Use of keyword hierarchies to interpret gene expression patterns.

MOTIVATION: High-density microarray technology permits the quantitative and simultaneous monitoring of thousands of genes. The interpretation challenge is to extract relevant information from this large amount of data. A growing variety of statistical analysis approaches are available to identify clusters of genes that share common expression characteristics, but provide no information regarding the biological similarities of genes within clusters. The published literature provides a potential source of information to assist in interpretation of clustering results. RESULTS: We describe a data mining method that uses indexing terms ('keywords') from the published literature linked to specific genes to present a view of the conceptual similarity of genes within a cluster or group of interest. The method takes advantage of the hierarchical nature of Medical Subject Headings used to index citations in the MEDLINE database, and the registry numbers applied to enzymes.

[Primary ciliary dyskinesia--importance of early diagnosis]. / Primárna dyskinéza riasiniek--význam vcasnej diagnózy.

BACKGROUND: Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is an inherited disease characterized by specific ultrastructural defects of cilia and sperms. The impairment of mucociliary clearance (MCC) results in chronic respiratory infections and subsequently in bronchiectasis. MAIN PURPOSE: The evaluate rational decisions in early diagnosis of PCD. METHODS: Samples of nasal mucosa or tissue of tonsilla pharyngea after adenotomy were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in 47 patients aged 1-15 years, suffering from recurrent or chronic respiratory infections. RESULTS: Congenital ultrastructural ciliary defects specific for PCD--the lack of dynein arms, radial spokes defects and microtubular transposition--were observed in 13 patients. TEM investigation is an expansive, time consuming method not available in routine practice. Therefore we have evaluated a diagnostic procedure which uses available examination methods focused on the diagnoses of PCD. TEM of respiratory cilia is indicated in patients with situs viscerum solitus if chronic respiratory disease develops and after more frequent causes--asthma, cystic fibrosis, congenital anomalies of respiratory system and immunodeficiency had been excluded. CONCLUSIONS: The correct and early diagnosis is important for effective therapy in order to improve MCC. This approach can prevent the development of bronchiectasis during childhood.

Modulation of humoral and cellular resistance in children with laryngeal papillomatosis.

As accessory cells in immunity response immunoglobulin and lymphocytes participate in antitumor immunity. Quantitative changes in concentrations and numbers were studied once before therapy, without examining the functional state. In order to gain more information on the humoral response during and after treatment, and in cases of recurrence, bactericidal antibodies against B. anthracis were determined by means of 51Cr-labeled microbes. The results of the present study show that IgG levels were normal and IgA and IgM normal or increased. In only 2 children (0.8%) the levels of serum IgM were lowered. Although a high percentage of increased trend values of bactericidity in cured children was found (75%), the percentage in children with recurrences reaching 50%, the differences are considered statistically insignificant. Following T lymphocyte, figures a significant decrease in juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis (JLP) patients were found.

[The role of Toxoplasma gondii in the etiology of chronic tonsillitis in children]. / Sledovanie podielu Toxoplasma gondii v etiológii chronickej tonzilitídy u detí.

Toxoplasma gondii is know to have an affinity to lymphatic tissue. The authors studied whether after infection of the child's body T. gondii does or does not determine the chronic course of tonsillitis. In 712 children with chronic tonsillitis serological examinations for toxoplasmosis were carried out by means of RVK, NIR and ELISA. Low titers of toxoplasme antibodies were found in 8.0% of the children examined. In light of the following findings the authors conclude that toxoplasme tonsillitis did not occur in their series: toxoplasma antibodies failed to be increased; their titers in seropositive children were low; toxoplasma was not isolated from tonsillar tissue; no direct microscopic evidence of the parasite could be established in smears of cell aspirate from lymph nodes regional to the palatine tonsils; the same smears failed to present the cytopathologic picture characteristic of nodal toxoplasmosis. In our ecologic conditions T. gondii is presumably not involved in the etiology of chronic tonsillitis, or it may be involved but to an epidemiologically not appreciable extent. (Tab. 10, Ref. 18).

[The immune status in children with recurrent otitis media]. / Stav imunity u detí s opakovanými zápalmi stredného ucha.

The results of the research task revealed that the cause of relapsing otitis were in one third of the children various disorders of the immune system (primary and secondary). In the youngest children without disorders of immunity detectable by laboratory methods most probably retarded maturation of the specific antibody response is involved. In cases of confirmed immunity disorders, immunotherapy proved useful.

[Aberrant thyroid gland at the base of the tongue in children]. / Aberantná stítna zl'aza na koreni jazyka u detí.

The authors emphasize that in case a tissue formation in detected on the root aberrant thyroid gland on the lingual root, without experiencing any marked subjective difficulties. In one of the girls it was the only thyroid tissue in the organism. The aberrant thyroid glands in both girls diminished markedly after endocrinological treatment with Thyreoidin. The authors emphasize that in case a tissue formation is detected on the root of the tongue, it is always essential to confirm or rule out an aberrant thyroid by endocrinological and gammagraphic examination. It would be a serious mistake to remove the formation without making these examinations, in particular if it were the only thyroid tissue in the organism as the child would develop hypothyroidism.

[The sleep apnea syndrome in children]. / Sleep apnoe syndróm u detí.

The authors give an account of the causes of the sleep apnea syndrome in children (SAS). SAS, unless eliminated in time, may cause serious functional and organic disorders in the cardiopulmonary and central nervous system due to repeatedly occurring hypoxia for prolonged periods. The authors discuss therapeutic methods used for elimination of airway obstruction from which the children suffer during sleep. The authors' solution of SAS is a simple apparatus (registered as an invention), inserted into the child's mouth through which the child breathes during sleep.

[Activation of damaged nasal mucociliary function in children]. / Aktivácia poskodenej nosovej mukociliárnej funkcie u detí.

In 25 children with damaged mucociliary function of the nasal mucosa the authors used local ATP treatment. It was found that ATP solution applied to the nasal mucosa improves mucociliary function and reduces the transport time to normal; in acute, relapsing and allergic rhinosinusitis, in Kartagener's syndrome it improves partially the function of cilia, while transport remains prolonged. It seems that local application of ATP in drops may have a favourable effect on rhinosinusitis and prevent relapses.