Nearly all epileptic seizures in patients are characterized by deranged consciousness. We started to study changes in motivated behavior (drinking in thirsty rats) as a possible analogue of compromised consciousness during and after epileptic seizures. Epileptic afterdischarges (ADs) were elicited by stimulation of the dorsal hippocampus and/or thalamus. Rats with implanted electrodes (deprived of water for 24 hours) were trained to lick water from a narrow tube. After pretraining ADs were elicited eight times in each animal and access to water was allowed during different phases of the AD. Stimulation did not affect licking if no AD was induced. If stimulation was successful, licking was stopped in nearly 70 % of stimulations and modified (biting the tube) in 30 %. Hippocampal ADs (characterized by serrated waves in the EEG and by an arrest of behavior with subsequent automatisms) completely blocked licking, signs of recovery appeared during the interval between the AD and recurrent AD and it progressed during recurrent ADs. Thalamic ADs abolished licking in 82% of cases and immediately after ADs normal licking reappeared in 49 % of these observations. Our results suggest that changes in motivated behavior might serve as an analogue of compromised human consciousness., P. Mareš, L. Chocholová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) has been suggested to influence the cognitive capability but this should be dynamically evaluated in a longitudinal study. Previous training can affect performance, but the influence under magnetic field is unclear. This study aims to evaluate the effects of previous training and ELF-MF exposure on learning and memory using the Morris water maze (MWM). Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to MWM training, ELF-MF exposure (50 Hz, 100 μT), or ELF-MF exposure combined with MWM training for 90 days. Normal rats were used as controls. The MWM was used to test. The data show that the rats exposed to training and ELF-MF with training performed better on spatial acquisition when re-tested. However, during the probe trial the rats showed no change between the training phase and the test phase. Compared with the control group, the ELF-MF group showed no significant differences. These results confirm that previous training can improve the learning and memory capabilities regarding spatial acquisition in the MWM and this effect can last for at least 90 days. However, this improvement in learning and memory capabilities was not observed during the probe trial. Furthermore, ELF-MF exposure did not interfere with the improvement in learning and memory capabilities., Y. Li, C. Zhang, T. Song., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Předkládaná studie se věnuje specifikům dětské výpovědi. Mapuje možné zdroje její nespolehlivosti (nízká schopnost zapamatovat si a vybavit si události, vysoká sugestibilita, snadnost vzniku falešných vzpomínek, neporozumění pro procesy a interakce v okolí, možnost záměrného lhaní). Jsou uvedeny některé postupy, které mohou pomoci zkvalitnit, nebo naopak znehodnotit informace, podané dítětem. Schopnost dítěte porozumět své vlastní motivaci, prožívání a chování, stejně tak jako chování a prožívání jiných lidí je často zpochybňována. Ukazuje se však, že dětský úhel pohledu na události, které zažívá, a na sociální interakce, kterým je vystaveno, je obohacující. Přináší smysluplné informace, je jedinečný a přispívá jak k pochopení prožívání a chování dítěte a jeho aktuálních potíží, tak ke hlubšímu porozumění rodinným vztahům a jiným skutečnostem., The present study maps the possible sources of unreliability of child,s testimony (lower ability to remember and recall events, high suggestibility, easier formation of false memories, misunderstanding of the processes and interactions in surroundings, probability of deliberate lying) as well as its potential benefits in research and counselling practices. There are some procedures that can help improve or conversely depreciate information given by child. Child,s ability to understand their own motivation, experience and behaviour as well as behaviour and feelings of others are often questioned. But despite all mentioned risks, child,s testimony is very useful not only in judicial proceedings in which the child may be the only witness to the events but also in psychological research and counselling. It turns out that a child is more sensitive to some aspects of family life (conflicts) than an adult and gives even more accurate information than its parents. Child,s view of family life is important for understanding its behaviour and experience., Xenie Uholyeva., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The 24-hour urinary excretion of 6-β-hydroxycortisol (6β-OHC) and the urinary ratio of 6β-hydroxycortisol/cortisol (6β-OHC/UFC) have been proposed as noninvasive probes for human cytochrome P450 3A4 isoform (CYP3A4). In this study, we evaluated within- and between-day variability of 6β-OHC excretion and 6β-OHC/UFC ratio in nine Caucasian men with cardiac disease. Each study participant was asked to collect 24-hour urine specimens during