We examined the upregulation of ET-1/ETBR/eNOS signaling in renoprotective effect of vitamin D in kidney fibrosis model in mice using unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). One group was treated with intraperitoneal injection of 0.125 mg/kg of Calcitriol (UUO+VD). Vascular remodeling was quantified based on lumen area and lumen/wall area ratio (LWAR) of intrarenal arteries using Sirius Red staining. ET-1, ETBR, eNOS, CD31 and VEGF mRNA expressions were quantified using qRT-PCR. Focusing on endothelin-1 (ET-1) signaling in endothelial cells (EC), siRNA of ET-1 was performed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) for reducing ET-1 expression. Then HUVECs were treated with and without 100 nM Calcitriol treatment in hypoxic and normoxic conditions to elucidate ET-1/eNOS signaling. Our in vivo study revealed vascular remodeling and renal ischemia attenuation after Calcitriol treatment. Vascular remodeling was attenuated in the UUO+VD group as shown by increasing lumen areas and LWAR in intrarenal arteries. These findings were associated with significant higher CD31 and VEGF mRNA expression compared to the UUO group. Vitamin D treatment also increased ET-1, ETBR and eNOS mRNA expressions. Our in vitro study demonstrated Calcitriol induced ET-1 and eNOS mRNA expressions upregulation in HUVEC under normoxic and hypoxic condition. Meanwhile, siRNA for ET-1 inhibited the upregulation of eNOS mRNA expression after Calcitriol treatment. Vitamin D ameliorates kidney fibrosis through attenuating vascular remodeling and ischemia with upregulating ET-1/ETBR and eNOS expression., N. Arfian, M. H. H. Kusuma, N. Anggorowati, D. B. Nugroho, A. Jeffilano, Y. Suzuki, K. Ikeda, N. Emoto., and Seznam literatury
Vitamin D had been for a long time investigated for its effects on bone metabolism. Recently has been observed that the incidence of some neurodevelopmental disorders (including autism) increases hand in hand with vitamin D deficiency. Indeed, vitamin D was reported to modulate the biosynthesis of neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors; moreover, its receptor was found in the central nervous system. Vitamin D deficiency was therefore assessed as a risk factor for autism, however the biological mechanism has not yet been revealed. In our review we focused on potential connections among vitamin D, steroids and autism. Potential mechanisms of vitamin D action are also discussed., L. Máčová, M. Bičíková, D. Ostatníková, M. Hill, L. Stárka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Fibre lasers belong to the most spectacular achievements of contemporary optoelectronics and photonics. Variety of fibre lasers were demonstrated ranging from mighty continuous-wave systems with multi-kilowatt output powers to elegant femtosecond-pulse sources for precise frequency and time measurements. Present progress of fibre lasers follows admirable success of erbium doped fibre amplifier, one of the key components enabling fast global penetration of the Internet. In the constribution, we present basic principles of fibre lasers as well as some of their applications., Vláknové lasery patří mezi nejpůsobivější úspěchy fotoniky posledních let. Poskytují hrubou sílu využitelnou pro řezání a sváření v průmyslu, ale lze je nalézt i v delikátních zařízeních vyvíjených pro dosud nejpřesnější měření frekvence a času. Na začátku současného rozmachu této technologie stál erbiem dopovaný vláknový zesilovač, který byl jednou z klíčových komponent umožňujících rychlý rozvoj internetu. V příspěvku jsou uvedeny základní principy činnosti vláknových laserů a některé jejich aplikace., Pavel Peterka, Pavel Honzátko, Miroslav Karásek., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Optická vlákna nemusejí sloužit jen pro přenos informace. Pokud do tenkého jádra ve středu vlákna umístíme chemické prvky schopné laserové akce (stimulované emise záření), můžeme generovat velmi intenzivní a přitom kvalitní svazek záření. Vláknové lasery začínají nahrazovat starší typy laserů a otevírají zcela nové obzory v řadě oborů: od lékařství, řezání a sváření v průmyslu až po obranné systémy., Optical fibres also have applications outside the optical telecommunications sphere. If the thin core inside the optical fibre is doped with chemical elements capable of laser action (stimulated emision of radiation), one can generate a very intense and high quality beam of radiation. Fibre lasers have begun to replace older types of lasers and therefore, opens up new horizons in many fields ranging from medicine, industrial cutting and welding to defence., Pavel Peterka, Pavel Honzátko, Ivan Kašík., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The purpose of this work was to