Aggressive drivers data

Data about participants from psychological tests and non-biochemical measurements were acquired from the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Philosophy of Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic. The participants were recruited for the study by advertisements on the relevant social networks groups and by leaflets hanged out in the University or public premises (libraries, refectory etc.). Inventory of traffic-relevant personality characteristics (shortened version, TVP), Sensation Seeking Scale form, and Buss a Durkee aggression inventory were performed for psychological testing. Salivary testosterone and cortisol were measured from saliva obtained at 8:00am for each participant. Obtained data were transformed into data matrix, where only relevant data were kept. One participant was excluded from the study, due to corticosteroid medication. Overall, analysis was performed using 149 participants. Binomial models were employed with five dependent variables, which we assumed to reflect driver’s tendency to aggressive behaviour: 1. Caused an accident, 2. Driving license taken away, 3. Court trial, 4. Intoxicated driving, 5. Sporty self-report

Aggressive drivers data

Data about participants from psychological tests and non-biochemical measurements were acquired from the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Philosophy of Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic. The participants were recruited for the study by advertisements on the relevant social networks groups and by leaflets hanged out in the University or public premises (libraries, refectory etc.). Inventory of traffic-relevant personality characteristics (shortened version, TVP), Sensation Seeking Scale form, and Buss a Durkee aggression inventory were performed for psychological testing. Salivary testosterone and cortisol were measured from saliva obtained at 8:00am for each participant. Obtained data were transformed into data matrix, where only relevant data were kept. One participant was excluded from the study, due to corticosteroid medication. Overall, analysis was performed using 149 participants. Binomial models were employed with five dependent variables, which we assumed to reflect driver’s tendency to aggressive behaviour: 1. Caused an accident, 2. Driving license taken away, 3. Court trial, 4. Intoxicated driving, 5. Sporty self-report

Factors determining the kinetics of a single dose of testosterone in rats

The results from different authors regarding testosterone and cognitive research show controversial results. One of the reasons may be the form of testosterone used in the experiment. The aim of our study was to evaluate the testosterone levels in plasma and its kinetics after the single application of either a long-acting or a short-acting form of this hormone. Twenty female and twenty male adult Wistar rats were divided into two groups that were either gonadectomized or not. The two groups were divided into 4 subgroups depending on whether the animals received testosterone propionate or testosterone isobutyrate intramuscularly. Samples for analysis were collected before and at 2, 4, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 168 h after injection. The results showed significant differences in the dynamics between rapid and depot forms of testosterone, together with the rebound effect and hormonal negative feedback. These aspects of testosterone kinetics need to be considered when planning experiments on the physiology of testosterone

Antimicrobial Therapy as a Risk Factor of Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter Infection in COVID-19 Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit

Background. Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter (MDR-Ab) is one of the most important pathogens causing superinfections in COVID-19 patients hospitalised in the intensive care unit (ICU). The occurrence of MDR-Ab superinfection significantly impairs the prognosis of patients in the ICU. Overuse of antibiotics in COVID-19 patients might contribute to the risk of developing MDR-Ab infection. Objective. The objective was to assess the role of prior antibiotic exposure as an independent predictor of MDR-Ab infection in COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU. Methods. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in 90 patients admitted to the ICU of the Department of Infectology and Geographical Medicine, University Hospital in Bratislava, for respiratory failure due to COVID-19 between 1 September 2021 and 31 January 2022 (delta variant predominance). Patients underwent regular microbial screening. Superinfection was defined as infection occurring ≥48 h after admission. We assessed the role of prior antibiotic exposure and other factors as independent predictors of MDR-Ab isolation. Results. Fifty-eight male and 32 female patients were included in the analysis. Multidrug-resistant bacteria were cultured in 43 patients (47.8%), and MDR-Ab was isolated in 37 patients. Thirty-three (36.7%) patients had superinfection caused by MDR-Ab. Fifty-four (60%) patients were exposed to antibiotics prior to MDR-Ab isolation; of those, 35 (64.8%) patients received ceftriaxone. Prior exposure to ceftriaxone (odds ratio (OR) 4.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4–11.9; P<0.05), tocilizumab therapy (OR 4.7; 95% CI 1.3–15.0; P< 0.05), and ICU length of stay exceeding 11 days (OR 3.7; 95% CI 1.3–10.3; P< 0.05) were independent predictors of MDR-Ab infection. Conclusions. Prior exposure to ceftriaxone increases the risk of MDR-Ab infection in COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU. Our findings suggest that antibiotic use in COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU should be restricted to patients with documented bacterial superinfection

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α agonist, BAY PP1, attenuates renal fibrosis in rats

Recent studies have shown renoprotective effects of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α), but its role in kidney fibrosis is unknown. In order to gain insight into this, we examined the effect of a novel PPAR-α agonist, BAY PP1, in two rat models of renal fibrosis: unilateral ureteral obstruction and the 5/6 nephrectomy. In healthy animals, PPAR-α was expressed in tubular but not in interstitial cells. Upon induction of fibrosis, PPAR-α was significantly downregulated, and treatment with BAY PP1 significantly restored its expression. During ureteral obstruction, treatment with BAY PP1 significantly reduced tubulointerstitial fibrosis, proliferation of interstitial fibroblasts, and TGF-β(1) expression. Treatment with a less potent PPAR-α agonist, fenofibrate, had no effects. Treatment with BAY PP1, initiated in established disease in the 5/6 nephrectomy, halted the decline of renal function and significantly ameliorated renal fibrosis. In vitro, BAY PP1 had no direct effect on renal fibroblasts but reduced collagen, fibronectin, and TGF-β(1) expression in tubular cells. Conditioned media of BAY PP1-treated tubular cells reduced fibroblast proliferation. Thus, renal fibrosis is characterized by a reduction of PPAR-α expression, and treatment with BAY PP1 restores PPAR-α expression and ameliorates renal fibrosis by modulating the cross-talk between tubular cells and fibroblasts. Hence, potent PPAR-α agonists might be useful in the treatment of renal fibrosi

Novel oestrogen receptor β-selective ligand reduces obesity and depressive-like behaviour in ovariectomized mice

Hormonal changes due to menopause can cause various health problems including weight gain and depressive symptoms. Multiple lines of evidence indicate that oestrogen receptors (ERs) play a major role in postmenopausal obesity and depression. However, little is known regarding the ER subtype-specific effects on obesity and depressive symptoms. To delineate potential effects of ER beta activation in postmenopausal women, we investigated the effects of a novel oestrogen receptor beta-selective ligand (C-1) in ovariectomized mice. Uterine weight, depressive behaviour, and weight gain were examined in sham-operated control mice and ovariectomized mice administered placebo, C-1, or 17 beta-oestradiol (E2). Administration of C-1 or E2 reduced body weight gain and depressive-like behaviour in ovariectomized mice, as assessed by the forced swim test. In addition, administration of E2 to ovariectomized mice increased uterine weight, but administration of C-1 did not result in a significant increase in uterine weight. These results suggest that the selective activation of ERa in ovariectomized mice may have protective effects against obesity and depressive-like behaviour without causing an increase in uterine weight. The present findings raise the possibility of the application of ER beta-ligands such as C-1 as a novel treatment for obesity and depression in postmenopausal women.ArticleSCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 7:4663 (2017)journal articl