The development of neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) can be elicited by an immediate epidural balloon compression of the thoracic spinal cord. To evaluate whether a slower balloon inflation could prevent NPE development, we examined the extent of NPE in animals lesioned with a rapid (5 μl - 5 μl - 5 μl) or slow rate (3 μl - 2 μl - 2 μl - 2 μl - 2 μl - 2 μl - 2 μl) of balloon inflation. These groups were compared with the NPE model (immediate inflation to 15 μl) and with healthy controls. Slow balloon inflation prevented NPE development, whereas the pulmonary index and histology revealed a massive pulmonary edema in the group with a rapid rate of balloon inflation. Pulmonary edema was preceded by a considerable decrease in heart rate during the inflation procedure. Moreover, rapid inflation of balloon in spinal channel to either 5 μl or 10 μl did not cause NPE. Thus, a slow rate of balloon inflation in the thoracic epidural space prevents the development of neurogenic pulmonary edema, most likely due to the better adaptation of the organism to acute circulatory changes (rapid elevation of systemic blood pressure accompanied by profound heart rate reduction) during the longer balloon inflation period. It should be noted that spinal cord transection at the same level did not cause neurogenic pulmonary edema., J. Šedý ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Serum or plasma creatinine level determination has been serving for decades as the most commonly used marker of renal function. However, creatinine levels are affected by a number of other factors not related to renal function, particularly age, gender, muscle mass, starvation, wasting diseases, post surgical states, and activity or exertion. Alternatives for the assessment of renal function or glomerular fi ltration rate (GFR), through measurement of the clearance of exogenous substances like, inulin, 51Cr-ethylendiaminotetraacetate (51Cr-EDTA), 99mTc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid or iohexol are more accurate, but too complex, laborious, and not suitable for routine clinical use. Therefore, serum creatinine measurement yet remains the most common method to estimate renal function in routine clinical practice. In the presented case study, nearly 50% decline in serum creatinine level as measured by enzymatic colorimetry method according to the manufacture’s recommendation is described. Relatively rapid serum creatinine concentration decline from 67 µmol/L baseline value to 30 µmol/L within 4 days in a CF patient post bilateral lung transplantation, who, was on courses of essential immunosuppressive, antimycotic, and antibacterial drugs including an aminoglycoside (amikacin) was observed. The change in serum creatinine level within four consecutive days after bilateral lung transplantation (mean difference, -49.25 % µmol/L; with 95% confi dence interval, -29 to -37 µmol/L) was signifi cant. Herein, the event is not essentially refl ecting better renal function, since amikacin trough level was unacceptably high (20 mg/L) at the same time, rather explaining probably low production of creatinine as a result of underlying pathology in cystic fi brosis. Patient related explanations and existing methodological challenges have also been discussed., Hladina sérového nebo plazmatického kreatininu slouží již desítky let jako nejčastější používaný ukazatel renální funkce. Přesto je koncentrace sérového kreatininu ovlivněna jinými, s funkcí ledvin nesouvisejícími faktory (věk, pohlaví, svalová hmota, stav výživy, nemoci poškozující organismus, pooperační stavy, tělesná aktivita nebo vyčerpávající fyzický výkon). Alternativy pro zjištění renální funkce/gromerulární fi ltrace (GFR) pomocí podání exogenních látek (inulin, 51Cr-ethylendiaminotetraacetát (51Cr-EDTA), 99mTc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetát nebo iohexol) jsou přesnější, ale zároveň velmi složité, pracné a nehodí se pro rutinní praxi. Měření sérového kreatininu proto stále zůstává běžnou metodou k odhadu renální funkce v rutinní klinické praxi. V tomto sdělení popisujeme cca 50% pokles sérového kreatininu měřeného enzymatickou metodou s kolorimetrickou detekcí podle návodu výrobce. Relativně rychlý pokles sérového kreatinu z 67 µmol/l na 30 µmol/l v průběhu 4 dnů byl pozorován u pacientky s cystickou fi brózou po oboustranné transplantaci plic, s náležitou imunosupresivní, antimykotickou i antibakteriální léčbou včetně aminoglykosidů (amikacin). Změny v hladině sérového kreatininu během 4 dnů (průměrný rozdíl 49, 25 %, při 95% intervalu spolehlivosti, -29 až -37 µmol/l) jsou významné. Tento jev přesto nemusel být odrazem lepší clearance vzhledem k nepřijatelně vysoké „trough“ hladině amikacinu a nejspíše poukazuje na možné snížení produkce kreatininu v souvislosti s cystickou fi brózou. Autoři v článku diskutují o stavu nemocné a probírají metodologická úskalí., Tesfaye H, Prusa R., Kolarova J., Simonek J., Lischke R., and Lit.: 23
Psocids of the genus Liposcelis (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae) are stored product pests that are difficult to identify morphologically. A molecular method based on Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) of the PCR-amplified 16S rDNA gene was developed for the rapid discrimination of four common species (L. bostrychophila, L. entomophila, L. decolor, and L. paeta). Different developmental stages and populations (P.R. China and Czech Republic) were tested. One DNA fragment of about 500 bp in length was amplified from genomic DNA and the fragment was then digested using the restriction endonuclease DraI. Identification of the relevant banding pattern allowed all the developmental stages and both sexes to be discriminated in the species tested. The banding patterns of L. entomophila from all populations were identical, while the relevant restriction digests and sequence analysis confirmed that the Chinese and Czech populations of L. bostrychophila, L. decolor, and L. paeta differed. In conclusion, PCR-RFLP with one pair of primers (16Sar and 16Sbr) and one restrictive endonuclease, DraI, proved a reliable method for rapidly discriminating the Liposcelis species tested.
Increased phosphorylation of Akt substrate of 160 kDa (AS160) is essential to trigger the full increase in insulin-stimulated glucose transport in skeletal muscle. The primary aim of this study was to characterize the time course for reversal of insulin-stimulated AS160 phosphorylation in rat skeletal muscle after insulin removal. The time courses for reversal of insulin effects both upstream (Akt phosphorylation) and downstream (glucose uptake) of AS160 were also determined. Epitrochlearis muscles were incubated in vitro using three protocols which differed with regard to insulin exposure: No Insulin (never exposed to insulin), Transient Insulin (30 min with 1.8 nmol/l insulin, then incubation without insulin for 10, 20 or 40 min), or Sustained Insulin (continuously incubated with 1.8 nmol/l insulin). After removal of muscles from insulin, Akt and AS160 phosphorylation reversed rapidly, each with a half-time of <10 min and essentially full reversal by 20 min. Glucose uptake reversed more slowly (half time between 10 and 20 min with essentially full reversal by 40 min). Removal of muscles from insulin resulted in a rapid reversal of the increase in AS160 phosphorylation which preceded the reversal of the increase in glucose uptake, consistent with AS160 phosphorylation being essential for maintenance of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake., N. Sharma, E. B. Arias, G. D. Cartee., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Path planning problem in mobile robotics can be solved in several ways. Often used are probabilistic roadmaps and potential field algorithm. However, adding nonholonomic constraints into part planning algorithm can be difficult for those methods. Therefore the rapidly exploring random trees (RRT) algorithm was examined and paper illustrates its usability in path planning task for both legged (walking) and wheeled mobile robots. The method proved to be capable of coping with limiting constraints and at the same time it is very fast, enabling its use in real time path recalculation when used with localization algorithm. and Obsahuje seznam literatury
We report the case of a 22-year old male, a self-confessed recreational drug user who developed cardiogenic shock because of severe destruction of the aortic valve by rapidly progressive aortic valve endocarditis. The disease progression was acute; in a matter of days, the clinical manifestations were life-threatening necessitating urgent aortic valve replacement surgery. Cultivation revealed Streptococcus viridans as the microbial agent. Subsequent recovery with antibiotic treatment was without complication. This case report shows that immediately performed transoesophageal echocardiography and early consultation with a cardiac surgeon has fundamental importance in diagnosis and management of acute infective endocarditis in haemodynamically instable patients., Malkia S. Swedi, Pudil Radek, Jiří Manďák, and Literatura 17
Congenital lung masses (CLM) the rare group of causes of acute respiratory insufficiency (RI) in newborns include congenital airway pulmonary malformation (CAPM), congenital overinflation, bronchopulmonary sequestration, and bronchial atresia. The presenting group consists of 13 newborns who were admitted to the Neonatal Department of Intensive Medicine (NDIM) during January 1st 2015-December 31st 2019 (8 males, 5 females, 2 premature/11 term newborns, spontaneous delivery: 2, caesarean section: 11) with positive prenatal diagnosis of CAPM in all cases. In 2 cases prenatal intervention was performed (drainage of the amniotic fluid, attempt of thoracentesis). Signs of acute RI immediately after delivery were seen in 5 newborns. Postnatal echocardiographic investigation confirmed the presence of increased pulmonary pressure in 8 patients, no patient had congenital heart abnormality. A thorax x-ray was positive also in asymptomatic patients. Computed tomography in patients brought detailed information about the position, size and character of CAPM. Six patients underwent surgery. In 15.4 % right lungs were affected by cystic malformation and in 23 % left lungs were affected. A final diagnosis of CAPM was confirmed in 5 patients using histopathologic examination. Multidisciplinary cooperation during prenatal as well as postnatal period is necessary.