Parabens are a group of chemicals used as preservatives in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. They are known to possess estrogenic effects, and therefore have been classified as endocrine disruptors. In addition to the classical endocrine organs, other tissues have endocrine activity, including adipose tissue. Several chemicals are known to cause obesogenic effects, and parabens are currently being studied in this context. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible connections of paraben exposure and obesity. Blood plasma from 27 healthy women was collected during their menstrual cycle. Basal anthropometric measures, levels of parabens (methylparaben, ethylparaben and propylparaben), adipokines (adiponectin, adipsin, leptin, resistin and visfatin) and hormones affecting energy balance and metabolic health (c-peptide, ghreline, GIP, GLP-1, glucagon, insulin, PAI-1) were measured. A Kolmogorov- Smirnov test showed higher methylparaben and propylparaben levels in women with BMI 25-34.9 compared to those with BMI 18.5-24.9. Plasma levels of methylparaben as well as the sum of parabens were positively associated with the plasma adipsin levels. Negative associations for methylparaben were found for glucagon, leptin and PAI-1. In accordance with other experimental studies we observed important associations of methylparaben and hormones affecting energy balance and metabolic health, indicating its obesogenic potential., L. Kolatorova, M. Sramkova, J. Vitku, J. Vcelak, O. Lischkova, L. Starka, M. Duskova., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Obezita (především abdominálního typu) byla vždy považována za riziko pro kardiovaskulární nemoci. V posledních letech se ukazuje nový fenomén, tzv. paradox obezity, tj. pacienti s vyšším BMI mají nižší úmrtnost než pacienti s nižším BMI. Nejprve se paradox obezity prokázal u pacientů s chronickým renálním selháním, srdečním selháním a u onkologických pacientů, později i u pacientů s kardiovaskulárními chorobami a nedávno i u pacientů s diabetem 2. typu (DM2T). Ve srovnání s populačními studiemi byl BMI spojený s nejnižší mortalitou u nemocných s DM2T posunut doprava, tj. k vyšším hodnotám BMI. Mechanizmy paradoxu obezity nejsou zcela objasněny., Obesity (esp. abdominal type) was still considered as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. During the last decade has a new phenomenon appeared: „obesity paradox“, i.e. patients with high BMI die less frequently than patients with low BMI. Obesity paradox was described first in patients with chronic renal failure, heart failure or in oncological patients, later on in patients with cardiovascular disease and now also in patients with type 2 diabetes. In comparison with population studies, BMI associated with low cardiovascular mortality in patients with Type 2 diabetes is shifted to the higher level than in subjects from general population. Mechanisms of obesity paradox is not yet clarified., and Hana Rosolová
In this paper we study parallel and totally geodesic hypersurfaces of two-step homogeneous nilmanifolds of dimension five. We give the complete classification and explicitly describe parallel and totally geodesic hypersurfaces of these spaces. Moreover, we prove that two-step homogeneous nilmanifolds of dimension five which have one-dimensional centre never admit parallel hypersurfaces. Also we prove that the only two-step homogeneous nilmanifolds of dimension five which admit totally geodesic hypersurfaces have three-dimensional centre., Mehri Nasehi., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Úvod: Rozsah nádoru a kvalita jeho chirurgického odstranění patří k hlavním prognostickým faktorům v léčbě karcinomu rekta. Počet pooperačních lokálních recidiv závisí na úplnosti odstranění mezorekta – TME (total mesorectal excision) – a dosažení bezpečných resekčních okrajů bez nádoru. Provedení a kvalita operace záleží na předoperační diagnostice a detekci rizikových míst na rektu a mezorektu, na chirurgické schopnosti výkon správně provést a na patologickém vyšetření, hodnotícím úplnost odstranění nádoru v parametrech resekčních okrajů včetně cirkumferentního (CRO) a kompletnost mezorektální excize. Cílem práce bylo zavést a standardizovat metodu hodnocení kvality chirurgického výkonu − mezorektální excize – v léčbě karcinomu rekta hodnocením resekčních okrajů včetně CRO a kompletnosti excize. Metody: Studie měla dvě části. V první, retrospektivní části multicentrické studie byly v sestavě 288 pacientů analyzovány jednotlivé dílčí parametry diagnostiky, operací a histologického vyšetření karcinomu rekta, identifikována kritická místa a připraven jednotný protokol sledování. Ve druhé, prospektivní části studie byla v sestavě 600 pacientů tato data sledována parametricky a byla hodnocena kvalita TME ve vztahu k onkologickému výsledku léčby. Výsledky: V předoperační diagnostice se zvýšil podíl pacientů, kterým byl proveden restaging po neoadjuvantní léčbě z 60,0 % na 81,7 %. Podíl resekátů, u nichž nebyla hodnocena kvalita excize mezorekta, se snížil z 52,9 % v retrospektivní části na 22,8 % v části prospektivní. Podíl kompletních excizí mezorekta se zvýšil z 22,6 % na 26,0 %, podíl téměř kompletních excizí se zvýšil z 10,1 % v retrospektivní části na 24,0 % v prospektivní části studie. Závěr: Zavedení parametrického sledování do rutinní praxe zvýšilo kvalitu předléčebné a předoperační diagnostiky, vyšetření resekátu patologem a vlivem zpětnovazebné informace také kvalitu chirurgického výkonu., Introduction: Tumour size and the quality of its complete surgical removal are the main prognostic factors in rectal cancer treatment. The number of postoperative local recurrences depends on whether the mesorectum has been completely removed – total mesorectal excision (TME) – and whether tumour-free resection margins have been achieved. The surgery itself and its quality depend on the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis and detection of risk areas in the rectum and mesorectum, on the surgeon’s skills, and finally on pathological assessment evaluating whether complete tumour excision has been accomplished including circumferential margins of the tumour, and whether mesorectal excision is complete. The aim of our study was to implement and standardize a new method of evaluation of the quality of the surgical procedure – TME – in rectal cancer treatment using an assessment of its circumferential margins (CRO) and completeness of the excision. Methods: The study consisted of two parts. The first, multi-centre retrospective phase with 288 patients analysed individual partial parameters of the diagnosis, operations and histological examinations of the rectal cancer. Critical points were identified and a unified follow-up protocol was prepared. In the second, prospective part of this study 600 patients were monitored parametrically focusing on the quality of the TME and its effect on the oncological treatment results. Results: The proportion of patients with restaging following neoadjuvant therapy increased from 60.0% to 81.7% based on preoperative diagnosis. The number of specimens missing an assessment of the mesorectal excision quality decreased from 52.9% in the retrospective part of to the study to 22.8% in the prospective part. The proportion of actually complete TMEs rose from 22.6% to 26.0%, and that of nearly complete TMEs from 10.1% to 24.0%. Conclusion: The introduction of parametric monitoring into routine clinical practice improved the quality of pre-treatment and preoperative diagnosis, examination of the tissue specimen, and consequently improved quality of the surgical procedure was achieved., and J. Hoch, A. Ferko, M. Bláha, A. Ryška, I. Čapov, L. Dušek, J. Feit, M. Grega, M. Hermanová, E. Hovorková, R. Chmelová, Z. Kala, D. Klos, R. Kodet, D. Langer, D. Hadži-Nikolov, J. Örhalmi, J. Páral, M. Tichý, I. Tučková, M. Vjaclovský, P. Vlček
Paranaella, a new microcotyline monotypie genus, is erected to accommodate Paranaella luquei sp. n., parasite of gill filaments from Hypostomus sp., Hypostomus regani (Ihering) and Rhinelepis aspera Spix et Agassiz (Loricariidae) from the Paraná River, Brazil. The new genus is most closely related to Microcolyle Van Beneden et Hesse, 1863, Diploslamenides Unnithan, 1971 and Solostamenides Unnithan, 1971. From Microcolyle it differs mainly by having the genital atrium formed by a muscular ring with a concentric row of numerous elongate and straight spines; from Diplostamenides it can be distinguished by the unarmed and not differentiated cirrus and from Solostamenides it differs by the single vaginal pore and absence of larval hooks.
Paraoxonase 1 (PON1), an antioxidant enzyme closely associated with HDL (high-density lipoproteins), preserves LDL (low-density lipoproteins) against oxidation. Less protection may be therefore supposed by decreased PON1 activity. This study was undertaken to investigate the association of PON1 gene polymorphisms with diabetic angiopathy and to evaluate the relationship of these polymorphisms with PON1 activity. Total of 86 Type 1 (T1DM) and 246 Type 2 (T2DM) diabetic patients together with 110 healthy subjects were examined. DNA isolated from leukocytes was amplified with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction enzyme digestion. The products were analyzed for L55M and Q192R polymorphisms in coding region and for –107 C/T and –907 G/C in promotor sequence of PON1. Serum enzyme activity was measured spectrophotometrically. Significant differences were found between T1DM or T2DM and control persons in L55M polymorphism (allele M more frequent in T1DM and T2DM vs. controls, p<0.05) and Q192R polymorphism (R allele less frequent in T1DM and T2DM vs. controls, p<0.01) of the PON1 gene. Serum PON1 activity was significantly decreased in T1DM (110±68 nmol/ml/min) and T2DM patients (118±69 nmol/ml/min) compared to the control persons (203±58 nmol/ml/min), both p<0.01. The presence of MM and QQ genotypes was accompanied by lower PON1 activity than of LL and RR genotypes (p<0.05), respectively. Better diabetes control was found in patients with LL than with MM genotypes and similarly in RR genotype than QQ genotype with p<0.05. Significantly different allele frequencies were found in diabetic patients with macroangiopathy than in those without it (M: 0.59 vs. 0.44. R: 0.12 vs. 0.19, p<0.01). The association of PON1 polymorphisms, lower PON1 activity and poorer diabetes control found in patients with macroangiopathy further support the idea of genetic factors contributing to the development of vascular disorders in diabetes., M. Flekač, J. Škrha, K. Zídková, Z, Lacinová, J. Hilgertová., and Obsahuje bibliografii a biblografické odkazy
Southern Africa is considered one of the world's 'hotspots' for the diversity of cartilaginous fishes (Chondrichthyes), with currently 204 reported species. Although numerous literature records and treatises on chondrichthyan fishes are available, a paucity of information exists on the biodiversity of their parasites. Chondrichthyan fishes are parasitised by several groups of protozoan and metazoan organisms that live either permanently or temporarily on and within their hosts. Reports of parasites infecting elasmobranchs and holocephalans in South Africa are sparse and information on most parasitic groups is fragmentary or entirely lacking. Parasitic copepods constitute the best-studied group with currently 70 described species (excluding undescribed species or nomina nuda) from chondrichthyans. Given the large number of chondrichthyan species present in southern Africa, it is expected that only a mere fraction of the parasite diversity has been discovered to date and numerous species await discovery and description. This review summarises information on all groups of parasites of chondrichthyan hosts and demonstrates the current knowledge of chondrichthyan parasites in South Africa. Checklists are provided displaying the host-parasite and parasite-host data known to date., Bjoern C. Schaeffner, Nico J. Smit., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Specimens of the recently established European round goby (Neogobius melanostomus Pallas, 1811) and, tubenose goby (Proterorhinus marmoratus Pallas, 1811) were collected from different locations in the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair, USA and were examined for parasites. Parasites were observed in 76% of the round gobies and 35% of the tubenose gobies. Four species of parasites in the gobies occur in the Black Sea watershed. Two of them have been reported in North America for the first time: Sphaeromyxa sevastopoli Naidenova, 1970 and Ichthyocotylurus pileatus (Rudolphi, 1802). Three parasite species found in the gobies are endemic to North America and were most likely obtained locally.
The parasitic copepod fauna of 182 specimens of Mustelus schmitti Springer from the coast of Mar del Plata, Argentina was investigated. Three species of parasitic copepods were identified: Nessipus orientalis Heller, 1865 from the buccal cavity, Perissopus oblongus (Wilson, 1908) from the edge of pectoral, pelvic, dorsal, anal and caudal fins and in claspers, and Lernaeopoda galei К rayer, 1837 from the base of the pectoral fins. N. orientalis was most common being present the entire year, while P. oblongus and L. galei occurred seasonally with low prevalence and mean intensity. There were differences in the site of infection by these copepods and variations in the relationship between prevalence and mean intensity and host size and seasonality. These parameters were unrelated to host sex. Our data suggest that the structure of this parasite community is a result of a complex of biotic and abiotic factors, such as temperature, spawning and breeding preferences of the host, and overlapping in the distribution of different shark species. This is the first report of N. orientalis in Argentinean waters.