Mechanisms underlying atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common cardiac arrhythmia, particularly in aged population, are not fully elucidated. We have previously shown an increased propensity of old guinea pigs (GPs) heart to inducible AF when comparing to young animals. This study aimed to verify our hypothesis that susceptibility of aged heart to AF may be attributed to abnormalities in myocardial connexin-43 (Cx43) and extracellular matrix that affect cardiac electrical properties. Experiments were conducted on male and female 4-week-old and 24-week-old GPs. Atrial tissue was processed for analysis of Cx43 topology using immunohistochemistry, expression of Cx43 protein using immunobloting, and expression of mRNA of Cx43 and extracellular matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) using real time PCR. Immunohistochemistry revealed uniform Cx43 distribution predominantly on lateral sides of the cardiomyocytes of young male and female GP atria. In contrast, non-uniform distribution, mislocalization and reduced immunolabeling of Cx43 were detected in atria of old GPs. In parallel, the atrial tissue levels of Cx43 mRNA were significantly decreased, while mRNA expression of MMP-2 was significantly increased in old versus young GPs. The changes were more pronounced in old GPs males comparing to females. Findings indicate that age-related down-regulation of atrial Cx43 and up-regulation of MMP-2 as well as disordered Cx43 distribution can facilitate development of AF in old guinea pig hearts., V. Nagibin, T. Egan Benova, C. Viczenczova, B. Szeiffova Bacova, I. Dovinova, M. Barancik, N. Tribulova., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The ageing trajectory (trend in ageing) and reproduction-longevity trade-off in both sexes of the ladybird Propylea dissecta were studied. The ageing trajectories of both sexes were investigated in terms of reproductive performance, using initial oviposition (egg laying within 24 h of mating) acting as an indicator of the effect of female age and initial viability (percentage of eggs laid within 24 h of mating that hatched) of the effect of male age. Ageing trends were sex dependent, with reproductive performance declining later in females than in males. Initial oviposition of females was largely age dependent and the initial viability of males was age dependent but less so than for females. There is a strong trade-off between number of matings and longevity. Statistical analyses reveal that this trade-off results from an early onset of mortality rather than an increase in mortality rate. A minimum lifespan was observed in this ladybird beyond which the longevity did not further decline.
Východiska: Vzhledem ke geriatrizaci ošetřovatelské péče se ageismus stává často diskutovaným tématem. Z tohoto důvodu je velmi důležité, aby nelékařští zdravotničtí pracovníci byli v tomto ohledu dostatečně vzděláváni, protože právě dostatečná informovanost a praktická zkušenost může ovlivnit míru inklinace k ageistickým postojům. Cíl: Cílem výzkumného šetření bylo zhodnotit ageistické postoje u studentů středních zdravotnických škol v závislosti na škole a ročníku, kterou respondenti navštěvovali a zjistit rozdíly ve vnímání seniorské populace. Metody: V souladu s cíli práce byl proveden kvantitativní výzkum formou dotazníkového šetření. Na základě bodového ohodnocení odpovědí v dotazníku byla zjištěna míra ageistických postojů u respondentů. Výsledky: Práce prokázala, že je statisticky významný vztah mezi ageistickými postoji u studentů a jejich příslušností ke střední škole. Stejně tak byl prokázán rozdíl mezi ageistickými postoji u studentů druhých a čtvrtých ročníků středních zdravotnických škol. Závěry: Z práce vyplývá, že ve sledovaném souboru se u většiny studentů objevuje střední inklinace k ageistickým postojům s ohledem na navštěvovanou školu. Dále pak, že k ageistickým postojům inklinují více studenti čtvrtých ročníků, kteří již absolvovali odbornou praxi u lůžka nemocného, než studenti druhých ročníků, kteří tuto praxi ještě neabsolvovali., Background: Due to geriatrization of nursing care becomes oen discussed theme. Because of this it’s very important that non-medical health staff will be enough educated. It is that sufficient awareness and practical experience that can affect the rate of inclination to ageist attitudes. Objective: e objective of this research was to evaluate ageist attitudes of nursing school students according to school which the respondents visited and find out the differences in perception of senior population among the students of second and fourth grade. Methods: Due to the aims of this work the quantitative research has been done through a questionnaire survey. e rate of ageist attitudes was observed based on scoring responses. Results: A statistically significant relationship between symptoms of ageist attitudes this work proved as well as the differences between symptoms of ageist attitudes among second and fourth grade students. Conclusions: e work shows that in the sample survey, the majority of students appearing middle inclination to the myths of old age. Furthermore, the myths of old age tend more fourth grade students who have already completed work experience at the bedside than second grade students who have not completed this practice yet., and Kristýna Šoukalová, Jana Holá, Markéta Nemšovská
