Atrial fibrosis is considered as the basis in the development of long-standing atrial fibrillation (AF). However, in advanced heart failure (HF), the independent role of fibrosis for AF development is less clear since HF itself leads to atrial scarring. Our study aimed to differentiate patients with AF from patients without AF in a population consisting of patients with advanced HF. Myocardial samples from the right atrial and the left ventricular wall were obtained during he art transplantation from the explanted hearts of 21 male patients with advanced HF. Long- standing AF was present in 10 of them and the remaining 11 patients served as sinus rhythm controls. Echocardiographic and hemodynamic measurements were recorded prior to heart transplantation. Collagen volume fraction (CVF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF- β ), and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression in myocardial specimens were assessed histologically and immunohistochemically. The groups were well matched according to age (51. 9±8.8 vs. 51.3±9.3 y) and co- morbidities. The AF group had high er blood pressure in the right atrium (13.6±7.7 vs. 6.0±5.0 mmHg; p=0.02), larger left atrium diameter (56.1±7.7 vs. 50±5.1 mm; p=0.043), higher left atrium wall stress (18.1±2.1 vs. 16.1±1.7 kdynes/m 2 ; p=0.04), and longer duration of HF (5.0±2.9 vs. 2.0±1.6 y, p=0.008). There were no significant differences in CVF (p=0.12), in CTGF (p=0.60), and in TGF- β expression (p=0.66) in the atrial myocardium between the two study groups. In conclusions, in advanced HF, atrial fibrosis expressed by CVF is invariably present regardless of occurrence of AF. In addition to atrial wall fibrosis, increased wall stress might contribute to AF development in long-standing AF., B. Aldhoon, ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Previously, we found that treatment of cutaneous wounds with Atropa belladonna L. (AB) revealed shortened process of acute inflammation as well as increased tensile strength and collagen deposition in healing skin wounds (Gál et al. 2009). To better understand AB effect on skin wound healing male SpragueDawley rats were submitted to one round full thickness skin wound on the back. In two experimental groups two different concentrations of AB extract were daily applied whereas the control group remained untreated. For histological evaluation samples were removed on day 21 after surgery and stained for wide spectrum cytokeratin, collagen III, fibronectin, galectin-1, and vimentin. In addition, in the in vitro study different concentration of AB extract were used to evaluate differences in HaCaT keratinocytes proliferation and differentiation by detection of Ki67 and keratin-19 expressions. Furthermore, to assess ECM formation of human dermal fibroblasts on the in vitro level fibronectin and galectin-1 were visualized. Our study showed that AB induces fibronectin and galectin-1 rich ECM formation in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the proliferation of keratinocytes was also increased. In conclusion, AB is an effective modulator of skin wound healing. Nevertheless, further research is needed to find optimal therapeutic concentration and exact underlying mechanism of action., P. Gál ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The reports of analgesic effects of benzodiazepines are inconsistent. There is evidence of a hyperalgesic effect induced by activation of supraspinal GABAA receptors and an antinociceptive effect induced by activation of receptors located in the spinal cord (dorsal horns). The aim of the study was to discover whether the systemic administration of a benzodiazepine agent alprazolam increases the systemic analgesic efficacy of non-opioid analgesic ibuprofen. Experimental studies combining these agents have not yet been published. We used three experimental methods - writhing test (with acetic acid), tail-flick test and plantar test to assess analgesic action. The drugs were administered orally. Augmentation of the analgesic effect of ibuprofen by alprazolam was proved for the writhing test at a dose of 30 mg/kg of ibuprofen and alprazolam 1 mg/kg. The reaction time of the combination was significantly prolonged in comparison with ibuprofen alone. The results of the tail-flick test and plantar test were negative. The effect of ibuprofen was not enhanced by alprazolam in tests of acute thermal pain. Our results have demonstrated that the analgesic action of ibuprofen is only weakly enhanced by alprazolam., T. Doležal, M. Kršiak., and Obsahuje bibliografii
We present data supporting the hypothesis that the lysosomalautophagy pathway is involved in the degradation of intracellular triacylglycerols in the liver. In primary hepatocytes cultivated in the absence of exogenous fatty acids (FFA), both inhibition of autophagy flux (asparagine) or lysosomal activity (chloroquine) decreased secretion of VLDL (very low density lipoproteins) and formation of FFA oxidative products while the stimulation of autophagy by rapamycine increased some of these parameters. Effect of rapamycine was completely abolished by inactivation of lysosomes. Similarly, when autophagic activity was influenced by cultivating the hepatocytes in “starving” (amino-acid poor medium) or “fed” (serum-supplemented medium) conditions, VLDL secretion and FFA oxidation mirrored the changes in autophagy being higher in starvation and lower in fed state. Autophagy inhibition as well as lysosomal inactivation depressed FFA and DAG (diacylglycerol) formation in liver slices in vitro. In vivo, intensity of lysosomal lipid degradation depends on the formation of autophagolysosomes, i.e. structures bringing the substrate for degradation and lysosomal enzymes into contact. We demonstrated that lysosomal lipase (LAL) activity in liver autophagolysosomal fraction was up-regulated in fasting and down-regulated in fed state together with the increased translocation of LAL and LAMP2 proteins from lysosomal pool to this fraction. Changes in autophagy intensity (LC3-II/LC3-I ratio) followed a similar pattern., V. Škop ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
1a_It has been known for many years that baroreflex sensitivity is lowered in hypertensive patients. There are several known factors implicating this association, e.g. high blood pressure leads to remodeling of the carotid arterial wall, to its stiffness and to a diminished activation of baroreceptors; leptin released from a fatty tissue activates the sympathetic nervous system etc. On the other hand, low baroreflex sensitivity (BRS, usually quantified in ms/mmHg) can be inborn. Studies on primary hypertension in children and adolescents have brought new information about the role of baroreflex in the development of an early stage of primary hypertension. BRS lower than 3.9 ms/mmHg was found in 5 % of healthy subjects. This value approaches the critical value for the risk of sudden cardiac death in patients after myocardial infarction and corresponds to the value present in hypertensive patients. A decreased BRS and BRSf (baroreflex sensitivity expressed in mHz/mmHg, index independent of the mean cardiac interval), was found not only in children with hypertension, but also in those with white-coat hypertension. This is in accordance with a single interpretation. The decrease of BRS/BRSf precedes a pathological blood pressure increase., 2a_The contribution of obesity and BRS/BRSf to the development of hypertension in adolescents was also compared. Both factors reach a sensitivity and a specificity between 60 % and 65 %, but there is no correlation between the values of the body mass index and BRS either in the group of hypertensive patients or in healthy controls. If a receiver operating curve (sensitivity versus specificity) is plotted for both values together using logistic regression analysis, a sensitivity higher than 70 % and a specificity over 80 % are reached. This means that low baroreflex sensitivity is an independent risk factor for the development of primary hypertension. Studies demonstrate that adolescents with increased blood pressure and with BRS under 7 ms/mmHg should be given care and intensively motivated to change their lifestyle including a change in diet and increase in physical activity., and N. Honzíková, B. Fišer.
Prenatal exposure to methamphetamine (METH) increases nociceptive sensitivity in adult rats. As the strong analgesics have high abuse potential and drugs of abuse are known to have analgesic properties, the aim was to study analgesic effect of different psychostimulants in control and prenatally METHexposed rats. Latencies of withdrawal reflexes of hind limbs and the tail on thermal nociceptive stimuli were repeatedly measured in 15-min intervals after the application of 5 mg/kg s.c. of amphetamine (AMPH), methamphetamine (METH), cocaine (COC), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or morphine (MOR). In all groups, AMPH induced on hind limbs stronger analgesia than METH and MDMA whereas COC and MOR were practically without any effect. On the tail, effect of AMPH did not differ from that of MOR. All psychostimulants increased defecation in comparison with MOR and in all groups the number of defecation boluses positively correlated with analgesia of the hind limbs. We did not confirm that prenatal exposure to METH makes adult rats more sensitive either to same drug or to other psychostimulants. The different analgesic potencies of psychostimulants and MOR at different body sites indicate the possible existence of a somatotopic organization of pain inhibition, which is controlled by different mechanisms., A. Yamamotová, R. Šlamberová., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
We investigated the gastric response to an ulcerogenic irritant and the change in gastric functions in an experimental rat model of obstructive jaundice, with or without biliary drainage. After biliary obstruction for 14 days, rats with ligated bile duct (BDL) were randomly divided into three groups: BDL group without biliary drainage, BDL followed by choledochoduodenostomy (CD) or a choledochovesical fistula (CVF). The gastric functions were evaluated 2 weeks after the surgery. Gastric damage, induced by orogastric administration of ethanol, was evaluated 30 min later using a lesion index and microscopic scoring was then performed on fixed stomachs. Basal gastric acid secretion was measured by the pyloric ligation method.The lesion index and maximum lesion depth did not differ in the BDL and sham groups, while they were significantly reduced in the CD group. Gastric acid output and secretory volume were reduced in the BDL group compared to the sham group, while these reductions were abolished in the CD group. Afferent denervation with capsaicin further reduced the ulcer index in the later group. Our data suggest that gastric mucosal susceptibility to injury is dependent on the normal flow of bile into the duodenal lumen, which appears to be a requirement for adaptive gastric cytoprotection., A. Cingi, R. Ahiskali, B. K. Oktar, M. A. Gülpinar, C. Yegen, B.