[Big endothelin and chronic heart failure].

J Spinar, L Spinarová, J Vítovec, O Ludka, G Hubená, M Tomandlová, J Tomandl

Vnitr Lek 2002, 48(1):3-7

In a group of 124 patients the authors investigated the importance of assessment of plasma levels of big endothelin and endothelin 1 in patients with chronic heart failure as compared with other currently used non-invasive parameters. A six fold increase of plasma levels of both substances was found in patients in functional class NYHA IV as compared with patients in class NYHA II-III. But even patients in the milder stage of NYHA had twice as high values as compared with the standard of the healthy population. Similarly patients with interstitial pulmonary oedema had a twice as high level of both parameters as compared with patients who had a normal...

[Reliability and validition of the Slovak modified version of the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire using the functional disability index in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

A Szilasiová, Z Macejová, I Nagyová, M Kovarová, A Béresová, J Szilasiová

Vnitr Lek 2002, 48(1):8-16

BACKGROUND: Functional disability is one of the most important consequences of RA in the patient's daily life. The HAQ has been widely used in its self administered form for the assessment of disability. A sensitive and valid instrument is needed for a Slovak population with RA.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate reliability and validity of the Slovak version of the HAQ in patients with RA and to explore relationships between HAQ score and disease activity and to provide information concerning utilization of this instrument in clinical practice.METHODS: In preparing the Slovak version of the HAQ careful attention has been paid to the translation, in terms...

[Physiology of microflora in the digestive tract].

V Zboril

Vnitr Lek 2002, 48(1):17-21

The microflora of the digestive tract is a complex microbial ecosystem, well balanced, which in an aboral direction undergoes specific changes as to the ratio of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms the functions of which supplement each other--the aerobes ensure for the whole ecosystem the scavenger effect. The microbial profile of the digestive tract is typical by the absence of anaerobic microorganisms in the stomach and conversely their absolute predominance in the distal colon. The basic physiological functions of the microflora of the digestive tract can be characterized as follows: 1. microbial barrier against pathogens and potential pathogens,...

[Zinc and copper in diseases of the digestive tract] ].

A Záková

Vnitr Lek 2002, 48(1):22-26

The author mentions the basic metabolic functions of zinc and copper in the human organism. She emphasizes the relationship of serious diseases, congenital and acquired, associated with deficiency or excess of these mineral trace elements. As to inborn diseases, we encounter most frequently Wilson's disease in impaired copper metabolism, rarely morbus Danbolt in congenital impairment of zinc absorption. In practice we are faced in particular with secondary causes of impaired zinc or copper levels, e.g. in chronic diarrhoeal conditions, coeliac disease, chronic pancreatitis and others.

[Pathophysiology of hepatic fibrosis].

M Valková

Vnitr Lek 2002, 48(1):27-33

Hepatic fibrosis is a common sequel to most forms of chronic liver disease and an essential component in the development of cirrhosis. Basic and clinical scientists have increasingly realized the importance of all elements of the liver in fibrogenesis, as well as of structural-functional relationships between liver cells and matrix components of the liver. Important is the recognition that hepatic stellate cells play a central role based on their ability to undergo activation following liver injury of any cause. The study brings about the newest information on pathophysiology of hepatic fibrosis. On the basis of better knowledge of the pathophysiology...

[Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and its treatment with total pulmonary lavage in the Czech Republic].

P Jansa, M Stríteský, J Homolka

Vnitr Lek 2002, 48(1):34-37

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is a rare disease characterized by accumulation of a large amount of both components of surfactant, proteins and phospholipids in alveoli and terminal bronchioles. This cumulation may lead to impaired gas exchange and result in respiratory insufficiency. The disease may develop in neonatal age or later in adult age. Two congenital forms are known. The disease occurs however also in people with neoplastic disease, during cytostatic treatment, during inhalation of inorganic dusts. A dominant symptom is progressing dyspnoea. Asymptomatic forms exist also. The most effective therapeutic method is overall pulmonary lavage....

[Cor thyreotoxicum. Part I--new findings about its etiopathogenesis and diagnosis. Overview of problems based on 35 years' experience].

J Hrnciar

Vnitr Lek 2002, 48(1):38-44

In the seventies thyrotoxic heart accounted for 3% of all hospitalized cardiac patients and was found on average in 30% of all cases of hyperthyroidism. It presented most frequently by tachyfibrillation and resistant cardiac decompensation. It affected men four times as frequently as women. The incidence correlated with age, toxic nodose goitre, but its development did not correlate with concurrent thyrotoxic rhizomyelic myopathy nor with the extent of deviation of thyroid laboratory parameters (T4, T3, indexes FT4). At present the incidence of thyrotoxic heart declined due to early detection and more adequate diagnosis and treatment of hyperthyroidism,...

[Chronic myeloid leukemia as a model for modern noncytostatic therapy of malignant diseases. From Virchow to STI 571].

J Mayer

Vnitr Lek 2002, 48(1):45-49

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) has been described in the middle of the 19th century. It took further 100 years to the time of the discovery of the first cytotoxic drugs. Ph1 chromosome, the cytogenetic hallmark of CML, has been described in 1960, however, the majority of important discoveries on the molecular level has been done in the 1980s' and later. The chromosomal translocation t(9;22)(q34;q11) is absolutely crucial for CML and leads to the chimeric gene and protein BCR-ABL. The ABL protein possesses the tyrosine kinase activity, which is deregulated in the BCR-ABL protein, leading to the cascade of further pathological processes in the leukemic...

[Visceral panniculitis in occult pancreatic carcinoma. Case report from clinico-pathologic archives].

M Zuffa, A Horváth, M Hrivnáková

Vnitr Lek 2002, 48(1):50-52

The authors describe a 75-year-old man with acute abdominal disease leading to lethal prerenal failure. Necropsy revealed massive visceral panniculitis with a small adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas. The authors assume that a very rare, early paraneoplastic syndrome was involved.

[Dysfunction of a valve prosthesis].

J Kajzr, J Ceral, M Pleskot, J Kvasnicka, A Babu

Vnitr Lek 2002, 48(1):53-55

The authors describe the case of a haemodynamically unstable patient with dysfunction of a valvular prosthesis which was resolved by emergency surgery. In the discussion they deal with two basic causes of these dysfunctions and their possible solutions.

[Serious side-effects of interferon alfa and ribavirin combination therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C].

J Stránský, J Skrivánková

Vnitr Lek 2002, 48(1):56-59

At present standard treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C is combined therapy with interferon-alpha and ribavirin which so far gives the best results. It is recommended in patients with resistance to interferon or a relapse after termination of treatment by interferon alone as well as in hitherto untreated patients. Combined treatment produces, however, not only common side-effects which are caused by interferon as well as ribavirin but rarely also serious side-effects produced by combined treatment which call for premature termination of therapy. The authors present an account on two patients who had serious side-effects during combined treatment:...

[Franz Kafka in the Tatra Mountains].

M Mydlík, K Derzsiová

Vnitr Lek 2002, 48(1):60-61

[History of treatment of essential hypertension--part I].

J Widimský

Vnitr Lek 2002, 48(1):62-70