Cíl: Správný pooperační režim je důležitou součástí rekonvalescence po dekompresi karpálního tunelu. Cílem této prospektivní randomizované studie je zjistit, zda pooperační dočasné dlahování má klinicky významný efekt, nebo zda není naopak zbytečné. Výsledky dosud publikovaných prací nedávají jasné, prokazatelné a jednoznačné doporučení. Soubor a metodika: Do souboru bylo zařazeno celkem 72 pacientů s klinicky a elektromyograficky prokázaným syndromem karpálního tunelu, kteří byli randomizováni do dvou skupin. V první skupině byla pacientům po operaci na dva týdny přiložena dorzální dlaha fixující zápěstí v neutrální poloze a v druhé skupině dlaha použita nebyla. Před operací i po operaci byla hodnocena distální motorická latence, síla stisku a míra subjektivních obtíží pomocí specializovaných dotazníků DASH (Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire) a Bostonského dotazníku (Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire). Výsledky: Po operaci došlo ke zkrácení distální motorické latence a mírnému snížení síly stisku, ale mezi skupinami nebyly nalezeny statisticky významné rozdíly (p > 0,05). Po operaci došlo také k předpokládanému zmírnění subjektivních obtíží, objektivizovanému dotazníkovými koeficienty, ale mezi skupinami nebyl nalezen statisticky významný rozdíl (p > 0,05). Závěr: Podle našich zjištění dočasné dlahování po otevřené dekompresi karpálního tunelu ve srovnání s nedlahovanou skupinou nezlepšuje výsledky chirurgické léčby. Používání dlahy v této indikaci se jeví jako nadbytečné jak z lékařského, tak z ekonomického pohledu. Na druhou stranu dočasné dlahování po operaci výsledky operační léčby nezhoršuje., Aim: Correct post-operative care is an important part of recovery after carpal tunnel decompression. The aim of this prospective randomized study was to determine whether postoperative temporary splinting has a clinically significant effect, or whether it is unnecessary. The results of published data do not give clear, demonstrable and unambiguous recommendations. Material and methods: A total of 72 patients with clinically and electrodiagnostically established diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome were randomized into two groups. The first group included patients with a dorsal splint, fixing the wrist in a neutral position for two weeks after surgery, whereas the second group included patients, in whom the splint was not used after surgery. Distal motor latency, grip strength and degree of subjective symptoms were assessed before and after surgery using specific questionnaires, namely the DASH questionnaire (Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand) and the Boston questionnaire (Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire). Results: After surgery, there was a reduction of distal motor latency and a moderate reduction of grip strength, but there were no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) between the two groups. After surgery, the anticipated improvement of subjective symptoms was achieved, objectified by questionnaire coefficients. However, there was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) between the two groups either. Conclusion: According to our findings, temporary splinting after open carpal tunnel decompression does not improve the results of surgical treatment compared to the non-splinted group. Using the splint in this indication seems to be redundant from the medical and economic point of view. On the other hand, temporary splinting after surgery does not cause worsening of the results of surgical treatment. Key words: carpal tunnel syndrome – surgical decompression – immobilisation – splints – postoperative care – electromyography The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study. The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE “uniform requirements” for biomedical papers., and A. Fibír, R. Čáp, J. Vaněk
Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are a major source offibrous proteins in cirrhotic liver. Inducing or accelerating their apoptosis is a potential way of liver fibrosis treatment. Extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding cells in tissue affects their differentiation, migration, proliferation and function. Type I collagen is the main ECM component in fibrotic liver. We have examined how this protein modifies apoptosis of normal rat HSC induced by gliotoxin, cycloheximide and cytochalasin D in vitro and spontaneous apoptosis of HSC isolated from CCl4-damaged liver. We have found that type I collagen gel enhances HSC apoptosis regardless of the agent triggering this process. and L. Bittnerová, A. Jiroutová, E. Rudolf, M. Rezácová, J. Kanta
The effect of different host plants on Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) body size was investigated. Thrips from three different populations, from the Netherlands, Italy, and USA, achieved greater body sizes when reared on cucumber than on bean. The same thrips grew larger when reared on susceptible than on resistant cucumber. On the latter, reproduction was reduced, suggesting that smaller thrips have a lower reproduction. However, no evidence was found for a correlation between size and reproduction in experiments with thrips from four different populations, from the Netherlands, New Zealand, France, and USA that differed significantly in body size. Also when individual thrips from the four populations were tested, there was no correlation between size and reproduction. It is concluded that resistant cucumber affects both size and reproduction of F. occidentalis. However, lower reproduction in general is not associated with smaller body size., Willem Jan de Kogel, Domenico Bosco, Marieke van der Hoek, Chris Mollema, and Lit
The occurrence of melatonin is known in nearly all organisms, but nothing is known exactly about its function outside of vertebrates. Long-term perifusions as well as short-term batch incubations of brains and moulting glands of the cockroach Periplaneta americana were used to identify the effect of melatonin on the release of prothoracicotropic hormone, a glandotropic neuropeptide in the brain, which stimulates the production of the moulting hormone ecdysone in the moulting gland. This is the first experimental evidence of a neurohormonal releasing effect of melatonin in the insect nervous system., Klaus Richter, Elmar Peschke, Dorothee Peschke, and Lit