Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a type of thrombotic microangiopathy, in the course of which some patients may develop chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is clinically important to investigate the markers of a poor prognosis. The levels of angiotensinogen (AGT) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) in serum and urine were evaluated. Study was conducted in 29 children with a history of HUS. Serum and urine AGT concentration was significantly higher in children after HUS as compared to the control group. No differences depending on the type of HUS and gender were noted. The serum concentration of IL-18 in children after HUS was significantly lower, whereas in urine did not differ significantly between the sick and healthy children. A negative correlation between the concentration of AGT in serum and albuminuria in patients after HUS was detected. The results indicate that the concentration of AGT in serum and urine in children after HUS increases, which may indicate the activation of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. The statement, that AGT may be a good biomarker of CKD after acute kidney injury due to HUS requires prospective studies with follow-up from the acute phase of the disease on a larger group of patients. Reduced IL-18 serum concentration in children after HUS with no difference in its urine concentration may indicate a loss of the protective effects of this cytokine on renal function due to previously occurred HUS., K. Lipiec, P. Adamczyk, E. Świętochowska, K. Ziora, M. Szczepańska., and Obsahuje bibliografii
This review compiles information on the taxonomy, identification, geographical distribution, life cycles, host ranges, occurrence, development and growth in both intermediate and final hosts, pathogenicity, and control measures of AnguilUcola crassus and A. globiceps, swimbladder nematodes of farmed and wild populations of two species of eels, Anguilla japonica and A. anguilla, in East Asia. Anguillicola crassus is distributed in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and China, while A. globiceps is reported only in Japan and China. These nematodes use cyclopoid copepods as intermediate hosts. Known intermediate hosts are Eucyclops serrulatus (Japan) and Therirwcyclops hyalinus (Korea) for A. crassus, and Mesocyclops leuckarti, T. hyalinus, T. taihokuensis, E. serrulatus, Acanthocyclops viridis, and Cyclops slrenuus (China) for A. globiceps. Anguillicola crassus shows a seasonal occurrence in T. hyalinus with high prevalence in summer, Paratenic hosts are yet unknown in East Asia. Anguillicola crassus is relatively common in farmed and wild populations of Anguilla japonica in East Asia, but A. globiceps is usually found in wild populations of A. japonica in Japan and China. In culture ponds, A. crassus is more prevalent and abundant in A. anguilla than in A. japonica. Although A. globiceps induces only the thickening of the host’s swimbladder wall, A. crassus gives severe pathological effects in A. anguilla and heavy infection leads to host mortality. Prevalence of A. crassus in A. japonica cultured in Japan and Korea is relatively low in winter, whereas prevalence of A. globiceps in wild populations of A. japonica from Japan is high in winter.
The orientation of the Earth is defined by Earth orientation parameters that are measured by space geodetic techniques. The results provided by these techniques differ from each other. The method presented here combines these results in order to get a representative solution of the Earth orientation parameters. Other products of the method are improved coordinates and velocities of collocations stations distributed on six major and two minor tectonic plates. The fact that the stations lie on their plates gives us possibility to describe movements of these plates during our data interval. All new results are compared with the ones published by ITRF 2005 and presented hereafter., Vojtěch Štefka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a prevalent and potentially life threatening disease. Many animal models have been developed to simulate the natural history of the disease or test preclinical endovascular devices and surgical procedures. The aim of this review is to describe different methods of AAA induction in animal models and report on the effectiveness of the methods described in inducing an analogue of a human AAA. The PubMed database was searched for publications with titles containing the following terms “animal” or ‘‘animal model(s)’’ and keywords “research”, “aneurysm(s)’’, “aorta”, “pancreatic elastase’’, “Angiotensin”, “AngII” “calcium chloride” or “CaCl2”. Starting date for this search was set to 2004, since previously bibliography was already covered by the review of Daugherty and Cassis (2004). We focused on animal studies that reported a model of aneurysm development and progression. A number of different approaches of AAA induction in animal models has been developed, used and combined since the first report in the 1960’s. Although specific methods are successful in AAA induction in animal models, it is necessary that these methods and their respective results are in line with the pathophysiology and the mechanisms involved in human AAA development. A researcher should know the advantages/disadvantages of each animal model and choose the appropriate model.
Exercise training-induced cardiac hypertrophy occurs following a program of aerobic endurance exercise training and it is considered as a physiologically beneficial adaptation. To investigate the underlying biology of physiological hypertrophy, we rely on robust experimental models of exercise training in laboratory animals that mimic the training response in humans. A number of experimental strategies have been established, such as treadmill and voluntary wheel running and swim training models that all associate with cardiac growth. These approaches have been applied to numerous animal models with various backgrounds. However, important differences exist between these experimental approaches, which may affect the interpretation of the results. Here, we review the various approaches that have been used to experimentally study exercise training-induced cardiac hypertrophy; including the advantages and disadvantages of the various models., Y. Wang, U. Wisloff, O. J. Kemi., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
In modern Hindi literature, the imagery of animals is usually employed in order to present an insight into the complexity of the human mind and human relations. A positive attitude towards useful animals is reflected; the motifs of animals are employed to depict cruel social inequalities. In particular, in the New Short Story, the imagery of an animal is mostly employed as a symbol; often as a symbol of something unpleasant or of a painful memory. In many texts, it is used to make people give serious thought to the possibility that things might appear differently from what they really are.
Fractures commonly existing in rocks flow on their elastic properties and hence on velocity of seismic waves propagating in the rock mass. This relation allows to use seismic methods to determine the fracture density and the orientation of fracture sets. This paper presents results of the research which concern directional changes of dynamic elastic moduli in sedimentary and igneous rocks from south part of Poland. These moduli depend on density of the rock matrix as well as density and orientation of cracks and flow on seismic wave velocity. The seismic equipment Terraloc MK6 (ABEM) was used for the measurements of seismic wave velocity in the surface layers of rock mass. The research was made along precise oriented radial seismic profiles. P-waves and S-waves ve locities were established from recorded seism ograms. The values of P and S waves velocity allowed to calculate values of dynamic elastic moduli for all profiles. The results were presented on diagrams of azimuth distribution of elastic moduli, and diagrams of dynamic elastic moduli versus P - wave velocity. The diagrams showed an anisotropy of elastic properties of the investigated rocks. The maximal values of moduli agree with maximal values of velocity and also with orientation of main crack sets or potential directions of weakening of rock mass. Obtained results point that the seismic methods allow to assign the directions of weakening of rocks what can be for example use during preliminary designing, constructing and exploitation of tunnels., Iwona Stan - Kleczek and Adam F. Idziak., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
Hoci najznámejšou technickou aplikáciou kvapalných kryštálov v dnešnej dobe sú kvapalno-kryštalické monitory, kvapalné kryštály sú viac než len ploché obrazovky, aj keď vďaka nim sa dostali do povedomia verejnosti. Výskum v oblasti kvapalných kryštálov však nabral nový smer. Svetový výskum sa odvracia od displejov a zameriava sa na nové možnosti ich využitia, a to na štúdium kompozitných systémov na báze kvapalných kryštálov nielen pre ich technické aplikácie, ale aj na ich využitie v biotechnológiách., Nowadays, the major technical application of liquid crystals is their widespread use in liquid crystal displays. However, even though flat screens have drawn these materials to the public attentions they are much more than just flat screens. Academic liquid crystal science has shown a clear trend of moving away from display research during the last few years. Currently, scientists focus on different topics such as for instance new possible uses in optics, nano-/micro-manipulation, novel composites and biotechnology. This article demonstrates such a development of composite systems containing magnetic nanoparticles in liquid crystalline matrices., Natália Tomašovičová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Odpor mnoha magnetických materiálů výrazně závisí nejen na velikosti, nýbrž i na směru magnetizace. Průmyslově se tento jev využívá v senzorech citlivých na magnetické pole, mezi něž v nedávno minulé době patřila i velká část světové produkce čtecích hlav počítačových pevných disků. Teoretické modely této anizotropní magnetorezistence ovšem zatím zdaleka nedosáhly uspokojivé úrovně a shody s experimenty bez fitovacích parametrů se podaří dosáhnout jen výjimečně. Skupina takových poměrně úspěšných modelů se v posledních letech rozrostla o další položku - zředěný magnetický polovodič (Ga,Mn)As., Electric resistance of many magnetic materials depends significantly both on strength and direction of its magnetization. Magnetic field sensors belong to the typical industrial applications of this phenomenon and until recently these included also a major part of the world production of read heads in computer hard-drives. Theoretical models of this anisotropic magnetoresistance, however, have never reached a completely satisfactory level and so far it has been only rarely possible to achieve a decent agreement with experiments without any fit parameters. Few years ago, the family of such relatively successful models could welcome a new member that concerns a dilute magnetic semiconductor (Ga, Mn)As., Karel Výborný., and Obsahuje bibliografii