Cíl práce: Externí hodnocení kvality z dlouhodobého pohledu ukazují, že výsledky analýz stejného vzorku různými imunoanalytickými metodami často nejsou porovnatelné. Našim cílem bylo hledat příčiny těchto diferencí. Materiál a metody: Práce vychází z výsledků získaných sedmi rozdílnými imunoanalytickými metodami: DELFIA (PerkinElmer), Elecsys 2010 (Roche), Kryptor (B.R.A.H.M.S.), enzymové imunoanalýzy na imunosorbentu DRG a tří imunoradiometrických metod (DiaSorin, Immunotech and Schering-CIS). Výsledky: Hodnotili jsme následující parametry: profil přesnosti jednotlivých metod, linearitu po ředění, výtěžnost (modifikovanou) a porovnatelnost imunoanalytických metod. Výsledky analýz u některých vzorků s nízkými koncentracemi NSE korelovaly dobře, zatímco jiné nesouhlasily (diference byla až pětinásobná), zvláště v případě uměle připravovaných kontrolních materiálů. Proto se jeví současná příprava kontrolních materiálů, prováděná bez standardizace, jako sporná. V oblasti hraničních hodnot nepřesahují rozdíly v analytických výsledcích biologických vzorků dvojnásobek. Kolísání hodnot výsledků vyšších než 100 μg/l bylo mezi rozdílnými metodami do 40 %. Všechny hodnocené imunoanalytické metody jsou vhodné a velmi dobře porovnatelné (Korelační koeficienty do 0,994). Závěr: Naše výsledky potvrzují očekávané interference matric, které se projevují zvláště v oblasti normálních a hraničních koncentrací NSE. Dalším zdrojem diskrepancí může být rozdílná afinita protilátek vůči izoenzymům αγ- a γγ-enolázy., Objective: Long-term external quality assessments suggest that the individual results of different immunoassays are often not comparable. Our goal was to assess the possible sources of these differences. Methods: The paper is based on the results of analyses using seven different immunoassays: DELFIA (PerkinElmer), Elecsys 2010 (Roche), Kryptor (B.R.A.H.M.S.), the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay DRG and three methods based on immunoradiometric assays (DiaSorin, Immunotech and Schering-CIS). Results: The following parameters were evaluated: precision profile of individual methods, linearity on dilution, modified recovery and comparability of immunoassays. The analytical results for certain low concentration specimens correlate well while others do not (up to five – fold difference), especially in the case of controls prepared synthetically. Therefore, the current non-standardized preparation of controls seems to be questionable. In the cut-off range, the difference in the results of native samples does not exceed its double value. The variation in values higher than 100 μg/l obtained with different assays is under 40 %. All the evaluated immunoassays are efficient and highly comparable (The correlation coefficients are up to 0.994). Conclusion: Our results confirm the expected matrix interference occurring especially in the range of normal and cut-off NSE concentrations. Another source of discrepancies can be put down to different antibody affinity to αγ- and γγ-enolase isoenzymes., Petr Štern, V. Bartoš, J. Uhrová, and Lit. 19
The comparative biology of the solitary endoparasitoid Meteorus gyrator (Thun.) was investigated in five noctuid pest species. Meteorus gyrator parasitized all larval stages of the noctuid pests Lacanobia oleracea, Mamestra brassicae, Spodoptera exigua, Spodoptera littoralis and Chrysodeixis chalcites. When female parasitoids were offered host larvae of all developmental stages, host larvae in their third stadium were parasitized most frequently in all species. When the parasitoid was offered a choice of third stadium larvae from each of the five lepidopteran host species, L. oleracea was the most frequently parasitized, followed by M. brassicae. The growth of L. oleracea and M. brassicae was markedly reduced when larvae were parasitized by M. gyrator, with the effect of parasitism on the remaining species being much less pronounced. In excess of 94% of parasitized hosts gave rise to live wasps in L. oleracea, whilst in M. brassicae only 52% of parasitized hosts gave rise to a live wasp, the remainder dying (44.6%) or pupating (3.1%).
The larval development of the parasitoid was also strongly influenced by the host species. Thus, the development (egg to cocoon) of female wasps was most rapid in C. chalcites (9.7 ± 0.09 days), and longest in M. brassicae (17.2 ± 1.08 days). The cocoon weight of wasps was also significantly affected by host species, with the heaviest female cocoons being derived from C. chalcites (10.4 ± 0.16 mg) and the lightest female cocoons being derived from M. brassicae (7.0 ± 0.14 mg). In all cases, the development times and cocoon weights of male parasitoids were less than those of female wasps.
The aim of this study was to follow up whether the modification of pro-antioxidant status by oral thiol administration such as N- acetylcysteine and α-lipoic acid affects the hematological response. Twenty-eight healthy men participated in two independent experiments. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of four groups: controls (CNAC and CALA ), N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and α-lipoic acid (ALA). 1200 mg of N-acetylcysteine, 600 mg of α-lipoic acid or placebo were administered for 8 days in two doses. NAC or ALA administration significantly elevated plasma total antioxidant stat us (TAS) and reduced protein carbonylation (PC) and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) by more than 30 %. The reduced glutathione (GSH) and hematological parameters changed only in response to NAC administration. NAC significantly elevated the level of GSH (+33 %), EPO (+26 %), Hb (+9 %) and Hct (+9 %) compared with CNAC. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) also increased by more than 12 % after NAC. The numerous negative or positive correlations between the measures of TAS, PC, TBARS and hematological parameters were found, which suggest the NAC-induced interaction between pro-antioxidant and hematological values. Our study has shown that both N-acetylcysteine and α-lipoic acid intake reveal an antioxidant action, but only N-acetylcysteine improves the haematological response., A. Zembron-Lacny ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The main regulatory mechanism of smooth muscle contraction involves Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent phosphorylation of myosin (CDPM), by myosin light chain kinase (MLCK). It is also known that the increase in intracellular Ca2+ and phosphorylation of myosin occurs within a short time under physiological conditions, but the muscle tension may persist for a longer period of time. However, the mechanism of this phenomenon is still not clear. We hypothesize that MLCK also phosphorylates myosin in a Ca2+/CaM-independent manner (CIPM). The difference between CIPM and CDPM are as follows. Firstly, the extent of CIPM by MLCK was temperature-independent, whereas CDPM by MLCK was apparently decreasing with increasing temperature. Secondly, in contrast to the decreased extent of CDPM, the prolongation of incubation time did not decrease the extent of CIPM. Thirdly, a high concentration of K＋ influences CIPM less than CDPM. Furthermore, the MLCK inhibitor ML-9 significantly inhibited CDPM by MLCK but not CIPM by MLCK. Lastly, arachidonic acid selectively increased CIPM by MLCK but not CDPM by MLCK. Finally, the activity of Mg2+-ATPase of myosin followed the sequence as this: CDPM > CIPM > unphosphorylated myosin. Our results revealed some primary features of CIPM by MLCK.
1. A study was made by knockdown sampling and branch clipping of the arthropod fauna of the canopy of two native oak species (Quercus robur and Q. petraea) and of two introduced species (Q. cerris and Q. ilex ) in woods near Oxford, UK, and of two native species (Q. pubescens and Q. ilex) in southern France. Sampling was undertaken for five years in the UK and for four years in France. All the specimens from the UK, except Acarina, Collembola and Nematocera were identified to species or, occasionally, to morphotype.
2. In terms of overall numbers, species richness and biomass, the results for Q. robur and Q. petraea in the UK were very similar. Their samples contained over three times the biomass and nearly double the number of species compared with those from the introduced oak species (Q. cerris and Q. ilex).
3. The ordinal composition was very similar on Q. robur and Q. petraea, and that on Q. cerris showed closer concordance to the composition of these trees than to that of Q. ilex in the UK. The ordinal composition of the faunas of the two native oak species in France showed closer concordance to each other than to any of the oak species in the UK. The proportion of Psocoptera was much higher in the UK, and that of Thysanoptera was higher in France.
4. The guild composition in terms of numbers, species richness and biomass were closely correlated on Q. robur and Q. petraea, and on Q. robur in two different woods, which argues for an underlying determinism in the development of community structure. The guild composition on the introduced species (Q. cerris and Q. ilex) was most closely correlated when expressed as species richness.
5. The similarity of the guild composition on the oak species in the UK in terms of the actual species found was tested by a modified Sørensen's Index. This showed that the guilds could be ranked in the following order of decreasing similarity: epiphyte fauna, tourists, scavengers, phytophages, parasitoids-predators.
6. There were distinct seasonal patterns. In terms of species richness the values showed a general trend peaking in summer and early autumn, but biomass peaked in May on the native oak species, mainly due to Lepidopterous larvae. The ratio of prey to predator and parasitoid biomass had a distinct seasonal pattern, there being an excess of prey in May, but almost an equivalence throughout the rest of the season. This may reflect the high population of spiders in the late summer and autumn, which are likely to feed on tourists. Most classical ecosystem models do not allow for this latter important source of food that is not itself dependent on the communities' habitat.
7. The epiphyte dwelling guild (principally grazing Psocoptera) was a major component of the fauna in terms of numbers on the evergreen Q. ilex in UK. This has been reported for other studies of evergreen species in temperate climates.
Structure and photomechanical changes upon light/dark adaptation in the superposition compound eyes of the highly sexually dimorphic Orygia antiqua were studied by light and electron microscopy. The eyes of the fully winged male differ from those of the wingless, sedentary female in several respects: they are significantly larger, display a more regular ommatidial array, have a wider clearzone and possess a much more substantial tracheal tapetum. However, the eyes of the female exhibit more pronounced photomechanical changes upon light/dark adaptation than those of the male. We believe that for females, on account of their limited mobility, it is necessary that their eyes can cope with widely fluctuating brightnesses, but that visual sensitivity and resolving power are less important to them than to the actively flying males. Although the latter may be attracted to the females by pheromones, males in their diurnal searches will have to visually avoid obstacles and predators. Moreover, because of their ability to fly, males can seek shelters or shaded areas and unlike the sedentary females avoid prolonged exposures to potentially hazardous light levels. This could explain why the eyes of the females exhibit more pronounced photomechanical responses to changes in ambient light levels.
The aim of this work was to verify the possibility of interactions between the human TRH receptor (an integral membrane protein which belongs to family 1 of G-protein coupled receptors) and TRH-like peptides presented in the prostate gland. These peptides are char
acterized by substitution of basic amino acid histidine (related to authentic TRH) for neutral or acidic amino acid, such as glutamic acid, phenylalanine, glutamine or tyrosine. The physiological function of TRH-like peptides in peripheral tissues is not precisely known. However, according to our recent experiments, we assume the existence of a local hormona
l network formed by TRH-like peptides and TSH in the prostate gland. The network can be associated with circulating thyroid and steroid hormones, and may represent a new regulatory mechanism influencing the proliferative ability of prostatic tissue. A similar network of authentic TRH and TSH was already found in the gastrointestinal tract. The experimentally determined 3D-structures of human TRH receptor
(hTRHr) and TRH-like peptides are not available. From this point of view we used de novo modeling procedures of G-protein coupled receptors on an automated protein modeling server used at the Glaxo Wellcome Experimental Research (Geneva, Switzerland). 3D-s
tructures of TRH-like peptides were determined with a computer program
CORINA (written by the team of J. Gasteiger, Computer-Chemie-Centrum and Institute for Organic Chemistry, University of Erlangen-Nurenberg, Germany). The generated PDB files with 3D-coordinates were visualized with Swiss-Pdb Viewer Release 3.51 (Glaxo Wellcome). From recent results it is evident that polar amino acids belonging to the extracellular terminus of hTRHr transmembrane regions can participate in interactions between TRH and hTRHr. There is no direct evidence that TRH-like peptides interact with the presented hTRHr model. On the contrary, with respect to the similar 3D-shape and the identity of terminal amino acids, it appears that these interactions are highly
probable as well as the nearly 100 % cross-reactions between TRH or TRH-like peptides and antibody specific against authentic TRH. Closed terminal amino acids (pyroglutamic acid and proline-amide) of TRH or TRH-like peptides are important for these interactions. Desamido-TRH or glutamyl metabolites will be repelled by the negative potential of
ASP195 (E: D93) and GLU298 (G: E137).
An overview of the concept of cellular immobilization and perfusion as a small laboratory bioreactor model is presented. The cellular systems currently used may be described as static. This is due to conditions of hypoxia and waste product build-up that affect cell physiology. Cellular immobilization and perfusion is, therefore, expected to maintain the cells for very long periods of time under approximately physiological conditions. A number of applications of immobilized perfused hepatocytes and other cellular systems such as adipocytes and Sertoli cells are described in addition to various other cell lines. Moreover, it is suggested that the bioreactor may have potential use as a bioartificial organ.
Fish are goods, as well as televisions and DVDs with films. Those examples are simple, but what
about the rights for fishing, films transmitted by television signal, or electricity, are they goods or services? The line between these two concepts is not always clear. Is the distinction between goods and services necessary? The introduction of this article examines whether and why there is a need to distinguish goods and services. The second chapter will focus on the definition of goods in the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union2 (hereinafter the Treaty) and in the case law of the Court of Justice (hereinafter the Court). The differences between goods and services will be described in the third chapter illustrated with some examples. The conclusion will provide a simple guideline on how to subsume a case under the Treaty provisions on free movement of goods or services and examine whether the above-mentioned definition is still valid nowadays.
GNSS meteorology is the remote sensing of the atmosphere (particularly troposphere) using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) to deliver information about its state. The two currently available navigation satellite systems are the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the GLObal'naya NAvigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema (GLONASS) maintained by the United States and Russia, respectively. The Galileo navigation satellite system, which is under supervision of the European Space Agency (ESA), is expected to be completed within the time frame of a few years. Continuous observations from GNSS receivers provide an excellent tool for studying the earth’s atmosphere. The GNSS meteorology has reached a point, where there is a need to improve methods not only to compute Integrated Water Vapor over the GNSS receiver, but also to investigate the water vapor distribution in space and time (4DWVD). Since 2008, the new national permanent GNSS network ASG-EUPOS (98 stations) has been established in Poland. 17 Polish stations equipped with GNSS receivers and uniform meteorological sensors work currently in the frame of the European Permanent Network. This paper presents the concept of the integrated investigations for NRT atmosphere model construction based on the GNSS and meteorological observations from ASG-EUPOS stations., Jarosław Bosy, Witold Rohm and Jan Sierny., and Obsahuje bibliografii