Volume 47 (2001) No. 2

Volume 47 (2001) No. 2

Review
Prostate-Specific Antigen: Current Status
M. LUKEŠ1, M. URBAN1, M. ZÁLESKÝ1, R. ZACHOVAL1, J. HERÁČEK1, E. ŽĎÁRSKÝ2............................................41
1Clinics of Urology and 2Department of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, 3rd Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, 
Czech Republic
Corresponding author: Martin Lukeš, Clinics of Urology, Faculty Hospital Královské Vinohrady and 3rd Medical Faculty, 
Charles University, Šrobárova 50, 100 34 Prague 10, Czech Republic.
Abstract.
Full text. 41 42 43-44 45-46 47-49


Articles
The Alkaline Single-Cell Gel Electrophoresis/Comet Assay: a Way to Study DNA Repair in Radicle 
Cells of Germinating
G. KOPPEN, L. VERSCHAEVE...............................50
Flemish Institute of Technological Research (VITO), Environmental Toxicology, Mol, Belgium
Corresponding author: Gudrun Koppen, VITO, Environmental Toxicology, Boeretang 200-2400 Mol, Belgium.
E-mail: gudrun.koppen@vito.be.
Abstract.
Full text. 50-51 52 53-54


Production of TGF-beta1 in Lungs after Low-Dose Whole-Body Radiation Exposure in Fibrosing
(C57BL/6) and Non-fibrosing (C3H/J) Mouse Strain
T. OLEJÁR1,2, M. ZADINOVÁ1, D. HLOUŠKOVÁ1, P. POUČKOVÁ1...........................55
1Institute of Biophysics, and 2Institute of Pathology, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
Corresponding author: Tomáš Olejár, Institute of Biophysics, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University, Salmovská 1,
128 00 Prague 2, Czech Republic. Tel., Fax: + 420 (20) 24913765; e-mail: 1159@post.cz.
Abstract.
Full text. 55-56 57 58 59 60-61


HLA Alleles and Susceptibility to Dermatological Disorders Associated with Helicobacter pylori
Infection: a Significant Association to HLA-Cw*06
E. KULCSÁROVÁ1, H. FAZEKAŠOVÁ1, J. KRÁLOVIČOVÁ1, M. BUC1, K. KOLIBÁŠOVÁ2
E. HEGYI2..............................................62
1Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, and 2Department of Dermatovenerology, 
Postgraduate Medical School, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Corresponding author: Eniko Kulcsárová, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University,
Sasinkova 4, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia. Tel.: + 421 (7) 59357450; fax: + 421 (7) 59357578; 
e-mail:kulcsarova@hot-mail.com.
Abstract.
Full text. 62-63 64-65


Short Communication
Immunohistochemical Distribution of DSIP Immunoreactivity in the Human Hypothalamus 
during the First Postnatal Year. A Preliminary Report.
M. NAJIMI1,2, M. BENNIS2, E. MOYSE3, N. KOPP4, F. CHIGR1.....................................66
1Unité Génie Biologique, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques de Beni-Mellal, Beni-Mellal, Morocco
2Unité de Neurosciences et Comportement, Départment de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences Semalalia,
Marrakesh, Morocco
3Laboratoire de Neurophysiologie Sensorielle, La Doua, Villeurbanne, France
4Laboratoire d'Anatomie et Pathologie de Faculté de Médicine A. Carrel, Lyon France
Corresponding author: Mohamed Najimi, Unité Génie Biologique, dpt. Biologie & Biotechnologie, 
F.S.T. de Beni-Mellal, B.P.: 523, 2300 Beni-Mellal, Morocco. Tel: 212-23485112/212-64562091; 
fax: 212-23485201; e-mail: mnaji-mi1@fstbm.ac.ma.
Abstract.
Full text. 66-67 68 69-70


Comparative Study of Neutrophil Activities in Adults and Full-Term Neonates in Relation 
to the Method of Delivery
Z. SZYMANSKA-TOCZEK1, J. DABEK2, A. HRYCEK2, R. OSUCH-JACZEWSKA1
M. BAUMERT1...................................................................71
1Department of Neonatology and 2Department of Internal Diseases, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice,
Poland
Corresponding author: Zofia Szymanska-Toczek, ul. Ziolowa 43/704, 40-635 Katowice, Poland.
Abstract.
Full text. 71-72 73-74


Preventive Effect of Indomethacin and Melatonin on 7,12-dimethylbenz/a/anthracene-Induced 
Mammary Carcinogenesis in female Sprague-Dawley Rats. A Preliminary Report.
K. MOCIKOVÁ-KALICKÁ, B. BOJKOVÁ, E. ADÁMEKOVÁ, M. MNÍCHOVÁ-CHAMILOVÁ,
P. KUBATKA, E. AHLERSOVÁ, I. AHLERS................................................75
Institute of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, P.J. Šafárik University, Košice, Slovakia
Corresponding author: Eva Ahlersová, Institute of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, P.J. Šafárik University,
Moyzesova 11, 043 67 Košice, Slovakia.
Abstract.
Full text. 75-76 77-78 79

