Few studies concerning the importance of wheat allergy affecting the course of atopic eczema in adolescents and adult patients exist. Aim: The evaluation if wheat allergy can deteriorate the course of atopic eczema. Follow-up of patients with confirmed food allergy to wheat. Method: Altogether 179 persons suffering from atopic eczema were included in the study: 51 men and 128 women entered the study with an average age of 26.2 (s.d. 9.5 years) Dermatological and allergological examinations were performed, including skin prick tests, atopy patch tests, and specific serum IgE for wheat, open exposure test and double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge test with wheat flour. Results: Wheat allergy affecting the coures of atopic eczema was confirmed in eight patients (4.5%) out of 179 patients enrolled in this study by double-blind, placebo controlled food challenge test. The course of atopic eczema showed a positive trend in patients with confirmed food allergy at 3, 6, 9, 12 month follow-up (statistical evaluation with paired t-test) after the elimination of wheat flour. Conclusion: Wheat allergy may play an important role in the worsening of atopic eczema (acting as a triggering exacerbating factor) only in a minority of adolescents and adult patients (4.5% in our study). The diagnostic methods (skin prick test, specific IgE, atopy patch test, history) cannot be used as separated tests for the determination of food allergy to wheat in patients with atopic eczema.Open exposure tests and double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge should be used for the confirmation of wheat allergy affecting the course of atopic eczema., Jarmila Čelakovská, Květuše Ettlerová, Karel Ettler, Jaroslava Vaněčková, Josef Bukač, and Literatura 34
Regulatory T cells (Treg) are a specialized subpopulation of T cells that act to suppress inadequate immune response. Psoriasis is recognized as a T -cell driven immune-mediated systemic inflammatory disease with skin manifestation. Effective therapeutical approach to treat psoriasis is Goeckerman therapy (GT ). The aim of this study was to compare the number of Treg in the peripheral blood of 27 psoriatic patients and 19 controls and to evaluate the influence of GT on Treg population in peripheral blood of patients with psoriasis. There was no significant difference in the relative number of Treg cells in the peripheral blood of healthy blood donors and patients with psoriasis before initiation of GT (P = 0.2668). In contrary, the relative number of Treg cells in peripheral blood of patients with psoriasis after GT was significantly higher than those found in healthy blood donors (P = 0.0019). Moreover, the relative number of Treg is significantly increased in psoriatic patients after Goeckerman therapy compared to the pre-treatment level (P = 0.0042). In conclusion, this significant increase in Treg count after GT is probably associated with amelioration of inflammation by GT , as disease activity expressed as PASI decreased in our patients by GT (P = 0.0001)., Kateřina Kondělková, Doris Vokurková, Jan Krejsek, Lenka Borská, Zdeněk Fiala, Květa Hamáková, Ctirad Andrýs, and Literatura 39
Cíl: Cílem studie je stanovit prevalenci chronického selhání ledvin u 101 pacientů s monoklonální gamapatií neurčeného významu (MGUS). Typ studie: retrospektivní studie. Materiál a metody: Porovnali jsme glomerulární filtraci odhadovanou ze sérového kreatininu a cystatinu C a hodnotili jsme korelaci mezi koncentrací volných lehkých řetězců v séru a funkcí ledvin. U všech pacientů jsme provedli elektroforézu pro - teinů séra s denzitometrickou kvantifikací monoklonálního imunoglobulinu a změřili jsme koncentraci kreatininu, cystatinu C, volných lehkých řetězců kappa a lambda, β 2 mikroglobulinu. Výsledky: Chronické selhání ledvin jsme nalezli u 38,6 % pacientů na základě odhadu ze sérového cystatinu C a u 34,6 % pacientů na základě odhadu ze sérového kreatininu. B2mikroglobulin má největší počet významných korelací; cystatin C (0,90), CysC GFR (-0,69), Kreatinin (0,70), MDRD GFR (-0,60), MIg koncentrace (0,24), κ FLC (0,22) λ FLC (0,34) a věk (0,40). Tento velký počet korelací lze vysvětlit tím, že β 2mikroglobulin odráží jak zátěž organismu maligními buňkami, tak pokles glomerulární filtrace. Závěr: Chronické selhání ledvin jsme nalezli u 38,6 % pacientů při odhadu glomerulární filtrace z cystatinu C a u 34,6 % při odhadu ze sérového kreatininu. Třída monoklonálního imunoglobulinu může mít vliv na výsledky odhadu glomerulární filtrace ze sérového cystatinu C, odhad glomerulární filtrace ze sérového kreatininu není ovlivněn třídou imunoglobulinu. Diabetici neměli statisticky signifikantně nižší glomerulární filtraci než pacienti bez diabetu mellitu., Background: Renal function is more frequently decreased in patients with monoclonal gammopathy. 10 % of patients with multiple myeloma present with acute renal failure and renal function is included in CRAB criteria for the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of chronic renal failure (CRF), defined as a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) below 1.0 ml/s/1.73m 2 , in 101 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Design: retrospective study Material and methods: We compared GFR estimates from serum creatinine (MDRD GFR) and serum cystatin C (CysC GFR) and looked at the correlation between free light chains (FLC) concentration and renal markers. We performed serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) with quantification of monoclonal intact immunoglobulin (MIg) and measured serum creatinine, cysta - tin C, κ and λ FLC and β 2microglobulin in all patients. Results: We found CRF in 38.6% patients using estimation from serum cystatin C and 34.6 % using estimation from serum creatinine. B2microglobulin has the highest number of significant correlations; cystatin C (0.90), CysC GFR (-0.69), crea - tinine (0.70), MDRD GFR (-0.60), MIg concentration (0.24), κ FLC (0.22) λ FLC (0.34) and age (0.40). The best correlation results may be explained by the fact that β 2microglobulin reflects both malignant cells burden and renal function. Conclusions: We found CRF in 38.6 % MGUS patients using estimation from serum cystatin C and in 34.6 % using estima - tion from serum creatinine. The class of monoclonal immunoglobulin may influence results of glomerular filtration estimated from cystatin C but it does not influence GFR estimated from creatinine. Diabetic patients had not significantly lower GFR than patients without diabetes mellitus., Šálek T., Moravčíková D., Humpolíček P., Tichý M., Palička V., and Literatura
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal problems among Czech dentists and to analyze the factors that affect these disorders. Information was gathered through questionnaire completed by 581 physicians. The questionnaire ascertained general information about physicians including their work habits and the characteristics of their work environment along with the occurrence of musculoskeletal problems as well as their intensity. In the past year the occurrence of at least mild difficulties associated with the locomotive system was reported by 96.9% of dentists surveyed (n = 557), with 66.3% of respondents (n = 381) reporting difficulties ofa moderate or major nature. Most respondents of both sexes indicated neck pain. A statistically significant correlation with the occurrence of musculoskeletal complaints of medium and major intensity was demonstrated for the following factors: sex, age, running a private practice, past injury or musculoskeletal diseases, and the perception of work as psychologically demanding. Musculoskeletal disorders in dentists in Czech Republic are relatively frequent and serious health problem. The causes of these diseases must be identified and appropriate preventive interventions undertaken that will contribute to a reduction in the incidence of these problems. and Z. Sustová, L. Hodacová, M. Kapitán
