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Biomedical subjects

D Horáková

Publications and source records attributed to D Horáková.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Adiponectin and insulin sensitivity].

BACKGROUND: Adiponectin is a fat tissue protein that plays a role in maintaining the homeostasis of glucose and lipids, along with counteracting a number of risk factors associated with atherosclerosis and obesity. In addition, adiponectin has an effect on insulin sensitivity. The aim of this work was to assess concentrations of adiponectin in predefined groups of individuals and to analyse the associations between adiponectin and other metabolic parameters. METHODS AND RESULTS: The studied population comprised four groups of individuals, A-D. A--healthy controls, B--patients with impaired lipid metabolism, C--the obese, and D--patients with metabolic syndrome. When comparing the levels of adiponectin in groups of patients with impaired lipid metabolism (B), the obese (C), and patients with metabolic syndrome (D) with healthy controls (A), no statistically significant difference was observed between groups B and C and healthy individuals. In contrast, statistically significant difference was found when concentrations of adiponectin in patients with metabolic syndrome (D) were compared to those in healthy controls. Individuals with metabolic syndrome had the lowest levels of adiponectin - 5.3 mg/1 (men) and 5.6 mg/1 (women). The correlation coefficient for the association between adiponectin and HDL was R=0.57, for adiponectin and triglycerides R=-0.46, for adiponectin and BMI R=-0.37, for adiponectin and glycemia R=-0.34, for adiponectin and insulinemia R=-0.39, and for adiponectin and the QUICKI index R=0.44. CONCLUSIONS: One possible method of the complex evaluation of the metabolic syndrome development and its metabolic consequences is the assessment of adiponectin levels. Low levels of adiponectin indicate the development of insulin resistance.

Adiponectin↗
PubMed2005

[Assessment of the incidence of metabolic syndrome].

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome represents a disease with high prevalence and influence on the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to estimate frequency of metabolic syndrome in the district Sumperk, in years 1979-1981 based on the analysis of large Preventive check-ups database. METHODS AND RESULTS: Database of Preventive oncologic check-ups from Sumperk district comprising 40 099 subjects with follow up in years 1979-1981 has been used to assess the metabolic syndrome prevalence. Incidence of the risk factors of the metabolic syndrome have been calculated and compared with current situation in the Czech Republic. The estimated incidence of metabolic syndrome ranged from 2.2% to 8.4%, according to the selected criteria. As risk factors diabetes type II or glycaemia higher than 6.1 mmol/l, systolic or diastolic hypertension and BMI higher than 30.0 kg/m2 were considered. It has been found that metabolic syndrome is increasing with increasing age in both male and female population. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to assume, based on the results of this study that the incidence of the metabolic syndrome is increasing in the last decades. It is necessary to focus our attention on the simple and practical methods for early detection of metabolic syndrome. Important is also the prevention because metabolic syndrome plays important role as a predictor of serious cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Future possibilities of the multiple sclerosis treatment].

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Pathogenetic mechanisms involve inflammation and neurodegeneration leading to myelin sheaths destruction and irreversible nerve fibre loss. At present mainly the inflammatory part can be influenced and undoubtedly only the earliest beginning of the treatment can effectively postpone irreversible disability. High-dose corticosteroids remain the "gold standard" in MS attack treatment. Interferon beta and glatiramer acetate represent disease modifying drugs. Both of these medicaments decrease the number of attacks for about 30 %, however each patient responds differently. In many cases new attacks appear and it is necessary to intensify the treatment--to add immunosuppresives, to use combinations of steroid and cytostatic treatment. Intravenous immunoglobulins represent second line treatment. In the case of rapid disease progression immunoablation and stem cells transplantation is available. From recently tested drugs the most successful was the monoclonal antibody natalizumab. Unfortunately because of serious adverse effects in patients treated by combination of interferon beta + natalizumab, the application has been stopped. Monoclonal antibody against inteleukin 12 and chemokine receptor CCR2, cytostatics fumarate, laquinimod and cladribine are also tested in the clinical studies. DNA vaccination represents revolutionary opportunity of inducing tolerance against myelin autoantigens.

Humans↗
PubMed2002

The serologic screening for celiac disease in the general population (blood donors) and in some high-risk groups of adults (patients with autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis and infertility) in the Czech republic.

The prevalence of celiac disease (CD) was determined in healthy blood donors and in high-risk groups of adults (a total of 1835 adults--randomly selected 1312 healthy blood donors, 102 patients with primary osteoporosis, 58 patients with autoimmune diseases and 365 infertile women). It was calculated on the basis of a two-step serologic screening method--in the first step IgA and IgG antigliadin antibodies (AGA) and IgA anti-gamma-glutamyltransferase ('transglutaminase') antibodies (ATG) were estimated, in the second step sera positive for IgA AGA and/or IgA ATG were examined for antiendomysial IgA (AEA) antibodies. Immunoenzymic assay (ELISA) was used for determining of AGA and ATG antibodies; immunofluorescence method, performed on human umbilical cord tissue, was used for assaying of AEA antibodies. Total serum IgA level in only IgG AGA positive subjects was measured by routine turbidimetric method. 0.45% of healthy blood donors, 0.98% of osteoporotic patients, 2.7% of patients suffering from autoimmune disease and 1.13% of women with infertility considered as immunologically mediated were found to be positive in both steps of serologic screening (AGA and/or ATG and antiendomysium positive). The presumed high prevalence of seropositivity for CD in apparently healthy Czech adult population was confirmed. In the high-risk groups, the prevalence of seropositivity for CD was approximately 2-4 times higher than in healthy blood donors. The real prevalence of CD in the tested groups, however, can be estimated after performing small intestinal biopsy in the seropositive patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

The influence of the growth phase of enteric bacteria on electrotransformation with plasmid DNA.

Salmonella typhimurium LB5000 and Escherichia coli JM109 were transformed by electroporation. In accordance with the chemical transformation methods, the growth phase of these electrocompetent bacteria had a strong impact on transformation efficiency. Survival of bacteria after the high-voltage electrical pulse was also influenced by the growth phase. Both bacterial species were most successfully electrotransformed when microbial cells were harvested at the late lag phase. The second optimum for transformation reached E. coli cells in the mid-exponential and S. typhimurium cells in the late exponential phase. Transformation efficiencies ranged from 3.4 x 10(4) to 2.7 x 10(5) transformants per microgram DNA in the case of S. typhimurium and from 2.8 x 10(2) to 8.8 x 10(5) transformants per microgram DNA in the case of E. coli. Survival of cells after the electrical pulse in late lag and late exponential phases was about 20% higher than during other phases of growth. Preparing electrocompetent cells from later phases of their growth is more useful for practice, because it provides more biomass with good yield of transformants.

Colony Count, Microbial↗
PubMed1983

Epidemiology and prevention of ischaemic heart disease in automobile industry workers.

Following on the epidemiological study of cardiovascular diseases carried out in the rural population of Northern Bohemia in 1970 a long-term ischaemic heart disease prevention programme was launched in a group of 2582 men aged between 30-59 years, worked of two automobile plants in the district of Mladá Boleslav. Under der programme "Protected Your Heart", sponsored by the Automobile Works National Enterprise (AZNP), workers were urged to adjust their food intake in keeping with the principles of rational nutrition, to stop smoking and to take regular after-work cross-country 4 km/1 hr walks. No such programme was carried out at the automobile plant LIAZ serving as control.

Adult↗