A large number of songs have been preserved in the Strahov Codex (ca. 1465/67-1470), an important collection of polyphony from the latter half of the fifteenth century. These songs were once generally regarded as cantiones in Latin or as instrumental compositions, but a detailed study of this repertoire shows that the manuscript is an important source of secular compositions, and especially of chansons. Most of these songs have been preserved only in this manuscript. Questions remain as to when they were composed and how they found their way into a manuscript that originated in one of the Catholic regions of Bohemia., Lenka Hlávková-Mračková., and České resumé na s. 270.
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition has been reported to induce regression of hypertrophy in several models of hemodynamic pressure overload. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the ACE inhibitor captopril can reduce hypertrophy of the left ventricle induced by a chronic volume overload and modify collagen composition of the hypertrophied myocardium. Rabbits with four months lasting aortic insufficiency were divided into two groups: treated with captopril (20 mg/kg/day) for five weeks and treated with placebo. The respective control groups were represented by sham-operated animals. Aortic insufficiency induced a decrease of diastolic pressure, an increase of systolic and pulse pressure, hypertrophy of the left and right ventricle, and an increase of hydroxyproline content in the left ventricle without a change of hydroxyproline concentrations in either ventricle. Captopril treatment further enhanced pulse pressure by decreasing diastolic blood pressure. Hypertrophy of the left ventricle, hydroxyproline content and concentration in both ventricles were unaffected by captopril treatment. It is concluded that ACE inhibition did not reverse the left ventricular hypertrophy developed as a result of overload induced by aortic insufficiency. We suggest that mechanisms different from activation of the renin-angiotensin system may play a decisive role in the maintenance of hypertrophy in this particular model of volume hemodynamic overload., F. Šimko, V. Pelouch, J. Kyselovic., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydrazone (PIH) is a new tridentate Fe-chelating agent that should be very promising in many pathological states resulting from both an iron-overload and formation of free radicals. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of PIH on the cardiovascular system focusing to the regulatory protein - cardiac troponin T (cTnT). The study was carried out in two groups of Chinchilla male rabbits: 1) PIH (50 mg/kg dissolved in 10 % Cremophor i.p., once a week, 10 administrations, n=8) and 2) Cremophor (2 ml/kg i.p. in the same schedule, n=7). Plasma concentrations of cTnT (as a marker of myocardial damage) were measured using a commercial kit (Roche). cTnT was within the physiological range (i.e. < 0.1 mg/l) during the whole experiment in the Cremophor group. In the PIH group, the cTnT levels were not significantly increased when compared with the control group or with the initial values (except with those before the 5th administration). Furthermore, we analyzed the cytosolic and myofibrillar fraction of cTnT in the left ventricular myocardium. Using SDS-PAGE and Western blot we resolved three isoforms. The profiling of TnT did not differ significantly between the PIH-treated group and the Cremophor-treated group. Our data concerning cTnT support the opinion that the possible cardiotoxicity of PIH is very low., M. Adamcová, J. Macháčková, V. Geršl, V. Pelouch, T. Šimůnek, I. Klimtová, R. Hrdina, P. Poňka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
a1_The question was addressed of how nitric oxide synthase (NO synthase) inhibition-induced hypertension in rat parents would affect the cardiovascular system in their offsprings. Two experimental groups were set up: Group I - offsprings of parents who had both been administered NO synthase inhibitor L-nitro-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME 40 mg/kg/day) for 5 weeks, the treatment of dams continued till week 12. Group II - offsprings fed by dams administered L-NAME after delivery only for a period of 4 weeks. Control age-matched offsprings formed the third group. Blood pressure and heart rate in parents and in 3-week-old offsprings were determined noninvasively. In the offsprings, body and heart weight were measured and the heart/body weight ratio (HW/BW) was calculated. The NO synthase activity, and also ornithine decarboxylase activity as a marker of polyamine production, were determined in the heart. The acetylcholine-induced relaxation of aortic rings was also followed. A marked blood pressure increase with a tendency to a decreased heart rate was found in the offsprings of Group I. A significant decrease in heart weight and body weight with a decreased HW/BW ratio indicated cardiac hypotrophy that contrasted with the decrease in NO synthase activity and increase in ornithine decarboxylase activity in the heart. Noteworthy was also the finding of