Konečné produkty pokročilé glykace (advanced glycation end products – AGEs) hrají významnou roli v patogenezi řady chronických onemocnění a jejich komplikací, především diabetických komplikací, aterosklerózy, komplikací chronických onemocnění ledvin a neurodegenerativních onemocnění. Tyto látky vznikají neenzymatickou glykací a jejich tvorba je potencována vlivem karbonylového stresu. AGEs tvoří heterogenní skupinu látek a patří mezi ně např. karboxymetyllyzin, pentozin, metylglyoxallyzin dimer, vesperlyzin, imidazolony a další. AGEs jednak modifikují proteiny a mění jejich fyzikální a chemické vlastnosti, jednak mají účinky zprostředkované přes receptory, z nichž nejznámější, ale ne jediný, je receptor RAGE (receptor pro konečné produkty pokročilé glykace). RAGE je receptor multiligandový, váže také HMGB1 (high mobility group box protein 1), S100 proteiny či amyloidové fibrily. Vazba ligand na tento receptor má za následek aktivaci řady signálních cest včetně indukce oxidačního stresu a aktivace nukleárního faktoru κB a následnou prozánětlivou odpověď v závislosti na buněčném typu. AGEs a RAGE se spolu s dalšími mechanizmy – hexosaminovou cestou, polyolovou cestou, poruchou metabolizmu lipidů, aktivací proteinkinázy C, oxidačním stresem a zánětlivou reakcí spoluúčastní v patogenezi diabetických komplikací. Terapeuticky je možné snižovat endogenní tvorbu AGEs, ovlivnit přísun AGEs do organizmu stravou a jejich absorpci ve střevě či stimulovat jejich degradaci. Klíčová slova: AGEs – diabetes mellitus – karbonylový stres – konečné produkty pokročilé glykace – oxidační stres – RAGE – receptor pro AGEs – sRAGE – zánět, Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases and their complications, especially diabetic complications, atherosclerosis, complications of chronic kidney diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. These substances are formed via non-enzymatic glycation and their formation is potentiated in case of carbonyl stress. AGEs are represented by a heterogeneous group of compounds, e.g. carboxymethyllysine, pentosine, methylglyoxallysin dimer, vesperlysine, imidazolones etc. AGEs can modify proteins and so change their physical and chemical properties and can act also via specific receptors, among them RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products) is the best known but not the unique one. RAGE is a multiligand receptor capable to bind also HMGB1 (high mobility group box protein 1), S100 proteins or amyloid fibrils. RAGE – ligand interactions results to activation of a variety of signaling pathways including oxidative stress and activation of nuclear factor κB and subsequent proinflammatory response depending on the cell type. AGEs and RAGE together with further mechanisms – hexosamine pathway, polyol pathway, lipid metabolism disorder, activation of proteinkinase C, oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction take part in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Terapeuticaly it is possible to decrease endogenous formation of AGEs, influence the AGEs intake to the organism and their absorption in the intestine or stimulate their degradation. Key words: AGEs – advanced glycation end-products – carbonyl stress – diabetes mellitus – inflammation – oxidative stress – RAGE – receptor for AGEs – sRAGE, and Marta Kalousová, Tomáš Zima
The nymphs of spittlebugs (Hemiptera, Cercopidae) are xylem-feeders and live on herbs, grasses or woody plants within their self-produced spittle masses. Nymphs of the spittlebug Neophilaenus albipennis live aggregated in these spittle masses on their host plant Brachypodium pinnatum, a common grass in dry grassland. The objective of this study was to estimate nymphal mortality rates and to examine what role aggregation and vegetation structure play in the mortality of the nymphs. The aggregation and mortality were measured using two different methods, direct monitoring and caging of nymphs. The nymphs passively aggregated with up to 4 nymphs per spittle and aggregation decreased with instar. The aggregation of the nymphs resulted in a reduced mortality in all instars. Although it has already been argued that aggregation may be an advantage, this study is the first direct evidence (i.e. direct measurement of single individuals) for the benefit of aggregation to individual spittlebug nymphs. Despite a clumped distribution of N. albipennis nymphs in tall vegetation, nymphal mortality was not correlated with vegetation height.