There are concerns about altered vascular functions that could play an important role in the pathogenesis and influence the severity of chronic disease, however, increased cardiovascular risk in paediatric cystic fibrosis (CF) has not been yet fully understood. Aim was to analyze vascular disease risk and investigate changes over times in CF and controls. We prospectively enrolled 22 CF subjects (a median age of 16.07 years), and 22 healthy demographically matched controls (a median age of 17.28 years) and determined endothelial function. We utilized a combined diagnostic approach by measuring the plethysmographic Reactive Hyperemia Index (RHI) as the post-to preocclusive endothelium-dependent changes of vascular tone, and biomarkers that are known to be related to endothelial dysfunction (ED): asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA), high-sensitive CRP (hsCRP), VCAM-1 and E-selectin. RHI values were significantly lower in CF young adults (p<0.005). HsCRP (p<0.005), E-selectin (p<0.001) and VCAM-1 (p<0.001) were significantly increased in CF patients since childhood. The findings have provided a detailed account of the ongoing process of microvascular dysfunction with gradual progression with the age of CF patients, making them further at risk of advanced vascular disease. Elevations of biomarkers in CF children with not yet demonstrated RHI changes but with significantly reduced RHI in adulthood and lipid profile changes indicate the possible occurrence of ED with CF-related specific risk factors over time and will enable us to provide the best possible support.
Inhibin B is a gonadal dimeric polypeptide hormone that regulates synthesis and secretion of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in a negative feedback loop. The aim of the present study was to determine changes in serum inhibin B, gonadotropins and testosterone concentrations during childhood and puberty in males. We studied the relationship between circulating inhibin B, gonadotropins and testosterone in serum of healthy boys during the first two years of life and then in pubertal development. Using a recently developed two-side enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), inhibin B levels were measured in the serum of 78 healthy boys divided into eleven age groups from birth to the end of pubertal development. In addition, serum levels of gonadotropins and testosterone were measured. Serum inhibin B, gonadotropins and testosterone increased during the first months of postnatal life. A peak in serum inhibin B and gonadotropins concentrations was observed around 3-4 months of age. There was a significant positive correlation between serum inhibin B and gonadotropins and testosterone levels during the first 2 years of life. After this early increase, serum inhibin B, gonadotropins and testosterone levels decreased significantly and remained low until puberty followed by an increase beginning with the onset of puberty. Serum levels of inhibin B reached a peak at stage G3 of puberty. Around midpuberty, inhibin B lost its positive correlation with luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone from early puberty, and developed a strong negative correlation with FSH, which persisted into adulthood. We conclude that inhibin B plays a key role in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal hormonal axis during male childhood and pubertal development. Inhibin B is a direct marker of the presence and function of Sertoli cells and appears to reflect testicular function in boys., M. Chada, R. Průša, J. Bronský, K. Kotaška, K. Šídlová, M. Pechová, L. Lisá., and Obsahuje bibliografii
a1_Inhibin B, produced by granulosa cells in the ovary, is a heterodimeric glycoprotein suppressing synthesis and secretion of the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). The aim of the present study was to determine hormone profiles of inhibin B, FSH, luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol in girls during childhood and puberty and to evaluate whether inhibin B is a marker of follicle development. We examined the correlation between inhibin B and gonadotropins and estradiol during the first two years and across the pubertal development. Using a specific two-side enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), inhibin B levels were measured in the serum of 53 healthy girls divided into 8 groups according to age. In addition, serum FSH, LH, and estradiol were measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay in all serum samples. A rise in serum levels of inhibin B (55.2±7.3 ng/l, mean ± S.E.M.) and FSH (1.78±0.26 UI/l), concomitant with a moderate increment of serum LH (0.36±0.09 UI/l) and estradiol (45.8±12.2 pmol/l) concentrations was observed during the first three months of life and declined to prepubertal concentrations thereafter. A strong positive correlation between inhibin B and FSH (r = 0.48, p<0.05), LH (r = 0.68, p<0.001) and estradiol (r = 0.59, p<0.01) was demonstrated during the first 2 years of life. A rise in serum levels of inhibin B, FSH, LH, and estradiol was found throughout puberty. Inhibin B had a strong positive correlation with FSH (stage I of puberty: r = 0.64, p<0.05; stage II of puberty: r = 0.86, p<0.01), LH (I: r = 0.61, p<0.05; II: r = 0.67, p<0.05), and estradiol (II: r = 0.62, p<0.05) in early puberty. From pubertal stage II, inhibin B lost this relationship to gonadotropins and estradiol. Serum inhibin B and FSH levels increased significantly during pubertal development, with the highest peak found in stage III of puberty (133.5±14.3 ng/l), and decreased thereafter., a2_In conclusion, inhibin B is produced in a specific pattern in response to gonadotropin stimulation and plays an important role in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis during childhood and puberty in girls. Inhibin B is involved in regulatory functions in developing follicles and seems to be a sensitive marker of ovarian follicle development., M. Chada, R. Průša, J. Bronský, M. Pechová, L. Lisá., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Štúdia vychádza z predpokladu, že pocit zmysluplnosti sveta a života je dôležitou súčasťou vývoja osobnosti dieťaťa a dospievajúceho. Podáva viaceré výskumy, ktoré poukazujú na to, ako prežívaná zmysluplnosť vplýva v mladom veku na zdravie a kvalitu života. Dospievajúci niekedy vyhrocuje otázku o zmysle života až existenciálne, hľadá vlastnú identitu, čo je neraz sprevádzané vnútornými otrasmi. Už deti potrebujú chápať zmysluplné súvislosti. Zmysel života je aj jedným z cieľov výchovy. Článok podáva stručný prehľad a popis psychologických techník a hier zameraných na zmysel života. Nejde o konkrétne podrobné návody, ale o typy činností, ktoré môžu pri práci s deťmi a mládežou byť prínosom. Hra ako prostriedok je vhodná preto, lebo je neoddeliteľnou súčasťou života detí a zároveň je jedným z dôležitých prostriedkov výchovy. and The study assumes that a feeling of meaningfulness of the world and life is an important part of the development of personality of a child and an adolescent. The study presents several other studies that show how the experienced meaningfulness influences the health and the quality of life in the early years. An adolescent sometimes brings the question of the meaning of life to existential limits; he/she seeks his/her own identity. This process is often accompanied by inner shocks. Even children need to understand meaningful contexts and connections. Meaning of life is also one of the goals of upbringing and education. The article presents a short overview and a description of psychological techniques and games that concentrate at the meaning of life. They are not concrete instructions, but types of activities that can be of benefit by the work with children and youth. Games are suitable means, because they are part of the lives of children and at same time they present one of the important means of upbringing and education.
At the example of Czech board game "Pestrá cesta zeměmi koruny svatováclavské" [A manifold journey through the St. Wenceslaus' Lands] the paper explores the ways in which the Czech nationalists tried to influence children and spread the proper konwledge abou what the motherland meant. and Článek zahrnuje poznámkový aparát pod čarou
Studie se zabývá vztahem mezi mírou prožívané smysluplnosti života a osobnostními rysy. Většina dosud provedených výzkumů má korelační charakter a nevypovídá proto o příčinnosti vztahů. Autoři využili data z Brněnské longitudinální studie celoživotního vývoje člověka a hledali nejen současné koreláty životní smysluplnosti, ale i její antecedenty. Analyzovány byly údaje od 72 dospělých (41 žen) ve věku 41 – 44 let, kteří vyplnili Logo-test E. Lukasové a Cloningerův TCI. Dále byly od respondentů k dispozici Eysenckův dotazník MPI, který respondenti vyplnili v 16 letech svého věku, a posouzení jejich temperamentu ve věku 12 – 30 měsíců. Míra prožívané smysluplnosti života souvisí pozitivně s úrovní persistence a sebeřízenosti respondentů, s extraverzí v 16 letech a dětskou disinhibovaností a negativní afektivitou.