[Five year-results of chemoresistance testing in cancer patients]. / Nase pät'rocné výsledky in vitro testovania chemorezistencie u onkologických pacientov.

BACKGROUNDS: Translational medicine is a medical field encompassing basic research and development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for clinical practice. The present scientific paper focuses on our previous experience in the field of chemoresistance testing in patients with oncological diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Since 2005, we sampled 71 patients with a leukaemia (AML, ALL and CML) and 92 patients with a solid tumour (lung and gastrointestinal tract cancer). Malignant cell in vitro drug resistance testing was carried out using cytotoxic methyl-thiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay. RESULTS: Based on the LC50 (lethal concentration of a drug killing 50% of cell population), we found that patients with acute myeloblastic leukaemia exhibit a greater degree of resistance than patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. In patients with bronchogenic carcinomas, primary resistance to cisplatin was identified in 28% of tested samples, paclitaxel 36%, vincristine 50%, etoposide 56%, vinorelbine 57%, topotecan 62%, gemcitabine 77% and dacarbazine 86%. CONCLUSION: In vitro tests with gastrointestinal tract cancers also suggested high effectiveness of cisplatin (with the exception of gastric carcinoma) that was comparable with 5-fluorouracil. Even though the MTT assay has some limitations (insufficient number of vital cells, possible contamination by non-malignant cells, etc.), this in vitro method proved very effective in testing malignant cell resistance to clinically used cytostatics.

[Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy for neuroendocrine pancreatic tumors--initial experience]. / Laparoskopická distálna pankreatektómia pre neuroendokrinné nádory pankreasu--prvé skúsenosti.

INTRODUCTION: Although the first successful laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy in Martin was recorded in 2005, after five years we have successfully established this unique surgical procedure. The aim of this paper is to present two successful laparoscopic distal pancreatectomies in patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the distal pancreas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Laparoscopic distal pancreatic resection is currently challenging many pancreatobiliary surgeons. Its open alternative is the standard surgery for tumors in the body and tail of pancreas. Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy meets all aspects of radical oncological resection including lymphadenectomy. Similarly to open resection is often associated with splenectomy, but brings significant benefit to the patient in the form miniinvasivity. The paper gives crucial points of surgical procedure that is still an unique surgery. RESULTS: Although the last 4 months we operated on laparoscopically only 2 patients we present at least the preliminary experience with this method as well as a rich documentation of these procedures. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy in the hands of an experienced laparoscopic surgeon has the chance to become an alternative to an open surgery.

Multicenter trial for long-term safety and efficacy comparison of 0.05% desonide and 1% hydrocortisone ointments in the treatment of atopic dermatitis in pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Desonide, a class 6 nonfluorinated topical corticosteroid, has been available for more than two decades. Hydrocortisone is widely used in the treatment of dermatoses in children. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the safety and efficacy of desonide ointment and 1.0% hydrocortisone ointment in children with atopic dermatitis. METHODS: One hundred thirteen children (mean age, 4.8 years) with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis were enrolled in a multicenter, randomized, investigator-masked, parallel-group study. Treatments were applied twice daily for 5 weeks and extended to 6 months in 36 of the patients. Signs of atrophy were evaluated. Efficacy was determined by measuring global improvement, erythema, lichenification, excoriations, oozing or crusting, pruritus, and induration. RESULTS: No differences in safety were observed between hydrocortisone and desonide. The investigator's global assessment of improvement significantly favored desonide over hydrocortisone during 3 months of treatment (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Desonide ointment showed greater efficacy, produced more rapid improvement, and demonstrated an equivalent cutaneous safety profile when compared with 1% hydrocortisone ointment for up to 6 months.