Ç. Yegen., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Selenium is a trace element that is essential for living organism. Its beneficial effect is, however, expressed in a very narrow dosage range: the high and low doses of selenium are connected with pathological manifestations. The toxicity depends on the chemical form of selenium, state of organism, interactions with heavy metals and on the stage of ontogenetic development. Whereas one dose of sodium selenite (20 μmol/kg b.w.) is lethal in adult rats, suckling rats are entirely resistant. However, within one week after administration of the same dose, cataract of eye lens developed. The highest incidence of cataract was observed in 10-day-old animals and it decreased until day 20. From postnatal day 20 to day 40 the rats were resistant to both the lethal and cataractogenic effects of selenium. The incidence of cataract may be suppressed by premature weaning, lower hydration of suckling, change of water soluble/water insoluble lens protein ratio, thyroxine treatment, and by interaction with mercury. By means of its oxidative and reduction properties, selenium is involved in the maintenance of the cell redox homeostasis. Typical example is its possible cardioprotective effect: selenium decreased number of arrhythmias, reduced infarct size and improved the contractile recovery after ischemia/reperfusion injury. Selenium supplementation may thus increase cardiac tolerance to ischemic damage., I. Ošťádalová., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Hospitalized patients in internal medicine have an increased risk of low physical reserve which further declines during the hospital stay. The diagnosis requires bed-side testing of functional domains or more complex investigations of the muscle mass. Clinically useful biomarkers of functional status are needed, thus we aimed to explore the potential of microRNAs. Among hospitalized patients, we recorded the basic demographics, anthropometrics, nutritional status, and physical function domains: hand-grip strength (HGS, abnormal values M<30 kg, W<20 kg), balance (<30 s), chair-stands speed (CHSS<0.5/s) and gait speed (GS<0.8 m/s). A panel of five micro-RNAs (miRNA 1, miRNA 133a, miRNA 133b, miRNA 29a, miRNA 29b) and basic blood biochemistry and vitamin D values were recorded. We enrolled 80 patients (M40, W40), with a mean age of 68.8± 8.4 years. Obesity was observed in 27.5 % and 30 %, low HGS and low CHSS in 65.0, 77.5 %, and 80, 90 % of men and women respectively. The median hospital stay was 6.5 days. MiRNA29a and miRNA29b have the strongest correlation with the triceps skinfold (miRNA 29b, r=0.377, p=0.0006) and CHSS (miRNA 29a, r=0.262, p=0.02). MiRNA 29a, miRNA 29b and 133a levels were significantly higher in patients with CHSS<0.5/s. Other anthropometric parameters, mobility domains, or vitamin D did not correlate. All miRNAs except of miRNA 1, could predict low CHSS (miRNA29b, AUROC=0.736 CI 0.56-0.91, p=0.01), particularly in patients with low HGS (miRNA 29b, AUROC=0.928 CI 0.83-0.98). Among hospitalized patients in internal medicine, low functional status was frequent. MicroRNAs were fair biomarkers of the antigravity domain, but not other domains. Larger studies with clinical endpoints are needed., Petra Vrbová, Simona Valášková, Andrea Gažová, Juraj Smaha, Martin Kužma, Ján Kyselovič, Juraj Payer, Tomáš Koller., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The aim of the study was to compare the bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition between ambulatory male MS patients and control subjects and to evaluate the relationships among body composition, motor disability, glucocorticoids (GC) use, and bone health. Body composition and BMD were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 104 ambulatory men with MS (mean age: 45.2 years) chronically treated with low-dose GC and in 54 healthy age-matched men. Compared to age-matched controls, MS patients had a significantly lower total body bone mineral content (TBBMC) and BMD at all measured sites except for the radius. Sixty five male MS patients (62.5 %) met the criteria for osteopenia and twenty six of them (25 %) for osteoporosis. The multivariate analysis showed a consistent dependence of bone measures (except whole body BMD) on BMI. The total leg lean mass % was as an independent predictor of TBBMC. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), cumulative GC dose and age were independent determinants for BMD of the proximal femur. We conclude that decreasing mobility in male MS patients is associated with an increasing degree of osteoporosis and muscle wasting in the lower extremities. The chronic low-dose GC treatment further contributes to bone loss., V. Zikán ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury