This comparative study of various surface treatments of commercially available implant materials is intended as guidance for orientation among particular surface treatment methods in term of the cell reaction of normal human osteoblasts and blood coagulation. The influence of physicochemical surface parameters such as roughness, surface free energy and wettability on the response of human osteoblasts in the immediate vicinity of implants and on the blood co agulation was studied. The osteoblast proliferation was monitored and the expression of tissue mediators (TNF-α , IL-8, MMP-1, bone alkaline phosphatase, VCAM-1, TGF-β ) was evaluated after the cell cultivation onto a wide range of commercially available materials (titanium and Ti6Al4V alloy with various surface treatments, CrCoMo alloy, zirconium oxide ceramics, polyethylene and carbon/carbon composite). The formation of a blood clot was investigated on the samples immersed in a freshly drawn whole rabbit blood using scanning electron microscope. The surfaces with an increased osteoblast proliferation exhibited particularly higher surface roughness (here Ra > 3.5 μm) followed by a high polar part of the surface free energy whereas the effect of wettability played a minor role. The surface roughness was also the main factor regulating the blood coagulation. The blood clot formation analys is showed a rapid coag ulum formation on the rough titanium-based surfaces. The titanium with an etching treatment was considered as th e most suitable candidate for healing into the bone tissue due to high osteoblast proliferation, the highest production of osteogenesis markers and low production of inflammatory cytokines and due to the most intensive blood clot formation., D. Kubies ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) are used in the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG). We investigated the effects of AChEIs on peripheral nicotinic receptors (nAChR), which play a crucial role in the treatment of MG symptoms. The positive modulation of those receptors by AChE inhibitors could have an added value to the anti-AChE activity and might be useful in the therapy of MG. Furthermore, to estimate the potential drawbacks of the compounds, cytotoxicity has been assessed on various cell lines. The whole-cell mode of the patch-clamp method was employed. The experiments were performed on medulloblastoma/rhabdomyosarcoma cell line TE671 expressing human embryonic muscle-like receptor with subunits α2βγδ. The effect of the compounds on cell viability was measured by standard MTT assay (Sigma Aldrich) on ACHN (renal cell adenocarcinoma), HeLa (immortal cell line derived from a cervical carcinoma), HEPG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma) and BJ (skin fibroblasts) cell lines. No positive modulation by the tested AChE inhibitors was observed. Moreover, the compounds exhibited antagonistic activity on the peripheral nAChR. Standard drugs used in MG treatment were shown to be less potent inhibitors of muscle-type nAChR than the newly synthesized compounds. The new compounds showed very little effect on cell viability, and toxicities were comparable to standards. Newly synthesized AChEIs inhibited peripheral nAChR. Furthermore, the inhibition was higher than that of standards used for the treatment of MG. They could be used for the study of nAChR function, thanks to their high antagonizing potency and fast recovery of receptor activity after their removal. However, since no positive modulation was observed, the new compounds do not seem to be promising candidates for MG treatment, even though their cytotoxic effect was relatively low., V. Sepsova, J. Krusek, J. Zdarova Karasova, F. Zemek, K. Musilek, K. Kuca, O. Soukup., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Under certain conditions the isolated reaction centre (RC) of photosystem 2 (PS 2) ís highly vulnerahle to photoinduced damage. With no added secondary electron acceptors or donors tíďs damage is due to singlet oxygen generated by the P680 triplet. This triplet is formed by recombination of the radical pair PóSO+Pheo' and Ihe photoinduced damage only occurs under aerobic conditions. When an electron acceptor is present, the degradation of pigments and the Dl and D2 proteins is due to formation of P680+ and secondary oxidation processes. Under the latter but not the former condition, characteristic pattems of degradation firagments of the Dl and D2 proteins are observed. In particular 24 and 17 kDa breakdown firagments of Dl are obtained while the D2 protein yields firagments having molecular masses of 29 and 21 kDa. Experiments involving the use of antibodies, radiophosphate and speciííc proteolytic digestion indicate that all four firagments contain the C-terminal portions of their mature proteins. These findings indicate that the proteolytic cleavage sites are positioned on the lumenal side of the membrane, particularly in the region spanning transmembrane helices I and II. Related studies on the 24 lď)a Dl protein fragment generated in vivo using Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 by photoinhibitory treatment give the same conclusion for this firagment. Such a conclusion seems to contrast with the previous suggestion that the initial cleavage of Dl protein associated with its degradatíon and tumover occurs on the outer side of membrane in the region spanning transmembrane helices IV and V.
The earthquakes of magnitudes ML=5.0 and 5.3 in the Kaliningrad enclave of Russia on September 21, 2004 were unexpected in a very low-seismicity area. The earthquakes caused minor damage in the Kaliningrad enclave, in northern Poland and in southwestern Lithuania, and macroseismic intensities of 6-7 (EMS) close to the epicenters. The earthquakes were felt up to 800 km distance. The events have been located under the central-northern part of the Sambia Penninsula at 16 and 20 km depth. Their source mechanism has been found to be a right lateral strike slip on a direction parallel to the edge of the Fennoscandian Shield and the East European Craton. The possible cause of the earthquakes is discussed. With the glaciotectonic cause unlikely, it seems the earthquakes evidence tectonic patterns, possibly resulting from stress propagating all across Europe from the Mediterranean region. Historical information seems to evidence past seismic activity in the region, which together with the 2004 earthquakes show the need to reassess seismic hazard in the area., Paweł Wiejacz., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The detection of the Kautsky effect, i.e. the chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence índuction kínetics induced in the dark-adapted leaves because of a sudden irradiation, by Hans Kautsky and his students is reviewed here on the occasíon of the 60* anniversary of this CW fluorescence transient discovery and oftBě 100* birth anniversary of Hans Kautsky in 1991.
Expanding the domain of majority rule is widely seen as desirable for the European Union. But the functioning of majority rule depends on preconditions that are seldom taken into account. The basic precondition is that overruled minorities accept majority decisions instead of exiting the voting unit. The specific problem of applying majority rule in the European Union is that overruled minorities at the European level are majorities at the nation-state level. By distinguishing between three dimensions of conflicts - content, time and space - the article analyses under what conditions it is possible to expect minorities to accept majority decisions, thus enabling the resolution of conflict by majority rule at the European level.
This paper investigates the matrix porosity and related properties of a leucocratic granite from the Krudum Massif, West Bohemia. The required samples were obtained from the 30-year old core of borehole KZ-25 (Material Documentation Depositories). In total, nine sample sets were taken from different depth levels within the borehole ranging from 18 m to 108 m. The hydraulic conductivity of the granite matrix was measured using a pressure cell whilst standard methods were employed to determine the dry density, connected porosity and total porosity. The pore size distribution was analysed using mercury porosimetry. The ultrasonic velo cities were measured using a pulse source and oscilloscope. Dynamic Young’s modulus, dynamic shear modulus, Poisson’s ratio, static Young’ s modulus, uniaxial compressive strength and moisture were determined according to measurements of ultrasonic velocities and deformability in uniaxial compression. The morphology and structure of the pore network was studied using high reso lution scanning electron microscopy. The overall porosity values defined by the different porosimetry methods follow the same trends although the absolute values differ according to the specific method. A logarithmic relationship was found to exist between hydraulic conductivity and porosity within the granite matrix. In addition, a slight depth dependence was noted in the porosity, hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, and ultrasonic velocities of the granite matrix. The SEM images have allowed precise mapping and detailed de scription of the pore network., Lucie Nováková, Karel Sosna, Milan Brož, Jan Najser and Petr Novák., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
Alloxan and streptozotocin are widely used to induce experimental diabetes in animals. The mechanism of their action in B cells of the pancreas has been intensively investigated and now is quite well understood. The cytotoxic action of both these diabetogenic agents is mediated by reactive oxygen species, however, the source of their generation is different in the case of alloxan and streptozotocin. Alloxan and the product of its reduction, dialuric acid, establish a redox cycle with the formation of superoxide radicals. These radicals undergo dismutation to hydrogen peroxide. Thereafter highly reactive hydroxyl radicals are formed by the Fenton reaction. The action of reactive oxygen species with a simultaneous massive increase in cytosolic calcium concentration causes rapid destruction of B cells. Streptozotocin enters the B cell via a glucose transporter (GLUT2) and causes alkylation of DNA. DNA damage induces activation of poly ADP-ribosylation, a process that is more important for the diabetogenicity of streptozotocin than DNA damage itself. Poly ADP-ribosylation leads to depletion of cellular NAD+ and ATP. Enhanced ATP dephosphorylation after streptozotocin treatment supplies a substrate for xanthine oxidase resulting in the formation of superoxide radicals. Consequently, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals are also generated. Furthermore, streptozotocin liberates toxic amounts of nitric oxide that inhibits aconitase activity and participates in DNA damage. As a result of the streptozotocin action, B cells undergo the destruction by necrosis., T. Szkudelski., and Obsahuje bibliografii