Anthracycline cardiotoxicity represents a serious risk of anticancer chemotherapy. The aim of the present pilot study was to compare the potential of both the left ventricular (LV) filling pattern evaluation and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) plasma levels determination for the early detection of daunorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rabbits. The echocardiographic measurements of transmitral LV inflow as well as cTnT determinations were performed weekly for 10 weeks in daunorubicin (3 mg/kg weekly) and control groups (n=5, each). Surprisingly, no significant changes in LV-filling pattern were observed through the study, most likely due to the xylazine-containing anesthesia, necessary for appropriate resolving of the E and A waves. In contrast to the echographic measurement, the dP/dt min index obtained invasively at the end of the study revealed a significant im pairment in LV relaxation, which was further supported by observed disturbances in myocardial collagen content and calcium homeostasis. However, at the same time cTnT plasma levels were progressively rising in the daunorubicin-treated animals from the 5th week (0.024±0.008 μg/l) until the end of the experiment (0.186±0.055 μg/l). Therefore, in contrast to complicated non-invasive evaluation of diastolic function, cTnT is shown to be an early and sensitive marker of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in the rabbit model., M. Štěrba, T. Šimůnek, O. Popelová, A. Potáčová, M. Adamcová, Y. Mazurová, M. Holečková, V. Geršl., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Efficient degradation of damaged D1 during the repair of PSII is carried out by a set of dedicated FtsH proteases in the thylakoid membrane. Here we investigated whether the evolution of FtsH could hold clues to the origin of oxygenic photosynthesis. A phylogenetic analysis of over 6000 FtsH protease sequences revealed that there are three major groups of FtsH proteases originating from gene duplication events in the last common ancestor of bacteria, and that the FtsH proteases involved in PSII repair form a distinct clade branching out before the divergence of FtsH proteases found in all groups of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria. Furthermore, we showed that the phylogenetic tree of FtsH proteases in phototrophic bacteria is similar to that for Type I and Type II reaction centre proteins. We conclude that the phylogeny of FtsH proteases is consistent with an early origin of photosynthetic water oxidation chemistry., S. Shao, T. Cardona, P. J. Nixon., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
A new genus and species of Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Enicocephalomorpha: Aenictopecheidae: Aenictopecheinae, Ulugurocoris grebennikovi gen. et sp. n., based on micropterous females from Tanzania, Uluguru Mts, Budunki, is described and differentiated. The males are probably macropterous. Some general aspects of morphology of U. grebennikovi are discussed in a broader context, such as presence of cephalic trichobothria (suggested to be a groundplan character of Heteroptera), presence of “gular sulci” (suggested to have an ecdysial function), lack of cephalic neck (symplesiomorphy with other Hemiptera), presence of posterior lobe of pronotum associated with the epimeroid (a new term for so called “proepimeral lobe”), and presence of notopleural sulcus on the propleuron. Diagnostic characters of the Aenictopecheinae are summarized and distribution of their seven genera is reviewed. Ulugurocoris grebennikovi is the first representative of the basal family Aenictopecheidae in the Afrotropical Region. The type locality is situated in the Eastern Arc Mountains (Tanzania), a recently identified hotspot of Afrotropical diversity characterized by a high degree of endemism caused by high rates of speciation combined with low rates of extinction. A brief characterization of the area is provided., Pavel Štys, Petr Baňař., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Commercial chambers for in vivo gas exchange are usually designed to measure on vascular plants, but not on cryptogams and other organisms forming biological soil crusts (BSCs). We have therefore designed two versions of a chamber with different volumes for determining CO2 exchange with a portable photosynthesis system, for three main purposes: (1) to measure in situ CO2 exchange on soils covered by BSCs with minimal physical and microenvironmental disturbance; (2) to acquire CO2-exchange measurements comparable with the most widely employed systems and methodologies; and (3) to monitor CO2 exchange over time. Different configurations were tested in the two versions of the chamber and fluxes were compared to those measured by four reference commercial chambers: three attached to two respirometers, and a conifer chamber attached to a portable photosynthesis system. Most comparisons were done on biologically crusted soil samples. When using devices in a closed system, fluxes were higher and the relationships to the reference chambers were weaker. Nevertheless, high correlations between our chamber operating in open system and measurements of commercial respiration and photosynthetic chambers were found in all cases (R2 > 0.9), indicating the suitability of the chamber designed for in situ measurements of CO2 gas exchange on BSCs., M. Ladrón De Guevara, R. Lázaro, J. L. Quero, S. Chamizo, F. Domingo., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Alveolar echinococcosis is a severe chronic helminthic disease that mimics slow-growing liver cancer. The immune evasion strategy of Echinococcus multilocularis Leuckart, 1863 remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro the impact of E. multilocularis vesicular fluid (Em-VF) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and on natural killer (NK) cells. PBMC and NK cells were exposed to Em-VF (1 µg/ml) during six days. The effect of Em-VF was assessed on CD69, viability and proliferation, and on and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), interferon γ (IFN-γ), interleukin 17 (IL-17) and interleukin 10, using flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively. Exposure to Em-VF had no bearing on PBMC's viability, proliferation and expression of CD69. In contrast, higher levels of IL-17 at day three and of TGF-β at day six were observed in PBMC supernatant after exposure to Em-VF (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). Exposure to Em-VF induced a significant decrease of CD69 expression of NK cells at day three and a significant decrease of proliferation of NK cells at day six (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). In contrast, NK cells viability and levels of cytokines did not vary significantly over Em-VF stimulation. Exposure to Em-VF had a significant bearing on activation and proliferation of NK cells. NK cells may play an important role in the immune response of the host against E. multilocularis., Anne-Pauline Bellanger, Valentine Mougey, Jean-René Pallandre, Houssein Gbaguidi-Haore, Yann Godet, Laurence Millon., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Rejskovití hmyzožravci (čeleď Soricidae) jsou drobní savci, kterých si v přírodě často sotva všimneme. Vyznačují se však mnoha zajímavostmi, díky kterým rozhodně stojí za naši pozornost. K těmto zajímavostem lze zařadit i schopnost echolokace, tj. schopnost orientovat se v prostoru za pomoci ozvěn cvakání, které vydávají. Kromě cvakání se během pohybu prostředím patrně orientují i pomocí štěbetavých hlasů. Bělozubky hnědé (Suncus murinus) při pohybu v neznámém prostředí také „duní“. Zda se i toto dunění uplatňuje při orientaci v prostoru není zatím jasné. Bělozubky pouštní (Diplomesodon pulchellum) zase při přechodu mezi různými typy substrátu vibrují, a tyto vibrace vytvářené celým tělem jim pravděpodobně pomáhají odhadnout vlastnosti substrátu a vyhnout se tak zbytečnému hrabání v hustém písku., Shrews (Soricidae) are small mammals that can be barely noticed in nature. However, there are many interesting facts that make them noteworthy, including echolocation - the ability to navigate with the help of echoes of the clicks they produce. Apart from the clicks, twitters are also probably used for navigation. The Asian House Shrew (Suncus murinus) moving through an unfamiliar environment produces boom, but it is not yet clear whether this sound is used for navigation. The Piebald Shrew (Diplomesodon pulchellum) produces body vibrations in response to a change in the substrate under their feet. These vibrations may be used for exploration of substrate density to avoid digging in dense sand., and Irena Schneiderová.
