Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulphate-bound form (DHEAS) are important steroids mainly of adrenal origin. Their physiological and pathophysiological functions are not yet fully identified, although a number of various possible features have been hypothesized. Most popular is the description of the “hormone of youth” as the long-term dynamics of DHEA levels are characterized by a sharp age-related decline in the late adulthood and later. Low levels of DHEA are, however, associated not only with the ageing process but also with diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and some neurological or immunological entities. In the past decade, a number of brief studies have concentrated on these relationships and also on the role of exogenous DHEA in health, disease and human well-being. This article tries to summarize some of the most important facts achieved recently., P. Celec, L. Stárka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
This study aimed to examine relationships between DHEA(S), anthropometric parameters, oral glucose tolerance test derived data and lipid spectra in a Czech non-diabetic population. 380 healthy volunteers both with and without a family history of diabetes type 2 (DM2) were en rolled into the study (women: n=235, age 28.9±9.4 years, BMI 22.3±4.5 kg/m2, men: n=145, age 32.3±10.0 years, BMI 24.7±3.6 kg/m2). Spearman’s correlations (both without and with the adjustment for age, age and BMI), as well as ANCOVA were used. Non-adjusted data showed many “beneficial” correlations between DHEA(S) and both anthropometric and metabolic variables. Statistical analysis revealed that almost all correlations of DHEA(S) to adiposity and fat distribution in men as well as in women disappeared after the adjustment. There are, however, differences between men and women in the correlation of DHEA(S) to insulin sensitivity and lipid levels. The use of hormonal contraceptives (COC) is also an important factor in this relationship. In men and also in women using COC, DHEA-S after adjustment correlated positively with fasting and stimulated glucose, insulin and C-peptide, and negatively with insulin sensitivity. In this respect, the benefit of DHEA(S) supplementation seems - at least in terms of its alleged antiobesity and antidiabetogenic effects - to be more than controversial., B. Bendlová, J. Vrbíková, M. Hill, M. Vaňková, P. Lukášová, J. Včelák, D. Vejražková, K. Dvořáková, R. Hampl, K. Vondra, L. Stárka., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) possesses fat-reducing effect, while little information is available on whether DHEA regulates cell proliferation and mitochondrial function, which would, in turn, affect lipid droplet accumulation in the broiler. In the present study, the lipid droplet accumulation, cell proliferation, cell cycle and mitochondrial membrane potential were analysis in primary chicken hepatocytes after DHEA treated. The results showed that total area and counts of lipid droplets were significantly decreased in hepatocytes treated with DHEA. The cell viability was significantly increased, while cell proliferation was significantly inhibited in a dose-dependent manner in primary chicken hepatocytes after DHEA treated. DHEA treatment significantly increased the cell population in S phase and decreased the population in G2/M in primary chicken hepatocytes. Meanwhile, the cyclin A and cyclin-dependent kinases 2 (CDK2) mRNA abundance were significantly decreased in hepatocytes after DHEA treated. No significant differences were observed in the number of mitochondria, while the mitochondrial membrane permeability and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity were significantly increased in hepatocytes after DHEA treated. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that DHEA reduced lipid droplet accumulation by inhibiting hepatocytes proliferation and enhancing mitochondrial function in primary chicken hepatocytes., Long-Long Li, Dian Wang, Chong-Yang Ge, Lei Yu, Jin-Long Zhao, Hai-Tian Ma., and Obsahuje bibliografii
H.G. Wells ; autorisovaný překlad Zd. Franty, Obrazové přílohy číslovány římsky jako listy, ale tištěno oboustranně, tj. 128 stran, Přeloženo z angličtiny, and Obsahuje rejstřík
Úvod: Dekubity u paraplegiků představují náročný problém vedoucí k opakovaným hospitalizacím, mnohonásobným operacím a potenciálně devastujícím komplikacím Metody: Přehledový článek. Výsledky: Uvádíme možnosti rekonstrukčních operací ischiadických, sakrálních a trochanterických dekubitů a vlastní zkušenost s lalokovými plastikami takových dekubitů u pacientů operovaných v průběhu tří let. Závěr: Zdůrazňujeme univerzálnost a spolehlivost gluteálního laloku, nezbytnost kvalitní předoperační přípravy a pooperační péče., Introduction: Pressure ulcers in spinal cord injury represent a challenging problem that often leads to recurrent hospitalizations, multiple surgeries, and potentially devastating complications. Methods: Review article. Results: The paper presents possible types of reconstructive surgery of ischial, sacral and trochanteric pressure ulcers and our own experience with procedures of such pressure ulcers done in three years. Conclusion: We emphasize the versatility and reliability of gluteus maximus musculocutaneus flaps and the importance of preoperative preparation and postoperative care., and L. Mrňa, L. Frajer, J. Hoch, V. Hyšperská
We studied delayed effects of elevated plasma levels of corticosterone (Cort) on volumetry, neuronal quantity, and gross marks of neurodegeneration in the hippocampal formation of Long-Evans rats. Animals were exposed to increased CORT levels for three weeks via implanted subcutaneous pellets. Volumetry, neuronal quantification and gros s marks of degeneration were measured seven weeks after the termination of CORT treatment. We observed significant differences in volumes and especially in laterality of hippocampal subfields between control and CORT- treated animals. We found th at the left hippocampus was substantially larger than the right hippocampus in the corticosterone-treated group, but not in the control group. In the control group, on the other hand, right hippocampal volume was markedly higher than all other measured volumes (hippocampal left control, hippocampal left CORT-treated and hippocampal right CORT-treated). Left hippocampal volume did not differ between the groups., P. Zach, J. Mrzílková, L. Řezáčová, A. Stuchlík, K. Valeš., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Úvod: Delirium jako projev mozkové dysfunkce je častá komplikace u kriticky nemocných. Kritické onemocnění představuje nezávislý rizikový faktor pro výskyt delirantních stavů. Prevalence deliria se u kriticky nemocných pohybuje mezi 11 a 87 %. Delirium je poddiagnostikováno, ačkoli významně zhoršuje prognózu. Cílem naší práce je podpořit zavedení skríningového testu deliria CAM‑ICU (The Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit) do běžné praxe a tím umožnit jeho včasnou diagnostiku, prevenci a léčbu.> Metody: Prospektivní hodnocení incidence deliria a rizikových faktorů jeho rozvoje u pacientů přijatých na šestilůžkovou JIP v období únor až červen 2014. Delirium bylo vyšetřováno metodou CAM‑ICU. Použili jsme českou verzi testu brněnské skupiny autorů. U všech pacientů jsme hodnotili rizikové faktory (preexistující a precipitující). Ke zhodnocení jsme použili Fisherův exaktní test (u kategoriálních znaků) a dvouvýběrový Wilcoxonův pořadový test (u numerických znaků). U všech testů byla použita hladina významnosti p = 0,05. Závěr: Ze 142 pacientů bylo delirium hodnotitelné u 125 pacientů. Pro nemožnost vyšetření deliria CAM‑ICU testem vzhledem k perzistujícímu kómatu a jednou pro jazykovou bariéru bylo vyloučeno 17 pacientů. Incidence deliria dosáhla 31,2 %. Šlo o smíšenou populaci pacientů traumatologických, chirurgických a interních s mediánem APACHE II (Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation) rovným 12. Vyšší riziko rozvoje deliria je u pacientů s primárně interním onemocněním a po traumatu ve srovnání s pacienty chirurgickými. Výskyt deliria ovlivňuje tíha onemocnění (APACHE II), užití analgosedace, vazopresorů. Delirantní pacienti pobývali na JIP déle, rovněž potřeba umělé plicní ventilace byla vyšší. Klíčová slova: delirium – diagnostické testy – jednotka intenzivní péče – rizikové faktory preexistující – rizikové faktory precipitující – preventivní přístup, Introduction: Delirium, as a manifestation of acute brain dysfunction, is a frequent complication in critical care patients. Any critical disorder is an independent risk factor for development of delirium. The prevalence of delirium in critically ill patients has been reported between 11 and 87%. Delirium is under-diagnosed even though it significantly worsens patient prognosis. The aim of our study was to support regular use of the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU), in order to facilitate early diagnostics, prevention and treatment of delirium. Method: A prospective study of the incidence of delirium as well as risk factors for its development in patients admitted to six-bed ICU from February to June 2014. All patients were assessed for predisposing and precipitating risk factors using the Czech version of CAM-ICU. Fisher’s Exact Test and Wilcoxon Rank-Sum were performed with the significance level of 0.05. Results: Delirium was diagnosed in 125 of the overall group of 142 patients. Seventeen patients were excluded from the study as they could not be assessed (16 due to prolonged coma, one due to language barrier). The incidence of delirium reached 31.2%. Within the study group consisting of surgical, medical and trauma patients with the median APACHE II score of 12, medical and trauma patients were more likely to develop delirium than surgical ones. Development of delirium was associated with the severity of the disease (APACHE II score), use of sedatives, analgesics and vasopressors. Delirious patients stayed longer at the ICU and they showed higher need for artificial ventilation. Key words: delirium – diagnostic tests – intensive care units – predisposing risk factors – precipitating risk factors – prevention The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study. The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE “uniform requirements” for biomedical papers., and M. Káňová, M. Burda, J. Povová, J. Neiser
Demodex agrarii sp. n., an extremely long-bodied inhabitant of cerumen and the sebaceous glands in the ears of the striped field mice, Apodemus agrarius, taken in Slovakia, is described as a new species from all developmental stages.
Demodex neomydis sp. n. from the Mediterranean water shrew, Neomys anomalus, is described as a new species in all developmental stages. This demodecid is classified as a member of the genus Demodex Owen, 1843, but shows several morphological characters described in Soricidex dimorphus Bukva, 1982 and which are absent or very infrequent in other known Demodex species, viz., in the adult stage, a pair of shelf-like lamellae on the dorsum of the podosoma, dorso-lateral extension of the podosoma over the basal part of the gnathosoma, multiple opisthosomal organ in the male, and podosomal position of the vulva in the female. Immature stages of D. neomydis have unusual inflated idiosoma and dorsad deflected gnathosoma. All developmental stages of D. neomydis were found in the lumen of the hair follicles on the host’s muzzle, causing no gross pathological response. On histological level, the main pathological change was distension of infested hair follicles by accumulations of up to a dozen mites, which appear to feed on the epithelial cells of the hair follicle walls.
Based on materials collected from wild populations of the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus in South Bohemia, Czech Republic, previously unknown male is described and female redescribed for Demodex ratti Hirst, 1917. All developmental stages are described for two new species, D. norvegicus sp. n. and D. ratticola sp. n. Also provided is a key to adults of four Demodex species presently known to parasitize Rattus norvegicus. Demodex ratti was recovered from the host’s back, eyelids, and external auditory meatus, D. norvegicus from the anal and genital areas, and D. ratticola from vicinity of the mouth and the tip of muzzle.