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Thyroid gland diseases are the most frequent endocrinopathy and can be often seen in adult population. They occur at least by 5% of the population and the occurence increases with age, in females aging 45 and more, as thyroid gland diseases in this age group are represented approximately by 20%. Due to a complex influence of thyroid hormones in humans, diagnosis of thyroid disease may remain unsuspected under other disease with typical symptoms; the most serious of them is cardiogenic manifestation. When thyroid disease suspected, methods of diagnostics are very comprehensive and broad. Treatment on time can prevent serious complications. Case-study presenting a female patient with untreated primary hypothyroidism that had caused serious cardiac symptoms.

For etiologically obscure (some 4%) viral hepatitis agents are sought and tested to make elucidation of their cause possible. One of the candidates is since 1995 the newly discovered virus GBV-C/HGV. Despite intense research its relationship to viral hepatitis of obscure origin (VHN) has not been elucidated so far. In the submitted paper the authors attempted to contribute to the elucidation of etiological associations of GBV-C/HGV infection and VHN by comparing the dynamics of markers of the infection in a group of 59 patients with VHN, two control groups exposed to a high risk of parenteral operations and a third comparative group. The first control group comprised 64 patients in a long-term haemodialyzation programme (HD), the second group was formed by 82 patients with haematooncological disease (BD). The third comparative group comprised 22 patients coinfected (CI) with virus of hepatitis C (VHC), or possibly hepatitis B (VHB). The patients with VHN were HBsAg, anti HCV and anti HEV negative. In the majority in the first blood sample transaminases were elevated which was one of the main reasons for examination of GBV-C/HGV RNA. Prevalence of GBV-C/HGV infection, proved by the presence of at least one of the two markers of current or past infection (GBV-C/HGV RNA, antiGBV-C/HGV) was in the compared VHN, HD and BD groups as follows: 88.1%, 59.4% and 43.9%. The frequency of GBV-C/HGV positivity was highest in VHN-76.3%. In control groups HD and BD GBV-C/HGV RNA positivity was substantially lower, 18.8% and 25.6% resp. Long-term continuous viraemia was recorded in patients with VHN in 18.6%. In groups HD and BD it was half that value: 9.3% and 9.18%. In patients with VHN surprisingly after 6.5 months a marked rise of negative findings occurred (5.6x) without the expected increase of antibodies. A similar finding was recorded also in the other groups (HD and BD), incl. CI patients. Disappearance of viraemia was observed most frequently in VHN (55.9%). In groups HD and BD GBV-C/HGV RNA disappeared only in 7.8% and 12.1% resp. In treated patients of the CI group viral RNA was present in 45.5% and it disappeared in 36.4%. On the other hand, seroconversion to antibodies was comparable in VHN, HD and BD (11.9%, 9.4%, 8.5%), only in group CI it was higher (18.2%), obviously in conjunction with treatment of concurrent HCV or HBV infection. Disappearance of viraemia without subsequent seroconversion occurs in GBV-C/HGV infection frequently, the highest rate was observed by the authors in patients with VHN. Disappearance of viraemia does not necessarily imply clearance of GBV-C/HGV but may be due to a change of GBV-C(HGV into a state of persistence without positive laboratory markers of the infection. Persistence of the virus could also be the reason of the assumed conditioned pathogenicity of the virus, and the effect of frequent disappearance of both markers could explain some controversial epidemiological observations when in studies only static data without dynamic associations were used.

The authors present a group of 77 patients with chronic dialysis treatment during the period from 1/92 to 4/95 with regard to the prevalence of infectious endocarditis. This disease was detected in 8 instances in 6 patients whereby one patient had three relapses. In 75% staphylococci were the infectious agent. The main risks of the disease are according to the authors impaired immunity, repeated cannulation, degenerative valvular changes. In the conclusion the authors state that the risk of developing infectious endocarditis and relapses of the disease can be reduced by careful diagnosis and antibiotic therapy. The authors do not consider lifelong antibiotic prophylaxis of these patients necessary.

The authors present experience assembled at the septic station of the infectious department and mycological laboratory as regards interpretation of results of laboratory examinations in invasive Candida infections and they summarize the most important data from the literature on the correct collection of material, evaluation of microscopic and cultivation findings, the importance of examinations and haemocultures, venous catheters, urine, faeces and sputum. They analyze problems of serological examination and direct detection of antigen, they recommend mycological monitoring of patients at risk. In the conclusion they summarize the most frequent mistakes as regards the evaluation of laboratory results and indications of treatment.

Candida sepsis is a serious and ever increasing complication in patients with a reduced defense capacity. At the intensive care unit of the infectious department in 1978-1990 from a total of 430 patients with the diagnosis of sepsis 20 (4.7%) had a Candida aetiology. Candida sepsis is suspected in particular in leukaemic patients with neutropenia, in organ transplantations and in patients given intensive care on account of a serious primary disease, bacterial infection or after surgery. The risk of deep candidosis is increased by venous catheters, hyperalimentation, antibiotic treatment, invasive operations. Diagnosis is supported by endophthalmitis and skin lesions; signs of affection of the liver, lungs, kidneys and cardiac valves are sought. Analysis of risk factors, pathogenesis and the clinical picture of invasive Candida infections is based on ample data in the literature.

The extent of affection of the heart muscle by infarction with subsequent left-ventricular dilatation, remodelling and congestive failure is the decisive prognostic indicator of mortality. Inhibitors of ACE influence congestive heart failure in a favourable way and captopril reduces the morbidity and mortality in patients with still asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction. The authors administered to a group of 23 patients with acute myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure (grade II according to Killip) small doses of captopril (4 x 6.25 mg/day)for a period of 10 days from the 1st-4th day after the onset of the disease). From ACE serum levels the effectiveness of these doses was assessed in keeping with data in the literature. As compared with a control group of 26 patients with similar haemodynamic conditions the authors did not find significant differences as regards improvement of the decompensation and in the mortality (à 3 patients in both groups). As to undesirable effects, arterial hypotension was recorded three times, twice minor proteinuria, once asymptomatic thrombocytopenia. Decisive for future therapeutic decision making are above all the results of the SAVE study which prefers captopril in patients with a yet asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction. The authors are not quite convinced on the necessity to administer larger doses of captopril (up to 3 x 50 mg/day) in this indication.

By indirect immunofluorescence using antigens of hantavirus Hantaan and CG 18-20 on Vero E6 cells were examined 5,827 samples of sera from 5,299 probands of Czechoslovakia. In 49 persons (0.94%) were found antibodies of titres 1:32 and higher. Two groups of elderly farm workers showed a cluster of positive individuals amounting to 9.9% and 29.4% respectively. The ratio of positivities in some other, randomly and specifically selected groups was deep below 1%. The partial results for the group of farmers were confirmed by RIA test. Occasionally antibodies only to one of the hantavirus serotypes, at other time, to both were found. The authors discuss the findings of antibodies of the two serotypes in humans as related to the evidenced existence of two hantavirus antigen serotypes in animals.

The authors demonstrate the case of a female patient with a prolonged mucosal form of candidosis caused by different biotypes of Candida albicans. Despite the fact the long-term and repeated treatment with Nizoral and transfer factor was applied, relapses of the disease developed. Marked improvement of clinical manifestations occurred only after a change of the dietary habits and long-term administration of immunomodulating agents. The authors discuss therapeutic and diagnostic aspects of the disease.

The authors present an account of thrombosis of the superior vena cava which developed in two patients with permanent cardiac pacing and led to the development of superior vena cava syndrome. The cause was loosening of the impaired stimulating electrode from fixation and its penetration into the superior vena cava with subsequent formation of a thrombus on the bare surface of the spiral. Contemporary therapeutic procedures are reviewed.

The authors describe case-histories of two patients after successful embolectomy from the mesenteric artery, in one combined with resection of the small intestine with survival of 1 and 13 years resp. without sings of malnutrition. The authors discuss the prognosis of embolectomised patients with regard to the basic disease, relapsing embolization and nutritional disorders.

The authors describe two observations of primary hyperaldosteronism, caused by a cortical adrenal adenoma (Conn's adenoma). Both patients were treated by unilateral adrenalectomy from lumbotomy. (In the second patient subtotal resection). The problem is discussed from the aspect of morphological diagnosis and location with emphasis on the primary importance of CT. The surgical operation is aimed and simple without the necessity of peroperative confirmation of the morphological background of the syndrome.

The authors describe the case of Takayasu's disease detected in the non-obliterating systemic stage. The disease developed in a 24-year-old woman in the 8th month of gestation and was associated with severe pain of the back and upper extremities, subfebrile temperatures, later fever and tachycardia. The authors describe the difficult diagnosis of the disease and discuss the relationship of the case with so-called fever of unknown aetiology and the development of the disease during pregnancy.

The authors provide evidence of seroconversion in 16 subjects (100%) following intradermal administration of antirabies vaccine from a tissue culture of human diploid cells [Rabivac, Behring, FRG] for the purpose of pre-exposure immunization. The immunomodulating preparation Levamisol [Decaris Richter, Hungary] did not influence the mean antibody titre during administration by the intradermal route.

