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Historical Article 2008; 29(Suppl 1): 105-122 PubMed PMID: 19029873 Citation  Keywords:  Brain:anatomy & histology, History, 20th Century, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Mental Disorders:surgery, Neurosurgical Procedures:methods, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:therapy, Poland, Psychosurgery:history,.   

: Surgical intervention to the brain has a long history, but contemporary psychosurgery started in the mid-1930s. The first psychosurgical operation was a prefrontal leucotomy. In this chapter, a history of psychosurgery is described with a special focus on so-called "ablation" procedures such as anterior cingulotomy, anterior capsulotomy, subcaudate tractotomy, and limbic leucotomy. The expectations that psychiatrists linked to the surgical intervention have grown along with the progress of diagnostic neuroimaging procedures used in brain research. In recent years, the introduction of neuromodulation techniques seemed to produce a qualitative progress in modern psychosurgery. However, the controversies about these surgical interventions to the brain among psychiatrists still restrict the indications for psychosurgery to highly selected cases....

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Journal Article 2008; 29(Suppl 1): 65-92 PubMed PMID: 19029872 Citation  Keywords:  Antipsychotic Agents:therapeutic use, Circadian Rhythm:physiology, Clinical Trials as Topic, Combined Modality Therapy, Depressive Disorder:physiopathology, Flumazenil:therapeutic use, GABA Modulators:therapeutic use, Humans, Lithium Compounds:therapeutic.   

: Sleep deprivation is a useful therapeutic option in the treatment of depressive disorders, especially in pharmacoresistant disorders. Its therapeutic efficacy in other indications has not, however, been confirmed. According to current knowledge, application of sleep therapy requires concomitant therapy to prevent early relapses of depression. Total sleep deprivation is the classic variant of its clinical use. Partial sleep deprivation has a somewhat less pronounced antidepressant effect, and the duration of sleep deprivation rather than application timing determines its therapeutic effect. The most reliable predictors of sleep deprivation efficacy are marked diurnal fluctuations of depressive mood, patient locomotor activity, and limbic hyperactivity in the central nervous system. The mechanism of the antidepressant effect of sleep deprivation remains unknown....

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Journal Article 2008; 29(5): 712-716 PubMed PMID: 18987613 Citation  Keywords:  Carcinogens:chemistry, Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid, Chromatography, Thin Layer, Electrons, Horseradish Peroxidase:chemistry, Hydrogen Peroxide:chemistry, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Mass Spectrometry, Naphthols:chemistry, Oxidation-Reduction.   

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to examine oxidation of carcinogenic Sudan I by peroxidase and characterize the structure of its two major peroxidasemediated metabolites. Another target of the study was to evaluate a mechanism of this oxidation.

METHODS: Thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) and visible (VIS) detection was employed for the separation of Sudan I metabolites formed by peroxidase. UV/ VIS-, and mass- spectroscopy as well as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were used to characterize structures of two major Sudan I metabolites.

RESULTS: Peroxidase oxidizes Sudan I by a one electron oxidation to eight products. Two major Sudan I metabolites were isolated by TLC on silica gel and HPLC and structurally characterized. The major product formed during the Sudan I oxidation by peroxidase is Sudan I metabolite M2, which corresponds to a Sudan I dimer molecule. The second major metabolite (M1) is the product of secondary, enzyme independent reactions, being formed from the Sudan I dimer that lost the benzenediazonium moiety.

CONCLUSIONS: The data are the first report on structural characterization of Sudan I metabolites formed by its oxidation with peroxidase....

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Journal Article 2008; 29(5): 658-662 PubMed PMID: 18987609 Citation  Keywords:  Aged, Chromium:blood, Chromosome Breakage:drug effects, DNA Repair:genetics, DNA-Binding Proteins:drug effects, Humans, Male, Metallurgy, Middle Aged, Occupational Exposure:adverse effects, Polymorphism, Genetic:drug effects,.   

