Croatian medical journal
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Croatian medical journal · Jun 2014
Less invasive treatment option for renal carcinoma with venous tumor thrombus.
To retrospectively analyze patients treated by renal tumor and venous tumor thrombus (VVT) removal and to introduce a less stressful and safer surgical method without thoracotomy in Neves level 3 cases. ⋯ Renal cell cancer complicated with tumor thrombus without metastasis can be curable by performing a complete resection. The thrombus level determines the surgical approach and method. Our results confirm that level 3 caval vein tumor thrombus can be safely surgically treated by laparotomy with liver mobilization. Thoracotomy, use of cardiopulmonal bypass, and hypothermic circulatory arrest can be avoided with adequate liver- and vascular surgery methods.
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Croatian medical journal · Jun 2014
Single acute stress-induced progesterone and ovariectomy alter cardiomyocyte contractile function in female rats.
To assess how ovarian-derived sex hormones (in particular progesterone) modify the effects of single acute stress on the mechanical and biochemical properties of left ventricular cardiomyocytes in the rat. ⋯ Stress increases ovary-independent synthesis and release of progesterone, which may regulate Ca(2+)-sensitivity of force production in left ventricular cardiomyocytes. Stress and female hormones differently alter Ca(2+)-dependent cardiomyocyte contractile force production, which may have pathophysiological importance during stress conditions affecting postmenopausal women.
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Croatian medical journal · Jun 2014
Visualization of melanoma tumor with lectin-conjugated rare-earth doped fluoride nanocrystals.
To develop specific fluorescent markers for melanoma tumor visualization, which would provide high selectivity and reversible binding pattern, by the use of carbohydrate-recognizing proteins, lectins, combined with the physical ability for imaging deep in the living tissues by utilizing red and near infrared fluorescent properties of specific rare-earth doped nanocrystals (NC). ⋯ NPL lectin-NaGdF4:Eu(3+) conjugated NC permitted distinct identification of contours of the melanoma tissue on histological sections using red excitation at 590-610 nm and near infrared emission of 700-720 nm. These data are of potential practical significance for development of glycans-conjugated nanoparticles to be used for in vivo visualization of melanoma tumor.
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Croatian medical journal · Jun 2014
Effects of high fat diet, ovariectomy, and physical activity on leptin receptor expression in rat brain and white fat tissue.
To evaluate in a rat animal model whether ovariectomy, high fat diet (HFD), and physical activity in the form of running affect leptin receptor (Ob-R) distribution in the brain and white fat tissue compared to sham (Sh) surgery, standard diet (StD), and sedentary conditions. ⋯ HFD and ovariectomy increased Ob-R distribution in lateral hypothalamic nuclei, but there was no effect on arcuatus nuclei. Our results are first to suggest that HFD, ovariectomy, and physical activity affect Ob-R distribution in the barrel cortex, which might be correlated with the role of Ob-R in election of food in rats.