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Antidepressants are known to influence the kinetics of histamine. The purpose of this study was twofold: to determine the influence of various doses of antidepressants fluvoxamine and mapro­tiline on induced histamine liberation and its further elimination and to find out whether histamine elim­ination is influenced by its redistribution from plas­ma to blood. Rats (n = 24) were pre-treated with two … Preberite več >>

Elevated plasma fibrinogen concen­tration is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. In addition to several factors such as advanced age, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disea­ses, elevated plasma cholesterol and glucose, and smoking, also genetic factors have been shown to influence plasma fibrinogen level. Stu­dies on influence of TaqI, HaeIII and BclI poly­morphisms on plasma fibrinogen concentration have shown … Preberite več >>

Two polymorphic sites of the CYP1A1 gene, coding for cytochrome P4501A1 enzyme, have been discovered so far. One involves the 7^th exon of the coding region; a nucleotide chan­ge leads to amino acid replacement in the heme binding region of cytochrome P4501A1 (poly­morphism Ile/Val). Another site is in the 3′-flanking region of the gene, and results in the presence … Preberite več >>

The purpose of this study was to de­termine the diagnostic value of the lymphocyte blast transformation test in Lyme disease. Our laboratory results were compared with the diag­noses established by physicians. The course of the illness was followed in 213 individuals who­se blood samples were tested for cell immunity against Borrelia burgdorferi. All patients sho­wed clinical picture compatible with … Preberite več >>

Tick-borne encephalitis is the most important human central nervous system virus infection in Europe. The virus is maintained in nature by a cycle involving reservoirs (small mammals, deer) and vector (ticks). Tick-borne encephalitis occurs in endemic areas, which vary in activity. The purpose of the study was to determine the species and frequency of tick-borne encephalitis infection among small mammals … Preberite več >>

The mechanism of action of the actino­porins, substances from the sea anemone Actinia equina, is by cation selective pore formation in the cellular membranes that consequently cause cell lysis. The aim of the present study was to inves­tigate the mechanism of the toxicity of actinoporin equinatoxin I. In in vivo experiments the measurements of ECG (lead I), respiratory activ­ity … Preberite več >>

BACKGROUND. Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a primary immuno­deficiency disorder characterized by immune dysregulation. ALPS is defined as chronic, nonmalignant lymphoproliferation in patients with double-negative T cell (DNT) expansion over 1% and defective lymphocyte apoptosis. The etiology of the disease has not been fully explained; the spectrum of its clinical manifestations is broad and the exact diagnostic criteria have not … Preberite več >>

Background: Hypocholesterolemia in cancer patients is a frequent and expected phenomenon. Higher fluidity of plasma membranes (as a result of lower concentration of cholesterol) is a characteristic of most cancer cells. Erythrocytes lack organelles and inner membranes and with that any possibility of endogenous synthesis of lipids. Changes in serum lipid con­centration could be shown in the fluidity of erythrocyte … Preberite več >>

Reliable diagnosis of prion diseases is based on a positive immunohistochemical reaction (IHR) using antibodies against prion protein (PrP). Unfortunately, this does not distinguish between cellular PrP (PrP^C) and the pathological isoform (PrP^Sc). Consequently, this method requi­res intensive pre-treatments to remove PrP^C and retrieve the epitope of PrP^Sc in paraffin sections of the brains … Preberite več >>

This paper deals with the issue of
 wound healing. The physiological aspect of this
 process is described. The authors introduce 
some simplifications and terms denoting combinations of several different wound elements 
similar in function. On the basis of the simplified 
physiological model different mathematical models of wound healing were constructed. The
 models presented involve qualitatively different 
forms of the injured … Preberite več >>

By using the voltage-clamp method we 
can record the end-plate current which reflects
 changes in the conductance of the subsynaptic
membrane during neuromuscular transmission. The classic (plain) voltage-clamp method shows 
some inherent deficiencies, which in some experimental conditions interfere with, or even 
prevent recording of the end-plate current. Therefore, the method was improved by attaching
 a “current pump” to the … Preberite več >>

Isolated perfused Langendorff rat 
hearts were used for comparing effects of the
 calcium antagonist verapamil on the following 
two models of heart injury: local ischemia (ligature of the anterior interventricular artery) and
 general hypoxia (perfusate saturated with nitrogen). The degree and extent of injury were
 assessed by measuring the activity of lactate 
dehydrogenase in venous effluents from the 
heart, contractility, … Preberite več >>

We tested the applicability of non-commercial antigen substrates obtained from different human and animal tissues, for routine determination of autoantibodies to Sm, (U1)RNP, La and Ro antigens. For the detection of autoantibodies, standard counterimmunoelectrophoresis was used. Reactions of antigens with standard antisera were determined in the following tissue extracts: human liver, kidney, pancreas, spleen and heart obtained at autopsy, and … Preberite več >>

Histomorphological changes occurring in the liver tissue were studied to confirm the hypothesis about sequential development of primary liver carcinoma. Tumor-surrounding liver tissue was evaluated in 27 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma and in 5 cases of cholangiocarcinoma in order to determine histomorphological and cytological characteristics of yet untransformed liver tissue. These characteristics included low rate of HBV infections, high inflammation … Preberite več >>