The function of adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus is not yet completely understood, though many competing theories have attempted to explain the function of these newly -generated neurons. Most theories give adult neurogenesis a role in aiding known hippocampal/dentate gyrus functions. Other theories offer a novel role for these new cells based on their unique physiological qualities, such as their low excitability threshold. Many behavioral tests have been used to test these theories, but results have been inconsistent and often contradictory. Substantial variability in tests and protocols may be at least partially responsible for the mixed results. On the other hand, conflicting results arising from the same tests can serve as aids in elucidating the function of adult neurogenesis. Here, we offer a hypothesis that considers the cognitive nature of tasks commonly used to assess the function of adult neurogenesis, and introduce a dichotomy between tasks focused on discrimination vs. generalization. We view these two aspects as opposite ends of the continuous spectrum onto which traditional tests can be mapped. We propose that high neurogenesis favors behavioral discrimination while low adult neurogenesis favors behavioral generalization of a knowledge or rule. Since many tasks require both, the effects of neurogenesis could be cancelled out in many cases. Although speculative, we hope that our view presents an interesting and testable hypothesis of the effect of adult neurogenesis in traditional behavioral tasks. We conclude that new, carefully designed behavioral tests may be necessary to reach a final consensus on the role of adult neurogenesis in behavior., A. Pistikova, H. Brozka, A. Stuchlik., and Obsahuje bibliografii
This paper deals with the delicts of adultery and fornication. It presents rules related to this delict by referring to the individual pieces of regulation valid within the geographic area of our country and pointing out similarities with rules applicable for these delicts in the Islamic law, especially focusing
on the possibility to punish – whether it is capital punishment, lashing or exile. While in our geographical region criminal prosecution has been completely abandoned, the traditional Islamic law still contains these punishments.
Pompeho nemoc (glykogenóza typ 2, deficit alfa glukosidázy) je autozomálně recesivní dědičné metabolické onemocnění, jehož podkladem je defekt lysozomální kyselé alfa glukosidázy vedoucí k hromadění-střádání lysozomálního glykogenu v buňkách a tkáních s následnou dysfunkcí především ve svalové tkáni srdce a kosterních svalech. Průběh je velmi variabilní: od těžkého rychle progredujícího postižení novorozenců (klasická infantilní forma) po postupné postižení s manifestací v dětství či pozdní dospělosti. Je-li alfa glukosidáza zcela nebo téměř nefunkční, vzniká tzv. klasická infantilní forma choroby. Potíže se rozvíjí v prvních měsících života a mají charakter neprospívání, svalové slabosti a potíží s dýcháním. Dochází k výraznému zvětšení srdce, většina dětí se před zavedením substituční terapie nedožila prvních narozenin. Je-li enzym štěpící glykogen alespoň částečně funkční, vzniká tzv. pozdní (juvenilní či adultní) forma onemocnění. Tato situace nastává, pokud vznikne závažná mutace jedné alely a lehčí na druhé. To vede k méně progresivnímu fenotypu. Rozpětí manifestace nemoci je u této formy od první do šesté věkové dekády. Hlavním projevem je svalová slabost, která postupuje a významně zasahuje dýchací svalstvo. U těchto nemocných nebývá srdce zvětšeno. Při podezření na PN máme tři diagnostické úrovně. První je skríningové vyšetření pomocí testu suché kapky (DBS, Dried Blood Spot). Potvrzení diagnózy se provádí vyšetřením aktivity GAA v leukocytech. DNA vyšetření je důležité pro stanovení korelace genotyp-fenotyp a detekci přenašečů v rodině., Pompe disease (glycogen storage disease type 2, acid maltase deficiency) is inherited autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by deficiency of acid alpha-glucosidase and resulting in lysosomal glycogen storage in various tissues, mainly heart and skeletal muscle. Continuous spectrum of phenotypes from the rapidly progressive infantile form to the slowly progressive late onset form of the disease can be observed. Classical infantile form of the disease manifests soon after birth due to absent or nearly absent activity of the key enzyme. Typical manifestations include failure to thrive, muscle weakness, cardiomegaly, and respiratory failure. Before the era of substitution therapy, the majority of children died within the first year of life. Partial enzyme deficiency (severe mutation on one allele and milder on the second) leads to the less severe phenotype with manifestation in child- or adulthood. Time span is from the first to the sixth decade of life. Leading symptoms include slowly progressing limb girdle and trunk muscle weakness with significant involvement of respiratory muscles. There is no cardiomegaly. Suspicion of Pompe disease is confirmed in three steps. The first involves screening with the Dried Blood Spot test. Testing of the activity of alfa glucosidase in leukocytes is used to confirm the disease. Mutation analysis is important to assess the correlation between genotype and phenotype and to identify familial carriers. Key words: Pompe disease – alpha glucosidase – lysosomal storage diseases – limb-girdle muscle weakness The author declares he has no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study. The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE “uniform requirements” for biomedical papers., Vědomostní test, and S. Voháňka
The study is analogy of the natural evolution and the technical object design dates back more than 50 years. The genetic algorithm (GA) is considered to be a stochastic heuristic (or meta-heuristic) optimisation method. The best use of GA can be found in solving multidimensional optimisation problems, for which analytical solutions are unknown (or extremely complex) and efficient numerical methods are also not known. GAs are inspired by adaptive and evolutionary mechanisms of live organisms, but they do not copy the natural process precisely. The paper describes the main terms, principles and original implementation details of GA. The main goal of this paper is to help readers to use proper GAs on the field of technical object design. and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) may play an important adverse role in process of atherosclerosis, diabetes, aging and chronic renal failure. Levels of Ne-carboxymethyllysine and fluorescent AGE values were estimated in two nutritional population groups - alternative group (vegetarians - plant food, milk products, eggs) and traditional group (omnivorous subjects). Vegetarians have a significantly higher carboxymethyllysine content in plasma and fluorescent AGE values. Intake of proteins, lysine and monosaccharides as well as culinary treatment, consumption of food AGEs (mainly from technologically processed products) and the routes of Maillard reaction in organism are the substantial sources of plasma AGEs. Vegetarians consume less proteins and saccharides. Lysine intake is significantly reduced (low content in plant proteins). Subjects on alternative nutrition do not use high temperature for culinary treatment and consume low amount of technologically processed food. Fructation induced AGE fluorescence is greater as compared with that induced by glucose. It is due to higher participation of a more reactive acyclic form of fructose. Intake of vegetables and fruit with predominance of fructose is significantly higher in vegetarians. Comparison of nutrition and plasma AGEs in vegetarian and omnivorous groups shows that the higher intake of fructose in alternative nutrition of healthy subjects may cause an increase of AGE levels., M. Krajčovičová-Kudláčková, K. Šebeková, R. Schinzel., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The slowly metabolized proteins of the extracellular matrix, typically collagen and elastin, accumulate reactive metabolites through uncontrolled non-enzymatic reactions such as glycation or the products arising from the reaction of unsaturated long chain fatty acid metabolites (possessing aldehydic groups). A typical example of these non-enzymatic changes is the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), resulting from the reaction of carbohydrates with the free amino group of proteins. The accumulation of AGEs and the resulting structural alterations cause altered tissue properties (increased stiffness, reduced elasticity) that contribute to their reduced catabolism and to their aging. Posttranslational nonenzymatic modifications of the proteins of the extracellular matrix (the formation of a typical AGE product - pentosidine) were studied in three types of tissue of three rat strains subjected to a high-fructose diet. Chronic (three-week) hyperglycemia (resulting from fructose loading) caused a significant increase in pentosidine concentration mainly in the aorta and skin of the three rat strains (Lewis, Wistar and hereditary hypertriglyceridemic rats)., K. Mikulíková, A. Eckhardt, J. Kuneš, J. Zicha, I. Mikšík., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Advanced glycation end-product (AGE) pentosidine has previously been demonstrated in different tissues and body fluids. It was suggested as a novel marker for evaluating the pathologic activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study we analyzed the relation between pentosidine and markers of inflammation, cartilage turnover, immune response, and disease status of RA. Using HPLC, we analyzed pentosidine in serum and synovial fluid from 39 patients with RA and in serum from 38 healthy controls. Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and antibodies to CCP (anti-CCP) were measured by ELISA. Clinical disease status was assessed by Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS 28) and functional status by Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). We demonstrated significantly higher serum levels of pentosidine in RA patients in comparison with controls. Pentosidine in serum significantly correlated with pentosidine in synovial fluid. Serum pentosidine levels were associated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p<0.03) but not with CRP, COMP, anti-CCP antibodies, DAS 28, or HAQ. In contrast to previous studies, we could not show any correlation of pentosidine levels with inflammatory status, clinical disease activity, markers of immune response, or cartilage breakdown. However, AGEs can be suggested as important players participating in joint destruction rather than markers of disease activity., L. Šenolt, M. Braun, J. Vencovský, L. Šedová, K. Pavelka., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Accelerated glycoxidation takes part in the development of diabetic complications. We determined advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in the sera of 52 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) - 18 with DM Type 1 and 34 with DM Type 2 and examined their relationship to the compensation of the disease. AGEs were estimated spectrofluorimetrically (350 nm/440 nm) whereas AOPP were determined spectro-photometrically (340 nm). AGEs were elevated only in DM Type 2 (DM2 5.11±1.15x103 AU/g vs controls 4.08±0.71x103 AU/g, p<0.001, vs DM1 4.14±0.86x103 AU/g, p<0.005, DM1 vs controls were not significant). AOPP were elevated significantly in both types of DM with higher levels in DM Type 2 (DM2 157.50±75.15 mmol/l vs healthy subjects 79.80±23.72 mmol/l, p<0.001, vs DM1 97.50±30.91 mmol/l, p<0.005, DM1 vs controls p<0.05). There was a tight correlation between AGEs and AOPP in both types of DM (DM1 r=0.75, DM2 r=0.47 (p<0.05)) and both AGEs and AOPP correlated with triglycerides. In DM Type 1 only, AGEs correlated with HbA1c r=0.47 (p<0.05) and with blood glucose. Slight but not significant differences in AGEs and AOPP levels were observed in patients with or without diabetic complications. Oxidative stress is increased in both types of DM, more in Type 2 where it contributes to the formation of glycoxidation products., M. Kalousová, J. Škrha, T. Zima., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Epidemiological studies have confirmed that hyperglycemia is the most important factor in the onset and progress of vascular complications, both in Type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus. The formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) correlates with glycemic control. The AGE hypothesis proposes that accelerated chemical modification of proteins by glucose during hyperglycemia contributes to the pathogenesis of diabetic complications including nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy and atherosclerosis. Recent studies have shown that increased formation of serum AGEs exists in diabetic children and adolescents with or without vascular complications. Furthermore, the presence of diabetic complications in children correlates with elevated serum AGEs. The level of serum AGEs could be considered as a marker of later developments of vascular complications in children with Type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus. The careful metabolic monitoring of young diabetics together with monitoring of serum AGEs can provide useful information about impending AGE-related diabetic complications. It is becoming clear that anti-AGE strategies may play an important role in the treatment of young and older diabetic patients. Several potential drug candidates such as AGE inhibitors have been reported recently.