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Mini review summarizes the results of our studies focused on elucidation of the pathophysiological mechanisms of altered calcium homeostasis in nonexcitable cells from patients with early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD), as well as on determining the effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on these mechanisms. The basic mechanisms of calcium entry to and removal of the cell are already changed in early stages of CKD. These disturbances cause an increased the concentration of cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i), which may change a number of cellular processes, and the expression of various signaling molecules. Vitamin D3 supplementation is a standard procedure of vitamin D insufficiency/ deficiency correction in these patients. The pleiotropic effects of vitamin D may be involved in the modulation of cellular calcium homeostasis. Vitamin D3 supplementation resulted in a reduction in [Ca2+]i by affecting of specific transport systems of calcium cations entry to and removal of the cell. The normalization [Ca2+]i can have a beneficial effect on intracellular signalling, and thus positively influence the functioning of cells, tissues or organs.Key words: cellular calcium homeostasis - chronic kidney disease - intracellular calcium - vitamin D.

Current approaches of anthropogenic impact on the ecosystems and ecosystem services are within the scope of this master's thesis. The aim of the thesis is, on the basis of current landscape classifications, landscape typologies, and their combination with approaches of ecosystem services classification, to appoint socio-ecological units as functional socio-ecological types of the territory. In other words, on the basis of classification listed, this thesis attempts to prove, that socio-ecological units are functional socio-ecological types of the territory, which should be given proper attention. Socio-ecological landscapes are defined according to degree of anthropogenic impact, selected socioeconomic characteristics, and selected ecosystem services. The thesis focuses on three of four categories of ecosystem services defined in Millennium Ecosystem Assessment - provisioning services, regulating services, and cultural services. As a methodology, the quantitative research was chosen. The research was carried out by data collection and the analysis of statistical data of Czech Statistical Office, Czech Office for Surveying, Mapping and Cadastre, and Statistical Yearbook of Soil Services. The thesis main finding is that social and ecological components of socio-ecological systems are in mutual...

The relations among simulacrum, hyperreality, aesthetic codes and post-modern society are within the scope of my bachelor thesis. I primarily focuse on political apparatus and its relations to phenomena mentioned. As foundations, I have chosen philosophical reflections on simulacra and hyperreality - authors whom I cite are particularly Jean Baudrillard, Roland Barthes and Michel Foucault. Another writings are considered as well, for example writings which are occupied with changes in society, in language or writings which are occupied with media. My thesis attempts to describe chronological development of every single feature as regards contemporary society.

The aim of the undergraduate thesis is to focus on the voluntary blood donation from the view of the public relations propagation. Public relations activities of certain subjects are being critically analysed. There are also other examples of voluntary blood donation promotion described, as there is actually not enough public relations activity in this sector. There are described various forms of blood donation such as full blood donation and the blood plasma one. Both forms of donations are promoted in certain ways. Considerate part of the work is dedicated to the campaign called The Spartan blood, which is the project of Czech hockey team Sparta Praha to promote voluntary blood donation. This seems to be effective thanks to its consistency and extensiveness, so a deeper research is conducted.

In 8 subjects with chronic renal failure treated conservatively the renal hippurate clearance (CHip), polyfructosan (CPF) and creatinine (Ccr) clearance was assessed. The mean values of the investigated variables were as follows: CHip = 1.06 +/- 0.79 ml/s, CPF = 0.15 +/- 0.08 ml/s, Ccr = 0.27 +/- 0.17 ml/s. The ratios between the investigated clearance values were: CHip/CPF = 6.9 +/- 4.2 and CHip/Ccr = 4.2 +/- 1.4. The ratio of CHip/CPF was in some instances as high as 10 or more. Between values of CHip/CPF and the plasma hippurate concentration (PHip) a significant negative (non-linear correlation was found (p0.01). When the PHip values were very high, the value of the CHip/CPF ratio was close to 1. The recorded findings confirm that in subjects with chronic renal failure in the residual nephrons hippurate is synthetized and its urinary excretion in relation to glomerular filtration is increased. The findings suggest also that in these patients the tubular transport for hippurate is saturated. It will be necessary to take into account the possible saturation of tubular transport for hippurate when interpreting changes of drug excretion (i.e. those excreted by the same mechanism as hippurate) in subjects with chronic renal failure.

In 25 patients with chronic renal failure, the levels of glycemia and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) were determined in one-hour intervals over the period of eight-hour hemodialysis. The study was performed in hemodialysis with and without 200 mg% glucose in the dialysis solution. The mutual behavior of the two substances was evaluated. In patients on a chronic hemodialysis program the level of IRI was found to depend on elimination, secretion, and endogenous control of IRI. The internal processes may be involved to a more important extent in achieving the definitive levels of IRI (middle-molecular substance) than its elimination by hemodialysis. The actual regulator-glucose (low-molecular substance) need not change its level significantly in this process.

The objective of the investigation was to assess whether therapeutic membrane plasmapheresis accelerates protein synthesis. To this end pseudouridine (PSI), a modified nucleoside was investigated which provides information on the tRNA turnover and thus indirectly also on protein synthesis. The authors made 10 plasmapheresis on a A 2008 PF monitor with Plasmaflux P2 filters which they use to exchange 1 plasma volume of the patients. Laboratory indicators were investigated one day before plasmapheresis, on the day of plasmapheresis and during its course, and on the 1st, 2nd and possibly 3rd day after plasmapheresis. They revealed that the clearance of the plasma filter for PSI (0.41 +/- 0.04 ml/s, arithmetical mean +/- SEM) did not differ significantly from the filtration rate (0.49 +/- 0.01 ml/s, p = 0.15). As compared with the initial examination (0.49 +/- 0.06 ml/s) on the first day after plasmapheresis as a result of reduced glomerular filtration rate the renal clearance of PSI was reduced (0.33 +/- 0.05, p less than 0.01). PSI serum concentrations were therefore expressed as the serum PSI/serum creatinine ratio. This ratio was, as compared with the initial examination (80.4 +/- 4.8 nmol/mumol), raised midway during the procedure (100.8 +/- 8.6, p much less than 0.05) and after its termination (132.3 +/- 6.1, p much less than 0.01). The increase was not due to disintegration of cells or dietary factors. The rise of the serum PSI/serum creatinine ratio was due to a more rapid tRNA turnover and thus provided evidence that therapeutic membrane plasmapheresis accelerates protein synthesis.

Background: Patients treated with chronic dialysis show extreme mortality, particularly due to cardiovascular disease. Renal failure is associated with different risk factors of cardiovascular complications than those defined for non-renal population. One of these factors, currently considered most important, are vascular calcifications. At the same time, patients on dialysis regularly suffer from derrangements of calcium-phosphate metabolism, including skeletal demineralization. As a consequence, both incidence and prevalence of bone fractures are high. Aims: This study therefore investigates vascular calcifications and skeletal demineralization, their clinical implications and associations in patients treated with long-term dialysis. Methods: Two groups of patients were examined in a prospective manner (follow-up > 1 year); 32 patients treated with peritoneal dialysis and 72 treated with regular hemdodialysis. Treatment parameters and biochemical markers of calcium-phosphate metabolism were monitored throughout the study. Bone mineral density of lumbar spine (together with vertebral fractures) as well as coronary artery, valvular and aortic calcifcations were determined repeatedly. All radiological parameters were measured during one computed-tomography scanning session. Results: A significant...