Genes for adiponectin and resistin are candidate genes of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of our study was to determine the frequency of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) 45T>G and 276G>T of the adiponectin gene and 62G>A and -180C>G of the resistin gene in patients with obesity (OB), anorexia nervosa (AN) and in control healthy normal-weight women (NW) and to study the influence of particular genotypes on serum concentrations of these hormones and on insulin sensitivity. Serum adiponectin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), insulin, cholesterol, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and blood glucose levels were measured in 77 patients with OB, 28 with AN and 38 NW. DNA analysis was carried out by polymerase chain reaction with restriction analysis of PCR product. The presence of SNP ADP+276 G>T allele was accompanied by higher cholesterol levels in AN patients, higher adiponectin concentrations in OB patients and lower HbA1c levels in NW. SNP of the resistin gene 62G>A was associated with lower HbA1c in NW and higher cholesterol concentrations in OB group. The carriers of the minor G allele in the position -180 of the resistin gene within AN group had significantly higher BMI relative to non-carriers. We conclude that polymorphisms in adiponectin and resistin genes can contribute to metabolic phenotype of patients with obesity and anorexia nervosa., J. Křížová, M. Dolinková, Z. Lacinová, Š. Sulek, R. Doležalová, J. Housová, J. Krajíčková, D. Haluzíková, L. Bošanská, H. Papežová, M. Haluzík., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Serum levels of adiponectin were measured in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer of pT2 and pT3 stage. Adiponectin ELISA assay, immunohistochemistry, and selected metabolic and biochemical parameters measurement was performed in 25 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and 43 with prostate cancer (17 patients with organ-confined and 26 patients with locally advanced disease). Serum adiponectin levels did not differ between prostate benign hyperplasia and cancer clinical stage T2, but was significantly higher in pT3 relative to pT2 group (14.51± 4.92 vs. 21.41±8. 12, P = 0.003). Tissue immunohistochemistry showed enhanced staining in neoplastic prostate glands and intraepithelial neoplasia relative to benign prostatic hyperplasia without distinction between disease grade and stage. Serum adiponectin levels are higher in locally advanced relative to organ-confined prostate cancer and may thus serve as an auxiliary marker providing further improvement for discrimination between pT2 and pT3 stages., D. Housa, Z. Vernerová, J. Heráček, B. Procházka, P. Čechák, J. Kuncová, M. Haluzík., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
High -energy intake which exceeds energy expenditure leads to the accumulation of triglycerides in adipose tissue, predominantly in large -size adipocytes. This metabolic shift, which drives the liver to produce atherogenic dyslipidemia, is well documented. In addition, an increasing amount of monocytes/macrophages, predominantly the proinflammatory M1- type, cumulates in ectopic adipose tissue. The mechanism of this process, the turnover of macrophages in adipose tissue and their direct atherogenic effects all remain to be analyzed., R. Poledne, I. Králová Lesná, S. Čejková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
In presented work, raw, expanded and acid treated vermiculites were used as low-cost and active adsorbents for reducing of environmental pollution with heavy metals. Acid treatment was performed at elevated temperature (95°C) for 2 and 24 h in solution of HNO3. Adsorption capacity towards Fe3+ was studied in column, semi-batch and batch mode. It was shown that all samples are effective in removal of heavy metals; however adsorption mechanism is based not only on ion exchange of interlayer cations but also precipitation/deposition processes. Starting material and modified samples as well as spent adsorbents were characterized with respect to the vermiculite structure using X-ray diffraction method., Agnieszka Węgrzyn, Lucjan Chmielarz, Paweł Zjeżdżalka, Andrzej Kowalczyk, Magdalena Jabłońska, Xavier Baldrich Tolosa and Marek Michalik., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Adsorption of phenol and aniline onto original and with quaternary ammonium salts (QASs)-modified montmorillonite was described by sorption isotherms of type III and II, respectively. For the montmorillonite (MMT) modification - hydrophobisation, cetyltrimethyl- ammonium (CTMA) and tetramethylammonium (TMA ) cations were used. In comparison with phenol, aniline was adsorbed largely on original MMT but less on modified one. XRD pa tterns indicated that both aromatic compounds were intercalated in the MMT interlayer be ing perpendicularly oriented to silicate sheets. Alkyl chains of CTMA and TMA probably act as organic "pillars" stabilising the MMT tabular structure against exfoliation due to the intercalation with phenol and aniline of high concentrations., Hana Kostelníková, Petr Praus and Martina Turicová., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
Phenolic compounds are common pollutants found particularly in the effluents from petroleum and petrochemical, coal conversion, and phenol producing industries. Due to their toxicity and carcinogenity, water and wastewater containing phenolic compounds must be treated before being used and discharged for receiving water bodies. There is a growing interest in using low-cost and commercially available materials for the adsorption of organic compounds. Clay minerals have great potential to remove phenols in water due to efficient sorbents which can be used as alternative adsorbents to replace the costly activated carbon. They are widely applied in many fields of adsorption technology including the removal of amines, metals, ketones, phosphates, chlorophyll, non-ionic contaminants, and organic pigments/dyes. Montmorillonitic smectites, {(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)-(OH)2.nH2O} are one of the natural clay minerals that have specific surface chemical properties. In this study, a factorial experimental design technique was used to investigate the adsorption of phenol from water solution on montmorillonite. Factorial design of experiments is employed to study the effect of three factors: pH (2.0 and 8.0), montmorillonite dosage (0.1 and 1.0 g/L) and initial low and high concentration (10 and 100 mg/L). The efficiency of phenol adsorption was determined after 60 min of treatment. Main effects and interaction effects of three factors were analyzed by using statistical techniques. A regression model was found to fit the experimental data very well. Through using the Student’s t-test, analysis of variance, F-test and lack of fit to define most important process variables affecting the percentage phenol adsorption., Feza Geyikçi and Semra Çoruh., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The function of adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus is not yet completely understood, though many competing theories have attempted to explain the function of these newly -generated neurons. Most theories give adult neurogenesis a role in aiding known hippocampal/dentate gyrus functions. Other theories offer a novel role for these new cells based on their unique physiological qualities, such as their low excitability threshold. Many behavioral tests have been used to test these theories, but results have been inconsistent and often contradictory. Substantial variability in tests and protocols may be at least partially responsible for the mixed results. On the other hand, conflicting results arising from the same tests can serve as aids in elucidating the function of adult neurogenesis. Here, we offer a hypothesis that considers the cognitive nature of tasks commonly used to assess the function of adult neurogenesis, and introduce a dichotomy between tasks focused on discrimination vs. generalization. We view these two aspects as opposite ends of the continuous spectrum onto which traditional tests can be mapped. We propose that high neurogenesis favors behavioral discrimination while low adult neurogenesis favors behavioral generalization of a knowledge or rule. Since many tasks require both, the effects of neurogenesis could be cancelled out in many cases. Although speculative, we hope that our view presents an interesting and testable hypothesis of the effect of adult neurogenesis in traditional behavioral tasks. We conclude that new, carefully designed behavioral tests may be necessary to reach a final consensus on the role of adult neurogenesis in behavior., A. Pistikova, H. Brozka, A. Stuchlik., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) may play an important adverse role in process of atherosclerosis, diabetes, aging and chronic renal failure. Levels of Ne-carboxymethyllysine and fluorescent AGE values were estimated in two nutritional population groups - alternative group (vegetarians - plant food, milk products, eggs) and traditional group (omnivorous subjects). Vegetarians have a significantly higher carboxymethyllysine content in plasma and fluorescent AGE values. Intake of proteins, lysine and monosaccharides as well as culinary treatment, consumption of food AGEs (mainly from technologically processed products) and the routes of Maillard reaction in organism are the substantial sources of plasma AGEs. Vegetarians consume less proteins and saccharides. Lysine intake is significantly reduced (low content in plant proteins). Subjects on alternative nutrition do not use high temperature for culinary treatment and consume low amount of technologically processed food. Fructation induced AGE fluorescence is greater as compared with that induced by glucose. It is due to higher participation of a more reactive acyclic form of fructose. Intake of vegetables and fruit with predominance of fructose is significantly higher in vegetarians. Comparison of nutrition and plasma AGEs in vegetarian and omnivorous groups shows that the higher intake of fructose in alternative nutrition of healthy subjects may cause an increase of AGE levels., M. Krajčovičová-Kudláčková, K. Šebeková, R. Schinzel., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The slowly metabolized proteins of the extracellular matrix, typically collagen and elastin, accumulate reactive metabolites through uncontrolled non-enzymatic reactions such as glycation or the products arising from the reaction of unsaturated long chain fatty acid metabolites (possessing aldehydic groups). A typical example of these non-enzymatic changes is the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), resulting from the reaction of carbohydrates with the free amino group of proteins. The accumulation of AGEs and the resulting structural alterations cause altered tissue properties (increased stiffness, reduced elasticity) that contribute to their reduced catabolism and to their aging. Posttranslational nonenzymatic modifications of the proteins of the extracellular matrix (the formation of a typical AGE product - pentosidine) were studied in three types of tissue of three rat strains subjected to a high-fructose diet. Chronic (three-week) hyperglycemia (resulting from fructose loading) caused a significant increase in pentosidine concentration mainly in the aorta and skin of the three rat strains (Lewis, Wistar and hereditary hypertriglyceridemic rats)., K. Mikulíková, A. Eckhardt, J. Kuneš, J. Zicha, I. Mikšík., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Advanced glycation end-product (AGE) pentosidine has previously been demonstrated in different tissues and body fluids. It was suggested as a novel marker for evaluating the pathologic activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study we analyzed the relation between pentosidine and markers of inflammation, cartilage turnover, immune response, and disease status of RA. Using HPLC, we analyzed pentosidine in serum and synovial fluid from 39 patients with RA and in serum from 38 healthy controls. Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and antibodies to CCP (anti-CCP) were measured by ELISA. Clinical disease status was assessed by Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS 28) and functional status by Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). We demonstrated significantly higher serum levels of pentosidine in RA patients in comparison with controls. Pentosidine in serum significantly correlated with pentosidine in synovial fluid. Serum pentosidine levels were associated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p<0.03) but not with CRP, COMP, anti-CCP antibodies, DAS 28, or HAQ. In contrast to previous studies, we could not show any correlation of pentosidine levels with inflammatory status, clinical disease activity, markers of immune response, or cartilage breakdown. However, AGEs can be suggested as important players participating in joint destruction rather than markers of disease activity., L. Šenolt, M. Braun, J. Vencovský, L. Šedová, K. Pavelka., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy