Interactions of water with hydrophilic polyether polyurethanes.

Polymer Science and EngineeringDoctor of Philosophy (PhD

Clinical applications of exercise pathophysiology in patients with congenital heart disease

Patofyziologie zátěže u pacientů s vrozenou srdeční vadou a její aplikace do klinické praxe Abstrakt Tato disertační práce si klade za cíl evaluaci dat ze zátěžové diagnostiky a jejich interpretaci ve vztahu k nově diskutovaným prediktorům morbidity a mortality u pacientů s komplexní vrozenou srdeční vadou (VSV). Z celého spektra VSV mají nejvíce alterovanou zátěžovou kapacitu pacienti s totálním kavopulmonálním spojením (TCPC), což vyplývá z celé plejády zátěžových patofyziologických mechanismů charakteristických pro tuto formu cirkulace. Teoretická část je zaměřena na zátěžové testování u pacientů s VSV a souhrn hlavních komponent zátěžové patofyziologie u pacientů s TCPC. Praktická část se věnuje zhodnocení klinického profilu TCPC pacientů s excelentními funkčními výsledky (Super-Fontan), možnostem retrospektivní evaluace kosterní svalové hmoty z výpočetní tomografie a magnetické rezonance srdce u těchto pacientů. Dále se zabývá vztahem mezi dodávkou kyslíku a funkcí systémové komory měřené pomocí magnetické rezonance a vrcholovou utilizací kyslíku při zátěžovém testu. V kohortě pacientů s fenotypem Super-Fontan jsme zjistili nižší mortalitu, menší body mass index, větší předoperační rozměry plicnice, větší podíl žen a pacientů s trikuspidální atrézií. Prokázali jsme vyšší mortalitní riziko u TCPC...Clinical applications of exercise pathophysiology in patients with congenital heart disease Abstract The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the data from cardiopulmonary exercise testing and their interpretation in relation to novel predictors of morbidity and mortality in patients with complex congenital heart disease (CHD). Of the entire broad spectrum of CHD, patients with total cavopulmonary connection have the most altered exercise capacity, which results form a plethora of exercise pathophysiological components characteristic of this form of circulation. The theoretical part focuses on stress testing in patients with complex congenital heart disease and summarizes the main pathophysiological mechanisms affecting exercise tolerance in patients with TCPC. The practical part is devoted to the evaluation of the clinical profile of TCPC patients with excellent functional outcomes (Super-Fontan), the possibilities of retrospective evaluation of skeletal muscle mass from computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in these patients. It also discusses the relationship between oxygen delivery, systemic ventricular function measured by magnetic resonance imaging and peak oxygen utilization during exercise stress testing. In the cohort of patients with the Super-Fontan phenotype, we found a lower...Klinika rehabilitace a tělovýchovného lékařstvíDepartment of Rehabilitation and Sports MedicineSecond Faculty of Medicine2. lékařská fakult

CMS physics technical design report : Addendum on high density QCD with heavy ions

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Heat stress causes spatially-distinct membrane re-modelling in K562 leukemia cells

Cellular membranes respond rapidly to various environmental perturbations. Previously we showed that modulations in membrane fluidity achieved by heat stress (HS) resulted in pronounced membrane organization alterations which could be intimately linked to the expression and cellular distribution of heat shock proteins. Here we examine heat-induced membrane changes using several visualisation methods. With Laurdan two-photon microscopy we demonstrate that, in contrast to the enhanced formation of ordered domains in surface membranes, the molecular disorder is significantly elevated within the internal membranes of cells preexposed to mild HS. These results were compared with those obtained by anisotropy, fluorescence lifetime and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements. All probes detected membrane changes upon HS. However, the structurally different probes revealed substantially distinct alterations in membrane heterogeneity. These data call attention to the careful interpretation of results obtained with only a single label. Subtle changes in membrane microstructure in the decision-making of thermal cell killing could have potential application in cancer therapy

Revisiting the membrane-centric view of diabetes

Fundamental questions remain unresolved in diabetes: What is the actual mechanism of glucose toxicity? Why is there insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes? Why do diets rich in sugars or saturated fatty acids increase the risk of developing diabetes? Studying the C. elegans homologs of the anti-diabetic adiponectin receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) has led us to exciting new discoveries and to revisit what may be termed “The Membrane Theory of Diabetes”. We hypothesize that excess saturated fatty acids (obtained through a diet rich in saturated fats or through conversion of sugars into saturated fats via lipogenesis) leads to rigid cellular membranes that in turn impair insulin signalling, glucose uptake and blood circulation, thus creating a vicious cycle that contributes to the development of overt type 2 diabetes. This hypothesis is supported by our own studies in C. elegans and by a wealth of literature concerning membrane composition in diabetics. The purpose of this review is to survey this literature in the light of the new results, and to provide an admittedly membrane-centric view of diabetes

Clinical applications of exercise pathophysiology in patients with congenital heart disease

Clinical applications of exercise pathophysiology in patients with congenital heart disease Abstract The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the data from cardiopulmonary exercise testing and their interpretation in relation to novel predictors of morbidity and mortality in patients with complex congenital heart disease (CHD). Of the entire broad spectrum of CHD, patients with total cavopulmonary connection have the most altered exercise capacity, which results form a plethora of exercise pathophysiological components characteristic of this form of circulation. The theoretical part focuses on stress testing in patients with complex congenital heart disease and summarizes the main pathophysiological mechanisms affecting exercise tolerance in patients with TCPC. The practical part is devoted to the evaluation of the clinical profile of TCPC patients with excellent functional outcomes (Super-Fontan), the possibilities of retrospective evaluation of skeletal muscle mass from computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in these patients. It also discusses the relationship between oxygen delivery, systemic ventricular function measured by magnetic resonance imaging and peak oxygen utilization during exercise stress testing. In the cohort of patients with the Super-Fontan phenotype, we found a lower..