detect groundwater pollution and to identify the conditions of soil and groundwater near the coal waste disposal "Panewniki" Halemba-Wirek Coal Mine using geoelectrical measurements. The firs t applied method was the VLF (Very Low Frequency) technique. This method, using military signals, allowed to perform the in-phase and the quadrature maps. Data were collected from four study areas located near the coal waste dump. Observed anomalies on both maps for each area showed places with different conductivity al lowed to detect the contaminated and uncontaminated zones. The VLF survey indicated that the contamination occurs in the eastern part of study area and is characterized by positive values of both measured electrical fields (the in-phase and the quadrature components). After preliminary contaminated zones were recognized using VLF met hod, an electrical imaging meth od was applied. Two electrical imaging profiles were carried out near the waste dump. The measurements a llowed to create the geoele ctrical model of surrounding area and to investigate the leachate plume. The electrical imaging showed that the greatest pollution occur in the area immediately adjacent to the coal waste what is confirmed by VL F survey. Based on the geological and ge ophysical knowledge from archives and on present researches, the contaminated aquifer with electrical resistivity of 5 to 15 Ω m deposited at depths of 3 to 7 m was found., Arlena Kowalska, Marta Kondracka and Maciej Jan Mendecki., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
We tested whether the known cytochrome c oxidase (COX) inhibition by nitric oxide (NO) could be quantified by VO 2 kinetics during constant load supra-Anaero bic Threshold (AT) exercises in healthy trained or untrained subjects following aerobic training or nitrate administration. In cycle er gometer constant load exercises supra-AT, identified in previous incremental tests, VO 2 kinetics describe a double exponential curve, one rapid and one appreciably slower, allowing the area between them to be calculate in O 2 l. After training, with increased NO availability, this area decreases in inverse ratio to treatment efficacy. In fact, in 11 healthy subjects after aerobic tr aining for 6-7 weeks, area was decreased on average by 51 %. In 11 untrained subjects, following the assumption of an NO donor, 20 mg isosorbide 5 mononitrate, area was decrea sed on average by 53 %. In conclusion, supra-AT VO 2 kinetics in constant load exercises permit the quantification of the inhibitory effect NO-dependent on COX after either physical training or nitrate assumption., D. Maione ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
V práci je prezentovaná problematika tvorby vol'ných radikálov kyslíka, ich elektrónovej štruktúry, vlastností a metódy detekcie. Pozornosť je venovaná poškodzujúcemu účinku vol'ných radikálov na nukleové kyseliny, proteíny a biologické membrány., The article is dealing with the topic of oxygen-containing free radicals, their electronic structure, properties and methods of detection. Attention is paid to chemical and biochemical aspects of these free radicals, i.e., the sources of their generation, the metal-mediated formation of the reactive species and the damage to lipids, proteins and nucleic acids initiated by them., Klaudia Jomová, Ľubomír Zelenický, Vlasta Brezová, Marián Valko., and Obsahuje bibliografii
It is well known that antagonists of N-type voltage-gated calcium channels inhibit the evoked quan tal release of acetylcholine in amphibian neuromuscular synapses. This, however, does not exclude the functional expression of other types of voltage-gated calcium channels in these nerve terminals. Using immunocytochemistry, we detected the expression of the α1A subunit of P/Q-type calcium channels (that is otherwise typical of mammalian motor nerve endings) in the frog neuromuscular junction. In addition, we demonstrated that the P/Q-type channel blocker ω-agatoxin IVA (20 nM) reduced the action potential- induced calcium transient and significantly decreased both spontaneous and evoked mediator release. Our data indicates the functional expression of P/Q-type calcium channels in the frog motor nerve ending which participate in acetylcholine release., L. F. Nurullin ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The aim of the following study is to analyze Voltaire’s biography about Charles XII as an early part of Voltaire’s historiographical work and also to analyze the ideas of the Enlightenment the author used. The study also tries to answer the question which lesson a reader should get and which interpretations should be on the other hand avoided., Martin Liška., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy