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Biomedical subjects

J Bures

Publications and source records attributed to J Bures.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

[Indirect calorimetry and pulmonary function in chronic pulmonary disease].

Data derived from indirect calorimetry in patients with stable chronic pneumopathies were evaluated together with their pulmonary function data (spirometry, diffusing capacity, blood gases). Their basal metabolic rate was significantly higher (116.1% of the predicted value), this increase being more expressed in the patients with hypoxemia and with more severe obstructive disorder. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the increased energy expenditure in hypoxemia was accompanied with increased lipid oxidation. There also was a correlation between the patients' nutritional status (evaluated by their body mass index) and their pulmonary function. These results confirm the impairment of pulmonary function in malnourished patients.

Basal Metabolism↗

[Parenteral and enteral nutrition in patients with diseases of the gastrointestinal system].

A literature review is given on effectivity and safety of total parenteral and enteral nutrition in gastroenterological diseases and associated disorders. There is a well-known close association between malnutrition and morbidity. Administration of total parenteral and/or enteral nutrition is often life-saving regimen and omission of this therapy could be considered as a seviour vitium artis in such a condition. However, there are some diseases with a lack of proved effectiveness of nutritional support. It is necessary for patients' safety to be stressed that it is necessary to give parenteral and enteral nutrition only in indicated cases (being aware of risk, cost and possible benefit). This regimen can be administrated only by well-trained skilled staff (nutrition teams if possible) with regular controls and patient monitoring.

Enteral Nutrition↗

Tetrodotoxin blockade of amygdala overlapping with poisoning impairs acquisition of conditioned taste aversion in rats.

The role of several forebrain structures in the association of the short-term gustatory memory (GSTM) of the conditioned stimulus (CS; 0.1% sodium saccharin) with the visceral unconditioned stimulus (US; 0.15 M LiCl, 2% b.wt.) in acquisition of conditioned taste aversion (CTA) was investigated. Experiment 1 examined the effects of bilateral reversible inactivation of amygdala (Amy), hippocampus (Hipp), gustatory cortex (GC), bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST), lateral hypothalamic area (LHA), ventral thalamus (VT) or LHA+VT, induced by intracerebral injection of tetrodotoxin (TTX; 10 ng/microliters per site) applied before i.p. injection of LiCl to rats anesthetized by pentobarbital (50 mg/kg) immediately after saccharin drinking. Amy blockade resulted in a complete disruption of learning, while the inactivation of the remaining areas examined produced mild or no impairments. The dose-related effects of TTX injection into Amy were investigated in Experiment 2. Doses of 3 and 1 ng TTX were as effective as the 10 ng dose used in Expt. 1. However, 0.3 ng or saline did not interfere with CTA acquisition. Analysis of the retrograde amnesic effect produced by transient amygdalectomy (Experiment 3), showed that TTX (10 ng) injected immediately or 1.5 h after LiCl application induced a marked learning disruption, whereas no amnesia was elicited at 6 and 24 h post-acquisition intervals. It is suggested that Amy plays an essential role in the associative phase of acquisition, but not in the consolidation of the permanent taste aversion engram.

Amygdala↗

Impairment of place navigation of rats in the Morris water maze by intermittent light is inversely related to the duration of the flash.

The relative contribution of allocentric and egocentric orientation to place navigation was studied in Long-Evans rats trained in the Morris water maze in permanent light, permanent darkness or flickering light (1 Hz, flash durations 25, 100, 300, 500 and 800 ms). After 3 days of training (nine blocks of four trials), escape latencies were 38 and 7 s in the dark- and light-trained groups, respectively, and corresponded to the light-dark ratio in the flicker-trained groups. Shorter-than-predicted latencies in the 25- and 100-ms groups reflected visual persistence of approximately 200 ms. The difference between flickering light (100 ms) and permanent light performance during acquisition of place navigation to a new target was significantly smaller in rats previously trained in light than in naive animals. It is concluded that longer flash duration gives the animals more opportunities to locate relevant landmarks and to estimate their distance.

Animals↗

Universality of parabrachial mediation of conditioned taste aversion.

