Heterogeneous associative plasticity in the auditory cortex induced by fear learning - novel insight into the classical conditioning paradigm.

We used two-photon calcium imaging with single-cell and cell-type resolution. Fear conditioning induced heterogeneous tuning shifts at single-cell level in the auditory cortex, with shifts both to CS+ frequency and to the control CS- stimulus frequency. We thus extend the view of simple expansion of CS+ tuned regions. Instead of conventional freezing reactions only, we observe selective orienting responses towards the conditioned stimuli. The orienting responses were often followed by escape behavior.

A rare complication of long-term vaginal prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: Description of rare complication of long-term uterine prolaps. Desing: Case report. SETTING: Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, University Hospital Ostrava. CASE REPORT: A seventy-years-old pacient with longterm complete uterine prolaps underwent vaginal hysterectomy with colpoclesis at department of Obstetric and Gynecology of university hospital Ostrava in August 2017. The surgery was planned more than year ago, when patient had no symptoms. But due to patient's injury, it was postponed and the condition was already complicated by urine incontinency. The surgery was complicated by bladder lesion, because it was suggested as a pelvis tumor. Correction of cystolithiasis was planned at a second time, when suprapubic cystoli-thotomy was performed after 16 days. Temporary urinary derivation was ensured by bilateral nephrostomy, epicystostomy and urinal catetrization for low residual bladder capacity after surgery. CONCLUSION: Bladder stones are a rare complication of otherwise relatively frequent complete urogenital prolaps in women. Major causes include micturition disorder and chronic urinary tract infection which is caused by vaginal and uterus descensus.

Early changes of the pH of the apoplast are different in leaves, stem and roots of Vicia faba L. under declining water availability.

Changes in pH of the apoplast have recently been discussed as an important factor in adjusting transpiration and water relations under conditions of drought via modulatory effect on abscisic acid (ABA) concentration. Using Vicia faba L., we investigated whether changes in the root, shoot and leaf apoplastic pH correlated with (1) a drought-induced reduction in transpiration and with (2) changes in ABA concentration. Transpiration, leaf water potential and ABA in leaves were measured and correlated with root and shoot xylem pH, determined by a pH microelectrode, and pH of leaf apoplast quantified by microscopy-based in vivo ratiometric analysis. Results revealed that a reduction in transpiration rate in the early phase of soil drying could not be linked with changes in the apoplastic pH via effects on the stomata-regulating hormone ABA. Moreover, drought-induced increase in pH of xylem or leaf apoplast was not the remote effect of an acropetal transport of alkaline sap from root, because root xylem acidified during progressive soil drying, whereas the shoot apoplast alkalized. We reason that other, yet unknown signalling mechanism was responsible for reduction of transpiration rate in the early phase of soil drying.

Photothermal method for absorption measurements in anisotropic crystals.

A measurement system for quantitative determination of both surface and bulk contributions to the photo-thermal absorption has been extended to anisotropic optical media. It bases upon a highly sensitive Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor, accomplishing precise on-line monitoring of wavefront deformations of a collimated test beam transmitted perpendicularly through the laser-irradiated side of a cuboid sample. Caused by the temperature dependence of the refractive index as well as thermal expansion, the initially plane wavefront of the test beam is distorted. Sign and magnitude depend on index change and expansion. By comparison with thermal theory, a calibration of the measurement is possible, yielding a quantitative absolute measure of bulk and surface absorption losses from the transient wavefront distortion. Results for KTP and BBO single crystals are presented.

Accumulation pattern of endogenous cytokinins and phenolics in different organs of 1-year-old cytokinin pre-incubated plants: implications for conservation.

A better understanding of phytohormone physiology can provide an essential basis to coherently achieve a conservation drive/strategy for valuable plant species. We evaluated the distribution pattern of cytokinins (CKs) and phenolic compounds in different organs of 1-year-old greenhouse-grown Tulbaghia simmleri pre-treated (during micropropagation) with three aromatic CKs (benzyladenine = BA, meta-topolin = mT, meta-topolin riboside = mTR). The test species is highly valuable due to its medicinal and ornamental uses. Based on UHPLC-MS/MS quantification, mT and mTR pre-treated plants had the highest total CK, mostly resulting from the isoprenoid CK-type, which occurred at highest concentrations in the roots. Although occurring in much lower concentrations when compared to isoprenoid CKs, aromatic CKs were several-fold more abundant in the root of mT pre-treated plants than with other treatments. Possibly related to the enhanced aromatic CKs, free bases and ribonucleotides, plants pre-treated with mT generally displayed better morphology than the other treatments. A total of 12 bioactive phenolic compounds, including four hydroxybenzoic acids, five hydroxycinnamic acids and three flavonoids at varying concentrations, were quantified in T. simmleri. The occurrence, distribution and levels of these phenolic compounds were strongly influenced by the CK pre-treatments, thereby confirming the importance of CKs in phenolic biosynthesis pathways.

СD44+/CD24- markers of cancer stem cells in patients with breast cancer of different molecular subtypes.

AIM: To determine frequency of tumors with immunohistochemical markers of cancer stem cells (CSC) CD44+/CD24- in patients with breast cancer (BC) of different molecular subtype and to evaluate their prognostic value. OBJECT: Surgical material of 132 patients with BC stage I-II, age from 23 to 75 years, mean age - 50.2 ± 3.1 years was studied. METHODS: Clinical, immunohistochemical (expression CD44+/CD24-), morphological, statistical. RESULTS: BC is characterized by heterogeneity of molecular subtypes and expression of markers (CD44+/CD24-). Immunohistochemical study of expression of CSC markers in surgical material has detected their expression in 34 (25.4%) patients with BC of different molecular subtypes. The highest frequency of cells with expression of CSC marker was observed in patients with basal molecular subtype (44.8% patients). Most of BC patients with phenotype CD44+/CD24 had stage I of tumor process (34.3%). Statistical processing of data has showen that Yule colligation coefficient equaled 0.28 (р > 0.05) that argues poor correlation between stage of tumor process and number of tumors with positive expression of CSC markers. Statistical processing of data has showen high correlation between presence of cells with expression of CSC markers and metastases of BC in regional lymph nodes (Yule colligation coefficient equals 0.943; р < 0.5). Difference in overall survival of patients with BC of basal molecular subtype depending on expression of CSC CD44+/CD24- markers was detected. Survival of patients with basal BC was reliably higher at lack in tumors of cells with CSC markers CD44+/CD24- and, correspondingly, lower at presence of such cells (р < 0.05). In patients with BC of luminal (A and B), HER-2-positive subtypes, significant change in survival of patients depending on expression of CSC markers was not determined (р > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Significance of tumor cells with markers CD44+/CD24- within the limits of molecular subtype of BC may be additional criterion for advanced biological characteristic of BC, and in patients with BC of basal molecular subtype - for predictive evaluation of individual potential of tumor to aggressive clinical course.

The use of medicinal leeches in fingertip replantation without venous anastomosis - case report of a 4-year-old patient.

Replantation of amputated fingertip is a technical challenge to the microsurgeons. The success rate depends directly on the availability and the size of preserved vessels and on the degree of their damage. In distal digital amputations, veins are usually not easily recovered or even absent, and thus high number of replantation procedures fails because of the venous congestion. The use of medicinal leeches is a treatment option for venous congestion of replanted fingers. A case report of a 4-year-old patient after fingertip replantation without venous anastomosis when temporary venous drainage was provided by an application of medicinal leeches is reported together with literature review. We observed an unusually short duration of venous congestion (48 hours) and there was no need of blood transfusion.

Effect of light on growth and endogenous hormones in Chlorella minutissima (Trebouxiophyceae).

Plant growth regulators (PGRs) play an important role in mediating growth and stress responses in plants. Light influences PGRs concentrations in vascular plants. The effect of light on growth and endogenous PGR concentrations in microalgae was investigated in the present study. Chlorella minutissima MACC 360 was grown in 14:10 h light:dark (L:D), continuous dark (CD) and continuous dark with the addition of 5 g L(-1) glucose (CD + G) for 48 h. Cultures were synchronized in the L:D cultures, increasing in size during the light period and dividing during the dark period. C. minutissima cells did not increase in size or undergo cell division in CD cultures. In CD + G conditions, the cultures were no longer synchronized but did continue to increase in cell size and constantly underwent cell division although fewer cells divided than in the L:D cultures. Endogenous auxin and cytokinin concentrations increased and gibberellin concentrations decreased over time in the actively growing cultures (L:D and CD + G) but did not increase in the CD cultures. The largest increase in indole content was in the CD + G cultures while the L:D cultures had the largest cytokinin increase. Brassinosteroid concentrations decreased over time in all the cultures including those grown in CD conditions. Abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations were low and only increased in the CD cultures. These results show that endogenous PGRs were affected by the light regime and/or culture growth.