The concentration of growth and germination inhibitors in achenes from seedlings of R. rugosa Thunberg is reduced through leaching. Leaching of achenes for 24 hr before stratification increased the germination but the effect of leaching was not always significant. The presence of inhibitors was indicated between Rf 0.3–0.4 and Rf 0.7–0.9 by the retarding effect on radicle elongation of cress seeds (Lepidium sativum L. cult Moss Curled) when extracts of achenes were developed on ascending paper chromatograms (isopropanol:ammonia:water, 10:1:1, v/v). Changed concentrations of the inhibitor between Rf 0.7 and 0.9 from different after-ripening treatments did affect the germination of the achenes but the changed concentrations of the inhibitor between Rf 0.3 and 0.4 did not. Presumably, the inhibitor between Rf 0.7 and 0.9 was abscisic acid. Warm–cold treatments promoted germination more effectively than cold treatments. The most effective treatment was 4 weeks at 20 C and 8 weeks at 4 C. Both cold and warm–cold after-ripening seemed to promote germination through a reduction of growth inhibitors. Inhibitors do not control the germination of rose achenes exclusively because: (a) leaching reduced the concentration of inhibitors but it did not induce germination without after-ripening treatments; (b) partial after-ripening for 4 weeks at 20 C also reduced the concentration of inhibitors but it did not induce germination unless it was followed by an after-ripening period of 4 C; (c) after-ripened achenes germinated in spite of inhibitors.

Forty-nine cultivars of perennial phlox, Phlox paniculata L., grown in a field plot at Ottawa were compared for resistance to powdery mildew in 1961, 1962, and 1963. None of the cultivars was immune. A seedling, designated by the number 60–75, showed field resistance to mildew that was significantly better than the other cultivars for 3 years but subsequently became susceptible. A second cultivar, Pyramid White, initially showed field resistance to powdery mildew but it became susceptible to the disease more quickly than 60–75. Results obtained under the conditions of our experiments suggested that first-year plants were more resistant to powdery mildew than plants of the same cultivars that were at least 3 years old. In breeding for resistance, only a few seeds from crosses germinated but one apparently resistant seedling was obtained. However, this seedling subsequently became susceptible.

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The radiologically controled apicectomy shows frequently unsuccessful results. In histological examinations of the root apex area after apicectomy chronic inflammation is regularly seen even in negative radiologic findings. Examination of the most frequently used root filling material (zincoxyphosphate with guttapercha point) by scanning electron microscopy shows a porous surface and between the canal wall and the root filling material there appears regularly a deep groove as no contact is achieved. The rough surface structure, the chemical composition and the loose contact of the components in this area are considered irritative factors and reasons of failure in treatment.

A total of 63 patients with combined intraventricular block with a 60.3% mortality were found among 725 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with a 20.5% mortality. 25 patients with combined intraventricular blocks survived the hospitalization period--permanent pacing having been introduced in 11 of them. The mean survival time in them was 21.7 months. There were 3 deaths (27.3%), none of them sudden. The remaining 14 patients without pacing survived for a mean period of 15.9 months, with 7 deaths (50%), four of which could be designed as sudden. The authors conclude that permanent pacing "on demand" is indicated in all patients surviving the hospitalization period after AMI complicated by advanced a-v block and after anterior AMI following an older MI with new bilateral His bundle branch block.

Cytologic grading which may be performed at the same time as diagnostic cytology seems to be of a value in the pathobiology of the breast cancer. Other methods, such as mammography, termography, xenography, histological grading and some biological markers help to establish biological behavior of the tumor and appropriate treatment approach. In spite of the progress in diagnosis and therapy many problems remain to be clarified. In agreement with VORHERR a progress may be expected only from the development of novel approaches such as diagnosis before systematic spread has occurred or by the availability of efficient chemotherapy to kill all disseminated cancer cells.

Cytology in malignant melanoma of the skin is a useful method, which alone yields in many cases enough diagnostic informations for a therapeutical approach. It is of a special importance in cases with marked anisocytosis of cells and with large, sometimes polynuclear cells and with cells with melanotic pigment. In cases with middle-sized apigmented cells of epitheloid appearance it should be always completed by biopsy, which, in these cases predominates over cytology. Combination of both methods brings a more substantial elucidation of diagnosis.

Animal studies on the biological basis of mother-to-infant attachment have led to the hyphothesis that human mother-infant contact shortly after delivery may be crucial for the facilitation of such attachment. However, existing data do not clearly substantiate the influence of early contact on human maternal behavior. The present study was designed with procedural and methodological controls which were not always adequate in earlier studies and tested the hypothesis that early and enhanced contact facilitates maternal attachment behavior. 15 healthy primiparous mothers had their infants 1 hour at delivery and 90 min at each feeding; 15 received the usual hospital routine--brief contact at delivery and 30 min at each feeding. No differences in maternal behavior were obtained on 28 discrete response measures or on pooled sets of individual measures. A modest sex effect between contact conditions was found. Maternal behavior did not differ as a function of age. Factors that may account for differences obtained between this and other studies are discussed.