Biomedical subjects

F Novak

Publications and source records attributed to F Novak.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Protein kinase C activity and isoform expression during early postnatal development of rat myocardium.

Total protein kinase C (PKC) activity, its isoform expression, and concentration and fatty acid (FA) composition of diacylglycerol (DAG) were determined in the left ventricular myocardium of the rat during early postnatal development (d 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10). PKC activity measured by the incorporation of 32P into histone IIIS decreased between d 2 and 10 in the homogenate as well as in cytosolic, membrane (100,000 g), and nuclear-cytoskeletal-myofilament fractions (1000 g). Likewise, the expression of PKC isoforms (alpha, delta, and epsilon) determined by immunoblotting generally declined during the period analyzed, although with a variable pattern. In the membrane and nuclear cytoskeletal myofilament fractions, PKCdelta and PKCepsilon expression decreased markedly by d 3, returning to or close to the d 2 level immediately on d 5. PKCalpha expression in the membrane fraction remained almost unchanged by d 7, declining thereafter. PKCdelta and PKCepsilon were associated predominantly with particulate fractions, whereas PKCalpha was more abundant in the cytosolic fraction. DAG concentration exhibited a significant decline by d 5, consistent with the decrease in maximal PKC activity. The unsaturation index of FA in DAG tended to decrease on d 3 owing to the lowered proportion of all polyunsaturated FA of n-6 and n-3 series. These results demonstrate that the developmental decrease in PKC activity and expression in the rat myocardium is not linear and that subcellular localization of the enzyme exhibits isoform-specific day-by-day changes during the early postnatal period. These changes are compatible with the view that PKC signaling may be involved in the control of a rapid switch of myocardial growth pattern during the first week of life.

Aging↗

PubMed2001

Effect of postpyloric feeding on gastroesophageal regurgitation and pulmonary microaspiration: results of a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent to which postpyloric feeding reduces gastroesophageal regurgitation and pulmonary microaspiration in critically ill patients. DESIGN: Randomized trial. SETTING: A medical/surgical intensive care unit at a tertiary care hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Intensive care unit patients were expected to remain ventilated >72 hrs. We excluded patients with esophageal, gastric, or small bowel surgery in the last week and patients with overt or clinically significant gastrointestinal bleeding. We studied 33 patients; 42.4% were female, mean age (sd) was 59.2 (+/- 16.8) yrs, and mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 22.5 (7.8). INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to gastric or postpyloric enteral feeds. Technetium 99-sulphur colloid was added to the feeds for 6 hrs of each of the first 3 days on study. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: We sampled the oropharynx and trachea hourly for the 6 hrs per day that patients received radioisotope-labeled enteral feeds, and the level of radioactivity in these specimens was measured. We defined an episode of gastroesophageal regurgitation and microaspiration as an increase in radioactivity >100 counts per minute/g. Patients fed into the stomach had more episodes of gastroesophageal regurgitation (39.8% vs. 24.9%, p =.04) and trended toward more microaspiration (7.5% vs. 3.9%, p =.22) compared with patients fed beyond the pylorus. When the logarithmic mean of the radioactivity count was compared across groups, there was a trend toward an increase in gastroesophageal regurgitation (3.7 vs. 2.9 counts/g, p =.22) and a trend toward increased microaspiration (1.9 vs. 1.4 counts/g, p =.09) in patients fed into the stomach. Patients who had gastroesophageal regurgitation were much more likely to aspirate than patients who did not have gastroesophageal regurgitation (odds ratio: 3.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.36, 7.77). CONCLUSIONS: Feeding beyond the pylorus is associated with a significant reduction in gastroesophageal regurgitation and a trend toward less microaspiration.

APACHE↗

PubMed1991

Lack of essential enzymes for the biosynthesis of C19 and C18 steroids in gonads of the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria.

Ovaries and testes of the African migratory locust, Locusta migratoria migratorioides, were incubated in vitro with six tritiated steroid precursors. Three developmental stages were investigated--1 day, 14 days, and 6 weeks after adult moulting. 20 alpha-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD), 20 beta-HSD, 17 beta-HSD, 3 beta-HSD/isomerase, C17-C20 lyase, glucuronyl-transferase, sulfotransferase, and acyltransferase were identified in both sexes. A synthesis of androgens or estrogens comparable to the vertebrate type, however, was not apparent in the locust gonads. 20 alpha-HSD, 20 beta-HSD, and 17 beta-HSD activities were high, while more important steps in steroid synthesis such as 3 beta-HSD and C17-C20 lyase were far less intense. Ovarian 17 alpha-hydroxylase activity was slight. Aromatase activity was not demonstrated. Water-soluble conjugate formation was high in the incubations of "14th-day" and "6th-week" gonads but was absent in "1st-day" ovaries and testes. Active ester formation of pregnenolone was demonstrated in "6th-week" testes. The other steroid conversions were similar in all developmental stages investigated. Major differences between testes and ovaries were not observed. The gonads of the migratory locust are concluded not to produce androgens or estrogens.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

[From Wertheim's radical abdominal hysterectomy to conization].