Hormone profiles in microalgae: gibberellins and brassinosteroids.

Endogenous gibberellins and brassinosteroids were quantified in 24 axenic microalgae strains from the Chlorophyceae, Trebouxiophyceae, Ulvophyceae and Charophyceae microalgae strains after 4 days in culture. This is the first report of endogenous gibberellins being successfully detected in microalgae. Between 18 and 20 gibberellins were quantified in all strains with concentrations ranging from 342.7 pg mg(-1) DW in Raphidocelis subcapitata MACC 317-4746.1 pg mg(-)(1) DW in Scotiellopsis terrestris MACC 44. Slower growing strains (S. terrestris MACC 44, Gyoerffyana humicola MACC 334, Nautococcus mamillatus MACC 716 and Chlorococcum ellipsoideum MACC 712) exhibited the highest gibberellin contents while lowest levels of gibberellins were found in faster growing strains (R. subcapitata MACC 317 and Coelastrum excentrica MACC 504). In all strains, the active gibberellin detected in the highest concentration was GA6, the predominant intermediates were GA15 and GA53 and the main biosynthetic end products were GA13 and GA51. Gibberellin profiles were similar in all strains except for the presence/absence of GA12 and GA12ald. To date this is the second report of endogenous brassinosteroids in microalgae. Brassinosteroids were detected in all 24 strains with concentrations ranging from 117.3 pg mg(-)(1) DW in R. subcapitata MACC 317-977.8 pg mg(-)(1) DW in Klebsormidium flaccidum MACC 692. Two brassinosteroids, brassinolide and castasterone were determined in all the strains. Generally, brassinolide occurred in higher concentrations than castasterone.

Endogenous cytokinin profiles and their relationships to between-family differences during adventitious caulogenesis in Pinus pinea cotyledons.

Caulogenesis in mature stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) cotyledons is promoted, to varying degrees depending on genotype, by exogenous application of the cytokinin (CK) benzyladenine (BA). In the present study, endogenous CK profiles of cotyledons from open-pollinated plants and two families of stone pine with widely differing organogenic capacities were monitored during caulogenesis and linked to previously characterized BA uptake and induction phases. Changes in levels of free bases, ribosides, ribotides and glucosides of both isoprenoid and aromatic CKs were followed. Before BA application, the pool of endogenous CKs in all sets of cotyledons was dominated by isoprenoid ribotides, but 1h after BA exposure, aromatic CKs (mainly active free bases and ribosides of topolins) accounted for more than 90% of the pool. BA N-glucosides were also observed, levels of which (and topolins) rose from 2d until the end of the (six-day) culture period. The CK profiles of the two selected pine families also differed, although the general trends were similar. During the first 6h, levels of BA and meta-topolin were highest in cotyledons from the family with the strongest caulogenic responses, while levels of ribotides and aromatic glucosides were highest in cotyledons from the other family.

Fizeau interferometer system for fast high resolution studies of spectral line shapes.

A monochromator∕Fizeau interferometer∕intensified CCD camera system is described that was developed for the measurement of the shape of spectral lines that are rapidly time varying. The most important operating parameter that determines the performance of the instrument is the size of the entrance aperture as this determines both the light throughput and the effective interferometer wavelength resolution. This paper discusses, both theoretically and experimentally, the effect of the finite source area on the instrumental resolution to assist in optimizing the choice of this parameter. A second effect that often produces a practical limit to the quality of the spectra is drift of the interferometer plates. Measurements of the shapes of spectral lines of ions and atoms ejected from the cathode spot of continuous and pulsed cathodic arcs are presented to demonstrate the utility of this instrument.

Spatial and temporal changes in endogenous cytokinins in developing pea roots.

Germination and seedling establishment follows a distinct pattern which is partly controlled by hormones. Roots have high levels of cytokinins. By quantifying the fluctuations in endogenous cytokinins over time, further insight may be gained into the role of cytokinins during germination and seedling establishment. Radicles were excised from sterile Pisum sativum L. seeds after 30 min and 5 h imbibition. Seedlings germinated on agar were harvested after 1, 3, 6 and 9 days. The roots were divided into the root tip, root free zone, secondary root zone and from day 6, the secondary roots. Samples were purified by various chromatographic methods and endogenous cytokinins detected by LC(+)ES-MS. Benzyladenine levels doubled after 5 h imbibition and then gradually decreased over time. Low concentrations of cis-Zeatin (cZ) type cytokinins were detected in the radicle after 30 min imbibition. After 5 h imbibition, cis-zeatin riboside-5'-monophosphate had greatly increased. The total cytokinin content of the roots increased over time with the ribotides being the predominant conjugates. From day 3 onwards, there was a gradual increase in the free bases, O-glucosides and their ribosylated forms. Mainly N ( 6 )-(2-isopentenyl)adenine (iP)-type cytokinins were detected in the root tip, whereas trans-zeatin- (tZ), dihyrozeatin- (DHZ) and iP-type cytokinins were found in the secondary roots and root zone. Cytokinin biosynthesis was only detected after day 6. Biosynthesis of iP and tZ derivatives was quite rapid, whereas biosynthesis of cZ derivatives remained at a low basal level. These fluctuations in cytokinin types and concentrations suggest the cytokinins may be synthesized from various pathways in pea roots.

Serum levels of selenium, manganese, copper, and iron in colorectal cancer patients.

This article describes a study in which four trace elements (Se, Mn, Cu, and Fe) were analyzed in the blood serum of the patients with colorectal cancer from the Moravian region of the Czech Republic. Atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite furnace atomization was used for analysis of selenium and manganese and with flame atomization for analysis of copper and iron. The observed serum concentrations in adenocarcinoma colorectal patients of selenium were significantly lower (41:8 +/- 11.6 microg/L) and those of manganese (16.3 +/- 4.5 microg/L) and iron (2.89 +/- 1.23 mg/L) were significantly higher as compared to the age-matched control group. Copper serum content (0.95 +/- 0.28 mg/L) did not significantly differ as compared to healthy population.

[The importance of the thermographic study method in oncology]. / Znachennia termohrafichnoho metodu doslidzhennia v onkolohiï.

Results of the study give reason to consider distant thermography a method for detection of a tumor and differential diagnosis of tumorous and inflammatory pathology. Registering changes of temperature in tumorous lesion, that is assessment of functional condition of pathological focus, may be helpful in solving diagnostic problems and provides possibility for monitoring of the process in the course of radiation therapy.

[Revitalization of bone transplants using vascular implants]. / Revitalizace kostního transplantátu implantací cév.

For investigation of revascularization of free autogenous bone grafts by implantation of blood vessels the authors used rats as experimental material. The arteries or bundles of arteries were implanted into the spongiosa of the free bone transplant--a tall vertebra. It was revealed that capillary proliferation which promotes revascularization of the graft started in the adventitia of the implanted artery. Therefore it is not necessary to severe the artery, as recommended in methods used in previous studies. Revascularization occurs even when the implanted artery retains its original function. Implantation of blood vessels does not prevent extensive necrosis of the graft but indicates osteogenesis which results in substitution of the necrotic tissue.

[Thermography in the complex examination of patients with skin melanoma]. / Termohrafiia v kompleksnomu obstezhenni khvorykh na melanomu shiry.

It is suggested that the thermographic method of examination is most perspective in current diagnosis. It proved very effective in the complex examination of patients with skin melanoma, early tumour metastasis and recurrence of operative treatment.

[Use of thermography in the differential diagnosis of pigmented neoplasms]. / Primenenie termografii v differentsial'noi diagnostike pigmentnykh novoobrazovanii.

The authors examined 36 patients with melanoblastoma and 10 with pigmented nevus. The use of thermography for differential diagnosis of pigmented neoplasms, and as well for early diagnosis of melanoma recurrences and metastases is recommended.

Rarely occurring Shigella serovars.

In addition to the predominant Shigella sonnei, also rarely occurring Shigella serovars have been found in Czechoslovakia: 4 serovars of subgroup A (S. dysenteriae 3, 4, 7 and 12) and 11 serovars of subgroup C (S. boydii 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 lactose-positive, 10, 13, 14 aerogenic, mannitol-negative, 15, 16 and the provisional serovar E 16553). First isolations of these serovars were mostly connected with cases imported from abroad. Some serovars were isolated repeatedly. Newly recognized serovars of S. flexneri (3b, 5a) as well as biochemically aberrant strains of subgroup B (S. flexneri), C (S. boydii) and D (S. sonnei) were isolated. Frequency and importance of some S. flexneri serovars have been changing in the course of time, e.g. S. flexneri 2b, that had evidently been frequent in central Europe 40 years ago, disappeared completely.