The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of simulated acute hyperglycemia (HG) on PI3K/Akt signaling in preconditioned and non -preconditioned isolated rat hearts perfused with Krebs -Henseleit solution containing normal (11 mmol/l) or elevated (22 mmol/l) glucose subjected to ischemia -reperfusion. Ischemic preconditioning (IP) was induced by two 5 -min cycle s of coronary occlusion followed by 5 -min reperfusion. Protein levels of Akt, phosphorylated (activated) Akt (P-Akt), as well as contents of BAX protein were assayed (Western blotting) in cytosolic fraction of myocardial tissue samples taken prior to and a fter 30 -min global ischemia and 40- min reperfusion. In “normoglycemic ” conditions (NG), IP significantly increased P -Akt at the end of long -term ischemia, while reperfusion led to its decrease together with the decline of BAX levels as compared to non- pre conditioned hearts. On the contrary, under HG conditions, P -Akt tended to decline in IP - hearts after long -term ischemia, and it was significantly higher after reperfusion than in non -preconditioned controls . No significant influence of IP on BAX levels at the end of I/R was observed under HG conditions . It seems that high glucose may influence IP -induced activation of Akt and its downstream targets, as well as maintain persistent Akt activity that may be detrimental for the heart under above conditions., M. Zálešák, P. Blažíček, I. Gablovský, V. Ledvényiová, M. Barteková, A. Ziegelhöffer, T. Ravingerová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
We investigated and evaluated post-irradiation survival in cyclooxygenase-2-deficient (COX-2 KO) mice. Thirty-day survival following exposure of COX-2 KO mice to a lethal dose of 8.5 Gy of γ-rays was observed to be statistically significantly lower in both males and females, as well as when the sexes were merged, in comparisons with their wild-type counterparts. These findings were related to the previous observations concerning the detrimental influence of the COX-2 genetic disruption on hematopoiesis in sublethally irradiated mice. Deteriorated postirradiation survival of COX-2 KO mice confirmed the previously anticipated conclusion regarding negative influence of the antiinflammatory action of COX-2 deficiency under the conditions of exposure of the animals to ionizing radiation., M. Hofer, Z. Hoferová, A. Gruzdev, L. Dušek, M. Falk., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Resistance to vitamin D has been known for decades as vitamin D resistant rickets, caused by mutations of the gene encoding for vitamin D receptor (VDR). Findings of extra-skeletal effects of vitamin D and learning of the molecular mechanisms used by its biologically active metabolite calcitriol revealed other ways leading to its impaired sensitivity. Calcitriol takes advantage of both genomic and non-genomic mechanisms through its binding to vitamin D receptor, located not only in the cell nuclei but also in a perinuclear space. On the genomic level the complex of calcitriol bound to VDR binds to the DNA responsive elements of the controlled gene in concert with another nuclear receptor, retinoid X receptor, and expression of the VDR itself is controlled by its own ligand. These elements were found not only in the promotor region, but are scattered over the gene DNA. The gene expression includes a number of nuclear transcription factors which interact with the responsive elements and with each other and learning how they operate would further contribute to revealing causes of the impaired vitamin D sensitivity. Finally, the examples of major disorders are provided, associated with impairment of the vitamin D function and its receptor., L. Máčová, M. Bičíková, R. Hampl., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Fatty liver disease associated with obesity is an important medical problem and the mechanisms for lipid accumulation in hepatocytes are not fully elucidated yet. Recent findings indicate that mitochondria play an importan t role in this process. Our data on hepatocytes in which mitochondria are in contact with other cytosolic structures importan t for their function, extend observations obtained on isolated mitochondria and confirm inhibition of Complex I activity in hepatocytes isolated from rats fed by high fat diet (HFD) compared with controls fed by standard diet (STD). Furthermore we have found that HFD- hepatocytes are more sensitive to the peroxidative stress because under these conditions also Complex II activity is disturbed. Therefore in HFD animals decrease of Complex I activity cannot be compensated by Complex II substrates as in STD hepatocytes. Our data thus indicates that combination of HFD and peroxidative stress potentiates HFD damaging effect of mitochondria because both branches of the respiratory chain (NADH- and flavoprotein-dependent) are disturbed., T. Garnol ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The electrical properties of the supported lipid bilayer membrane (s-BLM) of egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) selfassembled on agar surface were examined. To characterize the insulating properties of s-BLMs, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used. The