The system of IGF-I and its binding proteins may be involved in the pathogenesis of vascular damage in Type 1 diabetes. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between this system and the microvascular reactivity in Type 1 diabetes as measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry. Twenty-two Type 1 diabetic patients (13 women and 9 men) with microangiopathy and fifteen healthy subjects (8 women and 7 men) were examined clinically, underwent laser-Doppler flowmetry and intima-media thickness measurements. Fasting serum levels of IGF-I, free IGF-I, IGFBPs and lipids were examined. The microvascular reactivity was impaired in Type 1 diabetic patients. Maximal perfusion during post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORHmax) and during thermal hyperemia (THmax) was significantly decreased in Type 1 diabetes (p<0.01). Percentage perfusion increase in both tests (PORH and TH) was lower in Type 1 diabetes mellitus (p<0.01) and the reaction after heating was slower in diabetic patients (THmax/t) (p<0.01). We did not find any significant dependence of microvascular reactivity on the parameters of IGF-I or its binding proteins. We conclude that the microvascular reactivity is impaired in Type 1 diabetes mellitus, but this impairment is not clearly dependent on the activity of the IGF-I system. It is probably only a complementary pathogenic factor., M. Kršek, M. Prázný, J. Škrha, V. Justová, Z. Lacinová, T. Haas., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Studie Veroniky M. Mráčkové se zabývá problematikou přejímání středověkých hymnických melodií, ilustrovanou na konkrétním zvoleném příkladu., The hymn, one of the most frequently encountered songs in Western European sources, poses many questions with regard to the conflict between common and local traits. The Office hymns on which I focus were transmitted mainly in fourteenth- and fifteenth-century sources, which contain huge collections of hymns for different liturgical occasions, including those in honour of local saints. We still do not have a reasonable explanation of how or why the same tunes were adapted for different texts (or vice versa). The ‘Franciscan’ hymn melody Stäblein 752 (originally devoted to St Francis), for example, which occurs with different hymn texts in Austria, Germany, Bohemia, Poland and Spain, has many melodic variants reflecting regional characteristics. Why was this particular melody transferred to and adopted in other parts of Europe, where there was certainly no shortage of alternative hymn melodies? Is it a question of the adoption of favourite melodies in the Middle Ages? Were the same tunes used for hymns in honour of both male and female saints? What are the implications for us when the same ‘local’ tune can be identified in polyphonic hymn settings?, Veronika M. Mráčková., Rubrika: Studie, and České resumé na s. 32, anglický abstrakt na s. 19.
In order to obtain basic information on the transport properties of differentiating embryonic nephrons, we examined the 7-day-old chick mesonephros by measuring the transtubular epithelial potential difference (TPD) and by histochemical detection of Na,K-ATPase activity. TPD as an indicator of the electrogenic transport was measured in individual segments of superficial nephrons in vivo. Their electric polarity was always lumen-negative. TPD was reduced by addition of 10 mM KCN applied to the mesonephric nephrons from the outside. In the proximal tubules, TPD was significantly lower (mean±SD: -1.0±0.5 mV) than in the distal and collecting tubules (-2.2±1.0 mV, pŁ0.05). Activity of the sodium pump was evaluated histochemically by detection of ouabain-sensitive potassium-dependent p-nitrophenyl phosphatase in cryostat sections of the mesonephros. The enzyme activity was demonstrated only in distal tubules and in the collecting ducts, but not in the proximal tubules. These findings have revealed significant differences between embryonic nephron segments: the distal tubule, in contrast to the proximal one, is supplied by the sodium pump and is able to generate higher TPD. Therefore, we consider that it is only the distal nephron, which possesses the ability of active transport., Z. Zemanová, E. Ujec., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Studie shrnuje současné poznatky o teorii transformačního vedení. Zabývá se tématy, která jsou důležitá pro další výzkum transformačního vedení a pro využití teorie transformačního vedení v psychologické praxi v České republice a na Slovensku. Zařazuje transformační teorii do kontextu dalších teorií vůdcovství, představuje pozitivní důsledky transformačního vedení na úrovni organizací, týmů i jednotlivců, věnuje se také kritice teorie a jejím slabým stránkám. Všímá si metody měření transformačního vedení a její validity a možností rozvoje vedoucích v organizacích. Závěr je věnován aktuálním trendům ve výzkumu transformačního vedení., The overview study sums up the contemporary knowledge concerning the transformational leadership theory. It deals with topics important for further study of transformational leadership and for utilization the theory of transformation leadership in psychological praxis in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It puts the transformational theory into the context of further leadership theories, presents the positive impacts of transformational leadership on levels of organizations, teams, and individuals, deals also with the critics of the theory and its weak aspects. It also takes notice of the method of transformational leadership measurement and its validity, and possibilities of development of leaders in organizations. The conclusion is devoted to current trends in the study of transformational leadership., Jakub Procházka, Martin Vaculík., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Studie Michela Dineura se zabývá vzájemnými kontakty, uskutečňovanými prostřednictvím korespondečního kontaktu mezi belgickou hudební skladatelkou Jacqueline Fontyn a českým hudebním skladatelem a muzikologem Jarmilem Burghauserem a jejich osudy od šedesátých do devadesátých let 20. století., Michel Dineur., Rubrika: Studie, and České resumé na s. 390, anglický abstrakt na s. 351.
Mild hyperhomocysteinemia has been established as a new independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and thrombosis. The metabolic syndrome of insulin resistance is associated with a high risk of coronary heart disease. Our objective was to determine if any relationship exists between the metabolic syndrome of insulin resistance in non-diabetic subjects and total serum homocysteine levels. Sixty-six healthy volunteers (33 males and 33 females) were selected from the population of Pilsen. Insulin resistance was measured by the Insulin Suppression Test using Octreotide. Steady-state plasma glucose concentrations at the end of the test period provided a quantitative measure of insulin resistance. Serum homocysteine level was estimated by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Serum folate and vitamin B12 were estimated using commercial kits on an Abbott IMx analyzer. All other laboratory tests were performed by standard methods in a routine biochemical laboratory. Subjects with the highest tertile of steady-state plasma glucose showed a significantly higher body mass index, blood pressure, fasting plasma triglyceride levels, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and lower HDL-cholesterol, i.e. an insulin resistance pattern. These subjects had significantly lower serum homocysteine levels compared with non-insulin resistant subjects. The negative association of insulin resistance and serum homocysteine was unexpected. The contribution of plasma folate levels to serum homocysteine levels and serum creatinine was significantly negative and positive, respectively., H. Rosolová, J. Šimon, O. Mayer Jr., J. Racek, T. Dierzé, D. W. Jacobsen., and Obsahuje bibliografii
It is important to determine and clarify the variability of mammary carcinogenesis induction in animal experimental studies particularly in connection with chemoprevention projects. The circannual seasonal rhythms of hormone levels or various parameters within the immune system may involve factors participating in mammary gland carcinogenesis. In our study, 19 experiments were conducted and all of them lasted for about 25 weeks after chemical carcinogen administration (DMBA or NMU) under standard laboratory conditions. Females of two rat strains - a medium susceptible Sprague-Dawley strain and a very low susceptible Wistar:Han were used. We observed not only the effect of seasonal changes but also the effect of age after single or repeated carcinogen administration. The seasonal dependence of mammary carcinogenesis with higher tumor incidence during long days in comparison with winter short days has been demonstrated in Sprague-Dawley rats. In experiments on the Wistar:Han strain, certain features of seasonal character were recorded, although the very low susceptibility of this strain to mammary carcinogenesis might have influenced the results. A limited period of carcinogen administration in early puberty around postnatal days 43-46 (higher susceptibility), when compared to the period after postnatal day 50, is the factor significantly increasing incidence and frequency of mammary carcinogenesis in the Sprague-Dawley strain. Our results indicate the need to consider the effect of season and age of animals at the