At frog neuromuscular junction, noradrenaline (NA) shortens the release period for evoked quantal release acting on a b 1 receptor. To test the hypothesis that this action of NA is mediated by cAMP, we measured the latencies of focally recorded uni-quantal endplate currents (EPCs) after application of dibutyryl-cAMP (db-cAMP) and adenylyl cyclase activator, forskolin. The interval between the time when responses with minimal delay appeared and the point at which 90 % of all latencies had occurred (P90 parameter) was shortened in the presence of both 1x10-6 mol/l db-cAMP and 1x10-6 mol/l forskolin by about 30 %. The cAMP-induced shortening is equal to that found after application of NA and effects of both drugs are not additive., E. Bukcharaeva, D. Samigullin, E. E. Nikolsky, F. Vyskočil., and Obsahuje bibliografii
According to previous studies, integrins play an important role in the mechanotransduction. The aim of this study was to examine the role of integrin subunits and its down-stream signaling molecules in the cyclic hydrodynamic pressure-induced proliferation of human bladder smooth muscle cells (HBSMCs) cultured in scaffolds. The HBSMCs cultured in scaffolds were subjected to four different levels of cyclic hydrodynamic pressure for 24 hours, which were controlled by a BOSE BioDynamic bioreactor. Flow cytometry was used to examine cell cycle distribution. Real-time RT-PCR and western blotting were used to examine the expression levels of integrin subunits and their downstream signaling molecules. Integrin α 5 siRNA was applied to validate the role of integrin α 5 in cell proliferation. Here, we showed that cyclic hydrodynamic pressure promoted proliferation of HBSMCs. The cyclic hydrodynamic pressure also increased expression of integrin α 5 and phosphorylation of FAK, the key mediator of integrin α 5 signaling, but not that of integrin α 1, α 3, α 4, α v, β 1 and β 3. Moreover, inhibition of integrin α 5 decreased the level of p-FAK and abolished proliferation of HBSMCs stimulated by cyclic hydrodynamic pressure. Taken together, we demonstrate for the fi rst time that the integrin α 5-FAK signaling pathway controls the proliferation of HBSMCs in response to cyclic hydrodynamic pressure., T.-Q. Wei ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Within the framework of our studies on hypertension in various rat strains, we have examined the effect of cyclosporin A (CsA) on intracellular calcium signaling under conditions of oxidative stress. For these preliminary experiments, we have chosen isolated hepatocytes of normotensive rats as a model system for the study of the role of intracellular calcium. We used tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP, 1 mmol.l-1) as an prooxidant agent. When compared to the controls, we found increased levels of cytosolic free calcium concentration (Ca2+i) during 120 min incubation. The preincubation of hepatocytes with CsA in the concentration of 0.5 m mol.l-1 did not change the physiological level of cytosolic calcium. However, a dual action of CsA on elevated Ca2+i was observed during oxidative injury of hepatocytes: while in the first period of incubation CsA increased Ca2+i, CsA reduced the effect of t-BHP on Ca2+i during the next period of incubation. This indicates the ability of CsA to modify oxidative stress, but further studies are necessary to explain these findings., E. Kmoníčková, L. Kameníková, S. Hynie, H. Farghali., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Cysta choledochu je vzácné onemocnění, výrazně vyšší výskyt zaznamenáváme u asijské populace. Etiologie není zcela známa, avšak uvažuje se o spojení s anomáliemi v anatomii žlučových cest. Přestože je svojí povahou benigní, jedná se o prekancerózu s nebezpečím zvratu v karcinom žlučových cest. Jediným kurativním řešením je radikální chirurgické odstranění s rekonstrukcí žlučových cest. Autoři prezentují kazuistiku nemocné s cystou ductus hepatocholedochus typu I dle Todaniho klasifikace., Choledochal cyst is a rare disease with a considerably higher incidence found in the Asian population. Although its etiology is not completely known, the disease is believed to be associated with anomalies in the anatomy of the biliary tract. While being a benign unit, it is considered as a precancerosis with the risk of conversion to the biliary tract carcinoma. Radical surgical removal with biliary tract reconstruction is the only curative solution. The authors present the case report of a patient with choledochal cyst type I according to Todani, and J. Zeithaml, V. Třeška, J. Moláček, F. Heidenreich
The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), leptin, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, in cycles with a premature rise of serum progesterone. 25 intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles with (Group 1) and 25 ICSI cycles without a premature progesterone elevation (Group 2) were included. The cut-off value of serum progesterone on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration was 0.9 ng/ml. The indication for ICSI was male factor infertility exclusively. On the day of hCG injection, serum IL-6, VEGF and bFGF were significantly higher in Group 1 (7.7±24.5 pg/ml, 290.2±161.4 pg/ml and 15.7±8.2 ng/ml respectively) than in Group 2 (1.7±0.7 pg/ml, 175.2±92.1 pg/ml, and 9±1.6 ng/ml respectively). On the day of follicular puncture, serum cytokine concentrations were similar in the two groups. IL-6 intrafollicular concentrations were higher in Group 1 (14.7±20.7 pg/ml) than in Group 2 (9±9.3 pg/ml, p=0.031). There were no differences regarding the ICSI outcome. Patients with serum progesterone above 0.9 ng/ml, have elevated serum concentrations of IL-6, VEGF, and bFGF, as well as elevated intrafollicular concentrations of IL-6. The outcome of ICSI cycles is not associated with premature elevation of progesterone when the cut-off value is set at 0.9 ng/ml., N. Nikolettos, B. Asimakopoulos, F. Köster, B. Schöpper, Ch. Schulz, G. S. Caglar, A. Efthimiadou, O. Pagonopoulou, K. Diedrich, S. Al-Hasani., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
This study was designed to measure nitrite/nitrate and cytokine levels of serum obtained from septic shock patients and to describe potential depressant effects of human septic serum on rat cardiomyocytes. Serum was prepared from 10 non-septic patients and 10 patients with documented septic shock. Adult rat ventricular myocytes were exposed to 20 % serum in the medium. Cardiomyocyte contractility was assessed by measuring shortening fraction and shortening velocity. Serum levels of nitrite/nitrate, a marker of nitric oxide final metabolites, and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL) 1β , 6, 10, 8 and 12p70) were measured. Compared with serum from non-septic patients, serum of septic shock patients induced rapid reduction of the extent and velocity of shortening in isolated cardiomyocytes. Nitrite/nitrate, TNF-α , IL-1β and IL-12p70 concentrations of tested serum for cardiomyocyte studies were not increased in septic serum compared with controls . In contrast, septic serum that induced a depression of in vitro contractility, had increased levels of IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10. We can conclude that the depression of in vitro contractility induced by septic serum is not directly dependent on elevated levels of nitric oxide metabolites, TNF-α or IL-1β. Our results support the view that other cytokines, including IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10, are potent circulating mediators of myocardial depression in cardiomyocytes., O. Joulin, P. Petillot, M. Labalette, S. Lancel, R. Neviere., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The production of three cytokines, interferon gamma (IFN-y), interleukin 10 (1L-10) and interleukin 12 (IL-12), was measured after intraperitoneal infection of immunocompetent Balb/c mice and immunodeficient SCID mice with the microsporidian, Encephalitozoon cuniculi Levaditi, Nicolau ct Schoen, 1923. High levels of IFN-y were detected in ex vivo cultures of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) of Balb/c mice, a lower, but earlier IFN-y response was observed in PEC from SCID mice. The early 1L-10 response was detected in ex vivo cultures of splenocytes from Balb/c but not from SCID mice, explaining a delay in the IFN-y response in Balb/c mice. IL-12 was detected in PEC cultures from SCID mice, indicating an alternative pathway of IFN-y production by NK. cells stimulated by IL-12 derived from macrophages.
A rise in baseline cytosolic free Ca2+ in canine vascular endothelial-like cells (VEC) lining the luminal surface of the polyester arterial prosthesis is described. In one, three and six month implantation experiments we employed six adult mongrel dogs, polyester arterial prostheses Arteknit Ra K, fluorescent Ca2+ indicator Fura-2 and digital imaging microscopy to study cytosolic free Ca2+ in cultured VEC. The electron microscopy scanning of the luminal surface in different regions of the graft were also performed. A rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ in the VEC lining the luminal surface of the prosthesis is probably the result of the immunologic reaction and mechanical stress which stimulate the proliferation activity of the endothelial cells. It seems that the baseline cytosolic free Ca2+ reflects the course of the endothelization process on the polyester arterial prosthesis., P. Ondruš, R. Alberty, P. Pothier, V. Echavé, J. Poisson, G. Bkaily., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The national report for the purpose of the 20th International Congress of Comparative Law Fukuoka 2018 deals with the optional choice of court agreements from the perspective of the Czech law. The report answers the questions if the Czech national legislation allows the parties to conclude the optional choice of court agreements in international cases, what is the character of these clauses and if they are expressly stated in the Czech Private International Law Act. The authors deal also with the asysmmetrical choice of court agreements, expecially their legal effect. in the end of the report, the authors evalueate the efficiency of the national regulation and propose for the necessary modifications., Naděžda Rozehnalová, Silvie Mahdalová, Lucie Zavadilová., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
D-Galactosamine/Lipopolysaccharide (D-GalN/LPS) is a well known model of hepatotoxicity that closely resembles acute liver failure (ALF) seen clinically. The role of sirtuin 1 in this model has not yet been documented. However, there have been a number of studies about the cytoprotective effects of resveratrol, a SIRT1 activator, in the liver. This study was aimed at elucidating the roles of SIRT1 protein expression or catalytic activity in DGalN/ LPS model of hepatotoxicity. ALF was induced in male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of D-GalN and LPS. Some groups of animals were pretreated with resveratrol and/or EX-527 (SIRT1 inhibitor). The effects of these treatments were evaluated by biochemical and Western blot studies. D-GalN/LPS treatment was able to induce hepatotoxicity and significantly increase all markers of liver damage and lipid peroxidation. A dramatic decrease of SIRT1 levels in response to D-GalN/LPS treatment was also documented. Resveratrol pretreatment attenuated D-GalN/LPS-induced hepatotoxicity. EX-527 blocked the cytoprotective effects of resveratrol. However, both resveratrol and EX-527 pretreatments did not exhibit any significant effect on SIRT1 protein expression. Collectively, these results suggest that downregulation of SIRT1 expression is involved in the cytotoxic effects of D-GalN/LPS model and SIRT1 activity contributes to the cytoprotective effects of resveratrol in the liver., M. K. Kemelo, L. Wojnarová, N. Kutinová Canová, H. Farghali., and Obsahuje bibliografii