OBJECTIVES: Welders, chronically exposed to hexavalent chromium, may exhibit disturbances in chromosomal integrity. Our study investigates chromosomal damage related to chromium exposure, considering the role of polymorphisms in relevant DNA repair genes.

METHODS: 39 male welders exposed to chromium for 10.2+/-1.67 years and 31 male controls were assayed for structural chromosomal aberrations (conventional cytogenetic analysis). DNA repair gene polymorphisms were determined by Real-Time allelic discrimination assay.

RESULTS: Total chromosomal aberrations were moderately, but statistically not significant, higher in exposed individuals (1.96%) than in controls (1.55%). Chromosomal type breaks were almost two-fold higher in exposed than in control individuals. The highest frequency of total chromosomal aberrations was recorded in individuals with homozygous variant Gln/Gln cariers (2.14%) in XRCC1* Arg-399Gln and the lowest in those with the wild-type Arg/Arg cariers (1.33%). Polymorphisms in XRCC3 gene did not modulate the frequencies of CAs, CTAs and CSAs.

CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the effects of chromium on chromosomal integrity in relation to individual susceptibility may be a basis for preventive measures in working process....

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Comparative Study 2008; 29(5): 680-684 PubMed PMID: 18987607 Citation  Keywords:  Anesthetics:toxicity, Animals, Clove Oil:toxicity, Ethylene Glycols:toxicity, Larva, Lethal Dose 50, Plant Oils:toxicity, Syzygium:toxicity, Temperature, Zebrafish:physiology,.   

OBJECTIVES: Anaesthetics are used in aquaculture to prevent stress and mechanical damage to fish during handling or the treatment of fish in breeding, blood sampling and other veterinary interventions. Clove oil and 2-phenoxyethanol are used in the Czech Republic in a water bath for the short-term immobilization of the fish.

DESIGN: Acute toxicity tests were performed on aquarium fish Danio rerio, which is considered to be one of the model organisms most commonly used in toxicity testing. The semi-static method according to OECD No. 203 (Fish acute toxicity test) was used for testing juvenile fish. Embryo toxicity tests were performed in zebrafish embryos (D. rerio) in compliance with the OECD No. 212 methodology (Fish, short-term toxicity test on embryo and sac-fry stages). The results obtained (the number of dead individuals at particular test concentrations) were subjected to a probit analysis using the EKO-TOX 5.2 programme in order to determine LC50 clove oil and 2-phenoxyethanol values. The statistical significance of the difference between LC50 values in juvenile and embryonic stages of D. rerio was tested using the Mann-Whitney non-parametric test implemented in the Unistat 5.1 programme.

RESULTS: The LC50 clove oil mean value was 18.8 +/- 5.52 mg.L-1 in juvenile D. rerio, and 15.64 +/- 3.30 mg.L-1 in embryonic stages of D. rerio. The LC50 2-phenoxyethanol mean value was 338.22 +/- 15.22 mg.L-1 in juvenile D. rerio, whereas in embryonic stages of D. rerio it was 486.35 +/- 25.53 mg.L-1.

CONCLUSIONS: The study proved statistically significantly higher (p<0.01) sensitivity in juvenile fish to 2-phenoxyethanol compared to the embryonic stages. Acute toxicity values of clove oil for juvenile and embryonic stages were comparable....

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Journal Article 2008; 29(5): 798-801 PubMed PMID: 18987606 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Arrhythmias, Cardiac:genetics, Connexin 43:biosynthesis, Connexins:metabolism, Electrocardiography, Female, Immunohistochemistry, Male, Microscopy, Fluorescence, Myocardium:metabolism, Rats, Rats, Inbred SHR, Rats, Wistar, Sex Characteristics,.   

OBJECTIVES: To elucidate gender-related differences in occurrence of sudden cardiac death the myocardial connexin-43 (Cx43) and the susceptibility of male and female rat hearts to ventricular fibrillation (VF) were investigated.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Ventricular tissues taken from male and female normotensive Wistar and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats were processed for immuno-fluorescence and immuno-blotting of Cx43. Susceptibility to ventricular fibrillation was examined in isolated heart preparation using either electrical stimulation or low K+ perfusion. Results showed that VF susceptibility of male either normotensive or hypertensive rats was significantly increased comparing to female counterparts. In correlation, ventricular expression of Cx43 was markedly lower in males of both normotensive and hypertensive rats comparing to females. SHR in addition exhibited abnormal myocardial Cx43 distribution due to structural remodelling.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that higher level of myocardial Cx43 expression is linked with lower lethal arrhythmia susceptibility and vice versa. It appears that Cx43 can be involved in sex-related differences in incidence of life-threatening arrhythmias....

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Journal Article 2008; 29(5): 631-634 PubMed PMID: 18987605 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Anti-Infective Agents, Local:adverse effects, Anticonvulsants:adverse effects, Biological Availability, Boric Acids:adverse effects, Breast Feeding:adverse effects, Czech Republic, Drug Information Services:statistics & numerical data, Drug-Related.   

OBJECTIVES: The benefits of breastfeeding are generally accepted. Risk of drug usage for baby due to lactation is well assessed minimally in certain cases. However, information given about drugs are often insufficient, frustrating, and not recommending lactation. In Czech Teratology Information Service (CZTIS) counselling we use these information.

RESULTS: We have given advice in 58 cases inquiring the CZTIS about the risk of drug exposure during lactation. The most frequent queries were on chronic disease treatment following the drug exposure during pregnancy. Remaining cases were associated with acute infections. Mothers suffered from idiopathic bowel disease and psychiatric patients want to be informed before delivery about possibility to breastfeed their babies. Treatment of epilepsy, another frequent disease, is associated with better level of knowledge of both, neurologists and patients. Breastfeeding is recommended according to management in care of epileptic women.

CONCLUSION: In our counselling we consider the factors which are involved in drug transfer in the milk and mechanisms and steps of transfer as well. We follow the classification of drugs during lactation by their effect on infants: absolutely contraindicated, temporary cessation of breastfeeding, drugs of special concern and drugs compatible with breastfeeding....

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Journal Article 2008; 29(5): 794-797 PubMed PMID: 18987603 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Diptera:physiology, Humans, Larva, Luminescence, Male, Neutrophils:drug effects, Peroxidase:metabolism, Salivary Glands:physiology, Superoxides:metabolism, Tissue Extracts:pharmacology, Zymosan,.   

OBJECTIVES: There is incomplete information about host immune response to maggot therapy, nowadays increasingly used to clean chronic wounds from necrotic debris and infection. Maggots are applied to the wound during the inflammatory phase. At the same time neutrophils infiltrate the inflammatory site as the first defense line of the organism. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and reactive oxygen species, generated during the respiratory burst by neutrophils, are the key players participating in microbial killing as well as in signalling pathways.

AIM: We studied the effect of an extract from salivary glands (SGE) of Lucilia sericata (L. sericata) on opsonized zymosan stimulated whole blood chemiluminescence (CL), superoxide generation and MPO release from human neutrophils.

METHODS: Formation of reactive oxygen species in whole blood was determined by luminol-enhanced CL. superoxide generation was measured as superoxide dismutase inhibitable reduction of cytochrome c, MPO activity as the oxidation of o-dianisidine in the presence of hydrogen peroxide.

RESULTS: Crude SG extract of L. sericata had no significant effect either on superoxide generation and MPO release from isolated unstimulated human neutrophils or on activity of isolated enzymes. Crude SG extract of L. sericata in the highest concentration used significantly decreased opsonized zymosan (0.5 mg/ml) stimulated blood CL, superoxide generation and MPO release.

CONCLUSION: On the basis of our results as well as from the literature we suggest that the beneficial effects of maggot therapy might involve the decrease of generation and release of proinflammatory factors, while neither phagocytosis nor subsequent apoptosis is disturbed....

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