This paper contains the studies of the noise level in GPS (Global Positioning System) time series. As the data for this research the authors used changes of the geodetic coordinates of the ASG-EUPOS and associated (Slovak and Czech) sites. The method of precise GPS observations processing in short-time intervals was worked out in the Centre of Applied Geomatics, Military University of Technology. The authors focus on the diurnal and sub-diurnal frequency bands (tidal) as the tidal effects influence the sites’ positions at the most and the model used in the standard processing software does not contain geodetic coefficients. Thus the residual values of the geodetic coordinates time series should hold some information in the shape of coloured noise. The paper comprise short description of the Earth tides phenomenon, the concept of the tidal parameters determination, character of the white and coloured noise and the assessment of the noise estimation from GPS data. As the processed network contains 130 sites the spatial distribution of the noise’s parameters is also investigated., Janusz Bogusz and Bernard Kontny., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The stressed state of the rock mass in the area of the Outokumpu deep drill hole, Finland, was investigated by the boundaryelement method in three mutually orthogonal planes with regard for the massif geological structure. It was found that subhorizontal components of the stress field are determined by tectonic forces acting on the boundaries of the European part of the Eurasian lithospheric plate. In the drill hole vertical section the widest variations of this field gradient occur at the depths of an ophiolite sequence in the range of 1.8-2.0 km., Stepan Savchenko and Feliks Gorbatsevich., and Obsahuje bibliografii
b1_The aim of our study was to compare the responses of heart rate variability (HRV) with two di fferent types of hormonal substitution therapy (HT) in post-menopausal women (cross-sectional study) and to reveal an effect of HT shortly after beginning of its administration (f ollow-up study). To elucidate the influence of menopause and effects of different protocols of a HT on autonomic control of heart rate, we evaluated the heart rate variability (HRV) in 5 groups: premenopausal women (n=140), postmenopausal women without HT (n=360), women on HT with conjugated estrogen only (n =168), women on continuous combined estrogen-progesterone HT (n=117), and men (n=140). Frequency-domain of short-term stationary R-R intervals was performed to evaluate the total variance, low frequency power (LF; 0.04-0.15 Hz), high freque ncy power (HF; 0.15-0.40 Hz), portion of low frequency power (LF%) and ratio of LF to HF (LF/HF). Significantly lower portion of the LF was found in premenopausal women [46.9 (±2.7) nu] when compared to untreated postmenopausal wome n [54.3 (±2.9) nu] and men [55.2 (±3.0) nu]. Treatment by estrogen only was proved to decrease the LF% [40.1 (±2.1) nu] while no effect on HRV was observed in women treated with combination of estrogen and progesterone [57.2 (±3.1) nu]. Also the HF was lower in postmenopausal wome n [4.16 (±0.16) ms 2 ] than in premenopausal women [4.79 (±0.22) ms 2 ] and women treated with estrogen only [4.98 (±0.25) ms 2 ] while in women treated with combined hormonal therapy the average value [3.99 (±0.21) ms 2 ] did not significantly differ from that of untreated postmenopausal women. The follow-up study also proved increase of high frequency power already after two months of estrogen substitution therapy [4.86 (±0.14) ms 2 vs. 4.19 (±0.15) ms 2 ]., b2_These results suggest that hi gher vagal modulation of heart rate that seems typical for younger women becomes after menopause similar to that of men. We also proved a positive shift of HRV parameters toward more beneficial values as for a cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women treated with estrogens but not in those treated by combined estrogen - progesterone substitution therapy., S.-G. Yang, M. Mlček, O. Kittnar., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The study investigates the effect of administered estrogen on plasma creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD) levels in female ovariectomized rats after downhill running. Rats ovariectomized before sexual maturity were subcutaneously implanted with pellets containing 17β-estradiol or placebo. Three weeks later they were subjected to a 90-min intermittent downhill running protocol. Blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein immediately after and 72 h after exercise for determination of plasma CK, LD and 17β-estradiol levels. A two-way analysis of variance was used for data evaluation. Plasma CK and LD levels were significantly lower (p<0.05) in the estrogen-supplemented, ovariectomized animals which suggests that less muscle damage occurred compared to the controls immediately and 72 h after exercise. Estrogens may have a protective effect on muscle tissue possibly due to their antioxidant and membrane stabilizing properties., S. Sotiriadou, A. Kyparos, V. Mougios, Ch. Trontzos, G. Sidiras, Ch. Matziari., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is increased after alcohol consumption and can contribute to an increased level of HDL-cholesterol, which is considered to play a key role in the ethanol-mediated protective effect against cardiovascular disease. The increase in HDL-cholesterol concentration can be also due to an ethanol-enhanced synthesis and secretion of apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) from hepatocytes. Therefore, the hypothesis that ethanol consumption affects the LPL and apo A-I gene (LPL and APOA1, respectively) expression was tested in male C57BL/6 mice drinking 5 % ethanol or water and fed a standard chow or high-fat (HF) diet for 4 weeks. The LPL expression was determined in the heart, epididymal and dorsolumbal adipose tissues, the APOA1 expression in the liver. Alcohol consumption did not affect lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in the serum. The LPL expression was increased in the heart of mice given ethanol and HF diet compared to mice on chow and ethanol (p<0.001) and was also increased in epididymal fat in mice given ethanol and HF diet compared to mice on water and HF diet (p<0.05). Neither LPL expression in dorsolumbal fat nor APOA1 expression in the liver were affected by ethanol consumption. Our data suggest that ethanol consumption upregulate LPL expression in a tissue- and diet-dependent manner., E. Mudráková, J. Kovář., and Obsahuje bibiografii a bibliografické odkazy
