b1_Essential hypertension is a multifactorial disorder which belongs to the main risk factors responsible for renal and cardiovascular complications. This review is focused on the experimental research of neural and vascular mechanisms involved in the high blood pressure control. The attention is paid to the abnormalities in the regulation of sympathetic nervous system activity and adrenoceptor alterations as well as the changes of membrane and intracellular processes in the vascular smooth muscle cells of spontaneously hypertensive rats. These abnormalities lead to increased vascular tone arising from altered regulation of calcium influx through L-VDCC channels, which has a crucial role for excitation-contraction coupling, as well as for so-called “calcium sensitization” mediated by the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway. Regulation of both pathways is dependent on the complex interplay of various vasodilator and vasoconstrictor stimuli. Two major antagonistic players in th e regulation of blood pressure, i.e. sympathetic nervous system (by stimulation of adrenoceptors coupled to stimulatory and inhibitory G proteins) and nitric oxide (by cGMP signaling pathway), elicit their actions via the control of calcium influx through L-VDCC. However, L-type calcium current can also be regulated by the changes in membrane potential elicited by the activation of potassium channels, the impaired function of which was detected in hypertensive animals. The dominant role of enhanced calcium influx in the pathogenesis of high blood pressure of genetically hypertensive animals is confirmed not only by therapeutic efficacy of calcium antagonists but especially by the absence of hypertension in animals in which L-type calcium current was diminished by pertussis toxin-induced inactivation of inhibitory G proteins., b2_ there is considerable information on th e complex neural and vascular alterations in rats with established hypertension, the detailed description of their appearance during the induction of hypertension is still missing., M. Pintérová, J. Kuneš, J. Zicha., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Prolonged exposure to alveolar hypoxia induces physiological changes in the pulmonary vasculature that result in the development of pulmonary hypertension. A hallmark of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension is an increase in vasomotor tone. In vivo, pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell contraction is influenced by vasoconstrictor and vasodilator factors secreted from the endothelium, lung parenchyma and in the circulation. During chronic hypoxia, production of vasoconstrictors such as endothelin-1and angiotensin II is enhanced locally in the lung, while synthesis of vasodilators may be reduced. Altered reactivity to these vasoactive agonists is another physiological consequence of chronic exposure to hypoxia. Enhanced contraction in response to endothelin-1 and angiotensin II, as well as depressed vasodilation in response to endothelium-derived vasodilators, has been documented in models of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Chronic hypoxia may also have direct effects on pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells, modulating receptor population, ion channel activity or signal transduction pathways. Following prolonged hypoxic exposure, pulmonary vascular smooth muscle exhibits alterations in K+ current, membrane depolarization, elevation in resting cytosolic calcium and changes in signal transduction pathways. These changes in the electrophysiological parameters of pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells are likely associated with an increase in basal tone. Thus, hypoxia-induced modifications in pulmonary arterial myocyte function, changes in synthesis of vasoactive factors and altered vasoresponsiveness to these agents may shift the environment in the lung to one of contraction instead of relaxation, resulting in increased pulmonary vascular resistance and elevated pulmonary arterial pressure., L. A. Shimoda, J. S. K. Sham, J. T. Sylvester., and Obsahuje bibliografii
On the basis of solid-state aluminium-27 nuclear magnetic resonance measurements a new organo-aluminium complex in coal substance was discovered in the solid extracts obtained both from the Ostrava-Karviná bituminous coal and the North Bohemian Basin brown coal. In the 27 Al MAS NMR spectra it was found that the significant chemical shift at 13.6-14.6 ppm corresponds with that obtained for the aluminium hexaphenoxide complex (14.2 ppm). Therefore, organo-aluminium complex with hexa-coordination to oxygen is present in coal substance., Pavel Straka., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
Úvod: Alveolární echinokokóza je vzácné a závažné zoonotické parazitární onemocnění. Kazuistika: Autoři demonstrují případ mladého nemocného s postižením jater, bránice a plic touto formou infekce. Diagnóza echinokokové infekce byla stanovena na základě anamnézy, klinické symptomatologie v kombinaci s USG, CT, MRI a sérologickými metodami. Byla provedena radikální bloková resekce 7. jaterního segmentu, dolního plicního laloku vpravo a bránice. Definitivní stanovení diagnózy alveolární echinokokózy bylo provedeno histopatologicky a pomocí PCR metody ze vzorku resekované tkáně. Závěr: Nemocný je 8 měsíců po operaci bez potíž, trvale dispenzarizován s long-life terapií albendazolem., Introduction: Alveolar echinococcosis is a life-threatening zoonotic parasitic disease. Its incidence is rare. In some cases, the correct and timely diagnosis can be difficult. Case report: The authors present the case of a young patient with liver, diaphragm and lung involvement. The suspicion of echinococcus infection was made on the basis of medical history, clinical symptoms, and a combination of ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging tests and serological methods. The patient underwent multimodal treatment with albendazole and en-bloc resection of the liver, lung and diaphragm. The definitive diagnosis of alveolar echinococcosis was determined from samples of the resected tissues using histopathology and polymerase chain reaction methods. The patient has been followed regularly and is on life-long treatment with albendazole. Conclusion: The precise diagnosis and multimodal therapy of alveolar echinococcosis is fundamental from the point of view of patient long-term survival., and V. Třeška, L. Kolářová, H. Mírka, O. Daum, J. Matějů, V. Liška, A. Koubová, D. Sedláček
