Pseudogymnoascus destructans: evidence of virulent skin invasion for bats under natural conditions, Europe.

While Pseudogymnoascus destructans has been responsible for mass bat mortalities from white-nose syndrome (WNS) in North America, its virulence in Europe has been questioned. To shed the light on the issue of host-pathogen interaction between European bats and P. destructans, we examined seventeen bats emerging from the fungus-positive underground hibernacula in the Czech Republic during early spring 2013. Dual wing-membrane biopsies were taken from Barbastella barbastellus (1), Myotis daubentonii (1), Myotis emarginatus (1), Myotis myotis (11), Myotis nattereri (1) and Plecotus auritus (2) for standard histopathology and transmission electron microscopy. Non-lethal collection of suspected WNS lesions was guided by trans-illumination of the wing membranes with ultraviolet light. All bats selected for the present study were PCR-positive for P. destructans and showed microscopic findings consistent with the histopathological criteria for WNS diagnosis. Ultramicroscopy revealed oedema of the connective tissue and derangement of the fibroblasts and elastic fibres associated with skin invasion by P. destructans. Extensive fungal infection induced a marked inflammatory infiltration by neutrophils at the interface between the damaged part of the wing membrane replaced by the fungus and membrane tissue not yet invaded by the pathogen. There was no sign of keratinolytic activity in the stratum corneum. Here, we show that lesions pathognomonic for WNS are common in European bats and may also include overwhelming full-thickness fungal growth through the wing membrane equal in severity to reports from North America. Inter-continental differences in the outcome of WNS in bats in terms of morbidity/mortality may therefore not be due to differences in the pathogen itself.

Utility of a rescue endovascular therapy for the treatment of major strokes refractory to full-dose intravenous thrombolysis.

OBJECTIVE: Large artery occlusion (LAO) in patients with major stroke predicts poor revascularization by intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and more likely results in a poor outcome. We focused on the effects of intra-arterial thrombolysis (IAT) and endovascular mechanical recanalization (EMR) as rescue therapies in major strokes refractory to IVT. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 87 patients (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale >20), who did not respond to full-dose IVT due to LAO, was performed based on their endovascular therapy status. IAT was performed as an intraclot infusion of alteplase, and EMR was provided by the Solitaire device™ (Covidien, Dubin, Ireland). The recanalization and 3-month outcome rates after IAT/EMR were correlated with a group of patients who were scheduled to receive endovascular treatment but who underwent only IVT. RESULTS: We achieved successful recanalization by IAT and EMR in 68.7% and 76.1% of patients, respectively. Despite no significant differences in mortality between IAT and EMR, a trend towards better outcomes after IAT and a statistically significant increase for outcome-modified Rankin scale (mRS) 0-3 (45.7%) and mRS 0-2 (34.9%) after EMR was noted when compared with IVT. The degree of recanalization did not correlate with the functional results except for the good-moderate outcome after successful recanalization by EMR. CONCLUSION: EMR by the Solitaire device is a safe and beneficial method for the rescue treatment of patients with major stroke whose neurological status does not improve and who fail to recanalize the LAO after a 1-h full dose of IVT. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The article verifies efficiency of the Solitaire device in major strokes.

High harmonic spectroscopy of the Cooper minimum in molecules.

The Cooper minimum (CM) has been studied using high harmonic generation solely in atoms. Here, we present detailed experimental and theoretical studies on the CM in molecules probed by high harmonic generation using a range of near-infrared light pulses from λ=1.3 to 1.8 µm. We demonstrate the CM to occur in CS(2) and CCl(4) at ~42 and ~40 eV, respectively, by comparing the high harmonic spectra with the known partial photoionization cross sections of different molecular orbitals, confirmed by theoretical calculations of harmonic spectra. We use CM to probe electron localization in Cl-containing molecules (CCl(4), CH(2)Cl(2), and trans-C(2)H(2)Cl(2)) and show that the position of the minimum is influenced by the molecular environment.

Calling 911 in response to stroke: no change following a four-year educational campaign.

BACKGROUND: Public awareness campaigns are conducted to increase stroke awareness, yet evidence of their long-term effectiveness is limited. Since 2006, the Czech Stroke Society has conducted an educational campaign throughout the Czech Republic (CR) to increase awareness about stroke. This report evaluates the effectiveness of this campaign by comparing the results of a nationwide survey on stroke awareness in 2009 with the results from 2005. METHODS: In 2009, a nationwide survey was conducted throughout the CR using the same methodology as in 2005 and employing a 3-stage random sampling method (area, household, and household member sampling). Participants >40 years of age were personally interviewed via a structured questionnaire concerning their knowledge and ability to correctly respond to stroke as assessed by the validated Stroke Action Test (STAT). The primary outcome measure was the difference in a STAT score >50% (i.e. respondents chose to call 911 for >50% of stroke symptoms) between 2005 and 2009. Campaign intensity was characterized by a systematic search for media messages about stroke in the CR. RESULTS: A total of 601 interviews were obtained (90% response rate) in 2009 (592 people were interviewed in 2005). A STAT score >50% was achieved by 18% of the respondents both in 2005 and 2009 (p = 0.89). There was no increase in the knowledge of risk factors or warning signs between 2005 and 2009. Respondents who noticed the campaign (19%) had better STAT scores than respondents who did not (25 vs. 17%; p = 0.038). A systematic search revealed that the campaign had reasonable intensity because there were 978 media reports about stroke between 2006 and 2008. CONCLUSIONS: A medium-intensity educational campaign, based on donated advertising media, failed to increase stroke awareness. However, if the campaign had reached more people, it might have been effective. Therefore, in the future, paid advertising media should accompany free media, although such approach would require a substantially larger budget. Awareness campaigns should be constantly evaluated for their effectiveness to develop more successful strategies.

High-harmonic generation in H2O.

We demonstrate high-harmonic generation in H(2)O using 800 and 1300 nm laser pulses up to a maximum intensity of 5x10(14) W/cm(2). Under optimal phase-matching conditions, photon energies up to approximately 60 and approximately 87 eV are produced by using 800 and 1300 nm light, respectively. The harmonic spectra in H(2)O, when compared with Xe with a similar ionization potential, exhibit significant extension of the cutoff region, indicating suppression of ionization arising from molecular orbital symmetry.

Higher-order harmonic generation from fullerene by means of the plasma harmonic method.

We demonstrate, for the first time, high-order harmonic generation from C60 by an intense femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser. Laser-produced plasmas from C60-rich epoxy and C60 films were used as the nonlinear media. Harmonics up to the 19th order were observed. The harmonic yield from fullerene-rich plasma is about 25 times larger compared with those produced from a bulk carbon target. Structural studies of plasma debris confirm the presence and integrity of fullerenes within the plasma plume, indicating fullerenes as the source of high-order harmonics.

[Cytological detection of cervical dysplasia and neoplasia]. / Cytologická záchytnost cervikálních dysplazií a neoplazií.

A total of 7017 women were examined during a year in a specialized dispensary for prevention of cervical cancer and in a department of obstetrics. Diagnosis of PAP III or higher was established in 227 smears, i.e. 3,3% of cases. A correlation of positive cytology with following biopsy was performed. The influence of cervical inflammation and virus lesion on possible modification of suspect cytology was discussed.