It has become increasingly apparent in recent years that there are important differences of many cardiovascular disorders including ventricular tachycardias in men and women. Nevertheless, so far just few studies have addressed possible gender differences in electrophysiological characteristics of idiopathic ventricular tachycardia from right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT-VT), other than epidemiological ones. This study explored possible gender differences in electrophysiological characteristics and catheter ablation outcome in RVOT-VT patients. Ninety-three patients (mean age 38.7±15.5 years, 30 males) with idiopathic RVOT-VT were enrolled and analyzed in our study. Male patients had longer QRS width (99.9±19.4 ms vs. 88.4±20.7 ms, p=0.02). Female patients had lower right ventricular mean voltage (3.0±0.7 mV vs. 3.7±0.9 mV, p=0.03), and more low voltage zone over the right ventricular outflow tract free wall (27.0 % vs. 6.7 %, p=0.02). Eighty-one patients passed catheter ablation (23 males). The acute success rate, repeated catheter ablation rate and VT recurrence rate were similar in both genders. The present study provides evidence of the gender differences in electrophysiological findings in patients with idiopathic RVOT-VT. Studies on gender-specific differences in arrhythmia could lead to a better understanding of its mechanism(s) and provide valuable information for the development of optimal treatment strategies., S.-G. Yang, M. Mlček, O. Kittnar., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The aim of the present study was to compare the response to acute application of several drugs in adult male and female rats prenatally exposed to metham phetamine (MA). Spontaneous locomotor activity and exploratory behavior of adult male and female rats prenatally exposed to MA (5 mg/kg) or saline were tested in a Laboras apparatus (Metris B.V., Netherlands) for 1 h. Challenge dose of the examined drug [amphetamine - 5 mg/kg; cocaine - 5mg/kg; MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) - 5 mg/kg; morphine - 5 mg/kg; THC (delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol) - 2 mg/kg] or saline was injected prior to testing. Our data demonstrate that prenatal MA exposure did not affect behavior in male rats with cocaine or morphine treatment, but increased locomotion and exploration in females. Application of amphetamine and MDMA in adulthood increased activity in both sexes, while cocaine and THC only in female rats. Morphine, on the other hand, decreased the activity in the Laboras test in both sexes. As far as sex and estrous cycle is concerned, the present study shows that males were generally less active than females and also females in proestrus-estrus phase of the estrous cycle were more active than females in diestrus. In conclusion, the present study shows that the pr enatal MA exposure does not induce general sensitization but affects the sensitivity to drugs dependently to mechanism of drug action and with respect to gonadal hormones., R. Šlamberová ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
In the article, the authors respond to the main arguments that were voiced during discussions of the results of the project ‘Sexual Harassment in Universities: Incidence and Perception’, which the authors’ team carried out in 2008-2009. They do not aim to defend the research itself, but rather to analyse the dominant discourse on sexual harassment in the Czech environment from a gender perspective. This is because they see a refusal to accept gender as a relevant analytical category. They argue for the fundamental role of gender in the conceptualization of sexual harassment and for further refinement of its significance in gender‑informed definitions of sexual harassment. In the authors’ opinion, these definitions do not sufficiently reflect the current state of gender theories. The main argument of the text concerns the relationship between sexual and gender‑motivated harassment. The gender perspective offers an intrinsically coherent conceptualization of sexual harassment, including its causes and options for handling individual cases. In the article, the authors discuss the extent to which the gender order is a precondition for sexual harassment. This view allows them to think also about the less discussed types of sexual harassment (e.g. homophobic harassment) or to consider the ambivalence of some situations in which sexual harassment occurs (i.e. the dynamics of pleasant and unpleasant feelings, women’s initiative, etc.). At the same time, it reveals that power inequalities do not result only from institutional hierarchies between teachers and students, but also from the logic of the existing gender order., Kateřina Kolářová, Irena Smetáčková, Petr Pavlík., Poznámky na str. 83-85 (23), Biografické poznámky o autorech článku na str. 85, Obsahuje bibliografii, and Resumé o klíčová slova anglicky na str. 75
The article deals with the questions of gender policy formation and women's participation in Lithuanian political and civil life. It is based on the results of the EU 5th Framework project 'Enlargement, Gender and Governance: The Civic and Political Participation of Women in the EU Candidate Countries'. Drawing on qualitative data from interviews with women politicians and activists, the article mainly describes gender mainstreaming as implemented through 'transversal' action plans for gender equality. These action plans assign responsibility to different units for the delivery of different objectives. The author points out that 'transversalism' involves no necessary change in policy-making structures or practice, and argues that gender mainstreaming continues to be designated as a distinct or separate policy space in Lithuania. The author also notes that the absence of a stable commitment to gender mainstreaming and the general policy culture of Lithuania are not conducive the evaluation and impact assessment activities in this area.
For better understanding of pathophysiological processes leading to increased retention of sodium as a consequence of hyperlipidemia, the properties of renal Na,K-ATPase, a key enzyme involved in maintaining sodium homeostasis in the organism, were studied. Enzyme kinetics of renal Na,K-ATPase were used for characterization of ATP- and Na+-binding sites after administration of fish oil (FO) (30 mg · day-1) or atorvastatin (0.5 mg·100 g-1 day-1) to healthy Wistar rats and rats with hereditary hypertriglyceridemia of both genders. Untreated healthy Wistar and also hypertriglyceridemic female rats revealed higher Na,K-ATPase activity as compared to respective untreated male groups. Hypertriglyceridemia itself was accompanied with higher Na,K-ATPase activity in both genders. Fish oil improved the enzyme affinity to ATP and Na+, as indicated by lowered values of K m and K Na in Wistar female rats. In Wistar male rats FO deteriorated the enzyme in the vicinity of the Na+-binding site as revealed from the increased K Na value. In hypertriglyceridemic rats FO induced a significant effect only in females in the vicinity of the sodium binding sites resulting in improved affinity as documented by the lower value of KNa. Atorvastatin aggravated the properties of Na,K-ATPase in both genders of Wistar rats. In hypertriglyceridemic rats protection of Na,K-ATPase was observed, but this effect was bound to females only. Both treatments protected renal Na,K-ATPase in a gender specific mode, resulting probably in improved extrusion of excessive intracellular sodium out of the cell affecting thus the retention of sodium in hHTG females only., N. Vrbjar ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy