[Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy in the Diagnostics of Malignancy of the Gastrointestinal Tract]. / Konfokální laserová mikroskopie v diagnostice onkologických onemocnení gastrointestinálního traktu.

In confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE), a type of optical microscope that uses a laser beam as its light source and processes the acquired image by processor unit is used. Although the principle behind the device has been known since 1957, its use in clinical practice has only recently been enabled by technical developments, and it is therefore a relatively new modality in differential diagnosis. CLE enables real-time microscopic imaging of the tissue under investigation and in fact non-invasive in vivo biopsy. First experiences with CLE have primarily been obtained in the field of endoscopy, in particular in the pathology of the esophagus, stomach, bile duct, pancreas, and colon. Further to its use in endoscopy, CLE was recently developed for perioperative use, with the most experience gained in neurological, breast, and prostate surgery. Numerous prospective randomized trials have confirmed the benefits of CLE in tumor screening, differential diagnosis of tumors or inflammatory diseases, earlier diagnostics of diseases, and reducing the number of required endoscopic examinations. In addition, CLE is associated with minimal side effects. A known possible side effect is allergy to the fluorescein used to stain tissues during the examination. Extending of endoscopic examination or surgery is minimal in the hands of trained personnel. Current limiting factors of CLE include insufficient clinical experience, the price of the CLE device and probes, and the subjectivity inherent in the evaluation of microscopic images by the endoscopist or surgeon. This article summarizes published studies of CLE in the diagnostics of oncological diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.Key words: confocal microscopy - gastrointestinal tract - neoplasms The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study. The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE recommendation for biomedical papers.Submitted: 9. 2. 2017Accepted: 26. 2. 2017.

[Campylobacteriosis at the Department of Infectious Diseases of the University Hospital Brno in 2011-2013: a retrospective study]. / Kampylobakteriózy na Klinice infekcních chorob Fakultní nemocnice Brno v letech 2011-2013: retrospektivní studie.

OBJECTIVE: To provide basic clinical, laboratory, and microbiological characteristics of adult patients with campylobacteriosis admitted to the Department of Infectious Diseases University Hospital Brno (UHB), in 2011-2013. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of clinical and laboratory parameters of 160 patients hospitalized with campylobacteriosis at the Department of Infectious Diseases, UHB from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2013. RESULTS: There was no lethality or bacteremia reported in the study group of 160 adult patients (n=160) with campylobacteriosis. A more severe form of the disease with signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) occurred in 24 patients, i.e. 15% of the study population. Transient mild to moderate leukocytopenia and thrombocytopenia were seen in 16 (10.0%) and 24 patients (15.0%), respectively, and seven patients (4.4%) had bicytopenia. The following factors correlated statistically significantly with the intestinal form of the disease and SIRS: age under 70 years (p=0.037), absence of arterial hypertension (p=0.044), immunosuppressive treatment (p=0.008), leukocyte count in the peripheral blood over 12.0×10(9)/l (p=0.023), and body temperature over 38.0 °C (p<0.001). Antibiotic treatment was used in 96.3% of patients with the intestinal form and in 100.0% of patients with SIRS. The average duration of antibiotic treatment was 8.8 and 9.3 days, respectively. Postantibiotic colitis due to Clostridium difficile occurred in seven patients (4.4%). There were no organ or autoimmune complications observed. CONCLUSIONS: Campylobacteriosis with SIRS occurs preferentially in persons under 70 years of age. Empirical antibiotic treatment is used too frequently without being adequately deescalated.

[Infections caused by non-typhi serovars of Salmonella at the Infectious Diseases Clinic of the University Hospital Brno in 2011-2013]. / Infekce zpusobené netyfovými sérovary salmonel na Klinice infekcních chorob Fakultní nemocnice Brno v letech 2011-2013--retrospektivní studie.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study is to describe the basic clinical, laboratory, and microbiological characteristics in adult patients with salmonellosis hospitalized at the Infectious Diseases Clinic of the University Hospital Brno in 2011-2013. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of clinical and laboratory parameters of 161 patients hospitalized at the Infectious Diseases Clinic of the University Hospital Brno from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2013. RESULTS: Invasive salmonellosis was seen in 22.4% of the study group. The overall lethality rate reached 3.1%. Treatment with antibiotics was used in 93.8% of patients. Transient mild to moderate leukocytopenia was reported in 4.3% of patients and thrombocytopenia in 9.3% of patients. Transient changes in white blood cells as well as in the thrombocyte count were not clinically important. Long-term treatment with proton pump inhibitors is a risk factor for salmonellosis (p=0.128), but not for invasive salmonellosis. Long-term use of opioids (p=0.003) and/or acetylsalicylic acid (p=0.015) is a risk factor for invasive salmonellosis. Other risk factors for invasive disease are: age over 70 years (p=0.011), arterial hypertension (p=0.004), disease duration of less than three days (p=0.006), serum creatinine level above 250 µmol/l (p=0.01), peripheral leucocyte count above 12x10(9)/l (p=0.001), and body temperature above 38 °C (p=0.001). Hypokalemia does not represent a risk factor for invasive salmonellosis. CONCLUSIONS: Aged patients on long-term opioids or acetylsalicylic acid, with disease duration of less than three days, and meeting the criteria for systemic inflammatory response syndrome are at the highest risk for invasive salmonellosis. Empirical antibiotics are prescribed too often and the treatment is not properly de-escalated.

Overview of histiocytic and dendritic disorders by the 5th version of WHO Classifi cation of Hematolymphoid Tumours from 2022.

BACKGROUND: Histiocytoses are rare disorders characterized by the accumulation of macrophages, dendritic cells, or monocyte-derived cells in various tissues and organs of children and adults, with a wide range of clinical manifestations, presentations, and histology. The histiocytoses are classified according to the WHO Classification, the last version of which was published in 2022, or according to the Histiocyte Society Classification, with the last version published in 2016. PURPOSE: This text provides an overview of histiocytoses as described in the WHO Classification 2022.

[Long-term therapy of idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease]. / Dlouhodobá udrzovací lécba idiopatických strevních zánetu.

Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Both can be treated with medications that induce and maintain remission. The choice of medication is influenced by the balance between drug potency and potential side-effects, previous response to treatment, and the presence of extraintestinal manifestations or complications. After remission has been achieved, the goal of treatment is to maintain the symptom-free status. 5-aminosalicylic acid derivatives have efficacy for maintenance of remission in patients with distal disease. Thiopurines are recommended for the long-term therapy. For the patients who do not have a response to immunosuppressive therapy or cannot tolerate it, anti-TNF-α agents are gradually being adopted. Effective in the remission maintenance are thiopurines, infliximab and adalimumab.

[The case of familial adenomatous polyposis and a proposal for the system of dispensarisation]. / Prípad familiární adenomatózni polypózy a návrh systému dispenzarizace.

We present a case of a 46 years old female with familial adenomatous polyposis of the colon. The adenocarcinoma had been treated using all available oncology therapeutic modalities. Late post-radiation changes caused ileus that required acute surgical revision, and formation of difficult-to-define enterovesical fistula that led to recurring urosepsis. When the conservative methods, including enteral and, subsequently, home total parenteral nutrition, were unsuccessful, the patient underwent successful surgery with resection of the affected intestinal loops, part of the bladder, evacuation of an abscess in the small pelvis and terminal jejunostomy. As a result of this procedure, the patient is now able to take food per os without infectious complications. The resulting short bowel syndrome is managed by administration of additional parenteral nutrition and registration of the patient for intestinal transplantation is being considered.

[Bacterial infection and its relation to the genesis and course of varicose hemorrhage]. / Bakteriální infekce ve vztahu ke vzniku a prubehu varikózního krvácení.

Acute hemorrhage from esophageal varices due to portal hypertension is a frequent and serious complication of liver cirrhosis. Bacterial infection may be one of the factors influencing such hemorrhage. Endotoxins may increase portal tension and at the same time result in primary hemostasis disorder, thus becoming one of the causes of hemorrhage. The authors of the paper compared the incidence of bacterial infection in 53 patients with varicose hemorrhage due to portal hypertension with 62 patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension without varicose hemorrhage. At least one pathogen was found in considerable 61.1% of the total of patients in the liver cirrhosis group, while the difference between the two groups was but insignificant. No statistically significant difference was found between the group of patients with hemorrhage and those without hemorrhage in terms of presence of bacterial infection in hemoculture, urine, throat, faeces and ascites, nor was there a difference in the etiology of the G+ bacteria, G- bacteria or fungi and yeast infectious agents in the hemoculture, urine, throat, faeces and ascites in either of the groups. No statistically significant difference was found in comparing the patients with a recurrence of hemorrhage (or with mortality) and with infection with those without recurrence of hemorrhage. Bacterial infection was more often found in patients with a recurrence of hemorrhage (75%) as compared with those without any recurrence (52%), and also in patients who died bacterial infection was proven more often than in those who survived (61.9% vs. 58.1%, respectively). There was no difference in morbidity or recurrence of hemorrhage between the patients treated with norfloxacin and ampicilin/sulbactam. No statistically significant difference was recorded between the 1st and 5th day in terms of decrease in bacterial infection. A significant difference was found in the urine etiological agent, where a significant increase in the share of fungal and yeast urine infection (p = 0.011) was recorded after the application of the therapy, as well as a drop in urine infection caused by the G- bacterial agent (p = 0.057).

