INTRODUCTION: Vascular graft infection in the aortoiliac territory (abdominal VGI) is undoubtedly one of the most serious complications in vascular surgery. The treatment is burdened with high mortality and morbidity rates. In 2020, the Guidelines on the Management of Vascular Graft and Endograft Infections were published by the European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS). In the light of these guidelines, we decided to review retrospectively all patients who presented to our institution with abdominal VGI. METHODS: Retrospective observational study of patients presented with abdominal VGI treated in our institution between 20112019 (9 years). The primary goal was to elucidate the rate of vascular graft infection in aortoiliac reconstructions performed between 20112019 and also the mortality rate in the patient cohort operated for this complication. The secondary goals were to evaluate the success rate and the complication rate in different types of reconstructions. RESULTS: In the defined period between 20112019 we performed 363 open aortoiliac reconstructions. During the same period we treated altogether 15 patients with abdominal VGI, whose primary reconstruction was mostly performed before 2011 (11 patients). In our cohort of patients who underwent reconstruction between 20112019 we observed a graft infection only in 4 cases (1.1%). In the group of 15 patients with abdominal VGI, the male gender prevailed (14 patients). The mean age at the time of primary reconstruction was 61 years. Most of our reconstructions were performed for occlusive disease (14 cases). All infected grafts were aortobifemoral (1 unilateral aortofemoral). They were all late infections with an average presentation time of 61 months since the primary reconstruction (15180 months). Early mortality rate was as high as 27% (4 patients) and overall mortality was 40%. The secondary reinfection rate after primary treatment was 33%. CONCLUSION: Treatment of abdominal VGI is still burdened with high mortality and morbidity rates. The current ESVS guidelines provide valuable guidance for the diagnosis and management of VGI. It nevertheless remains obvious that the treatment needs to be tailored individually in a multidisciplinary team environment.

• Klíčová slova
• abdominal aorta, graft, infection,
• MeSH
• aorta abdominalis chirurgie   MeSH
• arteria iliaca MeSH
• cévní protézy * škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• stenty MeSH
• výkony cévní chirurgie * MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• pozorovací studie MeSH

The beta-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) is a non-proteinogenic amino acid discussed to be produced by cyanobacteria forming harmful blooms. Since BMAA is suspected etiological agent in neurodegenerative diseases, there is a need to study and validate whether and in what concentrations can BMAA be present in human tissues. The aim of the present study was to validate analytical and extraction procedures for quantification of non-derivatized BMAA in the urine using liquid chromatography and commercial ELISA Kit. The study was focused on BMAA in different forms - dissolved, protein associated and total. The validated protocol included SPE followed by HILIC MS/MS for analyses of non-derivatized free form of BMAA with a limit of quantification 20 ng/mL. The methods for other BMAA forms (i.e. protein-associated and total) were also assessed but high matrix interferences did not allow their implementation. The method was used for analyses of free BMAA in 23 urine samples from healthy volunteers and psychiatric patients suffering from nonspecific neurological symptoms. Traces of BMAA were suspectedly detected in a single urine sample but they were not unequivocally proved according to all conservative analytical criteria. BMAA was also not confirmed in a repeatedly collected sample from the same person. The evaluated commercial BMAA ELISA Kit (Abraxis) was not suitable for determination of BMAA in extracted urine samples because of systematically highly false positive results. In agreement with recent findings, analyses of BMAA appear to methodologically challenging, and further research on BMAA in human tissues (or its precursors with potency to form BMAA under natural conditions or - eventually - during sample processing) is needed to clarify its potential ethiological role in neurodegenerative diseases.

• Klíčová slova
• Beta-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA), Human urine, Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC), Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS),
• MeSH
• aminokyseliny diaminové moč   MeSH
• chromatografie kapalinová metody   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• duševní poruchy moč   MeSH
• ELISA metody   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• neurotoxiny moč   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• tandemová hmotnostní spektrometrie metody   MeSH
• toxiny kmene Cyanobacteria MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• aminokyseliny diaminové MeSH
• beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine MeSH Prohlížeč
• neurotoxiny MeSH
• toxiny kmene Cyanobacteria MeSH

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review paper was to stimulate collaborative discussions toward the development of a general concept of an open source protocol for a feasible and efficient longitudinal birth cohort study exploring non-communicable diseases (NCDs), their multifactorial etiology and relations between various risk factors. STUDY DESIGN: The present paper systematically reviews the design of existing birth cohorts in Europe containing environmental exposure data, and assesses a quantity and quality of their research outcomes as their potential to be an effective tool for studying non-communicable diseases and their risk factors. METHODS: European birth cohorts with more than 3000 participants have been included in the study. A total number of scientific papers published in the internationally recognized journals and their impact factors and citation records were evaluated for all cohorts as surrogates for their efficiency to contribute to NCDs understanding and thus their prevention. RESULTS: The birth cohorts contributing most significantly to the NCD understanding shared common features: (i) study size between 10,000 and 15,000 mother-child pairs; (ii) repeated assessment of children from prenatal into adulthood; and (iii) availability of biological samples. Smaller cohorts and cohorts with a specific focus generated a lower number of publications; however, these often received considerably a higher number of citations. CONCLUSIONS: General cohort studies with 10,000-15,000 mother-child pairs allow a broader context interpretation, publish a higher number of articles, and often lead to the formation of infrastructures for 'spin-off (nested) studies'.

• Klíčová slova
• European birth cohorts, Non-communicable diseases, Research outcomes, Study design,
• MeSH
• běloši * MeSH
• databáze faktografické MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• kohortové studie * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• longitudinální studie MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• vystavení vlivu životního prostředí * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH

Isoflavones are natural phytoestrogens with antioxidant and endocrine-disrupting potencies. Monitoring of their levels is important to ensure the high quality and safety of food, milk, and dairy products. The efficiency and accuracy of phytoestrogen analyses in complex matrices such as milk depend on the extraction procedure, which often uses hydrolysis by means of the β-glucuronidase/sulfatase enzyme originating from Helix pomatia. The present study reveals that the commercially available hydrolytic enzyme is contaminated by several phytoestrogen isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, formononetin, and biochanin A) and their metabolite equol, as well as flavones (naringenin and apigenin) and coumestrol. We show that the concentrations of daidzein and genistein in the enzyme could have impaired the results of analyses of the main isoflavones in several previously published studies. Of 8 analyzed compounds, only equol was confirmed in the present study and it serves as a reliable marker of phytoestrogens originating from cow feed. Critical reassessment of phytoestrogen concentrations in milk is needed because several previously published studies might have overestimated the concentrations depending on the extraction procedure used.

• Klíčová slova
• bovine milk, equol, mass spectrometry, phytoestrogen,
• MeSH
• fytoestrogeny * MeSH
• glukuronidasa MeSH
• isoflavony MeSH
• kumestrol MeSH
• mléko chemie   MeSH
• ovum MeSH
• skot MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• skot MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• fytoestrogeny * MeSH
• glukuronidasa MeSH
• isoflavony MeSH
• kumestrol MeSH

The paper presents the development of an advanced extraction and fast analytical LC MS/MS method for simultaneous analyses of reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH and GSSG, respectively) in different animal tissues. The simultaneous determination of GSH and GSSG is crucial because the amount and ratio of both GSH and GSSG may be altered in response to oxidative stress, an important mechanism of toxicity. The method uses the derivatization of free thiol groups in GSH. Its performance was demonstrated for less explored tissues (lung, brain, and liver) in mouse. The combined extraction and analytical method has very low variability and good reproducibility, maximum coefficients of variance for within-run and between-run analyses under 8 %, and low limits of quantification; for GSH and GSSG, these were 0.2 nM (0.06 ng/mL) and 10 nM (6 ng/mL), respectively. The performance of the method was further demonstrated in a model experiment addressing changes in GSH and GSSG concentrations in lung of mice exposed to CdO nanoparticles during acute 72 h and chronic 13-week exposures. Inhalation exposure led to increased GSH concentrations in lung. GSSG levels were in general not affected; nonsignificant suppression occurred only after the longer 13-week period of exposure. The developed method for the sensitive detection of both GSH and GSSG in very low tissue mass enables these parameters to be studied in cases where only a little sample is available, i.e. in small organisms or in small amounts of tissue.

• MeSH
• chromatografie kapalinová metody   MeSH
• glutathion analýza   metabolismus   MeSH
• glutathiondisulfid analýza   metabolismus   MeSH
• hmotnostní spektrometrie metody   MeSH
• inhalační expozice analýza   MeSH
• játra chemie   účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• kadmium metabolismus   toxicita   MeSH
• myši inbrední ICR MeSH
• myši MeSH
• nanočástice metabolismus   toxicita   MeSH
• plíce chemie   účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• hodnotící studie MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• glutathion MeSH
• glutathiondisulfid MeSH
• kadmium MeSH

Species Sensitivity Distribution (SSD) is a statistical model that can be used to predict effects of contaminants on biological communities, but only few comparisons of this model with field studies have been conducted so far. In the present study we used measured pesticides concentrations from streams in Germany, France, and Finland, and we used SSD to calculate msPAF (multiple substance potentially affected fraction) values based on maximum toxic stress at localities. We compared these SSD-based predictions with the actual effects on stream invertebrates quantified by the SPEARpesticides bioindicator. The results show that the msPAFs correlated well with the bioindicator, however, the generally accepted SSD threshold msPAF of 0.05 (5% of species are predicted to be affected) severely underestimated the observed effects (msPAF values causing significant effects are 2-1000-times lower). These results demonstrate that validation with field data is required to define the appropriate thresholds for SSD predictions.

