Elevated age-related cortical iron, ferritin and amyloid plaques in APPswe/PS1ΔE9 transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

Iron is very important element for functioning of the brain. Its concentration changes with aging the brain or during disease. The aim of our work was the histological examination of content of ferritin and free iron (unbound) in brain cortex in association with Aβ plaques from their earliest stages of accumulation in amyloid plaque forming APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Light microscopy revealed the onset of plaques formation at 8-monthage. Detectable traces of free iron and no ferritin were found around plaques at this age, while the rate of their accumulation in and around Aβ plaques was elevated at 13 months of age. Ferritin accumulated mainly on the edge of Aβ plaques, while the smaller amount of free iron was observed in the plaque-free tissue, as well as in and around Aβ plaques. We conclude that free iron and ferritin accumulation follows the amyloid plaques formation. Quantification of cortical iron and ferritin content can be an important marker in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

[Teaching of informatics at the Medical School of Comenius University in Bratislava and its evaluation by students]

In this study we analyzed meanings of students about teaching of informatics at our faculty with aim to improve it. They were asked to complete a questionnaire, which contained questions about organization of teaching, programmes and technical equipment. They had also possibility to suggest their improvements. We sorted the students into two groups according to their previous knowledge and experience in working with computers and then analyzed their answers. The results will be taken into account in further teaching of informatics.

[Mapping electrocardiographic fields in heart hypertrophy]

The paper deals with chosen parameters that can be used for heart hypertrophy diagnosis and are obtained from body surface electrocardiographic maps. Parameters are analysed in repeated measurements of a patient with left ventricular hypertrophy that regressed due to treatment with verapamil.