Bratisl Med J
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Phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P MRS) is currently not accepted as a diagnostic tool in the neuro-oncological practice, although it provides useful non-invasive information about biochemical processes ongoing in the intracranial tumours. This pilot study was aimed to present the diagnostic capability of the 31P MRS in brain tumour examination, even its application on clinical 1.5T MR scanner. Seven patients with brain tumorous lesions (four glioblastomas, one ependymoma, and two lung metastasis) underwent multivoxel in vivo 31P MRS performed on clinical 1.5 T MR scanner within measurement time of 20 minutes. ⋯ High energetic tumorous tissue demands leading to anaerobic metabolic turnover were present as a significant decline in phosphocreatine ratios and adenosine triphosphates. Intracellular pH evaluation showed a tumorous tendency to alkalize. 31P MRS enables the non-invasive metabolic characterization of intracranial tumours and thus appears to be a clinically useful method for the determination of ongoing tumour pathomechanisms (Fig. 2, Ref. 26). Keywords: brain tumour, 31P MRS, 1.5 Tesla; energetic metabolism.
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Recent breakthrough recognition of metastasis-free survival as a clinically relevant endpoint has opened a new era in the management of advanced prostate cancer. The need for new, intermediate endpoints is the logical consequence of scientific advances in prostate carcinoma. The treatment algorithms for non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (M0 CRPC) have recently been updated by adding novel anti-androgen apalutamide, and also enzalutamide for high-risk patients. ⋯ The metastasis-free survival can be considered a clinically significant and reliable efficacy endpoint in both localized prostate cancer patients and M0 CRPC patients being at high-risk of disease progression (Ref. 15).
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To evaluate vitamin D levels in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), depression and both of them, thus to find out whether vitamin D may be a common causative factor of CSU and depression. ⋯ Lower 25(OH)D levels in CSU and/or depression may appear as a secondary phenomenon, which means being result of these diseases rather than the cause (Tab. 1, Fig. 2, Ref. 41). Text in PDFwww.elis.sk Keywords: vitamin D, vitamin D deficiency, chronic urticaria, depression.
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Observational Study
Endoscopic discectomy as an effective treatment of a herniated intervertebral disc.
Prospective observational multicentre two-arm parallel study describing clinical outcome after endoscopic discectomy provided via transforaminal and interlaminar approach. ⋯ Because both procedures are strictly percutaneous; they are now more commonly performed by interventional pain physicians as a safe and effective alternative to open surgical spine procedures (Tab. 3, Fig. 7, Ref. 19).