Adenine-induced model of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a widely used model especially in studies testing novel nephroprotective agents. We investigated the effects of adenineinduced CKD in rats on the activities of some xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes in liver and kidneys, and on some in vivo indicators of drug metabolism (viz pentobarbitone sleeping time, and plasma concentration of theophylline 90 min post administration). CKD was induced by orally feeding adenine (0.25 % w/w) for 35 days. Adenine induced all the characteristics of CKD, which was confirmed by biochemical and histological findings. Glutathione concentration and activities of some enzymes involved in its metabolism were reduced in kidneys and livers of rats with CKD. Renal CYP450 1A1 activity was significantly inhibited by adenine, but other measured isoenzymes (1A2, 3A4 and 2E1) were not significantly affected. Adenine significantly prolonged pentobarbitone-sleeping time and increased plasma theophylline concentration 90 min post administration. Adenine also induced a moderate degree of hepatic damages as indicated histologically and by significant elevations in some plasma enzymes. The results suggest that adenine-induced CKD is associated with significant in vivo inhibitory activities on some drug-metabolizing enzymes, with most of the effect on the kidneys rather than the liver., M. Al Za’abi, A. Shalaby, P. Manoj, B. H. Ali., and Obsahuje bibliografii
We show that the index defined via a trace for Fredholm elements in a Banach algebra has the property that an index zero Fredholm element can be decomposed as the sum of an invertible element and an element in the socle. We identify the set of index zero Fredholm elements as an upper semiregularity with the Jacobson property. The Weyl spectrum is then characterized in terms of the index., Jacobus J. Grobler, Heinrich Raubenheimer, Andre Swartz., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Smoking is the most widespread substance dependence in the world. Nicotine and some other components of the cigarette smoke cause various endocrine imbalances, and have negative effects on pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, testicular and ovarian functions. Here, we examined studies that describe the influence of smoking and smoking cessation on the male and female reproductive systems. We also focused on studies providing an account of differences in cessation success rates between men and women. In men, the most common effects associated with smoking are erectile dysfunction and decreasing spermiogram quality. Several groups have studied the effects of cigarette smoking on testosterone levels in men. However, the results have been conflicting. In women, nicotine has an antiestrogen effect and increases the ratio of androgens to estrogens throughout life. Beside nicotine, other cigarette toxins also cause dysregulation of reproductive and hormonal system, and essentially influence the probability of a successful pregnancy not only in cases of assisted reproduction but also in healthy women. Tobacco addiction is one of the forms of addiction that are generally thought to be different for men and for women. Women are less successful than men in quitting smoking, and nicotine replacement therapy is less effective in female smokers. We also summarize recent studies that have indicated possible reasons., H. Jandíková, M. Dušková, L. Stárka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Recently it has been shown that vitamin D3 acting via its cognate receptor (VDR) regulates the growth, differentiation and function of female reproductive tissues including ovary. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of testosterone (T) and its antagonist 2-hydroxyflutamide (HF) on VDR protein expression and function in porcine ovarian follicles. Medium size antral follicles expressing great amount of androgen receptors and represent high steroidogenic activity were used in this research. After 6 h incubation of whole follicles with T, HF or T+HF, immunohistochemical analysis of VDR revealed its nuclear localization in granulosa and theca interna cells in control and experimental groups. The expression of VDR protein was shown as a band of 48 kDa. There were no significant differences between either experimental group and the control. T influenced the function of VDR through decreased formation of VDR/RXR (retinoid X receptor) complexes (P<0.05) in both granulosa and theca interna cells, but HF abolished this effect only in granulosa cells (P<0.05). These results suggest that androgens regulate the response of follicular cells to vitamin D3 in pigs ovary via regulation of VDR transcriptional activity., M. Herian, M. R. Luck, M. Grzesiak., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The study investigates the relationship between the labile iron pool (LIP) in circulating monocytes and markers of iron metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and arterial elasticity in patients with chronic cardiovascular disease and in healthy volunteers. The patie nts with a history of CVEs had significantly higher LIP values tha n did the control group (1.94± 0.46 μM vs. 1.62 ±0.49 μM, p=0.02). Except for the leukocyte number (WBCs), the groups did not differ in other inflammatory markers (CRPus, CD 163, MPO, MMP-1). Similarly, there were no differences in the markers of endothelial dysfunction (ICAM, VCAM, E-selectin, vWF). The CVE group had higher pulse pressures, levels of markers of impaired arterial elasticity (AI, Young's modulus, pulsatility, stiffness index), I MT values and ABI values. The LIP concentration was significantly correlated with the transferrin receptor⁄ferritin ratio, hepcidin levels, VFT content and the ABI and ET values. Patients with a history of CVE have significantly higher concentrations of ir on in their intracellular LIP in circulating monocytes than do healthy controls. The independent and significant correlation of LIP with markers of the progression of atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness suggests LIP as a possible novel marker of atheros clerotic activity., P. Riško, J. Pláteník, R. Buchal, J. Potočková, P. J. Kraml., and Obsahuje bibliografii
a1_The Miocene Ishim Formation is characterized by a considerable distribution area within the southwestern Siberia. These deposits are highly dispersed and are composed mainly of angular quartz grains of aleuritic and pelitic fractions. The study of the Ishim Formation is of interest both for investigating the origin of the sediments, and for justifying these rocks as a new type of mineral raw material for the local construction materials industry. This paper presents the results of first complex studies of the Ishim Formation deposits from two outcrops Masali and Bigila. The studies included determination of the particle size distribution on the laser particle analyzer, semiquantitative determination of the mineral composition (X-ray diffraction analysis), as well as, determination of contents of sesquioxides (X-ray fluorescence analysis), rare and trace elements (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) and measurement of specific surface area. The most representative samples were chosen for petrographic studies. In certain extent these deposits are characterized by quite high degree of homogeneity of the mineral, chemical, and granulometric compositions. The main component is SiO2 (about 70 %); other most important components are Al2O3 (about 14 %) and Fe2O3 (2-5 %). At the same time, deposits of the upper part of the Ishim Formation are depleted in CaO, MnO, MgO, TiO2, and P2O5. This is probably due to the fact that the proportion of clayey minerals in the upper part of the formation is lower than that in the lower one. The contents of trace elements in the Ishim Formation are lower or close to their clarke values in the Earth's crust. This is with the exception of such elements as Eu, Tb, Cr, and Sb, which form a strong anomaly and, to a lesser extent, a number of other elements that is probably related to the tectonic setting during the period of sedimentation., a2_The CIA values vary from 68-70 in the lower unit of the Ishim Formation at the transition to the sandy facies to 75-80 in the upper one, which indicates a moderate weathering of rocks. The results obtained testify to the fact that these deposits were formed under the conditions of degrading shallow water bodies. A distinct geomorphological confinement to boundaries of the Neogene river paleovalleys, continuity, high dispersion and, predominantly, quartz composition allow us to consider these deposits as a promising type of filler for construction materials industry., Alexander O. Konstantinov, Pavel V. Smirnov, Olga B. Kuzmina, Irina V. Khazina, Georgii A. Batalin and Bulat I. Gareev., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Let X be a Stein manifold of complex dimension n\geqslant 2 and \Omega \Subset X be a relatively compact domain with C^{2} smooth boundary in X. Assume that Ω is a weakly q-pseudoconvex domain in X. The purpose of this paper is to establish sufficient conditions for the closed range of \overline \partial on Ω. Moreover, we study the \overline \partial -problem on Ω. Specifically, we use the modified weight function method to study the weighted \overline \partial -problem with exact support in Ω. Our method relies on the L^{2} -estimates by Hörmander (1965) and by Kohn (1973)., Sayed Saber., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The aim of this paper is to describe 18th century "language criticism" (Sprachkritik) in the Bohemian Lands and underline its role within the process of establishing of the literary criticism. In the Habsburg monarchy, the language criticism can be traced back to the late 1740s; its origins are linked to the southern German sense of cultural (and thus linguistic), political and economical backwardness and to the efforts to catch up with the mostly protestant countries of Central and Northern Germany. The authors of this article examine not only reflections of used language and style in particular works, but also the position, prestige and function of various languages (German, Latin, Czech) themselves. The trends in language criticism and - in the narrower sense - language cultivation are examined with the use of both expert contributions to learned discussions and publicistic articles in critical journals aiming at a larger audience. In the whole process, several moments that meant a significant impulse for language criticism can be observed. The first one would be the appointment of Karl Heinrich Seibt as university professor of Schöne Wissenschaften (belles lettres), rhetoric, historia litteraria and ethics in 1763, followed by the efforts to establish a learned society, Josephine reforms and foundation of a chair of Czech language and literature at Prague university in 1791. Finally, the tightening of censorship from the second half of 1790s on had a considerable influence on criticism; its subject started to change and it began to focus on a different group of intended readers: while it used to try to educate potential future authors, afterwards it concentrated more and more on educating of the "common reader" and engaging him into critical reflections on belles lettres., Václav Petrbok a Ondřej Podavka., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy