Colonization by non-pathogenic bacteria alters mRNA expression of cytochromes P450 in originally germ-free mice.

Gut microbiota provides a wide range of beneficial function for the host and has an immense effect on the host's health state. It has also been shown that gut microbiome is often involved in the biotransformation of xenobiotics; however, the molecular mechanisms of the interaction between the gut bacteria and the metabolism of drugs by the host are still unclear. To investigate the effect of microbial colonization on messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of liver cytochromes P450 (CYPs), the main drug-metabolizing enzymes, we used germ-free (GF) mice, lacking the intestinal flora and mice monocolonized by non-pathogenic bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum NIZO2877 or probiotic bacteria Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 compared to specific pathogen-free (SPF) mice. Our results show that the mRNA expression of Cyp1a2 and Cyp2e1 was significantly increased, while the expression of Cyp3a11 mRNA was decreased under GF conditions compared to the SPF mice. The both bacteria L. plantarum NIZO2877 and E. coli Nissle 1917 given to the GF mice decreased the level of Cyp1a2 mRNA and normalized it to the control level. On the other hand, the colonization by these bacteria had no effect on the expression of Cyp3a11 mRNA in the liver of the GF mice (which remained decreased). Surprisingly, monocolonization with chosen bacterial strains has shown a different effect on the expression of Cyp2e1 mRNA in GF mice. Increased level of Cyp2e1 expression observed in the GF mice was found also in mice colonized by L. plantarum NIZO2877; however, the colonization with probiotic E. coli Nissle 1917 caused a decrease in Cyp2e1 expression and partially restored the SPF mice conditions.

[The importance of the HLA complex antigens in systemic rheumatoid diseases]. / Antigen HLA-komplexu s vyznamem u systémových revmatických nemocí.

The submitted paper reviews contemporary knowledge on the clinical impact of assessment of HLA-complex antigens in systemic rheumatic diseases. The authors explain the term "relative risk" and its practical importance. As to antigens of the HLA-complex class I, attention was paid in particular to the importance of HLA B 27 in ankylosing spondylitis, other spondylarthropathies and reactive arthritis; in this part the review is supplemented by results of the authors' own research. As to antigens of the HLA-complex class II, attention was paid to the sub-area DR in rheumatoid arthritis and other diffuse affections of connective tissue. The advance in knowledge of the clinical impact of investigations of selected HLA-complex antigens in systemic rheumatic diseases is that in many instances it reveals an association not only at the level of the nosological unit but frequently also sub-unit with prognostically important clinical and biochemical manifestations, a typical autoantibody profile and sometimes also with the risk of a greater organ toxicity of drugs.

[Endothelial cells in tumors of the rectum and large intestine]. / Výskyt endoteliálních bunek pri nádorech konecníku a tlustého streva.

In 40 controls and 102 patients with tumours of the rectum and large intestine the number of circulating anuclear cell residues of endothelial cells was investigated. The number of these endothelia in the blood of patients was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in healthy subjects. After successful surgery of the tumour and subsequent chemotherapy the number of endothelia in venous blood reached normal levels with in 1-2 months. Conversely in patients where despite surgery secondaries were detected in other organs, the number of endothelia remained elevated.

[HLA-B27 in the families of probands with arthritis after acute respiratory tract disease]. / HLA B27 v rodinách probandu s artritidou po akutním respiracním onemocnení.

HLA B27 antigen was found in 10/25 patients with arthritis after acute respiratory disease (ARD) and in 21/75 direct relatives of 23 of these probands, where a genealogical investigation could be made. With regard to the 9.5% incidence of HLA B27 in the Czech population this implies a positive association in patients (RR = 6.35) and direct relatives (R = 3.70). In the sub-group of HLA B27 positive probands HLA B27 positivity was found in 19/27 (70.4%) of direct relatives (RR = 22.6). In one female relative a recurrent monoarthritis of the talo-crural joint was found, the remainder did not suffer from inflammatory changes of the joints. The revealed positive associations indicate the probability of arthritis after ARD in HLA B27 positive subjects and their families. They indicate also that in arthritis after ARD reactive arthritis is involved with a less common organ manifestation of the initial infection.

[Prognosis in joint inflammation after acute respiratory diseases]. / Prognóza kloubního zánetu po akutním respiracním onemocnení.

A group of 25 patients with arthritis after acute respiratory disease (ARD) was followed up, on average for 4.7 years, with regard to the short-term and long-term prognosis. The patients developed arthritis 1-4 weeks after ARD and it affected mainly or exclusively the joints of the lower extremities, in particular the talocrural ones. After a mean period of five weeks the arthritis receded completely. 60% of the patients were HLA B27+, the number of affected joints in these patients was greater than in HLA B27- patients. HLA B27+ subjects are more likely to develop arthritis after ARD than HLA B27- subjects (relative risk = 6.35). In the long-term prognosis articular changes were found in 6/22 patients (5 were HLA B27+): three times sacroileitis was found, twice a relapse of arthritis after repeated ARD and once systemic lupus erythematosus. As to laboratory tests, arthritis after ARD was associated with a transient response of reactants of the acute phase and serum IgG. High values of IgA and immunocomplexes, on the other hand, persisted throughout the investigation in 41% and 28% of the patients resp.

[The occurrence of endothelial cells in the blood in deep venous inflammation]. / Výskyt endoteliálních bunëk v krvi pri hlubokém zánetu zil.

The number of anuclear residues of endothelial cells in the blood stream was investigated in 22 patients suffering from deep phlebitis and no other disease. The level of endothelaemia in these patients was in all instances higher than in 24 healthy subjects. Assessment of the endothelaemia in patients with deep phlebitis makes more accurate assessment of the diagnosis and the follow-up of regression of the disease possible.

Immunochemical and clinical characteristic of series of 516 paraproteinemic patients.

A series of 516 cases of paraproteinemia was analysed. According to the class of paraprotein, there were 336 cases of paraprotein IgG (65.1%), 101 paraprotein IgA (19.6%), 53 paraprotein IgM (10.3%) and 1 case of paraprotein IgD (0.2%); only light chains were found in 15 cases (2.9%) and doubled paraproteins in 10 cases (1.9%). The average age of the series was 64.2 years. Clinically, there were 315 cases of myeloma, 24 cases of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, 126 cases of facultative paraproteinemia accompanying another disease, 16 cases of paraproteinemia in healthy persons and in 10 cases of paraproteinemia no precise diagnosis was made.