four consecutive days in five standardized time intervals. Concentrations of UFC and 6β-OHC were determined by immunoassay and the high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method, respectively. The HPLC method was accurate and precise, as indicated by the recovery rate of 96.5-103.3 % and less than 5.2 % and 6.3 % of the coefficient of variation for within-run and between-run assay, respectively. In patients, diurnal variations in UFC and 6β-OHC excretion were parallel. Consequently, 6β-OHC/UFC ratio remained stable during the day. Both, 6β-OHC excretion and 6β-OHC/UFC ratio showed significant relationship between 24-hour value and values measured in corresponding collection periods with best correlations obtained from night interval (22.00-06.00, r = 0.86-0.91). These results indicated that urinary 6β-OHC excretion and 6β-OHC/UFC ratio measured in overnight/morning urine could precisely reflect 24-hour values even in severely ill patients. In addition, a simple and sensitive HPLC method was described for determination of 6β-OHC in urine., S. Mičuda, L. Šišpera, M. Hodač, P. Pařízek, L. Fuksa, E. Brčáková, J. Cerman, J. Cermanová, J. Martínková., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
This study examines the life and performing artistry of the pianist Barbara Kozeluchova (1781-1821), daughter of Johann Anton Kozeluch (1738-1814), an important Prague composer and choir director at the Cathedral of St Vitus. On the basis of period reports in the Bohemian and foreign press, it also discusses her performances at the Estates Theatre. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the theatre building also served the function of a concert hall where leading Bohemian and foreign performers appeared., Ludmila Mikulášová., Obsahuje seznam literatury, and Německé resumé na s. 69, anglický abstrakt na s. 63.
Insect herbivores were collected from Castanopsis acuminatissima (Fagaceae) at Wau, Papua New Guinea, by beating the foliage of 15 trees during four one-month sampling periods, each representing different leaf-flush events. The association of leaf-chewing beetles with C. acuminatissima was verified with feeding trials. Of 59 species of leaf-chewing beetles that were collected, 36 species could be used in feeding trials. Only 9 of these species fed on C. acuminatissima. A further 27 beetle species were tested in feeding trials but did not feed. Of these, 7 were specialists feeding on other tree species within the surrounding vegetation. Most beetle species collected from C. acuminatissima foliage were probably transient species, dispersing from other tree species. Path analyses showed that herbivore abundance during a particular sampling period was significantly influenced by rainfall, leaf flush of other conspecific trees and air temperature, but not so by the species richness of surrounding vegetation, number of surrounding conspecific trees and size (DBH) of trees sampled. The species richness of leaf-chewing beetles collected on particular study trees depended on that of the surrounding vegetation, thus supporting the hypothesis that most beetle species collected were transient. The abundance of insect herbivores on particular C. acuminatissima trees probably depends on a balance between the leaf flush of conspecific trees and that of the particular tree sampled. The results also emphasize the need to remove transient species in analyses of insect faunas of tropical trees, at the risk of analyzing species richness patterns derived from loosely defined "assemblages" of species., Yves Basset, and Lit
In this study we report on the structural diversity of adipokinetic hormones (AKHs) in the evolutionarily oldest group of social insects, the termites (Isoptera). Using molecular methods combined with in silico bioinformatic analysis, we studied and compared the sequences coding for these neuropeptides in thirteen species of five families of Isoptera. There are three types of AKH octapeptides in termites: Empusa pennata adipokinetic hormone (Emppe-AKH; pQVNFTPNWamide), Microhodotermes viator corpus cardiacum peptide (Micvi-CC; pQINFTPNWamide) and Periplaneta americana cardioaccelerating hormone (Peram-CAH-I; pQVNFSPNWamide). Of these the Peram-CAH-I was the most frequently bioactive form detected in representatives of four out of the six families studied. The complete AKH preprohormones in the termites studied shared at least an 84% amino acid similarity. In agreement with current phylogenetic scenarios of termites as an internal monophyletic clade nested within cockroaches (Blattaria) in the proximity of the family Blattidae, our phylogenetic analysis of the AKH precursor sequences (in the absence of data for the Cryptocercidae) placed the Blattidae (Periplaneta americana) as a sister group of termites and the AKHs of other cockroach families (Blattellidae and Blaberidae) were more divergent from those of termites. Representatives of the basal termite families Mastotermitidae and Archotermopsidae (but also one rhinotermitid genus Prorhinotermes) occurred separately from the phylogenetically advanced lineage (Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae), and Neotermes (Kalotermitidae) was sister to all other termites included., Veronika Jedličková, Pavel Jedlička, Barbora Špuláková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The chotts in Algeria are temporary salt lakes recognized as important wintering sites of water birds but neglected in terms of the diversity of the insects living on their banks. Around a chott in the wetland complex in the high plains near Constantine (eastern Algeria), more than half of the species of plants are annuals that dry out in summer, a situation that prompted us to sample the vegetation in spring over a period of two years. Three zones were identified based on an analysis of the vegetation and measurements of the salt content of the soils. Surveys carried out at monthly intervals over the course of a year revealed temporal and spatial variations in biodiversity and abundance of grasshoppers. The inner zone is colonized by halophilic plants and only one grasshopper species (Dericorys millierei) occurs there throughout the year. Two polyphagous species of Calliptamus, which can feed on halophilic plants migrate from adjacent areas into the inner zone in August to feed on the plants growing there. The other species of grasshoppers remain in outer zones as they are unable to feed on halophilic plants. The greatest abundance of grasshoppers from August to winter was recorded in the inner zone and in spring and early summer in the outer zones. The dependence of D. millierei on bushes of Amaranthaceae and its moderate flight ability, features of the family Dericorytidae, limit this species ability to colonize neighbouring chotts., Sarah Mahloul, Abboud Harrat, Daniel Petit., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Po delším neúspěšném diagnostickém procesu u pacientek, které si stěžují na symptomy dolních cest močových, chronickou pánevní bolest, dyspareunii nebo pocit tíhy v pochvě, se doporučuje zvážit diagnózu uretrálního divertiklu. Autoři článku hodnotí etiopatogenezi této patologie a nejrozšířenější klasifikační systém. Dále upozorňují na zásadní význam zobrazovacích vyšetření (perineální ultrazvukové vyšetření, zobrazovací vyšetření magnetickou rezonancí a cystoskopie) pro správnou identifikaci a diagnostiku uretrálního divertiklu. V neposlední řadě je prostor věnován technikám operační korekce uretrálního divertiklu popsaným v urologické literatuře a autoři rovněž prezentují vlastní techniku operační korekce. Operační léčba divertiklu močové trubice u žen je složitá a je spojena s řadou komplikací. Z tohoto důvodu autoři zdůrazňují, že tento typ operace je vhodné provádět pouze ve specializovaných centrech., After a long diagnostic process in women complaining lower urinary tract symptoms, chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia or feeling of vaginal weight, the diagnosis of urethral diverticulum is too strongly keep in mind. In this paper, we present the etiopathogenesis of this pathology and the classification system is mainly used. We also underline that diagnostic imaging is paramount to correctly identify and diagnose urethral diverticulum, we focus on perineal ultrasound, MR and cystoscopy. Finally we present the procedures for urethral diverticulum correction described in urological literature and explain our technique for urethral diverticulum correction. Urethral diverticulum surgery is complex and it is still affected by high degree of complications. For all these reasons we underline that this surgery should be performed in highly specialized and experienced centers in perineal female surgery., and Gurioli A., Marson F., Ammirati E., Marra G., Destefanis P., Frea B.
Divertikulární choroba tračníku je frekventní onemocnění s narůstající incidencí především v západních zemích. Zahrnuje široké spektrum symptomů a možných komplikací, pro které stále není k dispozici komplexní klasifikace. Léčba chronického či recidivujícího onemocnění není dořešena a kvalitní studie hodnotící prospektivně výsledky tradičních algoritmů chybí. Nové trendy v chirurgické léčbě se zaměřují na méně invazivní postupy, které mohou být pro pacienta přínosné. Ani zde však nejsou k dispozici kvalitní data, která by podpořila jejich zavedení do klinické praxe. Tato práce shrnuje některé nové trendy v léčbě divertikulární choroby tračníku podle principů medicíny založené na důkazech., Diverticular disease is a frequent bowel disease with an increasing incidence, especially in Western countries. It covers a wide spectrum of symptoms and possible complications for which there is still no comprehensive classification. The treatment of chronic or recurrent disease is not resolved and so far there are no high‑quality prospective studies evaluating the conventional algorithms. New trends in the surgical treatment focus on some less invasive procedures that may be beneficial for the patient. However, there is a lack of data supporting their introduction into clinical practice. This paper summarizes some of the new trends in the treatment of colonic diverticular disease on the basis of the principles of evidence‑based medicine., and Ryska O.