Biomedical subjects

J Jezková

Publications and source records attributed to J Jezková.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Immunostimulatory effect of Bacillus firmus on mouse lymphocytes.

Bacillus firmus (a Gram-positive nonpathogenic and harmless bacterium), was shown to be a strong polyclonal activator of mouse B lymphocytes as estimated by ELISA testing of Ig concentrations in culture supernatants after incubation of BALB/c mouse splenocytes with inactivated bacillus. Synthesis of all main Ig classes and all IgG subclasses was stimulated in vitro, the considerable effect on IgA formation being the most interesting feature. B cell stimulation was T cell dependent, as was demonstrated by the effect of B. firmus on all Ig isotypes and by comparison of lymphocyte response of nu/nu mice and heterozygous nu/+ mice. The effect of B. firmus on splenocyte proliferation was stimulatory or suppressive depending on the dose of the bacterium. Increased synthesis of IFN-gamma and IL-10 (detected by ELISA in splenocyte culture supernatants) showed probable stimulation of Th1 and Th2 subpopulations. Considering the stimulatory effect on IgA formation and macrophage stimulation, B. firmus seems to be a prospective mucosal adjuvant and/or probiotic.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

[Effect of autolysis on histochemical examinations of the central nervous system].

The objective of the study was to explain the effect of autolysis on immunohistochemical detection of neurone-specific enolase (NSE), beta-amyloid protein precursor (beta-APP) and ubiquitine in cerebral tissue. The examination was made in 6 deceased subjects without mechanical injury of the CNS and 6 subjects with a craniocerebral injury who survived from 6 hours to 3 days. In all deceased subjects the post-mortem examination was made within 24 hours after death. For immunohistochemical examination tissue excisions were taken from standard sites of the brain. The first tissue excisions were immersed into 10% formol after a post-mortem interval of 24 hours. The remaining tissue slices were subjected to autolysis at room temperature and gradually immersed into formol after 24-hour intervals, the longest post-mortem interval being 168 hours, i.e. 7 days. For visualization of the linked primary antibody the biotin-streptavidin system labelled with alkaline phosphatase was selected. In the group of 6 subjects who died after a craniocerebral injury in 4 instances axonal lesions were detected, i.e. axonal oedema or formation of retraction spheroids. The damaged axons were positive on examination with all investigated antibodies, whereby it was possible even after a 168-hour post-mortem interval to differentiate damaged and not damaged axons. In the group of 6 subjects without mechanical injury of the CNS in 5 instances axonal oedema was found, however, it was not positive with anti-NSE antibodies nor with anti-beta-APP. After the 24-hour post-mortem interval in this group in 3 instances ubiquitine positivity was found in axons but already after a post-mortem interval exceeding 2 days the axons were ubiquitine positive in all 6 subjects. Lumpy deposits of this substance could be detected in axons also beyond axonal structures.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

[Detection of metalloproteinases in pulmonary tissue after sudden and violent death].

During early stages of chronic hypoxia under experimental conditions in the lungs alveolar macrophages are activated and in the latter an increased amount of matrix-metalloproteinase-collagenolytic enzymes is produced. Their presence was assessed in the present study in the lungs of infants who died suddenly (SIDS) and also in subjects who died from a violent death incl. acute and protracted external suffocation. The positive findings of these matrixins, in particular MMP-9 (gelatinase) were assessed in alveolar macrophages not only after protracted suffocation but also in the majority of sudden infant deaths. These findings supplement the mosaic of changes which indicate that sudden infant deaths are preceded by a period when the infant was exposed to hypoxia.

Asphyxia↗

PubMed2001

[Detection of caspase as a sign of tissue damage].

Caspases are cysteine proteases which participate in different stages of apoptosis. Apoptosis, cell death, programmed by its nucleus is associated also with a number of diseases and tissue damage. To this process increasing attention is paid also in the sphere of forensic medicine, in particular to make use of the diagnostic contribution in investigation of cause of death, vital reaction and time when the injury developed. In damaged tissues by immunohistochemical methods caspase activity was assessed. Caspase 8 activity (Flice) was detected in the heart muscle in congenital heart disease in a two-week old infant but also in ischaemia in a 58-year old woman with thrombosis of the coronary artery or in acute circulatory failure after an overdosage of pervitin in a 39-year-old drug addict. In the liver there was a positive finding in hepatocytes in chronic inflammatory changes caused by chronic alcohol abuse. An early caspase 8 reaction after an injury is suggested by positive findings in skeletal muscles of the neck and larynx in a 47-year-old man who was strangled. A positive reaction was proved only at the site of the line caused by the strangulation tool. However macroscopically nor by common histological staining the muscle tissue did not display any signs of injury at the mentioned sites. The results suggest that immunohistochemical evidence of caspase 8 can be used as a suitable complementary examination not only for detection of damaged tissue but also for evaluation of early stages of the vital reaction.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2000

Studies on the potentiometric thallium(III)-selective carbon paste electrode and its possible applications.

Construction, performance characteristics and applications of a carbon paste thallium(III) ion-selective electrode are described. The electrode, which is based on ion-associate compounds formed between cetylpyridinium and chlorothallate(III) complexes dissolved in tricresyl phosphate as pasting liquid, showed near-Nernstian response over the concentration range of 5.8 x 10(-6) - 2.9 x 10(-3) mol/L. Potentiometric titrations of thallium(III) with cetylpyridinium chloride were affected by higher concentrations of excess halides, probably due to the formation of higher halogenothallates.

Calibration↗

PubMed2000

[Glycophorin in forensic medicine].

Immunohistological evidence of glycophorin from paraffin sections of tissues fixed with formol, makes its possible to visualize membranes of preserved erythrocytes and fragments after their disintegration. This fact permits even after development of post-mortem changes to differentiate actual extravasation, manifested by a positive finding of glycophorin from mere infiltration of tissue by blood pigment after death, where glycophorin is lacking. The method is very sensitive and can reveal even very discrete haemorrhage. From different grades of erythrocyte disintegration in haematomas in the same subject sometimes conclusions can be drawn also on the different time of development of traumatic tissue changes.

Erythrocyte Membrane↗

PubMed1999

[Determination of the ABH blood group system in the placenta].

Blood group substances A, B, H were detect in placental tissue paraffin cuts (after 10% formaline fixation) by immunohistochemistry using indirect immunoperoxidase-two-layers technology or biotin-streptavidin complex signed by alkaline phosphates. Both fetal and maternal part of placenta are to be investigated which enables their group markers to be identified. Immunohistochemical detection of the A, B, H blood group substances in placenta can give conclusion about the blood group of fetus and of fetus and of mother as well.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

PubMed1997

[Detection of free histamine and serotonin in the evaluation of the vital reaction in injuries].

Skin injury alive produces quick and distinct increase of free histamine and serotonin. A fluorimetric method for detection of these compounds in tissues has been the only one described in the literature up to now but it needed a time consuming extraction and big amount of primary material (about 3 g of skin devoid of subcutaneous fat tissue) as well. The authors succeeded in substituting the method and developed a voltametric detection of histamine and serotonin using the computerized ECO-TRIBO-Polarograph. It enabled to omit the extraction of skin compounds and to decreased the amount of primary tissue to a quarter. The detection of free histamine and serotonin levels is presumed to enable a more accurate determination of the time of injury, particulary in short interval before death; it presents, with a simultaneous of glycophorin, a convenient complementation of immunohistochemical investigation of fibronectin.

Forensic Medicine↗

PubMed1996

[Evaluation of the vital reaction in injuries].

Evidence of an early vital reaction after a skin injury is sometimes of decisive importance in forensic practice. Attention is devoted increasingly to immunohistochemical evidence of substances, the presence of which in the borders of the wounds signalizes an intravital origin of the injury. In this context evidence was focused on detection of glycophorine at sites of haematomas of the skin and subcutaneous layer and to fibronection in the borders of injuries and in haematomas. To visualize the two substances in paraffin tissue sections, the immunohistochemical method of indirect immunoperoxidase reaction was selected where in the first layer specific sera were used wither against glycophorine A, B or against fibronectin. Glycophorine is a sialoglycoprotein which is part of the red cell membrane. It can be detected at the site of haematomas and after the disintegration of erythrocytes during post-mortem autolysis. Conversely it is lacking where membrane structures were not present. This makes it possible even during advanced stages of post-mortem changes to differentiate actual haematomas from mere post-mortem inhibition of tissue by blood pigment (e.g. in hypostasis) where glycophorine cannot be detected. Fibronectin, another glycoprotein substance can, already in the early stage of injury, form the basis for a netlike structure in the shape of fine "strings". Detection of fibronectin suggests the intravital development of injury and in the authors cases it could be detected already within several minutes after the development of the injury.

Fibronectins↗

PubMed1995

[Immunohistochemical detection of ABH blood group factors in hair].

