Seven “Pillars of Wisdom” for Maximally Precise Therapeutic Drug Management

Roger Jelliffe, Michael Neely

Klin Farmakol Farm. 2010;24(1):7-10  

Diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer in terms of economics

Veronika Dubajová, Milan Dubaj2, Viliam Foltan

Klin Farmakol Farm. 2010;24(1):11-14  

Purpose: Colorectal cancer is a global health, social and economic challenge. Our goal was to determine the costs of oncological therapy for colorectal cancer in 50 patients treated in the National Cancer Institute in Bratislava, Slovakia. Methods: An analysis of costs of colorectal cancer was used that investigates the disease in terms of direct medical costs which include the costs of medications, examinations and other procedures related to providing health care within adjuvant fluorouracil therapy. Results: Based on the average daily dose of medications and the average number of procedures reported, standard costs for health insurance companies...

Pneumococcal vaccines

Daniel Dražan

Klin Farmakol Farm. 2010;24(1):15-18  

Pneumococcal infections cause about 1.6 million deaths annually world-wide, most of which occur in infants and old people. Communityacquired pneumonia is the most common cause of death from pneumococcal infection. Nevertheless so-called invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD), primarily meningitis and bacteremia with and without a focus show the highest mortality rate. Non-invasive pneumococcal infections such as acute otitis media and acute sinusitis, although much less severe, cause a significant burden on healthcare systems because of their high incidence. Vaccines are an important tool in the prevention of pneumococcal infections and are indicated...

Current registered HPV vaccines

Roman Chlíbek, Jan Smetana, Vanda Boštíková

Klin Farmakol Farm. 2010;24(1):20-24  

Currently, two vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) are available: bivalent vaccine Cervarix and quadrivalent vaccine Gardasil. Although produced by the same recombinant technology, both vaccines differ in a number of features. They differ in the number and amount of antigens, the production system used for the preparation of antigens, the adjuvant system and indication range. The uniqueness of the two vaccines is in that they are the first truly anti-cancer vaccines which have expanded the possibilities of prevention by vaccination. Another uniqueness of HPV vaccines is a significantly higher immune response to vaccination than to natural...

Influenza - vaccination is basis of prevention

Jiří Beran

Klin Farmakol Farm. 2010;24(1):25-28  

Influenza is an infectious viral disease that afflicts an important part of the world population every year and causes thousands of deaths all over the world. Although vaccination is effective in influenza prevention, the immunization coverage remains low in the Czech Republic. Vaccination against influenza is indicated primarily for high risk population groups but can be of benefit to other persons as well. Currently, a vaccination campaign against pandemic influenza has been started by application of one or two dose (immunocompromised patients) vaccination schedule.

Rotavirus gastroenteritis, vaccination

Petr Pazdiora, Jana Táborská

Klin Farmakol Farm. 2010;24(1):29-33  

The review of etiology of infectious diarrhea in infants and children is focused on rotavirus as the most common cause of these diseases. The author introduces into the epidemiology and pathogenesis of rotavirus gastroenteritis. The necessity of early recognition of features of severe dehydration is emphasized and current therapeutic possibilities are described. The warning of a risk of nosocomial rotavirus infection is accompanied with preventive control measures used in a hospital. Recommendations for diagnosis and therapy of rotavirus gastroenteritis, knowledge about the use of the vaccination are summarized.

Why is vaccination against tick-borne meningoencephalitis suitable?

Jiří Havlík

Klin Farmakol Farm. 2010;24(1):34-37  

Until the 1940s, tick-borne encephalitis had been unknown. However, it has spread from natural reservoirs in Central Europe to nearly all countries of the continent and about ten thousand cases of the disease are reported annually. The three virus subtypes are nearly identical immunologically but, clinically, the course of the infection spread by Ixodes ricinus ticks is much more benign than that of infections transmitted by Ixodes scapularis ticks in Siberia and Far East. The ultimate prevention from the infection is immunization with an inactivated vaccine that is safe and effective. However, the vaccination rate in the population of the...

Metastasizing of kidney carcinoma - current treatment possibilities

Petr Beneš

Klin Farmakol Farm. 2010;24(1):38-46  

Malignant disease of the kidneys represents about 2–3 % of all malignant diseases and their incidence in the Czech Republic is the highest worldwide. Treatment of kidney carcinoma depends on its clinical stage and the patient’s overall condition. Surgical treatment – nephrectomy – still is a basis for treating patients with a metastatic carcinoma of the kidneys. Current possibilities of systemic treatment of patients with a metastatic disease lie in applying molecular biological treatment. Tyrozinkinase inhibitors VEGF of the receptor (sorafenib, sunitinib) are used, monoclonal antibodies VEGF (bevacizumab) or mTOR kinasa...

Possibilities of affecting the immune system with nutraceutics

Pavel Kohout

Klin Farmakol Farm. 2010;24(1):47-50  

Nutraceutics are functional foods or food supplements that are close to medications in their action on the human organism although, more often than not, effectiveness in preventing diseases is confirmed. Nutraceutics differ in their chemical composition and affect various organs of the human body. The effects of some groups of nutraceutics on the immune system have been confirmed in clinical trials, e.g. those of probiotics, prebiotics, and essential fatty acids.

Pharmacokinetics and clinical applications of selected immunosuppressants II

Petra Halvová, Milan Grundmann

Klin Farmakol Farm. 2010;24(1):51-56  

The currently available immunosuppressive agents have been used for the management of patient with a wide range of medicinal issues, such as organ transplantation, autoimmune diseases, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis, among others. All of the agents have relatively narrow therapeutic ranges with significant dose-limiting toxicities. This review discusses pharmacodynamic properties, biotransformation, drug interactions, and side effects of calcineurin inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors, mycophenolat, cyclophosphamide, and methotrexate.

Odešel prof. MUDr. Peter Višňovský, CSc.

Ivan Tilšer

Klin Farmakol Farm. 2010;24(1):58