Článek přináší několik postřehů, údajů a úvah současného rektora UK inspirovaných přemýšlením o univerzitě při jejím kulatém výročí. Kromě historických souvislostí se věnuje také aktuálnímu stavu vědy a studia na naší nejstarší univerzitě a projektům připravovaným pro její rozvoj v budoucnu. and The Rector of Charles University presents some observations, data and reflections on the occasion of the University’s anniversary. He mentions not only the historical context, but also present-day sciences and study opportunities at the most ancient Czech university, as well as projects involving its future development.
Pulmonary hypertension is a group of disorders characterized by elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance. To test our hypothesis that combining two drugs useful in experimental pulmonary hypertension, statins and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), is more effective than either agent alone, we induced pulmonary hypertension in adult male rats by exposing them to hypoxia (10 %O2) for 3 weeks. We treated them with simvastatin (60 mg/l) and DHEA-S (100 mg/l) in drinking water, either alone or in combination. Both simvastatin and DHEA-S reduced mPAP (froma mean±s.d. of 34.4±4.4 to 27.6±5.9 and 26.7±4.8 mmHg, respectively), yet their combination was not more effective (26.7±7.9 mmHg). Differences in the degree of oxidative stress (indicated by malondialdehydeplasma concentration), the rate of superoxide production (electron paramagnetic resonance), or blood nitric oxide levels (chemiluminescence) did not explain the lack of additivity of the effect of DHEA-S and simvastatin on pulmonary hypertension. We propose that the main mechanism of both drugs on pulmonary hypertension could be their inhibitory effect on 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, which could explain their lack of additivity.