Weight, body composition and fat distribution of Czech women in relation with reproductive phase: a cross-sectional study.

A sample of 213 healthy Czech women was classified into four groups according to their reproductive phase: fully reproductive, premenopausal, menopausal and postmenopausal women. Changes in body weight, body composition and fat distribution were studied in those four groups using the classical anthropometric method. Body weight rises till the menopause with no further increase. A decrease in relative contribution of muscle and bone mass was observed. The progressive increase in fat mass with age was clearly demonstrated, both the fat mass weight (r = 0.38, p < 0.001) and its percentage contribution (Matiegka r = 0.40, p < 0.001, Parízkovi r = 0.42, p < 0.001). There is a stronger correlation of central fat indices as WHR (r = 0.57, p < 0.001), abdominal (r=0.56, p < 0.001) and waist circumference (r = 0.50, p < 0.001) than for hip circumference (r = 0.27, p < 0.001) to the age. WHR and waist increase most when fully reproductive and premenopausal women were compared (p < 0.001); less when premenopausal to menopausal women are compared (NS) and the least when menopausal to postmenopausal women were compared (NS). The mean values of 14 skinfolds thickness are shown, the skinfold at the abdomen shows the strongest correlation to the age (r = 0.49, p < 0.001). The results are consistent with the hypothesis of progressive fat centralisation.

Nephrotoxicity of cyclosporin A in hereditary hypertriglyceridemic rats.

It has been suggested that cyclosporin A (CsA) nephrotoxicity can be reduced by the concomitant administration of omega-3 fatty acids or vitamin E. The present study was designed to establish whether the effect of the above substances can also be demonstrated in rats with hereditary hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) whose sensitivity to the nephrotoxic effect is greater than in control AVN rats. CsA administration at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day to HTG rats resulted in a significant rise (p<0.001) in serum levels of creatinine (from 66.0+/-7.6 to 108.4+/-11.6 micromol/l) and urea (from 8.3+/-0.7 to 22.3+/-18 mmol/l) which was not found in AVN rats. The baseline values of systolic blood pressure (SBP) were significantly higher in HTG rats. However, in both strains CsA administration was associated with a similar SBP increase which was not prevented by omega-3 fatty acids (EPAX) or vitamin E administration. Concomitant administration of CsA with EPAX at a dose of 600 mg/kg b.w./day in HTG rats prevented the rise in the serum levels of creatinine (65.4+/-14.7 micromol/l) and reduced the increase in the serum urea levels (11.9+/-7.6 mmol/l). Concomitant administration of CsA and vitamin E (at a dose of 25 mg/kg/day) also reduced the increase (p<0.05) in the serum levels of creatinine (70.7+/-14.3 micromol/l) and urea (9.8+/-3.4 mmol/l) compared to the effects elicited by the administration of CsA alone (p<0.05). Administration of CsA alone or in combination with EPAX or vitamin E did not have a marked effect on diuresis, proteinuria, urinary osmolality, urinary excretion of urea, creatinine and potassium. Under all experimental conditions, the rate of urinary excretion of sodium in HTG rats was significantly lower (p<0.01) than in AVN rats. The results obtained support the assumption that omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E at the doses used reduce CsA nephrotoxicity in rats with hereditary hypertriglyceridemia whose sensitivity to the nephrotoxic effect of CsA is significantly higher than in AVN rats.

Assessment of metals and metalloids in skin derivatives of volunteers from capital city of Prague, Czech Republic.

Instrumental neutron activation was employed to determine 12 elements (Al, As, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Sb, V, Zn) in derivatives of the epidermis (human scalp hair, public hairs and toenails) from 188 women and 74 men of the population of the Capital City of Prague. Statistically significant differences are discussed, occurring during the comparison of groups arranged in terms of various factors (type of material analyzed, age, sex, environmental exposure of the dwelling and/or occupation locality, type of occupation--mental or manual, smoking, alcohol consumption, allergy, hysterectomy and selected diseases). Statistically significantly increased levels of elements in materials coming from Prague areas with higher environmental burden are considered as the most valuable result.

Tissue polypeptide antigen in bronchogenic carcinoma.

Serum concentrations of tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) were examined by an immunoradiometric technique in 114 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma and in 55 patients with noncancerous lung diseases. The sensitivity of TPA examination in bronchogenic carcinoma was 67.5% and was increased in advanced stages of the disease. No statistically significant differences were observed between histologic types of bronchogenic carcinoma. In nonmalignant lung diseases, elevated levels of TPA were observed in 21.8% of patients. TPA is of little value in the diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma; however, it may be useful as an auxiliary criterion for staging.

[Alpha-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin in bronchogenic carcinoma]. / Alfa-podjednotka choriového gonadotropinu u bronchogenního karcinomu.

Using radioimmunoassay method the alpha-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (alpha-HCG) serum levels were measured in 112 bronchogenic carcinoma patients and in 48 patients with various non-cancerous lung diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of alpha-HCG as a tumor marker for differential diagnosis of lung cancer. The incidence of elevated alpha-HCG serum level bronchogenic carcinoma group was 4.4%, in non-cancerous diseases group it was 4.1%, respectively. The difference between these two groups wasn't statistically significant. The elevation of the alpha-HCG was unrelated to the histologic type of lung cancer. The finding suggest that alpha-HCG serum level can't help in discriminating between patients with bronchogenic carcinoma and those with non-cancerous lung diseases.

Immunoscintigraphy and distribution study of experimental tumours using 131I-labelled anti-fibrinogen antibodies.

131I-labelled antibodies to the fragment E of human fibrin, anti-rat fibrinogen, non-immune rabbit IgG and 67Ga-citrate were used for scintigraphy and distribution studies in experimental tumours in rats. The best visualisation was achieved with 131I-labelled anti-rat fibrinogen antibodies at intervals longer than 48 h after administration. Tumour to tissue ratios found in distribution studies performed formed more than 48 h after administration were higher in most examined tissues when using 131I-labelled antibodies than those obtained with 67Ga-citrate.