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Evaluation Studies 2011; 32(Suppl 1): 8-14 PubMed PMID: 22167211 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases:genetics, Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2, Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1:genetics, Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A:genetics, Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System:genetics, Cytochrome P450 Family 2, Cytochromes:genetics, Enzyme Activation:drug ef.   

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to find whether probiotic Lactobacillus casei influences the expression or the activity of cytochromes P450 (CYP) and whether it has an influence on the level of CYP mRNA in male rats.

DESIGN: Live bacterial suspension of L. casei was administered orally (gavage) to healthy male Wistar rats daily for 7 days. Control group of rats was treated with the saline solution. Sections of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, caecum and colon were dissected from each experimental animal. In all individual samples, the expression of selected CYPs was determined by Western blotting. The levels of expression of CYPs were also evaluated by mRNA using the real-time PCR method.

RESULTS: There were changes observed in the expression of CYP enzymes and in the CYP mRNA levels along the intestine after application of L. casei. The expression of CYP1A1 enzyme was found to be decreased in the proximal part of the jejunum and colon, CYP1A1 mRNA level was decreased in the distal part of the jejunum, ileum and caecum. Thus, the changes in CYP1A1 protein or mRNA were observed along the intestine of male rats. Similarly, a decreased expression of the caecal CYP2E1 mRNA and of the duodenal CYP3A9 mRNA after treatment of rats with L. casei was found.

CONCLUSION: Probiotic L. casei might be able to contribute to prevention against colorectal cancer by decreasing levels of certain forms of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes; moreover, in general, there is a possibility of interactions with concomitantly taken pharmacotherapeutic agents....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(Suppl 2): 21-23 PubMed PMID: 22101877 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, C-Reactive Protein:analysis, Czech Republic:epidemiology, Family Characteristics, Fatigue:psychology, Female, Humans, Immunochemistry, Male, Middle Aged, Nephelometry and Turbidimetry, Poverty:psychology, Socioeconomic Factors, Stress, Psychologica.   

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase serum protein produced by the liver. High plasma levels of CRP have been associated primarily with infection, but elevated CRP levels have also been found to be associated with more than one hundred conditions and factors, including social and economic factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate the possible association between individuals' number of children and plasma levels of C-reactive protein, we studied a representative population of 2,426 adults. CRP was analyzed using the high sensitivity method (hsCRP). Individuals were divided into five groups of zero, one, two, three and four and more children.

RESULTS: We found that individuals with more children had significantly higher levels of plasma hsCRP than individuals without children or than individuals with a low number of children (p for trend <0.001). This association could reflect the known associations between CRP and higher economic stress, exhaustion, episodic stress and chronic stress.

CONCLUSIONS: We found significantly elevated levels of plasma CRP in individuals with more children than in individuals without children or with a low number of children....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(4): 469-474 PubMed PMID: 21876500 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Amphetamine-Related Disorders:genetics, Catechol O-Methyltransferase:genetics, Central Nervous System Stimulants:adverse effects, Czech Republic, Family Health, Female, Gene Frequency, Genetic Predisposition to Disease:genetics, Haploty.   

OBJECTIVES: About 25,000 serious methamphetamine abusers live in the Czech Republic among the total population of 10 million. Dependence on methamphetamine is markedly related to the brain neurotransmitter dopamine, metabolised by catechol-O-methyltransferase enzyme. The main aim of the study was to ascertain whether the Val158Met catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphism is associated with methamphetamine dependence in this Central European country.

METHODS: One hundred and twenty-three subjects dependent on methamphetamine (women N=44), parents of sixty-seven dependent individuals, and four hundred healthy controls (women N=250) were involved into the study. We performed a population-based as well as family-based genetic association studies.

RESULTS: We did not find any significant association between the Val158Met catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphism and methamphetamine dependence using the population-based or family-based design (p=0.41-0.66; Chi-Square Test or UNPHASED program, Version 3.1.4, respectively). We found a trend toward a statistically significant difference between the Val allele carriers and Met/Met homozygotes in the frequence of psychotic symptoms induced by methamphetamine (more frequent in Val carriers; p=0.062; Chi-Square Test).

CONCLUSION: Further research involving haplotype analysis and other dopamine-related genetic polymorphisms in large populations is needed. More attention should also be paid to possible role of the Val158Met catechol-O-methyl-transferase gene polymorphism in individual clinical subtypes of dependence on methamphetamine involving e.g. psychotic features or violence....

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Case Reports 2009; 30(6): 705-708 PubMed PMID: 20038924 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Deglutition, Family Conflict:psychology, Female, Foreign Bodies:diagnosis, Humans, Needles, Self-Injurious Behavior:diagnosis, Suicide, Attempted:psychology,.   

: Self-harm represents a serious and pathological behavior that occurs most notably during adolescent years and currently seems to be a problem that is on the increase. Self-harm is a self destructive behavior which most frequently takes the form of cutting and burning. Relative to suicidal behavior, self-harm, in and of itself, is not intended to be lethal and tends to be repeated and addictive. However, in cases of self-harm the risk of suicidal behavior cannot be ignored. This presentation is a case study of a girl who engaged in an unusual form of self-harm, by swallowing needles....

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Journal Article 2009; 30(Suppl 1): 25-28 PubMed PMID: 20027139 Citation  Keywords:  Adenomatous Polyposis Coli:genetics, Cohort Studies, Exons, Family, Genes, APC, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Humans, Mutation, Polymorphism, Genetic, Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Slovakia,.   

OBJECTIVES: Polymorphism in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene was analyzed in 33 families suspected of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) without identified APC gene mutation. Screening of 104 members of mentioned families for polymorphism in the APC gene, was performed using single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and DNA sequencing.

RESULTS: Twelve different types of polymorphism were found in the cohort of the families analyzed. Nine polymorphisms were located within exon 15, one within exon 6, one within exon 11 and one within exon 13. Of the 12 polymorphisms, 11 were silent substitution and only one was responsible for the amino acid change - D1822V, which was identified in 60% of the families analyzed.

CONCLUSION: The most frequently detected polymorphism D1822V is potentially associated with the risk of colorectal cancer. Three detected polymorphisms - Y486Y, T1493T and S1756S - also seem to be associated with colon cancer risk. All these polymorphisms may be used as markers for diagnosis of colorectal cancer. The importance of other detected polymorphisms remains still unclear, but their involvement is being continuously observed....

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Journal Article 2008; 29(5): 722-727 PubMed PMID: 18987581 Citation  Keywords:  Adamantane:analogs & derivatives, Amino Acid Sequence, Animals, Arginine:genetics, Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases:antagonists & inhibitors, Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid, Crystallography, X-Ray, Cytochrome P450 Family 2, Enzyme Inhibitors:pharmacolo.   

OBJECTIVES: Understanding the enzyme mechanism of P450 enzymes needs a detailed knowledge of substrate-enzyme interactions. Here, we examined the interaction of cytochrome P450 2B4 with a diamantanoid substrate.

METHODS: The interaction was followed using a photoactivable label, 3-azidiamantane. After photochemically driven reaction, the labeled enzyme was cleaved by trypsine and the labeled peptides separated by HPLC and identified with the help of radioactivity (for tritiated label) and mass spectrometry. The results were analysed on the basis of the known X-ray structures for mammalian cytochromes P450.

RESULTS: Identification of labeled peptides has shown that the probe (binding as a substrate to the enzyme) was attached to fragments: 30-48 (the most likely positions of the label are Leu44, Gln45 and Asp47), 127-140 (with Arg133 labeled, as indicated by mass spectrometry), 359-373 and 434-443 (the exact position of the label unknown). The structural comparison indicates considerable differences in Arg133 interaction with heme propionates, connected with binding of the substrate. Labeling of this residue may thus reflect its involvement in modulation of cytochrome P450 activity.

CONCLUSION: The results show existence of additional binding sites for substrate on cytochrome P450 2B4, located close to the surface of the enzyme....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(Suppl 1): 135-145 PubMed PMID: 17262003 Citation  Keywords:  Family Therapy, Humans, Patient Compliance, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy, Group, Schizophrenia:therapy, Schizophrenic Psychology,.   

: The author gives a critical overview of various psychotherapeutic approaches used with persons with schizophrenia and their families. It is emphasized that these approaches are to be used in conjunction with pharmacological treatment and should always be individualized for each patient depending on the phase and severity of illness. Individual psychotherapy, particularly cognitive-behavioural modality, group therapy, and family therapy are described in some detail. Special attention is given to compliance therapy....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(Suppl 1): 147-159 PubMed PMID: 17262002 Citation  Keywords:  Caregivers, Family, Family Relations, Humans, Patient Compliance, Quality of Life, Schizophrenia:therapy, Schizophrenic Psychology, Socioenvironmental Therapy,.   

: Family represents an important supportive social network for most patients with schizophrenia. In order to provide safe and low-stress environment, necessary for the successful long-term treatment of schizophrenia the family must be helped. Family members suffer both emotionally and financially. Their burden is high and quality of life is low. Relatives change their life values and preferences when a severe mental illness occurs in the family and are ready to cooperate. Family interventions constitute an integral part of complex schizophrenia treatment. To be successful interventions must take into account relatives beliefs, perspectives and issues of concern. The goal of this paper is to 1) overview studies on family burden, 2) provide theoretical background for family interventions, 3) describe a family psychoeducational approach as an optimal treatment modification....

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