Rejskovití hmyzožravci (Soricidae) vydávají v nejrůznějších situacích mnoho typů hlasů. Dospělí jedinci se ozývají, pokud jsou v nebezpečí nebo se dostanou do potyčky s jiným jedincem svého druhu, během námluv a páření nebo při kontaktu s potomky. Také mláďata vydávají nejrůznější hlasy, jimiž se často snaží upozornit na své strádání nebo udržet kontakt s matkou a sourozenci. Přestože v poslední době přibývá publikací zabývajících se problematikou akustické komunikace rejskovitých, je to stále poměrně neprobádaná oblast. Mnohé otázky by mohly být zodpovězeny studiem bělozubky hnědé (Suncus murinus), která dobře prospívá i v péči člověka., Shrews (Soricidae) utter many types of vocalization in various situations. Adult individuals emit vocalizations when they are in danger or in a fight with conspecifics, during courtship and mating or when they keep contact with their offspring. Juveniles utter variable vocalizations mostly to prevent their discomfort and to keep contact with their mother and siblings. Although the number of publications has increased recently, acoustic communication among shrews still remains a quite unexplored field. Our knowledge might be significantly expanded by studying the Asian House Shrew (Suncus murinus), a species that can be successfully kept and bred in captivity., and Irena Schneiderová.
Rove beetles (Staphylinidae) are used to explore the forces that shaped the terrestrial fauna on Læsø, a young ca. 3000 year old Danish oceanic island located in the Kattegat strait between mainland Denmark and Sweden. We compile a detailed list of species of rove beetles for Læsø (328 species) and the surrounding Danish and Swedish regions (altogether 1075 species), which includes a standardized inventory of their body sizes, and the habitat and microhabitat preference of each species. The composition of the fauna on Læsø and adjacent mainland regions points to North-Eastern Jutland as the main source of the rove beetles on Læsø. Although large beetles are more active and likely to disperse than small beetles, there is no bias towards large species on the island indicating that the sea separating Læsø from the mainland has not been a barrier for rove beetle dispersal. The statistical analysis of the habitat and microhabitat preferences of the species of the entire system studied has shown that Læsø, compared to the mainland areas, is distinctly more dominated by ecological generalists, especially by species adapted to ephemeral, temporary humid microhabitats. Presumably, the mosaic of mostly dry open habitats available on Læsø filters for species, that are able to populate these suboptimal habitats via patches of humid but ephemeral microhabitats. A comprehensive eco-faunistic dataset for the Staphylinidae compiled for this study is the first modern account of the rove beetle fauna on the Danish island of Læsø., Aslak K. Hansen, Mathias J. Justesen, Sebastian Kepfer-Rojas, David B. Byriel, Jan Pedersen, Alexey Solodovnikov., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Velia currens (Fabricius, 1794) and V. gridellii Tamanini, 1947 are two South European species of Veliidae, whose ecology and behaviour are poorly known. The aims of this study were to investigate their life histories, quantify occurrence of wing polymorphism and gather information on their degree of co-occurrence. Nine different populations were regularly surveyed from April to November 2010. Furthermore, a dataset containing information on the occurrence of the two species and the presence of winged morphs at 294 sites was compiled from museum collections, private collections and published literature. No evidence for multivoltinism was detected in either species. However, oviposition and and/or hatching were protracted in time so that early-instar nymphs and adults co-occurred up to midsummer. Although their distributional ranges completely overlap at a large spatial scale, the two species co-occurred only rarely at the same sites and the degree of co-occurrence was lower than expected by chance. Winged specimens were rarely recorded. At least in V. gridellii, the numbers of winged individuals were inversely related to the altitudes of the sites. During the summer, when some of the streams surveyed dried up, several specimens were found in an apparent state of lethargy, under stones. It is hypothesized that the ability to aestivate, coupled with the ability to walk from one site to another may reduce the advantage associated with producing winged forms and account for the low rate of occurrence of macropterism in these species., Fabio Cianferoni and Giacomo Santini., and Obsahuje seznam literatury