Diabetes mellitus type 2 ranks among the strongest predictors of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) while the association of type 1 diabetes with CVD is more complex. We studied differences between type 1 and 2 diabetic women regarding association of cardiovascular risk factors with preclinical atherosclerosis expressed as intima-media thickness of common carotid (IMT CCA) and femoral arteries (IMT CFA) measured by high resolution ultrasound. Women with type 1 (n=203) and type 2 diabetes (n=123) were examined with regard to the presence of cardiovascular risk factors. In type 1 diabetic women strong association between IMT CCA and body mass index, waist circumference, and total body fat was found in contrast to type 2 diabetic women. In type 2 diabetic women strong association between IMT CCA and fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and atherogenic index of plasma (log TG/HDL cholesterol) was observed in contrast to type 1 diabetic women. In type 1 diabetic women, IMT CFA was associated with body fat in contrast to type 2 diabetic women. Preclinical atherosclerosis in type 1 diabetic women was strongly associated with factors reflecting body fat and its distribution, while in type 2 diabetic women preclinical atherosclerosis was associated with markers reflecting glucose and lipid metabolic disorders., P. Piťhová, K. Štechová, J. Piťha, V. Lánská, M. Kvapil., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Increased homocysteine levels in serum are typical features of neurodegenerative brain diseases including hydrocephalus. The most frequent therapeutic approach consists of the insertion of a shunt, connecting the brain ventricles to an alternative drainage site. To decide whether the patient should undergo this, the lumbar drainage test is usually carried out to distinguish patients who can benefit from the shunt insertion. In searching for other potential biochemical markers for shunt indication we determined homocysteine levels in CSF during the lumbar drainage test. Homocysteine in CSF was measured during the 5-day lumbar drainage test in 27 patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and in 25 patients with excluded hydrocephalus. A novelized gas chromatography method with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) was developed and evaluated. During the first two days of lumbar drainage, the levels of CSF homocysteine in NPH patients were significantly higher compared to the controls, while on the fifth day, the homocysteine levels in patients with hydrocephalus reached the level of controls. Determination of CSF homocysteine in patients with confirmed or suspected hydrocephalus may serve as an independent marker for deciding on their further treatment strategy., L. Sosvorová, J. Bešťák, M. Bičíková, M. Mohapl, M. Hill, J. Kubárová, R. Hampl., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Many physiological and pathological processes in the cardiac tissue have been shown to be associated with a release of endothelin (ET) peptides and with induction of specific ET-receptors and G-protein-coupled ion channels. However, the exact mechanism regulating ET-receptors in the myocardium is controversial. The response to ET-1, the most important member of the ET family, is rapidly attenuated by down-regulation of ET-receptors. The internalization of ET-1 bound to two subclasses of specific receptors (ETA and ETB) that are abundant in the myocardium has been hypothesized to activate and/or inhibit a variety of intracellular signal transducing systems. The [125I]ET-1, BQ-3020 and selective ET-antagonists were used to study the subtype-selective component of regulation of ET-1 receptors in myocardial membranes. We determined the characteristics of [125I]ET-1 binding and [3H]thymidine incorporation in whole cell saturation studies and measured Ca 2+ channel induction and the total number of inactive Ca2+ channels in photoaffinity studies with [3H]azidopine. Here we demonstrate four important components of the complex ET-1 response in human, porcine and rat myocardium, leading to aberrant responses of cells. After ET-1 induction, adaptive subtype-ETB selective down-regulation predominated in human embryonic fibroblasts, in porcine membrane vesicles and in microsomal membranes of renal hypertensive rats, with preferential high affinity ET-1 binding to ETA receptors and with the resultant ETA mediated proliferative and mitogenic activation of human fibroblasts. The ET-1 induction was also accompanied by profound inactivation of Ca2+ channels in myocardial membranes., J. Dřímal, M. Mislovičová, A. Ismail, F. Monček., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Systolic blood pressure (SBP) changes control the cardiac interbeat intervals (IBI) duration via baroreflex. Conversely, SBP is influenced by IBI via non- baroreflex mechanisms. Both causal pathways (feedback - baroreflex and feedforward - non- baroreflex) form a closed loop of the SBP- IBI interaction. The aim of this study was to assess the age -related changes in the IBI - SBP interaction. We have non -invasively recorded resting beat -to- beat SBP and IBI in 335 healthy subjects of different age, ranging from 11 to 23 years. Using a linear autoregressive bivariate model we obtained gain (Gain SBP,IBI, used traditionally as baroreflex sensitivity) and coherence (CohSBP,IBI) of the SBP-IBI interaction and causal gain and coherence in baroreflex (Gain SBP → IBI , Coh SBP → IBI ) and coherence in non- baroreflex (CohIBI→SBP) directions separately. A non -linear approach was used for causal coupling indices evaluation (C SBP → IBI , C IBI → SBP ) quantifying the amount of information transferred between signals. We performed a correlation to age analysis of a ll measures. CohIBI→SBP and CIBI→SBP were higher than CohSBP→IBI and CSBP→IBI, respectively. Gain SBP,IBI increased and Coh SBP → IBI decreased with age. The coupling indices did not correlate with age. We conclude that the feedforward influence dominated at rest. The increase of Gain SBP,IBI with age was not found in the closed loop model. A decrease of Coh SBP → IBI could be related to a change in the cardiovascular control system complexity during maturation., J. Svačinová, M. Javorka, Z. Nováková, E. Závodná, B. Czippelová, N. Honzíková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The aim of our work was to provide data from women of fertile age with type 1 diabetes mellitus about the endogenous androgens and on their relations to the parameters of diabetes control. Forty-two women were examined, they did not use contraceptives for at least three months prior to the examination. A multivariate regression analysis showed that the daily insulin dose, the fasting glycemia and the HbA1c values and patient´s age correlated negatively with dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, dehydroepiandrosterone and prolactin levels. The testosterone/ dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate ratio correlated positively with daily insulin dose and patient´s age. In contrast to adrenal androgens the values of other hormones, including total and free testosterone, androstenedione, dihydrotestosterone, estradiol, LH, FSH, 17-OH-P, progesterone and cortisol revealed no significant correlation. To conclude, significant relations between the glucose control parameters and the adrenal androgens and prolactin were demonstrated. These relationships should be considered as an important factor influencing diabetes control so the additional cardiovascular risk in women with DM1., H. Kvasnickova, R. Hampl, K. Vondra., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Flavonoids, a group of phenolic compounds found naturally in fruit, vegetables, nuts, flowers, seeds and bark are an integral part of the human diet. They have been reported to exhibit a wide range of biological effects, including anti-ischemic, antiplatelet, antineoplastic, antiinflammatory, antiallergic, antilipoperoxidant or gastroprotective actions. Furthermore, flavonoids are potent antioxidants, free radical scavengers and metal chelators, and inhibit lipid peroxidation. Oxidative modification of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) is believed to play a crucial role in atherogenesis. Epidemiological studies have shown that the consumption of fruits and vegetables, and regular red wine consumption is related with a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases., G. Mojžišová, M. Kuchta., and Obsahuje bibliografii
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
The present study examined the hypothesis that the extension of noxious effect of methamphetamine (MA) on maternal behavior and postnatal development on the pups may differ in dependence with time of application. Female rats were injected with MA (5 mg/kg) or saline during first (embryonic day (ED) 1-11) or second (ED 12-22) half of gestation. Our results demonstrated that MA exposure on ED 12-22 led to decreased birth weight and weight gained during lactation period relative to rats treated on ED 1-11. Both sexes treated prenatally with MA on ED 1-11 opened eyes earlier compared to animals treated on ED 12-22. As a matter of sensorimotor development application of MA on ED 1-11 impaired the righting reflex, while MA exposure on ED 12-22 impaired the performance of beam balance test in male rats. There were no differences in maternal behavior. Therefore, it seems that MA exposure in the first half of the gestation impaired the early sensorimotor development that is under control of the brain stem, while the MA exposure in the second half of gestation affected the beam balance performance that is dependent on the function of the cerebellum., M. Malinová-Ševčíková, I. Hrebíčková, E. Macúchová, E. Nová, M. Pometlová, R. Šlamberová., and Obsahuje bibliografii