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Biomedical subjects

T Svoboda

Publications and source records attributed to T Svoboda.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Stereotactic evacuation of spontaneous infratentorial hemorrhage with monitoring of intracerebral pressure.

INTRODUCTION: Based on our experience with stereotactic evacuation of spontaneous supratentorial hematomas this method has also been used for evacuation of spontaneous infratentorial hematoma by the transtentorial approach. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The authors present a series of 6 patients with spontaneous intracerebral hematomas evacuated by the frame-based stereotactic technique, with monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP) during the stereotactic evacuation. This method was indicated in patients with stable neurological status according to Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), more than 10. The frame-based stereotaxy with the Riechert-Mundinger apparatus with CT localisation of target and optimal trajectory was used. RESULTS: The presented values after stereotactic evacuation show reduction of the initial intraparenchymal ICP in all patients to values less than 20 mmHg. CONCLUSION: The measuring of the ICP and the analysis of dynamic changes during stereotactic evacuation suggest that this procedure can significantly reduce the ICP performed in connection with ICH and we believe that our results can improve management of patients with spontaneous infratentorial and supratentorial intracerebral hematoma. (Fig. 1, Ref. 21.).

Aged↗

[A retrorectal cystic tumor--case reports].

Cystic retrorectal tumors are rare tumors with a risk potential for a malignant growth. Their diagnostics, location and decision on the surgical approach--abdominal, perineal or combined--are based on ultrasound, CT and MRI examination findings. A complete removal of the neoplasm without opening the wall of the cystic tumor is a pre-requisite for a good therapeutical result.

Adult↗

Analysis of gene-specific DNA damage and repair using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Soon after discovery of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), various laboratories have attempted to use quantitative PCR (QPCR) to detect DNA damage in specific gene segments. The development of techniques that facilitate long PCR increased the sensitivity of the assay so that biologically relevant doses of DNA-damaging agents could be assessed. QPCR has been used to survey DNA damage induced by different genotoxicants and to establish the repair kinetics of numerous genes. Current work seeks to analyze damage and repair in specific genes from animals exposed to specific DNA-damaging agents such as oxidative stress.

Alkylating Agents↗

[Role of mini-invasive surgery in the treatment of patients with neoplasms, particularly in colorectal carcinoma].

Laparoscopic surgery has found its firm position in the treatment of benign diseases. Yet, oncologic laparoscopy remains a controversial technique. Its indication is discussed, especially its specific complication in oncologic diseases--recurrence of malign tumors within the scar after the trocar. The authors have performed an extensive recherché on the incidence of local recurrences of malign tumors after laparotomy or laparoscopy. They compare the functional results of both techniques, radical measure of intervention and their technical limits. They analyse the causes of local recurrences as well as possibilities of their reduction. They evaluate also their own experience in laparoscopy performed in coincidence with malign diseases, especially in palliative surgery. They suggest indications of laparoscopy in cases with colorectal carcinoma which is currently, as well as prospectively the most frequent malign disease of the gastrointestinal tract in our region.

Carcinoma↗

[Gastroesophageal reflux disease from the viewpoint of the surgeon].

Surgical treatment of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) represents an alternative approach in relation to the long-term pharmacologic therapy of prokinesis, and secretoinhibitory therapy. It must be considered in cases where the conservative approach has failed. The success of surgical treatment depends on an individual approach to the patient. The factors determining the surgical indication and especially the type of surgery, include age, anatomy of the hiatus and the results of pre-operational examinations of the esophagus. The type of operation depends on the ability of the esophagus to contract and to transfer the propulsion activity. According to the authors, the key examination is represented by the detection of esophageal contractility by use of esophageal manometry. The alternative option is represented by scintigraphic measurement of esophageal transit time by use of a tagged bolus. The patients with disappeared contractility are preferentially treated by conservative therapy due to the high risk of post-operational dysphagia. 80% of patients are treated by the standard procedure of laparoscopic fundoplication by a 360-grade cuff. The cases with decreased contractility or esophageal dysmotility are preferentially treated by partial fundoplication in Toupet's modification. The shortening of the esophagus requires consideration as to chest approach, or Collis' operation. Intestinal metaplasia of the esophagus requires specific procedures. Severe dysplastic changes require the consideration of resection treatment. The gained therapeutic results are evaluated by both, the subjective point of view of the authors, as well as by standard pH measurement and manometry of the esophagus performed 6 weeks after surgery.

Fundoplication↗

[Laparoscopic resection of a mesenteric cyst].

The authors report a case of an unusual abdominal tumor-mesenteric cyst. When it is found active surgical approach is recommended. Laparoscopic resection of the cyst is considered as the method of choice.

Female↗

[Use of the Miller-Abbott tube in treatment of early postoperative ileus].

The authors present an account on the use of an intraluminal intestinal stent to treat early postoperative ileus. They demonstrate on a case-history the possibility to combine the tube inserted via jejunostomy and with laparostomy. In the discussion they deal also with the historical development of intubation of the small intestine and support of controlled adhesion formation.

Adult↗

[Surgery of inguinal hernia in a clinical department].

The authors stress on the academic surgical departments the necessity of the development of both traditional and minimally invasive techniques of the groin hernia repair. They suggest to make patient selection based on the hernia type (Nyhus Classification) and patient's will and take account of an internal-anesthesiologic aspects. From four currently most often applied minimally invasive techniques they bring attention to the hernioplasty by exclusively extraperitoneal approach, till now seldom used by us.

Hernia, Inguinal↗

The non ergot D2-dopamine agonist CV 205-502 decreases growth hormone concentrations in acromegalic patients.

It was the aim of this study to test for a possible effect of the new non ergot dopamine agonist CV 205-502 on plasma growth hormone (GH) concentrations in acromegaly. 10 acromegalic patients received a single oral dose of 150 micrograms CV 205-502 after an overnight fast. As a control group 7 acromegalic patients undertook the same procedure without receiving any drug. Blood samples were drawn hourly up to 7 hours thereafter for determination of GH. Plasma growth hormone concentrations decreased by 48.8 +/- 8.7%. The nadir was observed 3 hours after CV 205-502 was administered and GH concentrations remained suppressed throughout the 7 hours of the test period. In contrast GH plasma concentrations in the control group remained stable. We conclude that acute administration of CV 205-502 suppresses GH secretion in acromegalic patients and thus could serve as an alternative therapy in acromegaly.

Acromegaly↗

Effect of elevated growth hormone concentrations on the phenotype and functions of human lymphocytes and natural killer cells.

Over the past decades, strong evidence has accumulated that growth hormone (GH) has immunostimulatory properties. Therefore, an investigation was conducted on 10 acromegalic patients and 9 age- and sex-matched healthy controls to determine whether plasma GH concentrations correlate with changes in several immune parameters, including serum concentrations of immunoglobulins, lymphocyte subsets, lymphocyte transformation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA), natural killer (NK) cell activity as well as phagocytic and metabolic burst activity. While NK cell activity, serum concentrations of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA) and metabolic burst activity were within the normal range in both groups, a significantly enhanced phagocytic activity was observed in the acromegalic patients. Surface markers on T lymphocytes (CD3, CD4, CD8), B lymphocytes (CD19) and NK cells (CD16/56) were normal in both groups; however, in the acromegalic subjects, CD4+ and CD8+ cells showed a significant higher expression of transferrin receptors (CD71), indicating enhanced T-cell activity. The lymphocyte transformation response to PHA at the highest concentration tested showed a tendency to be elevated in acromegalics; however, the difference failed to be significant. Long-lasting and pronounced elevation of GH in acromegaly induces significantly enhanced phagocytic activity, but only negligible changes in most patients in lymphocyte phenotype and in the lymphocyte response to PHA.

Acromegaly↗

[Disodium pamidronate (APD) in therapy of hypercalcemia in primary hyperparathyroidism].

The established pre-operative therapy for severe hypercalcemia caused by primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT), i.e., rehydration with saline in combination with furosemide, calcitonin and hydrocortisone, rarely leads to satisfactory results. We examined the effect of pamidronate (APD, 45-60 mg), a diphosphonate of the 2nd generation in 6 patients (4 female, 2 male) with severe hypercalcemia caused by pHPT. Prior administration of saline, furosemide, calcitonin and oral diphosphonates of the 1st and 2nd generation had failed and the patients still suffered from symptoms of hypercalcemia. APD reduced serum calcium levels in all patients: values reached the normal range (2.1-2.6 mmol/l) in 3 patients, the upper normal range in 2 patients and fell transiently into the subnormal range in 1 patient. In parallel to the decreasing calcium levels a marked increase in PTH was registered in 4 out of 6 patients. One patient with an adenoma showed no change in PTH levels, whereas one patient with hyperplasia of 5 parathyroid glands showed a significant decrease in PTH. These results confirm the potent hypocalcemic effect of pamidronate even in patients whose serum calcium could not be reduced by other conservative therapeutic strategies. Thus, pamidronate is an effective drug in the treatment of the pre-operative phase of hypercalcemia caused by pHPT.

Aged↗

Bone mineral density and parameters of bone metabolism in patients with acromegaly.

To assess the effect of chronically elevated plasma growth hormone (GH) levels on bone metabolism and bone mineral density (BMD), 16 patients (10 females and 6 males) with a mean age of 49.1 +/- 13.2 years (range 33-68) with active acromegaly were studied and compared to a control group of 16 sex- and age-matched subjects. BMD of the lumbar spine and two different sites of the proximal femur were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (Norland XR-26). In the acromegalic patients the mean plasma GH concentration was 30.1 +/- 11.1 micrograms/liter, and the mean plasma somatomedin C (SMC) concentration was 6.5 +/- 1.5 U/liter. Mean serum osteocalcin (OC) levels (14.3 +/- 1.1 versus 7.2 +/- 0.4 ng/ml, p < 0.001) as well as the urinary hydroxyproline excretion (OHP; 8.8 +/- 1.4 versus 2.7 +/- 0.3 mg, p < 0.0001) were significantly higher in the acromegalic patients than in the control subjects. In the acromegalic patients BMD was significantly elevated in the two examined regions of the proximal femur, that is, the femoral neck (1.06 +/- 0.05 versus 0.86 +/- 0.03 g/cm2, p < 0.05) and Ward's triangle (0.92 +/- 0.06 versus 0.76 +/- 0.03 g/cm2, p < 0.02), whereas the BMD of the lumbar spine was not significantly different from that of control subjects. Among the patients with acromegaly a significant positive correlation between serum OC concentrations, on the one hand, and urinary OHP excretion (r = 0.7, p < 0.004) as well as BMD in the proximal femur (r = 0.64, p < 0.007), on the other hand, could be observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Decrease of serum calcium concentration and lost influence of calcium on parathyroid hormone release in a patient with primary hyperparathyroidism after treatment with diphosphonates.

Prolonged decrease of elevated serum calcium levels after treatment with diphosphonates in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is very rare. A patient with water clear cell hyperplasia and five enlarged glands is presented who received diphosphonates (day 1 through day 8 dichloromethylene diphosphonate orally and a single dose of 60 mg pamidronate on day 8 intravenously) leading to a significant fall in serum calcium levels. Surprisingly, there was no reactive increase in intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the following 18 days. Patients with missing PTH regulation to hypocalcemia after diphosphonates who need a period of stabilization prior to parathyroid surgery might benefit most from this therapy.

Aged↗

Interferon-alpha stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in vivo and in vitro.

