True pattern-reversal LED stimulator and its comparison to LCD and CRT displays: visual evoked potential study.

A rapid checkerboard pattern change is used to elicit pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (PR VEPs). CRT or LCD monitors do not allow immediate reversal of the entire pattern. The study aimed to construct a new stimulator whose characteristics approximate an instantaneous reversal and verify whether the improvement is reflected in PR VEPs. A new stimulator using a matrix of 12 × 48 independent white square LEDs was designed and compared with LCDs and CRTs. The effect on the PR VEP peak times and amplitudes of N70, P100, and P140 waves was evaluated in ten subjects. The LED stimulator showed significantly better performance in the rate of change of illuminance, change of pattern, luminance settling and stability. The PR VEP amplitudes of N75, P100, and N140 did not show significant differences. The sum of interpeak amplitudes was significantly larger for the LCD than for the other monitors. The peak times of the waves evoked by the LED were shorter than those evoked by the LCD and CRT for the N75 wave and a check size of 30´. LED stimulators are a better alternative to CRTs for PR VEPs than current LCDs. LEDs also seem to be better than CRTs, but further research is necessary to obtain significant results.

Bone Marrow-Derived Cells Participate in Composition of the Satellite Cell Niche in Intact and Regenerating Mouse Skeletal Muscle.

The cellular components of the satellite cell niche participate in the regulation of skeletal muscle regeneration. Beside myogenic cells at different developmental stages, this niche is formed by cells of the immune system, the interstitial connective tissue and the vascular system. Unambiguous determination of the origin of these cell types could contribute to optimization of the cell-based therapy of skeletal muscle disorders. In our work, we intravenously transplanted mouse GFP+ unseparated bone marrow cells into whole-body lethally irradiated immunocompetent mice four weeks before cardiotoxin-induced injury of the recipients' skeletal muscles. Seven and 28 days after the toxin injection, the injured regenerating and contralateral intact muscles were examined for identification of GFP+ bone marrow-derived cells by direct fluorescence, protein immunohistochemistry and immunogold transmission electron microscopy. In both the intact and injured muscles, GFP positivity was determined in immune cells, mainly in macrophages, and in interstitial spindleshaped cells. Moreover, in the injured muscles, rare GFP+ endothelial cells of the blood vessels and newly formed myotubes and muscle fibres were present. Our results confirmed the ability of bone marrowderived cells to contribute to the cellular component of the satellite cell niche in the intact and regenerating skeletal muscle. These cells originated not only from haematopoietic stem cells, but obviously also from other stem or progenitor cells residing in the bone marrow, such as multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells and endothelial progenitors.

Selenite induces DNA damage and specific mitochondrial degeneration in human bladder cancer cells.

We have investigated the cytotoxicity and specific effects of selenite in human bladder cancer cell line RT-112 and its clonogenic variant RT-112 HB. Selenite inhibited cell growth and proliferation in both cell lines. Treated cells developed extensive vacuolization which was dose independent but occurring in differing time frames. Ultrastructure analysis revealed that the observed vacuoles are damaged mitochondria and potentially other subcellular compartments. Selenite-specific effects on mitochondria were further confirmed by mitochondrial membrane potential analysis, changes in ATP production and generation of superoxide. Simultaneously, selenite induced DNA damage in treated cells with activation of p53, PARP-1 and JNK and suppressed autophagy. Cells ultimately died via a combination of apoptosis, necrosis and a distinct type of cell death featuring "vacuolar shrinkage", loss of adherence and absence of secondary necrosis as well as other classical markers of either apoptosis or autophagy. The significant presence of so called necroptosis was also not confirmed as the specific inhibitor necrostatin-1 could not prevent cell death. These results thus confirm the toxicity of selenite in bladder cancer cells while pointing at potentially new mechanism of action of this compound in this model.

Models of stents - comparison and applications.

The aim of this study was to analyze the possibilities of various types of stent modeling and to develop some new models. A brief survey of basic properties of stents and a list of basic designs of stents is presented. Two approaches to stent modeling were identified. Structural mechanics is the theoretical background of our analytical model of a spiral stent. The finite element method was also used. The measurement equipment for model evaluation was developed.