We have determined the genotypes of two common polymorphisms in the lipoprotein lipase (S447X) and hepatic lipase (-480C/T) genes in a cohort of 285 representative selected Czech probands (131 male and 154 female), examined in 1988 and reinvestigated in 1996. The genotype distributions of both polymorphisms were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and did not differ between male and female subjects. The rare allele frequency of the lipoprotein lipase polymorphism did not differ significantly from the other European populations. Compared to the German populations, the frequency of the hepatic lipase -480T allele was significantly higher in the Czech group (20 % vs. 36 %, p<0.0001). There were no significant associations between the lipoprotein lipase gene variants and lipid parameters measured either in 1988, or in 1996 or with changes of lipid parameters over the 8-year period. The carriers of the T-480 allele of the hepatic lipase polymorphism were found to have higher HDL cholesterol levels (p=0.02). However, this difference was confined to female subjects only. The male carriers of the -480T allele had higher concentrations of total cholesterol (p=0.03) as compared to CC-480 subjects. Both associations were observed in 1996 only. In the Slavic Czech population, a common polymorphism in the hepatic lipase gene (-480C/T), but not in the lipoprotein lipase gene (S447X), is a significant determinant of plasma HDL cholesterol in females and plasma total cholesterol in males and indicates the importance of gender-associated effects in the genetic determinations of plasma lipids., J.A. Hubáček, D.M. Waterworth, J. Piťha, S.E. Humphries, P.J. Talmud, R. Poledne., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Focusing on Czech birth care, this article examines the birth experience of 40 women who gave birth in different maternity hospitals during the past seven years. It investigates how these women approached birth care and what ideas they had about it. The article builds on semi ‑structured and narrative interviews with postpartum women, which were conducted within two different research projects. The interviewees differed in many aspects and especially in their general approach to childbirth issues and their interest in the subject. Several key issues emerged out of the thematic analysis of interviews: fear of childbirth, birth care evaluations, priorities and demands, and strategies of their enforcement. These issues are part of a wider concept of birth care, and five different conceptions of birth care were identified in the women’s birth narratives. They reflect different attitudes to the medicalization of birth care, different levels of knowledge and interest in childbirth issues, and different perceptions of their own position in the context of care provision., Ema Hrešanová., Poznámky na str. 74 (3), Biografická poznámka o autorce článku na str. 74, Obsahuje bibliografii, and Resumé o klíčová slova anglicky na str. 63
The effect of oral supplementation with glycosaminoglycans (GAG) and radical scavengers (vitamin E/selenium) on the regeneration of osteochondral defects was investigated in rabbits. After introduction of defined osteochondral defects in the knee joint, groups of ten animals were given a GAG/vitamin E/selenium mixture or a placebo (milk sugar) for 6 weeks. Following sacrifice, histological and histochemical analysis was performed. The amount of synovial fluid was increased in the placebo group, while the viscosity of the synovial fluid was significantly enhanced in the GAG group. The amount of sulfated GAG in the osteochondral regenerates (8.8±3.6 % vs. 6.0±5.6 %; p<0.03) was significantly higher in the GAG group. In both groups, the GAG amount in the cartilage of the operated knee was significantly higher than in the non-involved knee (p<0.05). Histological analysis of the regenerates in the GAG group was superior in comparison with the placebo group. For the first time, a biological effect following oral supplementation with GAG was demonstrated in healing of osteochondral defects in vivo. These findings support the known positive clinical results., M. Handl, E. Amler, K. Bräun, J. Holzheu, T. Trč, A. B. Imhoff, A. Lytvynets, E. Filová, H. Kolářová, A. Kotyk, V. Martínek., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Silymarin and silybin are widely used for their hepatoprotective properties. Our previous studies confirm positive effect of silymarin on lipoprotein profile and lipid homeostasis. Advanced drug forms may improve the bioavailability of these compounds. In this study, we investigate the effects of silybin in different drug forms (standardized silybin, micronized silybin, and silybin in form of phytosomes) on dyslipidemia and glucose metabolism in hereditary hypertriglyceridemic (HHTg) rats. Male HHTg rats were divided into four groups of seven animals and were fed by experimental diets. Silybin significantly decreased serum level of triglycerides in groups of rats fed by standardized silybin and silybin in form of phytosomes compared to control group. Results show that silybin did not affect the total cholesterol level, but significantly increased the levels of HDL cholesterol in all groups of animals. Silybin in a standardized form had the highest hypotriglyceridemic effect. On the other hand, the micronized form has caused the highest increase of protective HDL and most significantly decreased glucose and insulin levels. Our results suggest that silybin is probably responsible for some positive properties of silymarin. Subsequent dose-dependent studies of silybin action may reveal the intensity of its positive effects on lipid and glucose parameters., M. Poruba, Z. Matušková, L. Kazdová, O. Oliyarnyk, H. Malínská, I. Tozzi di Angelo, R. Večeřa., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Protein kinases, transcription factors and other apoptosis- and proliferation-related proteins can regulate reproduction, but their involvement in sexual maturation remains to be elucidated. The general aim of the in vivo and in vitro experiments with porcine ovarian granulosa cells was to identify possible intracellular regulators of female sexual maturation. For this purpose, proliferation (expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen - PCNA, mitogen-activated protein kinases - ERK 1,2 related MAPK and cyclin B1), apoptosis (expression of the apoptotic protein Bax and apoptosis regulator Bcl-2 protein), expression of some protein kinases (cAMP dependent protein kinase - PKA, cGMPdependent protein kinase - PKG, tyrosine kinase - TK) and cAMP responsive element binding protein 1 (CREB-1) was examined in granulosa cells isolated from ovaries of immature and mature gilts. Expression of PCNA, ERK1,2 related MAPK, cyclin B1, Bcl-2, Bax, PKA, CREB-1, TK and PKG in porcine granulosa cells were detected by immunocytochemistry. Sexual maturation was associated with significant increase in the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, PKA, CREB-1 and TK and with decrease in the expression of ERK1,2 related MAPK, cyclin B1 and PKG in granulosa cells. No significant difference in PCNA expression was noted. The present data obtained from in vitro study indicate that sexual maturation in females is influenced by puberty-related changes in porcine ovarian signaling substances: increase in Bcl-2, Bax, PKA, CREB-1, TK and decrease in ERK1,2 related MAPK, cyclin B1 and PKG. It suggests that these signaling molecules could be potential regulators of porcine sexual maturation., A. Kolesarova, A. V. Sirotkin, M. Mellen, S. Roychoudhury., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Idiopathic pes equinovarus (clubfoot) is a congenital deformity of the foot and lower leg defined as a fixation of the foot in plantar flexion, adduction, supination and varus. The deformity does not affect only the foot position, which is usually investigated by radiography, CT, micro-CT, MRI or ultrasound but logically influence the whole gait biomechanics. It is supposed, that clubfoot belongs to a group of fibroproliferative disorders whose origin and multi- hierarchical effect remain unknown. It has been suggested that fibroblasts and growth factors may be involved. To gain a more global view, direct analysis of the protein composition of extra cellular matrix, a proteomic approach was used. At present two principle methods are mostly used for the treatment of clubfoot: physiotherapy and the Ponseti method. The determination of the general biological and biomechanical parameters for various regio ns of the clubfoot can potentially help in the understanding of the mechanisms participating on this serious anomaly and thus contribute to the development of the more efficient therapeutic approach. This review summarizes the present knowledge on the poss ible pathogenetic mechanisms participating in the development of the clubfoot and their possible relation to the new therapeutic approaches., M. Ošťádal, J. Lišková, D. Hadraba, A. Eckhardt., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Exposure to chronic hypoxia results in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension characterized by structural remodeling of peripheral pulmonary vasculature. An important part of this remodeling is an increase of collagen turnover and deposition of newly formed collagen fibrils in the vascular walls. The activity of collagenolytic metalloproteinases in the lung tissue is notably increased in the first days of exposure to hypoxia. The increased collagenolytic activity results in the appearance of collagen cleavages, which may be implied in the triggering of mesenchymal proliferation in peripheral pulmonary arteries. We hypothesize that radical injury to pulmonary vascular walls is involved in collagenolytic metalloproteinase activation., J. Novotná, J. Herget., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The aim was to find the differences in ketogenesis initiation in the early period after the exercise in obese patients and to find if these changes may predict the weig ht loss during the physical activity program. 96 females were enrolled. A clamped heart rate test (CHR) was performed to establish comparable exercise intensity. Blood samples for beta hydroxybutyrate (BOHB) assessment were collected prior, immediately after and 60 min after the test. Patients underwent a three month fitness program. Anthropometric measurements (fat mass and biochemical parameters) were measured. An energy intake was monitored and comparable in all subjects. A significant increase of BOHB was found in 60 th minute after the test, when compared with initiation levels (BOHB1 vs. BOHB3; p=0.03). This increase correlates with % fat mass (R=0.196; p=0.02) and negatively with age (R= –0.147; p=0.05) and with weight reduction during the three-month program (R= -0.299; p=0.03). Serum BOHB increase after the single exercise may detect individuals with an ability to induce lipolysis in three-month program of physical activity for obese patients., M. Matoulek, S. Svobododova, R. Vetrovska, Z. Stranska, S. Svačina., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Functional C(-260)→T polymorphism in the promoter of the CD14 gene has been reported to be associated with coronary heart disease (CHD). The functional role of the polymorphism, however, is still a matter of debate, since several studies have not proved its effect on clinical outcomes associated with atherosclerosis. Cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality was assessed in a post-hoc approach four years after baseline characterization of patients (male/female n = 36/32) with angiographically proven coronary heart disease. CD14 C(-260)→T promoter genotype was determined at baseline. Seventeen out of 20 CHD patients with non-lethal cardiovascular events carried at least one T-allele. CD14 T-260 allele carriers have a 3.59-fold (95 % confidence interval: 1.11-6.75) increased risk for non-lethal cardiovascular events (Kaplan-Meier plot: log rank test p = 0. 029). All patients with lethal outcomes (n = 6) were also T-allele carriers. Multivariate logistic regression analysis among CHD patients including age, established risk factors and the C(-260)→T polymorphism as covariates and non-lethal events as a dependent variable confirmed the independent prospective effect of the T-allele on cardiovascular outcomes in this subset. Further evidence is provided for the role of CD14 C(-260)→T promoter polymorphism as a genetic susceptibility marker of atherosclerosis in patients with an advanced clinical course of the disease. Due to the small sample size and post-hoc character of the study large-scale prospective studies that monitor patients with proven CHD are needed to confirm these findings., M. Porsch-Öucürümez, J.Hucke, S. Westphal, J. A. Hubáček, G. Schmitz, C. Luley., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy