a1_The decreased oxidizability of plasma lipoproteins is related to the increased vitamin E intake and its association with a relatively lower incidence of coronary heart disease has been proposed. We investigated the effect of the in vivo vitamin E supplementation on the oxidizability of serum lipids in patients with ischemic heart disease and a moderate hypercholesterolemia. Thirty-two patients (16 males and 16 postmenopausal women) participated in this placebo-controlled, randomized trial. They were treated with 400 mg vitamin E/day for 6 weeks. The copper-induced serum lipid oxidizability ex vivo was assessed by measuring conjugated diene formation at 245 nm. We also measured vitamin E, malondialdehyde (MDA) and uric acid concentrations in the plasma. Because of observed significant differences in parameters of serum lipid oxidizability (lag time and maximal rate of oxidation), plasma a-tocopherol and MDA levels between male patients and postmenopausal women supplemented with vitamin E, the results were compared between both genders. Six weeks of vitamin E supplementation significantly increased plasma vitamin E levels (by 87 %) in male patients but in postmenopausal women only by 34 %. Concomitantly with increased plasma levels of vitamin E the decrease in plasma MDA levels was observed in male patients (decrease by 20 %; p=0.008), but in postmenopausal women the decrease did not attain statistical significance. Plasma uric acid levels were not apparently changed in placebo or vitamin E supplemented groups of patients. The changes in ex vivo serum lipid oxidizability after vitamin E, supplementation have shown a significantly prolonged lag time (by 11 %; p=0.048) and lowered rate of lipid oxidation (by 21 %; p=0.004) in male patients in comparison with postmenopausal women., a2_Linear regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between plasma vitamin E levels and the lag time (r=0.77; p=0.03) and the maximal rate of serum lipid oxidation (r=-0.70; p=0.05) in male patients. However, in postmenopausal women the correlations were not significant. We conclude that 400 mg vitamin E/day supplementation in patients with ischemic heart disease and a moderate hypercholesterolemia influenced favorably ex vivo serum lipid oxidation of male patients when compared with postmenopausal women. The observed differences between both genders could be useful in the selection of the effective vitamin E doses in the prevention of coronary heart disease., A. Nagyová, V. Mongiellová, Z. Krivošíková, P. Blažíček, V. Spustová, M. Gajdoš, R. Dzúrik., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Ghrelin is a new endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. It activates the release of growth hormone from the pituitary and it also participates in the regulation of energy homeostasis. The aim of the study was to characterize changes in serum ghrelin levels in obese subjects and their relationship to the serum levels of leptin and soluble leptin receptor. Eight obese patients (6 women and 2 men) with body mass index (BMI) 40.313.4 kg.m-2 and eight healthy controls (5 women and 3 men) with BMI 22.7±1.3 kg.m-2 were examined. The ghrelin serum levels (165.0±58.1 vs. 343.37±81.96; p<0.001) and soluble leptin receptor serum levels (7.25±3.44 vs. 21.80±4.99; p<0.0001) were significantly lower in obese patients. The leptin serum levels (23.45±12.90 vs. 6.41±2.96; p<0.005) were significantly higher compared to the lean subject group. In both measured groups the levels of serum leptin significantly positively correlated with BMI. We proved a significantly lower serum ghrelin levels in the group of obese patients in comparison with the control group., M. Rosická, M. Kršek, M. Matoulek, Z. Jarkovská, J. Marek, V. Justová, Z. Lacinová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Leptin is a 16 kDa protein hormone involved in food intake, energy expenditure regulation and numerous other physiological processes. Recently, leptin has been demonstrated to stimulate hematopoietic stem cells in vitro. The aim of our study was to measure serum leptin and erythropoietin levels in patients with sideropenic (n =18) and pernicious anemia (n=7) before and during anemia treatment. Blood samples for the blood count, leptin and erythropoietin determinations were obtained by venepunction at the time of the diagnosis of anemia and after partial and complete anemia recovery. The relationships of serum leptin levels to erythropoietin levels and blood count parameters were also studied. No significant differences in serum leptin levels between the groups studied were found. The serum leptin levels in none of groups were modified by treatment of anemia (basal levels, the levels during treatment and after anemia recovery were 13.1±14.5 vs 12.8±15.6 vs 12.0±14.8 ng/ml in patients with sideropenic anemia and 7.8±8.5 vs 9.5±10.0 vs 8.9±6.6 ng/ml in patients with pernicious anemia). The erythropoietin levels were higher at