[Carcinoma of the lung in patients with pneumoconiosis].

J Kohout, A Motánová, F Sefrna

Vnitr Lek 1993, 39(11):1044-1051

From 614 patients with notified pneumoconiosis who died in 1964-1992 on necropsy carcinoma of the lungs was found in 87, i.e. 14.1% (in 48 it was the cause of death). The incidence in individual years did not differ significantly; on evaluation in relation to the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis an insignificantly more frequent incidence was found in complicated pneumoconiosis of miners. On evaluation by work places miners in black coal mines and workers in quarries were affected more frequently, the difference being at the borderline of statistical significance. As to the histological aspect, most frequently squamous cell carcinoma was involved, the site...

[Recurrent exudative pericarditis--non-traditional therapy with colchicine].

M Puchala

Vnitr Lek 1993, 39(11):1052-1056

Relapses are one of the most serious complications of exudative pericarditis. Optimal treatment which prevents exacerbation of the disease does not exist so far. Non-steroid antiphlogistic drugs are usually drugs of choice. Corticoids are used in more severe conditions or during frequent relapses. Development of a relapse, despite corticoid treatment, calls for more intense and prolonged corticoid treatment even when this treatment produces undesirable side-effects. Surgical methods do not always produce a lasting favourable effect, as the authors observed repeatedly in two patients from the group of patients referred to. The initial therapeutic findings...

[Reactive arthritis in infectious diarrhea].

A Hejlová, J Kubek, R Krenek

Vnitr Lek 1993, 39(11):1057-1060

The authors made a ten-year analysis of the incidence of these complications. They describe a total of 16 cases of arthralgia at the onset of diarrhoea and nine cases of reactive arthritis. The paper deals with some clinical and laboratory aspects of the disease.

[Extra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis].

K Trnavský

Vnitr Lek 1993, 39(11):1061-1065

The author gives an account of the incidence of extraarticular organ manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis. These manifestations cause deterioration of the prognosis of the disease and are evidence of the systemic character of rheumatoid arthritis, which cannot be conceived as an articular disease.

[Present views on the osteoarthrosis syndrome].

S Havelka

Vnitr Lek 1993, 39(11):1066-1072

[Is diagnosis and therapy of gout a simple matter?].

K Pavelka

Vnitr Lek 1993, 39(11):1073-1079

In the first part of the paper the author deals with the problem of the diagnosis of acute gouty arthritis. The apparently easy diagnosis is made three times more frequently than corresponds to the actual position. Since 1977 Wallace's criteria are used. The focal point of the diagnosis is evidence of sodium urate crystals in the synovial fluid. Various methods of assessment are discussed. In the second part the author deals with treatment of acute gouty attacks. He mentions the advantages and disadvantages of treatment with colchicine, steroid and non-steroid antirheumatic drugs. In the conclusion he analyzes treatment with allopurinol and uricosurics.

[The importance of the HLA complex antigens in systemic rheumatoid diseases].

L Hrncírová, Z Hrncír

Vnitr Lek 1993, 39(11):1080-1089

The submitted paper reviews contemporary knowledge on the clinical impact of assessment of HLA-complex antigens in systemic rheumatic diseases. The authors explain the term "relative risk" and its practical importance. As to antigens of the HLA-complex class I, attention was paid in particular to the importance of HLA B 27 in ankylosing spondylitis, other spondylarthropathies and reactive arthritis; in this part the review is supplemented by results of the authors' own research. As to antigens of the HLA-complex class II, attention was paid to the sub-area DR in rheumatoid arthritis and other diffuse affections of connective tissue. The advance in...

[The primary importance of the kidneys in the development of essential hypertension].

R Dzúrik, V Spustová, V Dzúriková

Vnitr Lek 1993, 39(11):1090-1097

The participation of the kidneys in the development of renovascular and renoprivic hypertension has been known for a long time. The kidneys are, however, important also in the development of essential hypertension: these views are based on transplantation studies on various types of hypertensive and normotensive rats and their hybrids and transplantation studies in patients. In the genesis of hypertension participates the dual regulation of blood pressure by the kidneys: a) the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in the renal cortex which is manifested by two mechanisms (high- and low-renin hypertension resp.) with a number of functional and metabolic...

[Resistance to diuretic therapy].

O Schück

Vnitr Lek 1993, 39(11):1098-1101

Sequential nephron blockade--the combination of several diuretic agents which inhibit sodium reabsorption at different nephron sites simultaneously--is an effective, but potentially dangerous means of treating resistant edema. Several drug combinations have been used successfully, especially they have included a loop diuretic (furosemide in most cases) and the distal tubule-acting diuretics (hydrochlorothiazide).

[Alport's syndrome].

T Papajík, J Zadrazil, P Bachleda

Vnitr Lek 1993, 39(11):1102-1107

After a historical introduction the authors analyze contemporary views on the aetiology, pathogenesis and genetics, they characterize the clinical picture and histopathological findings in Alport's syndrome. They emphasize that Alport's syndrome is more frequent than generally reported and that it deserves therefore appropriate attention in the differential diagnosis of renal diseases. They draw attention to the results of most recent genetic research which makes it possible to detect gene carriers of Alport's syndrome as well as early prenatal and postnatal diagnosis of this most frequently progressing hereditary nephritis.

[The pituitary glycoprotein hormones, alpha subunit].

I Porsová-Dutoit

Vnitr Lek 1993, 39(11):1108-1113

Pituitary glycoprotein hormones FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), LH (luteinizing hormone) and thyrotropic hormone, TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) are formed by two subunits: alpha which is essentially the same for all three hormones, and beta which is responsible for their biochemical specificity. The alpha subunit is from the quantitative aspect a very important secretion of the pituitary. Part of the alpha subunit produced in the pituitary is not used for the synthesis of hypophyseal glycoprotein hormones and is secreted in a pulsed way synchronously with the pulsed LH secretion into the peripheral blood stream. Levels of the free alpha subunit...

[Hypercoagulation states].

E Tomoriová, I Tkác, M Takác

Vnitr Lek 1993, 39(11):1114-1119

Hypercoagulability is a condition where as a result of certain pathological changes in the blood inadequate cumulation of thrombocytes or fibrin occurs which finally can lead to arterial or venous thrombosis, depending on vascular wall damage. In the submitted review the authors analyze the most important inborn and acquired causes of hypercoagulation states. As to inborn causes, deficiens of natural anticoagulation proteins (antithrombin III, protein C, protein S) are most important as well as dysfibrinogenaemia, impaired fibrinolysis associated with deficiency of natural activators of fibrinolysis or increased activity of their inhibitors and homocystinuria....

[Hypocalcemic states].

J Blahos, I Porsová-Dutoit

Vnitr Lek 1993, 39(11):1120-1127

The authors review contemporary knowledge of acute and chronic hypocalcaemia. They mention in more detail the most typical symptom of acute hypocalcaemia, tetany, and emphasize some chronic symptoms of chronic hypocalcaemia. Diagnostic difficulties may arise in particular in epileptic states, hypocalcaemic organic psychosyndrome and cataract. Diagnosis of their hypocalcaemic cause is important from the therapeutic and preventive aspect. The authors mention also states which may cause hypocalcaemia and finally they give an account of therapeutic possibilities in acute and chronic hypocalcaemia. Data from the literature are supplemented by the authors'...

[A comprehensive plan for management of a hematologic laboratory].

M Pecka, J Malý, V Marek

Vnitr Lek 1993, 39(11):1138-1139

[Computer-assisted management of anticoagulation therapy with dicoumarin. A new program].

M Pecka, S Kieslichová, J Malý

Vnitr Lek 1993, 39(11):1140-1141