Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are undifferentiated cells capable of unlimited self-renewal. By introducing specific transcription factors, any somatic (fully differentiated) cell of the mammalian body can be changed (reprogrammed) into iPSC. The iPSCs are very similar to embryonic stem cells in their molecular and functional properties. By using specific factors, iPSCs can be differentiated into each of the about 200 cell types in the human body. The big advantage of iPSCs is the availability of somatic cells (isolation from blood or skin biopsy). Creation of "tailor made" iPSCs for each patient would allow transplantation of own cells and avoid problems with finding an immunologically compatible donor. and Kateřina Vodičková Kepková, Petr Vodička, Jan Motlík.
Among the African people an important social and religious role is performed by funeral rituals, which belong to rituals of passage connected with changing of man’s status and social position. The rituals of the first and secondary funerals among the Konkomba belong to the most extended of all the rituals of passage. The present article describes and analyses the rituals of the first funeral, which are the burial rituals of elderly people (men and women). They differ in the richness of rites and the social significance from the simpler burials of adult people, children or infants. and V živote afrických národů hrají významné místo pohřební rituály, které patří mezi „přechodové rituály", související se změnou postavení člověka ve společnosti. První a druhé pohřební rituály Konkombů patří mezi nejrozsáhlejší ze všech přechodových rituálů. Článek popisuje a analyzuje rituály prvního pohřbu u starších osob (mužů a žen). Tyto pohřby se bohatstvím rituálů i sociálním významem odlišují od jednodušších pohřbů mladších dospělých, dětí a novorozenců.
In a cultured network of rat embryonic hypothalamic cells, synaptic interaction is through GABAA-receptors, that mediate inhibition by an increase in Cl' conductance, and AMPA-receptors, that mediate excitation by an increase in monovalent cationic conductance. Changes in the balance of inhibition and excitation towards a predominance of excitation lead to phasic synchronous activity of the cells. Synaptic interaction through these receptors is thus capable of modulating neurosecretion rapidly.
Colonic mucosal protection is provided by the mucus gel, mainly composed of mucins. Several factors can modulate the formation and the secretion of mucins, and among them butyrate, an end-product of carbohydrate fermen tation. However, the specific effect of butyrate on the various colonic mucins, and the consequences in terms of the mucus layer thickness are not known. Our aim was to determine whether butyrate modulates colonic MUC genes expression in vivo and whether this results in changes in mucus synthesis and mucus layer thickness. Mice received daily for 7 days rectal enemas of butyrate (100 mM) versus saline. We demonstrated that butyrate stimulated the gene expression of both secreted (Muc2) and membrane-linked (Muc1, Muc3, Muc4) mucins. Butyrate especially induced a 6-fold increase in Muc2 gene expression in proximal colon. However, butyrate enemas did not modify the number of epithelial cells containing the protein Muc2, and caused a 2-fold decrease in the thickness of adherent mucus layer. Further studies should help understanding whether this last phenomenon, i.e. the decrease in adherent mucus gel thickness, results in a diminished protective function or not., E. Gaudier ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury