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Biomedical subjects

J Fabian

Publications and source records attributed to J Fabian.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Is the ApoE polymorphism associated with dilated cardiomyopathy?

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is 34 kDa protein involved in the modulation of cholesterol transport and homeostasis. Polymorphism of the ApoE gene has been implicated in many chronic cardiovascular and neuronal diseases. ApoE epsilon4 allele has been reported to be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction, hypertension, coronary heart disease, etc. Fifty patients with the end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and advanced congestive heart failure were examined in our study. For evaluation of ApoE polymorphism, novel approach of fast screening of ApoE gene polymorphism by combination of PCR and blotting (CVD StripAssay) was used. Individual genotypes were correlated with basic cardiologic clinical parameters. The reported frequency of this allele in Caucasian population is 14.7 %. Our results showed that in patients with DCM frequency of the ApoE epsilon4 allele is 40 %. Frequency of the genotype epsilon2/4 was 58 % and epsilon3/4 was 22 %. Comparison with control Caucasian groups monitored by others clearly revealed that frequency of epsilon4 alelle is increased in patients with advanced stages of DCM. This observation suggests association of ApoE polymorphism with severe form of DCM. Physiological consequences of this observation remain to be clarified.

Alleles↗
PubMed2005

Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase gene expression in transplanted human heart.

BACKGROUND: Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) is an enzyme involved in the epinephrine synthesis. The aim of this study was to investigate PNMT gene expression in the transplanted human heart in relation to the time elapsed from heart transplantation (HTx) and selected clinical characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of PNMT in myocardial tissue were determined in 22 (21 males) patients at 0-12 years after HTx. Relative quantification of mRNA levels was performed using reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for correlation with heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), parameters of heart rate variability, and graft systolic and diastolic functions. RESULTS: During the first 3 years after HTx, PNMT mRNA levels were higher (mean +/- SEM) (0.75 +/- 0.06; n = 12) compared with later years (0.33 +/- 0.06; n = 10); (P < .01). HR variability in the low frequency band of the power spectrum (LF) was lower among patients during the first 3 years after HTx (2.73 +/- 0.31 vs 5.67 +/- 0.69 ms; P < .01). A significant negative linear correlation was observed between PNMT mRNA and LF (P = .05; r = -0.47). No association was noted between HR, BP, parameters of systolic or diastolic function, standard deviation of all RR intervals, or high frequency (0.15-0.40 Hz) bands of the 24-hour RR interval power spectrum. CONCLUSION: This work provides the first evidence of the presence of local PNMT transcription in human heart after HTx. Appearance of PNMT transcription in the myocardium after HTx may reflect autonomous "sympathicotrophy." Decreased PNMT expression with time elapsed after HTx suggests graft reinervation.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed2005

[Dimers from o-nitrobenzylidene acetoacetic esters].

The o-nitrobenzylidene acetoacetic esters 1 dimerize in the presence of BuLi or LDA to give the cyclohexenes 2 in poor yield. Two diastereomer of 2b were isolated, whose configuration is deduced by nmr-spectroscopic methods.

Benzylidene Compounds↗
PubMed2004

Compensatory growth and nitrogen balance in grower-finisher pigs.

Sixteen castrated male pigs (averaging 21.2 +/- 4.9 kg) were used in two trials to investigate the effect of dietary amino acid content during the grower phase on growth performance and N balance. In each trial, pigs were assigned randomly to corn-soybean meal grower diets formulated to contain 5.0 or 11.0 g lysine/kg (as-fed basis). Common Finisher 1 and 2 diets were offered when pigs reached 51.2 +/- 3.3 and 79.5 +/- 3.4 kg, respectively. Pigs were placed in metabolism crates for a 9-d period during each of the grower, Finisher 1, and Finisher 2 phases when they weighed 43.3 +/- 3.9, 70.4 +/- 4.9, and 90.5 +/- 3.8 kg, respectively, to determine N balance. Blood samples were taken from each pig periodically after an overnight fast. Pigs were allowed ad libitum access to feed and water, except during the three adaptation/collection periods. There were no diet x trial interactions; thus, the data were combined. Pigs fed the low-amino acid grower diet grew more slowly and less efficiently (P < 0.001) during the grower phase and had more ultrasound backfat (P = 0.010) at the end of the grower phase than those fed the high-amino acid grower diet. During the Finisher 1 phase, however, pigs fed the low-amino acid diet grew more efficiently (P = 0.012) than those fed the high-amino acid diet, and the grower diet had no effect on overall weight gain, carcass traits, lean accretion, or meat quality scores. Although pigs fed the low-amino acid diet had less serum urea N (P < 0.001) and more glucose (P = 0.009) at 43.3 kg, there seemed to be no clear, long-term effect of the grower diet on serum metabolites. During the grower phase, pigs fed the high-amino acid diet consumed more N (P < 0.001), had higher apparent N digestibility (P = 0.041), N utilization (P = 0.027), and N retention (P < 0.001), and excreted more fecal (P = 0.034) and urinary (P < 0.001) N than those fed the low-amino acid diet. Pigs fed the low-amino acid grower diet, however, had a higher N utilization (P = 0.024) during the Finisher 1 phase, and excreted less urinary N during both the Finisher 1 (P = 0.029) and 2 (P = 0.027) phases than those fed the high-amino acid grower diet. These results indicate that pigs subjected to early dietary amino acid restrictions compensated completely and decreased N excretion during both the restriction and realimentation phases. Compensatory growth can, therefore, have a positive effect not only on the overall efficiency of pig production but also on environment.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2003

Growth performance, dry matter and nitrogen digestibilities, serum profile, and carcass and meat quality of pigs with distinct genotypes.

We investigated the effect of distinct genotypes on growth performance, DM and N digestibilities, serum metabolite and hormonal profiles, and carcass and meat quality of pigs. Eight control-line and eight select-line pigs with an equal number of gilts and castrated males per genotype were chosen from the group of pigs subjected to selection for lean growth efficiency. Pigs were housed individually and allowed ad libitum access to common grower, finisher 1, and finisher 2 diets when they reached approximately 20, 50, and 80 kg, respectively, and water throughout the study. Although genotype had no effect on growth performance during the finisher 2 phase and overall, select-line pigs grew faster and more efficiently (P < 0.05) during the grower and finisher 1 phases than did control-line pigs. Dry matter and N digestibilities during the grower phase were lower (P < 0.05) in select-line pigs compared with control-line pigs. Select-line pigs had less ultrasound backfat (P < 0.05) at the end of the grower and finisher 2 phases. Serum urea N (P < 0.05) and leptin concentrations were lower in select-line pigs than in control-line pigs, but the effect of genotype on serum glucose, triglyceride, or insulin concentration was rather inconsistent. Select-line pigs had heavier heart (P < 0.05), liver (P = 0.08), and kidneys (P < 0.01), implying a higher metabolic activity. Less 10th-rib carcass backfat (P < 0.01) and a trend for larger carcass longissimus muscle area (P = 0.10) were reflected in the greater (P < 0.01) rate and efficiency of lean accretion in select-line pigs. Select-line pigs had lower subjective meat color (P < 0.01), marbling (P < 0.05), and firmness (P < 0.01) scores. Final serum leptin concentration was correlated positively with carcass backfat thickness (r = 0.73; P < 0.01) and negatively with overall feed intake (r = -0.77; P < 0.01). These results indicate that pigs with distinct genotypes exhibited differences in the growth rate, metabolite and hormonal profiles, and body composition. Further research is necessary to determine whether pigs with distinct genotypes respond differently to dietary manipulations, which would have an effect on developing optimal feeding strategies for efficient and sustainable pig production.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2003

The occurrence of symptomatic CMV infections in heart transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Human cytomegalovirus is widely spread in the human population and at present it is the most important clinical agent of opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. Bone marrow transplant recipients, solid organ transplant recipients and AIDS patients are at risk of the development of a severe systemic disease. Prompt detection of active infection is essential for early initiation of antiviral therapy. AIM: The aim of our work was to follow the occurrence of symptomatic CMV infection in heart recipients. METHODS: We have used antigenemia assay, PCR and serology methods for the detection of CMV infection in heart transplant recipients. RESULTS: We found that the occurrence of symptomatic CMV infections was lower than the literary data. CONCLUSION: Though a small group of patients was examined, we suppose that this was caused by the careful finding of CMV serostatus of donors and recipients, by using of CMV-seronegative, filtered, or leukocytes-poor blood products, by the examination of blood products and prophylaxis of risk patients, too. (Tab. 1, Ref. 37.).

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Degree of amino acid restrictions during the grower phase and compensatory growth in pigs selected for lean growth efficiency.

A total of 32 select line (SL) and 32 control line (CL) Duroc pigs were used in two trials to determine the effect of dietary amino acid contents during the grower (G) phase and selection for lean growth efficiency on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality. In each trial, pigs weighing 20 kg were assigned to 16 pens with two gilts or two castrated males per pen, and pens were randomly assigned within the genetic line to corn-soybean meal G diets formulated to contain 5.0, 7.0, 9.0, or 11.0 g lysine/kg. After 50 kg, all pigs were fed common finisher 1 (F1) and finisher 2 (F2) diets. Pigs were allowed ad libitum access to feed and water. After the initial statistical analyses, the data sets from the two trials were combined. During the G phase, pigs consumed less feed [linear (Ln), P < 0.001] and more lysine (Ln, P < 0.001), grew faster (Ln, P < 0.05) but utilized feed more and lysine less efficiently (Ln, P < 0.001) for weight gain as the amino acid content of G diets increased. Increasing dietary amino acids resulted in less ultrasound backfat (Ln, P < 0.001) and more serum urea nitrogen [Ln, P < 0.001; quadratic (Qd), P < 0.01] at the end of the G phase. Pigs grew more slowly during the F1 (Ln, P < 0.01 and Qd, P = 0.05) and F2 (Ln, P = 0.07) phases and utilized feed and lysine less efficiently (Ln, P < 0.05) for weight gain during the F1 phase as the amino acid content of G diets increased. The grower diet had no effect on overall weight gain and feed efficiency, carcass traits, or meat quality scores. The efficiency of lysine utilization for overall weight gain (Ln, P < 0.001) and lean accretion (Ln, P < 0.05) improved as the amino acid content of G diets decreased. The SL pigs grew faster (P < 0.05) and had less (P < 0.001) ultrasound backfat throughout the study compared with the CL pigs. The SL pigs had less 10th rib backfat (P < 0.001) and tended to have larger longissimus muscle area (P = 0.09) than the CL pigs, which were reflected in greater rate (P < 0.001) and efficiency (P < 0.05) of lean accretion. Marbling (P < 0.05) and meat color (P = 0.07) scores were lower in the SL pigs. No grower diet x genotype interactions were observed in response criteria of interest. The results indicate that pigs subjected to dietary amino acid restrictions during the G phase (as low as 5.0 g lysine/kg) compensated completely in terms of growth rate and body composition regardless of the genotype. Compensatory growth can have a positive impact not only on the overall efficiency of pig production but also on the environment by reducing excretion of unused nutrients.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2002

[Pyrrolo(2,3-c)quinolines and pyrrolo(3,4-d)quinolines--synthesis and investigation of lipoxygenase inhibition].

The Paal-Knorr synthesis of the cyclic hemiketonacetal 4 yields the pyrrole-2,4-dicarboxylic acid diesters 1c and 7 via the cyclic hemiaminals 5 and 6; while the pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid ester 9 is formed from the 1,4-diketon 10. Under reducing conditions 1c and their 4-carboxylic acid 8 give the pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline carboxylic acid ester 2a; the cyclic hydroxamic acid 11 and the lactam 12 of the pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinoline type are obtained from compound 9. The isomeric compounds of the pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline series 16, 17 and 18, respectively, are synthesized from the pyrroles 14 and 15; the cyclic hemiacetal 13 was used as educt. The tricyclic hydroxamic acids 16 and 17 weakly inhibit the 5-lipoxygenase (IC50 > 10 microM, relating to the formation of LTB4 of human whole blood).

Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase↗
PubMed2002

[Pyridazino(3,4-c)quinolines and pyridazino(4,5-c)quinolines--synthesis and investigation of lipoxygenase inhibition].

The cyclic hemiketone acetal 6 reacts with hydrazine in tert-butanol to yield the 1-amino-2,3-dihydro-2-hydroxy-pyrrole 7, while in acetic acid a mixture of the 1-amino-pyrrole 8 and the 1,4-dihydropyridazine 9 is obtained. The X-ray crystal structure of 9 shows a boat conformation flattened about N-1 with respect to nifedipine. Removing the boc-group of 9 gives the tautomeric 2,5-dihydropyridazine 13. The lactams 15 and 17 and the cyclic hydroxamic acids 16 and 18, respectively, are synthesized from 13 or from its oxidation product 14 using reductive conditions. The cyclic hemiacetal 21 reacts with hydrazine in a different manner from 6. In acetic acid the 1-aminopyrrole 22 is formed, while ethanol yields the 1,4-dihydropyridazine 23. The pyridazine 24, obtained by dehydrogenation of 23, gives the lactam 25 and the hydroxamic acid 26, respectively, when the nitro-group is reduced. The dihydropyridazines 9, 11 and 23 are transformed photochemically to give the nitrosophenyl-pyridazines 19, 20 and 27. The chloro-substituted hydroxamic acid 28 is isolated after treatment of 27 with hydrochloric acid. The stability of the partially saturated pyridazine compounds is discussed on the basis of half wave potentials measured by anodic oxidation by means of differential pulse voltammetry. The tricyclic hydroxamic acids 18 and 28 show only a weak inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX).

Crystallography, X-Ray↗
PubMed2002

[Cleavage of a dithioacetalmonosulfoxide].

The aldehyde 5, the cyclic acylal 6 and the acetal 8 are obtained from the cleavage of the dithioacetal 3B with perchloric acid in acetonitrile. Acetone as solvent yields the acetonide 7, the structure of which is confirmed by X-ray structure determination.

Acetals↗
PubMed2000

1,3-Heterocumulene-to-alkyne

Transition structures and energy barriers of the concerted prototypical cycloaddition reaction of 1,3-heterocumulenes (S=C=S, S=C=NR, RN=C=NR, and heteroanalogs) to acetylene resulting in nucleophilic carbenes were calculated by G2(MP2) and CBS-Q ab initio quantum chemical and by density functional theory (DFT) methods. According to the calculations the activation energies (activation enthalpies) of the homoheteroatomic cumulenes decrease in the order O > S > Se and NH > PH and the reaction energies in the order O > S approximately Se and PH > NH. The reaction of carbon disulfide and acetylene has a lower reaction barrier than that of carbodiimide and acetylene although the first reaction is less exothermic than the second one. The stronger cyclic stabilization of the 1, 3-dithiol-2-ylidene in the transition state is discussed in terms of deformation and stabilization energies and of bond indices. The known reactions of carbon disulfide with ring-strained cycloheptynes were examined by DFT and by DFT:PM3 two-layered hybrid ONIOM methods. In agreement with qualitative experimental findings the activation energy increases and the reaction energy decreases in the sequence S, SO(2), and SiMe(2) if CH(2) in the 5-position of 3,3,7, 7-tetramethyl-1-cycloheptyne is replaced by a heteroatom or heteroatomic group, respectively. The results of these calculations were corroborated by experimental studies with carbon diselenide and isothiocyanates as 1,3-heterocumulenes. The cycloaddition of carbon diselenide to cyclooctyne proceeded faster than with carbon disulfide, the main product being the 1,3-diselenol-2-selone. Under more drastic conditions it was possible to add methyl and phenyl isothiocyanate, respectively, to 3,3,6, 6-tetramethyl-1-thia-4-cycloheptyne. The products are 1:3 adducts (cycloalkyne:isothiocyanate) whose formation is explained by a trapping reaction of the first formed 1,3-thiazol-2-ylidenes.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Social phobia treated as a problem in social functioning: a controlled comparison of two behavioural group approaches.

