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Here are all the summaries from the Lekarsky obzor journal for citations. Full journal will be available in a few months.

Ageing and the seasons affect the levels of antioxidants in human

Zuzana RAUSOVÁ, Anna GVOZDJÁKOVÁ, Jarmila KUCHARSKÁ, Anežka CHLÁDEKOVÁ, Zuzana SUMBALOVÁ, Viliam MOJTO

Aging and changes in seasons temperature and ultraviolet radiation affect the levels of antioxidants in the body. Changes antioxidants in isolated platelets are pronounced in thrombocytes compared to whole blood and plasma. During the winter season the antioxidant protection of the organism is the weakened, which was reflected also in decreased concentrations of vitamin E and coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) in elderly humans. CoQ₁₀ deficiency in platelet mitochondria is associated with decreased ATP production in the body during aging as well as in winter. Based on these and our previous results, supplementation with CoQ₁₀ is suitable for increasing energy production in the elderly and during the cold winter season.

Key words: ageing, seasons, antioxidants, coenzyme Q₁₀, vitamin E, oxidative stress.

Lek Obzor (Med Horizon), 2019, 68 (4): 118 – 124

The possible effect of elevated blood plasma levels of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein on pharmacokinetics and pharmacological effectivity of some drugs

Barbora PITEKOVÁ, Ladislav TURECKÝ

Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein belongs to a group of acute phase proteins and along with other functions plays a role as a drug-binding protein in blood plasma. In general, only the free fraction of drug has pharmacodynamics activity, because only free unbound drug can diffuse across biological barriers and be transported to their site of action. Elevated plasma levels of drug-binding protein could increase the binding of drugs and decrease the concentration of free, biologically active drug. In our contribution, we discuss the effect of increased levels of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein on the effectivity of some anticancer drugs in oncological patients.

Key words: alpha-1-acid glycoprotein, orosomucoid, anticancer drugs, paclitaxel, imatinib.

Lek Obz (Med Horizon), 2019, 68 (4): 125 – 127

Specific features of stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation associated with chronic kidney disease

Anna REMKOVÁ

The coexistence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic kidney disease results in a higher risk for both thromboembolic and severe bleeding events. In these patients, oral anticoagulants (both vitamin K antagonists [VKAs] and non-VKA oral anticoagulants [NOACs]) are effective in thromboprophylaxis in mild to moderate renal dysfunction (creatinine clearance [CrCl] ≥30 mL/min), decreasing morbidity and mortality due to stroke/systemic embolization (CMP/SE). The largest proportion of patients with renal dysfunction included among all NOAC trials, is presented in ENGAGE AF TIMI 48. In this study, edoxaban was comparable to warfarin for preventing CMP/SE and cardiovascular mortality in the pre-specified subgroups according to renal function (CrCl 30-50 and
>50 mL/min). In the subgroup of AF patients with mild renal dysfunction (CrCl >50 - <80 mL/min), edoxaban was superior to well-established warfarin for the prevention of CMP/SE (47% reduction) and death from cardiovascular causes. For the safety end point, edoxaban resulted in significantly lower rates of major bleeding and was superior to warfarin in both renal subgroups. The rates of net clinical outcomes, which were composites of cardiovascular events, death from any cause, or bleeding, is significantly more favourable with edoxaban than with warfarin regardless of renal function. Treatment with edoxaban is beneficial in particular for the most numerous subgroup of AF patients – with mild renal dysfunction.

Key words: atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, thromboembolic complications, oral anticoagulation therapy.

Lek Obz (Med Horizon), 2019, 68(4):  128 – 133

Nocturia as the risk factor for cardiovascular mortality

Andrej DUKÁT, Ján BREZA, Jr., Eliška KUBÍKOVÁ, Peter GAVORNÍK, Juraj PAYER

Nocturia represents an important clinical state, with its influence on all functions of the patient, leading to lowering of its life quality from the side of severe cardiovascular events. As this remains often undiagnosed, it  brings severe health and socioeconomic problem. Thus it is of importance for our daily clinical practice also from the prognostic point of view.

Key words: nocturia, cardiovascular diseases, prognosis.

Lek Obz (Med Horizon), 2019, 68(4): 134 – 136

Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis

Jozef ROVENSKÝ, Marián BERNADIČ

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (OBA) are rare systemic inflammatory diseases. Both are considered to be related diseases, which affects in particular the elderly (70 years and up). Both diseases are associated with non-specific symptoms such as malaise, fatigue, fever, aversion to eating, weight loss, general weakness. The disease may take place at the same time and each other to potentiate. Joint award is not significant. In most cases, symptoms of arthritis are not collected. Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arthritis exceptionally respond well to treatment with glucocorticoids. Improve significantly following administration of glucocorticoids is determined within 48 hours from the beginning of treatment (typically a rapid therapeutic response).

Key words: polymyalgia rheumatica, giant cell arteritis, inflammation, arthritis, glucocorticoids, rapid therapeutic response.

Lek Obzor (Med Horizon), 2019, 68 (4): s. 137 – 140