Commonly used serological methods i. e. absorption-elution test and mixed agglutination do not always allow discriminate the nature of blood group substances A, B, H in hair investigation. The finding need not sometimes be unequivocal. A completion of forensic traditional serological methodology by indirect immunoperoxidase technique enables to eliminate doubts about interpretation of results. There is possible to identify blood group substances A, B, H in preserved medullary core of hair in this way.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

PubMed1991

Three echocardiographic methods in right ventricular function evaluation.

We employed two-dimensional echocardiography for the assessment of right ventricular (RV) volumes and/or function in a series of 44 patients. The results of three different echocardiographic approaches were compared with the data obtained from single-plane RV angiography following ultrasound within a 7-day interval. Only the echocardiographic area length method with two orthogonal imaging planes employed (apical 4-chamber and subcostal projections) yielded the beneficial results. The correlations between echocardiographic and angiographic RV volume estimates were rather high (end-diastolic volume: r = 0.83, end-systolic volume: r = 0.82, stroke volume: r = 0.81) and satisfactory in ejection fraction (r = 0.75). Using the method mentioned, the differentiation of patients with an angiographic evidence of RV failure (echocardiographic ejection fraction less than 0.55) from those without it was possible with a sensitivity of 0.68 and a specificity of 0.82. Concerning the clinical impact of the presented study, we can recommend the technique in question as a screening procedure for the detection of changes in RV function exceeding 12% (95% confidence limits).

Cineangiography↗

PubMed1991

The effect of acute and chronic nitrate administration in precapillary and postcapillary pulmonary hypertension.

The effect of nitrates was monitored in 16 patients with precapillary, and in 12 patients with postcapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). The patients had haemodynamic examination on acute administration of 10 mg of isosorbide nitrate (ID) in infusion and after 2-month therapy with 120 mg of isosorbide dinitrate retard daily. Acute ID administration decreased filling pressure of both ventricles, pulmonary and aortic pressure, pulmonary and systemic resistance and increased blood flow. No significant difference was found between the two types of PH. Long-term administration resulted in a statistically significant decrease in filling pressure (in both ventricles) and pulmonary pressure, even though the decrease was less pronounced than those seen following acute administration. Again, no statistical differences were noted between the two types of PH. While acute administration of nitrates decreases both preload and afterload, chronic administration decreases only preload. The implications of this finding for therapeutic practice are discussed.

Cardiomyopathy, Dilated↗

PubMed1991

[2-dimensional echocardiography in the evaluation of right ventricular volume and function. Comparison with echocardiography].

Using two-dimensional echocardiography (ECHO), the authors examined within one week preceding right-sided catheterization of the right ventricle (RV) 44 patients. Of three tested ECHO techniques for calculation of right ventricular volumes and/or function the best correlations were obtained by the method of evaluation of area-length of the right ventricle from two orthogonal projections (apical 4-cavity and subcostal with visualization of the outflow portion of the RV). The following correlations were assessed: telediastolic volume--r = 0.831, telesystolic volume--r = 0.815 stroke volume--r = 0.810 and ejection fraction (EF)--r = 0.752 (p less than 0.001 for all correlations). The tested method enables us at the same time to screen at least existing right ventricular dysfunction (sensitivity 0.68; specificity 0.82). In the presence of tricuspidal insufficiency (TI) increase in right ventricular function occurs which may mask its existing failure (dependence of EF on the mean pressure level in pulmonary artery was proved only in patients without TI--r = 0.594). We assume that information on right ventricular function is important not only in diseases affecting primarily the right heart but also in advanced stages of left-sided failure. Follow-up of the natural course of the disease and the effect of provided treatment by the non-invasive ECHO method is thus useful not only in research but also in clinical practice.

Cardiac Volume↗

PubMed1990

[Estimation of systolic pressure in the right ventricle (pulmonary artery) using Doppler and its importance in the detection of pulmonary hypertension].

Using the pulsed Doppler system with a high reparative frequency (HPRF), the authors made within 1 hour and 3 days after diagnostic right-sided catheterization 38 measurements of the trans-tricuspid pressure gradient in 31 consecutive patients. To the gradient calculated from the absolute velocity of flow through the jet of tricuspid regurgitation the authors added two different arbitrarily determined pressure values in the right atrium to obtain the systolic pressure in the right ventricle--RVSP (which assuming the absence of an obstruction between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery equals the systolic pressure in this artery). The calculated RVSP from the Doppler assessment correlated highly significantly with the directly manometrically obtained values of the same indicator (r = 0.973; p less than 0.001). An even closer correlation was obtained when using a differentiated estimate of the pressure in the right atrium/according to the filling of the jugular veins) (r = 0.977; p less than 0.001). From the RVSP values the authors tried to predict the presence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) diagnosed from the median pressure in the pulmonary artery (PAP greater than or equal to 20 mm Hg which was considered conclusive). Using the arbitrarily assessed range of systolic PH greater than 35 mm Hg, the sensitivity of the ultrasonographic estimate was 79% with a 60% specificity, while when the criterium of greater than 40 mm Hg was used, the corresponding values were 64% and 90%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Long-term effect of isosorbide dinitrate and nifedipine, singly and in association, in patients with chronic heart failure.

The effect of 2-month treatment with isosorbide dinitrate (120 mg day-1), nifedipine (2 x 20 mg day-1) and their combination has been assessed in 16 patients with mild to moderate chronic cardiac failure. Isosorbide dinitrate decreased right atrial (-23%), pulmonary wedge (-20%) and pulmonary arterial (-17%) pressures but did not significantly change either cardiac output or systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance. Nifedipine increased cardiac output (+13%) and decreased systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance (both -17%) with no change of pressures. Combined therapy with both drugs decreased ventricular filling pressures (-8% and -15%), systemic (-20%) and pulmonary (-13%) arterial pressures, increased cardiac output (+26%) and decreased both systemic (-29%) and pulmonary (-29%) vascular resistances. Changes during exercise were almost the same as at rest. The effect of both drugs was more pronounced in patients with more severely pathological haemodynamic measurements before treatment. We conclude that combined treatment with both preload- and afterload-reducing agents can preserve or even potentiate a favourable haemodynamic effect of individual drugs.

Blood Pressure↗

PubMed1989

[The dipyridamole echocardiography test combined with isometric loading in the diagnosis of ischemic heart disease].

The authors compared the sensitivity of the simple dipyridamole test (DP test) and the dipyridamole test combined with an isometric load (DP + HG test). Evaluation by means of two-dimensional echocardiography was used. The sensitivity and specificity of the DP test, in case of a 50% or greater stenosis of one or several coronary arteries, as a criterion of classification of the group was 45% and 100%, as compared with 72% and 100% in the combined DP + HG test. The correct diagnosis was confirmed by a selective reference coronarographic findings in all patients. The electrocardiographic changes alone in both tests were positive for IHD only in 9 and 17% resp. Ergometry was more sensitive (44%) than electrocardiographically evaluated changes, using the mentioned intervention tests, but it did not attain the sensitivity of the echocardiographic evaluation. The work indicates that temporary changes of the regional kinetics evaluated by two-dimensional echocardiography are a highly specific manifestation of myocardial ischaemia which developed during a load, and these changes are detected sooner and more frequently than associated electrocardiographic changes.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

[Non-invasive diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension: Doppler versus echocardiography].

The authors examined a group of 50 patients incl. 28 (56%) with pulmonary hypertension (PH) at rest, mostly postcapillary. Using a Doppler device, they measured the acceleration time (ACT) in the outflow tract of the right ventricle and trunk of the pulmonary artery. Under conditions of concurrent Doppler and direct, catheterization measurements the authors found a close correlation between ACT and the mean pressure in the pulmonary artery (r = -0.88), which was, however, not confirmed after a 1-10 day interval (r = = -0.64). The authors conclude that Doppler ACT reflects only the actual pressure in the pulmonary circulation. The authors found a close correlation between ACT values in the right ventricular outflow tract and the pulmonary artery (r = 0.95), and no significant difference. Comparison of Doppler diagnosis of PH with former echocardiographic methods revealed unequivocally the priority of the Doppler method. Failure of echocardiography is most probably associated with the postcapillary type of PH in the group of patients and does not rule out the validity of original findings in precapillary PH. Rapid and easy assessment along with a simpler interpretation is in favour of the Doppler technique.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

[Long-term prognosis of patients with chronic post-infarct aneurysms. II. Comparison of patients treated conservatively and surgically].

UNLABELLED: Survival rates were determined for a group of 136 patients in whom left ventricular aneurysm was determined by angiography. They were treated medically (99 patients) or surgically (37 patients). Congestive heart failure was predominant in all patients. The two groups did not differ in regard to clinical and haemodynamic data except for a more extensive coronary artery disease in the surgical group. Survival rates at the 5, 7 and 9 years were 62.5%, 52.5% and 37.5% in the medicaly treated group and 50%, 40% and 32.5% in the surgical group. Functional improvement at least one Functional Class NYHA was present in 75% patients postoperatively, and in 27% of patients treated medically. CONCLUSION: In patients with left ventricular aneurysm with predominant congestive heart failure surgical treatment improved quality of life but did not increase long-term survival.

Chronic Disease↗