In the process of population screening for apo E gene polymorphism with the PCR and subsequent restriction analysis, we identified a female who demonstrated heterozygosity for an unusual restriction fragment caused by the loss of a CfoI restriction site. Sequence analysis of the apo E gene was performed and a carrier of the mutant allele with C - T substitution at cDNA position 3817 was identified, which caused an Arg136 - Cys change. The first-line relatives have been screened for this rare mutation with PCR and restriction analysis of PCR products. The complete lipoprotein parameters have been determined in the probands family. In the family, only one child had the same mutant allele as his mother had. The proband (7.49 mmol/l) with her siblings had hypercholesterolemia and a high body mass index (BMI 31.6 kg/m2). By contrast, her son had a normal lipid spectrum with normal BMI. We described the mutation apo E2* (Arg136 - Cys) in a family with elevated lipid levels, but there was no confirmation of the connection between this mutation and type III hyperlipoproteinemia or hyperlipoproteinemia at all. In the case of this mutation, other factors (mainly genetic) are important for the development of lipid metabolism disorders., J. A. Hubáček, J. Piťha, P. Stávek, G. Schmitz, R. Poledne., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The purpose of this study was to determine the role of lipotoxicity in vascular smooth muscle (VSM). C1-BODIPY 500/510 C12 used to assess the ability of VSM A7r5 cells to transport long-chain fatty acids showed that lipid transport did not appear to limit metabolism. Thin layer chromatography revealed that storage of transported fatty acid occurred primarily as mono- and diglycerides and fatty acids but not as triglycerides. We used lipid-induced apoptosis as a measure of lipotoxicity and found that 1.5 mM palmitate (6.8:1) bound to albumin resulted in a 15-fold increase in the number of apoptotic cells compared to the control at 24 hours. This apoptosis did not seem to be due to an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) since VSM cells incubated in palmitate showed less ROS production than cells incubated in albumin only. Similar exposure to oleate did not significantly increase the number of apoptotic cells compared to the control. Oleate actually significantly attenuated the apoptosis induced by palmitate, suggesting that unsaturated fatty acids have a protective effect on cells undergoing palmitate-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that vascular smooth muscle is vulnerable to lipotoxicity and that this lipotoxicity may play a role in the development of atherosclerosis., H. M. Mattern, C. D. Hardin., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The effects of transient and sustained hyperthyroidism on vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like immunoreactivity (VIP-LI) levels were studied in the heart atria of developing and adult rats. Newborn rats were divided into 5 groups. Neo-T animals were treated with thyroxine (T4) during postnatal days 1-8 and sacrificed at the age of 60 days. Neo-S rats were treated with T4 during postnatal days 1-60 and sacrificed one day later. Adult-1 and Adult-2 animals received T4 during days 52-60 and were sacrificed 5-6 days and 1 day later, respectively. Control animals were injected with saline. VIP-LI concentrations were determined in extracts from the left and right atria separately. In Neo-S and Adult-2 rats, spontaneous heart rate, the weight of both atria and total T4 serum levels were significantly enhanced, while their body weight was decreased. The ratio atria weight to body weight was significantly increased in all groups except for Adult-1 animals. Hyperthyroidism led to a significant decrease in VIP-LI levels in both atria of Neo-S and Neo-T rats. Hyperthyroidism induced in adult rats also decreased VIP-LI levels in both atria. However, this change was only transient. In conclusion, our data have provided new evidence that hyperthyroidism induced during the early neonatal period interferes with the development of VIP-ergic innervation in rat atria. The period of the first few postnatal days seems to be essential for this effect, since VIP-LI concentrations in 60-day-old animals did not significantly differ between Neo-S and Neo-T atria., J. Kuncová, J. Slavíková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Již pošesté se sešla odborná porota složená z fotografů a zároveň vědců, aby zhodnotila příspěvky zaslané do soutěže Věda je krásná. Do ročníku 2014 bylo zasláno celkem 529 příspěvků. Z celkového počtu 7 kategorií patřilo pět výhradně zaměstnancům a studentům Univerzity Karlovy. Objevitelskou kategorii a nově ustavenou kategorii Instagram, otevřenou široké veřejnosti, hodnotila porota složená z pracovníků Přírodovědecké fakulty UK v Praze. Diváci pak rozhodli o vítězi ve vlastním hlasování. V uplynulém ročníku zaujaly nejvíce mikrofotografie a snímky využívající složité postupy. Věda je krásná ale není jen soutěží mikrofotografií, velký prostor zůstává vymezen klasickým fotografiím a ilustracím, v r. 2014 poprvé také snímkům pořízeným ve výše zmíněné mobilní aplikaci., A specialist panel made up of photographers and scientists assessed 529 contributions sent in to the Science is Beautiful competition 2014. Five out of seven categories belonged exclusively to employees and students of Charles University in Prague. Over the last year microphotographs and shots making use of complex techniques have been the most popular. However, Science is Beautiful is not just a microphotography competition, but much room also remains for classic photography and illustrations, while even photos taken by mobile applications were included in 2014., and Michal Andrle, Alena Ječmíková, Martin Černý.
Již posedmé se sešla odborná porota složená z fotografů a zároveň vědců, aby zhodnotila příspěvky zaslané do soutěže Věda je krásná. Do ročníku 2015 bylo zasláno celkem 269 příspěvků. Z celkového počtu 7 kategorií patřilo pět výhradně zaměstnancům a studentům Univerzity Karlovy. Objevitelskou kategorii a kategorii Instagram, otevřenou široké veřejnosti, hodnotila porota složená z pracovníků Přírodovědecké fakulty UK v Praze. Diváci pak rozhodli o vítězi ve vlastním hlasování. Věda je krásná ale není jen soutěží mikrofotografií, velký prostor zůstává vymezen klasickým fotografiím a ilustracím, od r. 2014 také snímkům pořízeným ve výše zmíněné mobilní aplikaci., This competition run by the Faculty of Science at Charles University in Prague and its supportive web www.prirodovedci.cz aims to show the beauty and aesthetics revealed by scientific research, either via photography, illustrations or computerized visualizations of natural phenomena., and Michal Andrle.