• Klíčová slova
• Freshwater, Pollution, Risk assessment, Rivers, Statistical modelling,
• MeSH
• bezobratlí účinky léků   MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu toxicita   MeSH
• druhová specificita MeSH
• hodnocení rizik metody   MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí metody   MeSH
• pesticidy toxicita   MeSH
• řeky chemie   MeSH
• statistické modely * MeSH
• vodní organismy účinky léků   MeSH
• vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Finsko MeSH
• Francie MeSH
• Německo MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu MeSH
• pesticidy MeSH

Despite intensive research into toxic bloom-forming cyanobacteria, the majority of their metabolites remain unknown. The present study explored in detail a novel bioactivity identified in cyanobacteria, i.e. inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC), a marker of tumor promotion. The extracellular mixture (exudate) of the cyanobacterial strain Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (SAG 1.97) was fractionated by semi-preparative reversed phase HPLC, and the fractions assessed for their potencies to inhibit GJIC. Two non-polar fractions that significantly inhibited GJIC were further fractionated, tested and analyzed using multiple mass spectrometric methods. Investigations led to the identification of a putative chemical compound (molecular formula C18H34O3, m/z 299.2581 for the [M+H](+) ion) responsible for observed bioactivities. Specific inhibitors of signaling pathways were used to screen for biochemical mechanisms beyond GJIC inhibition, and the results indicate the involvement of ERK1/2 kinases via a mechanism related to the action of epidermal growth factor EGF but clearly distinct from other anthropogenic tumor promoters like polychlorinated biphenyls or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The chemical and in vitro toxicological characterizations of the newly described metabolite provide important insights into the still poorly understood health impacts of complex toxic cyanobacterial blooms and indicate that currently applied monitoring practices may underestimate actual risks.

• Klíčová slova
• Cyanobacteria, Exudate, Fractionation, Tumor promotion,
• MeSH
• bakteriální toxiny farmakologie   MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• Cylindrospermopsis metabolismus   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• mezerový spoj účinky léků   MeSH
• mezibuněčná komunikace účinky léků   MeSH
• viabilita buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• bakteriální toxiny MeSH

Passive and composite sampling in combination with in vitro bioassays and identification and quantification of individual chemicals were applied to characterize pollution by compounds with several specific modes of action in urban area in the basin of two rivers, with 400,000 inhabitants and a variety of industrial activities. Two types of passive samplers, semipermeable membrane devices (SPMD) for hydrophobic contaminants and polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) for polar compounds such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals, were used to sample wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) influent and effluent as well as rivers upstream and downstream of the urban complex and the WWTP. Compounds with endocrine disruptive potency were detected in river water and WWTP influent and effluent. Year-round, monthly assessment of waste waters by bioassays documented estrogenic, androgenic and dioxin-like potency as well as cytotoxicity in influent waters of the WWTP and allowed characterization of seasonal variability of these biological potentials in waste waters. The WWTP effectively removed cytotoxic compounds, xenoestrogens and xenoandrogens. There was significant variability in treatment efficiency of dioxin-like potency. The study indicates that the WWTP, despite its up-to-date technology, can contribute endocrine disrupting compounds to the river. Riverine samples exhibited dioxin-like, antiestrogenic and antiandrogenic potencies. The study design enabled characterization of effects of the urban complex and the WWTP on the river. Concentrations of PAHs and contaminants and specific biological potencies sampled by POCIS decreased as a function of distance from the city.

• Klíčová slova
• Androgenic, Bioassay in vitro, Cytotoxicity, Dioxin-like, Estrogenic, Passive sampling,
• MeSH
• androgenní receptory metabolismus   MeSH
• androgeny analýza   farmakologie   MeSH
• biotest MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu analýza   farmakologie   MeSH
• čištění vody MeSH
• dioxiny analýza   farmakologie   MeSH
• endokrinní disruptory analýza   farmakologie   MeSH
• estrogeny analýza   farmakologie   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• odpadní voda chemie   MeSH
• pesticidy analýza   farmakologie   MeSH
• polychlorované dibenzodioxiny analýza   farmakologie   MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky analýza   farmakologie   MeSH
• receptory aromatických uhlovodíků metabolismus   MeSH
• receptory pro estrogeny metabolismus   MeSH
• řeky chemie   MeSH
• skládková zařízení MeSH
• velkoměsta MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• velkoměsta MeSH
• Názvy látek
• androgenní receptory MeSH
• androgeny MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu MeSH
• dioxiny MeSH
• endokrinní disruptory MeSH
• estrogeny MeSH
• odpadní voda MeSH
• pesticidy MeSH
• polychlorované dibenzodioxiny MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky MeSH
• receptory aromatických uhlovodíků MeSH
• receptory pro estrogeny MeSH

Endocrine-disruptive potential and concentrations of polar organic contaminants were measured in seven headwaters flowing through relatively unpolluted areas of the Czech Republic. Towns with Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) discharges were the first known sources of anthropogenic pollution in the areas. River water was sampled several kilometers upstream (US) and several tens of meters downstream (DS) of the WWTP discharges, by use of Pesticide and Pharmaceutical Polar Organic Integrative Samplers (POCIS-Pest, POCIS-Pharm). Extracts of passive samplers were tested by use of a battery of in vitro bioassays to determine overall non-specific cytotoxicity, endocrine-disruptive (ED) potential and dioxin-like toxicity. The extracts were also used for quantification of polar organics. There was little toxicity to cells caused by most extracts of POCIS. Estrogenicity was detected in all types of samples even though US locations are considered to be background. At US locations, concentrations of estrogen equivalents (EEq) ranged from less than the detection limits (LOD) to 0.5 ng EEq/POCIS. Downstream concentrations of EEqs ranged from less than LOD to 4.8 ng EEq/POCIS. Concentrations of EEq in POCIS extracts from all DS locations were 1 to 14 times greater than those at US locations. Concentrations of EEq measured in extracts of POCIS-Pest and POCIS-Pharm were in a good agreement. Neither antiestrogenic nor anti/androgenic activities were detected. Concentrations of 2,3,7,8-TCDD equivalents (TEq(bio)) were detected in both types of POCIS at concentrations ranging from less than the LOD to 0.39 ng TEq(bio)/POCIS. Nearly all extracts of POCIS-Pharm contained greater concentrations of TEq(bio) activity than extracts of POCIS-Pest. Concentrations of pesticides and pharmaceuticals in extracts of POCIS were generally small at all sampling sites, but levels of some pharmaceuticals were significantly greater in both types of POCIS from DS locations. Chemical analyses along with the results of bioassays documented impacts of small towns with WWTPs on headwaters.

• MeSH
• biotest MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• chemické znečištění vody statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• dioxiny analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• endokrinní disruptory analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• estrogeny analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• hydrofobní a hydrofilní interakce MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
• odpad tekutý - odstraňování statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• odpadní voda analýza   statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• pesticidy analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• řeky chemie   MeSH
• sladká voda MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu MeSH
• dioxiny MeSH
• endokrinní disruptory MeSH
• estrogeny MeSH
• odpadní voda MeSH
• pesticidy MeSH

Here is presented some of the first information on interactions of compounds produced by cyanobacteria and green algae with estrogen receptor signaling. Estrogenic potency of aqueous extracts and exudates (culture spent media with extracellular products) of seven species of cyanobacteria (10 different laboratory strains) and two algal species were assessed by use of in vitro trans-activation assays. Compounds produced by cyanobacteria and algae, and in particular those excreted from the cells, were estrogenic. Most exudates were estrogenic with potencies expressed at 50% of the maximum response under control of the estrogen receptor ranging from 0.2 to 7.2 ng 17β-estradiol (E(2)) equivalents (EEQ)/L. The greatest estrogenic potency was observed for exudates of Microcystis aerigunosa, a common species that forms water blooms. Aqueous extracts of both green algae, but only one species of cyanobacteria (Aphanizomenon gracile) elicited significant estrogenicity with EEQ ranging from 15 to 280 ng 17β-estradiol (E(2))/g dry weight. Scenedesmus quadricauda exudates and extracts of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae were antagonistic to the ER when coexposed to E(2). The EEQ potency was not correlated with concentrations of cyanotoxins, such as microcystin and cylindrospermopsin, which suggests that the EEQ was comprised of other compounds. The study demonstrates some differences between the estrogenic potency of aqueous extracts prepared from the same species, but of different origin, while the effects of exudates were comparable within species. The observed estrogenic potencies are important namely in relation to the possible mass expansion of cyanobacteria and release of the active compounds into surrounding water.

• MeSH
• Aphanizomenon metabolismus   MeSH
• biotest MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu metabolismus   farmakologie   MeSH
• Chlorophyta metabolismus   MeSH
• endokrinní disruptory metabolismus   farmakologie   MeSH
• estradiol metabolismus   farmakologie   MeSH
• estrogeny metabolismus   farmakologie   MeSH
• eutrofizace MeSH
• exsudáty a transsudáty chemie   MeSH
• mezibuněčná komunikace fyziologie   MeSH
• Microcystis účinky léků   MeSH
• receptory pro estrogeny metabolismus   MeSH
• sinice metabolismus   MeSH
• vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu MeSH
• endokrinní disruptory MeSH
• estradiol MeSH
• estrogeny MeSH
• receptory pro estrogeny MeSH