Taurine, a sulphur - containing amino acid, has been termed
a functional nutrient. Its synthetic form is a common ingredient
in supplements and energy drinks. There is no information
concerning taurine impact on bone microstructure after
prolonged supplemental use. Also, differences in bone
parameters of mice following taurine exposure are unknown. In
this study, a detailed microstructure of compact and trabecular
bone tissues of mice subchronically exposed to taurine was
determined. Animals (n=12) were segregated into three groups:
E1 group – mice received 20 mg/kg b.w. of taurine per day
during 8 weeks; E2 group – mice were fed by taurine at a dose
of 40 mg/kg b.w. for 8 weeks and a control (C) group. Decreased
density of secondary osteons, increased sizes of primary osteon's
vascular canals (P<0.05) were observed in taurine – treated
animals. Cortical bone thickness, trabecular thickness were
decreased (P<0.05) in E1 group, and relative volume of
trabecular bone was lower (P<0.05) in E2 group as compared to
C group. According to our results, prolonged taurine exposure at
the doses used in this study can negatively affect both compact
and trabecular bone tissues microstructure.
The peak bone mass and the rate of bone loss are in part genetically determined. It has been suggested that bone mineral density (BMD) may be related to allelic variation in the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene locus. ApoE is important in the receptor-mediated clearance of chylomicron particles from the plasma, Apo E4 having the highest and Apo E2 the lowest receptor affinity. Chylomicrons are the main carrier of vitamin K in the plasma; vitamin K plays an important role in the carboxylation of osteocalcin. We have tested the hypothesis that persons with E4 variant would have lower BMD and increased bone turnover than those with E2 variant. A total of 18 ApoE 2/2 and ApoE 4/4 homozygotes were selected from 873 patients who were examined for the ApoE genotype. BMD in lumbar vertebral, femoral neck and distal forearm was measured and plasma concentrations of osteocalcin and C-terminal fragments of collagen (CTx) were determined. BMD values (expressed as T-score) at the three specified sites were -0.12± 1.72, -0.52± 1.32 and -0.52± 0.81 in ApoE 2/2 group and -0.24± 1.22, 0.00± 0.84 and -0.17± 1.07 in the ApoE 4/4 group. Plasma osteocalcin and CTx were within normal limits in both groups. In conclusion, we did not observe any association of ApoE genotype with BMD and biochemical markers of bone metabolism in ApoE 2/2 and ApoE 4/4 homozygotes., T. Štulc, R. Češka, A. Hořínek, J. Štěpán., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Bone remodeling is a tightly coupled process consisting of repetitive cycles of bone resorption and formation. Both processes are governed by mechanical signals, which operate in conjunction with local and systemic factors in a discrete anatomic structure designated a basic multicellular unit (BMU). The microenvironment around total joint arthroplasty is a dynamic and complex milieu influenced by the chemical and physical stimuli associated with servicing the prosthesis. A key factor limiting the longevity of the prosthesis is polyethylene wear, which induces particle disease, and this may lead to increased and prolonged activity of BMUs resulting in periprosthetic osteolysis. Several pathways regulating BMU function have been reported in the past, including RANKL/RANK/OPG/TRAF6, TNF-α/TNFR/TRAF1, and IL-6/CD126/JAK/STAT. Moreover, the expression and functional activity of all these molecules can be affected by variations in their genes. These may explain the differences in severity of bone defects or prosthetic failure between patients with similar wear rates and the same prosthesis. Simultaneously, this data strongly support the theory of individual susceptibility to prosthetic failure., J. Gallo, M. Raška, F. Mrázek, M. Petřek., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Bone is a target tissue for hormones, such as the sex steroids, parathormon, vitamin D, calcitonin, glucocorticoids, and thyroid hormones. In the last decade, other “non-classic” hormones that modulate the bone tissue have been identified. While incretins (GIP and GLP-1) inhibit bone remodeling, angiotensin acts to promote remodeling. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) has also been found to have anabolic effects on the skeleton by activating bone formation during embryonic development, as well as in the postnatal period of life. Bone has also been identified as an endocrine tissue that produces a number of hormones, that bind to and modulate extra-skeletal receptors. Osteocalcin occupies a central position in this context. It can increase insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity and regulate metabolism of fatty acids. Moreover, osteocalcin also influences phosphate metabolism via osteocyte-derived FGF23 (which targets the kidneys and parathyroid glands to control phosphate reabsorption and metabolism of vitamin D). Finally, osteocalcin stimulates testosterone synthesis in Leydig cells and thus may play some role in male fertility. Further studies are necessary to confirm clinically important roles for skeletal tissue in systemic regulations., I. Zofkova., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The evaluation of the head injury criterion (HIC) assessing injuries of a pedestrian when hit by a vehicle, if simply defined, provides no practical hint for designing a bonnet structure with good safety performance. We have studied relations between the time history of the impact, HIC performance and bonnet structure; based on that, we established a method how to define, visualize and remove shortcomings of an existing bonnet design. The abilities of the approach are demonstrated on the results of practical application. and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The reviews evaluate three books and a conference. The first book,
Happy Childhood? The Child in the 19th century Bohemia, was written by Milena Lenderová and Karel Rýdl who aimed to show the life of children in 19th century Bohemia from different angles.
The exhibition I’ve Lost My Little Apron has an accompanying publication of the same title written by Blanka Petráková.
The Ethnographical Society members chose the book Museum of
South-Eastern Moravia Village by Martin Šimša, Petra Kalábová, et al. as the best specialised publication of the year 2006. It is a catalogue of the Museum of south-Eastern Moravia Village supplemented by articles on fundamental fields of material and non-material traditional culture. this imaginatively composed book is supplemented by a range of visual materials. The outcome of a conference commemorating the work of František Bartoš is presented in František Bartoš Linguist, Pedagogue, Ethnographer. A conference on the 100th anniversary of his death. and Abstrakt je společný pro 3 recenze a zprávu z konference uvedené v oddílu Knihy
The review section brings an evaluation of four books published in 2007. Alena Jeřábková wrote a review of a book by Marie Brandstettrová Clothing of the Rožnov Citizens. Reading about Rožnov Traditional Costume (published by the Wallachian Open-Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, in 2007). The book explores the way of clothing in the small town of Rožnov where rural and urban environments used to meet in the past. Jana Nosková analyzed a publication by Martina Pavlicová Traditional Culture and Its Historical and Social Reflections (Micro-Social Probes) published by the department of European ethnology, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk university, Brno, in 2007). The book consists of three parts: theoretical introductory chapter and two case studies - first of them devoted to the personality of a musician Josef Slezák from Břestek, the second one dealing with the ride of kings in the small town of Hluk. The first chapter brings interesting observations concerning historical development of ethnology as a scholarly discipline, primarily in connection with the relationship between its object of study and other disciplines such as cultural and social anthropology., The National institute for traditional culture in Strážnice released a representative publication by Martin Šimša Bearers of the Folk Craft Tradition I. by the end of the year 2007. The aim of the publication was to introduce personalities of handcraftsmen awarded by the Minister of Culture between the years 2001-2007. The book brings a well arranged overview of personalities awarded, and at the same time it informs about the process of awarding the title Bearer of the Folk Craft Tradition. Images depicting assortment, craftsmen and close-ups of their work also form a significant part of the book. Deals with Volyn Czechs and their repatriation to Czechoslovakia in her book Repatriation and Settlement of Volyn Czechs in Interpretations of Participants and Scholarly Literature (published by the department of European ethnology, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk
university, Brno, in 2007). She paid special attention to processes of domiciliation, adaptation and integration of Volyn Czechs in the new country. The work is primarily built on the interesting use of biographical and oral history methods which enabled the author to exploit interesting pieces of information and interpretative framework of historical events., and Tento abstrakt je společný pro 4 recenze uvedené v oddílu Knihy
The review section opens up with Jiřina Veselská’s comprehensive review of the most recent encyclopaedic handbook: Stanislav Brouček - Richard Jeřábek (eds.): Lidová kultura. Národopisná encyklopedie (Folk Culture: Ethnographical Encyclopaedia). She summarizes media critique and highlights the encyclopaedia’s utility for museum workers and regional historians. Two other reviews focus on publications from a book series published by the
department of European Ethnology at Masaryk University, Brno:
Středověké a novověké zdroje tradiční kultury (Medieval and Modern Sources of Traditional Culture) by Daniel Drápala; and Agrární kultura. O tradičních formách zemědělského hospodaření a života na vesnici (Agrarian Culture: On Traditional Forms of Agriculture and Rural Life) by Karel Pavlištík. Miroslav Válka evaluates the monograph Valaši a Valašsko (Wallachs and Wallachia) by a distinguished expert on the issue of Wallachian colonization. Then there are two reviewers who deal with material culture and different kinds of subsistence. Václav Michalička highlights the questionable quality of the book by Václav Šplíchal, Marie Otavová, et al: Zlaté ruce. Svazek I., Poselství dřeva (Hands of Gold: Volume I.,Testimony of Wood)., The following new books by Petr Janeček have been enthusiastically accepted by the public: Černá sanitka a jiné děsivé příběhy. Současné pověsti a fámy v České republice (Black Ambulance and Other Scary Stories: Contemporary Myths and Rumours in the Czech Republic); and Černá sanitka: Druhá žeň. Pérák, ukradená ledvina a jiné pověsti (Black Ambulance: Aftermath. The Spring Man, Stolen Kidney and Other Stories. Conference proceedings Dary a obdarování (Gifts and Gift Giving), containing contributions from an international conference of the same title held in 2007, is reviewed by Marta kondrová. A special publication - recollections by the Slovak National Museum staff V múzeu vážne i prostopašne (In the Museum Seriously and Dissipatedly: Recollections by Museum Staff), is reviewed by Ladislav Mlynka. The review section concludes with a commentary on a book about folk bands in the Zlín region by Jiří Severin Hráli jsme jak andělé (We Played Like Angels)., and Tento abstrakt je společný pro všech 9 recenzí uvedených v oddílu Knihy