a1_A new concept of cardioprotection based on the exploitation of endogenous mechanisms is known as ischemic preconditioning (IPC). It has been hypothesized that substances released during brief ischemic stress (e.g. catecholamines) stimulate the receptors and trigger multiple cell signaling cascades. Opening of ATP-sensitive K+ channels [K(ATP)] has been suggested as a possible final step in the mechanisms of protection. In this study, the role of adrenergic activation was tested in Langendorff-perfused rat hearts subjected to test ischemia (TI; 30 min occlusion of LAD coronary artery) by: 1) mimicking IPC (5 min ischemia, 10 min reperfusion) with short-term (5 min) administration of norepinephrine (NE, 1 µM), 15 min prior to TI; 2) blockade with b- or a1-receptor antagonists, propranolol (10 µM) and prazosin (2 µM), respectively, applied 15 min prior to TI during IPC. The role of K(ATP) opening was examined by perfusion with a K(ATP) blocker glibenclamide (10 mM) during IPC. Both IPC and NE-induced PC effectively reduced the incidence of ventricular tachycardia (VT) to 33 % and 37 %, respectively, vs 100 % in the non-PC controls, whereby ventricular fibrillation (VF) was totally abolished by IPC and markedly suppressed by PC with NE (0 % and 10 %, respectively, vs 70 % in the non-PC hearts; P<0.05). The severity of arrhythmias (arrhythmia score, AS) was also markedly attenuated by both interventions (IPC: AS 1.7±0.4; NE-PC: AS 1.8±0.3 vs AS 4.1±0.2 in the controls; P<0.05). Protection was not suppressed by propranolol (VT 28 %; VF 14 %; AS 2.2±0.6), whereas prazosin reversed the protective effect of PC (VT 83 %; VF 67 %; AS 4.0±0.8). Antiarrhythmic protection afforded by NE-PC was abolished by pretreatment of rats with pertussis toxin (25 mg/kg, i.p.) given 48 h prior to the experiments., a2_Glibenclamide did not suppress the IPC-induced protection. In conclusion, the sensitivity of the rat heart to ischemic arrhythmias can be modulated by IPC. Protection is mediated via stimulation of a1-adrenergic receptors coupled with Gi-proteins but glibenclamide-sensitive K(ATP) channels do not appear to be involved in the mechanisms of antiarrhythmic protection in this model., T. Ravingerová, D. Pancza, A. Ziegelhoffer, J. Styk., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The paper reflects a long-term ambiguity in the theoretical concept of affective phenomena. The focal point of this study is the conceptualization of the term “affect” with regard to the other affective phenomena (specifically emotion and mood). Our definition of affect is substantially different than existing Czech terminology and we define affect as the necessary component of all affective processes. Contrary to the Czech traditional concept of affect, we do not attribute characteristics such as “high intensity” or “disorganising influence” on cognitive processes, behaviour, etc. per se. We define affect in accordance with many authors, as a point in the continuum of affective stream and the basic unit of all affective phenomena. Affective phenomena or processes we consider as an umbrella term for a complex phenomenon like affect, emotion, mood, emotional episode, interpersonal attitude, sentiment, passion and so on: their common component is the affect. We consider emotion as a figure that emerges in the affective stream as a complex reaction to the event that has meaning for an individual and is interpreted with respect to the experience, context, individual characteristic, and sociocultural environment of the individual. Contrary to the Czech tradition, emotions are viewed as “just” one type of affective phenomena with a relatively specific definitional framework. The moods are considered parts of the affective stream continuum that have a specific and for consciousness accessible quality. The concepts of affect, emotion and mood discussed in this paper are contrasted; however, we have described where they overlap conceptually. The relationships of all affective phenomena have been considered as interacting with a tendency to synchronize into one (for an individual typical) affective stream., I. Poláčková Šolcová, R. Trnka., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Studie Karla Veverky se zabývá mešními díly hudebního skladatele Antonia Caldary, jejichž opisy se dochovaly v hudebních sbírkách v Praze, se zaměřením na významnou sbérku hudebnin z kůru pražských křižovníků., This study deals with individual aspects and problems of research on the Masses by Antonio Caldara with source materials held in Prague. Representing the basic material are two copies from the collection of the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star along with concordant sources amassed from Czech and foreign archives. The effectiveness of the standard methods used for studying musical sources is put to the test on a selected sampling of material. The comparison of individual copies helps answer questions not only about provenience or filial relationships between materials, but also about period performance practice. The goal of the study is to make at least a partial contribution towards systematic research on the musical life of Prague in the first half of the 18th century, when Caldara’s Masses were significantly represented in church music collections., Karel Veverka., Rubrika: Studie, and Anglické resumé na s. 93, anglický abstrakt 81.
a1_Cíle. Propoziční hustota (PH), psycholingvistické měřítko, koreluje s kognitivní kapacitou ve starším věku. Tato studie zjišťuje rozdíly v propoziční hustotě v orálních výpovědích na téma z nedávné minulosti u osob zdravých a s mírnou kognitivní poruchou (MKP). MKP je v současnosti přijímána jako prodromální stádium Alzheimerovy nemoci (AN). Soubor. Soubor zahrnoval 33 osob s MKP a 32 zdravých kontrol (průměrný věk 73 let). Obě skupiny byly vyrovnané, a to co do věku a úrovně dosaženého vzdělání. Dle očekávání se lišily v skóru MMSE, který je považován za zjednodušené vyjádření úrovně kognitivního stavu. Hypotézy. Nižší PH byla očekávána u osob s MKP, neboť úkol zatěžoval vybavení z novopaměti. Přičemž obtíž se zapamatováním nových informací, a tedy i vybavením z novopaměti, je jedním z jádrových symptomů AN., a2_Analýza a výsledky. Průměrná propoziční hustota u pacientů s MKP činila 48,74 % (sm. odch. 5,78), u kontrolního vzorku seniorů bez kognitivních poruch to bylo 53,06 % (sm. odch. 4,56). Studentův t-test prokázal statisticky významný rozdíl mezi skupinami (p < 0,001). Cohenovo d 0,83 reprezentuje velký efekt příslušnosti ke skupině. Omezení. Nejpodstatnějším omezením této studie je heterogenita diagnostické jednotky MKP. Dalším omezením byla neznalost premorbidní kognitivní úrovně zdravých kontrol, proto je možné, že v kontrolní skupině byly osoby s již počínající kognitivní poruchou, jež byla při jednorázovém vyšetření nezachytitelná., b1_Objectives. It has been shown that propositional density (PD), which roughly corresponds to the number of ideas expressed in a text of given length, is related to cognitive performance in the older age. The present study investigated differences in propositional density in oral language production between healthy seniors and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI is generally accepted as a prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Sample and setting. The sample included 33 MCI persons and 32 healthy controls (mean age 73 years). The groups were equivalent as for the age and education. As expected, there was a significant difference between Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores between the groups, with MMSE being a simplified measure of their cognitive status. Hypotheses. Lower PD was expected in MCI persons, as the task required recent past recall which is considered one of the early deficiencies in early AD and MCI due to AD., b2_Statistical analysis. Mean PD across groups was compared using the independent samples t-test. Results. Mean propositional density in MCI persons was 48,74% (SD 5,78), and in healthy controls 53,06% (SD 4,56). The difference was statistically significant (p<0,001). Cohen’s d 0,83 represents a large effect size for the group difference. Study limitations. The main limitation is the heterogeneity of the MCI group. Also, the detailed cognitive status of the healthy controls is unknown. Thus the group could include persons with some cognitive impairment which has not been detected yet., Hana Štěpánková, Filip Smolík, Martin Vyhnálek, Tomáš Nikolai, Karolína Horáková, Markéta Niederlová., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Reactive oxygen species can be generated by daily exposure of the skin to ultraviolet light and may cause some subchronic and chronic skin disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible preventive role of a-tocopherol acetate (ATA) on ultraviolet B (UVB) induced peroxidation by assessing lipid peroxide (LPO) levels and activity of reactive oxygen scavenging enzymes including glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in guinea pigs. ATA was topically applied to the skin for three weeks before a single dose of 0.9 J/cm2 UVB irradiation on the skin and lipid peroxide levels and antioxidants in plasma, skin and liver and erythrocytes were determined after decapitation. Topical application of ATA prevented the UVB irradiation-induced reduction of scavenging enzyme activities in skin and erythrocytes. In conclusion, we suggest that topical applications of ATA before UVB irradiation is effective in protecting the skin from unwanted effects of UVB irradiation., Y. Saral, B. Uyar, A. Ayar, M. Naziroglu, S. Yilmaz., and Obsahuje bibliografii
a1_Cíle. Cílem této studie bylo: a) ověření diagnostické kvality jednotlivých položek Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI) a b) určení vhodného počtu kategorií preference ruky v dětské populaci. Soubor. Celkem 366 účastníků (178 chlapců a 188 dívek) náhodně vybraných ze základních škol v Praze participovalo na této studii. Věk dětí se pohyboval od 8 do 12 roků a žádný z účastníků nevykazoval intelektové ani jazykové nedostatky. Statistická analýza. Rating scale model byl použit pro hodnocení diagnostické kvality jednotlivých položek v inventáři. Příslušný počet kategorií preference ruky na základě výsledků EHI byl stanoven pomocí analýzy latentních tříd. Chi-kvadrát testy a vnitrotřídní korelační koeficient byly použity pro další vyhodnocení získané kategorizace preference ruky., a2_Výsledky. Byly identifikovány dvě položky (zametání koštětem a otevírání krabice), které porušují Raschovy vlastnosti Rating scale modelu. Dále byly zjištěny dvě skupiny dětí, které jsou charakteristické konzistentním použitím buď pravé, nebo levé ruky (praváci a leváci) a skupina s nekonzistentní preferencí (nevyhranění). Výsledky studie naznačují, že hodnoty laterálního kvocientu LQ = 0 ± 60 a LQ = 0 ± 70 lze doporučit pro zařazení jedince do skupiny nevyhraněných. Omezení studie. Ve studii nebylo hodnoceno, zdali preference indikovaná v dotazníku odpovídá preferenci při reálně prováděných činnostech. Použití formátu odpovědí se třemi kategoriemi by mohlo být považováno za další omezení, jelikož původně navrhovaný nástroj využívá pět kategorií., b1_Objectives. The aim of this study was: a) to verify the diagnostic quality of the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI) items and b) to determine an appropriate number of hand preference categories in a children population. Sample and setting. A total of 366 participants (178 boys and 188 girls) randomly selected from elementary schools in Prague, Czech Republic participated in this study. Children’s age ranged from 8 to 12 years and none of the participants has reported any intellectual or language deficiencies. Statistical analysis. Polytomous item response theory model (Rating scale model) was used to evaluate the diagnostic quality of particular items in the inventory. Appropriate number of handedness categories based on the EHI results was determined using latent class analysis. Chisquare tests and intra-class correlation coefficient were used for further evaluation of the obtained handedness categorization., b2_Results. Two items (using a broom and opening a box) that violated the Rasch properties of the Rating scale model were identified. Two classes that were characterized by the predominant use of either right or left hand (right-handers and left-handers) and a class with inconsistent hand-preference (mixed-handers) were stated. Results of the study suggest that values of laterality quotient LQ=0±60 and LQ=0±70 could be recommended for assigning individuals into the mixed-handedness class. Study limitation. It was not assessed whether self-reported hand preference is in accordance with the real hand preference for the EHI items/ activities. Using a response format with three categories could be seen as another limitation since the originally proposed instrument utilized five categories., Martin Komarc, Ivana Harbichová, Jiří Tichý., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Ornithine carbamoyltransferase has been purified from the liver of the loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta by a single-step procedure using chromatography on an affinity column to which the transition-state analogue, d-N-(phosphonoacetyl)- L-ornithine (d-PALO), was covalently bound. The procedure employed yielded an enzyme which was purified 373-fold and was judged to be homogeneous by nondenaturing and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The enzyme showed a specific activity of 224. The molar mass of the C. caretta enzyme was approximately 112 kDa, the single band obtained by SDS-PAGE indicated a subunit molar mass of 39.5 kDa; hence, the enzyme is a trimer of identical subunits. It catalyzes an ordered sequential mechanism in which carbamoyl phosphate binds first, followed by L-ornithine. The Michaelis constants were 0.858 mM for L-ornithine and 0.22 mM for carbamoyl phosphate, the dissociation constant of the enzyme-carbamoyl phosphate complex was 0.50 mM., E. Bellocco, C. Di Salvo, G. Lagan, U. Leuzzi, E. Tellone, A. Kotyk, A. Galtieri., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The aim of the study was to detect changes of both the QT dispersion and T-loop morphology resulting from the changed spatial position of the heart during pregnancy. Electrocardiographic and vectorcardiographic recordings were obtained from 37 healthy women 19-36 years old in the 36th to 40th week of physiological pregnancy and 2 to 6 days after delivery. The same recordings were obtained from 18 healthy women of the same age. The average QT dispersion (±S.D.) in normal subjects was significantly lower (34±12 ms) than in those in late pregnancy (73±18 ms) (P<0.001). The average amplitude of T-loop (Ta) in women in late pregnancy was significantly (P<0.001) smaller (532±98 mV) and the width of T-loop (Tw) was wider (21.24±11.48 deg) than in the control group (793±114 mV and 7.17±3.02 deg, respectively). The partial post-partum restoration of all parameters was not significant. In all groups, the QT dispersion was significantly correlated with Tw but not with Ta. According to these results we can conclude that the QT dispersion is an indirect reflection of the complete process of ventricular repolarization, reflected in the morphology of the T-loop., M. Lechmanová, O. Kittnar, M. Mlček, J. Slavíček, A. Dohnalová, Š. Havránek, J. Kolařík, A. Pařízek., and Obsahuje bibliografii
a1_In the present paper we describe five tests, 3 of which were designed to be similar to tasks used with rodents. Results obtained from control subjects, patients with selective thermo-coagulation lesions to the medial temporal lobe and results from non-human primates and rodents are discussed. The tests involve memory for spatial locations acquired by moving around in a room, memory for objects subjects interacted with, or memory for objects and their locations. Two of the spatial memory tasks were designed specifically as analogs of the Morris water task and the 8-arm radial-maze tasks used with rats. The Morris water task was modeled by hiding a sensor under the carpet of a room (Invisible Sensor Task). Subjects had to learn its location by using an array of visual cues available in the room. A path integration task was developed in order to study the non-visual acquisition of a cognitive representation of the spatial location of objects. In the non-visual spatial memory task, we blindfolded subjects and led them to a room where they had to find 3 objects and remember their locations. We designed an object location task by placing 4 objects in a room that subjects observed for later recall of their locations. A recognition task, and a novelty detection task were given subsequent to the recall task. An 8-arm radial-maze was recreated by placing stands at equal distance from each other around the room, and asking subjects to visit each stand once, from a central point. A non-spatial working memory task was designed to be the non-spatial equivalent of the radial maze. Search paths recorded on the first trial of the Invisible Sensor Task, when subjects search for the target by trial and error are reported., a2_An analysis of the search paths revealed that patients with lesions to the right or left hippocampus or parahippocampal cortex employed the same type of search strategies as normal controls did, showing similarities and differences to the search behavior recorded in rats. Interestingly, patients with lesions that included the right parahippocampal cortex were impaired relative to patients with lesions to the right hippocampus that spared the parahippocampal cortex, when recall of the sensor was tested after a 30 min delay (Bohbot et al. 1998). No differences were obtained between control subjects and patients with selective thermal lesions to the medial temporal lobe, when tested on the radial-maze, the non-spatial analogue to the radial-maze and the path integration tasks. Differences in methodological procedures, learning strategies and lesion location could account for some of the discrepant results between humans and non-human species. Patients with lesions to the right hippocampus, irrespective of whether the right parahippocampal cortex was spared or damaged, had difficulties remembering the particular configuration and identity of objects in the novelty detection of the object location task. This supports the role of the human right hippocampus for spatial memory, in this case, involving memory for the location of elements in the room; learning known to require the hippocampus in the rat., V.D. Bohbot, R. Jech, E. Růžička, L. Nadel, M. Kalina, K. Štěpánková , J. Bureš., and Obsahuje bibliografii
We tested the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) activity using urogastrone for treatment of Wistar rats and rat kidney tissue slices. NHE activity was monitored in isolated kidney brush border membrane vesicles by following fluorescence quenching of acridine orange. A significant increase of NHE activity was detected as early as 5 min after addition of urogastrone to rat kidney slices in vitro. In Wistar rats treated with urogastrone we also found increased NHE activity (by about 12 %). Both changes of NHE activity were the result of a significant rise of Vmax value and an apparent decrease in Km value in in vitro experiments. The rise of NHE activity caused by urogastrone was sensitive to the inhibitors of transcription and translation. The presence of phosphatase inhibitor, NaF, elevated NHE activity of non-stimulated as well as of urogastrone-stimulated exchanger, suggesting that phosphorylation plays an important role in Na+/H+ exchange. Osmolarity of the medium seems to regulate NHE activity in such a manner that both hyper- and hypoosmolar conditions inhibited NHE activity. The absence of Ca2+ions produced a 60 % decrease of NHE activity. The chemical modification of histidine residues with diethyl pyrocarbonate or SH groups with N-ethylmaleimide inhibited NHE activity., K. Barišić, O. Karužić, J. Petrik, T. Ž. Grubišić., and Obsahuje bibliografii