Volume 1, Issue 2

Due to the wide use of radiocontrast agents (RCA) in modern radiology and interventional cardiology, the incidence of radiocontrast-induced nephropathy (RCIN) is increasing. The risk factors for RCIN are primarily pre-existing (even mild) renal dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, absolute or relative hypovolemia, nephrotoxic drugs, etc., particularly in elderly patients. The presence of these risk factors seems to be more important than the type of contrast agent used. To date, there are several certainties and controversies in the prevention of RCIN. Hydration with normal saline and/or bicarbonate administration pre-and post-intervention is certainly useful. Though controversial, N-Acetylcysteine administration may be still advisable. Recent investigations showed the benefits of aminophylline/theophylline administration in RCA-induced renal tubular toxicity. Conventional hemodialysis cannot prevent RCIN, but may potentially aggravate renal dysfunction through hemodynamic instability. “High-flux” hemodialysis and hemodiafiltration may contribute efficiently to RCIN prevention, but systematic use of these modern dialysis techniques is limited by high costs and availability. The authors review — in a systematic manner, and in the perspective of evidence-based medicine — the most important data from literature concerning the prevention of RCIN.

Although the precise biological role of lysosomal membrane-associated glycoproteins (LAMPs) and ABH histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) remains somewhat unclear, they are thought to be related to cell differentiation, cellular adhesion, and tumorigenesis. Here, we present the first comparative immunohistochemical study of both LAMPs and HBGAs in normal and neoplastic skin. Their localization is compared to that of high molecular weight cytokeratin and cytokeratin MNF 116. LAMPs and HBGA were differentially expressed in the normal stratified squamous epithelium, suggesting that they are involved in the initial steps of the differentiation process, whereas HBGAs are characteristic of terminal keratinocyte differentiation. No change in the reactivity for HBGA was detected in the stratified epithelium overlying squamous cell or basal cell carcinomas, whereas a considerable loss of LAMPs was detected. LAMPs were overexpressed in tumor cells, whereas HBGAs were lost in tumor zones of basocellular carcinomas. In spinocellular carcinomas, HBGAs were detected in tumor keratinocytes and in keratin pearls. These results provide new evidence for the differential expression of LAMPs and HBGAs in the normal stratified squamous epithelium, as well as the presence of a modulating reactivity in basocellular and spinocellular carcinomas, suggesting that these glycoproteins are involved in differentiation and tumorigenesis of human skin.

Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is an autosomal dominant disease, caused by germline mutations in DNA mismatch-repair genes (MMR). These mutations lead to microsatellite instability (MSI). It has been found that the MSI is not confined to the setting of hereditary disease and may be seen in approximately 12-17% of the sporadic CRCs. In 1998 a National Registry for CRC was instituted in Queen Giovanna Hospital, Sofia. A total of 150 patients have been selected for MSI analysis and 25 tumors showed to be unstable, 14 with loss of heterozygosity (LOH). These tumors were further analyzed for MLH1 promoter hypermethylation and a significant association between this epigenetic change and MSI/LOH sporadic cases. We proposed this method as a step that follows the analysis for MSI and prior to the screening for MMR mutations. The mutation screening detected four known and two novel mutations, one unpublished and four known intronic polymorphisms in both hMLH1 and hMSH2 genes. The use of IHC analysis has been found effective in the investigation of some unclear molecular variations. We developed an efficient diagnostic strategy for HNPCC testing and the mutation status of 80% MSI HNPCC cases could be detected.

Bariatric surgery is the most effective method to achieve weight loss in obese subjects. The aim of this study was to evaluate some adipocytokines and insulin, as well as parameters of metabolic syndrome of the obese patients, for three and six months after vertical banded gastroplasty, in the time of dynamic weight loss. Seven males and two females aged 28 to 49 years, with long lasting simple obesity and the presence of metabolic syndrome, were studied. After surgical treatment the values of the body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood concentrations of leptin decreased significantly. Before surgical operation of all obese patients no statistically significant correlations between studied parameters were noted. Three and six months later a lot of correlations between studied parameters appeared. In conclusion, (a) vertical-banded gastroplasty is a valuable method in treatment of obese subjects, leading to a significant decrease in body weight and improvement in some parameters of metabolic syndrome in a few months after surgery, (b) adipocytokines, together with an unknown gastric factor, may be key factors in the control of some features of the metabolic syndrome.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) occurs primarily during early to mid-adulthood; approximately 30% of individuals with SAH die within 2 weeks, and mortality is 30% to 45%. SAH happens suddenly, without patients being aware of previous heart abnormalities. Here, we performed a pilot single cohort (historical) study to examine the hypothesis that early abnormal electrocardiographic (ECG) changes may reveal unknown but “silent” heart pathologies in SAH patients without previous heart disease (PHD). Data were collected retrospectively on 56 consecutive patients during the acute phase of SAH (29 men, 27 women; mean age 49.0 ± 6.2 years) with different degrees of neurologic deficit (Hunt-Hess scale assessment) in a 2-year period single-cohort study. Repolarization abnormalities were most frequent (p<0.05) and were independent of a history of PHD, although it corresponded to a higher risk for such abnormalities (odds ratio OR=3.21; CI95%=1.01–10.22). ECG changes in patients without PHD were similar to those in PHD patients, confirming the hypothesis that SAH is associated with previously “silent” heart pathology. The increased frequency of ECG changes in PHD patients and their high incidence in no-PHD patients suggested a neurogenic form of myocardial dysfunction following SAH. Notably, repolarization changes were more frequent in patients with less severe deficit (p<0.05), whereas rhythm and conductive abnormalities were more frequent in patients with more severe neurologic deficit.

The psychical health of 40-year-old inhabitants of the City and the (former) Province of Poznan, Poland were examined as part of a larger research project on their general state of health. The study focused on the incidence of past psychical disorders among the subjects themselves, their parents, their siblings, and their children. The perceptions of the study group with respect to their own emotional frame of mind and duration of sleep and its quality were also analyzed. The results indicate a generally favorable state of psychical health for the studied group within the measured categories.

Abstract: Background: The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) can be used in general anaesthesia without neuromuscular block. The laryngeal tube (LT) is a new airway device with similar airway features as LMA. LT is provided with a distal cuff to prevent regurgitation. In this study we compared the LMA and LT concerning patient and user aspects. Methods: Sixty patients with ASA (American Society of Anestesiologists) score 1–2 scheduled for minor surgery were randomized to be ventilated either through LMA or LT. After insertion, the number of insertion attempts, and “positioning” and “airway-assessment” was evaluated. The patients reported on “sore throat” after 30 and 60 minutes and the day after anaesthesia. Results: Gender and mean age were equal in both groups. The first insertion attempt was successful in 25 of 28 patients randomised to LMA and in 23 of 27 patients randomised to LT. LMA was evaluated to be easier in “positioning” whereas no difference in “sore throat” was reported. Conclusion: We found no difference between the LMA and the LT in terms user and patient friendliness and safety.

Students at the Bratislava medical faculty interested in research can participate voluntarily in a student scientific activity (SSA). Currently, the scientific activity is measured by the quantity and quality of publications and these scientometric parameters are important for grant evaluations as well as for individual careers. In this study, we evaluate the publication successes of SSA papers presented at the SSA conference (SSAC) of Faculty of medicine in Bratislava during the last five years. Names of the first authors of works presented at the SSAC in 2000–2004 were searched in PubMed/Medline and in Thomson ISI Web of Science/Current Contents (CC) in January 2005. Only titles of full text publications (not abstracts) similar to those presented at the SSAC were counted and further analyzed. Publication points were counted according to the currently valid PhD credit system at the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava. A total of 141 students scientific activity works were presented during a five-year period, with a total of 4 domestic non-CC, 11 foreign non-CC and 9 foreign CC publications, with cumulative impact factor 10,6 and total publication points of 641,2. Publication points gradually increased during the years 2000–2003. In conclusion, medical student research activity can significantly influence the publication output of our medical faculty and should, thus, be further supported. The SSA will probably gain even more importance after the introduction of a mandatory diploma thesis, moreover, if we take into account the increasing significance of evaluations based on scientometric parameters.