Until the late 19th century, the sources of the Hebrew Bible as well as the writings of classical Greco-Roman authors, provided the only information about the history of ancient Mesopotamia, Canaan, and other civilizations of the ancient Near East. It is difficult to determine how much Hebrew ophthalmology depends on the ophthalmology of other nations. It can only be said that the Babylonians and Egyptians had the greatest influence on it. The Jewish ancestor Abraham immigrated from Mesopotamia to Canaan, and Babylonia already had a high culture in the fourth millennium BC, also in relation to medicine in general, and ophthalmology in particular.
The present study intends to highlight the hitherto underused sources concerning the history of medicine. These are archival materials of various kinds, but also artefacts of a funerary nature known as sepulchral monuments. In his research activities aimed at the study, analysis and translation of medieval and early modern Latin texts, the author of this paper has also examined a wide variety of writings containing references to the causes of death of individuals from the ranks of the nobility as well as the common bourgeoisie. The narrative quality of these historical sources has varied. Only extensive archival research will make it possible to draw conclusions about the greater or lesser usefulness of medieval and early post-medieval archival material for the history of medicine, specifically in uncovering the causes of death of individuals in our territory during this period. For the purposes of the present study, we proceeded to a selective choice of those written sources in which the presumption of new discoveries was most probable. From the territorial point of view, we focused on the region of present-day eastern Slovakia due to the preservation of numerous relevant archival and other documentary sources.
Following the recent Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a renewed interest in the study of historical epidemics within the field of historical science. Beyond well-known facts, this renewed research aims to deepen our understanding of the course, spread, and combat of past epidemics, utilizing new archival sources and reassessing older interpretations. The goal of this study is to examine the first cholera epidemic in Hungary, specifically in the area of present-day eastern Slovakia, focusing on Zemplín County, one of the first regions affected by this disease. The study will primarily focus on the presentation and analysis of the measures and anti-cholera procedures implemented by the state, county leadership and other stakeholders. The research will specifically draw from archival materials housed in the Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplín County Archives in Sátoraljaújhely, where documents related to the cholera epidemic of 1831 are preserved in a special collection (1). In addition to archival sources, the paper paper will incorporate works from both older and more recent Slovak and Hungarian historiography on the subject. Among the older works, Daniel Rapant’s three-volume work The Peasant Uprising in Eastern Slovakia while not directly about cholera, is notable, as well as syntheses on the history of medicine and healthcare in Slovakia by Mária Bokesová-Uherová and Ján Junas (2, 3). Among the more recent scholars focused on cholera epidemics, Anton Liška stands out for his work on cholera and its death toll in the Prešov Eparchy (4, 5, 6, 7, 8). Additionally, studies by Peter Kónya (9) and Jana Dziaková (10, 11, 12) will be considered. Beyond merely presenting the anticholera measures, this study will aim to assess their dissemination among the population, the level of compliance, and their overall effectiveness. The performance of the anti-cholera commission within Zemplín County will also be evaluated.
MicroRNAs are short, single-stranded RNA molecules that typically consist of a 22-nucleotide sequence. Despite their small size, these molecules play an essential role in every type of human cell – regulation of gene expression on post-transcriptional level. Without this regulation, physiological functioning of cells, and thus also of complex organisms, would not be possible. Although microRNAs are extremely important, the mechanism of their function was explored and described relatively recently, in 1993, in Caenorhabditis elegans, a nematode approximately 1 millimeter in length. However, it took another seven years for miRNAs to be found and characterized in higher organisms, including humans. This discovery has increased scientific interest that continues nowadays, particularly due to the recognition that modulation of miRNA activity holds great promise as a therapeutic approach.
Germany is quite restrictive regarding the importation and utilization of embryonic stem cells. To control stem cell research in Germany the Federal Government established in 2002 a Central Ethics Commission on Stem Cell Research. Stem cells are interesting for research since they are biological prototypes which can be multiplied in definitely in vitro, and which grow into many different specialized types of cells. One hopes that from embryonic stem cells, one can grow tissue which can replace diseased or destroyed tissue. There are also adult stem cells in human beings. But they do not multiply very easily, and their reprogramming is extremely difficult. Then different opinions regarding the permission of embryonic stem cell research are discussed.
The period under the Abassid Caliphs in Baghdad, often known as the Golden Age of Islam, saw great advances in science and medicine. This paper explores the often under-appreciated contribution of Nestorian Christians to medicine in this period. Many key translators of Greek medical texts and important court physicians were Nestorian Christians. The Nestorians ran hospitals and schools of medicine that were influential in the great medical advances during this era. The Golden Age of Islamic medicine was able to flourish, in part, because of the openness to cooperation with Christian, Jewish and Zoroastrian scholars and practitioners. This paper focuses on the Nestorian contribution and argues that the Nestorians made significant contributions if four specific areas: the translation of Greek medical texts; the development of the hospital system; original medical research (particularly the anatomy of the eye, pharmacology and the discovery of the placebo effect); and the understanding of the practice of medicine as an ethical calling.
