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Biomedical subjects

M Krasovec

Publications and source records attributed to M Krasovec.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

[Acne and its treatment possibilities].

Acne is a multifactorial disease affecting the pilosebaceous follicles. It is a treatable condition for which the aims of therapy are to reduce social isolation and to prevent or minimise scarring. Propionibacterium acnes is an anaerobic bacterium strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of acne. A gradual increase in the resistance of P. acnes to many antibiotics has been documented in the last decade, and there is thus a growing need to use either appropriate antibiotics or even change the therapeutic strategy in favour of other regimens, i.e. isotretinoin, antiandrogens. A treatment guide is presented and the side-effects of these regimens are discussed.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1999

Immunochemical analysis of cathepsin B in lung tumours: an independent prognostic factor for squamous cell carcinoma patients.

In order to evaluate the possible role of the proteolytic enzyme cathepsin B (cath B) in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) we examined cath B concentrations (cath B(C)) and activities (cath B(A)) in homogenates of 127 pairs of lung tumour tissues and corresponding non-tumourous lung parenchyma. Total cath B activity (cath B(AT)) and enzymatic activity of the fraction of cath B, which is stable and active at pH 7.5 (cath B(A7.5)) were determined by a fluorogenic assay using synthetic substrate Z-Arg-Arg-AMC. The immunostaining pattern of cath B was determined in 239 lung tumour tissue sections, showing the presence of the enzyme in tumour cells (cath B(T-I)) and in tumour-associated histiocytes (cath B(H-I)). The median levels of cath B(AT), cath B(A7.5) and cath B(C) were 5.6-, 3.2- and 9.1-fold higher (P < 0.001), respectively, in tumour tissue than in non-tumourous lung parenchyma. Out of 131 tissue sections from patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 59.5% immunostained positively for cath B, while among the 108 adenocarcinoma (AC) patients 48.2% of tumours showed a positive reaction. There was a strong relationship between the levels of cath B(AT), cath B(A7.5), cath B(C) and cath B(T-I) in the primary tumours and the presence of lymph node metastases. Significant correlation with overall survival was observed for cath B(T-I) and cath B(A7.5) (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively) in patients suffering from SCC. In these patients positive cath B in tumour cells (cath B(T-I)) and negative cath B in histiocytes (cath B(H-I)) indicated significantly shorter survival rate compared with patients with negative cath B(T-I) and positive cath B(H-I) (P < 0.0001). In contrast, in AC patients, both, positive cath B(T-I) and positive cath B(H-I), indicated poor survival probability (P < 0.014). From these results we conclude that the proteolytic enzyme cath B is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival of patients suffering from SCC of the lung.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1998

[Temporary roentgen epilation after embolization of a cerebral arteriovenous malformation].

A patient with a large left-sided arteriovenous malformation underwent superselective angiography and therapeutic embolization. Sixteen days later he presented with an acute anagen-dystrophic hair loss localized to the occipital and right parietal regions corresponding to the irradiated scalp area. The diagnosis of an acute radiation injury to the hair follicle from prolonged fluoroscopic imaging during the interventional neuroradiologic procedure was made. This reversible side effect occurs typically after single short-term exposures of 300-400 cGy. Above single doses of 1200 cGy, the epilation is permanent. Patients have to be informed about the possibility of this reversible complication, which must be distinguished from alopecia areata, postoperative ischemic pressure alopecia and drug toxicity.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Prognostic significance of cathepsins B and L in primary human breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Evaluation of the clinical significance of cytosolic tumor levels of the lysosomal cysteine proteases cathepsin B (catB) and cathepsin L (catL) in patients with primary breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: CatB (n = 1,500) and catL (n = 1,391) levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in cytosols routinely prepared from frozen-tissue samples that were submitted to our laboratory for the assessment of steroid-hormone-receptor status. The median duration of follow-up of patients still alive at the time of analysis was 93 months. RESULTS: Relating catB and catL levels with classical prognostic factors, the proteases were positively correlated with the number of positive lymph nodes (P < .01), and negatively with the level of steroid-hormone receptors (P < .01). We did not find a significant relationship between catB or catL levels with age and menopausal status of the patients or with the size of the primary tumor. The levels of catB and catL were positively correlated with each other and with the rates of relapse and death (all, P < .0001). In multivariate regression analysis for relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS), corrected for the contribution of age/menopausal status, tumor size, the number of positive lymph nodes, and steroid-hormone-receptor status, catB and catL were significant predictors of the rates of relapse and death (all, P < .01). No statistically significant interactions of catB or catL with any of the classical prognostic factors or with each other were observed in their associations with the rates of relapse and death. CONCLUSION: CatB and catL levels measured in routinely prepared cytosols are strong parameters to predict the rate of relapse and the length of survival after treatment of the primary breast tumor.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Prognostic values of cathepsin B and carcinoembryonic antigen in sera of patients with colorectal cancer.

The level of cathepsin B (Cat B) was determined in sera obtained preoperatively from 325 patients with colorectal cancer using an ELISA. Control sera from 90 healthy blood donors were analyzed. The levels of Cat B detected included all forms that were present in the sera, i.e., mature enzyme, precursor molecule, and enzyme-inhibitor complexes. The level of Cat B was significantly increased in sera of patients with colorectal cancer. The median level was 10.7 ng/ml versus 2.1 ng/ml in controls (P < 0.0001). A correlation between Cat B serum level and advanced Dukes' stage (P < 0.003) was found, whereas no associations have been found with age, sex, or level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). In survival analysis, the patients with high serum Cat B experienced significantly lower survival probability. At the optimal cutoff value of 9.4 ng/ml, the relative hazard ratio was 1.8 (95% confidence interval, 1.1-2.8; P = 0.016) in the univariate Cox proportional hazards model. The median observation time was 4.4 years (range, 3.2-5.5 years). In multivariate analysis, Dukes' stage was the strongest prognostic variable, followed by age, whereas serum Cat B and CEA were not significant prognostic factors in this model, in accordance with their association with Dukes' stage. When the data for Cat B and CEA were combined, CEA-positive patients were further separated by Cat B into high- and low-risk groups. Patients with high serum levels of both molecules had significantly shorter survival (relative hazard ratio of 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-3.2; P < 0.0001), as compared with patients with low levels of both molecules.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Lupus profundus/panniculitis.

A 25-year-old Caucasian woman developed two areas of tender panniculitis on her left thigh. While one lesion ulcerated, the other showed no overlying cutaneous changes. Histological examination showed lymphocytic perivascular and periappendageal infiltrates, and direct immunofluorescence revealed granular immunoglobulin deposits at the dermal-epidermal junction in the skin overlying the lesions. Laboratory tests revealed lymphopenia, anemia and an increased blood sedimentation rate. The serology for syphilis was false positive. For several months the patient had also been suffering from arthralgia with palpable synovitis of the wrist and several interphalangeal joints. Overall, these clinical findings are consistent with the diagnosis of lupus profundus/panniculitis associated with mild systemic LE.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Amiodarone induced iododerma treated by cyclosporine].

INTRODUCTION: Iodine containing agents are used as radiologic contrast media and for the treatment of upper respiratory infections, heart diseases, thyreotoxicosis, erythema nodosum and wound disinfection. Vegetating iododerma is a rare but severe cutaneous side effect. CASE STUDY: We report a case of iododerma in a 84 year-old patient, presenting iododerma 14 months after introduction of amiodarone treatment. Despite cessation of this therapy, an important exacerbation of the skin lesions was observed 3 months later. Therapy with cyclosporine produced a marked regression of the skin lesions. DISCUSSION: We are aware of only one other reported case of amiodarone induced iododerma, which occurred after 2 years of therapy. Our patient was also exposed to iodine containing radiographic contrast media 1 and 18 years before onset of the actual skin disease. A sensitizing role of these injections is possible, but we feel that they did not directly induce the skin eruption as all reported cases occurred within a few days after exposure. CONCLUSION: Amiodarone can exceptionally be responsible for severe iododerma. Cyclosporine is, according to our experience, a valuable therapeutic option.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Cathepsins B, H, and L and their inhibitors stefin A and cystatin C in sera of melanoma patients.

The levels of cathepsins (Cats) B, H, and L and their inhibitors stefin A and cystatin C were determined in the sera of 43 patients with metastatic melanoma, in 54 patients with treated cutaneous melanoma with no evidence of metastatic disease, and in 30 healthy blood donors, using quantitative ELISAs. The levels of Cats B and H and cystatin C were significantly higher within the group of metastatic melanoma patients compared with the healthy controls. The median Cat B was 4.8 versus 3.6 ng/ml (P < 0.013), the median Cat H was 13.7 versus 4.9 ng/ml (P < 0.0001), and the median cystatin C was 470 versus 320 ng/ml (P < 0.02). Cat H was also significantly increased within the group of melanoma patients with no metastasis, with a median of 9.6 ng/ml. Cat B was found to correlate with Cat L (r = 0.36; P < 0.02) and cystatin C (r = 0.41; P < 0.008). The serum level of Cat H was significantly increased in patients showing no response to the chemoimmunotherapy as compared to the level in responders. Metastatic melanoma patients with high contents of Cat B and Cat H experienced significantly shorter overall survival rates than the patients with low levels of each enzyme (Cat B: P < 0.003 and relative risk, 2.5; Cat H: P < 0.006 and relative risk, 2.4, using medians as cutoff values). The other potential factors for prognosis for this group of patients revealed moderate (histological type and age) or no (tumor thickness, sex, and lymph node metastasis) prognostic significance. Similarly, no difference in survival was found for stefin A, cystatin C, and Cat L. These results suggest that the serum levels of Cats B and H could serve as prognostic factors for patients with advanced melanoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Acrodermatitis enteropathica secondary to Crohn's disease.

A patient suffering from Crohn's disease (CD) presented with alopecia, eczematoid and psoriasiform lesions located on the extremities, around the orifices and at pressure points, suggesting acrodermatitis enteropathica. Lately, her inflammatory bowel disease had flared up with abdominal pain, diarrhea and weight loss related to a retroperitoneal abscess. Acrodermatitis enteropathica due to zinc deficiency is a well-known complication of CD. In our patient the etiological factors involved appeared to be multiple.

Acrodermatitis↗
PubMed1996

Prognostic value of cathepsins B, H, L, D and their endogenous inhibitors stefins A and B in head and neck carcinoma.

To estimate the prognostic value of cathepsins B, H, L, D and stefins A and B in head and neck carcinoma, their concentrations in cytosols of primary tumours and adjacent normal tissue were measured (cathepsins B, D stefins A, B in 45, cathepsin L in 24 and cathepsin H in 21 patients). Median concentrations of cathepsins B, L, and D were significantly higher in tumour than in the adjacent normal tissue (B and D: p < 0.0001; L: p = 0.004); cathepsin H concentration was higher in normal tissue (p = 0.001). Concentrations of either stefin did not differ significantly between normal and tumour tissue. Concentrations of cathepsins B, H, L, and D were higher in laryngeal than in non-laryngeal normal and tumour tissues. The difference was statistically significant for cathepsin B in tumour tissue (p = 0.045), and marginally significant in normal tissue (p = 0.07). Early tumours had lower concentrations of stefins A and B than locally advanced tumours (stefin A: p = 0.04; stefin B: p = 0.07). Disease-free and disease-specific survival rates were better in patients with concentrations of cathepsin L in tumour tissue below or equal to the cut-off values (p = 0.035; p = 0.05), whereas for cathepsin B the difference was established only for disease-free survival (p = 0.07). The opposite was true for stefin A (p = 0.0002; p = 0.002) and stefin B (p = 0.009; p = 0.003), and in disease-free survival also for cathepsin H (p = 0.055). The concentration of cathepsin D did not correlate with survival. Our data indicate that cathepsins B, H, L and stefins A and B might have prognostic value in head and neck carcinoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Cowden's syndrome].

Multiple hamartoma and neoplasia syndrome, or Cowden's disease, is a genodermatosis inherited as an autosomal dominant trait with variable expressivity. We describe a woman with classic mucocutaneous features of the syndrome: facial papules, acral keratoses, oral mucosal papillomatosis, oral polyps and scrotal tongue. As a child she had strabismus. Her family history is positive for the disease, and a sister died of malignant melanoma. The check-up revealed chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. A checklist for use in screening patients with Cowden's disease is proposed.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Giant recurrence of a multiple agminated Spitz nevus.

An 11-year-old boy had multiple agminated pigmented lesions distributed over the left scapula since the age of 2 years. Shave excision of four grouped lesions showed Spitz nevi (benign juvenile melanoma, spindle or epithelioid cell nevi) that were not totally excised basally. Three years later, a tumorous, keloidlike nodule developed on that site. To the best of our knowledge, giant recurrence within an agminated Spitz nevus has not previously been reported.

Child↗