Disruption of conditioned taste aversion (CTA) by tetrodotoxin (TTX) blockade of parabrachial nuclei elicited after ingestion of the gustatory CS and before administration of the visceral US is revealed by unchanged CS preference in retrieval test performed two days after acquisition. The universality of the above amnesia was examined in rats. In Experiment 1, parabrachial TTX disrupted CTAs when sodium saccharin (0.1%), quinine hydrochloride (0.0072%), sodium chloride (0.9%) or a garlic extract were used as the CS and i.p. LiCl (0.15 M, 2% body weight) as the US. In Experiment 2, parabrachial TTX disrupted CTAs when 0.9% NaCl was used as the CS and i.p. injection of LiCl (0.15 M, 2% body weight), D-amphetamine (3 mg/kg) or carbachol (0.15 mg/kg) served as the US. Experiment 3 showed that post-drinking parabrachial TTX blocked also CTA induced by LiCl drinking, i.e. under conditions of CS-US identity. Experiments 4 and 5 demonstrated that the amnesia is not confounded by TTX-induced reduction of fluid intake because the CTA disruption was well expressed even when tested after recovery of normal fluid intake 3 days after TTX injection and in animals receiving 12 days of preacquisition adaptation to limited fluid access. It is concluded that parabrachial nuclei represent an important point of convergence for various classes of CTA eliciting stimuli.

Afferent Pathways↗

Interhippocampal transfer of place navigation monocularly acquired by rats during unilateral functional ablation of the dorsal hippocampus and visual cortex with lidocaine.

To study the neural mechanisms of interhippocampal transfer of lateralized place navigation engrams in rats, lidocaine was injected via chronically implanted cannulae to reversibly inactivate the hippocampal formation and the visual cortex on one side. The eye opposite the blocked side was occluded. Under these conditions, rats learned the location of an invisible platform in a water maze [mean escape latencies per four-trial block (t) = 5-6 s at the performance asymptote]. Monocular intact brain retrieval with the trained eye (t = 7) was better than with the untrained eye (t = 13). However, analysis of each retrieval trial indicated untrained eye performance was only poor on the first trial (t = 30). To test whether trans-commissural read-out alone or write-in (i.e. interhippocampal transfer) of the lateralized engram explains the above results, rats acquired a new platform location (t = 5). Two groups were then given a 30-s "free swim" (the platform was removed) with intact brain and either the trained or untrained eye occluded. A third group did not have this "transfer" trial. Retrieval was tested with the trained hippocampus and visual cortex blocked. With the trained eye occluded, retrieval in the rats that had the transfer trial (t = 11) was better than in those that did not (t = 25), but slightly worse than in rats tested with the untrained eye, hippocampus and visual cortex blocked (t = 7). Additionally, retrieval was similar, independent of whether the trained (t = 12) or untrained (t = 11) eye was open on the transfer swim. The 30-s swim alone did not induce comparable savings. We conclude that interhippocampal transfer of lateralized place learning is easily induced, is equal if the transfer is facultative or imperative, and involves both trans-commissural read-out and write-in processes.

Animals↗

Differential contribution of motor cortex and caudate nucleus to instrumental tongue-forelimb synchronization in rats: a functional ablation study.

The functional ablation technique was used to assess the role of motor cortex and caudate nucleus in a complex skilled movement. Rats were trained to synchronize tongue and forepaw movements in a drinking box equipped with a retractable spout which was automatically withdrawn after every lick but could be returned by pressing and releasing a lever placed 4 cm below the spout. The animals learned to perform short presses synchronized with the lick cycle in such a way as to allow continuous drinking. Neural circuits implementing these lick-associated instrumental movements were blocked by intracranial injection of 10 ng of tetrodotoxin. Bilateral blockade of the motor cortex interfered with lick-synchronized bar pressing, but did not significantly influence licking from a stationary spout. Both licking and bar-pressing were impaired by bilateral injection of tetrodotoxin into the lateral part of the caudate nucleus for the duration of the tetrodotoxin-induced inactivation of the target region. The instrumental tongue-forelimb synchronization recovered considerably later, i.e. after two to three days. Functional blockade of the medial part of the caudate nucleus caused only a partial impairment of lick-synchronized bar pressing lasting less than 7 h and did not significantly influence consummatory licking. It is concluded that the tongue-forepaw synchronization is disrupted by blockade of motor cortex or lateral caudate considerably longer than the performance of the isolated component movements.

Animals↗

Place navigation in the Morris water maze under minimum and redundant extra-maze cue conditions.

Complex relational processes underlying place navigation learning were analyzed by minimizing the relational elements available to rats. The animals navigated in a standard water maze in darkness using controlled remote visual cues (back-lit shapes in opaque buckets aimed at the pool to keep the background dark) while being tracked by an infrared camera and computer. Learning was similar with 2 (AB) or 4 (ABCD) cues and as good as in a fully lit room with many cues (asymptotic escape time t = 5-7 s). The ABCD-trained rats were not impaired by removal of any 2 cues (t = 7). For AB-trained rats, adding 2 new cues (ABEF) or replacing AB with EF (EF) caused small (t = 11) or big disruptions (t = 20), respectively. By block 2, both groups (ABEF, EF) returned to asymptotic performance. But testing the ABEF rats on block 2 with only EF indicated that EF was learned (t = 12) but not as well as when only EF was present (t = 5). Thus transfer from a redundant to a minimal cue condition is immediate and easier than vice versa. Theoretical implications are discussed.