Cíl práce: Lipoperoxidace je dávána do příčinné souvislosti s rozvojem nejdůležitějších rizikových faktorů kardiovaskulárních onemocnění. Lipoperoxidační procesy jsou důsledkem reakcí lipidů s volnými radikály bez ohledu na jejich původ. Vztah mezi triacylglyceroly (TAG) a volnými radikály (VR) není zcela jasný. Může se dokonce stát, že hypertriacylglycerolémie je doprovázena nízkými koncentracemi VR a naopak. Jedno z možných vysvětlení spočívá ve vztahu lipoperoxidace a složení mastných kyselin v molekulách TAG. Cílem této studie bylo analyzovat vztah složení mastných kyselin v TAG a produkci VR u pacientů trpících diabetes mellitus 2. typu. Typ studie: observační s kontrolní skupinou Materiál a metody: Studie zahrnovala 18 normotriacylglycerolemických (NTG) jedinců (M/F 12/6) a 24 hypertriacylglycerolemických (HTG) jedinců (M/F 16/8). Pacienti v obou skupinách byli diabetici 2. typu. Analýzu mastných kyselin v triacylglycerolech plazmy jsme provedli kapilární plynovou chromatografií a koncentrace volných radikálů byly změřeny přímou spektrofotometrií. Statistické analýzy (parametrické i neparametrické) byly provedeny pomocí statistického software STATISTICA pro Windows. Výsledky: Ve skupině HTG jsme pozorovali nižší zastoupení kyseliny myristové (14:0) (1.62 [1.23-2.07] vs. 1.90 [1.72-2.79], p = 0.022, [medián (1.-3. kvartil]) a vyšší poměr alfa-linolenové kyseliny (18:3n-3) (1.51 [1.21-1.86] vs 1.16 [1.02-1.42], p = 0.021). Poměr kyselin arachidonové/eikosapentaenové byl ve skupině HTG nižší (5.54 [3.62-7.98] vs 7.25 [5.98-15.12], p = 0.027). Když jsme HTG skupinu dále rozdělili podle koncentrací VR na tercily, prokázali jsme nižší hodnoty poměru kyseliny arachidonová/eikosapentaenová ve druhém tercilu (4.05 [2.66-4.67] vs 7.64 [5.83-11.00], 1. tercil, a 6.21 [3.20-8.31], 3. tercil p = 0.019). V spojených HTG+NTG skupinách jsme zaznamenali negativní korelaci mezi MA a TAG (r = -0.3153, p = 0.045). V triaclylglycerolech jsme prokázali pozitivní korelace VR a kyseliny stearové (p < 0.001) spolu s negativní korelací některých n-6 vícenenasycených mastných kyselin (18:3n-6, p < 0.05, 22:5n-6, p < 0.01). Závěr: Zastoupení mastných kyselin v molekulách TAG je spojeno s tvorbou VR. Nicméně do tohoto vztahu vstupují i jiné faktory., Objective: The lipoperoxidation plays a causal role in the development of most important risk factors of cardiovascular disease. The lipoperoxidation results from the reaction of lipid molecules with free radicals, regardless of their origin. The relationship between triacylglycerols (TAG) and the free radicals (FR) amount is not clear. Thus, it can turn up that the hypertriacylglyceridaemia is accompanied with the low values of FR, or vice versa. One possible explanation of this phenomenon is that the degree of lipoperoxidation of TAG is dependent on the composition of fatty acids (FA) in their molecule. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze FA composition in TAG and its relationship to FR production in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Design: observational study with internal control group Material and Methods: 18 normotriacylglycerolemic (NTG) individuals (12M/6F) and 24 hypertriacylglycerolemic (HTG) patients (16M/8F). Patients in both groups were persons, suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus. Fatty acid analysis of plasma triacylglycerols was performed by gas chromatography and free radicals were determined by direct spectrophotometric method. Statistical analyses (both parametric and non-parametric) were performed with the statistical software STATISTICA for Windows. Results: We found lower content of myristic acid (14:0) (1.62 [1.23-2.07] vs. 1.90 [1.72-2.79], p = 0.022, [median (1st-3rd quartile)]) and higher content of alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) (1.51 [1.21-1.86] vs. 1.16 [1.02-1.42], p = 0.021) in HTG group. The ratio of arachidonic/eicosapentaenoic acid was in HTG group lower (5.54 [3.62-7.98] vs. 7.25 [5.98-15.12], p = 0.027). When the HTG group was stratified into the tertiles by the FR concentrations, we observed lower values in the second tertile for ratios based on arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) (4.05 [2.66-4.67] vs. 7.64 [5.83-11.00], 1st tertile, and 6.21 [3.20-8.31], 3rd tertile, p = 0.019). In pooled groups, we proved negative correlation between MA and TAG (r = -0.3153, p = 0.045) and the link between FR and FA composition of TAG expressed as positive relationship of FR with content of stearic acid (p < 0.001) and negative correlation with some n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (18:3n-6, p < 0.05, 22:5n-6, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The composition of FA in TAG molecules has undoubtedly some relationship to the FR generation. However, the other factors seem to play a role, since the relationship is not straightforward within entire FR range., and Vecka M., Tvrzická E., Votruba M.
Cíl studie: Cílem studie bylo zjištění vztahů mezi manifestací tinnitu, nálezem na sluchových evokovaných potenciálech a genetickým pozadím u receptoru pro gamaaminomáselnou kyselinu typu A (GABA(A) receptor), podporující desinhibiční hypotézu vzniku tinnitu. Soubor a metodika: Bylo vyšetřeno 131 pacientů z hlediska sluchové ztráty, provedena kvantifikace tinnitu, sluchové evokované potenciály střední latence (MLR) a kmenové sluchové evokované potenciály (BAEP) a dále stanovení genotypu (CA)n repetitivní sekvence pro beta‑3 podjednotku GABA(A) receptoru. Následně byly hledány vztahy mezi jednotlivými výsledky a manifestací tinnitu. Výsledky: Byla nalezena korelace tinnitus skóre s amplitudovým poměrem vln V/III v BAEP (R = 0,22, p < 0,001) a s průměrným sluchovým prahem (R = 0,22, p = 0,17). Rovněž byla nalezena korelace tinnitus skóre s amplitudou vlny PA v MLR (R = 0,31–0,37; p < 0,001). Výsledky MLR neukázaly žádný vztah k průměrnému sluchovému prahu. U skupiny s kratší anamnézou tinnitu (méně než devět měsíců) byl prokázán rozdíl v manifestaci tinnitu na genotypu pro (CA)n repetitivní sekvenci genu pro beta‑3 podjednotku GABA(A) receptoru (p = 0,002). Tento výsledek byl rovněž konzistentní s rozložením amplitudy vlny PA v dané subpopulaci. Závěr: Tyto výsledky svědčí o existenci dvou hlavních regulačních mechanizmů vzniku tinnitu: první, který je závislý na velikosti sluchové ztráty, je na úrovni mozkového kmene, zatímco druhý je na úrovni korové s možnou souvislostí s genotypem (CA)n repetitivní sekvence pro beta‑3 podjednotku GABA(A) receptoru., Study aim:Study objective was to explore associations between manifestation of tinnitus, auditory evoked potentials and genetic background of gamma‑aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A) receptors) to support the disinhibited feedback hypothesis of tinnitus generation. Materials and methods: A population of 131 patients was assessed for severity of hearing loss, quantification of tinnitus, mid‑latency responses (MLR) and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP), and (CA)n tandem repeat polymorphism in GABA(A) Beta‑3 subunit gene to establish any correlation with manifestation of tinnitus. Results: It was observed that tinnitus score correlates with V/III amplitude ratio in BAEP (R = 0.22, p < 0.001) and with mean pure tone audiometry (PTA) threshold (R = 0.22, p = 0.017). Analysis of the MLR results showed a significant correlation between the PA wave amplitude and the tinnitus score (R = 0.31–0.37; p < 0.001). MLR result analysis showed no statistically significant correlation between the wave amplitudes and the mean auditory threshold. An analysis of a subgroup with shorter clinical history (less than nine months) revealed a statistically significant difference in the tinnitus score in relation to the genotype of (CA)n tandem repeat of the GABRß3 receptor subunit gene (p = 0.002). This result was also consistent with the distribution of the PA wave amplitude in the given subpopulation. Conclusion: Our findings indicate existence of two main regulatory mechanisms of tinnitus generation: first, the brainstem mechanism is dependent on the severity of the hearing loss; second, the cortical mechanism is likely to be dependent on the genotype of (CA)n tandem repeat in GABA(A) beta‑3 subunit gene., and J. Rottenberg, M. Zallmann, R. Kostrica, M. Jurajda, T. Talach
BACKGROUND: The presence of several risk factors (genetic and non-genetic) has greater impact on the risk of premature coronary artery disease (CAD) than single risk factor. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to establish possible relations between genotypes and alleles of 677C>T polymorphism of MTHFR gene and some traditional risk factors e.g. elevated levels of lipid parameters and smoking in development of premature CAD. METHODS: The groups comprised 152 patients with angiographically documented premature CAD (aged 42.9 +/- 5.5) and 121 age-matched blood donors (aged 42.3 +/- 6.5) were studied. The MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism was genotyped with Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. RESULTS: Patients with TT genotype who simultaneously smoked had increased risk of premature CAD compared to non-smoking cases with CC genotype (OR = 24.62). We also found that individuals with TT genotype and elevated LDL-cholesterol (LDL-chol.) level had significantly higher risk of CAD (OR = 9.92) than individuals with normal LDL-chol. level and CC genotype. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that simultaneous presence of MTHFR TT genotype and smoking or elevated levels of LDL-chol. influences the risk of premature CAD. This findings give interesting contribution to gene-environment interaction problem that may have clinical implications in the future. and B. Sarecka-Hujar, I. Zak, J. Krauze
Rubber dam is considered an ideal device for tooth isolation. Nevertheless, its usage is quite rare in the Czech Republic. The aim of this study was: firstly, to gather and evaluate information regarding the use of rubber dam by dentists in the Czech Republic and to compare it with other countries; secondly to find out whether there are any influencing factors as to rubber dam usage; and finally to find out frequency of rubber dam use separately in endodontic treatment and in placing fillings of different materials. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted. Dentists filled in the questionnaires during dental conventions, educational events, conferences and congresses. Rubber dam was routinely used by less than eight per cent of the respondents (n = 35); less than twenty-two per cent of the respondents (n = 97) used rubber dam occasionally, and more than seventy per cent of the respondents (n = 317) has never use it. The results showed that rubber dam is not used frequently in the Czech Republic. If rubber dam is used, then it is typically for endodontic treatment or composite fillings. There were several factors with a statistically significant influence on the usage of rubber dam, such as gender, length of professional career, percentage of direct payments, previous experience in using rubber dam, and undergraduate training in rubber dam use., Martin Kapitán, Zdeňka Šustová, and Literatura 22
Introduction: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease characterized by the development of osteoproductive changes in the spine which could possibly result in ankylosis. Treatment with tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) inhibitors has proved to be an important step forward in the treatment of this disease, but for the time being it is not clear whether it favourably influences radiographic progression of the disease. Vascular endothelial growth factor most probably plays a role in the development of osteoproductive changes and recently its predictive influence on radiographic progression has been demonstrated. Bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP-2) participates in the regulation of bone proliferation and its increased serum level has been demonstrated in patients with advanced AS and correlated with the degree of radiographic changes. Aim: The study aims to evaluate the VEGF and BMP-2 levels in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and how these levels relate to the concurrent treatment with TNFα inhibitors. Methods: Sera were evaluated from patients at the Rheumatologic Clinic of the Hradec Králové Faculty Hospital who fulfilled the modified New York Criteria for AS (n = 55). In these patients, the parameters of the activity of the disease (BASDAI = Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, CRP = C-reactive protein) and the concurrent therapy (TNFα inhibitors, n = 21, vs. non-anti TNFα, n = 34) were recorded. The levels of VEGF and BMP-2 were analyzed using the ELISA method. Results: In patients treated with TNFα inhibitors, a significantly lower VEGF level was found when compared to untreated patients (140.3 (109.4; 262.2) vs. 261 (172.4; 396.6) pg/ml; p = 0.02). No difference was found between BMP-2 levels in both groups (treated vs. untreated patients) (254.8 (2301; 267.3) vs. 261.1 (248.6; 273.5) pg/ml; p = 0.24). A correlation analysis did not reveal any relationship between VEG F and BMP-2 (r = 0.057; p = 0.68). Serum levels of VEGF correlated with serum levels of CRP (r = 0.56; p = 0.00001) and the BASDAI value (r = 0.33; p = 0.015). Conclusion: Significantly lower VEGF levels were found in patients treated with TNFα inhibitors versus the untreated patients. These findings are in harmony with some hitherto published analyses and may give evidence of a favourable effect of TNFα inhibitors on radiographic progression. Neither influence on the BMP-2 level by treatment with TNFα inhibitors nor correlation with VEGF levels was demonstrated. and M. Tošovský, P. Bradna, C. Andrýs, K. Andrýsová, E. Čermáková, T. Soukup
BACKGROUND: The current treatment of hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) consists of performing periodic whole blood phlebotomies. Erythrocytapheresis (EA) can remove up to three times more red blood cells per single procedure and could thus have a clinical benefit. A prospective study of 30 consecutive cases of HH were included in a periodic EA program. METHODS AND PATIENTS: EA were performed using a discontinuous flow cell separators. The protocol consisted of a bimonthly EA until normalization of the serum ferritin was reached. The aim was to reduce the total erythrocyte volume by 25-35%, eventually, to adjust the amount so that hematocrit would not drop below 0.25. RESULTS: 530 +/- 101 ml of erythrocytes were removed (median 517, range 116-761 ml). Iron depletion (ferritin < 20 microg/l) was achieved in all patients after a mean 6.9 +/- 7.6 months, median 5 months, range 1-36 months and a mean 14 EA sessions. The procedures were well tolerated and there were no severe side-effects. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that HH patients treated with EA achieved iron depletion quickly under good conditions of tolerance. The efficacy, speed, tolerability, and more favorable schedule of an EA program facilitate treatment of HH. and V. Rehácek, M. Bláha, H. Jirousová, J. Cernohorská, P. Papousek