Calcium cycling is a major determinant of cardiac function. S100A1 is the most abundant member of the calcium-binding S100 protein family in myocardial tissue. S100A1 interacts with a variety of calcium regulatory proteins such as SERCA2a, ryanodine receptors, L-type calcium channels and Na+/Ca2+ exchangers, thus enhancing calcium cycling. Aside from this major function, S100A1 has an important role in energy balance, myofilament sliding, myofilament calcium sensibility, titin-actin interaction, apoptosis and cardiac remodeling. Apart from its properties regarding cardiomyocytes, S100A1 is also important in vessel relaxation and angiogenesis. S100A1 potentiates cardiac function thus increasing the cardiomyocytes’ functional reserve; this is an important feature in heart failure. In fact, S100A1 seems to normalize cardiac function after myocardial infarction. Also, S100A1 is essential in the acute response to adrenergic stimulation. Gene therapy experiments show promising results, although further studies are still needed to reach clinical practice. In this review, we aim to describe the molecular basis and regulatory function of S100A1, exploring its interactions with a myriad of target proteins. We also explore its functional effects on systolic and diastolic function as well as its acute actions. Finally, we discuss S100A1 gene therapy and its progression so far., S. Duarte-Costa, R. Castro-Ferreira, J. S. Neves, A. F. Leite-Moreira., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The saccadic eye movement related potentials (SEMRPs) enable to study brain mechanisms of the sensorimotor integration. SEMRPs provide insight into various cognitive mechanisms related to planning, programming, generation and execution of the saccadic eye movements. SEMRPs can be used to investigate pathophysiological mechanisms of several disorders of the central nervous system. Here we shortly summarize basic findings concerning the significance of SEMRP components, their relationship to the functional brain asymmetry and visual attention level as well as changes related to certain neuropsychological disorders., F. Jagla, M. Jergelová, I. Riečanský., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
It is accepted that the formulation of the motor program in the
brain is not only the perceptual and motor function but also the
cognitive one. Therefore it is not surprising that the execution of saccadic eye movements can by substantially affected be the on-going mental activity of a given person. Not only the distribution of attention, but also the focusing the attention may influence the main gain of saccades, their accuracy. Patients suffering from mental disorders have strongly engaged their attention focused at their mental processes. The nature of their problems may be linked to perceptual and/or analytical processing. Such so-called mental set may significantly affect their oculomotor activity in the course of their saccadic eye movement examinations. This short comment points out not only to the influence of the contextually guided and generated saccadic eye movements upon their
accuracy but also to the distribution and focusing the attention. The effect of the functional brain asymmetry upon the visually generated saccades and the possible effect of biologically active substances upon the voluntary generated saccades are briefly mentioned. All these influences should be taken into account when planning the saccadic eye movement task. It may be concluded that the repetition of the same oculomotor task in a given person has to be introduced. This may help to follow the effect of complex therapy namely.