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Journal Article 2014; 35(7): 640-644 PubMed PMID: 25617889 Citation  Keywords:  Adiponectin:blood, Adult, Blood Pressure:physiology, Blood Vessels:physiology, Brachial Artery:physiology, Humans, Hyperemia:blood, Hypogonadism:blood, Leptin:blood, Male, Resistin:blood, Testosterone:blood, Young Adult,.   

OBJECTIVE: Hypogonadism has major effects on the urogenital system, in addition to other systems, the cardiovascular system in particular. There have been few studies conducted on markers of atherosclerosis, such as flow mediated dilatation (% FMD), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and adipocytokine levels in idiopatic hypogonadotropic hypogonadal (IHH) males mostly in adult patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between androgens and adipocytokines and parameters of vascular functions in hypogonadal men.r />r /> MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 11 treatment naive IHH patients (group 1) and 15 age-matched healthy control males (group 2). A fasting blood sample was obtained for leptin, adiponectin and resistin. The endothelial functions were evaluated by studying % FMD and CIMT by high resolution B-mode ultrasound.r />r /> RESULTS: No significant differences in age, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were recorded between the two groups. The leptin level was significantly higher in group 1, whereas adiponectin and resistin levels were same between two groups. There was a negative correlation between total testosterone and carotid intima-media thickness (r=-0.656, p=0.008), and a negative correlation between total testosterone and leptin level (r=-0.794, p<0.001). No correlation was found between leptin and CIMT (p=0.184).r />r /> CONCLUSION: Testosterone deficiency in hypogonadal men is associated with vascular parameters of atherosclerosis. The findings may establish indications for testosterone replacement therapy in hypogonadal men....

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Journal Article 2014; 35(7): 633-639 PubMed PMID: 25617888 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Biomechanical Phenomena, Electromyography, Humans, Knee:innervation, Male, Muscle Strength:physiology, Quadriceps Muscle:innervation, Resistance Training, Walking:physiology, Weight-Bearing:physiology,.   

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of increasing load on changes in the muscle activity ratio and onset of vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps femoris (BF) during load-carrying walking.r />r /> MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen strength-trained men performed an isometric test for knee flexion/extension using a dynamometer followed by walking with progressively increasing loads of up to 75% of their body mass (BM). During the isometric tests and load-carrying walking, electromyography (EMG) data were collected from the VM, VL and BF in both legs together with 3D kinematics.r />r /> RESULTS: Significant changes in the activity ratio were found for the VM/VL (F3,93=5.92, p=0.0001) and VL onset (F3,81=6.8, p=0.0004). Other parameters showed no significant differences. VM/VL was significantly reduced between the 50BM (mean±SD: 0.89±0.4) and the 75BM condition (0.81±0.3). VL onset was significantly accelerated between the BM (26.11±8) compare and the 25% BM (19.47±9), 50% BM (21.21±10) and 75% BM (15.45±6) conditions.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Load-carrying walking is an exercise and movement activity that increases the activity of VL more than the activity of VM and accelerates the VL action together with the increased load, which can negatively influence knee stability. The VM/VL ratio and onset is equal when walking under weight-bearing conditions. The inter-muscular coordination is changed due to the increased load in complex movements even in individuals with high level of neuromuscular adaptation....

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Journal Article 2014; 35(7): 624-632 PubMed PMID: 25617887 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Czech Republic, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Disorders:diagnosis, Middle Aged, Mood Disorders:diagnosis, Neurotic Disorders:diagnosis, Psychometrics:methods, Psychotic Disorders:diagnosis, Reproducibility of Res.   

OBJECTIVE: Self-stigma in psychiatric patients is an issue deserving both research and therapeutic attention. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a Czech version of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) scale assessing the levels of self-stigma in individuals with mental disorders.r />r /> METHODS: It consists of 29 items classified into 5 subscales, namely alienation, stereotype endorsement, perceived discrimination, social withdrawal and stigma resistance. The study group comprised 369 patients with a mean age of 41.5±13.3 years, of whom 210 (56.6%) were females.r />r /> RESULTS: The most frequent diagnosis was neurotic disorders (46.1%), followed by affective disorders (18.4%), substance use disorders (13.3%), psychotic disorders (10.8%), personality disorders (9.5%) and organic disorders (1.6%). Reliability of the scale was evaluated by internal consistency analysis (α=0.91), the split-half method (Spearman-Brown coefficient: 0.93) and test-retest at 3 weeks from the first measurement (N=17; r=0.90, p<0.05).r />r /> CONCLUSION: Exploratory factor analysis of the scale was performed, its validity was verified and norms were established that were based on T-scores and sten scores for the entire scale and individual subscales. The Czech translation of the ISMI has adequate psychometric properties....

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Controlled Clinical Trial 2014; 35(7): 619-623 PubMed PMID: 25617886 Citation  Keywords:  Cell Adhesion Molecules:genetics, CpG Islands:genetics, DNA Methylation:genetics, Female, Humans, Immunoglobulins:genetics, Myelin and Lymphocyte-Associated Proteolipid Proteins:genetics, Papillomavirus Infections, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Sequence Anal.   

OBJECTIVE: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer disease affecting the female population. A key factor in development of the disease is the human papillomavirus infection (HPV). The disease is also impacted by epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation, which causes activation or exclusion of certain genes, and simultaneously the hypermethylation of cytosines in the promoters and turn-off of previously active genes occur. In this study, we focused on the introduction of pyrosequencing for the detection of DNA methylation of the selected CADM1 and MAL genes.r />r /> METHODS: DNA was isolated from cytological cervical smear of patients with different types of dysplasia [L-SIL (n=14), ASC-US (n=15), H-SIL (n=1)] and four control samples from healthy women. Prepared samples were further analyzed by bisulfite conversion and subsequent pyrosequencing (Pyromark Q96 ID, Qiagen, Germany). We examined the extent of methylation of CpG islands and as control samples of this method we used a fully methylated and unmethylated DNA. Methylation level (Met level) from each sample was quantified as the mean value [sum of all methylated CpG islands in %/total number of CpG islands (MAL n=4; CADM1 n=3)].r />r /> RESULTS: In total, 30 clinical samples and 4 control samples from healthy women were analyzed. By means of the analysis of the CADM1promoter region, the values of the Met level were obtained [fully methylated DNA (94.83 and 88); completely unmethylated DNA (0 and 0); and control samples from healthy patients (6.825 and 0.825), L-SIL (2.107 and 2.778), ASC-US (7.313 and 3.626), H-SIL (0 and 0)]. By means of the analysis of the MAL promoter region, the values of Met level were obtained [fully methylated DNA (53.25); completely unmethylated DNA (0.875); and control samples from healthy patients (2.925), L-SIL (1.517), ASC-US (2.833), and H-SIL (4)].r />r /> CONCLUSION: We introduced a pyrosequencing method for quantification of methylation of CADM1, MAL promoter regions, and detected methylations in clinical samples and also some basal methylation in healthy women....

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Journal Article 2014; 35(7): 613-618 PubMed PMID: 25617885 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Biopsy:adverse effects, Brain Neoplasms:mortality, Female, Humans, Lymphoma:mortality, Magnetic Resonance Imaging:methods, Male, Middle Aged, Morbidity, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Stereotaxic Techniques:adverse ef.   

OBJECTIVES: Stereotactic biopsy is a suitable method for sampling intrinsic brain lesions. Although this method is considered to be a safe procedure, some risk of complications still exists. The aim of the study was to retrospectively assess the morbidity and mortality of MRI-guided stereotactic biopsy of lesions which were histologically proven to be brain lymphoma.r />r /> METHODS: We retrospectively studied all accessible medical records for patients who had undergone MRI-guided stereotactic biopsy of brain lesions with histologically proven brain lymphoma from January 2007 to December 2012. Our cohort included 45 patients, 27 males and 18 females, aged 23-84 (63±14) years.r />r /> RESULTS: Forty-nine biopsies were carried out on 45 patients; the average number of tissue specimens was 3±1. The diagnostic yield of the stereotactic biopsy was 92%. Overall major morbidity directly related to stereotactic biopsy of brain lymphoma was 6.1% (3 cases) including 4.1% mortality (2 cases). Both deaths after the stereotactic procedure were due to intracranial hemorrhage and subsequent complications and both these patients had a history of treatment of systemic lymphomas. In one patient the stereotactic biopsy was complicated by a brain abscess which was successfully treated.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Stereotactic biopsy is still a mandatory diagnostic procedure for primary brain lymphomas, with an acceptable risk of complications. However, according to our results, the risk of complications can be higher in patients who have previously been treated for secondary lymphomas....

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Journal Article 2014; 35(7): 608-612 PubMed PMID: 25617884 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Brain:diagnostic imaging, Brain Edema:diagnostic imaging, Disease Models, Animal, Male, Rats, Wistar, Tomography, X-Ray Computed:methods, Water Intoxication:diagnostic imaging,.   

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether water intoxication affects the radiodensity of brain tissue in CT scan examination in the rat model of brain oedema.r />r /> METHODS: A standard CT scan of the brain was obtained in a group of rats, first at control conditions (controls - CG) and then after hyperhydration (oedema model-EG) in the region of interest (ROI) corresponding to the area of coronary sections with pixel size 0.125 mm in position A (bregma +2.43 mm), position B (bregma -2.92 mm), position C (bregma -12.73 mm). Densitometrically determined mean values (MV), expressed in Hounsfield units (HU) were processed by standard statistical methods.r />r /> RESULTS: The average MV density was 120.49±6.79 HU for the control measurement and 88.01±4.72 HU after the hyperhydration, which represents decrease in the density by 32.48 HU (p<0.001). In the control measurement the average value of HU for the position A was 121.98, for position B 112.4 and for position C 127.08. In conditions of hyperhydration, the average MV density in position A was 89.95 HU in position B 84.67 HU and in position C 89.43 HU. The differences between the CG and EG were in all positions A, B, C statistically significant (p<0.001). In the control measurement, the differences between position A×B (p<0.05) and B×C (p<0.001) were statistically significant. After hyperhydration no significant difference between the position A, B, C was found.r />r /> CONCLUSION: water intoxication caused by hyperhydration in rats can induce diffuse brain oedema, which is reflected in the CT examination by the decrease of brain tissue density, expressed in HU. The value of the measured density depends on the location and size of the measured brain area....

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Journal Article 2014; 35(7): 602-607 PubMed PMID: 25617883 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Breast Neoplasms:metabolism, Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast:metabolism, Carcinoma, Lobular:metabolism, Female, Fibroadenoma:metabolism, Humans, Membrane Lipids:metabolism, Middle Aged, Neoplasm Staging, Oxidative Stress:physiology, Postoperative P.   

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the level of oxidative damage to membrane lipids due to the breast cancer surgery in the early postoperative period.r />r /> PATIENTS AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected on the preoperative day and 24 hours postoperatively in 71 women operated for breast cancer, and preoperatively in 38 female patients with benign breast tumour. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the blood samples was estimated by measuring the concentrations of malondialdehyde+4-hydroxyalkenals (MDA+4-HDA) with spectrophotometry.r />r /> CLINICAL DATA INCLUDED: tumour site, tumour histological findings, cancer stage, grade, tumour volume, state of lymph nodes, type of surgery for breast, type of surgery for axilla.r />r /> RESULTS: Blood LPO level was similar in breast cancer patients and benign tumour patients (2.01±0.46 nmol/ml vs. 1.92±0.39 nmol/ml, respectively; p>0.05). In cancer patients, MDA+4-HDA increased on the first postoperative day, i.e. from 2.01±0.46 nmol/ml to 2.58±0.98 nmol/ml (p=0.0001). In women with benign breast tumour, LPO did not relate to the histological finding (p=0.8915). In the breast cancer group, preoperative LPO did not correlate with age, tumour volume and number of metastatic lymph nodes. Level of MDA+4-HDA was similar in stages I/II (2.03±0.46 nmol/ml) compared to stages III/IV (1.69±0.26 nmol/ml, p=0.1521). Consequently, levels of MDA+4-HDA did not relate to disease stage (p=0.1364).r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: Surgery for breast cancer causes peripheral increase in oxidative damage to macromolecules in the early postoperative period. Therefore, perioperative antioxidant supplementation should be considered....

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Journal Article 2014; 35(7): 594-601 PubMed PMID: 25617882 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Choice Behavior, Dominance-Subordination, Europe, Female, Humans, Male, Masochism:psychology, Reproduction, Sadism:psychology, Sexual Behavior:psychology, Sexual Partners:psychology, Surveys and Questionnaires, Urban Population, Young Adult,.   

OBJECTIVES: Equality between partners is considering a feature of the functional partnerships in westernized societies. However, the evolutionary consequences of how in-pair hierarchy influences reproduction are less known. Attraction of some high-ranking women towards low-ranking men represents a puzzle.r />r /> METHODS: Young urban adults (120 men, 171 women) filled out a questionnaire focused on their sexual preference for higher or lower ranking partners, their future in-pair hierarchy, and hierarchy between their parents.r />r /> RESULTS: Human pairs with a hierarchic disparity between partners conceive more offspring than pairs of equally-ranking individuals, who, in turn, conceive more offspring than pairs of two dominating partners. Importantly, the higher reproductive success of hierarchically disparate pairs holds, regardless of which sex, male or female, is the dominant one. In addition, the subjects preferring hierarchy disparity in partnerships were with greater probability sexually aroused by such disparity, suggesting that both the partnership preference and the triggers of sexual arousal may reflect a mating strategy.r />r /> CONCLUSION: These results challenge the frequently held belief in within-pair equality as a trademark of functional partnerships. It rather appears that existence of some disparity improves within-pair cohesion, facilitating both cooperation between partners and improving the pairs' ability to face societal challenges. The parallel existence of submissivity-dominance hierarchies within human sexes allows for the parallel existence of alternative reproductive strategies, and may form a background for the diversity of mating systems observed in human societies. Arousal of overemphasized dominance/submissiveness may explain sadomasochistic sex, still little understood from the evolutionary psychology point of view....

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