The successful therapeutic use of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in myeloproliferative disorders offered the possibility to test its acute and long-term effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in humans. ACTH and cortisol plasma concentrations were measured in 8 patients hourly starting from 4 p.m. through 12 p.m. on three occasions. The first time all patients were studied before initiation of therapy, when the vehicle was injected alone. The patients were studied again on day 1 of IFN-alpha therapy (5 million units) and once more after 3 weeks of therapy. On the control day, plasma concentrations of ACTH and cortisol were in the range expected for this time of day. In contrast, after the first administration of IFN-alpha a significant stimulation of the HPA axis was observed. After 3 weeks of IFN-alpha therapy, no significant stimulation of the HPA axis occurred after administration of IFN-alpha. IFN-alpha-induced adaptive changes in the HPA axis were also indicated by a significantly enhanced ACTH and cortisol response to exogenously administered supramaximal doses of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) when the patients had been on IFN-alpha treatment for 3 weeks. To determine the exact locus of the IFN-alpha action, in vitro experiments were performed using rat hypothalamic organ and primary pituitary and adrenal cell culture systems. Thereby a significant stimulation of hypothalamic CRH secretion and rat adrenal corticosterone production was observed after INF-alpha at concentrations of 5 x 10(-8) M or 10(-7) M respectively. In contrast, no direct IFN-alpha effect on pituitary ACTH secretion could be observed in vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenal Glands↗

[Bone density of the lumbar spine and femur in acromegaly].

Acromegaly is regarded as a cause for secondary osteoporosis, whereas recent papers suggest that growth hormone increases bone mineral density (BMD). In 16 patients with active acromegaly we found an increased BMD compared to normal controls in the lumbar spine and the proximal femur by means of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. This increase in BMD was statistically significant in the femoral neck and in Ward's triangle (P = 0.05). Moreover, no signs of osteoporosis were found radiologically.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Epidermal growth factor plasma concentrations in healthy control persons, acute and chronic stress and during pregnancy.

Plasma concentrations of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) in healthy control persons do not change significantly during adult lifetime and no diurnal changes could be detected. In addition, no alterations of plasma EGF concentrations occur during acute and chronic stress and in all three trimesters of pregnancy. Thus, the previously suggested theories that EGF might play a causative role in the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis during the stress reaction and in the prevention of peptic ulcers in pregnancy could not be confirmed by the present data.

Acute Disease↗

Effect of elevated serum prolactin concentrations on cytokine production and natural killer cell activity.

In vitro and in vivo studies in rodents and human suggested an immunostimulatory effect of prolactin. The aim of the present study was to determine the impact of chronically elevated serum prolactin concentrations on the immune system in patients with prolactinomas. For this purpose parameters of the humoral and cellular immune system were studied in seven patients with prolactinomas on two occasions (1) when their serum prolactin concentration had been normalized through treatment with dopamine agonists and (2) when their serum prolactin concentration was high. Serum concentrations of immunoglobulines, interleukin 1, 3 and 6, TNF-alpha, interferon-gamma and the soluble interleukin 2 receptor, leukocyte subsets and the natural killer cell activity were found to be within the normal range on both occasions, i.e. at normal and at high serum prolactin concentrations. The assumption could be made that long-lasting elevation of serum prolactin concentration induces adaptive changes when the acute stimulatory effects of prolactin on several parameters of the immune system have subsided.

Adult↗

Plasma growth hormone and prolactin responses to graded levels of acute exercise and to a lactate infusion.

The effect of acute exercise at three graded intensities on plasma growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) concentrations was examined in three groups of healthy male volunteers. According to their training status these subjects were divided into untrained, moderately trained and highly trained. A clear response of GH to exercise was registered already at an intensity of 50% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) with a maximal response at 70% VO2max and no further effect at 90% VO2max. In contrast, no PRL response was observed at 50% VO2max, a small PRL rise was seen at 70% VO2max and the highest response occurred at 90% VO2max. Basal and exercise-stimulated plasma GH and PRL concentrations were similar in the three groups tested at similar relative workloads, suggesting that physical training induces adaptive changes whereby higher absolute workloads induce similar hormonal and metabolic changes. To examine a potential causative role of lactate in inducing the GH and PRL responses, sodium L-lactate was infused intravenously to normal sedentary volunteers at doses producing plasma lactate concentrations within the range of those seen between 70 and 90% VO2max. This resulted in a significant elevation of plasma GH and PRL concentrations, which, however, were smaller than those obtained at an exercise-induced matched plasma lactate concentration. We conclude that physical training causes adaptive changes in highly trained runners so that identical GH and PRL responses to exercise are recorded at higher absolute workloads. Lactate may be involved in the exercise-induced GH and PRL response; however, it does not appear to play an exclusive role.

Adult↗