Memantine is an inhibitor of NMDA receptors, which are pathologically activated by excessive concentrations of glutamate in the synaptic cleft in Alzheimer's disease. It is indicated in the treatment of moderate to severe cases of Alzheimer's disease, often in combination with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. At the experimental level, its administration shows a number of promising effects, including an impact on diabetes associated with the development of neurodegenerative diseases.

Proper care of injuries is a fundamental prerequisite for their successful healing. Knowing the individual phases of healing facilitates treatment and helps prevent the most common complications.

If we were to name medications that have the greatest significance from a population standpoint, metformin would certainly be at the top of the list. We have known it for over fifty years and know a lot about it, including its negatives. But is it time to replace it with new drugs? Or is it worth staying with it?

Sartans, or AT1 receptor blockers for angiotensin II (ARBs), are among the first-line antihypertensives, along with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi). These are well-tested drugs with a good safety profile. We offer a brief overview of the position of sartans in the current therapeutic strategy, including comments on their possible association with COVID-19, based on the state of knowledge as of early May 2020.

Diabetologist MUDr. Lucie Radovnická from Masaryk Hospital in Ústí nad Labem illustrates the case of her patient −⁠ a sympathetic rocker who enjoys life including concerts, beer, and good food −⁠ demonstrating how modern antidiabetic treatment with oral semaglutide in combination with thorough lifestyle re-education can achieve very good diabetes compensation and overall health improvement. One of the many benefits of this modality was the possibility to discontinue sulfonylurea derivative medication, which previously caused severe hypoglycemia.

In the context of the significant advancements in the field of immunotherapy and evidence of its efficacy in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, it is pertinent to ask how this will influence therapeutic strategies in the context of first-line treatment and what the role of chemoimmunotherapy will be in the algorithms for CLL. At the 2019 NCCN Annual Congress, a panel of experts, led by Professors William G. Wierda from Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Jennifer R. Brown from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, debated this topic.

In wild-type transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, extra-cardiac symptoms occur in addition to cardiac symptoms. Common and characteristic orthopedic manifestations include bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, spinal canal stenosis in the lumbar region, or atraumatic rupture of the m. biceps brachii tendon. These extra-cardiac symptoms often precede the actual heart involvement. Recognizing them can thus increase diagnostic suspicion for cardiac amyloidosis and help in the timely establishment of the correct diagnosis and initiation of specific treatment. For example, even a rheumatologist or orthopedist can direct an elderly patient with an otherwise unexplained constellation of musculoskeletal symptoms to cardiology examination early, thereby significantly improving the patient's prognosis.

According to international recommendations, treatment with the immune checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab in combination with the cytostatic nab-paclitaxel is used for patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer where PD-L1 protein expression is detected on the surface of tumor-infiltrating immune cells (IC). The final results regarding overall survival and long-term safety of this treatment in patients who participated in the registration study IMpassion130 were presented at this year's European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) congress, which was held virtually due to circumstances.

The increasing incidence of pilonidal sinus contributes to the development of new treatment methods. Experiences from AGEL Hospital Přerov show that the methods SiLaC (sinus laser ablation of the cyst) and NPWT (negative pressure wound therapy) represent a gentle and effective approach for pilonidal sinus, accelerating treatment and subsequent recovery.

Beta-blockers (BB) are among the most widely used drug groups in cardiology. While their position is clear in some indications, it is debated in others. Additionally, individual BBs differ in various aspects, which plays an important role in selecting the right treatment for a particular patient. We discussed some current topics related to beta-blockers with the head physician of the Center for Preventive Cardiology of the 2nd Department of Internal Medicine LF UK and FN Plzeň Prof. MUDr. Hana Rosolová, DrSc., FESC.

The term 'amyloid' was first used by the German doctor Rudolf Virchow in the mid-19th century. He described it as a pathological substance which he originally thought was starch. Although it was quickly discovered that it was a substance of protein nature, the reference to starch (from the Greek amylon) remained in the name.

Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease in adult patients, with its prevalence increasing with age, and these issues most frequently affect the knee joint. In the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (gonarthrosis), the so-called symptomatically slow-acting drugs in the treatment of osteoarthritis (SYSADOA) are used, among which unsaponifiable soy and avocado oil or chondroitin sulfate are included. The study compared the efficacy and safety of these two drugs in a 6-month therapy of gonarthrosis.

A 65-year-old man, hypertensive, visits the general practitioner for a check-up. He reports recent shortness of breath during mild exertion (walking up stairs). Two months ago, he had acute sinusitis, for which he was prescribed antibiotics (penicillin V) by a specialist. He experiences hip pain and suffers from a runny nose in the spring (allergy?). He has been treated for hypertension for approximately 8 years.

Inosin pranobex, as an antiviral drug that modulates cellular and humoral immunity, is used in the treatment of many viral infections. It is employed in diseases caused by herpetic viruses, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus, or in immunodeficient states, especially in cases of cellular immunity disorders. What insights has clinical research offered on this matter?

Colorectal cancer arises from a complex interplay of environmental and lifestyle factors complemented by hereditary factors. Nowadays, it represents not only a health concern but also a socioeconomic problem. It is the second most common malignant tumor in both sexes; fortunately, its incidence and mortality have been decreasing in recent years. Due to expanding and more accurately targeted treatment options and good patient care management, it is also possible to better manage more aggressive and previously difficult-to-treat forms of the disease, as demonstrated by the following case study from the Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University Hospital Hradec Králové.