The activity of antioxidant enzymes, copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and catalase (CAT), as well as that of the mitochondrial FAD-dependent a-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (a-GPD) in the rat interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) were studied after the treatment with methimazole (MMI) for three weeks or with iopanoic acid (IOP) for five days. Besides, the mitochondrial concentration of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) and the activity of catecholamine degrading enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the IBAT as well as the activity of the catecholamine synthesizing enzyme, dopamine b-hydroxylase (DBH) in rat serum were examined. Judging by the significantly enhanced level of serum DBH, which is an index of sympathetic activity, and that of IBAT MAO, the increase in MnSOD and CAT activities in the IBAT of hypothyroid (MMI-treated) rats seems to be due to elevated activity of sympathetic nervous system (SNS). However, CuZnSOD activity is not affected by SNS. On the contrary, IOP, which is a potent inhibitor of T4 deiodination into T3 producing "local" hypothyroidism, did not change either SNS activity or activities of IBAT antioxidant enzyme. However, both treatments significantly decreased IBAT UCP-1 content and a-GPD activity suggesting that the optimal T3 concentration in the IBAT is necessary for maintaining basal levels of these key mitochondrial parameters., N. Petrović, G. Cvijić V. Davidović., and Obsahuje bibliografii
An oxidant/antioxidant imbalance is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We hypothesized that antioxidant capacity reflected by erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, and serum levels of the lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA), may be related to the severity of obstructive lung impairment in patients with COPD. Erythrocyte GPx, SOD and CAT activities, and serum levels of MDA were measured in 79 consecutive patients with stable COPD. Pulmonary functional tests were assessed by bodyplethysmography. Moderate COPD (FEV1 50-80 %) was present in 23, and severe COPD (FEV1 < 50 %) in 56 patients. Erythrocyte GPx activity was significantly lower, and serum MDA levels were significantly higher in patients with severe COPD compared to patients with moderate COPD (GPx: 43.1±1.5 vs. 47.7±2.9 U/gHb, p<0.05, MDA: 2.4±0.1 vs. 2.1±0.1 nmol/ml, p<0.05). Linear regression analysis revealed a significant direct relationship between FEV1 and erythrocyte GPx activity (r = 0.234, p<0.05), and a significant inverse relationship between FEV1 and serum MDA levels (r = -0.239, p<0.05). However, no differences were observed in the erythrocyte SOD and CAT activities between the two groups of patients with different severity of COPD. Findings of the present study suggest that antioxidant capacity reflected by erythrocyte GPx activity and serum levels of the lipid peroxidation product MDA are linked to the severity of COPD., Z. Kluchová, D. Petrášová, P. Joppa, Z. Dorková, R. Tkáčová., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
We investigated the association between metamphetamine dependence and TaqI A polymorphism of the dopamine receptor D2 gene (DRD2), I/D polymorphism in angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and M235T polymorphism of the angiotensinogen gene (AGT) in 93 unrelated metamphetamine-dependent subjects and 131 controls. Our results did not prove any association of TaqI A polymorphism of the DRD2 gene, I/D polymorphism of ACE gene, and M235T polymorphism of AGT gene with the metamphetamine dependence in Caucasians of Czech origin. However, a significant difference in allele I frequency between male and female control groups for the I/D ACE polymorphism (p<0.03) was found., O. Šerý, V. Vojtová, P. Zvolský., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The gene for connexin 37 (Cx37) is considered to be one of the candidate genes for cardiovascul ar disease. We evaluated the association between Cx37 (1019C>T) gene polymorphism (Pro319Ser) and ankle brachial blood pressure index (ABI) in women with type 1 (n=178) and ty pe 2 (n=111) diabetes, and in women from general population (n=862). All women were genotyped for Cx37 polymorphism. In addition to traditional cardiovascular risk factors, ABI was analyzed. In women with type 1 diabetes, ABI significantly decreased from TT to CC carriers (p for trend= 0.008). A similar trend was seen in women with type 2 diabetes (p=0.050) and in women with waist circumference above 75 th percentile (94 cm; n=208) of the general population (p=0.049). The gene for Cx37 was associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in women with type 1 and 2 diabetes and in women with advanced central obesity. The presence of C allele indicated increased risk., J. Piťha, J. A. Hubáček, P. Piťhová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
a1_Diabetes mellitus is not just a simple metabolic disorder, however, it is considered to be a cardiovascular disease of a metabolic origin. This is apparent especially when speaking about type 2 diabetes (DM II). The objective of our study was to determine whether a comprehensive spa treatment (procedures and drinking cure) may affect the level of the sympathetic tone of patients suffering from DM II. As an indicator of the sympathetic tone, selected electrocardiographic parameters derived from the heart rate variability and microwave alternans were chosen. There were 96 patients enrolled in our study: 38 patients with poorly controlled DM II and two control groups: 9 patients with compensated DM II and 49 patients, average age without diabetes or other disorders of the glucose metabolism. All received an identical spa treatment and continued their medical therapy. The electrophysiological examination of patients was performed before and after a three-week spa treatment using the KARDiVAR system. Parameters derived from the analysis of heart rate variability (HRV), microvolt T-wave alternans, and microvolt R-wave alternans were analyzed in order to evaluate the tones of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The control group showed a slight increase of parameter the index