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Carotenoids are lipophilic dyes; their production is very important for photosynthetic processes as well as for tissue protection in leaves and as attractants in fruits. They are also crucial in human/animal nutrition for their antioxidant effects. Carotenoids can be found in plant and animal tissues both in free and esterified forms. The main goal of this bachelor thesis was to establish the method of saponification of carotenoid extracts from fruits, food supplements and subsequent analysis of the presence of carotenoid esters by HPLC. Saponification was tested with sodium and potassium hydroxides. Content of carotenoid esters was detected in food samples and in selected food supplements with presumed high carotenoid content. Findings are discussed in terms of carotenoid uptake in human digestive tract.

In the treatment of dyslipidemias about 5-6 years back a new class of drugs emerged, CETP (cholesteryl ester transfer protein)-inhibitors. Their benefit was due to an increase of HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) serum levels. This treatment mode was supported by epidemiological and clinical studies, as people with high serum HDL-C levels suffered less from cardiovascular (CV) events. Three studies with CETP inhibitors (ILLUMINATE with torcetrapib, dal-OUTCOMES with dalcetrapib and ACCELERATE with evacetrapib) were unfortunately negative, and torcetrapib was even harmful to patients due to an increase of aldosterone serum levels. Treatment with dalcetrapib was safe, but without benefit. Similar it was with evacetrapib. There is still running also a study with anacetrapib (REVEAL), but a benefit is here not expected. Evacetrapib and anacetrapib in comparison to dalcetrapib can reduce serum LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) much more, and similar results were found also in another CETP-inhibitor TA-8995 (TULIP study). Authors try to explain why there is no benefit with CETP-inhibitors (dysfunctional HDL particle, another effective mechanism than reverse cholesterol transport). A genetic analysis in dalcetrapib studies (dal-OUTCOMES and dal-PLAQUE-2) showed, that a cardiovascular benefit from this treatment is concentrated only to a subgroup of patients with a genotype AA in the gene ADCY9 on 16th chromosome. In the population there are about 20% of people with this AA genotype. A clinical study DAL-301 will test this data in a near future. Framingham Offspring study showed that the association of" HDL-C serum level - CV risk in the future" is greatly influenced by serum levels of LDL-C and triglycerides (if these are increased, than the CV future prediction with HDL-C levels is lost). HDL particles are complex and we do not know which subtype of HDL particles is for cardiovascular prognosis important. The research here continues.Key words: acute coronary syndrome - CETP-inhibitors - dalcetrapib - dysfunctional HDL particles - dyslipidemia - HDL-cholesterol - pharmacogenomics of ADCY9 gene.

Lipidomics as a part of metabolomics is a fast-growing area of research due to the improvement in analytical techniques. This master thesis is focused on lipid extraction techniques optimization, using liquid liquid extraction and solid phase extraction as pre-separation methods and ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry for extraction and subsequent identification of branched-chain fatty acid esters (FAHFA - branched-chain Fatty Acid esters of Hydroxy Fatty Acids). This newly discovered class of lipid molecules is associated with insulin secretion, which could improve whole body and local glucose metabolism, providing potential for diabetes 2 type treatment. Solid phase extraction of biological samples was optimized on columns regarding to sorbent composition using reversed phase columns with modified styrene divinylbenzene polymer or octadecyl-bonded polymer and normal phase columns packed with silica gel. Column Strata SI-1 Silica was the most effective for FAHFA separation from biological samples. Chromatographic separation of FAHFA was performed on UPLC Ultimate 3000 RSLC equipped with Kinetex C18 1,7 µm, 2,1 x 150 mm column using gradient program. UPLC was coupled to QTRAP 5500/SelexION, a hybrid, triple quadrupole, linear ion trap mass spectrometer equipped...

Phthalic acid esters have been used for its softening and plastification effects as additives to various kinds of products: colours, paintings, glues, cosmetic products, inks, repellents, films, PVC-derived products including medical disposable PVC products. The authors present a basic review of literature on toxicologically important sources including medical disposable products. They refer about the deleterious effects on the mammalian organism, possibilities to replace phthalic acid esters by other softening and plasticizing remedies as well as the use of such kinds of materials, which do not require these additives.