the time of anemia in both groups and decreased significantly after partial or complete recovery. Serum leptin levels in both groups correlated positively with the body mass index. No significant relationships were found between serum leptin levels and erythropoietin values or various parameters of the peripheral blood count. We conclude that serum leptin levels in patients with sideropenic and pernicious anemia positively correlate with the body mass index but are not influenced by the treatment of anemia., M. Marková, M. Haluzík, J. Svobodová, M. Rosická, J. Nedvídková, T. Haas., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Leptin, an adipocyte-derived signaling factor, is a member of the IL-6 cytokine family. However there is no direct evidence of leptin stimulation of the acute phase protein (APP) synthesis which is typical for all other IL-6-like factors. The purpose of this study was to characterize the dynamics of circulating leptin in relation to ten APPs. We used postoperative septic patients as a model of cytokine network hyperstimulation and intensive APP reaction. The prospective study was performed on 22 patients with proven postoperative intraabdominal sepsis after large abdominal surgery. Plasma levels of leptin, TNF-a, IL-1ß, soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), IL-6 (ELISA analysis) and ten APPs (nephelometric analysis) were estimated. We have demonstrated a statistically significant elevation of plasma leptin concentrations in the septic group compared with healthy subjects (p<0.001). The correlation of plasma leptin and BMI during postoperative sepsis was diminished. The regression coefficient was the highest for leptin and CRP (r=0.48, p<0.05), and for leptin and alpha-1-antitrypsin (r=0.46, p<0.05) in the septic group. There was significant correlation between TNF-a and leptin (r=0.47, p<0.05) and between IL-6 and leptin (r=0.45, p<0.05) in septic patients. No significant correlation was found between leptin and "negative" APP and between leptin and IL-1ß. Leptin has thus been shown as an acute phase reactant with a potential hematopoietic, immunomodulatory and hepatocyte stimulating activity during the infectious and non-infectious stress response. The significant correlation between leptin and CRP and leptin and alpha-1-antitrypsin indicates that leptin can participate in APP synthesis regulation during a systemic inflammatory response., P. Maruna, R. Gürlich, R. Fraško, M. Haluzík., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Spexin (SPX) and kisspeptin (KISS) are novel peptides relevant in the context of regulation of metabolism, food intake, puberty and reproduction. Here, we studied changes of serum SPX and KISS levels in female non-obese volunteers (BMI<25 kg/m2) and obese patients (BMI>35 kg/m2). Correlations between SPX or KISS with BMI, McAuley index, QUICKI, HOMA IR, serum levels of insulin, glucagon, leptin, adiponectin, orexin-A, obestatin, ghrelin and GLP-1 were assessed. Obese patients had lower SPX and KISS levels as compared to non-obese volunteers (SPX: 4.48±0.19 ng/ml vs. 6.63±0.29 ng/ml; p<0.001, KISS: 1.357±0.15 nmol/l vs. 2.165±0.174 nmol/l; p<0.01). SPX negatively correlated with BMI, HOMA-IR, insulin, glucagon, active ghrelin and leptin. Positive correlations were found between SPX and QUICKI index, McAuley index, serum levels of obestatin, GLP-1 and adiponectin and orexin-A Serum KISS negatively correlated with BMI, HOMA-IR, serum levels of insulin, glucagon, active ghrelin and leptin. KISS positively correlated with QUICKI index, McAuley index and adiponectin. In summary, SPX and KISS show negative correlations with obesity, insulin resistance indices, and hormones known to affect insulin sensitivity in females. Both, SPX and KISS could be therefore relevant in the pathophysiology of obesity and insulin resistance., P. A. Kołodziejski, E. Pruszyńska-Oszmałek, E. Korek, M. Sassek, D. Szczepankiewicz, P. Kaczmarek, L. Nogowski, P. Maćkowiak, K. W. Nowak, H. Krauss, M. Z. Strowski., and Seznam literatury
In subjects with Down¢ s syndrome (DS) increased oxidative stress and consequent oxidative cell damage have been reported. The aim of this study was to assess whether the excessive production of free oxygen radicals in these subjects can affect the copper-induced lipid oxidation resistance measured in fresh whole serum. Since a significant elevation of serum uric acid levels, which is an efficient hydrophilic antioxidant, has been repeatedly reported in subjects with DS, we studied the association between increased serum uric acid levels and lipid resistance to oxidation measured directly in serum samples by monitoring the change in absorbance at 234 nm. The group of subjects with Down¢ s syndrome consisted of 25 individuals (aged 18± 5 years). Control group included brothers and sisters of subjects with DS (n = 25, aged 17± 7 years). In subjects with DS, the serum lipid resistance to oxidation (lag time) was significantly higher than in controls (p< 0.05) and a concomitant increase in serum uric acid levels was observed (p< 0.001). A significant positive correlation between lag time and serum uric acid concentration was found in subjects with DS (r = 0.48, p< 0.05), while the positive correlation in the control group was not significant. The results suggest that increased serum uric acid levels repeatedly observed in subjects with DS may be associated with an enhanced resistance of serum lipids to oxidation which is thought to play an important role in the atherogenic process., A. Nagyová, M. Šustrová, K. Rašlová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
It is believed that omentin is secreted by stromal cells of adipose tissue and modulates insulin se nsitivity. Data from a few studies have shown lower serum omentin in obese children and higher in anorexia nervosa. However, to date, there is lack of research on serum omentin concentrations in adolescent patients in a wide range of body mass index (BMI) and insulin resistance. In this cross -sectional study omentin -1 serum concentrations were evaluated using commercially available ELISA kit in 47 Polish girls with restrictive anorexia nervosa (AN), 50 with simple obesity (OB) and 39 healthy controls (C). T he mean serum omentin -1 concentration in girls with AN was statistically significantly higher than that of C and OB girls. Statistically significant (P<0.0001) negative correlations between the serum concentrations of omentin- 1 and body weight (r= - 0.73), BMI (r= - 0.75), standard deviation score for body mass index (BMI -SDS) (r= - 0.75), insulin (r= - 0.81) and HOMA -IR index (r= - 0.82) were seen in the entire examined population. We conclude, that omentin -1 is the nutritional marker reflecting body weight and insulin resistance. Our findings support the hypothesized role of omentin in maintenance of body weight and regulation of appetite and suggest the adaptation of its secretion to body weight and glucose metabolism., J. Oświęcimska, A. Suwała, E. Świętochowska, Z. Ostrowska, P. Gorczyca, K. Ziora-Jakutowicz, E. Machura, M. Szczepańska, M. Kukla, M. Stojewska, D. Ziora, K. Ziora., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The aim of the study was to evaluate serum α-glutathione S-transferase (s-GSTA) levels in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and to compare s-GSTA with other liver function tests and with a hepatic ultrasound scan (US). The cytosolic enzyme, a-glutathione S-transferase is predominantly found in the liver and is distributed uniformly in the liver tissue. In our study s-GSTA levels were measured in 37 CF patients aged 1 to 28 years (mean age 10.4 years, 24 males). The control group consisted of 27 patients aged 2 to 17 years (mean age 8.5 years, 18 males). The presence of hepatobiliary abnormalities was assessed by clinical examination, ultrasound scan, s-GSTA, and conventional liver enzymes: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and g-glutamyl transferase (GMT). The calculated 5-95 % range of s-GSTA for the control group was 0.098-2.54 mg/l, for the CF group 0.43-9.76 mg/l. Mean s-GSTA level in the control group was 1.55 mg/l (S.D.=1.57), and 2.05 mg/l (S.D.=2.60) in the CF group. In the group of CF patients, the serum levels were significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.01). No significant correlation existed in the CF group between s-GSTA and conventional liver tests (ALT, AST, ALP and GMT). Four patients in the CF group had hepatobiliary abnormalities detectable by conventional liver tests, s-GSTA and US. Four patients had abnormal s-GSTA, while conventional liver tests and US were normal. One other patient had abnormal hepatic US, but normal standard liver tests and s-GSTA. The study has suggested that a raised s-GSTA level might be a marker of possible pathological changes of the hepatobiliar system in CF patients. Serum GSTA seems to be a more sensitive marker than transaminases for the monitoring of hepatocellular integrity and as an early predictor of hepatic damage., K. Šídlová, V. Skalická, K. Kotaška, M. Pechová, M. Chada, J. Bartošová , Z. Hříbal, J. Nevoral, V. Vávrová, R. Průša., and Obsahuje bibliografii
For many important research topics in polymer science the use of radionuclides brings significant benefits concerning nanotechnology, polymer drug delivery systems, tissue engineering etc. This contribution describes important achievements of the radionuclide laboratory at Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (IMC) in the area of polymers for biomedical applications. Particular emphasis will be given to water-soluble polymer carriers of radionuclides, thermoresponsive polymer radionuclide carriers, thermoresponsive polymers for local brachytherapy, polymer scaffolds modified with (radiolabeled) peptides and polymer copper chelators for the therapy of Wilson´s disease., M. Hrubý, J. Kučka, J. Pánek, P. Štěpánek., and Obsahuje bibliografii