International Staging System required standardization of biochemical laboratory testing in multiple myeloma.

The standardization of biochemical measurement procedures in multiple myeloma is necessary for reliable prognostic stratification of patients in multicentric trials. The new prognostic index International Staging System for multiple myeloma uses only two laboratory markers, albumin and beta-2 microglobulin. Our study compared results of albumin, beta-2 microglobulin and monoclonal immunoglobulin measurements from six centers which provide treatment for multiple myeloma in the Czech Republic and attempted to standardize the analytic procedures. We have found that the measurement of albumin is well standardized and the results from all laboratories were comparable. The measurement of beta-2 microglobulin achieved comparability only after a partial unification of analytical methods. The determination of monoclonal immunoglobulin concentration provided comparable results for concentrations higher than 20 g/l with higher variability for lower values.

[Acute oesophageal necrosis]. / Akutní nekróza jícnu.

The case of acute oesophageal necrosis in 56-year-old patient with tumor dissemination is presented. Acute endoscopy was performed after several hours lasting haematemesis and melena. Endoscopy revealed acute oesophageal necrosis in more than 2/3 of the oesophagus. Patient was treated with proton pump blockers and the total parenteral sustenance was introduced. Three days after the hospital admission the patient died in the septical metabolic disorder resulting from a disseminated spinocellular carcinoma of cervix uteri. Autopsy confirmed necrosis of oesophageal mucosa penetrating into the muscularis mucosae. Acute oesophageal necrosis is a rare disease, which is characteristic by the endoscopic finding of "black oesophagus", histological image of mucous membrane necrosis and by unknown aetiology. The article gives an overview of contemporary knowledge on the clinical, endoscopic and histologic images. The finding of "black oesophagus", which has been reported by several endoscopic units, has highly heterogeneous origin and it represents 0.0125 % (Moreto) till 0.28 % (Augusto) of cases. Our department has recorded 2 cases from 24271 of endoscopies performed in the last 8 years.

Zinc status in patients with idiopathic scoliosis.

The zinc content in m. sacrospinalis, hair, leukocytes of peripheral blood, and in serum was examined in 50 patients with idiopathic scoliosis treated by Harrington instrumentation. A control group included 20 patients treated for spinal column injury. A significant decrease of zinc content in back muscles was observed in patients with scoliosis. The value of zinc in hair, leukocytes, and serum did not differ compared with the control group. Similarly, the potassium and magnesium content in muscle was the same in both groups. These results do not suggest that there is a primary zinc deficiency in patients with idiopathic scoliosis. The authors consider the decreased zinc content in back muscle of patients with idiopathic scoliosis to be a secondary disturbance associated with primary deformation of the spinal column.

Idiopathic scoliosis and concentrations of zinc, copper, and selenium in blood plasma.

The concentration of zinc, copper, selenium, albumin, and ceruloplasmin in blood plasma and the activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in erythrocytes were determined in a set of patients with idiopathic scoliosis (n=51). A significant decrease of selenium concentration (0.50 +/- 0.16 micromol/L) was found when compared with a control group (0.69 +/- 0.07 micromol/L) (p<0.01). The same levels of significance were found out for selenium levels corrected for albumin content. In a group of patients with a curvature over 45 degrees indicated for a surgical correction, the average plasma concentrations of selenium were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in comparison with a group of patients with a curvature below 45 degrees treated conservatively. The GSH-Px activity in erythrocytes was the same in both sets. In comparison with the controls, no significant differences were revealed in all of the other parameters. The detection of the decreased blood plasma concentration of selenium has suggested possible disturbance of well-proportioned distribution and of general optimal availability of selenium in the organism of patients with idiopathic scoliosis with likely effects on the process of synthesis and maturation of collagen affecting the axial skeleton stability.

[Changes in pulmonary shunting and blood lactate during general anesthesia with controlled hypotension in patients with idiopathic scoliosis]. / Zmeny plicního zkratu a laktátémie v prubehu celkové anestézie s rízenou hypotenzí u nemocných s idiopatickou skoliózou.

