[Long-term results of scleroplasty surgery in children]. / Dlouhodobé výsledky skleroplastických operací u detí.

The authors presents results of scleroplastic operations in 411 children (773 eyes) followed up to 7 years after surgery: Most frequently eyes with the diagnosis myopia progressiva (397 = 51.4%) and myopia gravis (330 = 12.7%) were operated. The mean age at the time of operation was 12.2 +/- 3.0 years myopia progressiva and 10.8 +/- 3.9 years in myopia gravis. The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.0002). The visual acuity was on average better throughout the follow-up period in both main diagnoses, as compared with initial values. The progression of myopia (subjective refraction) slowed down markedly after surgery and was 0.26 D/year in myopia progressiva and 0.23 D/year in myopia gravis. The authors recommend scleroplasty to prevent significant progression of myopia and for longterm preservation of visual functions.

Long-term results of scleroplasty operations in children.

The authors refer results of 773 scleroplasty operations performed in 411 children, mean age was 11.3, S.D. 3.6 years. Irradiated human sclera proved to be the best material for scleral reinforcement. Mean myopia progression was 0.26 D/year in myopia progressiva and 0.23 D/year in myopia gravis. Mean visual acuity was better in all intervals after surgery (p = 0.0000 one and four years after, 0.0002 six years after in myopia progressiva, in the same intervals in myopia gravis it was 0.0009, 0.0027, 0.0002). Scleral reinforcement can positively influence myopia progression.

A beneficial effect of metipranolol pretreatment on rat kidney ischemia in vivo.

D,L-propranolol protects kidney against warm ischemia. On the contrary beta-blockers without membrane stabilizing activity (timolol, L-propranolol) do not possess this protective ability. The aim of the present work was to test the potential anti-ischemic properties of metipranolol, another beta-blocker with membrane stabilizing component. Metipranolol (1 mg/kg) was given 30 min prior to inducing the ischemia of left rat kidney followed with a contralateral nephrectomy. This pretreatment lowered the creatinemia as measured 24 hr after 60 min ischemia and improved the survival of rats after 90 min renal ischemia. The results are compatible with the concept that the membrane stabilizing activity may play a crucial role in the protective action of beta-blockers.

[Scleroplasty surgery. I. Results in children]. / Skleroplastické operace. I. Výsledky u detí.

The authors give an account on the results of scleroplastic operations (according Pivovarov) in 159 children (298 eyes). They describe in detail the surgical procedure, the mechanism of action of the operation, the fate of the implanted material. The most suitable material for scleroplastic operations in children is the irradiated human sclera which caused the minimal incidence of complications. Most frequently eyes with the diagnosis myopia progressiva 57.7% were operated, another large group were eyes with the diagnosis of myopia gravis -35.2%. The mean age at the time of operation was 11.3 +/- 3.3 years. In myopia progressiva the correction was three years after operation the same or lower in 53.3% of the operated patients, the vision was equal or better in 80% of the operated patients. In children with myopia progressiva who were operated at the age of 10-15 years, after three years no difference in vision was recorded as compared with the finding before operation; the correction changed on average only by 0.27 dioptres. This result is very satisfactory, as indication for operation was progression of myopia by at least 1 dioptre per year before operation. In myopia gravis the correction was three years after operation equal or lower in 68.4% of operated eyes, the vision was equal or better in 81.6% of the operated eyes. Reinforcement of the sclera--scleroplasty--is at the moment the only rational therapeutic method of progressing and severe myopia.

[Scleroplasty surgery. II. Results in adults]. / Skleroplastické operace. II. Výsledky u dospelých.

The authors give an account of the results assembled in 181 patients (350 eyes) where scleroplasty in Pivovarov's modification was performed. 81.4% of the operations were indicated in myopia gravis, 91% in myopia progressiva and 5.1% in combination of myopia gravis and cataract. Of four implantation materials used the irradiated human sclera proved best. Scleroplastic operations had a favourable effect on the subsequent course of myopia gravis and myopia progressiva (followed up to four years). In both these diagnoses during the postoperative period a statistically significant improvement of visual acuity was observed, while the correction changed only slightly. Scleroplasties are a suitable surgical procedure in adults who suffer from progressing or severe myopia and give them real hope of preservation of visual functions.

[Predictive value of indicators of oxygen supply to tissues in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease]. / Predpovední význam ukazatelu dodávky kyslíku ke tkáním u nemocných s chronickou obstrukcní chorobou plicní.

The authors investigated in a group of 83 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease the prognostic impact of some indicators of pulmonary function, haemodynamics and oxygen transport. They demonstrated that the prognosis is less favourable in patients with a lower one-second vital capacity with a higher median pressure in the pulmonary artery, with a lower oxygen tension in the arterial blood and higher haemoglobin concentration. They did not reveal significant differences between those who died and those who survived for more than five years, after the examination, as regards oxygen supply of tissues, oxygen consumption, coefficient of oxygen extraction and values of oxygen tension in mixed venous blood. Oxygen inhalation led to an increased oxygen supply of tissues and increased oxygen tension in mixed venous blood to normal values in all examined groups. This observation may be one of the explanations of the more favourable prognosis of patients with respiratory insufficiency, associated with chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, who have permanent oxygen therapy during domiciliary care.

[Immunologic examination of the blood in the differential diagnosis of acute gouty arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis]. / Imunologická vysetrení v séru v diferenciální diagnostice akutní dnavé artritidy a revmatoidní artritidy.

