Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress participate in the development of diabetic complications, however, the mechanisms of their origin are not entirely clear. Coenzyme Q has an important function in mitochondrial bioenergetics and is also a powerful antioxidant. Coenzyme Q (CoQ) regenerates alpha-tocopherol to its active form and prevents atherogenesis by protecting low-density lipoproteins against oxidation. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether the experimentally induced diabetes mellitus is associated with changes in the content of endogenous antioxidants (alpha-tocopherol, coenzymes Q9 and Q10) and in the intensity of lipoperoxidation. These biochemical parameters were investigated in the blood and in the isolated heart and liver mitochondria. Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by a single intravenous injection of streptozotocin (45 mg.kg-1), insulin was administered once a day for 8 weeks (6 U.kg-1). The concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, alpha-tocopherol and CoQ homologues in the blood of the diabetic rats were increased. The CoQ9/cholesterol ratio was reduced. In heart and liver mitochondria of the diabetic rats we found an increased concentration of alpha-tocopherol, however, the concentrations of CoQ9 and CoQ10 were decreased. The formation of malondialdehyde was enhanced in the plasma and heart mitochondria. The results have demonstrated that experimental diabetes is associated with increased lipoperoxidation, in spite of the increased blood concentrations of antioxidants alpha-tocopherol and CoQ. These changes may be associated with disturbances of lipid metabolism in diabetic rats. An important finding is that heart and liver mitochondria from the diabetic rats contain less CoQ9 and CoQ10 in comparison with the controls. We suppose that the deficit of coenzyme Q can participate in disturbances of mitochondrial energy metabolism of diabetic animals., J. Kucharská, Z. Braunová, O. Uličná, L. Zlatoš, A. Gvozdjáková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The article deals with estimating deformation between the African and the Eurasian Plate in the Eastern Mediterranean on the basis of GPS coordinate time series. Two sources of velocities were used for processing. The first was the freely available site velocities from the European Permanent Network (EPN). The second was the Egyptian GPS permanent network velocities. Their values were determined by the following technique. Firstly, the Egyptian site coordinates were computed from GPS daily observations, using the fiducial EPN stations. The daily site coordinates at a given time interval result in coordinate time series, which were analysed and used on velocity estimation of the Egyptian stations. Then the apparatus of the mechanics of continuum was applied to all resultant velocities. The regions of possible mutual interactions between the Eurasian and the African Plate in the Eastern Mediterranean were detected. The basic idea of this contribution is the common processing of GPS daily measurements from the Egyptian permanent network together with the EPN data. The available Egyptian GPS data cover almost the last three years, which represents a sufficient time interval for velocity estimation. Introducing the Egyptian permanent GPS measurements into processing enables a better estimate of deformations in the Eastern Mediterranean., Antonín Zeman, Khalil Hassan, Jan Holešovský, Abdel Monem S. Mohamed, Zbyněk Novotný, Mahmoud M. Salah, Jan Kostelecký and Radwan M. Ali., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Brown coal open pit mining in the basin under Krušné Hory Mts. came to contact with slopes of the mountains, and a problem of the stability in high and steep slopes in the crystalline rock became an important question. The question concerns Jezeří Castle built on the top of one of the hills in a most endangered section where even a supporting pillar in the sediments under the slope toe was left to support the slope. As a result, an extensive monitoring program regarding deformations was initiated in the region. The program involved several methods and some important results are discussed. The results that are displayed concern mainly measurements done in geophysical tiltmeter stations in two underground galleries driven into the two steep slope sections showing most dangerous situation, as well as extensometers located in the same locations. Long-term monitoring revealed a tectonic deformation process of a natural origin that is registered as slow and systematic tilts. Besides, it revealed several periods of anomalies that are of basic importance. During a long period of observation from 1982 till 2005 three important deformation anomalies were registered: the event of 1994, the event of 2002, and the event of 2003/2004. The first and the third event have been classified as of a large regional character that affected a wide mountainous area and could be interpreted as a tectonic impulse originating within the mountainous structure of the so called "Dome of Hora Svaté Kateřiny". The second event has been considered different, strictly connected with extreme precipitation of August 2002. The anomaly was evidenced even deep in the crystalline, so that it could not be seen as of a superficial character only. The movement which was registered at that time was oriented right into the pillar supporting the slope., It is concluded that it was a short manifestation of instability in the critical profile "Jezeří - pillar", which stresses the important stabilisation function of the supporting pillar without which the profile will be probably destabilised., Blahoslav Košťák, Bohumil Chán and Jan Rybář., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulphate-bound form (DHEAS) are important steroids mainly of adrenal origin. Their physiological and pathophysiological functions are not yet fully identified, although a number of various possible features have been hypothesized. Most popular is the description of the “hormone of youth” as the long-term dynamics of DHEA levels are characterized by a sharp age-related decline in the late adulthood and later. Low levels of DHEA are, however, associated not only with the ageing process but also with diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and some neurological or immunological entities. In the past decade, a number of brief studies have concentrated on these relationships and also on the role of exogenous DHEA in health, disease and human well-being. This article tries to summarize some of the most important facts achieved recently., P. Celec, L. Stárka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
This study aimed to examine relationships between DHEA(S), anthropometric parameters, oral glucose tolerance test derived data and lipid spectra in a Czech non-diabetic population. 380 healthy volunteers both with and without a family history of diabetes type 2 (DM2) were en rolled into the study (women: n=235, age 28.9±9.4 years, BMI 22.3±4.5 kg/m2, men: n=145, age 32.3±10.0 years, BMI 24.7±3.6 kg/m2). Spearman’s correlations (both without and with the adjustment for age, age and BMI), as well as ANCOVA were used. Non-adjusted data showed many “beneficial” correlations between DHEA(S) and both anthropometric and metabolic variables. Statistical analysis revealed that almost all correlations of DHEA(S) to adiposity and fat distribution in men as well as in women disappeared after the adjustment. There are, however, differences between men and women in the correlation of DHEA(S) to insulin sensitivity and lipid levels. The use of hormonal contraceptives (COC) is also an important factor in this relationship. In men and also in women using COC, DHEA-S after adjustment correlated positively with fasting and stimulated glucose, insulin and C-peptide, and negatively with insulin sensitivity. In this respect, the benefit of DHEA(S) supplementation seems - at least in terms of its alleged antiobesity and antidiabetogenic effects - to be more than controversial., B. Bendlová, J. Vrbíková, M. Hill, M. Vaňková, P. Lukášová, J. Včelák, D. Vejražková, K. Dvořáková, R. Hampl, K. Vondra, L. Stárka., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy