Using zidena in the treatment of erectile dysfunction associated with stress-induced arterial hypertension in workers of locomotive teams

Thirty train drivers with erectile dysfunction (ED) and arterial hypertension were examined : physical examination, blood count, urinalysis, penile laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). ED severity was assessed by Loran-Segal questionnaire of male copulative function (MCF) and international index of erectile function (IIEF). Zidena was used in a dose 100 mg 30 min before coitus twice a weak. Examinations have detected mild and moderate ED, spastic disorders of penile microcirculation. MCF significant improvement (p < 0.05), rise of IIEF score were seen after 30 days of zidena treatment. A positive trend was observed after 15 days of treatment. LDF registered a significant (p < 0.05) improvement of microcirculation. Tissue hypoxia and ischemia lowered, blood inflow in the system of microcirculation increased. A passive mechanism of blood flow regulation, vasodilation almost corresponded to physiological standards. Administration of zidena in patients with stress-induced hypertension has improved libido, quality and duration of erection, penile microcirculation due to better tissue perfusion with blood, reduction of ischemia and blood congestion in the venules. Duration of coitus increased.     

Experience in vitaprost treatment of patients with chronic abacterial prostatitis and prostatic adenoma after prostatic arteries embolism

Pain and abnormal spermatogenesis are among symptoms deteriorating quality of life in patients with chronic prostatitis. Rectal suppositories vitaprost have no side effects, relieve pain, correct spermatogenesis. The effect of vitaprost treatment persists for 3 months and longer. Prostatic arteries embolization with vitaprost suppositories as preoperative preparation is a good alternative to surgical treatment in patients with prostatic adenoma.     

Uncertainty analysis of in-situ gamma spectrometry measurements of air cleaning filter cartridges and 200 L drums by a HPGe detector

This work deals with most significant sources of uncertainty in determination of radionuclides massic activity in 200 L drums with radioactive waste (RAW) from decommissioning of nuclear power plant (NPP) A1 and operational air cleaning filters coming from different parts of NPP's ventilation system. It turned out that the most significant source of uncertainty is determination of photo peak detection efficiency, in particular measurement geometry. The detection efficiency of HPGe detector has been determined by calculation using ISOCS software (In Situ Object Counting System) and detector characteristics delivered by the manufacturer (LABSOCS). The detector efficiency is influenced by various factors like measurement geometry, deviation from standard geometry, environmental characteristics, sample properties (density, material composition), used collimator etc. Mentioned factors and their contributions to the uncertainty of detection efficiency and thus to the total uncertainty of massic activity determination have been individually evaluated in the paper. The main part of the work consists of evaluation of maximum uncertainty factor due to presence of hypothetical point source in measurement volume for both types of measurement geometry.     

Über den Einfluss des Gonadotropen Hormones aus Schwangerenharn auf den Vitamin C-Spiegel in den Keimdrüsen des Meerschweinchens

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

VEGF protects brain against focal ischemia without increasing blood--brain permeability when administered intracerebroventricularly.

Delayed administration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes functional recovery after focal cerebral ischemia. However, early intravenous injection of VEGF increases blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage, hemorrhagic transformation and infarct volume whereas its application to cortical surface is neuroprotective. We have investigated whether or not early intracerebroventricular administration of VEGF could replicate the neuroprotective effect observed with topical application and the mechanism of action of this protection. Mice were subjected to 90 mins middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion and 24 h of reperfusion. Vascular endothelial growth factor (8 ng, intracerebroventricular) was administered 1 or 3 h after reperfusion. Compared with the vehicle-treated (intracerebroventricular) group, VEGF decreased the infarct volume along with BBB leakage in both treatment groups. Neurologic disability scores improved in parallel to the changes in infarct volume. Independently of the decrease in infarct size, VEGF also reduced the number of TUNEL-positive apoptotic neurons. Phospo-Akt levels were significantly higher in ischemic hemispheres of the VEGF-treated mice. Contrary to intracerebroventricular route, intravenous administration of VEGF (15 microg/kg) enhanced the infarct volume as previously reported for the rat. In conclusion, single intracerebroventricular injection of VEGF protects brain against ischemia without adversely affecting BBB permeability, and has a relatively long therapeutic time window. This early neuroprotective action, observed well before recovery-promoting actions such as angiogenesis, possibly involves activation of the PI-3-Akt pathway.     

Computer model of hemopoietic stem cell population testing a possible role of DNA synthesizing cells in proliferation control

Summary A computer model of the stem cell population is presented. Proliferation control is achieved solely in this model by a feedback, which changes the flow of cells from the g₀ state into the g₁ phase according to the amount of the DNA synthesizing S phase cells. Behavior of the model was compared with experimental data available about the CFUs (colony-forming units — spleen) cell population. A reasonable agreement between simulation results and experimental data could be obtained provided that some cells do not pass through the G₀ state during their cell cycle. Necessity to establish the seeding efficiency of the spleen colony technique arose when experimental CFUs data showing pluripotential stem cells response to hydroxyurea damage were compared with results obtained from the model.     

Frühdefibrillation im LAGO—die Therme—

The use of automated external defibrillator (AED) by persons other than paramedics and emergency medical technicians is advocated by several US- and European organizations. However, at the present time it is still unclear to identify public places with a high incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. There are few data on the potential impact of public access defibrillators on survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in sporting arenas or water parks. Therefore, we studied prospectively incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the LAGO-die Therme in Herne. This is one of the most important swimming parks in Europe and member of the European Waterpark Association EWA. Eight AEDs were placed in the waterpark LAGO-die Therme. The locations where the defibrillators were stored were chosen to make possible a target interval of 60 seconds from collapse to first defibrillation. Twenty waterpark officers were instructed in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and in the use of the AED. During November 16, 2001 and December 31, 2004, 2.05 Mio. visitors were counted in the LAGO. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest occurred in none of them. AED were used in two visitors with non arrhythmogenic syncope, no shock was delivered. Questionaires were done in 588 visitors (336 males, 252 females, mean age 38+21 years) in 2002 and in 579 visitors (322 males, 257 females, mean age 37+/-25 years) in 2004. In 2002, 77% of the visitors noticed the AED and, therefore, 49% performed more sporting activities. In addition, in 2004, AED was noticed by 480 visitors (83%) and 277 visitors (48%) did more sporting activities. There were no significant differences between 2002 and 2004 (p=ns). Despite no out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the waterpark during the 3 year follow- up, it seems reasonable to install AED in sporting places with thousands of visitors per year.     

Associations of HLA‐DRB1 alleles with anti‐citrullinated protein antibody‐positive and anti‐citrullinated protein antibody‐negative rheumatoid arthritis in northern east part of Turkey

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐DRB1 alleles with genetic susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and production of antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti‐CCP antibody) and rheumatoid factor (RF) in Turkish RA patients. Methods: We studied 291 RA patients and 253 controls. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction with sequence‐specific oligonucleotide probes hybridization method. Serum levels of anti‐CCP antibody, IgM‐RF and high sensitive C‐reactive protein titers were measured by commercial kits using immunological methods. Results: We found that HLA‐DRB1*04 and *09 alleles were associated in anti‐CCP+ and anti‐CCP+ RA patients (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.001, respectively), while DRB1*01 and *04 were determined to be higher in RF+ RA patients (P < 0.001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Moreover, DRB1*11 and DRB1*13 alleles were determined to be lower in RF and anti‐CCP/RF+ RA patients (P < 0.001 for both). HLA‐DRB1*04 was identified as a common responsible allele for susceptibility to the disease in anti‐CCP, RF and anti‐CCP/RF? RA patients (P = 0.0018, P = 0.0004 and P = 0.0023, respectively). HLA‐DRB1*13 allele alone was found to be protective against to anti‐CCP+ and RF? RA (P = 0.0003 and P = 0.006, respectively). On the contrary, there was no protective allele in anti‐CCP/RF? RA as well as anti‐CCP? RA patients. Conclusion: This study indicates that associate and protective HLA‐DRB1 allele distributions are different in autoantibody (anti‐CCP or RF or anti‐CCP/RF)+ RA and autoantibody? RA patients, with exceptions of DRB1*04 and DRB1*13.