<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec><h3>OBJECTIVES</h3>
<p>Anatomical variations of the sciatic nerve were supposed as potential causes for incomplete blocks at the level of the popliteal fossa. Therefore, we aimed to conduct an anatomical and ultrasound survey of the mid-femoral sciatic nerve and its division.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>BACKGROUND</h3>
<p>A regional block of the sciatic nerve is a procedure for analgesia and anaesthesia of the lower extremity. Various approaches to the sciatic nerve are used in clinical practice. However, the sciatic nerve demonstrates several variations regarding its topography and division.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>MATERIALS AND METHODS</h3>
<p>The anatomical study included twenty lower limbs of ten adult cadavers. The ultrasound study involved ten upper legs of five healthy volunteers</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>RESULTS</h3>
<p>The sciatic nerve was found distally to the piriformis muscle in all our cadaveric specimens. It was divided into two major branches (common peroneal nerve and tibial nerve) at a mean distance of 68.1 ± 19.3 mm above the popliteal crease. The observed distances ranged widely from 35 to 113 mm. The mid-femoral sciatic nerve and its division were entirely revealed using ultrasound in all volunteers.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>CONCLUSION</h3>
<p>The sciatic nerve presents significant anatomical variations, which may cause an incomplete block. Understanding ultrasound anatomy and ultrasound appearance of the sciatic nerve is essential for performing ultrasound-guided sciatic blocks.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine

Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice

First Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine

Anatomical and Ultrasound Study of the Mid-Femoral Sciatic Nerve and Its Division

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>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.</p>
</abstract>

Biomedical Centre Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin

Psychiatric Clinic, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin

Comenius University in Bratislava, and University Hospital Martin

Department of Physiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin

Capillaroscopy and Endopat – Helpful Methods for the Early Assessment of Increased Cardiovascular Risk in Anorexia Nervosa?

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Sticky platelet syndrome (SPS) is a disorder with familial occurrence and autosomal dominant trait characterized by platelet hyperaggregability in response to a low concentration of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and/or epinephrine (EPI). The etiology of SPS may be associated with platelet microRNAs (miRNAs), which are considered as potential biomarkers of platelet function and antiplatelet therapy. We were monitoring the expression of platelet miRNAs in patients with laboratory diagnosed SPS and healthy controls. We have found a statistically significant increased expression of both miR-423-5p and miR-338-3p as well as a statistically significant decreased expression of miR-425-5p between the group of patients with diagnosed SPS type II and the group of healthy controls, which seems to be an interesting issue for a further research.</p>
</abstract>

National Centre of Hemostasis and Thrombosis, Department of Hematology and Transfusiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin

Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin

Platelet miRNA Expression in Patients with Sticky Platelet Syndrome

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec><h3>Background</h3>
<p>Spontaneous delivery represents an important way triggering the physiological mechanisms essential for a proper postnatal adaptation of a newborn. Autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a crucial role in this process. There is insufficient data concerning the impact of different delivery mode on ANS in newborns. Therefore, we aimed to study the effect of delivery mode on sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in healthy term newborns measured by electrodermal activity (EDA).</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Material &amp; Methods</h3>
<p>The study conducted 50 healthy full – term newborns divided into two groups: the spontaneous delivery group (SD, n=27) and the caesarean section group (CS, n=23). EDA parameters (SCL – tonic level of skin conductance; NS.SCRs – non – specific phasic responses of skin conductance) were evaluated during three measurements: 2<sup>nd</sup> (M1), 24<sup>th</sup> (M2), and 72<sup>nd</sup> (M3) hours of life.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Results</h3>
<p>SCL significantly decreased during the first day of life (M1 vs. M2 – p &lt; 0.001). The lowest NS.SCRs values were demonstrated in M1 in both groups with significant differences in CS group between measurements – M1 vs. M2 (p=0.001) and M1 vs. M3 (p=0.005). However, a significantly lower NS.SCRs was found in CS group (p=0.01) early after birth (M1).</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Our findings revealed a reduced NS.SCRs indicating potential decreased „arousal“ in CS group – it seems that the attenuated „arousal“ could reflect the absence of physiological labor mechanisms as well as the effect of anesthesia leading to discrete early functional abnormalities in CS group. Further research is needed to validate these findings.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

Clinic of Neonatology, University Hospital and Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin

Delivery Mode Affects the Sympathetic Nervous System in Healthy Term Newborns

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Bronchial asthma is the most frequently diagnosed chronic respiratory disease in children. Treatment approaches should aim to achieve the disease control, reduce limiting symptoms, and improve the quality of life. Routine treatment of patients with asthma relies on assessment of symptoms and spirometry results. These diagnostic and therapeutic strategies do not consider the level of inflammation in the airways as a fundamental pathognomonic feature of the disease. The use of biomarkers is increasing in the context of efforts to better understand individual asthma pathways (asthma endotyping), with the potential for personalized treatment with innovative biologics. Elevated levels of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) represent an indirect marker of T2 inflammation in airways. FENO is one of the few biomarkers that have been applied in routine clinical practice. High levels predict a good therapeutic response to treatment with corticosteroids and selected biologics (Omalizumab, Dupilumab, Mepolizumab, Tezepelumab), or an increased risk of asthma exacerbation. The aim of this review is to evaluate the advantages, disadvantages, and potential applications of this test in relation to new treatment options using biologics for asthma.</p>
</abstract>

Clinic of Children Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin

Department of Pathological Physiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin

Fractured Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Biologic Therapies for Paediatric Asthma

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 24 (2024): Issue 1 (April 2024)

Volume 23 (2023): Issue 3 (December 2023)

Volume 23 (2023): Issue 2 (August 2023)

Volume 23 (2023): Issue 1 (April 2023)

Volume 22 (2022): Issue 3 (December 2022)

Volume 22 (2022): Issue 2 (August 2022)

Volume 22 (2022): Issue 1 (April 2022)

Volume 21 (2021): Issue 3 (December 2021)

Volume 21 (2021): Issue 2 (August 2021)

Volume 21 (2021): Issue 1 (March 2021)

Volume 20 (2020): Issue 3 (December 2020)

Volume 20 (2020): Issue 2 (August 2020)

Volume 20 (2020): Issue 1 (April 2020)

Volume 19 (2019): Issue 3 (December 2019)

Volume 19 (2019): Issue 2 (August 2019)

Volume 19 (2019): Issue 1 (April 2019)

Volume 18 (2018): Issue 3 (December 2018)

Volume 18 (2018): Issue 2 (August 2018)

Volume 18 (2018): Issue 1 (June 2018)

Volume 17 (2017): Issue 3 (December 2017)

Volume 17 (2017): Issue 2 (August 2017)

Volume 17 (2017): Issue 1 (April 2017)

Volume 16 (2016): Issue 3 (December 2016)

Volume 16 (2016): Issue 2 (August 2016)

Volume 16 (2016): Issue 1 (April 2016)

Volume 15 (2015): Issue 3 (December 2015)

Volume 15 (2015): Issue 2 (September 2015)

Volume 15 (2015): Issue 1 (May 2015)

Volume 14 (2014): Issue 2 (September 2014)

Volume 14 (2014): Issue 1 (May 2014)

Volume 13 (2014): Issue 3 (February 2014)

Volume 13 (2013): Issue 2 (November 2013)

Volume 13 (2013): Issue 1 (March 2013)

Volume 13 (2013): Issue Supplement-1 (March 2013)

Volume 12 (2012): Issue 1 (March 2012)

Volume 12 (2012): Issue Supplement-1 (March 2012)

Volume 12 (2012): Issue 3 (December 2012)

Volume 12 (2012): Issue 2 (August 2012)

Volume 11 (2011): Issue Supplement-1 (March 2011)

Volume 11 (2011): Issue 3 (December 2011)

Volume 11 (2011): Issue 2 (August 2011)

Volume 11 (2011): Issue 1 (March 2011)

Acta Medica Martiniana

 Acta Medica Martiniana is a medical scientific journal, first published in print form in December 2001. It is a continuation of the journal / almanac Folia Medica Martiniana (1971 - 1996). The journal‘s owner is the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Slovakia. The aims and scope of the AMM:   Dissemination of research results and scientific knowledge from all areas of medicine and nursing.  Stimulation, facilitation and supporting of publication activity for the young medical research and clinical generation. The contributions of young novice authors (PhD students and post-doctorials) are particularly welcome.   Acta Medica Martiniana (AMM) publishes, and here only in English, high quality original papers (in extenso and short-rapid communications), case reports as well as review articles.  Acta Medica Martiniana is an open-access journal, with a periodicity of publishing three times per year (Apr/Aug/Dec). It covers a wide range of basic medical disciplines, such as anatomy, histology, biochemistry, human physiology, pharmacology, etc., as well as all clinical areas incl. preventive medicine, public health and nursing. Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary manuscripts, including papers from all areas of biomedical research, are welcome.  All articles are submitted to a peer-review process. They are peer-reviewed anonymously (double blind) by external experts pursuant to the standard evaluation criteria. Based on the reviewers opinions, the Editorial Board will decide whether a paper is to be included in the journal.  Rejection Rate:   15-30%   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 