OBJECTIVE: Treatments for social phobia result typically in significant anxiety and avoidance reduction; the repercussions in terms of social functioning, however, are not clear. This controlled study compared two approaches designed to improve the social functioning of social phobics. METHOD: Sixty-eight socially phobic patients were randomly assigned to two treatments focused on improving interpersonal relationships either with or without social skills training or a waiting list; 60 completed treatment and 59 a 1-year follow-up. Treatment was administered in small groups, 14 sessions altogether. RESULTS: No clinically meaningful change was observed during the waiting period. A statistically significant and equivalent improvement obtained in both treatment conditions. CONCLUSION: Both treatments resulted in reduced anxiety, avoidance, general psychopathology and better social functioning that maintained over follow-up. Continuing improvement in remission rates was noted; fully 60% of the patients no longer fulfilled criteria for social phobia at the end of 1-year follow-up.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Follow-up after heart transplantation in clinical practice--main problems].

The author describes his experience in a long-term follow up of patients after heart transplantation (HTx) abroad and short-term results of heart transplant programme in SUSCH (Bratislava) which began on March 21, 1998. The total group contains 73 patients (17 operated on in Slovakia). The most frequent adverse effects of HTx and immunosuppression--infections, rejection, hypertension, graft vessel disease and malignities--are discussed.

Follow-Up Studies↗
PubMed2000

[Graft dysfunction after heart transplantation].

Graft dysfunction/failure is an important cause of morbidity and mortality either in early or late postoperative period after heart transplantation (HTx). Early graft failure is briefly discussed. Main causes of late graft failure are acute rejection and graft vessel disease. Rejection episodes with hemodynamic compromising are rather low (5%). Graft vessel disease is the dominant cause of systolic graft dysfunction which can appears several years after HTx.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed2000

[Arterial hypertension after heart transplantation].

Arterial hypertension after HTx is almost a universal finding. The combined antihypertensive treatment achieves normotension in 34% of patients with arterial hypertension. Calcium blocators are the drugs of first choice.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Non-pharmacologic treatment of heart failure].

Chronic heart failure is a dominant problem not only in cardiology but also from the political and economical points of view in civilized countries. The paper describes general and specific methods of heart failure therapy such as reconstruction of coronary artery disease, valve disease, cardiomyoplasty remodelling of left ventricular cavity, ventricular assist-control devices, artificial heart and heart transplantation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Pharmacologic therapy of heart failure].

Authors describe pharmacotherapy used in the end stage of heart failure (EF 20.5 +/- 4.1%) in routine cardiologic practice in Slovakia, and compare it with pharmacotherapy after the discharge from specialized centers. Medical records of 107 (11 females) were evaluated. At admission vs. discharge, digoxin was prescribed in 94 vs. 91, ACE inhibitors in 86 vs. 94, loop diuretics in 90 vs. 94, AT-1 antagonists in 0 vs. 4, beta blockers in 23 vs. 55. The dosage of ACE inhibitors used in routine practice was rather low.

Adolescent↗