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Journal Article 2009; 30(Suppl 1): 22-24 PubMed PMID: 20027138 Citation  Keywords:  Administration, Oral, Animals, Antioxidants:metabolism, Aorta:physiopathology, Arthritis, Experimental:chemically induced, Edema:chemically induced, Freund's Adjuvant, Hexosaminidases:metabolism, Immunologic Factors:administration & dosage, Male, Mycobact.   

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of sesame oil on functional damage induced by adjuvant arthritis (AA) and on changes of selected biochemical parameters reflecting oxidative tissue injury.

DESIGN: Mycobacterium butyricum in incomplete Freund's adjuvans was intradermally administered to Lewis male rats. Hind paw edema and endothelium-dependent relaxation of the aorta were determined on day 28. Further, plasmatic levels of TBARS, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity in the joint and spleen tissues, level of protein carbonyls and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in plasma, as well as activity of the lysosomal enzyme N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAGA) in serum were assessed. The effect of sesame oil (SO, 1ml/kg, daily oral administration) was evaluated on day 28.

RESULTS: The beneficial effect of sesame oil on markers of oxidative stress accompanying AA was demonstrated by decrease of plasma TBARS and decrease of GGT activity in the joint and spleen tissues. Level of protein carbonyls, TAC in plasma and activity of NAGA in serum and in the kidney were improved, yet not significantly. In the hind paw edema the maximal increase was found on day 28 of AA, and in the same time we observed a significant decrease of aortic endothelium-dependent relaxation. Administration of SO resulted in mild, non-significant decrease of hind paw swelling and in significantly increased acetylcholine-evoked relaxation.

CONCLUSION: We conclude that SO has beneficial effects on oxidative stress induced biochemical changes occurring in AA, moreover it improves endothelium-dependent relaxation of the aorta and tends to decrease hind paw edema....

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Journal Article 2009; 30(3): 363-367 PubMed PMID: 19855360 Citation  Keywords:  Aged, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation:adverse effects, Critical Care, Female, Heart Arrest:mortality, Humans, Hypothermia, Induced, Intensive Care Units, Male, Middle Aged, Quality of Life, Retrospective Studies, Survival Rate, Treatment Outcome,.   

OBJECTIVES: Sudden circulatory arrest is most often of cardiac origin. Our aim was to evaluate circulatory arrest etiology and treatment strategies in patients after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with persistent impairment of consciousness in relation to survival and the subsequent quality of life.

DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of patients after CPR treated according to the local protocol including mild hypothermia in the intensive cardiac care unit.

RESULTS: Over 2 years, we admitted 57 mechanically ventilated patients after CPR. 47 patients (82%) were resuscitated outside the hospital. In 33 patients (58%) the initial rhythm was ventricular fibrillation; in the remaining patients (42%) asystole/pulseless electrical activity. Urgent coronary angiography was performed in 36 patients and percutaneous coronary intervention in 25 of them. The admission APACHE II score was 32,4 +/- 3,4 with predicted mortality of 77,1%. The hospital survival rate was 54% and 47% of the patients were discharged home in a good state of health (Glasgow outcome score 4-5).

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that comprehensive post-resuscitation care including therapeutic hypothermia and percutaneous coronary intervention in selected cases may have a positive impact on the prognosis of patients after CPR....

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Journal Article 2009; 30(2): 209-214 PubMed PMID: 19675515 Citation  Keywords:  Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Amiodarone:adverse effects, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Goiter:radiotherapy, Humans, Hypothyroidism:chemically induced, Iodine Radioisotopes:adverse effects, Male, Middle Aged, Recurrence, Remission Induction, Thyrotoxicosis:chemic.   

INTRODUCTION: Amiodarone (AM) is frequently used in the therapy of patients with cardiac disorders. However, due to high iodine content, it has side effects on thyroid function. The use of radioiodine therapy (RIT) in amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) with low radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) is still controversial. In these patients therapeutic choices for refractory disease include surgery, antithyroid drugs, or glu ocorticosteriods.

