Patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been associated with an increased risk of decompression sickness (DCS) in divers. Pathophysiologicaly this has been ascribed to paradoxical embolization of nitrogen bubbles from venous blood to systemic circulation, resulting in obstruction of peripheral capillaries and ischemic injury. However, the role of PFO has been largely debated and experimental and prospective clinical data has been missing. It is of note, that this hypothesis is not only of theoretical importance. The proof of PFO as a causative factor of DCS and, importantly, of unpredictable events (unprovoked DCS) could affect millions of divers worldwide through improved therapy and prevention. In our research we aimed to describe the pathophysiological role of PFO in decompression sickness and to determine whether the prevention of arterialization of post-dive venous gas emboli (VGE) would decrease the incidence of unprovoked DCS in divers. We have screened 489 scuba divers for the presence of PFO by means of transcranial color-coded Doppler ultrasonography. In a retrospective analysis we found that the incidence of unprovoked decompression sickness was 7% among these divers and that PFO was the only risk factor. Subsequently, we have studied the occurrence of VGE and arterial gas emboli (AGE) in divers with...

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the second leading cause of heart failure. The pathophysiology in DCM is still poorly understood, partly because of currently limited research tools. We investigated whether cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), using novel imaging techniques, could be used for in vivo assessment of some key pathophysiological mechanisms related to DCM. In addition, we evaluated whether the pathological findings on CMR would predict clinically relevant functional and morphological improvement of the left ventricular (LV) function - the LV reverse remodeling (LVRR). CMR together with endomyocardial biopsy, echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise testing and a thorough assessment of cardiac biomarkers was performed in 44 patients with new-onset DCM (<6 months of duration). The imaging was repeated after 12 months of clinical follow-up. Endomyocardial biopsy revealed myocardial inflammation in 34 % of the patients. LVRR at 12 months occurred in 45 % of the patients. Presence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in the left ventricle was a sensitive but unspecific sign of myocardial inflammation because it was also a feature of hemodynamic stress related to the heart failure. The baseline extent of LGE was an independent predictor of future LVRR and also a predictor of adverse clinical...

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the second leading cause of heart failure. The pathophysiology in DCM is still poorly understood, partly because of currently limited research tools. We investigated whether cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), using novel imaging techniques, could be used for in vivo assessment of some key pathophysiological mechanisms related to DCM. In addition, we evaluated whether the pathological findings on CMR would predict clinically relevant functional and morphological improvement of the left ventricular (LV) function - the LV reverse remodeling (LVRR). CMR together with endomyocardial biopsy, echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise testing and a thorough assessment of cardiac biomarkers was performed in 44 patients with new-onset DCM (<6 months of duration). The imaging was repeated after 12 months of clinical follow-up. Endomyocardial biopsy revealed myocardial inflammation in 34 % of the patients. LVRR at 12 months occurred in 45 % of the patients. Presence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in the left ventricle was a sensitive but unspecific sign of myocardial inflammation because it was also a feature of hemodynamic stress related to the heart failure. The baseline extent of LGE was an independent predictor of future LVRR and also a predictor of adverse clinical...

Title: Evaluation of the immediate influence of physical activity on the quality of postural functions of basketball players Author: Bc. Michaela Mudruňková Supervisor: PhDr. Tereza Nováková, PhD. Problem definition: Difficulties in the evaluation of the quality of postural functions and in the establishment of a so-called ideal posture stem from the diversity of views of different authors. Posture is definitely not the same as standing, but unfortunately many of the tests for postural functions evaluation focus only on that. Postural stability can be measured using device methods as well, but these devices are not available everywhere. Therefore, I have tried to create my own set of tests, which would best meet all requirements: simplicity, speed, availability and complexity of testing and evaluation of the quality of postural functions. Physical activity is followed by fatigue of the organism (decreased muscle strength, impaired movement coordination, ...). In my thesis I try to explain how fatigue manifests itself on the quality of postural functions and how to best assess the quality of postural functions using simple tests. The aim: The aims of this thesis are to develop an appropriate set of tests for evaluation of the quality of postural functions and to investigate the effects of different...

This thesis provides an appraisal of the structure of clustering of metabolic phenotypes and evaluates the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the relationship between urinary uric acid and albumin excretion. Two population-based studies were involved. In the first part, we used data obtained in a large representative cross-sectional survey in the Czech Republic (Czech post-MONICA study). We showed that the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (uACR) was an independent factor for an increase in serum uric acid (SUA) levels in adults without manifest metabolic syndrome (MetS), but with 1-2 MetS component(s). Furthermore, SUA levels increased by the synergistic interaction of uACR with visceral adiposity and blood pressure, which may suggest obesity-related hypertension with altered renal hemodynamics as the primary mechanism. In the second part, we analyzed data captured in a representative population sample of French Canadians (CARTaGENE study) with more detailed urine biochemical analyses available. This study yielded two novel observations. First, we showed that the rs13129697 major T allele, which has been associated with increased SUA levels in our analysis as well as in prior publications, was associated with a paradoxical decrease in uACR. The reason for this discrepant finding is the...