Review
Prostate-Specific Antigen: Current Status
M. LUKEŠ, M. URBAN, M. ZÁLESKÝ, R. ZACHOVAL, J. HERÁČEK, E. ŽĎÁRSKÝ

 PSA is the most important of all tumor markers because it has significant applications in all aspects of the management 
of men with prostatic disease. Certainly, the most important utilization of PSA is for early detection of this most ubiquitous of all
human neoplasms.
In this article the authors describe the molecular forms of PSA and their characteristics, the factors influencing values of serum 
concentration of PSA, the problems of screening, and particularly the possibility to use PSA for detection of prostate carcinoma. 
A big problem in prostate carcinoma detection is the low specifity of PSA at the concentrations between 4-10 ng/ml, the so/called diagnostic gray zone, where the incidence of prostate carcinoma is only 25%. The authors evaluate the methods which make it 
possible to increase the sensitivity and/or specifity of PSA detection, such as PSA density, PSA density of the transition zone,
PSA velocity, PSA doubling time, age-specific PSA, free PSA and, prospectively, the use of the RT-PCR technique.
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Articles
The Alkaline Single-Cell Gel Electrophoresis/Comet Assay: a Way to Study DNA Repair in Radicle 
Cells of Germinating
G. KOPPEN, L. VERSCHAEVE
Dry seeds are known to accumulate DNA damage with time of storage. Repair of DNA lesions during germination of Vicia faba 
seeds was followed in the radicles using the alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis/comet assay. In this assay nuclei were liberated, 
mixed with agarose and spread out over a microscope slide. After lysis of the nuclear membrane and unwinding of the DNA duplex, 
DNA was stretched during electrophoresis, giving a comet-like migration pattern. The more DNA was damaged, the higher its 
mobility. DNA repair took place rapidly the first hours of imbibition and more slowly until ca 33 h after onset of germination. A small amount of heavily damaged cells remained present. Labelling with BrdU provided the possibility to localize repair patches and 
replicated sites in the comet migration pattern. At 15 h of germination, incorporation of BrdU in radicle DNA was situated at random 
over the entire comet. At 33 h, DNA repair was more or less accomplished and BrdU was mainly localized in the "heads" of most 
comets.
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          Production of TGF-beta1 in Lungs after Low-Dose Whole-Body Radiation Exposure in Fibrosing
                                             C57BL/6) and Non-fibrosing (C3H/J) Mouse Strain
                                         T. OLEJÁR, M. ZADINOVÁ, D. HLOUŠKOVÁ, P. POUČKOVÁ
The aim of the presented study was to observe acute and subacute discrete TGF-beta1 production after a low-dose whole-body
radiation stimulus, known to induce thrombocytopenia. TGF-beta1 mRNA production and the number of thrombocytes was 
followed up in two mouse strains with different tendencies to the origination of fibroses. Mice of the C57BL/6 and C3H/J strains 
were exposed to a whole-body dose of 7Gy. Non-irradiated mice of both strains were used as negative controls. The relative 
number of thrombocyte recorded in lung capillaries was significantly lower in both strains on day 9 after irradiation in comparison 
with controls. This finding was in accordance with a decrease in the number of thrombocytes in the peripheral blood in irradiated 
animals of both strains. On day 56 relative platelet counts reached physiological numbers in comparison to controls. On the other
hand, TGF-beta1 mRNA production was higher in the C57BL/6 strain (on day 9) contrary to minimal production in the C3H/J strain
(on day 9) or no production in both groups on day 56 and in controls. Thus, TGF-beta1 production without increased thrombocyte trapping in lung vessels in acute stage suggest that an additional mechanism is involved in low-dose radiation-induced cytokine synthesis
in lung tissue besides the release of growth factors from thrombocytes.
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HLA Alleles and Susceptibility to Dermatological Disorders Associated with Helicobacter pylori Infection: a Significant
Association to HLA-Cw*06
                          E. KULCSÁROVÁ, H. FAZEKAŠOVÁ, J. KRÁLOVIČOVÁ, M. BUC, K. KOLIBÁŠOVÁ,
                                                                               E. HEGYI

