Effect of Fractionated Irradiation on the Hippocampus in an Experimental Model.

BACKGROUND: Ionizing radiation induces altered brain tissue homeostasis and can lead to morphological and functional deficits. The aim of the present study was to investigate the short-term and long-term effect of ionizing radiation on cell population resides adult rat hippocampus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats received whole- brain irradiation with fractionated doses of gamma rays (a total dose of 20 Gy) and were investigated 30 and 100 days later. A combination of Fluoro-Jade C histochemistry for visualization of degenerating neurons, immunohistochemistry for detection of astrocytes and confocal microscopy were used to quantify the neurodegenerative changes in the hippocampal dentate gyrus and CA1 subfield. RESULTS: A significant increase of Fluoro-Jade C labelled neurons was seen in both of investigated areas through the whole experiment, predominantly 30 days after irradiation. Non- significant decrease of GFAP- immunoreactive astrocytes was found in the hippocampal dentate gyrus and CA1 subfield until 100 days after irradiation. CONCLUSION: Our recent results showed that radiation response of cell types resides the adult hippocampus may play contributory role in the development of adverse radiation-induced late effects.

Proliferation activity in the adult rat brain following exposure to ionizing radiation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to investigate radiationinduced shortterm effects on the rat forebrain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats received whole body exposure with fractionated doses of gamma rays (a total dose of 3 Gy) and were investigated seven and 14 days later. Immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy were used to determine proliferating cells derived from anterior subventricular zone (SVZa) and distributed along the subventricular zone olfactory bulb axis (SVZ OB axis). Cell counting was performed in four anatomical parts along the welldefined pathway, known as the rostral migratory stream (RMS) represented by the SVZa, vertical arm, elbow and horizontal arm. RESULTS: Different rate of cell overdistribution was found in all counted parts through the entire experiment, mostly detectable in the elbow and horizontal arm. CONCLUSION: Results suggested that radiation response of proliferating cells resides the SVZa may a play contributory role in the development of more adverse radiationinduced: late effects.

Radiation-induced long-term alterations in hippocampus under experimental conditions.

BACKGROUNDS: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of ionizing radiation on the cell population that co-forms hippocampal formation in an adult rat brain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats were exposed to whole-body irradiation with fractionated doses of gamma rays (the total dose of 4 Gy). Thirty, 60 and 90 days after irradiation the cell-specific types housed in the CA1, CA3 subregions and adjacent layers were labelled using immunohistochemistry for specific cell phenotypes; Ki-67 marker was used for proliferating cells and GFAP for detection of astrocytes. RESULTS: During the 30th day post-exposure, a considerable increase in the numbers of Ki-67-positive cells was seen. Moreover, significant decline in the density of neurons, mostly in the CA1 subregion, was observed on the 60th day. Slight overaccumulation of Ki-67-positive cells was seen in CA1 area 90 days after radiation treatment. Temporary decrease of GFAP-positive astrocytes was seen thirty days after irradiation, followed by their subsequent increase 60 days after exposure. Secondary decrease of GFAP-positive cells in both of regions was found in the group surviving 90 days post-irradiation. CONCLUSION: Results showed that radiation response of neurons and astrocytes that form the adult hippocampus may play contributory role in the development of prognostically unfavourable adverse radiation-induced late effect.

[Thyroid disorders in women with breast cancer]. / Tyreopatie u zien s karcinómom prsníka.

AIM: Increasing prevalence of non-malignant thyroid disorders in women with breast cancer has been known for several decades; it is said to be associated with a better prognosis of the cancerous disease. The aim of this work was to analyse associations between thyropathies found in women with breast cancer and particular prognostic factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A group of 110 women with breast cancer were tested for autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) and functional changes of the thyroid gland. Presence of thyroid-peroxidase autoantibodies (TPOAb), serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT3, FT4) were determined after the surgery but before adjuvant cancer treatment (radiotherapy, chemotherapy or hormone therapy) initiation. Conventionally evaluated prognostic factors of breast cancer, including histological grading and molecular predictive factors (i.e. the status of the hormone receptors and the human epidermal growth factor receptor) were assessed - these were divided into four basic categories. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of AIT and subclinical hypothyroidism in the study group was 37.3% and 20%, respectively, i.e. higher than in the general population. The only correlation found was between thyropathies and the specific prognostic factors was that with G1 breast cancer grading.

[Low-dose radiotherapy in the treatment of plantar fasciitis]. / Nizkodávková rádioterapia v liecbe plantárnej fasciitídy.

BACKGROUNDS: To evaluate the analgesic effect of low-dose radiotherapy in the treatment of plantar fasciitis and to analyse prognostic factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis was used in the assessment of the analgesic effect after the 1st and 2nd series of low-dose radiotherapy. The treatment regime of 273 patients included total dose of 4.0 Gy, with fraction dose 1.0 Gy, received 2-3 times a week. Recommended follow-up was 3 months. In 323 cases of plantar fasciitis, prognostic factors (age, sex and pain duration before treatment) were evaluated. RESULTS: Analgesic effect of total dose of 4.0 Gy was 55.7% after the 1st series and 74.8% after the 2nd series. The results are comparable to published results. Pain duration before treatment shorter than 6 months had a significant effect on the treatment. Age was also a significant prognostic factor, with benefits in the group of patients younger than 50 years. CONCLUSION: Results confirm the advantageous analgesic effect of the dose regime received by our group of 273 patients. Analysis of prognostic factors shows greater benefit of treatment in the acute stage of plantar fasciitis. When treating young patients, however, the possible risks of radiotherapy should be considered compared to other treatment modalities.

Influence of chest gamma-irradiation on cough response in awake guinea pigs.

Radiotherapy of tumors in the chest and neck regions may have serious pulmonary side effects. It is well known that inflammation is an essential manifestation of radiation-induced injury. This can heal spontaneously, by specific treatment, or it may progress to more intensive inflammation up to irreversible pulmonary fibrosis. To prevent such complications, it would be useful to have a simple non-invasive and sensitive method for monitoring the course of airway and lung post-irradiation inflammation. This study is devoted to search for such a method. We supposed that cough response intensity (CRI) could be one of the methods, which we are looking for. Guinea pigs (Trik strain, n=32) were used in the study. Animals were divided into two subgroups. Animals of a non-untreated (NT) group (n=14; M=7, F=7) were submitted to sham chest irradiation. The animals of a treated (XRT) group (n=18; M=9, F=9) were exposed to a single dose of gamma rays. Cough was provoked by exposure of animals to citric acid aerosol (CA) in gradually increasing concentrations (0.05-1.6M). CRI testing was performed two days before sham/real chest irradiation, than on 1st, 3rd, 10th, 15th, 21st, and 28th days following the day of irradiation. CRI was quantified in each animal by counting the number of coughs induced by all used concentration of CA. We found a significant increase of CRI in the animals of XRT group on 10th and 21st day compared with the NT animals. An increase of CRI also was found inside the XRT group on the 10th day after irradiation compared with the pre-irradiation value of CRI.

Effects of thorax irradiation on citric acid-induced cough in guinea pigs.

Thoracic irradiation may cause an acute lymphocytic alveolitis or hypersensitivity pneumonitis. It is well known that cough reflex is sensitized by a number of inflammatory mediators. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of the thoracic irradiation on the cough response in awake guinea pigs. Guinea pigs (Trik strain) were exposed to sham irradiation (n=16), a single irradiation dose of 10 Gy (n=12), and a fractionated irradiation dose (in five fractions) of 15 Gy (n=12) delivered to the thorax. Cough was induced by citric acid aerosol inhalation in gradually increasing concentrations (0.05-1.6 M) during the first week after thoracic irradiation. The cough response was expressed as a total number of coughs induced during all citric acid challenges. Irradiated animals with single dose of 10 Gy exhibited a time- dependent significant increase of citric acid-induced cough in the 6th day after irradiation compared with control animals (P=0.005), whereas cough was not altered significantly in irradiated animals with fractionated dose of 15 Gy. This study demonstrates that the increased cough response may be a determinant of the functional changes of airway nerve-endings mediating cough in the early phase after thoracic irradiation.

