[The human genome in now known].

A Svoboda

Vnitr Lek 2001, 47(9):593

[Relation between serum leptin levels and selected nutritional parameters in hemodialyzed patients].

J Svobodová, J Haluzík, V Bednárová, S Sulková, J Jiskra, J Nedvídková, E Kotrlíková, J Kábrt

Vnitr Lek 2001, 47(9):594-598

Leptin is a protein hormone produced predominantly by adipocytes. Its serum concentrations positively correlate with body fat content and body mass index (BMI) i.e. they are lower in lean than obese subjects. The aim of our study was to compare serum levels of leptin, selected nutritional parameters and serum lipids in hemodialysed patients (n = 46) and healthy subjects (n = 24) and to explore the relationship between serum leptin levels and the rest of nutritional parameters in both groups. The tendency towards higher serum leptin levels in hemodialysed patients compared to control group was found, but the difference did not reach the statistical...

[Protective effect of essential phospholipids on liver injury due to total parenteral nutrition].

J Lata, M Dastych, M Senkyrík, M Husová, K Starý

Vnitr Lek 2001, 47(9):599-603

OBJECTIVE: It is known that total parenteral nutrition (TPN) causes liver damage by various mechanisms and leads to an increase of transaminases and obstructional enzymes. From this aspect TPN can be considered an external factor which causes liver damage. In our investigation we wanted to find out whether parenteral administration of essential phospholipids (EPL) can have a protective effect on this damage.PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our investigation comprised 20 patients where TPN was indicated, usually on account of severe acute exacerbation of a non-specific inflammation of the gut. The patients were divided into two groups. Ten patients were treated...

[Relation between clinical severity of bronchial asthma and degree of airway inflammation assessed by the eosinophilic leukocyte count in induced sputum].

J Chlumský, H Pokorná

Vnitr Lek 2001, 47(9):604-608

Airways inflammation, involving infiltration of bronchial wall with activated eosinophils, mast cells and T lymphocytes, is an established feature of asthma. Clinical assessment of disease severity is based upon pulmonary function tests, their variability and symptom score. The relationship between the degree of airway inflammation and disease control is probably not significant. Differential cell count in induced sputum seems to be a useful parameter reflecting the degree of airway inflammation in patients with bronchial asthma. We investigated 67 patients with bronchial asthma of different severity and have shown statistically significant correlation...

[Changes in muscle tissue in hypothyroidism].

J Jiskra

Vnitr Lek 2001, 47(9):609-612

This article offers a synopsis of detailed analysis of the functional and structural changes in muscle tissue in manifest and subclinical hypothyroidism. There is a brief overview of the division between mypathy and myositis, with emphasis on endocrinological and metabolic disorders. The necessity of endocrinological examination in each case of myopathy the etiology of which is indefinite is stressed, and this especially before the instigation of non-specific immunosuppressive treatment (e.g., corticosteroids) as this treatment has the risk of undesirable side-effects. In conclusion, it emphasises the negative influence of the nexus of hypothyroidism...

[Weaning from artificial pulmonary ventilation].

F Polák, J Bělohlávek, M Hrubý, F Novák

Vnitr Lek 2001, 47(9):613-620

Weaning from mechanical ventilation is not complicated in the majority of patients, in some, however, this process is very complicated and lengthy. These patients are described as difficult to wean. A suitable weaning strategy and properly timed extubation or decannulation is important not only from the aspect of the patient's health status but also with regard to costs of care. When selecting patients suitable for weaning it is useful to use prognostic indicators of success. The Tobin-Yang index and ratio Pa O2/FiO2 seem to be most useful. Based on available information it seems that the pressure support and weaning by means of T-piece is more effective...

[In vitro testing for drug resistance and drug sensitivity in clinical oncology].

I Kiss, J Zaloudík, R Vyzula, J Tomásek, J Maláska, O Coufal, I Kocáková

Vnitr Lek 2001, 47(9):621-626

In vitro methods for testing chemosensitivity and chemoresistance can contribute considerably to more individual chemotherapy of a given patient. Different tests which reflect with a different reliability and specificity the probable ineffectiveness of chemotherapy can be divided into several categories: 1. Indirect tests associated with general biological activity of the tumour. 2. Tests based on the specific relationship to a certain cytostatic. 3. Examination of hormonal receptors. 4. Direct tests based on testing of the sensitivity or resistance of a tumour to different cytostatics in primocultures or stabilized cultures. The submitted review presents...

[News in oral antidiabetic therapy].

Y Pospísilová

Vnitr Lek 2001, 47(9):627-633

In this article two new peroral antidiabetics are introduced. The first is repaglinide, a prandial glucose regulator. The second is rosiglitazone, a member of the thiazolidinediones family, which improves the sensitivity of tissues to insulin and reduces insulin resistance.

[Sudden cardiac death--a problem in cardiology today].

M Kozák

Vnitr Lek 2001, 47(9):634-641

More than 2500 persons from European population die of sudden cardiac death every day. Nearly 90% of these cases are caused by malignant ventricular arrhythmias, which develop most frequently on the basement of structural heart disease. Some subpopulations of patients can be marked as a high risk for sudden cardiac death according to the today stratification procedures and can be treated in a pharmacological or nonpharmacological ways. The ways are as follows: a chronic therapy with beta-blockers agents, therapy of congestive heart failure, myocardial revascularization and implantation of cardioverter-defibrillator. The prognosis of patients treated...

[Myopathy syndrome in undiagnosed hypothyroidism].

J Jiskra, Z Límanová

Vnitr Lek 2001, 47(9):642-646

This article describes three cases of undiagnosed hypothyroidism in a developed stage which manifest themselves with myopathic syndrome (myalgia, muscular fatigue, and higher serum levels of creatine kinase, aminotranferases, and lactate dehydrogenase) without the "classic" symptoms of hypothyroidism. In addition, two of the three patients were receiving hypolipidemic drugs for secondary hyperlipoproteinemia, which could have affected the development of the myopathy. Emphasis is placed on the description of atypical symptoms of hypothyroidism and the necessity of endocrinological examination in each case of myopathy with indefinite etiology.