Journal of Applied Biomedicine, 2006 (vol. 4), issue 4

Original Research Article

A method for the detection of post-operative lymphoedema after operation for breast cancer: multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis

Michael J. Halaška, Viktor Komárek, Ivana Malá, Jiří Chod, Pavel Strnad, Jan Novotný, Hana Stankusová, Dušan Kolařík, Dana Marešová

J Appl Biomed 4:179-185, 2006 | DOI: 10.32725/jab.2006.020  

Lymphoedema, a pathological accumulation of extracellular water (ECW), is a severe post-operative complication. Multifrequency bioimpedance analysis (MFBIA) is a method for the detection of changes in ECW. Our aim is to establish the methodology of MFBIA and to apply it on to group of patients undergoing breast cancer surgery.We measured a control group of 60 women, another group of 5 women with pronounced lymphoedema and a group of 36 patients undergoing breast cancer surgery during a 9-month period after surgery using MFBIA and circumferential measurements for recording volume changes in the upper limb. Different linear extrapolations from 1,...

The effect of succinic acid monoethyl ester on plasma and tissue glycoproteins in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic rats

Leelavinothan Pari, Ramalingam Saravanan

J Appl Biomed 4:187-196, 2006 | DOI: 10.32725/jab.2006.021  

Succinic acid monoethyl ester (EMS) was recently proposed as an insulinotropic agent for the treatment of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The present study investigated the effect of EMS and Metformin on dearrangement in glycoprotein levels in the streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced type 2 diabeteic model. Succinic acid monoethyl ester was administered intraperitoneally for 30 days to normal and diabetic rats. The effect of EMS on glucose, insulin, and plasma and tissue glycoproteins were studied. The effect of EMS was compared with Metformin, a reference drug. The levels of glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and plasma glycoproteins containing...

Cytogenetic methods and biomonitoring of occupational exposure to genotoxic factors

Tomáš Adamus, Irena Mikulenková, Lubomír Dobiáš, Jaroslava Havránková, Tomáš Pek

J Appl Biomed 4:197-203, 2006 | DOI: 10.32725/jab.2006.022  

The professional aim of this project was to map the detection of genotoxicants using cytogenetic methods. It summarizes the results of four studies carried out at three different workplaces in different industries. The main aim of the study was also to monitor types of exposure to genotoxicants and their impact on the human population: The exposure of blast furnace workers in the steel industry to genotoxic factors; the exposure of coke oven plant workers to genotoxic factors, and the exposure to genotoxic factors in workplaces in the chemical industry - in particular to heavy metals (Ni, Cd). Cytogenetic analysis and the micronucleus test are sensitive...

Reviews

Jun: the master regulator in healthy and cancer cells

Petr Vaňhara, Jan Šmarda

J Appl Biomed 4:163-170, 2006 | DOI: 10.32725/jab.2006.018  

Healthy cells strictly regulate gene transcription to control crucial cellular regulatory pathways. Members of the Jun protein family, c-Jun, JunB, and JunD are key subunits of the transcription factor AP-1 that controls transcription from various gene promoters. The genes targeted by Jun affect essential life processes, such as cell cycle progression, differentiation or programmed cell death. Therefore, the loss of proper Jun function is often associated with cancer. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding of function of the Jun proteins in healthy and cancer cells.

Expectations of biologically active compounds of the genus Magnolia in biomedicine

Jiří Patočka, Jiří Jakl, Anna Strunecká

J Appl Biomed 4:171-178, 2006 | DOI: 10.32725/jab.2006.019  

Magnolia bark is a highly aromatic herbal material obtained from Magnolia officinalis (and other species) of the family Magnoliaceae. In traditional oriental herbal medicine, particularly Chinese medicine, this drug is used for many purposes, especially as a mild tranquillizer. The principal active compounds are the biphenol compounds, magnolol and honokiol, together with other biologically active compounds, which exert numerous and diverse pharmacological actions. Recent research has produced further evidence for the mechanism of their anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumour activities, and these will be outlined in this...