Changes of cough reflex sensitivity induced by cancer radiotherapy of chest and neck regions.

It is reasonable to suppose that airway mucosa can be damaged by irradiation applied to chest and neck regions. The inflammatory process is a consequence of an injury. Airway inflammation is one mechanism responsible for cough induction. So, one can suppose that radiotherapy (RT) focused on the patients' chest or neck may injure airway mucosa, which might change sensitivity of the nerve-endings mediating the cough reflex. The purpose of this study was to examine cough reflex sensitivity (CRS) in patients who underwent RT in the chest and neck regions. CRS test using capsaicin was performed in patients with breast cancer (Group A, n=19), and with lung or neck cancer in (Group B, n=14) who underwent RT. Capsaicin aerosol in doubled concentrations (0.49-1000 microM) was inhaled by a single breath. CRS was defined as the lowest capsaicin concentration that evoked 2 or more coughs (C2). Radiation doses ranged from 40 to 70 Gy. Capsaicin cough challenge was performed before and then in the 2(nd) and 5(th) week of RT. We observed a significantly reduced value of C2, i.e., increased cough reflex sensitivity, in Group B in the 2(nd) week of RT (P= 0.04). We conclude that CRS in the lung or neck cancer patients undergoing RT is significantly enhanced, which could result from injury to the nerve endings in airway mucosa.

Multiple cutaneous metastases as the first sign of lung cancer in a patient with well-differentiated papillary transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.

A case of multiple, cutaneous metastases as the first sign of lung cancer in a patient with well-differentiated, papillary, transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder is presented. In the left clavicular region were two, sharply demarcated, dark red tumors measuring 3 and 2 cm in diameter with a history of rapid growth and intermittent spontaneous bleeding. Thorough examination of the patient revealed 16 additional skin lesions, which were dark red macules and papules, 2-3 mm in diameter, situated on the left side of the chest. The skin biopsy material (tumors, macular and papular lesions) was studied using histological and immunohistochemical techniques and showed intact epidermis and massive dermal and subcutaneous metastatic involvement by a small cell carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation most likely originating in the lung.

[Surgical treatment of patients with carcinoma of the larynx at the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic in Martin]. / Chirurgické liecenie pacientov s rakovinou hrtana na ORL klinike v Martine.

In 1973-1985 at the ENT Clinic of the Faculty Hospital with policlinic in Martin 559 patients with carcinoma of the larynx were treated: 23 women and 529 men. Thirteen women and 286 men were operated. Partial resection was performed in 137 patients. The best results were recorded after chordectomy, the poorest results after horizontal partial resection of the larynx. The author discusses the effectiveness of laryngectomy after previous partial surgical operation of the larynx, early diagnosis and corrected indication for surgical operation.

[Radionuclide evaluation of the relation between the upper and lower respiratory organs]. / Moznost rádionuklidového hodnotenia vztahov medzi hornými a dolnými dýchacími orgánmi.

Functional examination of the lungs provides information on global pulmonary parameters. Radionuclide examination of pulmonary ventilation and gas distribution in the latter makes it possible to evaluate the functional regional finding in the lungs. In six subjects, using the bolus method with 133Xe, the respiratory system as a whole was examined and relations between upper and lower airways were evaluated. It did not prove possible to demonstrate by the radionuclide examination that there exists a homolateral relationship between the respective side of the nose and lungs and that experimental short-term irritation and obstruction of one of the nasal cavity influences the regional ventilation and distribution of gas in the lungs. It can be assumed that a change on the tracheobronchial tree induced by nasal reflexes does not cause an apparent change in the pulmonary ventilation, but changes in a negative way the respiratory mechanics and the air flow in the lower airways.