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of RIT in patients presenting AIT and low RAIU in two-year follow-up.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: 40 patients (25 men and 15 women) aged from 63 to 83 years (x +/- SD: 66.2 +/- 5.0 years; median: 65 years) treated with RIT were included into the study. In these patients AM therapy was essential for the underlying heart disorder, while surgery, antithyroid drugs or glucocorticosteroids, were contraindicated. Forty seven patients with toxic multinodular goiter (TMNG) (39 women and 8 men), matched for age (67 +/- 12 yr; range 54-89 yr), were enrolled into the study as a comparative group. The diagnostic procedures included baseline thyroid function tests (thyrothropin - TSH, free triiodothyronine - fT3 and free thyroxine - fT4 levels), thyroid autoantibodies measurement (antithyroglobulin autoantibodies - TgAb, antithyroid peroxidase autoantibodies - TPOAb, anti-TSH receptor autoantibodies - TRAb), thyroid ultrasonography, thyroid scintiscan and RAIU assessment.

RESULTS: Serum values of TSH, TgAb, TPOAb and TRAb were undetectable in both groups. In patients with AIT fT4 level was 18.7 to 38.7 pmol/l (mean: 27.1 +/- 5.8) and fT3 concentration was 3.9 to 5.6 pmo/l (mean: 5.7 +/- 1.4), while in TMNG patients level of fT4 was 31.5 to 22.2 pmol/l (mean: 25,3 +/- 5,8) and fT3 concentration was 3.8 to 4,2 pmo/l (mean: 4,2 +/- 0,2). Mean RAIU values after 5h and 24h in AIT patients were 2.3 +/- 0.5 and 3.1 +/- 0.9%, while in TMNG patients were 18,0 +/- 3,8 and 35,7 +/- 9,1%, respectively. A significant difference (p<0.001) between 5h and 24h RAIU in AIT compared to TMNG was noted. In all patients with AIT, a dose of 800 MBq of 131I was administered. During two-year-observation recurrence of hyperthyroidism was observed in two patients (5%) with TMNG. These patients received a second radioiodine dose 16.2 +/- 15 months later (the mean re-treatment dose was 735.93 +/- 196.1 MBq). In comparison, none of the patients with AIT required a second 131I dose and only one patient (2.5%) 6 months after ablative 131I dose needed anti-thyroid medication. Transient hypothyroidism was observed in only two patients (5%) with AIH, though was not observed in TMNG. During follow-up time, no sudden deaths in AIT patients were observed; one patient was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and in one patient acute toxic hepatitis after AM occurred.

CONCLUSION: RIT may be a safe and useful method of AIT therapy in patients with low RAIU, in whom other treatment methods are contraindicated....

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Journal Article 2008; 29(6): 852-856 PubMed PMID: 19112398 Citation  Keywords:  Contraception:methods, Endometrial Hyperplasia:etiology, Female, Genital Diseases, Female:etiology, Genital Neoplasms, Female:immunology, Humans, Immunosuppression, Immunosuppressive Agents:adverse effects, Menstruation Disturbances:chemically induced, Or.   

: Organ transplantation has become universally accepted treatment of end-stage organ failure. The main problem focuses on preventing the graft from rejection with the use of immunosuppressive agents. High incidence of infection is the most frequent adverse effect of immunosuppressive therapy. Symptoms of inflammation are often reduced in immunosuppressed patients. All invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures should be associated with the increase in dose of steroids and prophylactic antibiotics. Ovarian and menstrual function is usually restored in transplanted women. Function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis in transplanted women is believed to be normal. Most common abnormal uterine bleeding in graft recipient are: prolonged and profuse menstruation and inter-menstrual bleeding or spotting. Among the underlying diseases are lesions of the uterus (fibroids, endometrial or cervical polyps), infections of sex organs or hormonal disturbances. Higher rate of endometrial hyperplasia (without atypia) is reported in renal graft recipients. Organ transplantation results in the restored fertility thus effective family planning method is necessary in women of reproductive age who do not want to conceive. Vaginal diaphragms are not advised and intrauterine device are contradicted. Observational studies indicate for safety and high rate of acceptance of oral and transdermal hormonal contraception in transplanted women. Over ten-year experiences of HRT administration in graft recipient have proved the benefits of the therapy. Patients after organ transplantation have three to four-fold increased incidence of malignancy compared with general population. All transplant women must undergo regular gynecological screening for premalignant and malignant lesions of sex organs and breast....

