[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.

[Gastric lymphoma as a cause of massive bleeding in a patient with Castleman's disease]. / Lymfóm zalúdka ako prícina masívneho krvácania u pacienta s Castlemanovou chorobou.

Primary lymphomas of the stomach belong to rare gastrointestinal malignancies. In their etiology very often play role infections caused by Helicobacter pylori. Rare cause of these tumors can be systemic immunopatological disease connected with the immunodeficiency. Authors in their contribution refer about the patient with the gastric lymphoma, in which was Castleman's disease diagnosed by the lymph-nodes biopsy. The patient was hospitalized with massive bleeding from gastric ulcers, which was treated by urgent surgical therapy. The final histological diagnosis was aggressive B-NHL of the stomach.

Comparison of three different bioleaching systems for Li recovery from lepidolite.

Three different biological systems, the consortium of autotrophic bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, heterotrophic fungus Aspergillus niger and heterotrophic yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, were investigated for lithium extraction from lepidolite. The bacterial consortium was the most effective, 11 mg l-1 of Li was dissolved in the absence of nutrients within 336 days. Fungal and yeast bioleaching was faster (40 days), however, with lower extraction efficiency. Bioaccumulation represented a main process of Li extraction by R. mucilaginosa and A. niger, with 92 and 77% of total extracted Li accumulated in the biomass, respectively. The X-ray diffraction analysis for bioleaching residue indicated changes caused by microorganisms, however, with differences between bacterial leaching and bioleaching by fungi or yeasts. The final bioleaching yields for bacterial consortium, A. niger and R. mucilaginosa were 8.8%, 0.2% and 1.1%, respectively. Two-step bioleaching using heterotrophic organisms followed by autotrophic bioleaching could lead to the increase of the process kinetics and efficiency. Bioaccumulation of Li offers strong advantage in Li extraction from solution.

Results of Kidney Transplantation from Expanded Criteria Donors: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Collection of kidneys from extended criteria donors (ECD) with diagnosed brain-death forms a part of the collection program that increases the number of transplantations. OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of ECD with those of standard criteria donors (SCD). METHODS: In a retrospective analysis in a group of 156 kidney donors, we identified ECD donors. We detected the basic parameters of the donors before kidney collection, and then evaluated the function of the graft, the survival of the graft, and the survival of the patients after 1, 3, and 5 years of transplantation. The results were then compared with the function of the graft from those of SCD donors. RESULTS: The ECD donors were significantly (p<0.001) older than the SCD donors. They had a higher body mass index (p=0.006) and prevalence of hypertension (p<0.001) and diabetes mellitus (p=0.004) compared to SCD donors. The graft function within the first 6 months and the survival of recipients in the first year of transplantation were significantly worse in ECD than in SCD groups (p=0.01, and 0.023, respectively). No difference in the graft survival was observed between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The long-term function of the graft and survival of patients and grafts in recipients of kidneys from ECD donors are comparable to SCD donors. Exploitation of the given organs for transplantation is important due to the constantly increasing demand versus limited offer of organs.

Effect of tetracalcium phosphate/monetite toothpaste on dentin remineralization and tubule occlusion in vitro.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the tubule occlusion and remineralization potential of a novel toothpaste with active tetracalcium phosphate/monetite mixtures under de/remineralization cycling. METHODS: Dentin de/remineralization cycling protocol consisted of demineralization in 1% citric acid at pH 4.6 with following remineralization with toothpastes and soaking in artificial saliva. Effectiveness of toothpastes to promote remineralization was evaluated by measurement of microhardness recovery, analysis of surface roughness, thickness of coating and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: The novel tetracalcium phosphate/monetite dentifrice had comparable remineralization potential as commercial calcium silicate/phosphate (SENSODYNE®) and magnesium aluminum silicate (Colgate®) toothpastes and significantly higher than control saliva (p<0.02). Surface roughness was significantly lower after treatment with prepared and SENSODYNE® dentifirice (p<0.05). The coatings on dentin surfaces was significantly thicker after applying toothpastes as compared to negative control (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The new fluoride toothpaste formulation with bioactive tetracalcium phosphate/monetite calcium phosphate mixture effectively occluded dentin tubules and showed good dentin remineralization potential under de/remineralization cycling. It could replace professional powder preparation based on this mixture. It was demonstrated that prepared dentifrice had comparable properties with commercial fluoride calcium silicate/phosphate or magnesium aluminum silicate dentifrices.

[Xipho-omphalopagus--Siamese twins with multiple abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract]. / Xiphoomphalophagus--siamské dvojcatá s mnohopocetnými malformáciami GIT.

The authors describe a case of xiphoomphalpagus; one infant was dead, the other alive. They had a common umbilical cord and omphalocele, joined liver, only one gallbladder and common duodenum in the shape of a wide sac. From this originated two thin guts, one was wide and belonged to the dead foetus, the gut of the live foetus beneath the duodenum was atretic. Already six hours after delivery the authors separated the infants and in the live infant they not only resected the liver and reinserted the choledochus but also repaired the wide duodenum and atresia. The second infant died on the 4th day after operation from congenital heart disease incompatible with life. The stillborn infant has, as revealed by necropsy and histological examination, a congenital megacolon. The authors analyze the scope of diagnostic and surgical possibilities.