The occurence rate of HLA class I and class II alleles was established in 24 patients suffering from dermatological disorders 
associated with the Helicobacter pylori infection. The increased frequency of HLA-C*0602, 4 was found to be 0.1875 compared
to 0.0733 in the control group (odds ration: 2.913; two-sided P value: P=0.0251). Our data suggest that the HLA-Cw6 molecule 
play a role in the susceptibility to the Helicobacter pylori infection.
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Short Communication
Immunohistochemical Distribution of DSIP Immunoreactivity in the Human Hypothalamus during the First Postnatal Year. A Preliminary Report.
M. NAJIMI, M. BENNIS, E. MOYSE, N. KOPP, F. CHIGR

The distribution of DSIP-IR cell bodies and fibers was investigated in the normal human hypothalmus during the first postnatal
year using the indirect immunofluorescence technique. The analysis of the immunohistochemical patterns obtained in the seven cases analyzed showed regional differences in the localization of cell bodies and fibres. Immunoreactive perikarya were relatively few, and 
were mostly scatered throughout the anterior and the mediobasal hypothalamus. DSIP-IR fibers and terminal-like structures were 
observed throughout the rostro-caudal extent of the hypothalamic region. In the present study, we noticed qualitative changes in 
the density of DSIP immunoreactivity in several hypothalamic structures such as the preoptic area and the median eminence with 
respect to age. These postnatal differences observed for DSIP could be related to neuronal maturation precesses occurring at 
this period in the central nervous system as well as other physiological processes controlling the evolution of DSIP concentrations.
These data are compatible with the proposed role of the neuropeptide in the regulation of many postnatal physiological functions.
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Comparative Study of Neutrophil Activities in Adults and Full-Term Neonates in Ralation to the Method of Delivery  Z.SZYMANSKA-TOCZEK, J. DABEK, A. HRYCEK, R. OSUCH-JACZEWSKA, M. BAUMERT

The aim of this study was to compare the markers of neutrophil activity in healthy adults with those in healthy neonates in relation to the method of delivery. The following parameters were studied: absolute neutrophil count, neutrophil adherence to nylon fiber, NBT reduction, and neutrophil phagocytosis of latex particles. The study has shown that the method of delivery significantly affects the markers of netrophil activity measured in umbilical cord blood. The levels of these markers were higher in neonates born by elective cesarean section than in adults, neonates born vaginally or those born by emergency cesarean section. This comparative study of defensive functions of neutrophils from adults and neonates indicates that the conflicting results of other studies may be caused not only by differences in investigative methodology but also by the fact that the eligibility criteria used in these studies did not include the method of delivery, which can affect the markers of neutrophil activity via triggering a stress response.
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Preventive Effect of Indomethacin and Melatonin on 7,12-dimethylbenz/anthracene-Induced Mammary Cacinogenesis in Female Sprague-Dawley Rats. A Preliminary Report.
K. MOCIKOVÁ-KALICKÁ, B. BOJKOVÁ, E. ADÁMEKOVÁ, M. MNÍCHOVÁ-CHAMILOVÁ, P. KUBATKA, E. AHLERSOVÁ, I. AHLERS

The aim of the experiment was to analyse the oncostatic effect of nosteroidal antiinflammatory drug INDO, hormone MEL and 
combination of both substances in DMBA-induced mammary carcinogenesis in female SD rats. Chemoprevention started 10 days
before the application of the first dose of DMBA to 35-day-old rats. INDO was administered in tap water (20 mg/ml of water) for 
3 days in a week (days 2, 4 and 6), MEL solution in the concentration of 20 mg/ml of tap water was administered between 3 p.m. and 8 a.m. for 4 days in a week (days 1, 3, 5 and 7); during other days the animals drank tap water only. In combined chemoprevention, rats were drinking solutions of INDO and MEL according to the above-mentioned scheme. DMBA in the dose of  10 mg/rat was 
administered intragastrically using a probe to all rats 3 times on postnatal days 45, 50 and 55. There were four experimental groups: 
group 1 - without chemoprevention, group 2- INDO treatment, group 3 - MEL treatment, group 4 - application of INDO + MEL. The experiment lasted 26 weeks from the first administration of DMBA, when the final incidence and frequency of tumours per animal and group, as well as latency and average volume of tumours were evaluated. The content/concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) was determined in selected tissues as a criterion of lipoperoxidation, considering its potential influencing by chemoprevention.
The tumour incidence in controls was 100%; INDO reduced the incidence (36.84%) and frequency per group and animal, decreased the mean volume of tumours and prolonged the latency. Chemoprevention using combination of INDO with MEL waaas successful like that with INDO; however, it did not influence the tumour volume. MEL decreased the incidence to 42.11% and pronouncedly reduced the tumour frequency per group. INDO, administered alone or in combination with mEL, reduced an increased content/concentration of MDA in the liver, bone marrow and serum of tumour-bearing rats. INDO, MEL and INDO+MEL had a pronounced chemopreventive effect and showed to be a favourable combination in prevention of experimental mammary carcinogenesis.
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