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Journal Article 2008; 29(6): 995-998 PubMed PMID: 19112392 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Age Distribution, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Antipsychotic Agents:adverse effects, Basal Ganglia Diseases:chemically induced, Cohort Studies, Czech Republic:epidemiology, Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced:epidemiology, Female, Humans, Incidence, Male, Middle .   

BACKGROUND: The second generation antipsychotics (SGA) is considered to have contributed to the decrease of the risk of TD in comparison with the first generation antipsychotics (FGA). Using the multiple regression analysis, we compared the predictive strength of the FGA/SGA distinction with the predictive strength of the duration of treatment, patients' age and sex. The difference between sedative (sed) and incisive (inc) antipsychotics was added as the fifth predictor.

METHOD: A cohort of patients treated with antipsychotic drugs for less than 5 years and who were free from TD was followed for one year and examined regularly by the abnormal involuntary motor scale (AIMS).

RESULTS: From a sample of 98 patients, 6 patients developed TD after six months. The duration of treatment, age and sex of the patients were the main determinants of its emergence. The drugs used did not play a statistically significant role. After one year, 15 patients developed TD. Age and sex lost their statistically provable influence on its emergence. The difference between the treatment with sedative or incisive antipsychotics became the variable with the highest statistical significance. The relationship of the risk of TD to the FGA/SGA distinction was not statistically significant. 14.4% of the variability in the increase of the risk of TD during the second half of the one year observational period could be explained by the predictors. The stepwise regression showed that both, SG/FG and sed/inc distinction remained statistically significant....

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Historical Article 2008; 29(Suppl 1): 5-9 PubMed PMID: 19029880 Citation  Keywords:  Atropine:pharmacology, Clinical Trials as Topic:history, Coma:chemically induced, Convulsants:pharmacology, Convulsive Therapy, History, 20th Century, Humans, Mental Disorders:therapy, Muscarinic Antagonists:pharmacology, Pentylenetetrazole:pharmacology, .   

: Biological treatment of mental disorders has obviously strong links to psychopharmacology. It is no wonder that the greatest expectations for progress in the treatment of mental conditions are focused on new drugs or molecules that share interesting properties of pharmacological mechanisms of action. However, nowadays the development of non-pharmacological options, including transcranial magnetic stimulation or vagus nerve stimulation, indicates the need for more efficacious and better tolerated treatment modalities. Before the age of modern psychopharmacology, which began in the 1950s, treatment of mental disorders was rather limited to only a few methods that had proved to be of some efficacy. In the absence of other, more efficacious treatment methods, these therapies-such as insulin coma or atropine coma-brought at least some relief to those who suffered from serious mental disorders. Obviously, at present we are aware that these therapies should be considered far less efficient than modern psychotropic drugs; however, at the time when these methods were used, no other efficient treatment methods were available....

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Editorial 2008; 29(Suppl 1): 1-4 PubMed PMID: 19029879 Citation  Keywords:  Electric Stimulation, Electroconvulsive Therapy, Humans, Mental Disorders:physiopathology, Seizures:chemically induced,.   

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Journal Article 2008; 29(5): 639-643 PubMed PMID: 18987587 Citation  Keywords:  Abnormalities, Drug-Induced:pathology, Animals, Antioxidants:toxicity, Female, Fetal Development:drug effects, Fetal Diseases:chemically induced, Indoles:toxicity, Neuroprotective Agents:toxicity, Pregnancy, Pyridines:toxicity, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Reprodu.   

OBJECTIVE: The 2-ethoxycarbonyl-8-methoxy-2,3,4,4a,5,9b-hexahydro-1H-pyrido-[4,3b] indolinium chloride (SMe1EC2) is a prospective antioxidant and neuroprotectant drug. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of SMe1EC2 on embryofetal development of rats.

METHODS: The substance tested was administered orally to Wistar/DV rats from day 6 to day 15 of gestation at the doses 5, 50 and 250 mg/kg/day. The animals were killed on day 20 of gestation and uterine content was inspected. Live fetuses were examined for gross, skeletal and visceral anomalies.

RESULTS: Administration of SMe1EC2 did not induce any signs of maternal toxicity. No adverse effect of the substance tested was found on reproductive variables. Morphological examination of fetuses revealed no evidence of teratogenesis.

CONCLUSION: The prenatal toxicity study showed that the substance SMe1EC2 tested did not have embryotoxic and teratogenic effects on developing rats. Neither were any signs of maternal toxicity found....

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