Permanent urethral catheter - a good servant, but bad master: Guidelines for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of catheter-associated urinary tract infections.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) are among the most common healthcare-associated infections, which increase morbidity, mortality, prolong the length of hospitalization and have a significant impact on the cost of treatment. The most efficient preventive method is removing catheters as soon as possible and avoid unnecessary catheterizations. Treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria is not recommended. In cases of serious CAUTI, vigorous antibiotic therapy covering multidrug-resistant uropathogens should be initiated. These recommendations are intended for all medical specialties to improve the care of patients with indwelling catheters in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of CAUTI in primary care and subsequent long-term care.

Allelic Variants for Candidate Nitrogen Fixation Genes Revealed by Sequencing in Red Clover (Trifolium pratense L.).

Plant-rhizobia symbiosis can activate key genes involved in regulating nodulation associated with biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). Although the general molecular basis of the BNF process is frequently studied, little is known about its intraspecific variability and the characteristics of its allelic variants. This study's main goals were to describe phenotypic and genotypic variation in the context of nitrogen fixation in red clover (Trifolium pretense L.) and identify variants in BNF candidate genes associated with BNF efficiency. Acetylene reduction assay validation was the criterion for selecting individual plants with particular BNF rates. Sequences in 86 key candidate genes were obtained by hybridization-based sequence capture target enrichment of plants with alternative phenotypes for nitrogen fixation. Two genes associated with BNF were identified: ethylene response factor required for nodule differentiation (EFD) and molybdate transporter 1 (MOT1). In addition, whole-genome population genotyping by double-digest restriction-site-associated sequencing (ddRADseq) was performed, and BNF was evaluated by the natural 15N abundance method. Polymorphisms associated with BNF and reflecting phenotype variability were identified. The genetic structure of plant accessions was not linked to BNF rate of measured plants. Knowledge of the genetic variation within BNF candidate genes and the characteristics of genetic variants will be beneficial in molecular diagnostics and breeding of red clover.

[Prostate cancer]. / Karcinom prostaty.

Malignant prostate tumors rank with its incidence among the most frequent tumors in man in Czech Republic. Adenocarcinoma of the prostate due to its unusual behavior occupy especial position among solid tumors. Large group of these tumors are at least initially sensitive to hormonal therapy. After the introduction of PSA in the diagnostic methods we can gradually see shift of the new cases of prostate cancer to the localised stage. Those are relatively curable. Movement to less localized stage diminishes the chance of recovery, but even the metastatic adenocarcinoma can be stabilised at least for some time. The aim of therapy of hormonal refractory cancer is to maintain good quality of life and in some prolongation of survival.

Plasma levels of 7-hydroxymetabolites of dehydroepiandrosterone in healthy Central European aging men.

Evidence has been accumulating that 7-hydroxyepimers of dehydroepiandrosterone may act as locally active immunomodulatory and immunoprotective agents, counteracting the actions of glucocorticoids. 7Alpha- and 7beta-hydroxylated metabolites of dehydroepiandrosterone are present in near nanomolar concentrations in human blood. Limited data have been available on its changes during the last decades of human life. We examined 213 healthy Central European males in age groups from 50 to 91 years and determined both 7-hydroxyepimers, 7alpha- and 7beta-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone, in sera using specific radioimmunoassays. The age dependence of steroid levels was evaluated using one-way ANOVA. In men, a distinct decline in 7alpha-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone with age was observed. The curves for age dependence of 7-hydroxy metabolite levels in males resembled those previously determined for unconjugated dehydroepiandrosterone. The levels of both 7-hydroxylated epimers correlated excellently with each other.