When spectators see a baroque play staged with use of period means of expression, they often appreciate fine form, but lack emotions. Dealing with Jesuit school plays from the first half of the 18th century, whose theme is true friendship, this article illustrates that baroque drama actually combines stylized form and strong emotions. It was also the main aim of baroque theatre: to transfer the emotions through this form., Magdaléna Jacková., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
Žilní tromboembolická nemoc (TEN), zahrnující žilní trombózu stejně jako plicní embolii, je časté a potencionálně fatální onemocnění. S uvedením nízkomolekulárních heparinů (LMWH) do praxe bylo prokázáno, že ambulantní léčba žilní trombózy je efektivní a bezpečná pro velkou část nemocných s TEN. Vzrůstající data o ambulantní léčbě LMWH v posledních letech ukazují, že až 50 % pacientů s klinicky stabilní plicní embolií může být léčeno doma. I přes tato fakta dosud neměla domácí léčba plicní embolie pevnou pozici v běžné praxi. Pokud bychom měli sumarizovat podmínky pro domácí léčbu, potom by bylo možné uvažovat o ambulantní léčbě u nemocných s nízkým rizikem dle pomocných kritérií, bez hemodynamické nestability (především bez šokového stavu), bez selhávání pravé komory, bez předchozího chronického srdečního či plicního onemocnění, bez závažných komorbidit (onemocnění gastrointestinálního traktu, onemocnění ledvin, krevní choroby, pokročilá nádorová onemocnění), s nízkým rizikem časné rekurence tromboembolické nemoci, bez jiných indikací pro hospitalizaci (bolest vyžadující parenterální analgetika, infekce apod), s nízkým rizikem krvácení a s garantovanou spoluprací nemocného a dobře organizovanou domácí péčí., Venous thromboembolic disease which includes both venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is a frequent and potentially fatal disease. Based on the introduction of low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH) into practice it has been proved that outpatient treatment of venous thrombosis is effective and safe for a large number of patients with VTE. The growing volume of data on LMWH outpatient treatment in recent years shows that up to 50 % of patients with clinically stable pulmonary embolism can be treated at home. In spite of these facts home treatment of pulmonary embolism has not been established as part of common practice as yet. If we were to summarize the conditions for home treatment, we would consider outpatient care for patients at low risk based on auxiliary criteria, free from hemodynamic instability (primarily without a shock state), free from right ventricular failure, prior chronic heart or lung disease, serious comorbidities (gastrointestinal tract disease, kidney disease, blood diseases, advanced cancers), at low risk of early thromboembolism recurrence, free from other indications for hospitalization (pain requiring parenteral analgesics, infections etc.), at low risk of bleeding and with guaranteed patient‘s cooperation and well-organized home care., and Radovan Malý, Jaroslav Malý
In laboratory experiments, conspecific excretions and ammonia solutions evoked avoidance reactions in tadpoles of three anuran species, Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria, and Rana arvalis . A differential sensitivity of ammonia chemoreception was determined for two anuran species. For Bufo bufo tadpoles, these characteristics at ammonia backgr ound concentration of 0.2 mg/l lied in the range 150 % < dI/I < 500 %, and for background of 0.4 mg/l the value lied in th e range 400 % < dI/I < 500 %. For Rana temporaria tadpoles, differential threshold against ammonia background concentration of 0. 15 mg/l was close to 200 % and against background ammonia concentration of 1.1 mg/l was close to 100 %. These results suggest that such sensitivity of both anurans is sufficient for using ammonia in intra- and interspecies communication., Y. B. Manteifel, E. I. Kiseleva., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) represent a potential therapeutic target. Possible anticonvulsant action of AMN 082, an agonist of mGluR7 subtype, was studied in immature rats using pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures as a model. Five age groups of rats (7-, 12-, 18-, 25-day-old and adult animals) were pretreated with AMN 082 in doses of 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 mg/kg i.p. and 30 min later PTZ was administered (100 mg/kg s.c.). Controls received saline instead of the agonist. AMN 082 did not exhibit clear anticonvulsant action with the exception of suppression of the tonic phase of generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) in 12-day-old rats. Shorter latencies of GTCS after AMN 082 pretreatment indicate a proconvulsant action. Involuntary movements (mostly tremor) appeared after AMN 082 before PTZ administration, therefore we performed another experimental series with AMN 082 only (1, 2, 5, and 10 mg/kg i.p.). During 60-min observation period tremor appeared in all age groups; sensitivity to this action decreased with age from the 2 mg/kg dose in 7- and 12-day-old rats to the 10 mg/kg dose in adult rats. Mixed anti- and proconvulsant actions of AMN 082 together with unwanted motor effects makes clinical use of this drug highly improbable., Pavel Mareš., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Three amoeba species were isolated from 3 out of 193 farmed tilapias, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), screened for the presence of free-living amoebae in parenchymatous organs. Hartmannella vermiformis Page, 1967 and Rosculus ithacus Hawes, 1963 were isolated from the kidney tissue. The third strain isolated from the liver shared morphological features of Mayorella and Platyamoeha spp. and therefore its taxonomic position has not been determined as yet. Pathogenicity of cloned strain of H. vermiformis was proved in two fish hosts.