completely preserved relaxation of the aorta to acetylcholine. Offsprings of Group II were similarly characterized by significantly higher blood pressure, a tendency to decreased heart rate, a decrease in heart weight, but not of the HW/BW ratio. The contrasting findings of heart weight decrease on the one hand and NO synthase activity decrease and ornithine decarboxylase increase on the other, were also found in this group. Full relaxation of the aorta to acetylcholine was preserved., a2_It can be concluded that remarkable alterations in the cardiovascular system were found in offsprings of hypertensive NO compromised parents., M. Gerová, I. Bernátová, J. Török, M. Juráni., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Publikace vychází z údajů získaných v rámci Celopopulační studie užívání návykových látek a postojů k němu v ČR v r. 2008. Studie proběhla pod záštitou Národního monitorovacího střediska pro drogy a závislosti (součást Úřadu vlády České republiky) a ve spolupráci s tehdejším Centrem adiktologie 1. lékařské fakulty Univerzity Karlovy v Praze (nyní Klinika adiktologie 1. LF UK) a Lékařským informačn, [autoři Vendula Běláčková ... et al.], and Obsahuje bibliografii
This study is dedicated to the role of Czech musicians in the shaping of the modern musical culture of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The discontinuity of development there is a consequence of the countrys complicated political history after centuries under Ottoman rule, its annexation by Austria-Hungary (1878) was a major turning point for all spheres of society. Bosnian-Herzegovinian musical culture was also shaped by the influence of West-European music and of musicians from Europe, among whom the Czechs were the most numerous. On the basis of extensive archival research and work with literature, the author provides a comprehensive overview of their amateur and professional activities, paying attention in particular to musicians in military orchestras, and she also investigates their work in the areas of pedagogy, composition, and folkloristics., Fatima Hadžić., Obsahuje seznam literatury, and Anglické resumé na s. 143.
Changes in extracellular space (ECS) diffusion parameters, DC potentials and extracellular potassium concentration were studied during single and repeated cortical spreading depressions (SD) in 13-15 (P13-15), 21 (P21) and 90-day-old (adult) Wistar rats. The real-time iontophoretic method using tetramethylammonium (TMA+)-selective microelectrodes was employed to measure three ECS parameters in the somatosensory cortex: the ECS volume fraction α (α = ECS volume/total tissue volume), ECS tortuosity λ (increase in diffusion path length) and the nonspecific TMA+ uptake k’. SD was elicited by needle prick. SD was significantly longer at P13-15 than at P21 and in adults. During SD, α in all age groups decreased from 0.21-0.23 to 0.05-0.09; λ increased from 1.55-1.65 to 1.95-2.07. Ten minutes after SD, α (in adults) and λ (all age groups) increased compared to controls. This increase persisted even 1 hour after SD. When SD was repeated at 1 hour intervals, both α and λ showed a gradual cumulative increase with SD repetition. Our study also shows that cortical SD is, as early as P13, accompanied by severe ECS shrinkage and increased diffusion path length (tortuosity) with values similar to adults, followed by a long-lasting increase in ECS volume and tortuosity when compared to pre-SD values., T. Mazel, F. Richter, L. Vargová, E. Syková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The role of the cortico-tectal pathways in the processing of auditory signals was investigated by recording the click-evoked responses and extracellular multiple unit activity in the inferior colliculus (IC) after functional ablation of the auditory cortex (AC) by local intracortical application of a sodium channel blocker, tetrodotoxin (TTX). Click-evoked IC responses (IC-ER) and multiple unit activity in response to tone bursts were recorded with implanted electrodes in the IC of rats lightly anaesthetized with xylazine. Neural activity was recorded before and after the application of TTX into the ipsilateral auditory cortex (AC) through three implanted cannulas in a total dose of 30 ng. The functional status of the AC was monitored by recording click-evoked middle latency responses from a ball electrode implanted on the AC. During inactivation of the AC, IC-ER amplitudes were either increased (48 % of the cases), decreased (32 % of the cases) or not evidently changed (20 % of the cases). Corresponding effects were observed in the firing rate of IC neurons. Functional ablation of the AC also resulted in a significant prolongation of the latencies of individual waves of the IC-ER. However, the discharge pattern of the multiple unit responses, response thresholds and tuning were not altered during AC inactivation. IC neural activity recovered within several hours, and maximally during 2 days. The results reveal principles of the interaction of cortico-tectal pathways with IC neuronal activity., F. C. Nwabueze-Ogbo, J. Popelář, J. Syka., and Obsahuje bibliografii