In their work the authors observed the influence of controlled hypotension by means of sodium nitroprusside on the acidobasic balance, the oxygenation parameters, pulmonary shunt and lactatemia in patients with idiopathic scoliosis in the course of dorsal fusion by Harrington instrumentation. In comparison with the control group of patients there had not occurred significant - from the viewpoint of statistics - changes in ph, paCO2 and pvO2. However, the pulmonary shunt (Qva/Qt) doubled (p less than 0.002) which resulted in a significant decrease of paO2 (p less than 0.02) but in no case there occurred hypoxemia. The values of the lactate both in the venous and arterial blood were increased (p less than 0.001, or p less than 0.02) in contrast to the control group of patients, but they did not mean the increased production of lactate during intracellular hypoxia. As a result the regulated hypotension by means of sodium nitroprusside can be applied also in patients with altered pulmonary functions.

Immunosuppressive treatment of Crohn's disease with fistulae.

The rise of fistulae in Crohn's disease has been classed with the disorder complications, although it is a possible component of natural development of the so-called A type (De Dombal classification) or aggressive-perforating type (Greenstein's classification) of this idiopathic intestinal inflammation. Fistulae are accompanying colic localization of Crohn's disease in 20%, ileocolic affection in 40%, where 35% of them are perianal fistulae, and about 34% entero-enteral or entero-cutaneous ones. Other complications (urogenital tract, biliary tract) are mentioned infrequently in literature. Besides surgical approaches in the therapy, dominant post in the conservative area is taken up by an antitumor necrotizing factor, antibiotics and immunosuppressives whose position is, however, the most problematic although the literature references about the effectiveness of azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, cyclosporine, tacrolime and methotrexate have had nearly 25-years tradition. The authors present their own experience with applying a combination of cyclosporine, azathioprine in the treatment of perianal fistulae in a set of 21 patients from the period of 1995-2000. In their opinion, the therapy success is limited especially by early starting the treatment (11 cases of effective therapy) and choosing a resolute method that is, according to them, sequential immunosuppression. (Tab. 2, Ref. 32.)

[Copper--biochemistry, metabolism and physiologic function]. / Med--biochemie, metabolismus a fyziologické funkce.

The submitted paper presents contemporary knowledge of the biochemistry, metabolism and biological function of copper, an essential trace element. The causes of copper deficiency, its clinical and laboratory manifestations and its diagnosis. Pathophysiology, clinical and laboratory manifestations and diagnosis of Wilson's disease.

[Zinc--biochemistry, metabolism and physiologic functions]. / Zinek--biochemie, metabolismus a fyziologické funkce.

The author presents data on contemporary knowledge regarding the biochemistry, metabolism and biological function of zinc as an essential trace element. The causes of zinc deficiency, its clinical and laboratory manifestations and possibilities of its diagnosis are discussed.

[The effect of controlled hypotension on kidney function in spinal surgery]. / Vliv rizené hypotenze pri operacich pátere na funkci ledvin.

The authors investigated the influence of controlled hypotension on renal function in patients operated on account of idiopathic scoliosis of the spine. The deformity was corrected by posterior fusion with Harrington instrumentation under general anaesthesia during controlled hypotension induced by sodium nitroprusside (n = 20). The control group was formed by 20 patients with the same deformity and the same surgical procedure without hypotension. The renal function was assessed before operation, during operation and continuously for 102 hours after operation. In the group of patients with controlled hypotension (median arterial pressure 8.0 kPa) during operation a significant decline of the creatinine clearance occurred (0.7 ml/s), as compared with the control group (1.3 ml/s), as well as compared with the value before operation (1.7 ml/s). After terminated hypotension the mean value of creatinine clearance rose to 2.0-2.2 ml/s for a period of 42 hours. In the control group the creatinine clearance persisted at a slightly reduced level, recorded during operation, for another 30 hours. Sodium retention as a manifestation of hyperaldosteronism was less marked in patients with controlled hypotension. During the investigation period no biochemical signs of retention of nitrogenous substances were recorded.

[Zinc metabolism in the mother during pregnancy and the birth weight of the infant]. / Metabolismus zinku matky behem gravidity a porodní hmotnost dítete.

The authors found only an insignificant reduction of the zinc content of leucocytes of pregnant women who were delivered of infants with low birth weights (2500 g). In the remaining women the Zn content of leucocytes did not differ from those in the control group. The plasma Zn concentration was in the IIIrd trimester significantly lower, as compared with the control group and as compared with values assessed during the IInd trimester of pregnancy. The assembled results suggest that in our population in the course of pregnancy Zn deficiency which could retard intrauterine development and cause a reduced birth weight, does not develop.

