Intergenerational Programs Implemented in the Czech Republic

AbstractIt will be necessary to cope with actual social changes, all parties involved - between generations will need to build new forms of solidarity based on mutual support and the transfer of skills and experiences. Intergenerational programs could be an instrument of mutual exchange and bridging of generational gap. This paper will provide information about the status of intergenerational programs in the Czech Republic. Crucial intergenerational programs will be those involving multiple generation but include at least two nonadjacent (as a rule interaction between the very young and very old) and non-familial generations

Sympathetic Neurotransmitters and Tumor Angiogenesis—Link between Stress and Cancer Progression

Recent evidence supports a longstanding hypothesis that chronic stress can influence tumor growth and progression. It has been shown that sympathetic neurotransmitters, such as catecholamines and neuropeptides, can affect both cancer cell growth and tumor vascularization. Depending on neurotransmitter and type of tumor, these effects can be both stimulatory and inhibitory. Norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) are potent stimulators of vascularization, acting both by inducing the release of angiogenic factors from tumor cells and directly on endothelial cell (EC) functions. As a result, activation of the adrenergic system increases growth of various types of tumors and has been shown to mediate stress-induced augmentation of tumor progression. Dopamine (DA), on the other hand, interferes with VEGF signaling in endothelial cells, blocks its angiogenic functions and inhibits tumor growth. Another sympathetic neurotransmitter coreleased with NE, neuropeptide Y (NPY), directly stimulates angiogenesis. However, proangiogenic actions of NPY can be altered by its direct effect on tumor cell proliferation and survival. In consequence, NPY can either stimulate or inhibit tumor growth, depending on tumor type. Hence, sympathetic neurotransmitters are powerful modulators of tumor growth and can become new targets in cancer therapy

Students of Social Pedagogy and Intergenerational Solidarity

AbstractThe purpose of the article is to present the intergenerational solidarity as fundamental for the achievement of a society for all ages, a major prerequisite for social cohesion and a foundation of formal public welfare and informal care systems. A sample of research was included students who study Social Pedagogy (as holders of the specified values). For the comparison was used tool and selected results of the Flash Eurobarometer 269, titled “Intergenerational Solidarity”

Systemic levels of neuropeptide Y and dipeptidyl peptidase activity in patients with Ewing sarcoma—Associations with tumor phenotype and survival

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110734/1/cncr29090.pd

Rhinorrhea, cough and fatigue in patients taking sitagliptin

Sitagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP IV, CD26) inhibitor indicated for treatment of Type II diabetes as a second line therapy after metformin. We report fifteen sitagliptin intolerant patients who developed anterior and posterior rhinorrhea, cough, dyspnea, and fatigue. Symptoms typically developed within 1 to 8 weeks of starting, and resolved within 1 week of stopping the drug. Peak expiratory flow rates increased 34% in 8 patients who stopped sitagliptin. Similar changes were found in 4 out of 5 persons who had confirmatory readministration. Chart review identified 17 patients who tolerated sitagliptin and had no symptomatic changes. The sitagliptin intolerant group had higher rates of clinically diagnosed allergic rhinitis (15/15 vs. 6/18; p = 0.00005), Fisher's Exact test) and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor - induced cough (6/13 vs. 1/18; p = 0.012). Nasal and inhaled glucocorticoids may control the underlying allergic inflammation and abrogate this new sitagliptin - induced pharmacological syndrome. Potential mucosal and central nervous system mechanisms include disruption of neuropeptides and/or cytokines that rely on DPP IV for activation or inactivation, and T cell dysfunction

Altered mRNA expression of genes related to nerve cell activity in the fracture callus of older rats: A randomized, controlled, microarray study

BACKGROUND: The time required for radiographic union following femoral fracture increases with age in both humans and rats for unknown reasons. Since abnormalities in fracture innervation will slow skeletal healing, we explored whether abnormal mRNA expression of genes related to nerve cell activity in the older rats was associated with the slowing of skeletal repair. METHODS: Simple, transverse, mid-shaft, femoral fractures with intramedullary rod fixation were induced in anaesthetized female Sprague-Dawley rats at 6, 26, and 52 weeks of age. At 0, 0.4, 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks after fracture, a bony segment, one-third the length of the femur, centered on the fracture site, including the external callus, cortical bone, and marrow elements, was harvested. cRNA was prepared and hybridized to 54 Affymetrix U34A microarrays (3/age/time point). RESULTS: The mRNA levels of 62 genes related to neural function were affected by fracture. Of the total, 38 genes were altered by fracture to a similar extent at the three ages. In contrast, eight neural genes showed prolonged down-regulation in the older rats compared to the more rapid return to pre-fracture levels in younger rats. Seven genes were up-regulated by fracture more in the younger rats than in the older rats, while nine genes were up-regulated more in the older rats than in the younger. CONCLUSIONS: mRNA of 24 nerve-related genes responded differently to fracture in older rats compared to young rats. This differential expression may reflect altered cell function at the fracture site that may be causally related to the slowing of fracture healing with age or may be an effect of the delayed healing

Simulation globale en réseau pour le FLE ? La plate-forme informatique MEPA-2D

This article deals with Role Playing Game (RPG) environments for language learning. From a short state-of-the-art, a set of criteria is put forward in order to specify environments to support the communicative practice of a foreign language in the context of RPG activities. Then, MEPA-2D is described. It is a new RPG platform dedicated to foreign language training. It is based on a server system infrastructure which allows learners, teachers, and software agents to act and to interact remotely in a shared virtual world. Eventually, the first test campaign is presented. The latter has been carried out in several contexts and with a varied public. Then, some research perspectives are put forward.Cet article traite d’environnements de type «jeux de rôles en réseau » pour l’apprentissage d’une langue étrangère. À partir d’un bref état de l’art, nous dégageons un ensemble de critères qui permettent de caractériser les plates-formes dédiées à la pratique communicative d’une langue étrangère, ou utilisées comme tel dans le cadre d’activités de type jeux de rôles. Ensuite, nous présentons MEPA-2D, une nouvelle plateforme que nous avons prototypée et mise à l’essai dans des contextes et avec des publics variés. MEPA-2D est un système client-serveur qui permet à des apprenants, à des enseignants, et à des agents logiciels d’agir et d’interagir à distance dans un monde virtuel partagé. En favorisant la collaboration au sein d’un groupe d’apprenants encadrés par un réseau de tuteurs, MEPA-2D tente d’articuler les principes du socioconstructivisme, de l’étayage Brunerien et de l’apprentissage collaboratif.Lehuen Jérôme, Kitlinska Sylwia. Simulation globale en réseau pour le FLE ? La plate-forme informatique MEPA-2D. In: Sciences et Technologies de l'Information et de la Communication pour l'Éducation et la Formation, volume 13, 2006. Forum de Discussion en Education. pp. 33-63