a1_The genes that cause or increase susceptibility to essential hypertension (EH) and related an imal models remain unknown. Their identification is unlikely to be realized with current genetic approaches, because of ambiguities in the genotype-phenotype relationships in these polygenic disorders. In turn, the phenotype is not just an aggregate of traits, but needs to be related to specific components of the circulatory control system at different stages of EH. Hence, clues about important genes must come through the phenotype, reversing the order of current approaches. A recent systems analysis has highlighted major differences in circulatory control in the two main syndromes of EH: 1) stress-and-salt-related EH (SSR-EH) - a constrictor hypertension with low blood volume; 2) hypertensive obesity - SSR-EH plus obesity. Each is initiated through sensitization of central synapses linking the cerebral cortex to the hypothalamic defense area. Several mechanis ms are probably involved, including cerebellar effects on baroreflexes. The result is a sustained increase in sympathetic neural activity at stimulus levels that have no effect in normal subjects. Subsequent progression of EH is largely thro ugh interactions with non-neural mechanisms, including changes in concentration of vascular autacoids (e.g. nitric oxide) and the amplifying effect of structural changes in large resistance vessels. The rising vasoconstriction increases heterogeneity of blood flow, causing rarefaction (decreased microvascular densit y) and deterioration of vital organs. SSR-EH also increases food intake in response to stress, but only 40% of these individual s develop hypertensive obesity. Their brain ignores the adiposity signals that normally reduce eating., a2_Hyperinsulinemia masks the sympathetic vasoconstriction through its dilator action, rais es blood volume, whilst renal nephropathy and other diabetic complications are common. In each syndrome the neural and non-neural determinants of hypertension provide targets fo r identifying high BP genes. Reading the genome from the phenotype will require new approaches, such as those used in developmental genetics. In addition, transgenic technology may help verify hypotheses and examine whether an observed effect is through single or multiple mechanisms. To obtain answers will require substantial collaborative efforts between physiologists and geneticists., P. I. Korner., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU rDNA) of two freshwater and one marine species of the genus Chloromyxum Mingazzini, 1890 were sequenced. The SSU rDNA trees obtained show the phylogenetic position of the marine species Chloromyxum leydigi Mingazzini, 1890 to be at the base of the freshwater clade, being well supported by a high bootstrap value. Chloromyxum cyprini Fujita, 1927 is closely related to Chloromyxum truttae Léger, 1906 and they represent a sister branch to raabeia sp., Myxidium sp. and Myxidium truttae Léger, 1930. Chloromyxum legeri Tourraine, 1931 is in a position ancestral to Myxidium lieberkuehni Bütschli, 1882 and Sphaerospora oncorhynchi Kent, Whitaker et Margolis, 1993. Three newly sequenced species of the genus Chloromyxum represent three separate lineages within the myxosporean tree and do not support the monophyly of this genus.
The Picone-type identity for the half-linear second order partial differential equation n∑ i=1 ∂ ⁄ ∂xi Φ (∂u ⁄ ∂xi) + c(x)Φ(u) = 0, Φ(u) := |u| p−2 u, p > 1, is established and some applications of this identity are suggested.
The politicization of the Nabī Mūsā festival during the Palestine Mandate is a well-established and publicized fact, yet other Arab Palestinian festivals experienced a similar transformation in the same context. Such was the case of the Mawlid al-nabawī (the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad). The intention of Arab nationalists was that it should evolve into a communal festival for all the Palestinian Arabs. However, for mainly denominational, geographical and political reasons, the attempt met with varied success throughout the territory of the Palestine Mandate. Attendance at public festivities remained decidedly Muslim in character. Repeated appeals for Christian participation were to little avail. Yet the attempts to include Christian Arabs in the festival throw light on the Arab nationalist ideologies in Palestine at the time - from that point of view, the celebrations linked to the birth of the Prophet Muhammad stand out as an axiological inspiration, regardless of denominational boundaries. In 1937, the political mobilization on the occasion of the Mawlid al-nabawī reached a peak but, even then, attendance was greatest in Gaza and Acre, places where the festival was traditionally important. Furthermore, te degree of mobilization, varying as it did from place to place, seems to be a reflection of the influence of the main Arab Palestinian factions, whose rivalry was reaching a climax in the late 1930s.
The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channel contains 12 transmembrane (TM) regions that are presumed to form the channel pore. However, t here is no direct evidence clearly illustrating the involvement of these transmembr ane regions in the actual CFTR pore structure. To obtain insight into the architecture of the CFTR channel pore, we used patch clamp recording techniques and a strategy of comutagenesis of two potential pore-forming transmembrane regions (TM1 and TM6) to investigate the collaboration of these two TM regions. We performed a range of specific functional assays comparing the single channel conductance, anion binding, and anion selectivity properties of the co -mutated CFTR variants, and the results indicated that TM1 and TM6 play vital roles in forming the channel pore and, thus, determine the functional properties of the channel. Furthermore, we provide d functional evidence that the amino acid threonine (T338) in TM6 has synergic effects with lysine (K95) in TM1. Therefore, we propose that these two residues have functional collaboration in the CFTR channel pore and may collectively form a selective filter ., F. Qian, L. Liu, Z. Liu, C. Lu., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The paper presents a method for measuring relative displacements of rock blocks on the basis of recorded images of prototype plate targets measurement. The developed measuring targets, after deposition on the surveyed object (for example rock blocks) act as control points, which represent the behavior of the object over time. Two types of targets ware constructed: passive (appropriately chosen figure) and active (respectively arranged fiber targets). The paper presents preliminary results of work in the laboratory using a calibrated semi-metric camera (Canon D5 Mark II - SLR camera with a CMOS 21 million pixels sensor), two passive targets, geodetic engineering tripod, micrometric simulator of shifts and Leica TC1800 total station. During the experimental work one of the targets was set on a tripod, and the other placed on the total station telescope set on the observation pillar. While taking a series of images the first target was fixed, while the other was moved and rotated. The displacements were made with a micrometric table in two mutually perpendicular directions XY in the horizontal plane, and by simulated rotation of the horizontal wheel and vertical wheel of the total station (rotation of the instrument by the adjusting screws). Using the principles of close-range mono-photogra mmetry from automatic measurement of the recorded images of both plate targets, the values of displacements and rotations were compared with the references., Piotr Gołuch, Kazimierz Ćmielewski, Janusz Kuchmistera and Krzysztof Kowalski., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
We explored the effect of chronically elevated circulating levels of growth hormone (GH)/insulin -like -growth- factor-1 (IGF-1) on mRNA expression of GH/IGF-1/insulin axis components and p85alpha subunit of phosphoinositide -3-kinase (p85alpha) in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) of patients with active acromegaly and compared these findings with healthy control subjects in order to find its possible relationships with insulin resistance and body composition changes. Acromegaly group had significantly decreased percenta ge of truncal and whole body fat and increased homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA -IR). In SCAT, patients with acromegaly had significantly increased IGF-1 and IGF -binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) expression that both positively correlated wit h serum GH. P85alpha expression in SCAT did not differ from control group. IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 expression in SCAT were not independently associated with percentage of truncal and whole body fat or with HOMA -IR while IGFBP -3 expression in SCAT was an independ ent predictor of insulin receptor as well as of p85alpha expression in SCAT. Our data suggest that GH overproduction in acromegaly group increases IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 expression in SCAT while it does not affect SCAT p85alpha expression. Increased IGF-1 or IGFBP-3 in SCAT of acromegaly group do not appear to contribute to systemic differences in insulin sensitivity but may have local regulatory effects in SCAT of patients with acromegaly., V. Touskova, J. Klouckova, V. Durovcova, Z. Lacinova, P. Kavalkova, P. Trachta, M. Kosak, M. Mraz, D. Haluzikova, V. Hana, J. Marek, M. Krsek, M. Haluzik., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Let $h,k$ be fixed positive integers, and let $A$ be any set of positive integers. Let $hA:=\{a_1+a_2+\cdots +a_r\colon a_i \in A, r \le h\}$ denote the set of all integers representable as a sum of no more than $h$ elements of $A$, and let $n(h,A)$ denote the largest integer $n$ such that $\{1,2,\ldots ,n\} \subseteq hA$. Let $n(h,k):=\max _A\colon n(h,A)$, where the maximum is taken over all sets $A$ with $k$ elements. We determine $n(h,A)$ when the elements of $A$ are in geometric progression. In particular, this results in the evaluation of $n(h,2)$ and yields surprisingly sharp lower bounds for $n(h,k)$, particularly for $k=3$.
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is the result of interaction between a chronic hemodynamic overload and non-hemodynamic factors. There are several lines of evidence presented in this work suggesting that nitric oxide (NO) may participate in the hypertrophic growth of the myocardium. First, endothelial NO production was shown to be decreased in several types of hemodynamically overloaded circulation both in animals and humans. Second, compounds stimulating NO production were able to diminish the extent or modify the nature of LVH in some models of myocardial hypertrophic growth. Third, arterial hypertension can be induced by inhibition of nitric oxide synthase activity. This NO-deficient hypertension is associated with the development of concentric LVH, myocardial fibrosis and protein remodeling of the left ventricle. The mechanism of LVH development in NO-deficient hypertension is complex and involves decreased NO production and increased activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Cardiovascular protection via ACE inhibition in NO-deficient hypertension may be induced by mechanisms not involving an improvement of NO production. In conclusion, the hypertrophic growth of the LV appears to be the result of interaction of vasoconstrictive and growth stimulating effects of angiotensin II on the one hand and of vasodilating and antiproliferative effects of nitric oxide on the other., F. Šimko, J. Šimko., and Obsahuje bibliografii