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
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
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
Considering the preexisting influence of the process of natural aging on antioxidant enzymes activity and the level of lipid peroxidation, the age of the rats at which D-galactose (D-gal) treatment is started could strongly impact the development of D-gal induced senescence. To eval uate this, we subjected 1, 3 and 15 months old rats to D-gal treatment in parallel with having appropriate placebos (0.9 % saline). Our results showed elevated glutathione peroxidase (GPx) acti vity and no significant changes in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) activity or malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in relation to natural aging. In mature and aged senescent livers we observed positive correlation between increased ratio R=SOD/(GPx+CAT) and increased MDA concentration. MDA levels seemed to correlate positively with the age of the animals at which D-gal treatment had started. In the case of 3 and 15 months old rats there was D-gal induced decrease in SOD and GR activity, but this effect of the treatment was not observed in 1 month old rats. Our results imply that the changes in the antioxidant enzyme activities are not only under the influence of the D-gal overload, but also depend on the developmental stage of the rats. According to our resu lts, with regard to enzymatic antioxidant capacity and the level of lipid peroxidation, the best age for induction of senescence is somewhere after the third month., N. Hadzi-Petrushev, V. Stojkovski, D. Mitrov, M. Mladenov., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The aim of this study was to look for changes in the daily profile of steroid hormones after standardized food intake. Eight young women not taking contraceptives were followed from 5:30 a.m. till 9:30 p.m. before and 1 and 2 h after eating breakfast, snack, lunch, the second snack and dinner. The differences in steroid levels before and after meals were evaluated. As expected, glucose, C-peptide and ghrelin levels changed postprandially. The steroid hormones cortisol, progesterone, pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone showed a decrease after main meals, whereas testosterone and dihydrotestosterone showed no significant dependence on food intake. Estrogen levels did not exhibit a significant nycthemeral rhythm, but estradiol decreased after main meals. In our study the known nycthemeral rhythm of LH, FSH, cortisol, progesterone and pregnenolone after food intake were confirmed, but significant changes after meals were also observed in the levels of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone, estradiol and SHBG., B. Rácz, M. Dušková, K. Vondra, M. Šrámková, M. Hill, L. Stárka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
A daily rhythm in the oscillations of pineal dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine content was found in male Wistar:Han rats. The acrophases of the oscillations were localized in the first half of the dark period and generally higher values were found in the dark part of the day., I. Ahlers, B. Pástorová, P. Solár, E. Ahlersová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
A theoretical model is presented, which attempts to account for the evaluation of complex stimuli in terms of their constituent elements that are relevant to the intent of the assessment. The subjective evaluation of a compound stimulus is postulated to be a function of the number, weight and integrity of critical components, or sub-qualities, and their interactions. The model has application to the evaluation of any stimulus complex including works of “art”. For illustrative purpose, it will here be applied to the analysis of pictorial works of art., J. P. Huston., and Obsahuje bibliografii
This work discusses the clinical performance of deconjugated metanephrine (MN), normetanephrine (NMN) and 3-methoxytyramine (3MT) determined in the basal first morning urine using a chromatographic method with electrochemical detection for the clinical diagnosis of pheochromocytoma (PHEO) and paraganglioma (PGL). Urine samples were collected from 44 patients (36 with PHEO, 8 with PGL) aged 54+/-17 (20-78) years (22 females, 22 males). A sampling of biological materials was performed preoperatively and about one week, six months and one year after adrenal gland surgery. The control group consisted of 34 PHEO/PGL patients more than 4 months after adrenal gland surgery. All subjects in the control group were without a diagnosis of PHEO or PGL. Clinical sensitivity was 55 % for MN, 64 % for NMN, 80 % for combination of both MN and NMN, and only 23 % for 3TM. Clinical specificity calculated from the control group was 93 % for MN, 95 % for NMN, 95 % for the combination MN and NMN, and 97 % for 3TM. Cut-off values for deconjugated metanephrines in the basal urine were 310 (MN), 690 (NMN) and 250 μg/l (3MT). Chromatographic determination of deconjugated urinary metanephrines, which is simple without the necessity of special laboratory material, can serve for the screening of PHEO or PGL patients. Urine NMN and 3MT exerts an association to malignity, and all markers are associated with tumor mass. However, the principal laboratory diagnosis of PHEO or PGL must be based on plasma-free metanephrines and plasma chromogranin A with better performance in the laboratory diagnosis of PHEO or PGL., R. Bílek, T. Zelinka, P. Vlček, J. Dušková, D. Michalský, K. novák, J. Bešťák, J. Widimský Jr., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Interleukin-21 (IL-21) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of our study was to assess serum levels of IL-21 in patients with recent-onset RA in relation to disease activity and response to treatment. We analyzed serum levels of IL-21 in 51 RA patients, both before and 12 weeks after the initiation of treatment and in 36 healthy individuals. Disease activity was assessed at baseline and at weeks 12 and 24 using the Disease Activity Score for 28 joints, serum levels of C-reactive protein, and the total swollen joint count. We found that IL-21 levels were not increased in patients with recent-onset RA compared with healthy controls, but they had significantly decreased from baseline to week 12 during treatment. Baseline levels of IL-21 significantly correlated with measures of disease activity (p<0.02 for all). Although IL-21 levels did not predict achievement of remission, decrease in IL-21 levels correlated with improvement in disease activity after 12 weeks (p<0.02) and also after 24 weeks (p<0.04) of treatment. Our data suggest that circulating IL-21 levels may serve as a biomarker of disease activity and better outcome in early phase of RA., O. Sglunda, H. F. Mann, H. Hulejová, O. Pecha, L. Pleštilová, O. Růžičková, M. Fojtíková, O. Šléglová, Š. Forejtová, K. Pavelka, J. Vencovský, L. Šenolt., and Obsahuje bibliografii