Tinnitus je symptom, který se vyskytuje stále častěji kvůli všudypřítomnému hluku a zvyšujícímu se životnímu tempu. Poslední výzkumy poukazují na to, že v adaptaci na tinnitus a v jeho zpracování hrají ústřední roli psychologické a psychofyziologické mechanismy. Cílem této práce bylo popsat subjektivní prožívání tinnitu a způsoby jeho zvládání. Teoretická část se zabývá faktory a procesy ovlivňujícími patogenezi tinnitu jako je např. stres a habituace, autoplastickým obrazem onemocnění, psychosociálními důsledky tinnitu, zvládacími strategiemi a léčebnými metodami. Pro výzkum byl zvolen kvalitativní přístup. Jedná se o případovou studii skupiny. Celkem 25 pacientů se subjektivním tinnitem se zúčastnilo polostrukturovaného rozhovoru. Výsledky výzkumu popisují pasivní, efektivní a maladaptivní copingové strategie, podporují nálezy o významu vlivu stresu jak na příčinu, tak důsledky tinnitu a význam psychických problémů spojených s tinnitem. Výsledky také naznačují rozdíly v prožívání a zvládání tinnitu mezi muži a ženami. Tyto poznatky poukazují na vážnost psychických problémů spojených s tinnitem a potřebu komplexní léčby pro tyto pacienty., Tinnitus is a symptom, which occurs increasingly nowadays, mostly because of omnipresent noise and accelerating pace of live. The latest studies have shown that tinnitus adaptation and treatment depend especially on psychological and psychophysiological mechanisms. The aim of this study was to describe a subjective experience and ways of coping with tinnitus. Its theoretical part is focused on factors and processes influencing the pathogenesis of tinnitus, such as stress and habituation, illness representations, psychosocial consequences of tinnitus, coping strategies and tinnitus treatment. For the research of this study was chosen qualitative approach, a case study of a group. 25 patients with subjective tinnitus participated in semi-structured interview. The results describe passive, effective and maladaptive coping strategies. They confirm an impact of stress on cause and consequences of tinnitus, and the importance of psychological problems in tinnitus patients. The results also describe differences in illness representations and coping with tinnitus between men and women. These findings highlight the severity of psychological problems associated with tinnitus and the need for comprehensive treatment., Karolina Veldová, Roman Procházka., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The aim of this study is to define the possible effects of vegetable oils used as vitamin E vehicle on the electrical activity of the rat heart. To test the possible effects of vitamin E vehicles we studied the effect of i.p. injected corn oil, hazelnut oil or peanut oil on the action potential parameters recorded in both papillary and left atrial muscle strips. Four experimental groups were used. The control group was injected (i.p.) with distilled water, while the three remaining groups received injections of corn oil, hazelnut oil, or peanut oil for five weeks (in a dose of 0.4 ml/kg/day - minimum amount of oil in which vitamin E could be dissolved). We used borosilicated (15-20 MΩ) capillary electrodes and intracellular action potentials (AP) were recorded in isolated papillary and left atrium muscle strips. While administration of three different types of vegetable oil had no significant effect on AP parameters of papillary muscle, they significantly prolonged the repolarization phase of AP in atrial strips. These results show that vegetable oils used as vitamin E vehicles may alter the electrical activity of the heart in a tissue-dependent manner. The present data indicate that the possible effect of vegetable oil vehicles should be kept in mind while evaluating the possible effects of in vivo vitamin E administration., S. Ozdemir, M. Ayaz, T. Tuncer, M. Ugur, B. Turan., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Parazitické stádium velkých mlžů (řád Unionida) vytváří velmi těsné spojení mezi těmito druhy a jejich rybími hostiteli. Tento článek představuje variabilitu mezidruhových interakcí na příkladech středoevropských druhů., The parasitic stage of freshwater mussels (order Unionida) constitutes a tight host-affiliate linkage between mussels and their host fish. This article presents the variability of interactions using the Central European species as a model group., and Karel Douda.
To investigate the vestibular and somatosensory interaction in human postural control, a galvanic vestibular stimulation of cosine bell shape resulting in a small forward or backward body lean was paired with three vibrations of both soleus muscles. The induced body lean was registered by the position of the center of foot pressure (CoP). During a quiet stance with eyes closed the vibration of both soleus muscles with frequency (of) 40 Hz, 60 Hz and 80 Hz resulted in the body lean backward with velocities related to the vibration frequencies. The vestibular galvanic stimulation with the head turned to the right caused forward or backward modification of CoP backward response to the soleus muscles vibration and peaked at 1.5-2 s following the onset of the vibration. The effect of the paired stimulation was larger than the summation of the vestibular stimulation during the quiet stance and a leg muscle vibration alone. The enhancement of the galvanic stimulation was related to the velocity of body lean induced by the leg muscle vibration. The galvanic vestibular stimulation during a faster body movement had larger effects than during a slow body lean or the quiet stance. The results suggest that velocity of a body postural movement or incoming proprioceptive signal from postural muscles potentiate the effects of simultaneous vestibular stimulations on posture., O. Dzurková, F. Hlavačka., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy