Lukačínová A.,

The results of our study suggest that the modified dialyzer with vitamin E provided more effective antioxidant defense than peroral administration of vitamin E in our hemodialysis patients.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of vitamin E and selenium administration on glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and selected parameters of cellular immunity (metabolic activity, phagocytic activity, lymphocyte blastogenic response). Nine pregnant sheep with body weight of 42 to 66 kg were divided into two groups. Before lambing, the first group (n = 5) was given subcutaneously 5 mg vitamin E and 0.4 mg selenium per kg body weight while the second group (n = 4) was given no treatment and served as control. Blood samples from all sheep were collected before the treatment, 14 days after lambing and 30 days after lambing. Whole blood GSH-Px activities were significantly higher in the vitamin E and selenium treated sheep than in the control in the samples taken 14 days after lambing and 30 days after lambing (P < 0.01; P < 0.001, respectively). The evaluation of immunological parameters showed declines in immunological parameters measured on days 14 and 30 after lambing. The administered preparation led to significant effects (P < 0.001; P < 0.05) on phagocytic activity index of leukocytes and phagocytic activity index of neutrophils, respectively.

No abstract

S100B serum protein marker seems to be an unrealiable screening tool for determination of an intracranial injury risk group due to low sensitivity and negative predictive value seen from samples taken greater than 3 h after an MTBI.

AbstractIn the current study, we evaluated the dynamics of oxidative stress markers in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Thirty consecutive patients with AMI with ST elevation were included. Plasma lipid peroxidation end product malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in blood plasma were evaluated. Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained prior to reperfusion and at five time points after reperfusion. The control group consisted of 20 ischemic patients without acute coronary syndrome. TAC in the AMI group at admission was lower than in control patients (1.26 + 0.32 vs. 1.52 + 0.24 mmol/l). Within 1 h after reperfusion, in most cases, values significantly declined (1 min, 1.10 + 0.33 mmol/l; 1 h, 1.06 + 0.21 mmol/l [p= 0.03]). After 3 h, values began to increase (1.14 + 0.29 mmol/l) and returned to basal values after 3 d (1.29 + 0.24 mmol/l). MDA levels in AMI patients at admission were higher than in control patients (1.66 + 0.55 vs. 1.44 + 0.55 mmol/l) but showed a sustained decrease over the 3 h after reperfusion of the occluded artery (1 min, 1.57 + 0.37 mmol/l; 1 h, 1.50 + 0.35 μmol/l; 3 h, 1.35 + 0.59 μmol/l [p = 0.03]). Reperfusion of the occluded coronary artery by PCI in AMI lead to an immediate decrease in TAC, suggesting formation of reactive oxygen species. However, the MDA level significantly decreased after reperfusion. This may suggests less reperfusion injury after PCI.

The aim of the study was to assess the age dependence on some physiological and serum chemistry parameters of male Wistar rats for the estimation of reference values in controlled environment. We are presenting values obtained from a large number of animals such as survival, average life span, body mass, food and water intake, serum chemistry parameters as total protein, albumin, transferrin and ferritin in serum. One part of this work compares the relationship between rat and human age. The maximal life span of our rats was determined to be about 4.4 years. The average life span was 3.75 years. The body weight quickly rose to the 85th week of life and then remained in the range of about 640-660 g up to the 163rd week when it began to decline. Food intake rose from the beginning to the maximum of about 39 g in the 33rd week and then decreased to about 20 g in the 163rd week. The water intake had a similar dynamics (about 43 mL in the 33rd week and 33 mL in the 163rd week). Levels of total protein in serum increased with age, in contrast, albumin levels decreased. Transferrin and ferritin decreased to approximately the 160th week of life and then increased.

Background: Some aspects of the pathophysiology of complications in multiple-trauma patients still remain unclear. Mediators of inflammation have been postulated as playing a key role in being responsible for life threatening complications of multiple trauma patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of procalcitonin (PCT) level in multiple trauma patients. Methods: A prospective study took place including patients with multiple trauma hospitalised in several hospital units. PCT level was measured in blood from 45 patients, aged 18-70 years using enzyme-linked immunoassay. The patients were divided into three groups: group I -individuals with multiple trauma with central nervous system injury; group II -those with multiple trauma without CNS injury; and group III -patients with isolated central nervous system injury. Results: Initial PCT levels were below 0.5 ng mL -1 regardless of the cause of trauma. In the 24 th hour of observation, a statistically significant increase of PCT concentration vs. initial levels was recorded in all groups of patients. Then PCT levels decreased significantly at the 3 rd measurement point in all groups, and they remained unchanged until the last measurement. The highest levels of PCT were observed in multiple trauma patients without CNS injury (group II). In this group of patients, a significantly longer duration of surgery in the post-trauma period affected PCT levels. PCT concentrations in patients who died were significantly greater than in survivors. Conclusions: A long lasting elevated concentration of procalcitonin in the post-traumatic period, or its repeated increase, is a good marker of developing complications observed earlier than clinical manifestations.