time of carcinogen administration on rat mammary carcinogenesis induction. However, the application of the results obtained in one strain of experimental animals may only lead to misleading conclusions., P. Kubatka, E. Ahlersová, I. Ahlers, B. Bojková, K. Kalická, E. Adámeková, M. Marková, M. Chamilová, M. Čermáková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Visual cognitive responses (P300) to moving stimuli were tested in 36 subjects with the aim to find the normal range of P300 parameters. Concomitantly, the circadian intra-individual variability of the P300 was studied in a subgroup of 6 subjects. Visual stimuli consisted of either coherent (frequent stimulus) or non-coherent motion (random stimulus). The oddball paradigm was applied for recording cognitive responses. P300 to rare stimuli had an average latency of 447.3±46.6 ms and amplitude of 12.9±6.0 mV. The average reaction time was in the range from 322 to 611 ms and there was no correlation between the reaction time and P300 latency. We did not find any significant circadian changes of the P300 parameters in the 6 subjects tested four times during the same day. Cognitive (event-related) responses (P300) displayed distinctly greater inter-individual variability (S.D. of 50 ms) when compared with pattern-reversal and motion-onset VEPs (S.D. of 6.0 ms and 14 ms, respectively). For this reason, the clinical use of P300 elicited by this kind of visual stimuli seems to be rather restricted and the evaluation of its intra-individual changes is preferable., Z. Kubová, J. Kremláček, J. Szanyi, J. Chlubnová, M. Kuba., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The relationship between vitamin D receptor (VDR) intragenic polymorphisms FokI, BsmI, ApaI and TaqI and bone mineral density (BMD) or biochemical markers of bone remodeling were investigated in 114 Czech postmenopausal women, on the average 62.5±8.9 years of age. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms in the VDR gene were assessed by PCR amplification and digestion with restriction enzymes FokI, BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI recognizing polymorphic sites in the VDR locus. Bone mineral density was measured at the lumbar spine and at the hip by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA, g/cm2). After adjusting for age and the body mass index (BMI), subjects with the ff genotype had 9.4 % lower BMD at the hip than those with the Ff genotype (p=0.0459, Tukey´s test). FF individuals had an intermediate BMD at the hip. A similar pattern of lower lumbar spine BMD was also found in ff individuals, but it did not reach statistical significance. There was no relationship between BsmI, ApaI and TaqI VDR polymorphisms and BMD at any skeletal site. Subjects with Aa (ApaI) genotypes had higher levels of propeptide of type I collagen (PICP) than homozygous AA (p=0.0459, Tukey´s test). In FokI, BsmI and TaqI restriction sites the biochemical markers of bone remodeling did not differ by genotype. In addition, no significant difference was observed in VDR genotypic distribution between osteoporotic women and non-osteoporotic controls in the study group. To conclude, the FokI genotype of the vitamin D receptor gene is related to bone mass at the hip in Czech postmenopausal women, whereas the importance of remaining VDR genotypes was not evident., K. Zajíčková, I. Žofková, R. Bahbouh, A. Křepelová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Studie shrnuje, porovnává a kriticky zhodnocuje koncepty, modely a teorie zabývající se vtahováním dětí do rodičovských konfliktů. Zabývá se modely, které vzešly z praxe systemických terapeutů, jako např. triangulace, perverzní koalice nebo aliance. Dále se věnuje konceptům, které vznikly v rámci studia rozvodových konfliktů jako je syndrom zavrženého rodiče a odcizený rodič. Cílem této studie je představit komplexní, jasný a ucelený popis, který by charakterizoval principy vtahování dětí do konfliktů jak v úplných, tak rozvedených rodinách., The review summarizes, compares, and critically evaluates theoretical constructs, which deal with the inclusion of children into the interparental conflict. The authors review constructs based on the work of systemic therapist, such as triangulation, alliance, perverse coalition, and alliance, and psychosomatization. Either, they review theories based on studies of divorced families, such as parental alienation syndrome, and parental alienation. The goal of this study is to introduce enough complex, clear, and comprehensive description, which embrace the principles of inclusion of children into interparental conflicts, both in non-divorced and divorced families., Olga Trampotová, Lenka Lacinová., and Obsahuje seznam literatury