Aim of the study was to evaluate serum levels of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 in patients with liver cirrhosis and to compare serum IGFBP-3 levels with other liver function tests. Fifty-one patients with liver cirrhosis were selected for our study. We measured IGFBP-3 (1.67±1.06 mg/l, mean ± SD), albumin (32±8 g/l), prealbumin (0.22±0.14 g/l), AST (2.29±2.38 mkat/l), ALT (2.11±4.83 mkat/l) and cholinesterase (mean 78.6±45.2 mkat/l) in the serum. There was a significant positive correlation of serum IGFBP-3 with serum albumin and serum cholinesterase. The correlation coefficient was much lower between serum IGFBP-3 and serum prealbumin. There was no significant correlation between serum AST, ALT and IGFBP-3. Serum IGFBP-3 proves to be a better marker for the hepatic synthetic capacity than serum albumin or cholinesterase., K. Šídlová, M. Pechová, K. Kotaška, R. Průša., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Our previous study showed that a diet enriched with 400 g of carp per week improved plasma lipids in subjects after aortocoronary bypass (CABG). The aim of the present study is to determine whether the differe nt carp farming systems have an impact on the effects of carp meat in secondary cardiovascula r prevention. We examined 3 groups of patients after CABG over a 4-week period of spa treatment (108 persons, 73 males, 35 females, age over 60 years). We found no differences in baseline values of blood pressure or plasma lipids. The patients were given a standard spa diet (controls; N=36) or a diet enriched of 400 g of car p meat per week, enriched omega-3 (N=37) or cereal carp (N=35). Plasma lipid parameters were examined at start and after 4 weeks in a routine laboratory setting. Group consuming omega-3 carp showed the largest decline in total cholesterol, LDL ch olesterol, triglycerides and an increase in HDL cholesterol (all p<0.01). We found that carp meat from the two production systems showed significantly different effects on plasma lipids. Further t rials should be performed to clarify the exact causes of the differences., J. Mraz, T. Zajic, P. Kozak, J. Pickova, P. Kacer, V. Adamek, I. Kralova Lesna, V. Lanska, V. Adamkova., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Pixelové detektory typu Medipix registrující jednotlivá kvanta záření začínají být hojně používány v různých radiografických aplikacích. V tomto článku popisujeme použití zobrazovače Timepix pro integraci obrázků řízenou externím spouštěcím signálem. Tato technika je demonstrována na příkladu koincidenční přístrojové neutrinové aktivační analýzy a umožňuje stanovení koncentrace a prostorové distribuce konkrétního zvoleného prvku ve zkoumaném vzorku., Jan Jakůbek, Andrea Cejnarová, Michal Platkevič, Miloslav Vobecký., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The article focuses on three main questions: (1) What are the legislative and structural conditions which either promote or hinder the integration of immigrants of different origin in the spheres of labour and housing market and in the area of political participation? (2) How does the integration of different immigrant groups develop? (3) What institutions aiming at the integration of foreigners are there in Vienna and what activities, eventually measures, do they bring about? The paper characterizes the theoretical approaches to the processes of migration and provides a specification of the very term of integration. In a voluminous chapter, the historical context of the immigration to Vienna during the 1980s and 1990s is outlined. In their conclusion the authors state, that integration represents a complex and demanding process, which is determined by a system of institutional, cultural and individual factors. In Vienna, many problems still continue to exist especially in the sphere of housing (marginalization of foreigners on the housing market) and on the labour market. The threat of unemployment, that might cause a loss of the residence permit, represents a heavy burden on the migrant population. The reality of the immigrants' problems reveals, that the common practice of granting permanent residence as well as full social and political equality only after having received Austrian citizenship is no longer sufficient and does not correspond to the contemporary needs. According to the authors' opinion, a change in legislature would be advisable. But even such a change will probably not eliminate all the problems of integration in the sphere of culture, where it would be necessary to find out other means to mitigate the heavy burden of integration resting on the shoulders of the immigrants.
The present study was designed to evaluate the plasma markers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity and cytokines, and their relationship with thiol redox status of basketball players during training. Sixteen professional players of the Polish Basketball Extraleague participated in the study. The study was performed during the preparatory period and the play-off round. Markers of ROS activity (lipid peroxidation TBARS, protein carbonylation PC) and reduced glutathione (GSH) demonstrated regularity over time, i.e. TBARS, PC and GSH were elevated at the beginning and decreased at the end of training periods. Oxidized glutathione (GSSG) was not affected by exercise training. Thiol redox status (GSHtotal-2GSSG/GSSG) correlated with TBARS and PC in both training periods. The level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) was increased and positively correlated with thiol redox (r=0.423) in the preparatory period, whereas tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) was increased and inversely correlated with thiol redox (r=-0.509) in the play-off round. The present study showed significant shifts in markers of ROS activity, thiol redox status and inflammatory mediators (IL-6, TNFα) following professional sport training as well as correlation between changes in thiol redox and cytokine response., A. Zembron-Lacny, M. Slowinska-Lisowska, A. Ziemba., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a demential, neurodegenerative inheritable disease affecting middle-aged patients. HD is characterized by uncontrolled choreiform movements, psychiatric symptoms and cognitive decline. Histopathological changes in HD brains reveal a considerable damage to basal ganglia, particularly affecting middle-sized spiny neurons from the caudate-putamen region. Neurochemical changes are specifically oriented to deplete GABAergic and cholinergic systems, while molecular alterations include an increased expression of CAG trinucleotide at exon 1 from the huntingtin (htt) gene, as well as aggregation of mutant htt. Although several hypotheses regarding the mechanisms by which neurotoxicity is triggered in HD brains have been suggested on the basis of experimental evidence, so far it remains not clear which of them are predominant or whether they are complementary. Recent experimental evidence through transgenic mice models reveal an interesting inter action between expanded CAG triplets, mutant htt, and the increase in toxic metabolites from the kynurenine pathway. Further evidence supports the assumption that different toxic mechanisms (i.e. excitotoxicity, energy metabolism impairment, inflammatory events, oxidative stress, etc.) are confluent and depend on each other. In this review we will briefly summarize some of those findings and propose a final integrative hypothesis for HD., V. Pérez-de la Cruz, A. Santamaría., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Numerous studies concerning the cardiovascular system in SHR often yield controversial data. The background of this diversity has various roots, ranging from different vascular segments or areas studied up to the different age of experimental animals. Our study aimed to follow the BP as an integrated response of vascular system. This approach was justified since stabilized cardiac output in SHR was proved till 1 year of age. The groups of male SHR (aged 3, 5, 9, 17 and 52 weeks) and age-matched Wistar rats were used. Significant basal BP difference between SHR and Wistar rats was found at 9 weeks of age and continued till the age of 52 weeks, reaching 189.6±11.9 mm Hg in SHR and 117.3±6.9 mm Hg in Wistar rats (P<0.01). The significant difference in BP increase to two doses of noradrenaline (0.1μg and 1 μg) between SHR and control rats was also found at the age of 9 weeks. At 52 weeks the BP increment to two doses of noradrenaline was in SHR 19.7±2.0 mm Hg and 60.5±3.9 mm Hg and in Wistar rats 7.4±1.9 mm Hg and 40.5±3.2 mm Hg (P<0.01). The hypotensive response to acetylcholine (0.1 μg, 1 μg and 10 μ) in SHR was enhanced at 17 weeks of age only and this amplification persisted till the age of 52 weeks. In 52-week-old SHR the hypotensive response to three doses was 69.9±10.2 mm Hg, 87.5±11.8 mm Hg and 103.4±10.6 mm Hg, while in Wistar rats it was 37.4 4.2 mm Hg P<0.0), 62.3±3.5 mm Hg (P<0.01) and 73.5±2.8 mm Hg (P<0.05). In conclusion, the efficiency of cardiovascular system of SHR to respond to noradrenaline was already enhanced from 9 weeks of age, whereas the response to acetylcholine was not augmented before the age of 17 weeks., M. Gerová, F. Kristek., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické údaje