Bratisl Med J
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Pulmonary hypertension is a rare, treacherous disease affecting the lungs and heart. Elevated pulmonary artery pressure (above 2.67 kPa) and pathologically high pulmonary vascular resistance are characteristic for this disease. This disease is insidiously progressive and often leads to sudden death mainly in middle and younger middle ages. ⋯ Nowadays more and more reports about the successful application of intravenous prostacyclin for treatment of this disease appear in specialized literature. Epoprostenol (prostacyclin PGI2) represents a new, potent drug for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. The objective of this paper is to introduce prostacyclin PGI2 to experts and demonstrate new possibilities, procedures, trends in treatment of pulmonary hypertension. (Tab. 1, Ref. 30.).
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Temporary clipping in aneurysm surgery has been used more frequently in last years to increase the efficacy and safety of the neck dissection and obliteration. Experimental studies have shown that neuroprotection using hypertension and mannitol administration diminishes the risk of ischemia during this procedure. However, recent studies show that this method has to be used with caution. ⋯ We conclude that temporary clipping in aneurysm surgery is a relatively safe procedure which facilitates the aneurysm neck dissection and enables neck obliteration in difficult cases. Better results are achieved with short duration of occlusion. (Fig. 4, Ref. 13.).
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Deliberate mild hypothermia has been proposed as a means of providing cerebral protection during neurosurgicals procedures complicated by cerebral ischaemia. Our prospective study was designed to examine the safety of deliberate mild hypothermia and to evaluate our techniques for cooling and rewarming. ⋯ Our findings indicate that patients can be cooled and rewarmed by two circulating water blankets, and core temperatures about 34 degrees C were easily achieved. The deliberate mild hypothermia is together with careful anaesthesia management a safe technique of cerebral protection from ischaemic insult during elective neurosurgical procedures. (Tab. 1, Ref. 11.).
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The aim of the present study is to assess the diagnostic value of the serum transferrin receptor in distinguishing IDA (iron deficiency anemia) from ACD (anemia of chronic diseases) and combination of IDA and ACD (COMBI anemia) as compared to conventional laboratory tests of iron metabolism. ⋯ We conclude that sTfR measurement is a valuable non-invasive tool for the diagnosis of iron depletion and an attractive supplement to more conventional laboratory tests in the detection of depleted iron stores. (Tab. 2, Fig. 3, Ref. 25.).