Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) in newborns is characterized mainly by respiratory failure due to surfactant dysfunction and inflammation. Previous meta-analyses did not prove any effect of exogenous surfactant treatment nor glucocorticoid administration on final outcome of children with MAS despite oxygenation improvement. As we supposed there is the need to intervene in both these fields simultaneously, we evaluated therapeutic effect of combination of exogenous surfactant and selective inhibitor of NF-κB (IKK-NBD peptide). Young New Zealand rabbits were instilled by meconium suspension and treated by surfactant alone or surfactant in combination with IKK-NBD, and oxygen-ventilated for 5 h. PaO2/FiO2, oxygenation index, oxygen saturation and ventilation efficiency index were evaluated every hour; post mortem, total and differential leukocyte counts were investigated in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and inflammatory, oxidative and apoptotic markers were assessed in lung tissue homogenates. Exogenous surfactant combined with IKK-NBD improved oxygenation, reduced neutrophil count in BALF and levels of IL-1β, IL-6, p38 MAPK and caspase 3 in comparison with surfactant-only therapy. It seems that inhibition of inflammation may be strong supporting factor in surfactant treatment of MAS., J. Kopincova, P. Mikolka, M. Kolomaznik, P. Kosutova, A. Calkovska, D. Mokra., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Selektivní modulátory estrogenních receptorů, jakým je např. klomifen citrát, se užívají pro off-label léčbu (tj. mimo schválenou indikaci) hypoandrogenizmu a idiopatické mužské infertility po více než 30 let. V rámci systematické analýzy hodnotíme otázky týkající se dávkování, hormonální a symptomatické účinnosti podávání selektivních modulátorů estrogenních receptorů při léčbě mužů trpících hypoandrogenizmem a nežádoucí účinky spojené s touto léčbou. Výsledky naší analýzy ukazují, že léčba je pacienty dobře snášena a ve srovnání s tradiční exogenní substitucí testosteronu je rovněž účinná. Optimální dávkování klomifen citrátu je však třeba teprve stanovit. Dále uvádíme přehled našich postupů pro užívání klomifen citrátu a monitorování jeho bezpečnosti., Selective estrogen receptor modulators, such as clomiphene citrate, have been used as an off-label treatment of hypoandrogenism and idiopathic male infertility for over 30 years. We performed a systematic analysis of selective estrogen receptor modulators use in men with hypoandrogenism to examine issues related to dosage, hormonal and symptomatic efficacy, and adverse events. Our analysis indicates that treatment is well-tolerated and efficacious when compared to traditional exogenous testosterone supplementation. However the ideal dosage of clomiphene citrate has yet to be elucidated. We also provide a review of our institutional practices on the use and safety monitoring of clomiphene citrate., and Kathrins M., Wadhwa H., Niederberger C.
Trematode sporocysts and rediae reproduce by parthenogenesis, forming clonal groups in the molluscan host. It has recently become popular to consider these groups as eusocial colonies, with division of labour between rediae morphs: small 'soldiers' incapable of reproduction defend the colony, while large rediae reproduce. Alternatively, clonal groups can be considered as self-sustaining infrapopulations. We tested these two hypotheses in the light of new data on rediae of Himasthla elongata (Mehlis, 1831) from snails Littorina littorea (Linnaeus) concerning ultrastructure, growth character and composition of their groups. Clonal groups under study contained rediae of different age and maturity stages: small (young) rediae, rediae with early cercarial embryos, rediae with late embryonic cercariae, rediae with fully formed motile cercariae, rediae with redial embryos and degenerating rediae. Small rediae had a reproductive organ, the germinal mass, whereas most large rediae with developing cercariae did not, which contradicts the eusocialconcept. Overall distribution of rediae by size and by gut to body length ratio was bimodal, which agrees with the eusocial concept ('soldiers' and 'reproductives' as modal size classes). On closer inspection, however, the bimodal size-frequency distributions (SFD) turned out to be the sum of unimodal SFD of rediae at various stages of maturity. The overall bimodality was determined by the character of redial growth resulting in a relatively low occurrence of intermediate morphs and by the developmental arrest in young rediae. The facts that small rediae can attack other rediae and concentrate in the anterior parts of the mollusc can be explained by age-related feeding preferences and niche segregation. They are unlikely to be associated with the 'colony' defence against invaders. To sum up, clonal groups of H. elongata rediae in our study represented self-sustaining infrapopulations., Kirill V. Galaktionov, Irina M. Podvyaznaya, Kirill E. Nikolaev, Ivan A. Levakin., and Obsahuje bibliografii
V posledních letech prudce roste nejen počet pacientů s diabetem, ale i počet pacientů léčených pro jeho pozdní komplikace. Jeden ze zásadních faktorů, které se podílejí na jejich vzniku, je hyperglykemie. V prevenci komplikací významně pomáhá zlepšení kompenzace diabetu. Nezastupitelnou součástí léčby diabetu je selfmonitoring (samostatné měření) glykemií a úprava terapie podle naměřených hodnot. Práce shrnuje nejnovější názory na uplatnění selfmonitoringu ve zlepšení kompenzace u pacientů s diabetem 1. i 2. typu a podává přehled současných možností využití technologií v diabetologii., Over the last few years, not only the number of patients with diabetes, but also the number of patients treated for late complications, has been rapidly increasing. One of the major factors contributing to their development is hyperglycaemia. An important part in preventing the complications is improved diabetes control. Self‑monitoring plays an irreplaceable role in diabetes treatment. It involves measuring glucose levels and altering therapy according to the measured values. This paper summarizes the latest opinions on use of self‑monitoring to improve diabetes control in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and provides an overview of the current opportunities for applying technology in diabetology., and Kožnarová R.
Emotions and passions, especially the negative ones, played a major role in Seneca’s writing: the anger became the object of his philosophical treatise De ira and prevailed also in his tragedies. Seneca was probably the most important model for jesuit playwrigts which implies the question how these authors worked with his conception of anger and rage as destructive emotions, in which measure they took it over or changed it. Jesuit playwrights are represented here by Karel Kolčava whose plays are the only ones published as collected works during his life. In addition, there are (also published) Kolčava’s didactic letters, which gives us the opportunity to compare his theoretical view of anger with the Seneca’s one in the first part of the article. The realization of these conceptions is then observed on a few examples taken from the respective plays of both authors. Finally a special attention is paid to female characters in rage who are so important in Seneca’s tragedies and who can be found in Kolčava’s plays although women were not welcome on the jesuit stage even as characters., Eva Pauerová., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
a1_Young intact (18 days of age) and adult ovariectomized (OV-X, ovariectomized between 21 to 24 days of age) C3H/Di mice were used to measure the estrogenicity on the basis of the growth response of mammary epithelial structures and weight of the uterus. The percentage area of the mammary fat pad occupied by mammary epithelial structures was progressively increased by 17ß estradiol from dose 0.001 µg.d-1. The maximum effective dose of estradiol was 0.01 µg.d-1 and the dose 10 µg.d-1 of estradiol decreased mammary size to control levels (inverted-U-shaped dose-response curve). Progesterone alone progressively stimulated mammary growth in young intact females from dose 125 µg.d-1, in adult OV-X animals from dose 1000 µg.d-1. Both in young intact and adult OV-X animals, uterine weight progressively increased during estradiol treatment. Progesterone alone had no effect on uterine weight in young intact animals; in adult OV-X animals, uterine weight was increased starting from dose 250 µg.d-1. Progesterone acted synergistically with estradiol to produce higher mammary growth than that in females treated with estradiol alone. The effects of a combination of estradiol plus progesterone in the mammary gland were mimicked by norethindrone acetate and inhibited by cortisol in both young intact and adult OV-X animals. Testosterone inhibited estradiol plus progesterone stimulated growth of mammary gland only in OV-X animals, but stimulated uterine weights in both young intact and adult OV-X animals. Spleen weight and size of mammary lymph nodes were not affected by estradiol, progesterone, norethindrone acetate or testosterone, but were decreased by cortisol. Cortisol also decreased the percent area of the mammary fat pad occupied by mammary epithelial structures, but had no effect on weight of the uterus. These results show that bioassay of estrogenicity in females is not specific., a2_Mammary and uterine growth is stimulated not only by estrogens but also by progesterone and testosterone, respectively. ., J. Škarda., and Obsahuje bibliografii