[Comparison of diagnostic validity of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin and other laboratory markers in chronic ethanol abuse]. / Srovnání diagnostické validity karbohydrát deficientního transferinu a dalsích laboratorních markeru chronického abúzu etanolu.

BACKGROUND: Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) has been reported to be the best laboratory marker of the chronic alcohol abuse, but there are conflicting data on its accuracy and sensitivity ranging from 19% to 96% in various studies. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic efficiency of CDT with the other markers of alcohol abuse used in clinical practice with respect to possible sex differences. METHODS AND RESULTS: The serum CDT (using the method of anion-exchange chromatography and TIA), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), gamma-glutamyl-transferase (GMT) values and platelet count were evaluated in 50 alcohol-dependent patients admitted to the Center of Detoxification and in the reference group of 85 healthy teetotallers. The cut-off values for %CDT where established in the level of 2.2% and 2.5% for men and women respectively. In men we proved a comparatively high diagnostic efficiency of CDT (AUC 0.94, sensitivity 82.6%, specificity 96.7%) and GMT, MCV seem to be less accurate marker of chronic alcohol abuse. In contrast there was a lower diagnostic validity of CDT in women in comparison with common markers (AUC 0.83, sensitivity 60%, specificity 88%). CONCLUSIONS: The laboratory diagnosis of chronic alcohol consumption can be improved by using a combination of several markers. The specificity and also the cumulative sensitivity of such a battery of laboratory markers can be elevated by CDT evaluation. In a part of patients, CDT can be the only detectable abnormality.

[Occurrence of copper metabolism abnormalities in the families of four individuals with newly diagnosed Wilson's disease]. / Výskyt abnormalit metabolismu medi v rodinách ctyr osob s nove diagnostikovanou Wilsonovou chorobou.

The author describes the incidence of abnormalities of copper metabolism in families of four patients with recently diagnosed Wilson's disease. The patients were three men ad one girl, age 17-22 years where Wilson's disease was diagnosed on the basis of liver symptomatology and a typical laboratory finding. The period which elapsed between detection of the first clinical and laboratory symptoms and the establishment of the diagnosis of Wilson's disease varied between 1 months to eight years. Clinical and laboratory examination of all relatives of the affected subjects (parents and siblings) revealed an increased incidence of biochemical abnormalities as regards copper and ceruloplazmin levels in siblings. In the parents of the affected patients there were no marked biochemical abnormalities in the laboratory results in the examined families. Among seven siblings of the affected subjects in three Wilson's disease was diagnosed and in one instance a reduced serum copper and ceruloplazmin level without signs of increased copper retention in the organism. In one family Wilson's disease was detected in three siblings. The assembled findings confirm the urgency of systematic and careful laboratory and clinical examination of siblings of subject with diagnosed Wilson's disease.

[Serum levels of zinc, copper and selenium in patients with Wilson's disease treated with zinc]. / Koncentrace zinku, medi a selenu v plazme u pacientu s Wilsonovou chorobou lécených zinkem.

Zinc administered on a long-term basis in excess to patients with Wilson a disease blocks in a significant way copper absorption from the gut, prevents its accumulation and toxic action in the organism. The authors investigated the effect of its long-term administration on the plasma concentration of copper, zinc, and selenium, on the superoxide dismutase activity in red blood cells and glutathione peroxidase activity in whole blood. In seven patients with Wilson a disease treated with zinc sulphate, 136 mg of elemental zinc for 1.5 years (18 months), the authors assessed the plasma concentration of zinc, copper, selenium and ceruloplasmin, the activity of superoxide dismutase in red blood cells, the activity of glutathione peroxidase in whole blood and the urinary excretion of zinc and copper in 24 hours. Envisaged findings with regard to the diagnosis of the investigated patients and their treatment: elevated plasma zinc concentration and increased urinary excretion, reduced copper and ceruloplasmin plasma concentration and increased urinary copper excretion. The authors recorded also a significantly elevated selenium plasma concentration and a significantly higher concentration of superoxide dismutase in red blood cells (p < 0.05). The increase of the glutathione peroxidase activity in whole blood in the investigated patients was not significant (p < 0.05). Changes in the values of the investigated parameters in patients with Wilson s disease treated on a long-term basis with zinc indicate the possible mutual interaction of zinc with other trace elements with an impact on the activity of the corresponding metalloenzymes, i.e. in the sphere in antioxidant systems.