Biologiczna różnorodność fauny motyli na obszarach pogórniczych

In this research we study butterflies diversity and abundance in North Czech Coal Basin (NCCB) and Landscape protected area Ceske stredohori (LP A). Butterflies are very sensitive species for changes in aricultural management (Denis 2004). They can be used as bioindicators and umbrella species. We study 4 localities - each of them includes 3 study plots. Two localities are situated in LPA and two are situated at dumps of (NCCB). We compare three different succesion stages (low xerotherm grassland, mezophilus grassland, areas with trees and bushes) on two different types of landscape (seminatural biotops x reclamations). In 2009 there were done four observations on each locality and two visits were done in 2010. Higher number of species was found in LPA and also more of rare and endangered species were observed there compare to dumps. Altough dumps seem to be good potential habitats for butterflies. Important for all localities is, if there is an active antropogenic management or not.W tym badaniu oceniono różnorodność i ilość motyli na terytorium Zagłębia Węglowego Czech Północnych (North Czech Coal Basin, NCCB) oraz obszaru chronionego Ceske stredohori (LPA). Motyle to rząd (owadów) uskrzydlonych bardzo wrażliwy na zmiany w sposobie zarządzania rolnego (Denis 2004). Gatunki motyli mogą być wykorzystywane jako biologiczne wskaźniki. Badamy cztery lokalizacje, z których każda składa się z trzech działek badawczych. Dwie lokalizacje znajdują się w LPA, a dwie pozostałe na zwałowiskach NCCB. Porównujemy trzy różne etapy sukcesji (niskie murawy kserotermiczne, murawy mezofilne, obszary z drzewami i krzewami) w ramach dwóch, odmiennych typów krajobrazu (seminaturalne biotopy x rekultywacja). W 2009 roku dokonano czterech obserwacji w każdej lokalizacji, a w 2010 roku przeprowadzone zostały dwie wizyty. Większa liczba gatunków została zaobserwowana w LPA. Ponadto w porównaniu ze zwałowiskami odkryto tam więcej gatunków rzadkich i zagrożonych. Niemniej zwałowiska wydają się być odpowiednim, potencjalnym siedliskiem dla motyli. Ważne dla wszystkich lokalizacji jest to, czy aktywne zarządzanie antropogeniczne ma miejsce czy nie

Congestive heart failure in a veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus): A case report

A two-year-old male veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) was referred for a gular oedema and bilateral blepharoedema. The echocardiography revealed a ventricular hypertrophy, pericardial effusion, and valvular regurgitation of the right atrioventricular valve. Treatment with hydrochlorothiazide, enalapril, and carvedilol was commenced. Within 3 weeks of treatment, the valvular regurgitation was noticeably decreased. In the 4th week of treatment, the echocardiography revealed a reduction in the myocardium hypertrophy. After an additional month of home treatment, the patient was presented with anorexia and decreased activity. Despite the supportive care, the patient died. The histopathology revealed mild to moderate fibrosis of the epicardium. Moderate to severe fibrosis, degeneration of the myofibrils, fatty atrophy, interstitial oedema and mild calcification was seen in the atria. The tunica intima, media and adventitia of the major cardiac vessels were moderately fibrotic, swollen and interfused by myxoedema. The kidney histopathology revealed moderate sclerosis and atrophy of the glomeruli, vacuolation of the tubular epithelium, fibrosis, and infiltration of the leucocytes in the interstitium. The therapeutic protocol with hydrochlorothiazide, ACE inhibitor enalapril and n-blocker carvedilol reduced the myocardium hypertrophy and the valvular regurgitation; however, the prolonged use of diuretics jeopardized the renal function in our patient. Frequent blood analyses are necessary using diuretics in reptile patients

Structure of the effector binding domain of the arabinose repressor AraR from Bacillus subtilis

In Bacillus subtilis, the arabinose repressor AraR negatively controls the expression of genes in the metabolic pathway of arabinose-containing polysaccharides. The protein is composed of two domains of different phylogenetic origin and function: an N-terminal DNA-binding domain belonging to the GntR family and a C-terminal effector-binding domain that shows similarity to members of the GalR/LacI family. The crystal structure of the C-terminal effector-binding domain of AraR in complex with the effector l-arabinose has been determined at 2.2 Å resolution. The l-arabinose binding affinity was characterized by isothermal titration calorimetry and differential scanning fluorimetry; the K (d) value was 8.4 ± 0.4 µM. The effect of l-arabinose on the protein oligomeric state was investigated in solution and detailed analysis of the crystal identified a dimer organization which is distinctive from that of other members of the GalR/LacI family

Impairing MLL-fusion gene-mediated transformation by dissecting critical interactions with the lens epithelium-derived growth factor (LEDGF/p75)

The lens epithelium-derived growth factor (LEDGF/p75) tethers the mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL1) protein complex to chromatin. Likewise, LEDGF/p75 tethers the HIV-1 pre-integration complex to chromatin. We previously demonstrated that expression of the C-terminal fragment fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) (eGFP-LEDGF(325-530)) impaired HIV-1 replication. Here, we explored this strategy to selectively interfere with the leukemogenic activity of MLL-fusion proteins. We found that expression of LEDGF(325-530) impaired the clonogenic growth of MLL-fusion gene transformed human and mouse hematopoietic cells, without affecting the growth of control cells immortalized by the FLT3-ITD mutant or normal lineage-marker-depleted murine bone marrow cells. Expression of LEDGF(325-530) was associated with downregulation of the MLL target Hoxa9 and impaired cell cycle progression. Structure-function analysis revealed two small eGFP-fused LEDGF/p75 peptides, LEDGF(424-435) and LEDGF(375-386) phenocopying these effects. Both LEDGF(325-530) and the smaller active peptides were able to disrupt the LEDGF/p75-MLL interaction. Expression of LEDGF(325-530) or LEDGF(375-386) fragments increased the latency period to disease development in vivo in a mouse bone marrow transplant model of MLL-AF9-induced AML. We conclude that small peptides disrupting the LEDGF/p75-MLL interface have selective anti-leukemic activity providing a direct rationale for the design of small molecule inhibitors targeting this interaction.status: publishe

Elective minimally invasive coronary artery bypass: Shunt or tournique occlusion? Assessment of a protective role of perioperative left anterior descending shunting on myocardial damage. A prospective randomized study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To determine impact of intraluminal-left anterior descending shunt to prevent myocardial damage in minimally invasive coronary artery bypass.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>38 patients were randomly assigned to external tournique occlusion (n = 19) or intraluminal-left anterior descending shunt group (n = 19). Blood samples for cardiac troponin T were collected at 30 minutes prior to, 6 and 24 hours after surgery.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>One patient in external tournique occlusion and two patients in intraluminal-left anterior descending shunt group were excluded from futher analysis due to preoperative cardiac troponin T level above the 99th-percentile. Postoperatively, each six patients in external tournique occlusion (33.3%) and intraluminal-left anterior descending shunt (35.3%) group were above the 99th-percentile. Two patients from each group (external tournique occlusion group 11.1% vs. intraluminal-left anterior descending shunt group 11.8%) had peak values above 10-% coeficient of variation cutoff (<it>p</it> = 1). There were no significant differences in between both groups at all studied timepoints.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There was no protective effect of intraluminal shunting on myocardial damage compared to short-term tournique occlusion. It is upon the surgeon's discretion which method may preferrably be used to achieve a bloodless field in grafting of the non-occluded left anterior descending in minimally invasive coronary artery bypass.</p