Bratisl Med J
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Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is a common cause of chronic cough. It has been suggested that GER most often causes chronic cough by stimulating the distal oesophagus. Possible mechanisms of this interactive process are: a) an oesophageal-tracheobronchial reflex, b) acid reflux seems to be only a cofactor of cough; it decreases cough threshold. ⋯ The oesophageal-tracheobronchial reflex mechanism for either induction or modulation of cough is not present in healthy anaesthetised cats. We agree with previous data that GER alone is not trigger agent of cough. (Fig. 5, Ref. 17.)
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[Triple combination antimicrobial therapy of Helicobacter pylori and basal levels of serum gastrin].
The etiopathogenic relationship of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection to chronic active antrumgastritis and peptic ulcer disease has been confirmed by a number of studies. The key role in the development of peptic lesions belongs to hypergastrinemia. This is supposed to be related to ammonium synthesis in the antral area influenced (promoted by HP and resulting in interruption) weakening of the negative feedback mechanism maintaining intraluminal acidity. ⋯ The decrease in the basal level of serum gastrin after eradication of HP confirms the importance of HP infection in the pathogenesis of peptic lesions in stomach and duodenum. We consider the antimicrobial therapy in chronic active antrumgastritis in HP positive patients to be a fully indicated therapeutic approach. (Tab. 1, Fig. 1, Ref. 10.).
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Postoperative analgesia inhibits the stress cascade with negative effects on whole organism. Therefore the spectrum of drugs used for soothing postoperative pain quickly widens. The epidural route appears as being logical, since due to the direct effect in the transmission and processing of pain it suffices with a lower dosage. The authors refer to a group of 30 patients postoperatively treated by a combination of tramadol and Clonidine administrated by means of an epidural catheter. 26 patients evaluated the induced analgesia as excellent or sufficient. (Tab. 3, Ref. 4).
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The opsonization of C. albicans by means of sera treated with chloroform and ethyl ether resulted in significantly decreased values of PMN leucocyte phagocytic activity. In contrast to ethyl ether treated sera (decrease of phagocytic activity about 45%), chloroform processed sera possessed increased antiphagocytic activity (decrease of phagocytic activity about 63%). Significant changes were observed in the candidacidal capacity to C. albicans (decrease about 50%) and in the capacity of NBT (INT) reduction measured spectrophotometrically (decrease about 66% in chloroform treated sera and about 42% in ethyl ether treated sera). (Fig. 1, Ref. 22.)
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Cardiovascular complications are the main cause of mortality in patients with chronic renal failure. Hypertension and lipid abnormalities which often lead to left ventricular hypertrophy and accelerated atherosclerosis as well as coronary artery disease are a common cause of death. ⋯ Life-threatening arrhythmias are one of the major cardiovascular complications during maintenance dialysis as their occurrence might result in sudden death. The aim of cardiologic management which includes the complex of preventive and therapeutic measures is to reduce the morbidity and mortality and to improve the quality of life.