analysis of impedance spectra in terms of an equivalent circuit of agar/electrolyte and agar/s-BLM/electrolyte in the frequency range of 0.1 Hz-10 kHz was performed. The high-density lipoproteins (HDL)/s-BLM interaction in the concentration range from 20 μg/ml to 80 μg/ml of HDL was investigated. It is evident that treatment of s-BLM with HDL resulted in an increase of the lipid film resistance and a decrease of membrane capacitance., M. Legiň, G. Laputková, J. Sabo, L. Vojčíková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Vaginální kulička NaturGyn Scarlett obsahuje 8 rostlinných drog. Je určena pro léčbu chronických a rekurentních stavů vaginálního diskomfortu. Její popisovaná 90% účinnost je vysvětlitelná i rozborem účinků jednotlivých složek metodami klasické „západní“ farmakologie. Lze ji také zařadit do managementu chronických výtoků mezi eradikaci patogena a restituci poševního prostředí probiotiky., A NaturGyn Scarlett vaginal ball contains 8 herbal drugs. It is designed for the treatment of chronic and recurrent conditions of vaginal discomfort. Its described 90% efficacy can also be explained, based on the analysis of effects of its individual components, using the methods of conventional Western pharmacology. It can also be included in the management of chronic discharge, between eradication of pathogens and restoration of vaginal environment with probiotics., and Tomáš Fait
Rozpor mezi vědeckou evidencí a zdravotnickou praxí vede k nižší úrovni zdraví v populaci, a patří proto dnes k jedné z největších výzev v oblasti veřejného zdraví. Na tuto výzvu reaguje relativně nový a v České a Slovenské republice i dosud neznámý vědecký obor, který se nazývá implementační věda (implementation science). Cílem tohoto článku je představit základní východiska a poznatky implementační vědy českému a slovenskému publiku. Článek vychází z analýzy základních koncepčních článků publikovaných zejména v časopise Implementation Science. Obsah tvoří definice implementační vědy; popis implementačního procesu včetně identifikace jeho aktérů, kontextu a bariér; a popis modelů používaných v procesu implementace. Článek je doplněn o příklady z praxe relevantní pro českou a slovenskou neurologii a psychiatrii. Implementační věda přináší systematické poznatky a metody, které umožňují snižovat mezeru mezi vědeckou evidencí a praxí ve zdravotnictví., The conflict between scientific evidence and health care practice is associated with decrease in population health and currently represents one of the most urgent public health challenges. This challenge is being addressed by a relatively new scientific branch of Implementation Science, not yet known in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The aim of this paper is to introduce the foundations of the Implementation Science to the Czech and Slovak audiences. The paper is based on a review of fundamental articles published mostly in the Implementation Science journal. The paper provides definitions of the Implementation Science, namely description of an implementation process including its actors, context and barriers as well as models applicable to implementation practice. The paper is complemented with practical examples related to the Czech and Slovak practice in neurology and psychiatry. The Implementation Science produces knowledge and methods to reduce the gap between scientific evidence and health care practice. Key words: implementation science – knowledge gap – population health – neurology – psychiatry The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study. The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE “uniform requirements” for biomedical papers., and P. Winkler, A. Weissová, E. Ehler
Four space geodesy techniques, namely VLBI, GPS, SLR and Doris, produce Earth orientation parameters (EOP) and station coordinates independently of each other. A method to combine them in a non-rigorous way (as described elsewhere) was modified by implementing Vondrak’s smoothing. It replaces a simple constraint to tie EOP at adjacent epochs by a more general expression defining smoothness of the resulting curves. This gives the method better stability of derived EOP. The new method was tested on GPS, VLBI and SLR data covering a one-year interval. The results were compared with the results of the original method and with the IERS c04 solution. The former indicates the effect of modification while the latter shows differences of this particular solution from the official IERS series, Vojtěch Štefka and Ivan Pešek., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
Animals, including human beings, tend to respond more strongly to stimuli that are associated with the highest relative rewards. This applies not only to food rewards but also to reproductive success. In the present review article this issue is discussed for insects in connection with intersexual communication and flower-visiting behaviour. Implications of the preference for supernormal visual releasing stimuli are examined from a sensory and evolutionary perspective, including a consideration of the choice of potential mates and recognition of the most rewarding flowers., Karl Kral., and Obsahuje bibliografii