A histochemical study using lectin methods was performed on myxosporean parasites from vastly different fish hosts from marine and fresh waters. Six biotinylated lectins were used (WGA, SBA, BS-I, Con-А, UEA-I and SNA). The binding paltem of Con-A and WGA revealed the presence of mannose and/or glucose, and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine respectively, in polar capsules and valves of most of the myxosporea assayed. Thus, chitin may be present in polar capsules and/or valves of myxosporean spores. The BS-I binding pattern showed the presence of a-!)-galactose and/or N-acetyl-D-galactosamine residues in polar capsules of Kudoa sp., Zschokkeìla mugilis Sitjà-Bobadilla et Alvarez-Pellitero, 1993 and Leplotheca sp., and in the valves of the latter. Scarce amounts of N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and/or α-D-galactose were demonstrated by SBA binding in Sphaerospora dicentrarchi Sitjà-Bobadilla et Alvarez-Pellitero 1992, Leplotheca sp. and Kudoa sp. valves, and in Leptotheca sp. polar capsules. The UEA-I staining indicated the absence ofa-L-fucose in all the myxosporea assayed except in Leptotheca sp. N-acety!neuraminic acid was detected with SNA in the polar capsules and sporoplasms of Polysporoptasma sparis Sitjà-Bobadilla et-Alvarez-Pellitero, 1995 and in the polar capsules and valves of Kudoa sp. These results indicate that, although Myxosporea may have conserved carbohydrate structures, some of them can show significantly different binding patterns, which may be useful in diagnostic and functional studies.
The mechanisms which permit Leishmania to survive inside macrophages are not totally understood although it is known that prolonged culture in vitro results in loss of virulence. One of the cell surface molecules often implicated in virulence mechanisms is the glycoprotein of 63 kDa (gp63). In this work we studied changes in infectivity of L. infantum promastigotes maintained in vitro by subcultures, correlated with the proteolytic activity of gp63. It was observed that L. infantum MON-1 promastigotes became unable to establish an infection after 6 subcultures in vitro independently of the size of inoculum. This corresponded to a diminution of proteolytic activity of gp63. L infantum MON-1 promastigotes inoculated in hamsters viscera-lize in the mononuclear phagocytic system accompanied by an antibody response. A correlation between antibody response, inoculum size and promasti gote origin was verified. L donovani MON-18 and L. infantum MON-24 promastigotes produced a specific humoral response but failed to establish an infection in hamsters regardless of all the passages tested.
Previously, the changes in phagocyte functions such as adherence, chemotaxis or TNFa production were found to be associated with oxidative stress in endotoxin-induced septic shock. However, in this type of oxidative stress the lymphocyte involvement has rarely been studied. In the present report, we analyzed the above functions in peritoneal lymphocytes from male and female BALB/c mice with a lethal endotoxic shock caused by intraperitoneal injection of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (100 mg/kg), male and female Swiss mice with lethal endotoxic shock caused by intraperitoneal injection of LPS (150 and 250 mg/kg, respectively) or non-lethal endotoxic shock (100 mg/kg). In peritoneal lymphocytes obtained at 0, 2, 4, 12 or 24 h after LPS injection, the first two functions of these cells in the immune response, i.e. adherence to tissues and directed migration (chemotaxis), were studied. At 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, 12 and 24 h after LPS injection, TNFa released by lymphocytes was also analyzed. The results show that endotoxic shock increases the adherence and TNFa release, and decreases the chemotaxis of peritoneal lymphocytes. These changes were more significant in mice with lethal than with non-lethal endotoxic shock, a fact that confirms the important role of lymphocytes during endotoxic shock., V. M. Víctor, D. Rubio, M. De la Fuente., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The posterior attachment organ (sucker) of Temnocephala sp. is located ventrally attached to the posterior end of the body by a well defined stalk; those of Udonella caligorum Johnston and Anoplodiscus cirrusspiralis Roubal, Armitage et Rohde are extensions of the posterior end facing posteriorly. In Philophthalmus, the sucker is ventrally embedded in the main body. The sucker of Temnocephala is lined by an epidermis, its ventral part separated from the adjacent epidermis by a septate junction. The epidermis resembles that of the body proper, containing nuclei and numerous dense bodies, its surface enlarged by short microvilli, traversed by glandular ducts of two types and by sensory receptors, and based on a basal lamina with a thick underlying fibrous matrix. The stalk of the sucker contains many muscle fibres extending from the main body into the sucker. The posterior surface of the sucker of Udonella is separated from the adjacent tegument by a septate junction; it consists of numerous microvilli arising from the basal lamina and does not represent a tegument; glandular ducts of two types open through it, and muscle fibres extend from the body proper into the sucker. The posterior surface of the sucker of Anoplodiscus consists of a thin tegument not separated from the adjacent tegument by a septate junction, drawn out into a very large number of densely packed, long microvilli, some branching from a thick cross-striated base; large glandular ducts open postero-laterally. The ventral sucker of Philophthalmus is embedded in the body proper but clearly bounded by a “capsule” of basal lamina; it is lined by a tegument continuous with that of the main body and lacking microvilli except in a small band around the ventral sucker opening. There is no evidence from ultrastructure that the stickers of the four taxa are homologous. Since there is no convincing other evidence for the homology of the posterior attachment organs of the major groups of parasitic Platyhelminthes (Neodermata) and the Temnocephalida, a “cercomer theory” assuming such homology cannot be accepted as proven.
Recently an expert consensus document advised to standardize user procedures and a new cut-off value for carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity in daily practice. Our aim was to observe aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao) and augmentation index (AIXao) in two high cardiovascular risk groups: patients with verified coronary artery disease (CAD) or with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We also aimed to determine the cut-off values for PWVao, AIXao in CAD and T2DM patients using oscillometric device (Arteriograph). We investigated 186 CAD and 152 T2DM patients. PWVao and AIXao increased significantly in the CAD group compared to the age-, gender-, blood pressure-, and heart rate-matched control group (10.2±2.3 vs. 9.3±1.5 m/s; p<0.001 and 34.9±14.6 vs. 31.9±12.8 %; p<0.05, respectively). When compared to the apparently healthy control subjects, T2DM patients had significantly elevated PWVao (9.7±1.7 vs. 9.3±1.5 m/s; p<0.05, respectively), however the AIXao did not differ significantly. The ROC-curves of CAD and healthy control subjects explored cut-off values of 10.2 m/s for PWVao and 33.23 % for AIXao. Our data provide supporting evidence about impaired arterial stiffness parameters in CAD and T2DM. Our findings encourage the implementation of arterial stiffness measurements by oscillometric method in daily clinical routine., Z. Lenkey, M. Illyés, R. Böcskei, R. Husznai, Z. Sárszegi, Z. Meiszterics, F. T. Molnár, G. Hild, S. Szabados, A Cziráki, B. Gaszner., and Obsahuje bibliografii
a1_Non-invasive methods of determination of baroreflex sensitivity (BRS, ms/mmHg) are based on beat-to-beat systolic blood pressure and inter-beat interval recording. Sequential methods and spectral methods at spontaneous breathing include transient superposition of breathing and 0.1 Hz rhythms. Previously, a cross-spectral method of analysis was used, at constant breathing rate using a metronome set at 0.33 Hz, enabling separate determination of BRS at 0.1 Hz (BRS0.1Hz) and respiratory rhythms (BRS0.33Hz). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of breathing in the spectral method of BRS determination with respect to age and hypertension. Such information would be important in evaluation of BRS at pathological conditions associated with extremely low BRS levels. Blood pressure was recorded by Finapres (5 minutes, controlled breathing at 0.33 Hz) in 118 healthy young subjects (YS: mean age 21.0±1.3 years), 26 hypertensive patients (HT: mean age 48.6±10.3 years) with 26 age-matched controls (CHT: mean age 46.3±8.6 years). A comparison of BRS0.1Hz and BRS0.33Hz was made. Statistically significant correlations were found between BRS0.1Hz and BRS0.33Hz in all groups: YS: r=0.52, p<0.01, HT: r=0.47, p<0.05, and CHT: r=0.70, p<0.01. The regression equations indicated the existence of a breathing-dependent component unrelated to BRS (YS: BRS0.33Hz=2.63+1.14*BRS0.1Hz; HT: BRS0.33Hz=3.19+0.91*BRS0.1Hz; and CHT: BRS0.33Hz=1.88+ +1.01*BRS0.1Hz; differences between the slopes and the slope of identity line were insignificant). The ratios of BRS0.1Hz to BRS0.33Hz were significantly lower than 1 (p<0.01) in all groups (YS: 0.876±0.419, HT: 0.628±0.278, and CHT: 0.782±0.260). Thus, BRS evaluated at the breathing rate overestimates the real baroreflex sensitivity. This is more pronounced at low values of BRS, which is more important in patients with pathologic low BRS., a2_For diagnostic purposes we recommend the evaluation of BRS at the frequency of 0.1 Hz using metronome-controlled breathing at a frequency that is substantially higher than 0.1 Hz and is not a multiple of 0.1 Hz to eliminate respiratory baroreflexnon- related influence and resonance effect on heart rate fluctuations., P. Bothová ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Autoimmune endocrinopathies can be divided according to the presence of organ specific autoantibodies and according to the clinical manifestations into isolated autoimmune endocrinopathies, autoimmune polyglandular syndromes (APS) and polyglandular activation of autoimmunity (PAA). Many factors take part in the development of the autoimmune disease: predominantly a genetic predisposition, environmental etiologic causes and dysregulation in the microenvironment of the target organ. Until now it is not completely clear, if manifestations of the clinical disease depend primarily upon external factors and the degree of regulation mechanism disorder (e.g. in Th1/Th2 regulation) or upon the different genetic predisposition. In this work we compared the levels of Th1 and Th2 lymphocyte cytokines in peripheral blood in three groups of patients: group A of 30 patients with autoimmune thyroiditis, group B of 25 patients with PAA, and group C of 10 patients with APS type II. From group of Th1 cytokines IL-2 and IFN-Ύ were detected, whereas from group of Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 were determined by ELISA kit. We did not find any differences in the concentrations of IL-2, IFN-Ύ, IL-4 and IL-10 among the groups of patients with autoimmune endocrinopathies., P. Hrdá, I. Šterzl, P. Matucha., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Landslide susceptibility assessment is essential for development activities and disaster management in the mountainous regions to identify the landslide-prone areas. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of data driven quantitative models of landslide susceptibility assessment using geospatial tools in Jhelum valley of the Himalayas. This area suffers from extreme rainfall events due to the local climate and has experienced significant and widespread landslide events in recent years. Four probabilistic data-driven models are employed for this purpose, which includes the weight of evidence (WOE), information value method (IVM), frequency ratio (FR), and certainty factor (CF). These assessed models are based on integrating landslide contributing factors and a ground truthing-based landslide inventory of 437 landslides. The landslide susceptibility maps were presented by categorizing the study area into very low to very high susceptibility zone by Jenks natural breaks method. The performance of models was evaluated by a sensitivity analysis using Receiver Operator Curve (ROC) method. The ROCvalidated results of success rate curves for WOE, IVM, FR and CF were 80 %, 78 %, 77 %, and 76 % respectively. The prediction rate curve of WOE, IVM, FR, and CF was 78 %, 77 %, 75 %, and 78 % respectively. The results showed the reasonable efficiency of applied models for landslide susceptibility assessment in the study area and applicable to regions with similar geomorphological conditions. Conclusively, the comparison of applied models revealed the promising results of used approaches., Salman Farooq and Mian Sohail Akram., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Mean development rates under cycling temperature regimes (both alternating and sinusoidal regimes) have been found to be either accelerated, decelerated or unaffected when compared to development at constant temperature regimes with equivalent means. It is generally accepted that this phenomenon is a consequence of the non-linearity inherent in the temperature-rate relationship of insect development and is known as the rate summation, or Kaufmann, effect. Some researchers invoke an additional physiological mechanism or specific adaptation to cycling temperatures resulting in a genuine alteration of development rate. Differences in development rates at constant and cycling temperatures may have important implications for degree-day (linear) population models, which are used in bath pest management and ecological studies.
Larvae of Aglais urticae L. (small tortoiseshell), Inachis io L. (peacock), Polygonia c-album L. (comma) and Vanessa atalanta L. (red admiral) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) were reared at constant (10, 15, 20, 25, 30°C) and alternating (20/10, 25/15, 30/10, 30/20°C) regimes. Development rates under the alternating regimes used were found to differ from those under equivalent constant temperatures in a pattern suggestive of the Kaufmann effect: in all species development at 20/10°C was faster than at 15°C, and for three species development at 30/20°C was slower than at 25°C. The exception was A. urticae. A similar pattern was found for growth rate and pupal weight. The results are discussed with respect to cycling temperature theory and degree-day modelling., Simon R. Bryant, Jeffrey S. Bale, Chris D. Thomas, and Lit
The objective of our study was to compare Doppler echocardiography imaging with pu lmonary artery thermodilution measurement during mechanical ventilation. Total 78 piglets (6 weeks old, average weight 24 kg, under general anesthesia) were divided into 4 groups under different cardiac loading conditions (at rest, with increased left ventricular afterload, with increased right ventricular preload, and with increased afterload of both heart ventricles). At 60 and 120 min the animals were examined by echocardiography and simultaneously pulmonary artery thermodilution was used to measure cardiac output. Tei-indexes data were compared with invasively monitored hemodynamic data and cardiac output values together with calculated vascular resistance indices. A total of 224 parallel measurements were obtained. Correlation was found between values of right Tei-index of my ocardial performa nce and changes in right ventricular preload (p<0.05) and afterload (p<0.01). Significant correlation was also found between left index values and changes of left ventricular preload (p<0.001), afterload (p<0.001), stroke volume (p<0.01), and cardiac output (p<0.01). In conclusion, echocardiographic examination and determination of the global performance selectively for the right and left ventricle can be recommended as a suitable non-invasive supplement to the whole set of methods used for monitoring of circulation and cardiac performance., J. Kobr ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy