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Biomedical subjects

J Patocka

Publications and source records attributed to J Patocka.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Chemical agents and chemical terrorism.

Chemical terrorism is a new threat to the security of mankind, which scale essentially exceeds the impact of use of the most modem firearms. At present time all over the world threats from different radical elements to use radioactive materials, potent poisonous substances and pathogenic microorganisms for terrorist purposes became more frequent. High-toxic chemical substances can fall in terrorist hands through wide range of sources. Potentially misused types of chemical compounds are discussed in this article.

Chemical Warfare↗
PubMed2002

[Molecular mechanisms of biological effects of lithium].

Lithium has the inhibitory effect on many enzymes and multiple effects on some physiological processes. Lithium is also highly effective in the treatment of bipolar disorder, however, the mechanism of lithium action in the treatment of this psychiatric disorder is still unknown. A number of lithium-sensitive enzymes and putative important biomolecules have been proposed as potential targets of lithium action and these mechanisms are discussed in this review.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

[Toxins from the aspect of international control programs].

Toxins, chemical substances produced by practically all forms of life, represent a chemically broad group of compounds. Many of them are very toxic for human and represent a serious jeopardy because they may be misused through chemical warfare or terrorist attacks. This danger has been increasing recently because toxins are more and more available due to modern synthetic methods and application of genetic engineering. Therefore the international community adopted multilateral conventions and control regimes, which regulate handling with toxins. These fundamentals are implemented into the Czech system of law too.

Biological Warfare↗
PubMed2002

Fluoride plus aluminum: useful tools in laboratory investigations, but messengers of false information.

Aluminofluoride complexes (AlF(x)) form spontaneously in aqueous solutions containing fluoride and traces of aluminum ions and appear to act as phosphate analogs. These complexes have become widely utilized in laboratory investigations of various guanine nucleotide-binding proteins. Reflecting on many laboratory studies, a new mechanism of fluoride and aluminum action on the cellular level is being suggested. The long-term synergistic effects of these ions in living environment and their hidden danger for human health are not yet fully recognized.

Aluminum↗
PubMed2001

[Cholinesterases and their importance in the etiology, diagnosis and therapy of Alzheimer's disease].

Cholinesterases belong to esterases and represent important animal enzymes with multiple biological function. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) plays the key role in cholinergic neurotransmission, whereas the function of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) is still unrevealed. Both enzymes seem to act as neurogenic factors during the early embryogenesis and later on they may participate in some pathological alteration. In humans, these degenerative changes are related to the deposition of pathologic proteins in the brain and with the progress of the Alzheimer's dementia (AD). Both AChE) and BuChE become recently the target for the most frequently used therapy of AD--cholinesterase inhibitors.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed2001

The toxins of Cyanobacteria.

Cyanobacteria, formerly called "blue-green algae", are simple, primitive photosynthetic microorganism wide occurrence in fresh, brackish and salt waters. Forty different genera of Cyanobacteria are known and many of them are producers of potent toxins responsible for a wide array of human illnesses, aquatic mammal and bird morbidity and mortality, and extensive fish kills. These cyanotoxins act as neurotoxins or hepatotoxins and are structurally and functionally diverse, and many are derived from unique biosynthetic pathways. All known cyanotoxins and their chemical and toxicological characteristics are presented in this article.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

3-Nitropropionic acid and similar nitrotoxins.

3-Nitropropionic acid as well as 3-nitro-1-propanol and its beta-D-glucopyranoside (miserotoxin) are the plant and fungal toxins reported to interrupt mitochondrial electron transport resulting in cellular energy deficit. These nitrotoxins induce neurological degeneration in ruminants and humans. 3-Nitropropionic acid-intoxicated rats serve as the animal model for Huntington's disease.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Natural polyamines and their biological consequence in mammals.

The polyamines (putrescine, cadaverine, agmatine, spermidine and spermine), wide-spread in all organisms, have been shown to play a role in regulation of growth and differentiation of virtually all types of cells. Their role in many physiological and pathophysiological processes have been studied very intensively during the last two decades. Inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis have potential clinical uses as antitumor and antiparasitic agents. The brief summary with regard to their biological consequences in mammals is discussed in this paper.

Agmatine↗
PubMed1999

Capillary zone electrophoresis determination of galanthamine in biological fluids and pharmaceutical preparatives: experimental design and artificial neural network optimization.

Galanthamine is a third-generation cholinesterase inhibitor used against Alzheimer's disease. New analytical methods for the determination of galanthamine in pharmaceutical preparatives and biological fluids, such as urine and serum, were developed. An experimental design and artificial neural network approach were used for method optimization. Thirty-five ppb of galanthamine were determined in serum samples (with addition of 10 mM magnesium chloride and using solid-phase preconcentration).

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed1999

[Reassessment of the role of aluminum in the development of Alzheimer's disease].

The pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is related to the alterations in neurotransmission, beta-amyloid production, plaque formation and cytoskeletal abnormalities. The question of aluminium relevance to the etiology of AD cannot yet be adequately answered. Aluminium is currently regarded as the putative risk factor for the disease. Our paper shows that some of pathologic changes are not raised by aluminium alone, but by the aluminofluoride complexes. These complexes may act as the initial signal stimulating impairment of homeostasis, degeneration and death of the cells. By influencing energy metabolism these complexes can accelerate the aging and impair the functions of the nervous system. In respect to the etiology of AD, the long term action of aluminofluoride complexes may represent a serious and powerful risk factor for the development of AD.

Aluminum↗
PubMed1999

The most important microtubule natural inhibitors.

Natural microtubule inhibitors represent chemically very variegated family of structures with strong effect on cytoskeletal functions and the use of them is one of the most frequent therapeutic strategies for carcinoma treatment. The survey of the most important natural microtubule inhibitors is summarized in this paper.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1999

[Ion channels--target proteins for some animal toxins].

Advances in molecular biology along with improvements in electrophysiological techniques have increased the knowledge in the structure and function of many ion channels. Voltage-gated Na+ and K+ channels may become sensitive to biologically active substances such as animal toxins. Study of animal toxins can help to understand the molecular mechanisms of their action, but it can also reveal the tools for the future study of molecular physiology of ion channels.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Effect of 7-methoxytacrine and L-carnitine on the activity of choline acetyltransferase.

Changes of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in the hippocampus and the basal ganglia were studied in rats treated i.p. with L-carnitine (CRT) and 7-methoxytacrine (7-MEOTA) (i.m.) separately or 3-days treated with L-carnitine and then with one administration of 7-MEOTA. Both compounds increased ChAT activity when administered separately. 3-day treatment of CRT followed by administration of 7-MEOTA normalized ChAT activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Capillary zone electrophoretic determination of some drugs against Alzheimer's disease.

A new capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method for the determination of tacrine (THA), 7-methoxytacrine (7-MTHA) and their basic metabolites (THAm, 7-MTHAm) in pharmaceutical and biological samples (urine and serum) was developed. Separation of all compounds by CZE was carried out using a 46.6 cm untreated fused-silica capillary applying 20 kV separation voltage using 50 mM phosphate buffer of pH 2.8 for THA and THAm and of pH 7.8 for 7-MTHA and 7-MTHAm as background electrolyte (BGE). Detection was carried out at 240 nm (THA and THAm) and 248 nm (7-MTHA and 7-MTHAm). THA and THAm were separated in less than 4 min while 7-MTHA and 7-MTHAm were separated in less than 7 min. The detection limits (SIN = 3) obtained were 3 ppb for THA and 4 ppb for 7-MTHA in aqueous solutions; 50 ppb for THA and 47 ppb for 7-MTHA for the determination in urine (diluted 1:10); 52 ppb for THA and 56 ppb for 7-MTHA, in deproteinized serum samples. The methods are suitable for therapeutic drug monitoring of the drugs.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed1998

Central cholinergic nervous system and cholinergic agents.

Central cholinergic nervous system play important role in many physiological and behavioral functions in humans. The activity of the cholinergic nervous system depends upon the production and fate of acetylcholine and all compounds influenced its biosynthesis, storage, release, hydrolysis, interaction with different subtypes of cholinergic receptors, etc., there are very important drugs and therapeutics. This paper summarizes current views on many compounds which can interact with different parts of central cholinergic nervous system.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1998

Huperzine A--an interesting anticholinesterase compound from the Chinese herbal medicine.

Huperzine A, alkaloid from the Chinese herbal medicine Qian Ceng Ta, which is prepared from the moss Huperzia serrata, has been used in China for centuries to treat fever and inflammation. Huperzine A is a strong inhibitor of cholinesterases with high selectivity to acetylcholinesterase and in China is developed as therapeutic against Alzheimer's disease. May be that huperzine A will be better than other centrally active anticholinesterases in treating this neurodegenerative disorder. Huperzine A appears to have additional pharmacological properties that make it an attractive candidate therapy for clinical trials.

Alkaloids↗