In surgical treatment of cancer of the uterine cervix, we were convinced for a long time that it is only by increasing the radicality that we can improve the result of the treatment. But it was only by massive application of some newer methods of detection of various forms of the uterine cervix that we changed that view. Largest changes, however, and different views as well, become evident in deciding on the methods of surgical treatment of the I A stadium. Concurrently with a demonstration of that process, illustrated by the experiences of 2603 Wertheim operations, performed at the Gyneacologic Clinic in Ljubljana, some unknown or wrongly shown historical facts of the surgical treatment of cancer of the uterine cervix are presented.

Female↗

PubMed1988

The presence of a pregnenolone-binding factor in the copulatory organ of the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria migratorioides R. & F.

The presence of binding sites for nonecdysteroid steroids was investigated in the cytosol of several tissues of the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria migratorioides. Binding of androgens was not observed. Most tissues, however, showed nonsaturable binding of estrogens and in some tissues saturable progestin binding could be demonstrated. A pregnenolone binder, that was found to be present in the male copulatory organ, was further studied. It showed a dissociation constant of 4.4 (+/- 1.6) X 10(-8) M. This is the first report of a nonecdysteroid steroid-binding factor in an insect tissue.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

[The oak processionary caterpillar (Thaumetopoea processiona L.) and man: urticating apparatus and mechanism of action].

The urticating apparatus of the oak processionary caterpillar was studied by electron microscopy at times when this species was exceptionally abundant in France. Proteins of urticating hairs were studied by electrophoresis on acrylamide gel and were compared with thaumetopoein, an urticating protein of the pine processionary caterpillar, using immunological techniques. A thaumetopoein-like protein was found to be present in oak processionary urticating hairs. This protein has a histamine-releasing effect in the guinea-pig. Contact dermatitis caused by the oak processionary caterpillar is described and compared to that produced by the pine processionary caterpillar.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Thaumetopoein: an urticating protein from the hairs and integument of the pine processionary caterpillar (Thaumetopoea pityocampa Schiff., Lepidoptera, Thaumetopoeidae).

Hairs of the Thaumetopoea pityocampa caterpillar (Lepidoptera) cause a cutaneous reaction in man and animals. The irritating fraction extracted from hairs contains soluble proteins which were separated by various electrophoretic and immunoelectrophoretic techniques. Some of these proteins are present also in cuticle and haemolymph. One protein of 28,000 mol. wt is hair specific and caused a reaction in pig skin identical to that produced by hair extract. It is therefore an urticating protein which we have named thaumetopoein. This protein is formed of two subunits of molecular weights 13,000 and 15,000. It is present in large quantities in the glands producing urticating hairs.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Bioavailability for rats of thiamin in whole wheat and thiamin-restored white bread.

The relative biological value of thiamin in leavened bread (whole wheat and thiamin-restored white) and thiamin mononitrate was examined by using thiamin-deficient rats as the test model. Erythrocyte transketolase (ETK) activities and liver thiamin content responded positively to graded but suboptimal levels of dietary thiamin in these rats. Biological values were calculated (slope ratio assay) by using these response parameters, which may depict the body's thiamin status, at least in the deficient rats. Compared to thiamin in thiamin mononitrate (100%), the biological value of thiamin in breads measured 88% (white bread) and 91% (whole wheat bread) based on ETK activity and 68% (white bread) and 75% (whole wheat bread) based on liver thiamin response. Thus, diets high in fermented cereal foods (thiamin enriched or not) may require a generous allowance of thiamin to compensate for reduced biological value.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

PubMed1980

The treatment of invasive carcinoma of the cervix at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Ljubljana.

In this report the treatment of carcinoma of the cervix in the period from 1965 through 1972 at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Ljubljana, is presented. In that period 651 patients were admitted for treatment and 488 were operated; the operability was 73.8%. The primary mortality rate was 1.02% and the frequency of ureteral fistulas 1.93%. The 5-year survival rate were: for stage I 81.8%-94.5% for stage Ia and 76.2% for stage Ib, for stage II 57.83% and for stage III 28.38%. The treatment and mortality for cases with positive lymph-nodes is discussed, and the results of treatment are also presented.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1980