RNA interference (RNAi) technology uses dsRNAs to silence specific targeted genes by downregulating their expression. It has become a potent tool for functional and regulatory studies of insect genes and has potential to be applied for insect control. Though it has been challenging to generate effective RNAi in lepidopteran insects, in the current study this technology was applied to develop specific RNAi-based molecular tools that could be used to negatively impact the invasive lepidopteran forest pest, gypsy moth (GM). GM midgut-specific genes were selected for dsRNA design from larval transcriptome profiles. Two methods were used to produce specific dsRNAs, bacterial expression and in vitro synthesis, which were then fed per os to GM larvae. Depletion of uncharacterized gene targets known as locus 365 and locus 28365, or their stacked combination, depleted target transcripts in a sequence specific manner and resulted in 60% reduction in body mass. Treated GM females that were able to moult to the adult stage displayed an approximately two-fold reduction in egg masses. These have potential to be developed as molecular biopesticides for GM., Saikat Kumar B. Ghosh, Dawn E. Gundersen-Rindal., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Melatonin plays a key role in the circadian timing system. At present, many other functions of melatonin are known. Question remains whether changes in endogenous melatonin may be associated with food intake. Hence, the levels of melatonin, C-peptide and glucose were followed during a daily regimen (16 hours) including standardized food intake using commercial kits. The diurnal profiles of the hormones and serum glucose were evaluated using ANOVA with Period and Subject as independent factors. Pearson’s correlations and using a multiple stepwise backward regression model consisting of the time factor as a polynomial, and serum C-peptide and glucose assessed the correlations between melatonin and the remaining parameters. Our results showed a significant negative correlation between melatonin and C-peptide. The profile of melatonin was physiological, decreasing after wake-up, showing minor changes during the daytime and increasing in the evening. As documented, lesser alterations were indicated in the course of the melatonin daytime profile, which may reflect periodic food intake. Food intake is not the primary factor influencing the melatonin course. While previous studies have mostly considered the protective effect of melatonin in diabetic subjects, our study brought the results suggesting food intake as a factor contributing to daytime melatonin variation in humans. However, the physiological role of melatonin association with food intake in daytime remains in question and should be further investigated., L. Stárka, M. Dušková, B. Rácz, K. Šimůnková, M. Hill, R. Kancheva., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Cíl: Cílem šetření bylo zjistit četnost subjektivně pociťovaných potíží s polykací funkcí mezi klienty sociálních zařízení následné péče za pomoci zahraničního nástroje nazvaného Dotazník o přijímání potravy (Eating Assessment Tool, EAT-10). Dalším cílem bylo zjistit časovou zátěž spojenou s administrací tohoto nástroje v praxi. Metody: Nástroj EAT-10 byl přeložen do češtiny a v pretestu byla ověřena jeho srozumitelnost. Poté byl nástroj, pomocí rozhovoru, použit v 5 sociálních zařízeních následné péče. Před dotazováním byl proveden screening kognitivních funkcí za pomoci testu Mini-Cog, který sloužil k vyřazení klientů s nedostatečnou kognitivní funkcí z dalšího testování. Výsledky: Do studie bylo zařazeno 117 respondentů ve věku 65 let a výše, z nichž 104 úspěšně prošlo testem Mini-Cog. Více než polovina z nich (58) uvádí polykací potíže. K použití nástroje EAT-10 bylo u 1 respondenta potřeba cca 4–5 minut. Závěr: Klienti sociálních zařízení následné péče často subjektivně vnímali polýkání jako problematické. Nástroj EAT-10 lze použít při získávání základních údajů o polykání u těchto klientů., Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of subjectively perceived swallowing difficulties in clients of social institutions providing aft er-care, using a foreign instrument called Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10). Another aim was to identify the amount of time required to administer the tool in practice. Methods: The tool EAT-10 was translated into Czech and its comprehensibility was verifi ed in a pre-test. Finally, it was employed in interviews in five social institutions providing aft er-care. Before the respondents were interviewed, they were screened for cognitive functions via the Mini-Cog test, which was used to exclude from further testing those respondents who had insufficient cognitive function. Results: 117 respondents aged 65 and above were enrolled in the study, 104 of whom were successful on the Mini-Cog test. More than half of them (58) reported swallowing difficulties. It took approximately 4–5 minutes to complete the EAT-10 tool with one patient. Conclusion: Subjectively perceived swallowing difficulties are a frequent problem in clients of social institutions providing aft er-care. Th e EAT-10 tool can be used to obtain basic swallowing data in these clients., Hana Vejrostová, Jana Pánková, Petra Mandysová, Jana Škvrňáková, and Literatura 6