Biomedical subjects

Miloslav Krsiak

Publications and source records attributed to Miloslav Krsiak.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Different patterns of spinal cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA expression in inflammatory and postoperative pain.

Levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA, but not those of COX-1, were reported to be raised significantly after peripheral inflammation in the rat spinal cord. The aim of the present study was to ascertain whether this pattern of COX-2 and COX-1 expression applies also to other pain conditions induced by surgical procedure. Experiments were performed on two types of pain models. In a model of postoperative pain, 1 cm longitudinal incision was made through skin, fascia and muscle of the plantar aspect of the right hind paw in anaesthetized rats. In the second model, peripheral inflammation was induced by unilateral, intraplantar injection of carrageenan in the right hind paw. Carrageenan injection or skin incision produced marked and significant reduction of paw withdrawal latencies to noxious radiant heat stimuli after 2 and 6 hr. Under the acute inflammation 2 and 6 hr after carrageenan injection levels of COX-2 mRNA were markedly raised (7.8 and 15.5 times; P<0.001, respectively) while spinal levels of COX-1 mRNA were not significantly altered (n.s.). In contrast, spinal levels of COX-2 mRNA were raised less markedly in a model of postoperative pain (4.9 times at 2 hr; P<0.001 and 2.9 times (n.s.) at 6 hr after surgery) whilst levels of COX-1 mRNA in the lumbar spine were increased significantly (2.3 times; P<0.001) 6 hr after surgery. The present findings indicate that expression of COX-2 mRNA in the spine is less dominant in postoperative pain than in inflammatory pain and that spinal COX-1 mRNA is upregulated in postoperative pain.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Human evolution: humanistic selection and looking to the future.

Cultural evolution has predominated over biological evolution in modern man (Homo sapiens sapiens). Cultural evolution differs from biological evolution not only by inheritance of acquired characteristics but also, as is proposed in the present essay, by another kind of selection mechanism. Whereas selection in biological evolution is executed according to a criterion of reproductive success (the natural selection), selection in cultural evolution appears to be carried out according to human and humanistic criteria (success or fitness in meeting human needs, interests and humanistic values--"humanistic selection"). Many humanistic needs or values do not seem to be prerequisite for reproductive success, yet some of them (e.g. a need for freedom) seem to be inborn. Innateness, humanistic selection (decisive at a community level) and hierarchy of some human needs, interests and values appear to give cultural evolution a generally upward trend although long periods of stagnation or even regression may occur. Modern humans appear to be still at the early stage of their cultural evolution. A further cultural evolution of man appears to be, in contrast to biological evolution, predictable (with an optimistic outlook) and testable. The problem is that the hopeful result of this test will probably be known only in the fairly remote future provided that this species will not become extinct before that.

Biological Evolution↗

PubMed2005

Dexmedetomidine selectively suppresses dominant behaviour in aggressive and sociable mice.

Dexmedetomidine is a highly specific alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonist, which is now clinically used to induce sedation in patients in the intensive care units. Behavioural effects of dexmedetomidine have been little studied so far. The drug was reported to reduce behaviour such as locomotion or measures of anxiety or aggression in animals. The aim of the present study was to ascertain whether dexmedetomidine inhibits behaviour uniformly or with respect to particular stimuli or situations. Therefore, behavioural effects of dexmedetomidine were studied in the social conflict test in male mice (after three weeks of individual housing), which provides a wide spectrum of behavioural activities in two types of animals (aggressive and sociable mice) as well as in the activity cage. Dexmedetomidine (5-40 microg/kg i.p.) decreased locomotion in the activity cage and this effect was fully antagonized by atipamezole, a selective alpha2-adrenereceptor antagonist. However, dexmedetomidine did not reduce locomotion during social conflict. The only significant effects during social conflict were a selective and dose-dependent antiaggressive effect in aggressive mice and a selective reduction of social investigation ('sociability') in sociable mice. Thus, dexmedetomidine appears to inhibit predominantly dominant behaviour evoked by biologically important stimuli. The ability of dexmedetomidine to reduce aggression might be utilized for treatment of aggressive states. Sedation caused by dexmedetomidine can be easily disrupted and thus the drug may have an advantage over benzodiazepines or neuroleptics, which are used in this indication.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

PubMed2002

Trends in consumption of calcium channel blockers in the Czech Republic during 1993-1999 and comparison with selected countries: drug utilization study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the patterns of consumption in calcium channel blockers (CCB) groups in the Czech Republic between 1992 and 1999 and make a comparison with selected countries. METHODS: This was part of a drug utilization study using WHO methodology [Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification/defined daily doses (ATC/DDD)]. The wholesale data collected by drug distributors were used. Utilization was calculated as the DDDs for 1000 inhabitants per day. In focus was the consumption of short-acting nifedipine. Comparison with wholesale data from Finland, Norway, Germany and Australia was made. RESULTS: There was a decreasing tendency to use short-acting nifedipine in the Czech Republic over the period 1993-1999. Four years after publication of warning evidence, short-acting nifedipine still accounted for 23% of all calcium channel blockers in our country. The abundance of second-generation CCBs increased from less than 1% in 1993 to 43% in 1999. The consumption of short-acting nifedipine in the Czech Republic and Germany is probably three times more frequent than in Nordic countries and Australia. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of short-acting nifedipine in the Czech Republic 4 years after recognition of its risks still remains very high. This suggests that implementation of clinical trial results to clinical practice is very slow and ineffective.

Calcium Channel Blockers↗