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
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
Visfatin is an adipose tissue-derived hormone shown to correlate with visceral fat mass in patients with obesity. Its possible role in patients with different types of eating disorders is unknown. We measured fasting serum levels of visfatin and leptin and surrogate measures of insulin sensitivity in 10 untreated patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), 10 untreated patients with bulimia nervosa (BN) and 20 age-matched healthy women (C) to study the possible role of visfatin in these disorders. Patients with AN had severely decreased body mass index (BMI) and body fat content. BMI of BN group did not significantly differ from that of C group, whereas body fat content of BN group was significantly lower compared to C and higher compared to AN group, respectively. Serum glucose levels did not significantly differ among the groups studied, whereas serum insulin and leptin levels and HOMA index were significantly decreased in AN group relative to both C and BN group. In contrast, serum visfatin levels in both patients with AN and BN did not differ from those of C group. We conclude that circulating visfatin levels are not affected by the presence of chronic malnutrition in AN or binge/purge eating behavior in BN., I. Dostálová ...[et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
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
We have studied natural killer (NK) activity, lymphoproliferative response, the release of several cytokines (IL-2, TNFa and IL-1b) and the ROS production in peritoneal leukocytes obtained 0, 2, 4, 12 and 24 h after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. Lethal septic shock (100 % mortality occurred at 30 h after LPS administration) was caused in female BALB/c mice by intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg of E. coli LPS. Cytotoxicity and lymphoproliferation assay were preformed together with the measurement of IL-1b, IL-2 and TNFa production, and quantification of ROS. Natural killer activity, spontaneous lymphoproliferative response, IL-2, TNFa, IL-b release and ROS production were increased after LPS injection. In conclusions, ROS and proinflammatory mediators produced by immune cells in response to LPS are involved in the oxidative stress of endotoxic shock. This oxidative state alters some functional characteristics of leukocytes (proliferation and NK activity)., V. M. Víctor, M. De la Fuente., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The aim of our study was to characterize resistance to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in Langendorff-perfused rat hearts and effectivity of ischemic preconditioning (PC) under condition of simulated acute hyperglycemia (SAHG) by perfusion of the hearts with Krebs-Henseleit (KH) solution with elevated glucose concentration (22 mmol/l). I/R injury was induced by 30- min coronary occlusion followed by 120-min reperfusion and PC by two cycles of 5-min occlusion/5-min reperfusion, prior to I/R. The severity of I/R injury was characterized by determination of the size of infarction (IS, expressed in % of area at risk size) and the amount of heart-type fatty acid binding protein (h-FABP, a marker of cell injury) released from the hearts to the effluent. Significantly smaller IS (8.8±1 %) and lower total amount of released h-FABP (1808±660 pmol) in PC group compared with IS 17.1±1.2 % (p<0.01) and amount of h-FABP (8803±2415 pmol, p<0.05) in the non-PC control hearts perfused with standard KH solution (glucose 11 mmol/l) confirmed protective effects of PC. In contrast, in SAHG groups, PC enhanced IS (21.4±2.2 vs. 14.3±1.3 %, p<0.05) and increased total amount of h-FABP (5541±229 vs. 3458±283 pmol, p<0.05) compared with respective non-PC controls. Results suggest that PC has negative effect on resistance of the hearts to I/R injury under conditions of elevated glucose in vitro., M. Zálešák, P. Blažíček, D. Pancza, V. Ledvényiová, M. Barteková, M. Nemčeková, S. Čarnická, A. Ziegelhöffer, T. Ravingerová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The Morris water maze (MWM) is one of the most common tasks used to assess spatial learning and memory ability in rodents. Genetic strain and gender are two prominent variants that influence spatial performance. Although it was reported that ICR (Institute of Cancer Research) mice exhibited an unchanged baseline performance in the training phase of the MWM task, this outbred strain has been widely used in learning and memory studies, and little is known regarding the effects of sex on behavioral performance. In this study, we demonstrated that both male and female ICR mice could complete the MWM task. Furthermore, a significant sex difference was observed, with females having shorter escape latencies and longer durations in the target quadrant in both the acquisition and test phases. Our findings emphasize the necessity of careful examination of not only the strain effect on behavioral performance but also the sex effect., J.-F. Ge, ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury