy and follow up of patients with neuroendocrine tumors of any primary site are collected in the registry. The contribution is conditioned by morphologically proven diagnosis according to the current WHO 2010 classification, in earlier cases WHO 2000 classification. The registry is operated by the Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Masaryk University (Brno). The initial analysis includes data from June 2009 to October 2012. RESULTS: Data of a substantial share of neuroendocrine tumor carriers have been collected -  742 subjects with a valid record, i.e. about 14% of presumed prevalence. Moreover, the registry covers nearly one fourth of incidence in the period 2009- 2011. The morphological diagnoses with the sign of nonspecific "neuroendocrine tumors" comprise the majority of records (75%); the most frequent is "carcinoid tumor neuroendocrine tumors". This results in a clear requirement for more detailed specifications of morphology as well as separation of small cell (neuroendocrine) carcinoma possessing principal bio-logic differences to neuroendocrine tumors itself. There is an apparent polarity of recorded clinical stages. Both stage I and stage IV comprise 30% of the records. This result is presumably related to how the diagnosis is established, either early and incidentally in initial stage or late with a developed endocrine symptomatology, in advanced stage. There is an evident selection bias. The treatment data reflect current trends, dominance of surgical therapy including reasonable cytoreductive surgery, vast use of somatostatine analogues in advanced disease and persistent position of chemotherapy for high grade tumors. The distribution of treatment modalities in the records documents a certain adherence to international treatment standards (ENETS, ESMO, NCCN). CONCLUSION: The dynamics of data contributions confirm feasibility of data collection in the registry. The registry reveals a clear requirement for more detailed analyses of biopsies and more detailed disease morphology classification. In the near future, the registry is aimed to maintain the increasing volume of collected data and to cover the majority of neuroendocrine tumors incidence.

Glucose and its metabolites have distinct effects on the calcium-induced mitochondrial permeability transition.

Mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to up-regulated glucose oxidation is thought to play a crucial, unifying role in the pathogenesis of chronic complications associated with diabetes mellitus. Mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) is an interesting phenomenon involved in calcium signalling and cell death. We investigated the effects of glucose and several of its metabolites on calcium-induced MPT (measured as mitochondrial swelling) in isolated rat liver mitochondria. The presence of glucose, glucose 1-phosphate (both at 30 mM) or methylglyoxal (6 mM) significantly slowed calcium-induced mitochondrial swelling. Thirty mM glucose also resulted in a significant delay of MPT onset. In contrast, 30 mM fructose 6-phosphate accelerated swelling, whereas glucose 6-phosphate did not influence the MPT. The calcium binding potentials of the three hexose phosphates were tested and found similar. In vitro hydrogen peroxide production by mitochondria respiring on succinate in the presence of rotenone was independent of mitochondrial membrane potential and increased transiently during calcium-induced MPT. Inhibition of MPT with cyclosporine A resulted in decreased mitochondrial ROS production in response to calcium. In contrast, inhibition of MPT by methylglyoxal was accompanied by increased ROS production in response to calcium. In conclusion, we confirm that methylglyoxal is a potent inhibitor of MPT. In addition, high levels of glucose, glucose 1-phosphate and fructose 6-phosphate can also affect MPT. Methylglyoxal simultaneously inhibits MPT and increases mitochondrial ROS production in response to calcium. Our findings provide a novel context for the role of MPT in glucose sensing and the cellular toxicity caused by methylglyoxal.

[Chemotherapy and biological treatment in the complex management of large intestinal and rectal carcinomas. When, why, how?]. / Chemoterapie a biologická lécba v komplexní lécbe karcinomu tlustého streva a konecníku. Kdy, pro, jak?

The colorectal cancer treatment has significantly changed in last few years. Use of new drugs such as oxaliplatin, irinotecan, or capecitabine improved long term survival of patient with this disease. Research of biologic and genetic behavior of CRC has brought new ways in therapy called "biologic therapy". Standard today's treatment consist of three drugs: bevacizumab (antiVEGF antibody), cetuximab and panitumimab (anti EGFR antibodies). Biology therapy should be used simultaneously with chemotherapy only and after genetic examination of the cancer (K ras mutation). For patients with stage III the adjuvant therapy with combination of FOLFOX (oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leukovorin) is recommended to reduce the probability of recurrence and improve survival. In stage IIB there is a clear need to determine further risks which classify the high risk patients who should be enrolled in adjuvant chemotherapy. In palliative treatment of colorectal cancer there are several chemotherapy combinations (FUFA, FOLFOX, FOLFIRI, XELOX, XELIRI) used with biologic therapy. International recommendation for the biologic therapy is in the first line treatment bevacizumab and cetuximab or panitumumab in the second line is recommended. The new discoveries in biology of colorectal cancer show the need of tailoring.

GIST of pancreas.

Authors present the case (from the year 2003) of a 38 years old patient, female with large tumor in the abdominal cavity. Preoperative differential diagnostic examination showed either tumor of pancreas or left liver lobe. The surgery confirmed large tumor body of the pancreas. Histological and immunohistochemical examination determined gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of the pancreas from autonomous nerves with malignant character. Tumor was radically removed. In the postoperative period regular follow up was done at the department of oncology, abdominal ultrasound every 3 months, CT scan every 6 month. 2.5 years after operation the patient has no problems, CT scan is without signs of recurrent diseases. The analysis of GIST was performed in agreement with contemporary knowledge. According to the references, our case report GIST of pancreas is the first of this kind (till 2003).

From the history of neurology in Slovakia.

According to archive sources, neurology in Slovakia started to develop in the first half of the past century. It was determined by two important events--the constitution of the Czechoslovak Republic in 1918, and the foundation of the Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University in Bratislava in 1919. In the new state, for the first time in their history, the Slovaks were given the access to national university education and the opportunity to develop science in Slovakia. The history of the first Department of Neurology of the Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University as well as neurology in Slovakia started on September 21, 1919 and was assigned to prof. MUDr. Zdenek Myslivecek, a professor of psychiatry and neurology. The further heads of this department were prof. MUDr. Miroslav Krivý, prof. MUDr. Stanislav Krákora. They devoted their scientific work to the problems of neuropathology, neurohistology, etc. Their department successors, professors Karol Matulay and Jozef Cernácek were Slovak physicians. Prof. Cernácek focused his work on the problems of neuroinfection, its resulting conditions and the dominance and interaction of the hemispheres. Prof. Matulay devoted his attention to epileptology and rehabilitation in psychiatry. Owing to their merit the neurological clinics engaged experts that were starting to grow in Slovakia, who were educated at the Faculty of Medicine in Bratislava. Owing to the merit of Dr. Závodný in Nitra, Dr. Gaspar in Levoca, Dr. Matis in Trencín, Dr. Hympán in Kosice, Dr. Trávnik in Martin and others, neurology has developed in Slovakia. The development of neurology was supported substantially by the foundation of the second Faculty of Medicine in Kosice in 1948. Both faculties helped in the education of experts and in the improvement in health care in this sphere, scientific research, postgradual education, as well as in contacts with foreign experts. The treatment of neurological diseases contributed to the gradual improvement of health in the Slovak population. (Ref. 6.).

Aleukemic granulocytic sarcoma with AML1/ETO fusion gene expression and clonal T cell populations.

We report a unique case of aleukemic granulocytic sarcoma of the neck, originally misdiagnosed as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), though chloroma was also suspected due to a greenish macroscopic appearance and the presence of myeloid chloroacetate esterase (CAE)+ cells. The proof of clonal T cell receptor gamma chain (TcRgamma) gene rearrangements in the recurring tumor was deemed to confirm the initial diagnosis of T cell NHL. Altogether five distinct types of clonal TcRgamma gene rearrangements were found in the tumor, bone marrow and peripheral blood. Only retrospectively, using RT-PCR, did we detect the acute myeloid leukemia subset-specific fusion gene AML1/ETO in the frozen samples of the relapsed tumor, as well as in the otherwise unaffected bone marrow and peripheral blood (representing 'minimal initial disease' in the latter two samples). Simultaneous staining verified that the neoplastic CAE+ cells and CD45RO+ T cells were different populations.

[A program for prevention of pseudomonas infections and immunoprophylaxis with PSAEVA vaccine]. / Program prevence pseudomonádových infekcí a imunoprofylaxe vakcínou PSAEVA.

The authors present three main trends of prevention of Gram-negative opportunistic infections investigated at the Cardiosurgical Clinic of the Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine. An important part is played by active and systematic surveillance with early signalling and analysis of new infections with subsequent aimed interventions against concrete sources of infection and mechanisms of transmission. It is necessary to think more of activation of endogenous infection the specific features of which make repression difficult and motivate investigations of preventive approaches. Rational antibiotic policy has so far not appreciated the danger of selection of endogenous and exogenous agents in standard situations where antibiotic therapy lacks an aimed and restrained approach. Immunoprophylaxis with the PSAEVA vaccine in the first preliminary controlled clinical investigation was characterized by the absence of nosocomial epidemics and septicaemia and a significant (fivefold) reduction of the incidence of non-pyocyanic Gram-negative bacteriaemia. The success of vaccination seems to be related to the anti-colonization and anti-invasive mechanism of specific and unspecific nature.

Serum beta 2-microglobulin before and after renal and heart allotransplantation and in infection.

UNLABELLED: beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m) serum levels were significantly elevated in patients waiting for kidney transplantation. The levels decreased after successful transplantation, even when they were never as low as in a control group of healthy blood donors. A higher amount of serum (s-) beta 2-m was observed also in heart transplant recipients. A significant reincrease in s-beta 2-m occurred during rejection of renal allograft and during CMV and EBV infection. The levels of s-beta 2-m were higher in patients infected with CMV than in those infected with EBV. ABBREVIATIONS: beta 2-m = beta 2-microglobulin, s-beta 2-m = serum beta 2-microglobulin, CMV = cytomegalovirus, EBV = Epstein-Barr virus.

CMV infection in patients with chronic renal failure and in those following transplantation.

Serum anti-CMV IgG was found in 62% of healthy blood donors. Patients in a chronic haemodialysis programme were seropositive in 80%, and kidney graft recipients in 93 to 100%, depending on the post-transplantation period. Median of the IgG titre was 1:10 in healthy persons, 1:80 in dialysed patients, and 1:40 in graft recipients. Anti-CMV IgG was never detected in healthy blood donors. IgM positivity was found in one of 30 dialysed patients, and in four of 27 kidney graft recipients. Compared with healthy blood donors, a higher percentage of CD 8 lymphocytes and LGL was found in dialysed patients exhibiting an anti-CMV IgG above 1:40. NK activity was impaired in all patients in the chronic haemodialysis programme.