Calculated PRA testing in kidney transplantation has revolutionized the field by enabling a more accurate assessment of compatibility and risk prediction for AMR. On the other hand, The PIRCHE algorithm aims to identify the potentially immunogenic human leukocyte antigens (HLA) epitopes on the donor graft that are recognized by the recipient's HLA antibodies.
Adipocytokines are substances with endocrine functions produced by adipose tissue, playing crucial roles in regulating metabolic functions and inflammatory processes. Dysregulation of fatty tissue's endocrine functions and dysregulation of the production of adipocytokines such as adiponectin, leptin, fibroblast-stimulating factor, and others can lead to a low-grade systemic inflammation and an insulin resistance in patients. These conditions contribute to the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and other disorders. Conversely, these metabolic disorders exert feedback-regulatory effects on adipocytokines and their functions.
Nephrolithiasis is a disease with a high risk of recurrence: 50% within five years and up to 80–90 % within 10 years after the first episode. Often, with this diagnosis, there is only symptomatic treatment with the aim of expelling the kidney stone and removing the pain. In such patients, however, initial stratification of the risk of recurrence based on the risk factors present is essential. Every patient with nephrolithiasis, whether it is a single episode or recurrent, should follow general measures to prevent kidney stones. Depending on the results of the kidney stone analysis and the risk of recurrence, it is necessary to carry out a specialised nephrological metabolic examination which is performed by a nephrologist in Slovakia, with subsequent personalised recommendations depending on the cause of recurrent nephrolithiasis. These include dietary and regimen measures, as well as pharmacological treatment.
As a heterogeneous group of diseases, monoclonal gammopathy is typical for older age and is characterized by the presence of paraprotein in serum and urine. In addition to damage to the bone marrow, other organs are also affected, whereas in the case of monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS), the kidneys are dominant. The clinical presentation of MGRS is diverse depending on the type of renal monoclonal gammopathy. The basis of the diagnosis is the detection of free light chains in the serum, along with electrophoresis and subsequent serum immunofixation. The kappa and lambda serum light chain ratio is evaluated in patients with MGRS within modified reference parameters. A kidney biopsy provides information on the extent of renal parenchymal involvement. The basis of therapy is chemotherapeutics with possible autologous stem cell transplantation to preserve kidney function.
Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerulopathy in our adult population and is associated with a high lifetime risk of kidney failure. Recent years have succeeded in describing the pathogenesis of IgAN at the molecular level, where immune complexes containing specific galactose deficient IgA1 play an essential role. The gold standard in the diagnosis of IgAN remains renal biopsy followed by determination of a prognostic score using the Oxford classification.
Liver transplantation is the only curative treatment for terminal liver failure. Advances in immunosuppressive therapy and improvements in surgical techniques have improved patient survival in the post-transplant period. At the same time, however, the incidence of late complications is increasing, which has been contributed to by the broadening of the indication criteria in liver allocation. The most common complications include chronic kidney disease, the aetiology of which is multifactorial with a predominance of calcineurin inhibitor toxicity in the post-transplant period. The prevalence ranges from 30% to 90% depending on the definition used and the methodology used to measure renal function. Early detection of risk factors and early intervention lead to a significant improvement in the quality of life of recipients in the post-transplant period.
Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice in patients with an end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Before kidney transplantation, it is important to assess the patient's immunological risk, which has an impact on graft survival after kidney transplantation. Human leukocyte antigens (HLA), also known as major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are responsible for the rejection of genetically different tissue by recognizing and distinguishing foreign proteins from self-proteins. HLA-typing and anti-HLA antibody screening are crucial to determine the donor/recipient mismatching. Diagnostic methods used for anti-HLA antibody detection and immunological risk assessment are complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), flow cytometry crossmatch (FCXM), bead-based assays (Luminex technology), calculated panel-reactive antibody (cPRA), and algorithm “predicted Indirectly Recognizable HLA Epitopes“ (PIRCHE). The aim of these diagnostic tests is to minimize HLA mismatch between the donor and the recipient and prevent an early graft failure by the presence of HLA donor-specific antibodies (DSA).
Cancer development and progression are characterized by intricate genetic and epigenetic alternations, with DNA methylation playing a crucial role in this transformative process. Recent advancements in DNA methylation mapping technologies have significantly contributed to the identification of novel cancer biomarkers. We provide a short overview of Conformité Européenne-marked in vitro diagnostic tests designed to detect DNA methylation changes in oncology practice.
The progression of tumor formation is a multifactorial process that involves changes at different levels. Within this intricate molecular and cellular landscape of tumorigenesis, specific enzymes, namely matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), emerge as pivotal contributors. They may influence this process at the level of tissue remodelling, angiogenesis, changes in cell signalling, invasion and metastasis, but may also serve as prognostic markers or therapeutic targets. Although the function of MMPs has been known for a long time, their specific role in the pathogenesis of brain tumors has only begun to be investigated in the last three decades. Deregulation of MMPs expression, frequently observed in brain tumor tissue, is associated with malignant phenotype, dependent on the grade of malignancy and associated with a worse prognosis. They participate in tissue remodelling under physiological and pathological conditions, which predetermines their action especially in the process of invasion and migration of tumor cells into the surrounding tissue. Related to their potential in tumor progression, they are also being investigated as possible targets in anticancer therapy. It would be very difficult to characterize in detail the role of all known MMPs in the context of brain tumor pathogenesis, so we have selected those that have an essential effect in this issue.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading oncogenic disorders, both in terms of incidence and mortality. The etiology of the disease is certainly multifactorial. Various risk factors like alcohol consumption, smoking, CRC family history, inflammatory bowel disease, hormone therapy, aspirin/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use, higher body mass index, consumption of red and/or processed meat, insufficient physical activity, and decreased intake of fruit and vegetables have been pointed out; however, there is not enough support evidence for a single particular causative mechanism. Recently, gut bacterial microbiota has been shown to influence significantly the pathogenesis of CRC. However, little attention is paid to the putative impact of plasmids in gut flora.
Various types of cancer exhibit distinct sensitivities to anticancer drugs, reflecting their unique developmental pathways. Exploiting mitochondrial dysfunction in cancer cells presents novel therapeutic opportunities. In recent years, advancements have underscored the significance of oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid oxidation, and glutamine addiction in cancer cells, shifting attention towards mitochondrial metabolism. The foundation of mitochondrial medicine lies in comprehending targeted mitochondrial therapy and the development of specific mitochondrial drugs. Certain alterations within mitochondrial metabolism lead to the accumulation of oncometabolites, serving as epigenetic regulators, or an increase in reactive oxygen species production, both of which contribute to tumorigenesis. Importantly, the substantial involvement of mitochondrial metabolism in tumorigenesis offers potential avenues for exploiting as strategies for cancer therapy. Integrated pharmacological approaches targeting mitochondrial metabolic pathways are imperative for an effective eradication of tumor masses and a concurrent elimination of small subpopulations of mitochondria. The significance of mitochondria in cancer is undeniable, offering numerous appealing targets for both tailored and personalized cancer therapy.
Hematological malignancies represent a heterogeneous group of diseases that may have overlapping clinical manifestations. Successful and optimal management depends on early and accurate diagnosis of the disease. Differential diagnosis therefore requires methods of morphology, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and also molecular and cytogenetic examinations. Molecular diagnostic techniques are becoming more accurate and sophisticated, which is why nowadays hematopathological diagnosis relies heavily on molecular and cytogenetic analyses. They are beneficial not only for diagnosis, but also for evaluating prognostic and risk markers, as well as treatment monitoring. This article presents an overview of selected hematological malignancies – mature lymphoid neoplasms, multiple myelomas, myeloproliferative neoplasms, myelodysplastic syndromes, and acute myeloid leukemias; their molecular pathology, risk and prognostic markers. Understanding of the biologic basis leds to a targeted therapy development for the treatment of these diseases.
DNA methylation is characterized as a gene regulatory mechanism that involves the methylation of the 5-carbon (C5) position of cytosine, resulting in the formation of 5-methylcytosine. The analysis of aberrantly methylated cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) dinucleotides, primarily in the promoter regions of tumor suppressor genes, can serve as promising prognostic and predictive markers of cancer development. Meis homeobox 1 (MEIS1) gene, crucial for cell growth and differentiation, exhibits dysregulation linked to various cancer types, acting as both a positive and negative regulator. The selection of an appropriate method for the evaluation of gene promoter methylation status is important for clinical implementation without biases regarding false positive and false negative outcomes. The study focuses on the optimization of a novel droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assay for identifying the methylation status of MEIS1. Compared to traditional methods, ddPCR offers an increased sensitivity and specificity, presenting a promising tool for precise DNA methylation assessment with potential implications for cancer diagnostics and prognostics.
Anorexia nervosa (AN) as a life-threatening eating disorder is linked to a high mortality risk with many deaths attributable to cardiovascular etiology. Cardiovascular complications in AN include structural as well as functional cardiac alterations, hemodynamic changes, and peripheral vascular abnormalities. Despite the fact that peripheral vascular abnormalities are not identified as a major AN complication, several manifestations of peripheral vascular dysregulation including Raynaud's phenomenon and endothelial dysfunction have been described and, therefore, warrant attention. This article briefly summarizes so far findings of microvascular alterations in AN patients and presents easily accessible and non-invasive procedures for a microvascular evaluation such as capillaroscopy and endothelium-related peripheral arterial tone (EndoPAT) which could be involved in the clinical diagnostic process for the earliest identification of an increased risk of later cardiovascular complications.
