Post-collection acidification of spot urine sample is not needed before measurement of electrolytes

Kidney stone formers can have higher oxalate and phosphate salt amounts in their urine than healthy people and we hypothesized that its acidification may be useful. The study aims to compare results of urine concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and inorganic phosphorus in the midstream portion of first voided morning urine samples without (FMU) and with post-collection acidification (FMUa) in kidney stone patients. This is a prospective single center study. A total of 138 kidney stone patients with spot urine samples were included in the study. Urine concentrations of calcium, magnesium and inorganic phosphorus were measured with and without post-collection acidification. Acidification was performed by adding 5 µL of 6 mol/L HCl to 1 mL of urine. The median age (range) of all participants was 56 (18-87) years. The median paired differences between FMU and FMUa concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and inorganic phosphorus were: - 0.040 mmol/L, 0.035 mmol/L, and 0.060 mmol/L, respectively. They were statistically different: P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.004, respectively. These differences are not clinically significant because biological variations of these markers are much higher. No clinically significant differences in urinary calcium, magnesium, and inorganic phosphorus concentrations between FMU and FMUa in patients with kidney stones were found

Body indices and basic vital signs in Helicobacter pylori positive and negative persons

It has been hypothesized that Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection may contribute to reduced stature, risk of hypertension or obesity. The aim was to evaluate body indices in Hp positive and negative persons. A total of 2436 subjects (4–100 years old) were tested for Hp status by 13Curea breath test. Data on height and weight were collected for 84%, and blood pressure for 80% of the study subjects. The prevalence of Hp infection was 41.6%. The odds ratio for a 10-year increase in age was 1.21 (95% CI 1.17–1.25, p-value <0.001). Statistically significant negative association of Hp positivity with body height was most pronounced in the younger age groups, while a positive association of Hp positivity with body mass index was only seen in those aged 15+ years. There was a negative effect of Hp positivity on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in subjects below 25 and a relatively strong positive effect on blood pressure in subjects over 65 years. Residual confounding by social characteristics as a possible explanation for the associations of Hp positivity with height and blood pressure cannot be excluded. Unmeasured factors related to social and family environment may cause the apparent association between Hp positivity and children’s growth and blood pressure

Valuation of Vincentka a.s.

The aim of this work is to determine the market value of Vincentka a.s. The valuation date was set for 31 December 2017. Two methods were used for the valuation: DCF APV and market comparison. First, a financial and strategic analysis was performed. Financial analysis offers a deeper insight into the company's accounting and finances and is the starting point for a financial plan. It also discusses the idiosyncrasies of the valued company, such as high dividends, a strong cash position, and management structure. The strategic analysis identifies the market, the main competitors and evaluates the competitiveness of the company. Based on the strategic and financial analysis, the market development is then forecasted, and a financial plan is created. Based on the financial plan, a yield valuation is then performed, which is supplemented by a market comparison. For this, publicly traded European mineral water producers and selected transactions with soft drink producers were selected.Cílem práce je určit tržní hodnotu společnosti Vincentka a.s. Datum ocenění bylo stanoveno k 31.12.2017. Ocenění je provedeno dvěma metodami: DCF APV a tržním porovnáním. Nejprve byla provedena finanční a strategická analýza. Finanční analýza nabízí hlubší vhled do účetnictví a financí společnosti a je výchozím dokumentem pro finanční plán. Jsou v ní dále rozebírány výstřednosti oceňované společnosti, jako vysoké dividendy, silná cash pozice, a vlastnické řízení podniku. Strategická analýza identifikuje trh, hlavní konkurenty a zhodnocuje konkurenceschopnost podniku. Na základě strategické a finanční analýzy je poté prognózován vývoj trhu a sestaven finanční plán. Na základě finančního plánu je poté provedeno výnosové ocenění, které je doplněno o tržní porovnání. Pro to byli vybráni veřejně obchodovaní evropští výrobci minerálních vod a vybrané transakce s výrobci nealkoholických nápojů

In Vitro Glycation of Aminotransferases: A Process Closely Depending on the Employed Experimental Conditions

The aim of the present study is to investigate the influence of various experimental conditions, i.e., two different concentrations of D-fructose as a rapidly glycating substance and three incubation temperatures, on the glycation reaction of alanine aminotransferase (ALT, EC 2.6.1.2) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST, EC 2.6.1.1) expressed by decreasing catalytic activities of the enzymes during a 56 day in vitro incubation period. D-fructose in the concentration of 50 mmol/l did not inhibit the catalytic activity of either enzyme at 4 °C, partially inhibited AST activity in samples incubated at 25 °C (to 40% of the initial activity), and completely inhibited this enzyme at 37 °C at the end of the incubation period. In the presence of the same concentration of D-fructose, ALT showed no catalytic activity after 35 days at 25 °C or after 10 days at 37 °C. In 500 mmol/l D-fructose, complete AST inhibition was observed after 35 days (25 °C) or 20 days (37 °C), and no ALT activity was found on day 20 at either 25 °C or 37 °C. Taking into account the highest possible stability of enzymes, we suppose that a three-week observation of their residual catalytic activity in the presence of 50 mmol/l D-fructose at the temperature of 25 °C seems to be the most prospective experimental design for future glycation studies with aminotransferases under the influences of drugs