Biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in tree hole habitats in Slovakia

The water-filled tree hole fauna of biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Slovakia is documented for the first time. Three Culicoides Latreille and two Dasyhelea Kieffer species were reared from these habitats. Epidemiological significance of C. obsoletus (Meigen, 1818) is briefly discussed.     

Application of Innovative Methods of Predictive Control in Projects Involving Intelligent Steel Processing Production Systems

This paper describes the enhancement of the existing predictive system of quality management in the processes of metallurgic manufacturing. Specifically, it addresses steel-strip manufacturing. The main quality management innovation is the transition from the current methodological process of a single-step defect evaluation to a two-step evaluation. A two-step defect check of the strip’s surface involves checking for defects during the hot-rolling process first, and double-checking it during the process of pickling. These defects are detected in a well-established process of camera imaging in the production process. The recorded image is then processed mathematically to find the degree of defect correlation in those processes. The two-step evaluation enables a more detailed focus on a particular defect and its position on the strip. Decisions concerning further processing are based on defect evaluation, for instance, whether a rework is necessary to maximize the product utilization and minimize the eventual negative impact of the defect on production equipment. A crucial aspect is also the reduced probability of failures in the manufacturing process.     

Assessment of renal flow and flow reserve in humans.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this work was to establish the normal range of maximal renal hyperemic response in humans and to identify the ideal renal vasodilatory stimuli. BACKGROUND: Stenotic renovascular atherosclerosis is increasingly treated by percutaneous transluminal renal intervention but with an unpredictable outcome. This may be due to hemodynamically non-significant stenosis or the presence of irreversible damage to the glomerular circulation. We propose that the renovascular hyperemic response may help identify appropriate patients. METHODS: In 28 normotensive patients, quantitative angiographic measurements of the renal artery were obtained, and renal artery pressure and flow velocity were continuously recorded after various hyperemic agents. RESULTS: In a first group of 11 patients, a significant increase in renal artery average peak velocity (APV) was observed after intrarenal (IR) bolus injection of 600 microg isosorbide dinitrate (41 +/- 19%), 30 mg papaverine (50 +/- 34%), 50 microg dopamine (94 +/- 54%), 0.8 microg x kg(-1) fenoldopam (80 +/- 25%), and during IR infusion of 1 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) fenoldopam (86 +/- 28%). A second group of 17 patients received intravenous infusion of dopamine (3, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)). The 3 and 5 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) of dopamine modestly reduced renal resistance index (RI) (-13 +/- 15% and -25 +/- 20%, respectively). At higher dosages, no further decline in RI was observed. No significant change in vessel diameter was observed before and after the administration of the pharmacological stimuli suggesting that changes in APV corresponded with changes in absolute renal blood flow. CONCLUSIONS: The normal renal flow reserve averages approximately 2 in humans with normal renal function. An IR bolus injection of 50 microg x kg(-1) of dopamine is the most convenient means to elicit maximal renal hyperemia.     

Sphincter-preserving R0 total mesorectal excision with resection of internal genitalia combined with pre-or postoperative chemoradiation for T4 rectal cancer in females

AIM: To evaluate the impact of chemoradiation admi- nistered pre- or postoperatively on prognosis in females following R0 extended resection with sphincter- preserving total mesorectal excision (TME) for locally advanced rectal cancer and to assess the association between chemoradiation and intra- and postoperative variables. METHODS: Twenty-one females were treated for locally advanced but preoperatively assessed as primarily resectable rectal cancer involving reproductive organs. Anterior resection with TME and excision of internal genitalia was combined with neo- or adjuvant chemoradiation. Two-year disease-free survival analysis was performed with the Kaplan-Meier method and log- rank test. The association between chemoradiation and other variables was evaluated with the Fisher’s exact test and Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: Survival rate decreased in anaemic females (51.5% vs 57.4%), in patients older than 60 years (41.8% vs 66.7%) with poorly differentiated cancers (50.0% vs 55.6%) and tumors located ≤ 7 cm from the anal verge (42.9% vs 68.1%) but with the lack of importance. Patients with negative lymph nodes and women chemoradiated preoperatively had significantly favourable prognosis (85.7% vs 35.7%; P= 0.03 and 80.0% vs 27.3%; P = 0.01, respectively). Preoperative chemoradiation compared to adjuvant radiochemotherapy was not significantly associated with the duration of surgery, incidence of intraoperative bowel perforation and blood loss ≥ 1 L, rate of postoperative bladder and anorectal dysfunction, and minimal distal resection margin. It significantly influenced minimal radial margin (mean 4.2 mm vs 1.1 mm; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Despite involving internal genitalia, long-term disease-free survival and sphincter preservation may be achieved with combined-modality therapy for females with T4 locally advanced rectal carcinoma. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation does not compromise functional results and may significantly improve oncological outcomes probably due to enhanced radial clearance.     

