The two i nferior colliculi (IC) are paired structures in the midbrain that are connected to each other by a bundle of commissural fibers. The fibers play an important role in coordinating sound signal processing between the two inferior colliculi. This study examined inter-collicular suppression on sound signal processing in amp litude domain of mice by measuring the rate-amplitude functions (RAFs) of neurons in one IC during the electrical stimulation of the opposite IC. Three types (monotonic, saturated and non-monotonic) RAFs of collicular neurons were measured before and durin g inter-collicular suppression. Inter-collicular suppression significantly increased the slope, decreased the dynamic range and narrowed down the responsive amplitude of all RAFs to high amplitude level but did not change the type of most (36/43, 84 % ) RAFs. As a result, all types of RAFs were compressed at a greater degree at low than at high sound amplitude during inter-collicular suppression. These data indicate that inter-collicular suppression improve sound processing in the high amplitude domain., Liang Cheng, Hui-Xian Mei, Yun Huang., and Obsahuje bibliografii
In a frog neuromuscular preparation of m. sartorius, glutamate had a reversible dose-dependent inhibitory effect on both spontaneous miniature endplate potentials (MEPP) and nerve stimulation-evoked endplate potentials (EPP). The effect of glutamate on MEPP and EPP is caused by the activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors, as it was eliminated by MCPG, an inhibitor of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors. The depression of evoked EPP, but not MEPP frequency was removed by inhibiting the NO production in the muscle by L-NAME and by ODQ that inhibits the soluble NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclase. The glutamate-induced depression of the frequency of spontaneous MEPP is apparently not caused by the stimulation of the NO cascade. The particular glutamate-stimulated NO cascade affecting the evoked EPP can be down-regulated also by adenosine receptors, as the glutamate and adenosine actions are not additive and application of adenosine partially prevents the further decrease of quantal content by glutamate. On the other hand, there is no obvious interaction between the glutamatemediated inhibition of EPP and inhibitory pathways triggered by carbacholine and ATP. The effect of glutamate on the evoked EPP release might be due to NO-mediated modulation (phosphorylation) of the voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels at the presynaptic release zone that are necessary for evoked quantal release and open during EPP production., S. Adámek ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
An interference between a thermosensitive (ts) mutant and the wild-type (wt) of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus in Ixodes ricinus L, and Rhipicephalus appendicuiatus (Neumann) ticks is reported. /. ricinus females were dually infected by a parenteral inoculation of ts and wt strains at 10-day interval. Interference was demonstrated by the lowered ability of wt virus to replicate in ticks previously infected by ts virus. The wt virus was demonstrated in only 30% of the ticks; the average virus titre was lowered by 2.1 log|0 compared with the control group, which was infected with the wt virus only. The oral infection of R. appendicuiatus ticks with the same viruses also revealed an interference with the growth of the superinfecting wt virus. While in the control group all the ticks became infected, in the dually infected group the wt virus was found in only 50% of the ticks. However, when the ticks were infected orally with is virus and superinfected parenterally with the wt virus, no interference was observed. In a R. appendicuiatus-derived cell line persistently infected with the ts virus (100% of the cells), a partial inhibition of the growth of the superinfecting wt virus was observed. The ts virus retained its thermosensitive phenotype throughout the persistent infection of both the ticks and the tick cell line.
Galanin (GAL) is suggested to be a neuropeptide involved in pain transmission. In this study we tried to determine, whether the increase of GAL concentration in brain cells affects impulse transmission between the motor centers localized in the vicinity of the third and fourth cerebral ventricles. The experiments were carried out on rats under chloralose anesthesia. The study objectives were realized using the method allowing to record the amplitude of evoked tongue jerks (ETJ) in response to noxious tooth pulp stimulation during the perfusion of the cerebral ventricles with solutions containing tested compounds. Perfusion of the cerebral ventricles with GAL concentration-dependently inhibited the ETJ amplitude. The antinociceptive effect of GAL was blocked by a galanin receptor antagonist, galantide (GLT) and by opioid antagonists: non-selective naloxone (Nal) and μ-selective β-funaltrexamine (β-FNA). In contrast, a δ-opioid receptor antagonist, naltrindole (NTI) or the κ-opioid receptor antagonist, nor-binaltrophimine (nor-BNI) did not inhibit the effect of GAL. The antinociceptive effect of GAL was more pronounced when GAL was perfused in combination with other neuropeptides/neurohormones, such as endomorphin-2 (EM-2), vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT). The present results demonstrate that in the orofacial area analgesic activity is modulated by GAL, OT and AVP and that EM-2-induced antinociception involves GAL., M. Zubrzycka, A. Janecka., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Endothelin-1 (ET-1) and Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) are proteins, released from cancer-ridden tissues, which cause spontaneous pain and hypersensitivity to noxious stimuli. Here we examined the electrophysiological and behavioral effects of these two agents for evidence of their interactions. Individual small-medium cultured DRG sensory neurons responded to both ET-1 (50 nM, n=6) and NGF (100 ng/ml, n=4), with increased numbers of action potentials and decreased slow K+ currents; pre-exposure to ET-1 potentiated NGF´s actions, but not vice versa. Behaviorally, single intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of low doses of ET-1 (20 pmol) or NGF (100 ng), did not increase hindpaw tactile or thermal sensitivity, but their simultaneous injections sensitized the paw to both modalities. Daily i.pl. injections of low ET-1 doses in male rats caused tactile sensitization after 21 days, and enabled further tactile and thermal sensitization from low dose NGF, in ipsilateral and contralateral hindpaws. Single injections of 100 ng NGF, without changing the paw’s tactile sensitivity by itself, acutely sensitized the ipsilateral paw to subsequent injections of low ET-1. The sensitization from repeated low ET-1 dosing and the cross-sensitization between NGF and ET-1 were both significantly greater in female than in male rats. These findings reveal a synergistic interaction between cutaneously administered low doses of NGF and ET-1, which could contribute to cancer-related pain., A. Khodorova, Y. Zhang, G. Nicol, G. Strichartz., and Seznam literatury
We introduce an interactive seismic viewer "OP" (developed in MATLAB platform), primary designated for detailed processing of selected events. Few examples of graphical outlook are presented (main display window, particle motion diagram, etc.), available tools are briefly described, uncommon special tools (simultaneous display of original and filtered signal or time-spatial correlation of seismogram components) are emphasized. Features of the viewer are discussed, some programming solutions are also mentioned., Petr Kolář., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Ultrazvuk, představující akustické kmity prostředí o specifických frekvencích, je jedním z mnoha fyzikálních činitelů, které se mohou uplatnit při interakcích s biologickými objekty. Posouzení účinků ultrazvukového pole na biologické systémy je možné hodnotit dle různých klasifikačních kritérií, např. dle povahy interakčního procesu, dle interagujících biologických struktur či výsledného "produktu". Při snaze o vytvoření univerzálního modelu interakce ultrazvuku a biologických struktur hraje velkou roli variabilita biologického materiálu a jeho různorodá odezva na aplikované ultrazvukové pole, což situaci velmi ztěžuje. Přesto nese ultrazvukové pole potenciál vysoké využitelnosti v oblasti medicíny a přírodních věd., Ultrasound, representing the acoustic vibrations of medium with specific frequencies is one of many physical factors that can interact with biological objects. Assessment of the effects of ultrasonic field on biological systems can be evaluated according to different classification criteria, such as the nature of the interaction process, by the character of interacting biological structures or by the final process "product". In an effort to create a universal model of interaction of ultrasound and biological structures the variability of biological materials and its changeable response to the applied ultrasonic field plays an important role, which makes this process very difficult. Yet, after all, ultrasonic field has a high application potential in the field of medicine and science., Vladan Bernard, Vojtěch Mornstein, Jiřína Škorpíková, Naděžda Vaškovicová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Podáváme zprávu o měření povrchových plazmonových polaritonú pomocí rastrovacího optického mikroskopu v blízkém poli. Interference povrchových plazmonových polaritonů byla pozorována na soustavě excitačních drážek vyleptaných do kovové vrstvy pomocí fokusovaného iontového svazku. Ukazujeme, že tvar interferenčních obrazců je závislý na úhlu polarizace dopadajícího světelného svazku vzhledem k orientaci struktur., The article deals with the measurement of surface plasmon polaritons using near field