a1_Young intact (18 days old) and adult castrated males of CBA and C3H/Di mice were used for measuring the estrogenicity on the basis of growth response of mammary epithelial structures and the weight of seminal vesicles. It was demonstrated that heavier young males had disproportionally heavier seminal vesicles (sex steroid-responsive organs) than small animals at day 33 of age (that is on the day when experimental animals were killed and organs dissected). However, the weight of the spleen (sex steroid-nonresponsive organ) was proportionally related to body weight. To minimize variability in hormone responsiveness, all animals were weighed at the age of 18 days and only males weighing 8±1 g were used for hormone treatment. The percentage area of mammary fat pad occupied by mammary epithelial structures was progressively increased by 17ß estradiol from dose 0.01 µg.d-1. The maximum effective dose of estradiol was 0.1 µg.d-1 and dose 10 µg.d-1 of estradiol decreased mammary size to control level (inverted-U-shaped dose-response curve). Progesterone alone stimulated mammary growth only in high doses (500 µg.d-1 and higher) in young intact males, but had no effect on mammary growth in adult castrated animals. In young intact males, estradiol alone, or progesterone alone decreased the weight of seminal vesicles. No such inhibitory effect of these hormones was noted in adult castrated males. Progesterone acted synergistically with estradiol to produce higher mammary growth compared to that in males treated with estradiol alone. In the presence of progesterone seminal vesicles weight was decreased by estradiol given in such low doses as 0.001 µg.d-1 of estradiol, which is 10 times lower than that effective in animals treated with estradiol alone. On the other hand, in the adult castrated males a combination of estradiol plus progesterone stimulated seminal vesicles weight., a2_The effects of a combination of estradiol plus progesterone in the mammary gland were mimicked by norethindrone acetate (a synthetic steroid exhibiting progestantial and estrogenic activities) and inhibited by both testosterone and cortisol. Estradiol, progesterone, norethindrone acetate, or testosterone did not affect spleen weight and size of mammary lymph nodes. However, cortisol significantly decreased not only spleen weights but also size of mammary lymph nodes. These results show that simultaneous evaluation of mammary gland growth, seminal vesicles, and the spleen weight in the same animal is suitable for bioassay of estrogenicity as well as for detection of androgenic and antiandrogenic activities., J. Škarda., and Obsahuje bibliografii
We consider separately radial (with corresponding group ${\mathbb{T}}^n$) and radial (with corresponding group
${\rm U}(n))$ symbols on the projective space ${\mathbb{P}^n({\mathbb{C}})}$, as well as the associated Toeplitz operators on the weighted Bergman spaces. It is known that the $C^*$-algebras generated by each family of such Toeplitz operators are commutative (see R. Quiroga-Barranco and A. Sanchez-Nungaray (2011)). We present a new representation theoretic proof of such commutativity. Our method is easier and more enlightening as it shows that the commutativity of the $C^*$-algebras is a consequence of the existence of multiplicity-free representations. Furthermore, our method shows how to extend the current formulas for the spectra of the corresponding Toeplitz operators to any closed group lying between ${\mathbb{T}}^n$ and ${\rm U}(n)$., Raul Quiroga-Barranco, Armando Sanchez-Nungaray., and Obsahuje bibliografii
An infection with Septata intestinalis was diagnosed in a 35-year-old AIDS patient without diarrhoea. The diagnosis was based on morphological examinations of a duodenal biopsy specimen. Serum antibodies were detected reacting with spores of Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Spores of S. intestinalis and E. cuniculi stained with Brown Hopps Gram stain showed a red colour (Gram negative) and not a blue/black colour which was described for microsporidian spores in tissue.