In 16 patients with acute gouty arthritis, 30 IgM RF seropositive cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 20 IgM RF seronegative cases of RA the values of 14 indicators of antibody and natural immunity were assessed in serum. The assembled data were evaluated by step-wise discrimination analysis. This made it possible to select consecutively signs important for the differentiation of acute gouty arthritis from IgM RF seropositive RA (immunocomplexes, beta-2 microglobulin, C3) and for its differentiation from IgM RF seronegative RA (IgE, C3, transferrin, free SH groups). Thus obtained classification functions make it possible to classify correctly, random subjects with a probability of 76.7-93.7%.

[Cardiac tamponade as a complication of acute myocardial infarct. (Clinical and pathologico-anatomic analysis of patients with acute myocardial infarct and cardiac tamponade)]. / Srdecní tamponáda jako komplikace akutního srdecního infarktu. (Klinický a patologicko-anatomický rozbor nemocných s akutním srdecním infarktem a srdecni tamponádou.)

Cardiac tamponade is a frequent cause of death in acute myocardial infarction--in as many 23%. It is encountered in particular in the 7th and 8th decade, in patients with a first infarction which is frequently situated in the anterior wall of the left ventricle. 93% of the patients have obvious ECG manifestations of Q infarction. The diagnosis of cardiac tamponade is easy when during an acute terminal attack slow activity on the ECG tracing is found without a haemodynamic response and the pulse on the great arteries is not palpable even after external cardiac massage. In 80% the onset of cardiac tamponade is very sudden. The presence of shock or cardiac failure makes the diagnosis of cardiac tamponade more difficult. As to investigated indicators, in the development of cardiac tamponade the systemic pressure--systolic as well as diastolic--on admission or during hospitalization, may play a part. The patients have a less marked coronary sclerosis, fibrosis of the cardiac muscle is less frequently present. Previous necroses of the heart muscle may have probably a certain protective effect on the development of cardiac tamponade. Anticoagulants obviously do not influence the development of cardiac tamponade.

A subchronic inhalation study with unleaded petrol in rats.

The effect of intermittent 2 months' exposure to 2 g/m3 unleaded petrol on the hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid-adrenal system was evaluated by measuring hypothalamic noradrenaline (NA), serum corticosterone (CS), thyroxine (T4) and adrenal catecholamine (CA) levels in male rats. Serum CS and adrenal CA were increased and hypothalamic NA was decreased by exposure. No changes were observed in serum T4. Exposure induced an increase in spleen, kidney, liver and lung weights; weights of adrenals and hypothalamus were not changed. All the petrol-induced effects depended on the length of exposure. Rats exposed to petrol gained less weight than controls. The results suggest a non-specific stress response in the rat.

The effect of carbon monoxide on hormone levels and organ weights in rats.

Male Wistar rats were exposed continuously for 1 or 2 months to 25 or 100 ppm CO. The concentrations of noradrenaline in the hypothalamus, corticosterone and thyroxine in serum and of adrenal catecholamines were estimated. After exposure to 25 ppm CO no significant changes were observed in the serum corticosterone and thyroxine, hypothalamic noradrenaline, adrenal catecholamines levels, or in the weights of lung, spleen, adrenal glands, liver and the whole body. Exposure to 100 ppm CO induced a decrease in hypothalamic noradrenaline and serum thyroxine and an increase in adrenal catecholamines and serum corticosterone. Whole-body and organ weights were unchanged except for a slight decrease in liver weight. The results suggest a non-specific stress response in the rat to 100 ppm CO whilst concentration of 25 ppm CO was without any stress effect.

Colicinogeny in colorectal cancer.

Colicins, bacteriocins of Escherichia coli and related bacteria of Enterobacteriaceae family, form a very heterogeneous group of antibiotically active substances of proteinaceous material. Antitumorous effect of colicins have also been demonstrated experimentally. The large bowel has been found to be a site of their native action. Therefore, our work has been aimed at investigating colicinogenicity in patients with colorectal carcinoma. From a total number of 77 patients with colorectal carcinoma, colicinogenic Escherichia coli was found in 32 persons (41.6%), whereas from a total of 160 control clinically healthy persons, colicinogenic Escherichia coli was found in 102 persons (63.8%). The difference is statistically significant (p less than 0.05). The absence of colicinogenic Escherichia coli may be one of the factors contributing to the origin and development of colorectal carcinoma in some of the patients studied. Studies of patients with adenomatous polyps, members of colon cancer families, and large prospective studies of the general population will be necessary to prove this hypothesis.

The effect of chronic exposure to 3.5 ppm NO2 on hormone levels and organ weights in rats.

Male Wistar rats were exposed continuously for 1 or 2 months to 3.5 ppm NO2. Levels of histamine and serotonin in lung, noradrenaline in hypothalamus, corticosterone and thyroxine in serum and catecholamines in the adrenals were estimated. No significant changes were observed in lung histamine and serotonin, serum corticosterone, or adrenal catecholamine levels; or in the weights of lung, spleen, adrenal glands, hypothalamus, liver and the whole body. The only significant change was a decrease in the concentration of hypothalamic noradrenaline after 2 months of exposure. The results suggest that prolonged exposure to 3.5 ppm NO2 does not result in changes in hormone levels, organ and body weights, and therefore does not precipitate pulmonary defensive reactions or non-specific stress response.