Association Learning↗

Absence of snapshot memory of the target view interferes with place navigation learning by rats in the water maze.

Contribution of visual and nonvisual mechanisms to spatial behavior of rats in the Morris water maze was studied with a computerized infrared tracking system, which switched off the room lights when the subject entered the inner circular area of the pool with an escape platform. Naive rats trained under light-dark conditions (L-D) found the escape platform more slowly than rats trained in permanent light (L). After group members were swapped, the L-pretrained rats found under L-D conditions the same target faster and eventually approached latencies attained during L navigation. Performance of L-D-trained rats deteriorated in permanent darkness (D) but improved with continued D training. Thus L-D navigation improves gradually by procedural learning (extrapolation of the start-target azimuth into the zero-visibility zone) but remains impaired by lack of immediate visual feedback rather than by absence of the snapshot memory of the target view.

Animals↗

Increased urinary zinc and copper excretion in colorectal cancer.

Although several studies have described an increase in urinary zinc output in cancer patients, little attention has been paid to the excretion of copper. In this study, we investigated urinary excretion of zinc and copper, and serum levels of alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, an acute phase protein, in 22 patients with colorectal cancer. Urinary excretion of copper and zinc were significantly increased compared to the reference group (77 +/- 72 vs. 32 +/- 14 mumol/mol creatinine, P < 0.05, and 1.50 +/- 0.62 vs. 0.70 +/- 0.41, P < 0.002, respectively). In addition, a negative correlation was observed between urinary copper and serum alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (rs = -0.5256, P < 0.02). In conclusion, urinary excretion of copper, as well as that of zinc, appears to be elevated in colorectal cancer. The finding of a negative correlation between urinary copper and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein supports the postulated role of the latter in regulating renal glomerular permselectivity.

Adult↗

Two-dimensional electrophoretic study of normal colon mucosa and colorectal cancer.

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis has been used to analyze polypeptide composition of specimens of human normal colon mucosa and colorectal carcinomas. Immobilized pH gradient in the first dimension improved the separation and enabled us to analyze proteins from whole tissue samples with high reproducibility. Polypeptides were separated within sigmoidal 3.5-10 pH gradient and range of mol. weight 15-200 KD. In global, protein patterns of normal and malignant tissue seemed to be close to each other. We attempted to combine two-dimensional electrophoretic separation with the immunoblotting technique using patient sera to identify possible tumor antigens. From a wealth of spots on silver stained protein maps of adjacent normal colon mucosa or tumor tissue, only few spots gave positive reaction. These spots might be classified into two groups: 1) common for normal colon mucosa and tumor, 2) specific for tumor tissue. The extent of patient's antibody reaction with antigens appeared to correspond to urinary neopterin level, an index of immune activation.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Thrombocytes as an indicator of activity in Crohn's disease treated with total parenteral and/or enteral nutrition].

UNLABELLED: Inflammatory bowel disease can be associated with increased platelet count. Aim of our study was focused on assessing thrombocyte count in evaluation of the activity in Crohn's disease (CD). The study included a total of 19 patients [6 men, 13 women (aged 18-57 years, mean 33, median 28]. All patients were malnourished in active stage of the disease on total parenteral and/or enteral nutrition (TP/EN). Thrombocytes were estimated at the beginning and after 3 weeks of TP/EN in venous blood sample using automatic analyser Coulter Counter JT3 (normal range: 130-380.10(9)/l). Serum prealbumin, transferrin, haptoglobin, alpha 1-orosomucoid and C-reactive protein were measured simultaneously. Thrombocytes count below 400.10(9)/l was found only in 1/19 at the beginning and in 7/19 patients in the end of the study. After 3 weeks of TP/EN a significant platelet count fall was found (mean +/- sd: 472 +/- 98 vs. 354 +/- 110, p < 0.01). A correlation was found between thrombocytes and serum prealbumin (r = -0.3871, p < 0.05), haptoglobin (r = 0.5247, p < 0.001), alpha 1-orosomucoid (r = 0.4857, p < 0.01) a C-reactive protein (r = 0.4354, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Thrombocyte count helped in the assessing of disease activity in CD on 3-week-TP/EN. Improvement of clinical status, increase of nutritional parameters and decrease of positive acute phase reactants were associated with a fall of platelet count in 15/19 patients.

Adolescent↗

[Microbiological study of patients with enterocutaneous fistulae treated with long-term total parenteral nutrition].

The authors followed up 12 patients with dehiscences of surgical wounds and postoperative enterocutaneous fistulas treated by on a long-term basis by complete parenteral nutrition. Previous operations were performed on account of different non-tumorous (11/12) and tumourous (1/12) diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Microbiological examinations were made in every patient on admission and during total parenteral nutrition, always once a week for a total period of 2-8 weeks (mean 4.4; median 4.5). The authors examined aerobic and facultatively anaerobic bacteria in smears from the fistulas, stomies, dehiscent surgical wounds and from the rectum. The findings did not confirm the suspicion of local nosocomial infection. Strikingly often bacteria producing indole were found (in 8/12 examined subjects) and/or bacteria with positive urease (12/12) and lecithinase activity (9/12 patients). In the detected strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (in 8/12 examined patients) lecithinase activity was confirmed in all. It cannot be ruled out that the above described enzymatic bacterial activities may have contributed to the failure of conservative therapy in the majority of patients (10/12).

Adult↗

Reduced incidence of cortical spreading depression in the course of pentylenetetrazol kindling in rats.

Subconvulsive dosages (40 mg/kg) of intraperitoneally applied pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) elicit, after a latency of 1 min, slow potential waves of spreading depression (SD) in the thalamus and 20 s later also in the cerebral cortex of rats. The PTZ-induced SD waves appear only exceptionally in the caudate nucleus and hippocampus. Repeated daily application of 40 mg/kg PTZ elicits kindling of epileptic phenomena manifested by increasing incidence of high-amplitude spikes in the EEG, myoclonic jerks and minimal and later maximal generalized seizures but by decreasing incidence of cortical SD. It is concluded that kindled epileptic activity interferes with the generation of SD waves the reduced incidence of which may contribute to the development of more severe forms of epilepsy.

Animals↗

Rats do not experience cortical or hippocampal spreading depression as aversive.

Cortical spreading depression (SD) may produce some symptoms of the aura of classical migraine but it is less probable that it can account for the headache. The aversiveness of SD was examined in unanesthetized rats. In Exp. 1, rats with implanted cortical cannulae were confined in the dark compartment of the step-through apparatus and repeated waves of SD were elicited in one hemisphere. After two such training sessions the rats did not evince passive avoidance of the compartment associated with cortical SD. In Exp. 2, thirsty rats with implanted hippocampal electrodes were trained to drink from two different spouts A and B. Hippocampal SD was elicited when the animal was drinking from spout A but not from spout B. Drinking was interrupted shortly after appearance of the SD wave and gradually recovered over the subsequent 10 min, but up to ten spout A-SD pairings did not change the animal's preference for spout A. It is concluded that cortical or hippocampal SD has no immediate or delayed aversive consequences.

Animals↗

Place navigation in rats with unilateral tetrodotoxin inactivation of the dorsal hippocampus: place but not procedural learning can be lateralized to one hippocampus.

Lateralization of the Morris water maze task was examined by injecting 5 ng of tetrodotoxin (TTX) into one dorsal hippocampus (HPC) of chronically cannulated rats (n = 20). The task, acquired (A) during unilateral HPC block, was retrieved (R) during TTX blockade of the ipsi- (I) or contralateral (C) HPC. Escape latencies (in seconds) at 3 levels of acquisition and in the first 4-trial block of I or C retrieval suggest lateralization was absent after the first block (A = 49, I = 40, C = 44), partial after training to an efficient search strategy (A = 6, I = 9, C = 14), and complete after overtraining to goal-directed escape (A = 4, I = 4, C = 12), as further indicated by comparisons of A vs. R behavior and probe trials. The analyses also indicate that (a) HPC contributes to the acquisition but is unnecessary for retrieval of the procedural engram, (b) overtrained learning with one HPC or intact brain is similar, and (c) there is no left-right hemispheric specialization for place learning.

Animals↗

Differential effect of functional ablation of thalamic reticular nucleus on the acquisition of passive and active avoidance.

The possible contribution of inadvertent damage of the thalamic reticular nucleus to memory impairment caused by lesion of nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) was examined. Rats carrying chronically implanted cannulae received unilateral injection of 3 ng tetrodotoxin (TTX) into the reticular nucleus either 60 min before (PRE) or 2 min after (POST) acquisition of a combined passive avoidance (PAR)--active avoidance (AAR) task. Three days later retrieval was tested during unilateral TTX blockade of the reticular nucleus in the same (IPSI) or in the opposite (CONTRA) hemisphere. Unilateral inactivation of the reticular nucleus affected neither acquisition nor retrieval of PAR, but interfered with AAR acquisition under the PRE conditions. AAR reacquisition was impaired in the PRE-CONTRA but not in the other groups. The effects of reticular nucleus blockade (AAR disruption without PAR impairment) contrast with AAR facilitation and PAR disruption after NBM lesions. It is concluded that the consequences of NBM damage are not enhanced by unintentional thalamic encroachment.

Animals↗