scanning optical microscopy. The interference patterns of surface plasmon polaritons were measured between the excitation grooves etched in the metallic layer by focused ion beam. In particular, interference patterns depend on the mutual angle between the polarization state of the incident light and the orientation of the structure., Lukáš Břínek [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Cíl: Sémontův repoziční manévr se v praxi užívá k léčbě pacientů s benigním paroxyzmálním polohovým vertigem zadního polokruhového kanálku. Cílem studie bylo zhodnotit interindividuální a intraindividuální variabilitu při provádění tohoto manévru a definovat parametry, které jeho provedení nejvíce ovlivňují. Metody: Tři zkušení terapeuti provedli manévr oboustranně u 10 zdravých jedinců. Inerciální měřicí jednotka složená z akcelerometru a gyroskopu získávala informace o trajektorii pohybu hlavy v prostoru a její rychlosti. Úhlové změny byly zaznamenány v souřadnicovém referenčním systému. Z odchylek od uvažované roviny polokruhového kanálku byla vyhodnocena data o přesnosti provedení manévru. Výsledky: Parametry ovlivňujícími přesnost manévru jsou výška probanda (p = 0,0252), fáze pohybu (p < 0,0001) a dále terapeut a strana pohybu, přičemž tyto faktory vykazují vliv především ve své interakci. Byl hodnocen vztah fáze pohybu k výšce probandů (p = 0,0130), terapeuta k fázi pohybu (p = 0,0001), terapeuta k výšce probandů (p < 0,0252). Největší zaznamenaný rozsah odchylky od senzorické roviny byl v rozmezí –37,17° až 31° se standardní odchylkou 16,6°. Závěry: Získaná data poukazují na překvapivě vysokou variabilitu při provádění Sémontova manévru ať v porovnání mezi jednotlivými měřeními u jednoho terapeuta nebo v porovnání mezi terapeuty. Analýza vlivu těchto odchylek na úspěšnost terapie benigního polohového paroxyzmálního vertiga a bližší analýza ovlivňujících parametrů by měly být předmětem dalšího výzkumu., Aim: Sémont liberatory manoeuvre is used in the treatment of posterior semicircular canal in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. The aim of the study was to determine the inter-individual and intra-individual variability in the processing of the manoeuvre and to define the parameters that affect it the most. Methods: Three experienced therapists applied the manoeuvre bilaterally in 10 healthy probands. Inertial measurement unit consisting of the accelerometer and gyroscope recorded the trajectory and speed. Angle changes were placed in the coordinate reference system. Accuracy of the manoeuvre was evaluated based on the deviations from the projected sensory plane. Results: Parameters affecting the accuracy of the manoeuvre included height of a proband (p = 0.0252), phase of the movement (p < 0.0001), therapist and the side of the movement. The effect of these factors is the most pronounced when combined. We assessed interactions of the phase of the movement and the height of the probands (p = 0.0130), the therapist and the phase of movement (p = 0.0001), the therapist and the height of the probands (p < 0.0252). The largest magnitude of deviation from the sensory plane was in the range of –37.17° to 31° with a standard deviation of 16.6°. Conclusions: The data highlight high variability in the implementation of the Sémont liberatory manoeuvre, whether measurements by a single therapist or inter-individually between the therapists are compared. Analysis of the impact of these deviations on therapeutic efficacy in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and detailed analysis of influencing parameters should be the subject of further research. Key words: benign positional paroxysmal vertigo – variability – Sémont liberatory manoeuvre The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study. The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE “uniform requirements” for biomedical papers., and M. Stehlíková, O. Čakrt, I. Bodlák, Z. Čada, R. Černý, J. Jeřábek
ntestinal inflammation induced with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) is used to study acute or chronic ulcerative colitis in animal models. Decreased gut tissue anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 concentration and mRNA abundance are associated with the development of chronic bowel inflammation. Twelve piglets of 3 days old were fitted with an intragastric catheter and randomly allocated into control and DSS groups by administrating either sterile saline or 1.25 g of DSS/ kg body weight (BW) in saline per day, respectively, for 10 days. Growth rate and food conversion efficiency were reduced (p<0.05) in the DSS piglets compared with the control group. Quantitative histopathological grading of inflammation in the jejunum and colon collectively showed that the DSS tr eatment resulted in 12 fold greater (p<0.05) inflammation severity scoring in the colon than in the jejunum, indicative of chronic ulcerative colitis in the colon. Upper gut permeability endpoint was 27.4 fold high er (p<0.05) in the DSS group compared with the control group. The DSS group had higher concentrations and mRNA abundances (p<0.05) of TNF - α and IL-6 in the jejunal and colonic tissues compared with the control group. Colonic concentration and mRNA abundanc e of IL-10 were reduced (p<0.05), however, jejunal IL-10 mRNA abundance was increased (p<0.05) in the DSS group compared with the control group. In conclusion , administration of DSS at 1.25 g/kg BW for 10 days respectively induced acute inflammation in th e jejunum and chronic inflammation and ulcerative colitis in the colon with substantially decreased colonic concentration and mRNA abundance of IL-10 in the young pigs, mimicking the IL-10 expression pattern in humans associated with chronic bowel inflamma tion., D. Lackeyram, D. Young, C. J. Kim, C. Yang, T. L. Archbold, Y. Mine, M. Z. Fan., and Obsahuje bibliografii