Left atrial volume determination by echocardiography

To validate echocardiographic left atrial volume measurements, 25 patients with mitral stenosis were studied before and after mitral balloon valvuloplasty. Seven normals served as controls. The modified Simpson's rule was used for echocardiographic and angiographic left atrial volume determination from two orthogonal planes. Left atrial antero-posterior diameter was measured from parasternal long axis view and supero-inferior and medio-lateral diameters from apical four-chamber view. Transthoracic echocardiographic left atrial volume correlated well, but systematically underestimated angiographic left atrial volume (y=0.4x+27, r=0.92). Monoplane transesophageal echocardiography did not improve correlation, nor the underestimation. Out of the several left atrial diameters, antero-posterior dimension showed the closest correlation with angiographic volume (r=0.91), which persisted after exclusion of patients with atria >400 ml (r=0.84). Futhermore, relative changes of antero-posterior diameter after mitral valvuloplasty were closely related to the relative changes observed in left atrial volume (r=0.82). Our results suggest that, in spite of a consistent underestimation, bidimensional, transthoracic echocardiographic and angiographic left atrial assessment correlate closely. Moreover, it is suggested that the mere antero-posterior diameter from transthoracic two-dimensional image is sufficient in clinical practice for routine follow-op of left atrial volume.     

Dietary cholesterol withdrawal reduces vascular inflammation and induces coronary plaque stabilization in miniature pigs

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of dietary cholesterol withdrawal on size and composition of LDL-hypercholesterolemia-induced coronary plaques in miniature pigs. METHODS: Pigs were on normal chow (control group), on a cholesterol-rich diet for 37 weeks (hypercholesterolemic group) or on a cholesterol-rich diet followed by normal chow for 26 weeks (cholesterol withdrawal group). Endothelial function was assessed with quantitative angiography after intracoronary infusion of acetylcholine, plaque load with intra-coronary ultrasound and plaque composition with image analysis of cross-sections. The effect of porcine serum on coronary smooth muscle cell (SMC) function was studied in vitro. RESULTS: Cholesterol-rich diet caused LDL-hypercholesterolemia, increased plasma levels of oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) and C-reactive protein (CRP), and induced endothelial dysfunction and coronary atherosclerosis. Dietary cholesterol withdrawal lowered LDL, ox-LDL and CRP. It restored endothelial function, did not affect plaque size but decreased lipid, ox-LDL and macrophage content. Smooth muscle cells and collagen accumulated within the plaque. Increased smoothelin-to-alpha-smooth muscle actin ratio indicated a more differentiated SMC phenotype. Cholesterol lowering reduced proliferation and apoptosis. In vitro, hypercholesterolemic serum increased SMC apoptosis and decreased SMC migration compared to non-hypercholesterolemic serum. CONCLUSIONS: Cholesterol lowering induced coronary plaque stabilization as evidenced by a decrease in lipids, ox-LDL, macrophages, apoptosis and cell proliferation, and an increase in differentiated SMC and collagen. Increased migration and decreased apoptosis of SMC may contribute to the disappearance of the a-cellular core after lipid lowering.     

Brain and other natriuretic peptides: molecular aspects

Natriuretic peptides have emerged as important candidates for development of diagnostic tools and therapeutic agents in cardiovascular disease. The family contains of three major peptides-ANP, BNP, CNP-that participate in cardiovascular and cardiorenal homeostasis. Each of these natriuretic peptides binds differentially to specific receptors that signal through different mechanisms. They are cleared enzymatically by neutral endopeptidase as well as by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Because of its fast induction and specific expression in overt heart failure, BNP seems the most promising natriuretic peptide. It is predominantly synthesized in the cardiac ventricles, released as pre-proBNP and then enzymatically cleaved to BNP and the N-terminal portion of BNP(NT-proBNP). Blood measurements of BNP and NT-proBNP have been shown to identify patients with LV dysfunction. This review focuses on the physiology of natriuretic peptides as a group and brain natriuretic peptide in more detail, its structure and regulation as well as its effects at the cellular level.     

Ductus venosus Doppler measurement during labor

OBJECTIVES: To assess ductus venosus (DV) indices during the first stage of labor and the effect of ruptured membranes, meconium stained liquor and epidural analgesia (EDA). METHODS: Prospective cross-sectional study. Eighty-one women with low-risk singleton term pregnancies participated, 51 had normal labor (Group 1), and 30 experienced ruptured membranes and/or stained liquor (Group 2). Of the latter group 14 received EDA. The effect of various interventions and application of EDA on the ductus venosus index (DVI) and pulsatility index for veins (DV PIV) were tested. RESULTS: The feasibility rate was 94%. A significant increase of DV indices (DVI, DV PIV) was found in group 2 (P<0.001 and P<0.0005, respectively). The A-velocity was also significantly lower in group 2 (P<0.02). A markedly significant increase of DV indices (P<0.0001) among participants receiving EDA was observed in group 2. The mean+/-SD indices were: 0.53+/-0.10 for the DVI and 0.68+/-0.14 for the DV PIV in those women. There was a significant positive correlation of DV indices with the duration of amniorrhea in group 2 (PIV: r=0.66; P<0.002; DVI: r=0.68; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term amniorrhea seems to affect the fetal venous circulation reflected in increased DV waveform indices.