The general population is potentially exposed to many chemicals that can affect the endocrine system. These substances are called endocrine disruptors (EDs), and among them bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most widely used and well studied. Nonetheless, there are still no data on simultaneous measurements of various EDs along with steroids directly in the seminal fluid, where deleterious effects of EDs on spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis are assumed. We determined levels of BPA and 3 estrogens using LC-MS/MS in the plasma and seminal plasma of 174 men with different degrees of infertility. These men were divided according their spermiogram values into 4 groups: (1) healthy men, and (2) slightly, (3) moderate, and (4) severely infertile men. Estradiol levels differed across the groups and body fluids. Slightly infertile men have significantly higher BPA plasma and seminal plasma levels in comparison with healthy men (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). Furthermore, seminal BPA, but not plasma BPA, was negatively associated with sperm concentration and total sperm count (-0.27; p<0.001 and -0.24; p<0.01, respectively). These findings point to the importance of seminal plasma in BPA research. Overall, a disruption of estrogen metabolism was observed together with a weak but significant impact of BPA on sperm count and concentration., J. Vitku, L. Sosvorova, T. Chlupacova, R. Hampl, M. Hill, V. Sobotka, J. Heracek, M. Bicikova, L. Starka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is one of a few treatable conditions of cognitive decline affecting predominately elderly people. Treatment, commonly based on the ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion, leads to a partial or complete correction of patient's state, although its effect does not unfortunately always last. The aim of our study was to observe the changes of homocysteine and selected steroids and neurosteroids and follow-up the patients with respect to the duration of the NPH-related dementia improvement. The cerebrospinal fluid and plasma levels of cortisol, cortisone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), 7α-hydroxy-DHEA, 7β-hydroxy-DHEA, 7-oxo-DHEA, 16α-hydroxy-DHEA (all LC-MS/MS), DHEA-sulphate (DHEAS) (radioimmunoassay) and homocysteine (gas chromatography) were determined in NPH-diagnosed subjects before, during and 6, 12 and 24 months after shunt insertion. The cognitive functions ameliorated after shunt insertion and remain improved within 2 years. Changes in cerebrospinal fluid DHEAS, DHEA and its ratio, cortisone/cortisol and 16α-hydroxy-DHEA and plasma DHEAS, 7β-hydroxy-DHEA, cortisone/cortisol and homocysteine were found. Mentioned changes may contribute to the clarification of NPH pathogenesis. Altered neurosteroids levels are possible indicators to be utilized in the follow-up of NPH subjects. Moreover, plasma homocysteine may serve as an early indicator of NPH-related dementia., L. Sosvorova, M. Mohapl, M. Hill, L. Starka, M. Bicikova, J. Vitku, R. Kanceva, J. Bestak, R. Hampl., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The local concentration of glucocorticoids is intensively regulated by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD 1). Human 11β-HSD 1 also reversibly catalyzes the inter-conversion of 7α-hydroxy- and 7β-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) into 7-oxo-DHEA. The cohort of 282 obese adolescents, 154 girls (median age 15.31 years, range 14.17-16.68 years) and 128 boys (median age 14.95 years, range 13.87-16.16 years), BMI (Body Mass Index) >90th percentile was examined. In samples collected before and after one month of reductive diet therapy, circulating levels of steroids were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and radioimmunoassay methods. The model of the treatment efficacy prediction was calculated. A significant reduction in circulating levels of cortisone, E2 and increased levels of 7β-hydroxy-DHEA after the reductive treatment was observed. Levels of cortisol, DHEA, DHT sustained without any significant change. The predictive Orthogonal Projections to Latent Structures (OPLS) model explained 20.1 % of variability of BMI, z-score change by the basal levels of 7α-hydroxy-DHEA, DHEA, cortisol and E2 as the strongest predictors. Reduced levels of circulating cortisone and reduced ratios of oxygenated/reduced metabolites reflect increased reductase activity of 11β-HSD 1 with reduced BMI, z-score. We hypothesize whether these changes can be attributed to the altered activity of 11β-HSD 1 in the liver., L. Máčová, L. Sosvorová, J. Vítků, M. Bičíková, M. Hill, H. Zamrazilová, B. Sedláčková, L. Stárka /., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Cytokines are widely known mediators of inflammation accompanying many neurodegenerative disorders including normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). NPH is caused by impaired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) reabsorption and treated by surgical shunt insertion. The diagnostics is still complicated and the shunt effect is not durable; after several years, dementia may develop. In the clinical practice, biomarkers support the diagnostics as well as the further time course of many neurodegenerative diseases. Until recently, no reliable biomarker for NPH was evaluated. The attempt of this review was to make a survey concerning cytokines as possible NPH markers. Among all reviewed cytokines, the most promising are CSF IL-10 and IL-33, enabling to follow-up the disease progression and monitoring the effectiveness of the shunt insertion., L. Sosvorova, M. Mohapl, J. Vcelak, M. Hill, J. Vitku, R. Hampl., and Obsahuje bibliografii