of activity of regulatory systems (IRSA) (4.4±1.3 vs. 3.8±1.4; p=0.006) after the spa treatment, while increased heart rate (80.9±11.0 vs. 74.6±9.6; p=0.028), reduced index of centralization (IC) (1.3±0.6 vs. 2.9±1.4; p=0.027) and reduced index of myocardium (IM) (9.9±7.4 vs. 18.0±6.3; p=0.041) were found in patients with a compensated DM II. Patients with a poorly compensated DM II showed a decreased IM (10.9±8.6 vs. 16.9±5.2; p=0.001) and also a reduced IRSA (4.1±3.5 vs. 6.3±1.9; p=0.001)., a2_The results proved favorable changes in ANS cardiovascular control of patients with DM II after a spa treatment, especially in terms of reducing the sympathoadrenal system activity (decreased IRSA), improving electrical stability of the myocardium and increasing centrally controlled heart rate variability without overloading the cardiovascular system (drop of IM)., E. Fialová, O. Kittnar., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) amount in cells as the basis for mitochondrial energy generating system, which produces ATP, plays an important role in the fetal development and postnatal morbidity. Isolated human cord blood leukocytes (HCBL) contribute very little to the overall metabolic turnover, but they may serve as easily available marker cells for the study of the mtDNA amount changes in cord blood during fetal development. The aim of our study was to analyze the mtDNA amount in HCBL. HCBL were isolated from cord blood samples of 107 neonates born between the 25th and 41st week of gestation. The mtDNA amount was analyzed by the real-time PCR method. The significant negative correlations were found between the relative mtDNA amount in HCBL and gestational age (r = -0.54, p<0.01) and birth weight (r = -0.43, p<0.01), respectively. The results revealed that the mtDNA content per cell decreases in HCBL with progressing fetal development. This may be explained by gradual shift of the hematopoiesis from fetal liver to bone marrow during the second half of pregnancy presumably accompanied by decreasing cell volume of HCBL as it was shown similarly in red blood cells., M. Pejznochová, M. Tesařová, T. Honzík, H. Hansíková, M. Magner, J. Zeman., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Drugs interfering with the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) improved the prognosis in patients with hypertension, heart failure, diabetes and chronic kidney disease. However, combining different drugs brought no further benefit while increasing the risk of hyperkalemia, hypotension and acute renal failure. This was so with combining angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin II receptors type 1 antagonists (ARB). Dissimilarly, in animal disease models this dual therapy proved clearly superior to single drug treatment and became the optimal standard regime for comparison with other treatments. This review analyzes the causes of the discrepancy of effects of the dual therapy between animal experiments versus clinical studies, and is focused on the outcomes in chronic kidney disease. Discussed is the role of species differences in RAAS, of the variability of the disease features in humans versus relative stability in animals, of the genetic uniformity in the animals but not in humans, and of the biased publication habits of experimental versus clinical studies. We attempt to understand the causes and reconcile the discordant findings and suggest to what extent dual RAAS inhibition should be continued in animal experiments and why its application in the clinics should be limited to strictly selected groups of patients., V. Čertíková Chábová, L. Červenka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Attention has recently been focused on endothelial function after a single high-fat meal, i.e. on the anticipated direct atherogenic effect of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. Our study was designed to investigate the effect of a low-fat diet given for four weeks followed by a high-fat diet for another four weeks. At the end of each dietary period, a non-invasive ultrasound investigation of endothelial function of the brachial artery was performed along with laboratory tests. Endothelial function was measured immediately before the dietary load and after three and six hours in 11 healthy volunteers. The results were expressed as percentage of the changes in artery diameter at rest and during hyperemia; the data were processed using computer technology. When compared to the low-fat regimen, the total cholesterol content rose after the high-fat diet from 4.28 mmol/l to 5.15 mmol/l (p<0.05) in the whole group of volunteers. There was no difference between both dietary regimens in baseline triglycerides. The brachial artery dilatation under basal conditions was 5.26±2.88 mm after the high-fat diet compared with the value of 3.13±3.01 mm (p<0.05) after the low-fat diet. When measured individually endothelial function in the whole group of volunteers in the course of the day, the degree of arterial dilatation after one month on low-fat diet was 3.13±3.0 %, 3.88±2.5 % and 5.23±3.3 % at single measurement. When comparing arterial dilatation at two closest measurements, a non-significant trend, p>0.05 was seen in either case. The following values were obtained after one month on the high-fat diet: 5.26±2.9 %, 4.47±1.7 %, and 6.2±3.6 %; again showing a non-significant trend of p>0.05. In this study, a single high-fat meal at the different dietary regimen did not significantly influence the vasoreactivity of the brachial artery in young volunteers., T. Šejda, J. Kovář, J. Piťha, R. Cífková, E. Švandová, R. Poledne., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Two different isolated skeletal muscles of Japanese quail were used. The influence of branched chain amino acids on the fractional rate of protein synthesis (FSR) was evaluated using 14C-tyrosine. The addition of 0.5 mM valine, leucine or isoleucine to the incubation medium significantly decreased (P<0.05) the value of FSR in extensor metacarpalis radialis. In the ambiens muscle only the application of leucine increased the FSR significantly while valine and isoleucine were without any effect., J. Antalíková, J. Jankela, M. Baranovská., and Obsahuje bibliografii