Medicína je specifickým oborem, který čerpá nejen z empirických poznatků přírodních věd, ale též z principů věd humanitních, i skutečnosti, že zdraví a nemoc nejsou jen kategorie výlučně přírodovědné, ale i hodnotové a proto je nutno zachovávat proporcionalitu mezi oprávněnými požadavky biomedicínského výzkumu a etickými nároky na něj a mezi morálními imperativy lékařské praxe. To je právě prostor pro etiku a etický přístup k řešení nejasných nebo sporných otázek našeho konání, otázek veřejností dnes velmi citlivě vnímaných, často vedoucích ke ztrátě důvěry nejen ve zdravotníky a zdravotnictví, ale i v celý společenský systém. Principy etického rozhodování v medicíně, hygienu a epidemiologii nevyjímaje, spočívají na dvou základních předpokladech: prvým je profesionální etika odpovědnosti, která zajišťuje kvalitu péče s vysokým stupněm odbornosti lékaře při poskytování pomoci a zábraně možných škod (primum non nocere) a druhým je právo na sebeurčení (autonomie jedince) s právem na informovanost - to je souhlas jedince informovaného pro něj srozumitelným způsobem nejen o plánovaném diagnostickém, léčebném a příslušném preventivním opatření, ale i v případě epidemiologických studií vztahu prostředí a zdraví jeho informovaného souhlasu k jeho účasti ve studii, jejíž by měl být subjektem. Článek se zabývá metodickými otázkami etických přístupů ke zdravotním problémům s důrazem na hromadně se vyskytující infekční a chronické nesdělné nemoci z hlediska šancí jejich prevence., Medicine is a specific area that draws not only on empirical knowledge of sciences but also on principles from the humanities, and the fact that health and disease are not only exclusively categorised as natural science but as value based entities where it is necessary to maintain proportionality between the legitimate requirements of biomedical research and ethical requirements and the moral imperatives of medical practice. It is here that we find the niche for ethics and ethical approaches to solving unclear or disputed issues of our actions; questions that are very sensitively perceived by the public, often leading to a loss of confidence in both health care professionals and the health system but also in the whole social system as such. Ethical principles in medicine, including hygiene and epidemiology are based on two basic assumptions: the first is the professional ethic of responsibility, which ensures quality of care with a high degree of expertise from assisting physicians and prevention of possible harm (primum non nocere) and the second is the right to self-determination (individual autonomy) with the right to be informed. It likewise comprises informed consent based on clear information regarding planned diagnostic procedures, therapeutic and preventive measure and informed consent regarding epidemiological studies in which patient's cooperation is requested. The paper deals with methodological questions of ethical approaches to health related problems, stressing problems related to infections and chronic noncommunicable diseases of high incidence with a view to preventive measures., Vladimír Bencko, and Literatura
Zdeněk Mařatka byl prvním lékařem, který podrobně seznámil českou odbornou veřejnost s problematikou idiopatických střevních zánětů, kterým se celý život systematicky věnoval. Vytvořil vlastní originální hypotézu – dvousložkovou teorii vzniku ulcerózní kolitidy, kterou po celý život rozvíjel a zdokonaloval. Jeho význam a přínos pro poznání ulcerózní kolitidy a Crohnovy nemoci je naprosto výjimečný, a to i z hlediska mezinárodního. Ačkoli prvotní příčina vzniku idiopatických střevních zánětů zůstává navzdory téměř stoleté historii neznámá, základní a klinický výzkum přináší množství nových poznatků o jejich etiologii a patogenezi. Je zřejmé, že pro vznik střevních zánětů je nezbytná vzájemná interakce vnitřních a zevních faktorů, které se uplatňují u konkrétních jedinců v různé míře. Mezi vnitřními faktory zaujímá klíčový vliv dědičnost, která formuje reaktivitu imunitního systému. Ze zevních faktorů je významné složení mikrobiální flóry střeva, kouření a psychický stres., Zdenek Mařatka has been the first physician, who had brought a new information for the Czech medical community with topic of inflammatory bowel diseases, which had been systematic studied for him. He had prepared an original theory – two component hypothesis about origin of ulcerative colitis, which had been developed and innovated by him for long time. From the international point of view, Mařatka has had an extraordinary impact and significant contribution for recognition of ulcerative colitis and Crohn´s disease. Despite the fact that the true origin of ulcerative colitis and Crohn´s disease (UC) still remain elusive, basic as well as clinical research bring many new data on etiology and pathogenesis of this inflammatory condition. It seems clear that IBD originate from interaction of several intrinsic and extrinsic factors that contribute individually in a particular patient. Among internal factors the genes play an important role, because its influence on the mucosal immunity system and immunological response. Among the external factors importance are recognized the gut microbiota content, cigarette smoking and psychological stress., and Milan Lukáš