OBJECTIVE: Precise control over the ultrasound field parameters experienced by biological samples during sonication experiments in vitro may be quite challenging. The main goal of this work was to outline an approach to construction of sonication test cells that would minimize the interaction between the test cells and ultrasound. METHODS: Optimal dimensions of the test cell were determined through measurements conducted in a water sonication tank using 3D-printed test objects. The offset of local acoustic intensity variability inside the sonication test cell was set to value of ±50% of the reference value (i.e., local acoustic intensity measured at last axial maximum in the free-field condition). The cytotoxicity of several materials used for 3D printing was determined using the MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. RESULTS: The sonication test cells were 3D printed from polylactic acid material, which was not toxic to the cells. Silicone membrane HT-6240, which was used to construct the bottom of the test cell, was found to reduce ultrasound energy minimally. Final ultrasound profiles inside the sonication test cells indicated the desired variability of local acoustic intensity. The cell viability in our sonication test cell was comparable to that of commercial culture plates with bottoms constructed with silicone membrane. CONCLUSION: An approach to construction of sonication test cells minimizing the interaction of the test cell and ultrasound has been outlined.
The authors present the effect of preoperative oral nutritional supplements (ONS) in the form of sipping on the postoperative morbidity and mortality of patients suffering from carcinoma of esophagus and gastroesophageal junction who underwent esophagectomy and who do not in the high risk of malnutrition. The main goal was to assess whether preoperative ONS results in a decrease in 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality who do not qualify to the high risk of malnutrition strategy. 29 patients who underwent surgery were included, 14 patients (48.3%) without sipping, 15 patients (51.7%) with sipping. In the sipping group, there were significantly more patients who had adenocarcinoma (p = 0.035) and the tumor localized in the distal part of the esophagus (p = 0.006), showed significantly higher values of albumin (p = 0.007) and prealbumin (p = 0.005) when compared to patients without sipping. No statistically significant difference in 30-day postoperative morbidity (p = 0.700) and in 30-day postoperative mortality (p = 1.000).
- MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- ezofagektomie metody škodlivé účinky MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nádory jícnu * chirurgie komplikace mortalita terapie MeSH
- nutriční podpora metody MeSH
- pooperační komplikace mortalita prevence a kontrola MeSH
- předoperační péče * metody MeSH
- riziko MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- výsledek terapie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- randomizované kontrolované studie MeSH
Introduction: The authors report long-term outcomes in patients who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and consequently underwent hybrid oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer (OC). Aim: To evaluate long-term outcomes in patients suffering from OC, who underwent hybrid oesophagectomy. Material and methods: Our cohort consisted of patients suffering from OC, who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Hybrid esophagectomy was performed 8-10 weeks after oncological treatment. Results: Ninety-four patients underwent surgery for OC from 2011 to 2015. Histology revealed adenocarcinoma in 60.6%, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in 36.2%, and other type of cancer in 3.2%. Seventy-three (77.7%) patients with advanced stage (T3-4, N0-2, M0) were indicated to receive neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). Trans-hiatal hybrid oesophagectomy was performed in 83 (88.3%) patients. Transthoracic hybrid oesophagectomy was performed in 11 (11.7%) patients. Histology of the resected specimens of 18 (24.7%) patients did not reveal OC, i.e. pathological complete response (pCR). In our cohort, we proved an association between occurrence of pCR and age as well as disease-free survival (DFS). The patients who presented with pCR were significantly younger - below 60 years of age (p = 0.017). They also showed significantly higher mean DFS (p = 0.004). Conclusions: Combined oesophagectomy with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy results in a better long-term outcome in patients suffering from oesophageal cancer. In our set of patients who underwent hybrid esophagectomy, satisfactory short-term and especially long-term results of surgical treatment for oesophageal cancer were observed.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
OBJECTIVES: The most promising strategy for managing COVID-19 pandemic is achieving sufficient vaccination rate worldwide. The question is how many people will be willing to get vaccinated. STUDY DESIGN: We systematically reviewed peer-reviewed manuscripts monitoring people´s intention to receive a vaccine against COVID-19. METHODS: Up to December 28, 2020 we identified 62 relevant peer-reviewed articles in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and GoogleScholar. RESULTS: Total sample size was 118 855 respondents with overall average COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate of 72.5% which is “just” the level estimated to be sufficient for reaching herd immunity threshold. Surprisingly, healthcare workers showed smaller interest in receiving the vaccine when compared to general adult population and university students. On the other hand, their attitude to vaccination did not change over time. In case of general adult population, the longer the pandemic lasts, the smaller proportion of population wants to get vaccinated. Vaccination intentions were independent of gross domestic product and human development index. CONCLUSION: Willingness of population to receive COVID-19 is just at the herd immunity threshold and it is decreasing over time (Tab. 2, Fig. 3, Ref. 110).
Cíl: Dosažení dostatečné proočkovanosti (respektive kolektivní imunity) je považováno za nejslibnější strategii prevence ohnisek nového onemocnění způsobeného koronaviry v budoucnosti. Hlavním cílem této práce bylo porovnat ochotu vysokoškolských studentů nechat se očkovat proti covid-19 s možnostmi očkovat se proti jiným známým chorobám. Dalším cílem bylo posoudit názor studentů na rostoucí trend rodičů odmítajících očkování dětí. Metody: Studentům byl rozeslán online dotazník obsahující 12 otázek. Dotazník byl distribuován prostřednictvím univerzitních hromadných e-mailů a sociálních médií. Výsledky: Na náš dotazník odpovědělo 3 133 studentů. Celková návratnost odpovědí univerzity byla 15,9 %. Studenti naší univerzity projevili významně mnohem větší zájem o očkování proti covid-19 než o vakcíny proti jiným nemocem (p < 0,0001). Studenti také prokázali silný proočkovací postoj k očkování dětí. Závěr: Studie ukázala velmi dobře náhlou změnu postoje studentů vysokých škol k očkování dospělých v době přísných omezujících předpisů. Většina vysokoškolských studentů měla k očkování dětí proočkovací postoj.
Aim: Achieving sufficient vaccination rate (and herd immunity respectively) is considered to be the most promising strategy for prevention of outbreaks of novel coronavirus disease in future. The main aim of this work was to compare willingness of university students to receive vaccine against COVID-19 with vaccines for adults against other well-known diseases. Another aim was to assess students´ opinion on growing trend of parents refusing to vaccinate children. Methods: The online questionnaire shared with students consisted of 12 questions. It was distributed via university bulk emails and social media. Results: 3,133 students responded to our questionnaire. Overall university response rate was 15.9%. Students of our university showed significantly much stronger interest in receiving vaccine against COVID-19 than vaccine against other diseases (p < 0.0001). Students also showed strong pro-vaccination attitude to vaccination of children. Conclusion: The study showed very well sudden change of attitude of university students to vaccination of adults at the time of strong restrictive regulations. Most of university students had pro-vaccination attitude to vaccination of children.
In many in vitro experiments studying ultrasound bioeffects the sonicated samples are placed to far field with intention of exposing them to as uniform ultrasound field as possible. The main aim of this work is to assess whether the sonicated samples really experience what they are believed to. Also we would like to suggest basic rules for construction of sonication vessels. We used 3.5 MHz and 7 MHz ultrasound transducers for measurements. We measured ultrasound field inside and behind common culture plates and special 3D printed plates placed to last axial maximum in water sonication tank with use of a needle hydrophone. Our results show that even though the sonication vessels with sonicated samples are placed into far field, the sonicated samples are actually exposed to some kind of a near field pattern which develops due to the interaction between ultrasound and well of culture plate. The variability of local acoustic intensity can reach up to several hundreds of percent. Our results are also supported by theoretical calculation and software for simulation of ultrasound fields. Even though the sonicated samples may have actually been exposed to some kind of near field pattern in many past studies, the whole phenomenon of creation of near field pattern can be controlled to some extent for future studies. Thus, we suggest that the sonication vessel should always be designed for particular ultrasound transducer.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Current in vitro sonication experiments show immense variability in experimental set-ups and methods used. As a result, there is uncertainty in the ultrasound field parameters experienced by sonicated samples, poor reproducibility of these experiments and thus reduced scientific value of the results obtained. The scope of this narrative review is to briefly describe mechanisms of action of ultrasound, list the most frequently used experimental set-ups and focus on a description of factors influencing the outcomes and reproducibility of these experiments. The factors assessed include: proper reporting of ultrasound exposure parameters, experimental geometry, coupling medium quality, influence of culture vessels, formation of standing waves, motion/rotation of the sonicated sample and the characteristics of the sample itself. In the discussion we describe pros and cons of particular exposure geometries and factors, and make a few recommendations as to how to increase the reproducibility and validity of the experiments performed.
Úvod: Cystatin C je považován za prognostický marker kardiovaskulárních onemocnění. Cílem této prospektivní práce bylo zhodnotit přínos hodnocení cystatinu C v prognostické stratifikaci k predikci nemocniční mortality a závažných nežádoucích kardiálních příhod (major cardiac adverse events, MACE) u pacientů s infarktem myokardu s elevacemi úseku ST (STEMI) a porovnat význam cystatinu C s dalšími ukazateli renálních funkcí a skóre GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events). Metody: Do prospektivní studie bylo zařazeno 659 konsekutivních pacientů (479 mužů, průměrný věk 65 let) s akutním infarktem myokardu s elevacemi úseku ST léčených primární perkutánní koronární intervencí (PCI). Při přijetí byl proveden standardní laboratorní odběr zahrnující cystatin C, troponin T, N-terminální fragment natriuretického propeptidu typu B (NT-proBNP), další biomarkery renálních funkcí. Schopnost cystatinu C, dalších biomarkerů a skóre GRACE predikovat nemocniční mortalitu a MACE (rekurence akutního koronárního syndromu, iktus, in-stent trombóza, mortalita) byla hodnocena pomocí c-statistiky. Výsledky: Nemocniční mortalita dosáhla 4 % (n = 26), výskyt MACE pak 6,8 % (n = 45). Vstupní hodnota cystatinu C, kreatininu, urey, glomerulární filtrace, troponinu T, NT-proBNP a GRACE byla shledána jako nezávislý prognostický faktor. Sérová koncentrace cystatinu C a hodnota skóre GRACE byla signifikantně vyšší u zemřelých (1,65 ± 0,91 vs. 0,97 ± 0,41 mg/ml; p < 0,001, resp. 138 ± 43 vs. 99 ± 31; p < 0,001). Hodnota plochy pod křivkou (area under the curve, AUC) pro predikci mortality a MACE pro cystatin C a skóre GRACE byla 0,83 a 0,88, respektive 0,66 a 0,72 (vše p < 0,001) s optimální hraniční hodnotou 1,3 mg/ml pro cystatin C a 136 pro skóre GRACE. Hodnota cystatinu C nad mez 1,30 mg/l byla asociována s nejvyšším adjustovaným poměrem šancí (odds ratio, OR) 3,85 (95% interval spolehlivosti 2,36-6,38; p < 0,001) pro nemocniční mortalitu (senzitivita 77 %, specificita 86 %). Kombinace cystatinu C a skóre GRACE nevedla k dalšímu signifikantnímu zlepšení rizikové stratifikace (OR 1,05; 95% interval spolehlivosti 1,04-1,07; p < 0,001). Závěr: Cystatin C byl potvrzen jako prediktor časného výsledku srovnatelný se skóre GRACE u pacientů se STEMI.
Introduction: Cystatin C has been implicated as a prognostic marker in cardiovascular diseases. The aim of prospective study was to evaluate the benefits of measuring cystatin C for prognostic stratification to predict hospital mortality and the rates of major cardiac adverse events (MACE) in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients and to compare cystatin C to other markers of renal function and Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score. Methods: A total of 659 consecutive patients (479 men, mean age 65 years) from a prospective study on acute STEMI treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were evaluated. Standard laboratory tests including cystatin C, troponin T, NT-terminal fragment of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), markers of renal function were assessed on admission in all patients. Using c-statistic, the ability of cystatin C, other biomarkers and GRACE score to predict hospital mortality and MACE (acute coronary syndrome recurrence, stroke event, definite in-stent thrombosis and mortality) rate was evaluated. Results: All-cause hospital mortality and MACE occurrence were 4% (n = 26), resp. 6.8% (n = 45). Cystatin C, creatinine, urea, glomerular filtration rate, troponin T, NT-proBNP and GRACE on admission were identified as significant prognostic risk markers. Serum cystatin C level and GRACE score were significantly higher in non-survivors (1.65 ± 0.91 vs. 0.97 ± 0.41 mg/mL; p < 0.001, resp. 138 ± 43 vs. 99 ± 31; p < 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) values for mortality and MACE rate prediction for cystatin C and GRACE score were 0.83 and 0.88, respectively 0.66 and 0.72 (all p < 0.001) with optimal cut-off values of 1.3 mg/mL for cystatin C and 136 for GRACE score. Cystatin C above cut-off > 1.30 mg/L was associated with the highest adjusted odds ratio (OR) 3.85 (95% confidence interval 2.36-6.38; p < 0.001), and predicted in-hospital mortality with 77% sensitivity and 86% specificity. The addition of cystatin C to the GRACE score (OR 1.05, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.07; p < 0.001) was not significantly associated with improved risk stratification. Conclusions: Cystatin C is a predictor of early outcome comparable with the GRACE score in patients with STEMI.
- MeSH
- cystatin C * fyziologie krev MeSH
- infarkt myokardu s elevacemi ST úseků * mortalita terapie MeSH
- kardiovaskulární nemoci mortalita MeSH
- koronární angioplastika mortalita statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- míra přežití MeSH
- prediktivní hodnota testů MeSH
- prognóza MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- statistika jako téma MeSH
- výsledek terapie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- klinické zkoušky MeSH
- Publikační typ
- abstrakt z konference MeSH
Apart from being a powerful medical imaging technique ultrasound can also be used as a therapeutic modality. In vitro sonication experiments performed on cultured cells are one of primary research methods. However present sonication protocols and methods meet many effects influencing the final ultrasound dose experienced by the sonicated samples. The main aim of this study is to assess the influence of laboratory glass and plastics on ultrasound field parameters during in vitro sonication experiments. We performed measurements of ultrasound field parameters (ultrasound intensity and its local distribution) behind commonly used laboratory glass and plastics placed into the far field region of an ultrasound transducer. We tested the influence of several types of culture dishes, culture plates and sample test tubes. Culture dishes reduced ultrasound intensity by tens of percent but did not affect the shape of ultrasound field. 6-well plate reduced ultrasound intensity only by 5 %. Culture plates with well diameter smaller than the diameter of the main lobe of ultrasound beam focus ultrasound energy. Laboratory glass and plastics with curved surface also focus ultrasound energy. We proved that laboratory glass and plastics considerably affect ultrasound field parameters. Thus sonicated samples are exposed to different ultrasound conditions compared to those reported in some of scientific articles. Rest of factors (standing waves formation, streaming, cell mixing, heating and homogeneity of ultrasound field in terms of near and far ultrasound field) affecting the ultrasound field parameters experienced by sonicated samples also need to be studied further.
- MeSH
- plastické hmoty MeSH
- sklo MeSH
- techniky in vitro MeSH
- ultrazvukové vlny * MeSH
- výzkum MeSH
- Publikační typ
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
