Bratislava Medical Journal-Bratislavske Lekarske Listy最新文献

Objective: Astrocytes undergo morphological and molecular changes in response to numerous pathological conditions.

Backround: Increased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) has been reported as a characteristic feature of reactive astrocytes. However, GFAP-positive cells occur rarely in adult human brain cultures. These cultures are mostly composed of flat GFAP-negative "glia-like" cells, which remain poorly characterized in relation to reactive astrogliosis.

Methods: We examined the cultures from macroscopically injured and normal brain tissue from patients with brain trauma, gliomas, or brain metastases. Immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical methods were used for reactive astrocytes detection.

Results: The intensity of GFAP-positive staining was higher in reactive astrocytes in the brain tissue surrounding gliomas or metastases and lower in brain tissue damaged by traumatic injury. We did not observe any correlation between GFAP-positive reactive astrocytes in cultures and brain tissue. However, we found rapidly proliferating spindle-shaped cells in cultures prepared from injured brain tissue.

Conclusion: Present data demonstrate the unexplained phenomenon of disparate cell morphologies in cultures when prepared either from macroscopically normal or injured human brain tissue. While normal cultures are mainly comprised of flat cells, the cultures from severely damaged brain tissue may be entirely composed of spindle-shaped cells usually classified as fibroblasts. We suggest that this spindle-shaped cellular morphology is not specific for fibroblasts, but it rather can be interpreted as the most favorable shape for rapid cell proliferation under culture conditions. After brain trauma, unknown processes may be triggered, such as induced cell proliferation which can be revealed under culture condition. Accordingly, we conclude that spindle-shaped cells are activated precursors of glial cells (Fig. 3, Ref. 15).

The Arctic region's unfavorable living conditions adversely affect the spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, This, in turn, can also lead to increased morbidity and mortality rates in the area due to a number of factors such as climate, environment, and high prevalence rate of pre-existing health issues like diabetes, obesity, and respiratory infections. These circumstances adversely affect maintaining the level of working capability. The aim of this paper is to investigate the ratio of immunocompetent cells involved in the adaptive post-COVID-19 immune response. The research includes an immunological assessment of 29 women aged 20-40 years residing in Arkhangelsk, Russia, six months after recovering from COVID-19. The count of leukocytes in the peripheral blood and their differential were evaluated using standard methods to assess the immunological status. To delve deeper into the immunological landscape, phenotypes of lymphocytes (CD5+, CD8+, CD10+, and CD95+) were evaluated using an indirect immunoperoxidase reaction with monoclonal antibodies on dried drop lymphocyte preparations. After incubating blood with latex molecules, the activity and quantity of phagocytes were assessed using a light microscope. The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio was found to be inverted in the female subjects under investigation. The high concentration of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CD8+) and lymphocytes with apoptotic receptors (CD95+) suggests a potential correlation with a concurrent reduction in the expression of the total T-cell marker (CD5+) across all cases. This association was further linked to a decrease in lymphoproliferative activity and a relative decline in phagocytic activity. These findings led us to posit that the total recovery time after COVID-19 might extend beyond six months, indicative of a prolonged impact on the body's protective capacity. Our observations prompt the hypothesis that cellular immunity plays a crucial role in determining the severity of COVID-19 infection. Specifically, individuals with initially robust phagocytic activity may be predisposed to experiencing a milder form of the infection. However, this assumption warrants further investigation and clarification in individuals with moderate and severe disease progression (Tab. 1, Ref. 17). Keywords: arctic, COVID-19, cytotoxic t-lymphocytes, apoptosis, lymphoproliferation, cellular immunity, phagocytic activity.

Background: Long-COVID refers to a variety of symptoms that continue for at least 4 weeks following the onset of acute COVID-19 infection. "Microclots/microvasculopathy" is a potential cutting-edge theory. Nailfold capillaroscopy is a non-invasive method used to assess microvascularity. In this study, we aimed to compare baseline characteristics and capillaroscopic findings of patients with and without long-COVID syndrome.

Methods: Baseline clinical characteristics of 53 patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were recorded. At the time of COVID-19 diagnosis, patients underwent nailfold capillaroscopy. One year later, patients were rescreened for long-COVID symptoms. Comparisons were made between patients with and without long-COVID syndrome in terms of their baseline characteristics and capillaroscopic findings.

Results: There were 35 individuals (66%) with long-COVID syndrome. The most common symptoms related to long-COVID were fatigue (43.4%), myalgia (34%), arthralgia (20.8%), dyspnea (20.8%). In total, 22 patients (41.5%) had abnormal capillaroscopy findings. Like other baseline characteristics, the proportion of patients with abnormal capillaroscopic findings (40% vs 44%, p=0.76) was similar between patients with and without long-COVID syndrome.

Conclusion: Microvasculopathy and microthrombotic vascular damage are among the strongest hypotheses discussed in this regard. Our results may suggest that factors, rather than baseline microvasculopathy, may drive pathophysiological mechanism underlying the poorly understood long-COVID syndrome (Tab. 2, Ref. 35).

Objectives: Numerous studies consistently report on the frequent presence of low-grade systemic inflammation in individuals with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (BD), and depression. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and a recently established marker, systemic immune inflammation index (SII), are markers used to assess systemic inflammation and immune response. In this study, NLR and SII index values were examined and compared across patients diagnosed with major psychiatric disorders and healthy controls.

Methods: The study included, totaling 129 patients, encompassed individuals who were diagnosed with schizophrenia in remission or BD in the euthymic period, and those undergoing treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). The control group consisted of 62 healthy individuals. White blood cell (WBC), neutrophil, lymphocyte, platelet, and monocyte counts obtained retrospectively from complete blood profiles served as the basis for calculating NLR and SII values.

Results: In this study, higher WBC, neutrophil counts, NLR, and SII values were observed in schizophrenia and BD patients compared to the control group. In patients with MDD, no significant difference was found in terms of inflammatory blood cell markers compared to healthy controls. Higher NLR and Sİİ values were found in patients with schizophrenia and BD compared to patients with MDD.

Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that the significant difference in NLR and SII values persists after treatment in patients with schizophrenia and BD, and that the abnormal inflammatory response continues during the treatment process (Tab. 2, Ref. 41).

Ntroduction: The last two decades have been leading to the development of several types of surgical techniques and procedures to manage the LHB lesions. This paper analyses and compares the difference in muscle strength pre- and post-operatively in two most commonly used surgical procedures - LHB tenotomy and tenodesis.

Method: The study includes 68 patients who underwent surgery between 2016 and 2020. The patients who had met the prospective study inclusion criteria were divided into two groups based on type of surgery they had undergone (LHB tenotomy or tenodesis); each group consisted of 34. The muscle strength during elbow flexion was measured preoperatively and postoperatively using the Commander Echo Console ultrasound muscle testing device. All patients enrolled in the study had been assessed for elbow flexion strength preoperatively. The muscle strength was measured preoperatively and then 3 years postoperatively (12 to 60 months) on average.

Conclusion: The study confirmed that the patients who had undergone LHB tenodesis show a significantly lower decrease in elbow flexion strength and a significantly lower incidence of "Popeye" deformity than the patients after LHB tenotomy. Moreover, in the tenodesis group, it was possible to initiate rehabilitation earlier. The incidence of postoperative complications was almost identical in both groups of patients (Tab. 10, Fig. 6, Ref. 40).

The efficacy of taxane‑containing regimens has been demonstrated for various cancers, particularly ovarian, endometrial, breast, lung, and prostate cancers. However, extensive taxane-induced toxicities limit their use. Prediction and management of many toxic complications in cancer patients have evolved significantly over the last decade. Peripheral neuropathy is the most typical non-hematological taxane-related complication, and it has a multifactorial pathogenesis. It is often dose-dependent and progressive during therapy and sometimes even after treatment. Unfortunately, the prediction of these common adverse events remains unclear. In the past few years, several polymorphisms of candidate genes with a possible role in the development of this consequence were studied. This minireview aims to highlight the critical yet underappreciated roles of genetic predictors that may increase susceptibility to taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients (Ref. 40). Keywords: taxanes, paclitaxel, docetaxel, peripheral neuropathy, risk factors, genetic polymorphisms.

Introduction: In patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains the priority treatment option as the most effective prevention of relapse. When an HLA-matched sibling is available, these transplants are preferred.

Objectives: We stratificated patients according to risk, disease state (an active disease, the 1st or 2nd complete remission ‒ CR1, CR2, which was achieved after the 1st or 2nd induction) and type of graft (from brother or sister). Finally, the overall survival (OS) of patients in individual groups was evaluated.

Material and methods: The retrospective single-center study included 104 transplantations in 97 adult patients with AML who underwent HSCT from matched sibling donor in a period of 10 years between January 2011 and December 2020.

Results: 54 patients (55.7%) were alive as of the January 1, 2022. The median OS of the entire group, as well as the cohort with favorable (5y-OS 75.0%) and intermediate prognosis risk (5y‒OS 78.5%) was not reached. We found that patients, who required second induction therapy to achieve CR, had poorer OS after allogeneic HSCT, median 20.7 months (95% CI, 6.5-35.5) than those who achieved CR after first induction, median not reached (95% CI, 63.5‒63.5, p=0.0048). Statistically significant effect on OS shows transplantation in CR2 (HR 6.76, CI 95% 2.19‒20.80, p=0.0009), In addition, this parameter influenced OS more than achieving CR up to the 2nd induction course (HR 2.44, CI 95% 1.17‒5.11; p=0.0180) or entry to transplantation without CR (HR 2.81, CI 95% 1.09‒7.26; p=0.0326).

Conclusion: The results presented in the work show the high efficiency of HSCT in each risk group. The number of induction therapies required to achieve CR is a good prognostic factor. The gender of a sibling has no impact on OS (Tab. 11, Fig. 7, Ref. 18). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: acute myeloid leukemia, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, overall survival, remission status, donor tender.

Objectives: The study aims to investigate how changes in the conductance of axonal (Na+) and calcium (Ca2+) ion channels affect the generation, course, excitability and firing rate of action potentials in a model of Purkinje cell neurons.

Methods: The NEURON Simulator was utilized with a Purkinje cell model to investigate generation, time to first spike, firing rate and pattern of action potential (AP) as well as neuronal excitability in relation to the influence of magnetic field on axonal ion channels.

Results: The downregulation of axonal Na+ and Ca2+ conductance led to a significant delay in the generation of the first spike, with completely blocked action potential generation when downregulated by 75%. Conversely, upregulation of axonal Na+ and Ca2+ conductance accelerated the emergence of the first spike.

Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that alterations in ion channel conductance influence the timing and generation of action potentials, suggesting that magnetic fields can modulate neuronal behaviour (Tab. 4, Fig. 12, Ref. 34). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: axon, ion channels, conductance, action potential, magnetic field, Purkinje cell.

Objectives: Computational neuroscience uses a neuron model to investigate the behavior of a neuron under different stimuli e.g. magnetic field. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of conductivity change of sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) ion channels on the generation and course of action potential, excitability and firing rate of neuron.

Methods: HHSim (Hodgkin-Huxley) graphical simulator was used for investigation of generation and firing rate of action potential (AP) and investigation of neuronal excitability.

Results: Na+ channel downregulation of conductance reveals a decrease of AP amplitude, and upregulation an increase of amplitude. Higher conductance of Na+ channel leads to higher firing rate from the value 53 HZ to 66 Hz. K+ channel downregulation of conductance reveals an increase of AP amplitude. Lower conductance of K+ channel leads to higher firing rate from the value 62 HZ to 68 Hz. K+ channel upregulation of conductance shows a decrease of AP amplitude.

Conclusion: From the results it can be drawn that effect of conductivity change as a result of magnetic field is significant and can leads to change of neurons. uman brain cultures, often termed "glia-like" cells (Tab. 4, Fig. 6, Ref. 21).

Background: The pathophysiology of mental illnesses is not fully understood, leading to insufficient remission, frequent adverse drug reactions, and treatment resistance. Pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing, a personalized approach recently adopted also in psychiatry, can guide effective drug therapy and minimize side effects. The objective of this study was to determine the perspective of Slovak clinicians regarding the integration of PGx testing in psychiatric clinical practice.

Methods: Questionnaires covering various aspects such as prior experience with PGx testing, self-perceived competence, perceived utility, potential risks and challenges were distributed directly to attendees at two psychiatric conferences held in Slovakia in 2023 and their responses were statistically analysed.

Results: Out of 54 respondents, only 7.4% had previous experience with PGx in clinical practice. The most clinicians felt that they should possess the skills to apply PGx testing in psychiatric clinical practice and were enthusiastic about increasing their expertise. They found PGx useful in medication selection, adverse effect management, and treatment-resistant depression. The primary concerns centered around the lack of well-defined guidelines and the financial considerations linked to the testing.

Conclusions: Considering the participants' interest in PGx and its integration into clinical practice, educational programmes based on recommendations, guidelines, and convincing evidence could be organized (Tab. 4, Ref. 30). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: pharmacogenetics, pharmacogenomics, psychiatry, personalized treatment, Slovakia, perspective.