DO WE NEED BIOLOGICAL SKILLS FOR OUR FUTURE LIFE? THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PUPILS VIEWS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BIOLOGICAL SKILLS

The problematic of the biological skills is in the region of Czech Republic investigated on the very low level. The definition of the biological skill should be come out from the definition of general skill, but there are differences in the defining of this concept. Our research was focused on the importance of acquired skills in the biology at the end of the elementary schools according to pupils. The sample size contained from the 91 pupils from all grades of elementary schools in the Czech Republic. The age of respondents was from 11 to 16 years. The measurement tool was a questionnaire included 61 Likert type items dividing into four categories following: 1. Identification of biological questions and problems; 2. The acquiring of biological information; 3. The processing of biological information and 4. The evaluation of results and the determining of conclusions. All items were in the positive meaning. The effect of year of study, gender and final mark from biology was measured on the perceiving importance of biological skills. There was used methods of quantitative evaluation, from descriptive statistics it was mean score and standard deviation and from inductive statistic it was ANOVA, MANOVA and Cronbach's alpha coefficien

Hepatitis E Virus in Pork Production Chain in Czech Republic, Italy, and Spain, 2010

open11siWe evaluated the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in the pork production chain in Czech Republic, Italy, and Spain during 2010. A total of 337 fecal, liver, and meat samples from animals at slaughterhouses were tested for HEV by real-time quantitative PCR. Overall, HEV was higher in Italy (53%) and Spain (39%) than in Czech Republic (7.5%). HEV was detected most frequently in feces in Italy (41%) and Spain (39%) and in liver (5%) and meat (2.5%) in Czech Republic. Of 313 sausages sampled at processing and point of sale, HEV was detected only in Spain (6%). HEV sequencing confi rmed only g3 HEV strains. Indicator virus (porcine adenovirus) was ubiquitous in fecal samples and absent in liver samples and was detected in 1 slaughterhouse meat sample. At point of sale, we found porcine adenovirus in sausages (1%–2%). The possible dissemination of HEV and other fecal viruses through pork production demands containment measures.openI. Di Bartolo; M. Diez-Valcarce; P. Vasickova; P. Kralik; M. Hernandez; G. Angeloni; F. Ostanello; M. Bouwknegt; D. Rodríguez-Lázaro; I. Pavlik; F. M. RuggeriI. Di Bartolo; M. Diez-Valcarce; P. Vasickova; P. Kralik; M. Hernandez; G. Angeloni; F. Ostanello; M. Bouwknegt; D. Rodríguez-Lázaro; I. Pavlik; F. M. Rugger

3D-printed CdTe QDs-based sensor for sensitive electrochemical detection of viral particles.

Preventing the spread of dangerous viral diseases such as flu, Ebola or HIV requires rapid and effective diagnostic approaches to detect these diseases at an early stage. Quantum dots (QDs) are nanocrystals that exhibit a variety of unique properties and are suitable for biomolecule labelling due to their high stability, ease of preparation, and biocompatibility. Modified QDs can be used to label nucleic acids or antibodies. Green synthesis method of QDs provides a platform for preparation of unique materials with new chemical or physical properties as compared to the original material. In this work, CdTe QDs were produced in the presence of plant extract which acted as a modifying agent. The Zea mays extract was added during the CdTe QDs synthesis at different time intervals and CdTe QDs showed a wide range of colors. The stability of the prepared QDs, including their application onto paper, was evaluated. The QDs were observed to show a remarkable electrochemical response for sensor applications and were also employed to label virus-specific antibody. The entire procedure was miniaturized and the viral particles were analyzed in a 3D-printed chip

Spectrum and characterisation of BRCA1 and BRCA2 deleterious mutations in high-risk Czech patients with breast and/or ovarian cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The incidence of breast cancer has doubled over the past 20 years in the Czech Republic. Hereditary factors may be a cause of young onset, bilateral breast or ovarian cancer, and familial accumulation of the disease. <it>BRCA1 </it>and <it>BRCA2 </it>mutations account for an important fraction of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer cases. One thousand and ten unrelated high-risk probands with breast and/or ovarian cancer were analysed for the presence of a <it>BRCA1 </it>or <it>BRCA2 </it>gene mutation at the Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute (Czech Republic) during 1999–2006.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The complete coding sequences and splice sites of both genes were screened, and the presence of large intragenic rearrangements in <it>BRCA1 </it>was verified. Putative splice-site variants were analysed at the cDNA level for their potential to alter mRNA splicing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In 294 unrelated families (29.1% of the 1,010 probands) pathogenic mutations were identified, with 44 different <it>BRCA1 </it>mutations and 41 different <it>BRCA2 </it>mutations being detected in 204 and 90 unrelated families, respectively. In total, three <it>BRCA1 </it>founder mutations (c.5266dupC; c.3700_3704del5; p.Cys61Gly) and two <it>BRCA2 </it>founder mutations (c.7913_7917del5; c.8537_8538del2) represent 52% of all detected mutations in Czech high-risk probands. Nine putative splice-site variants were evaluated at the cDNA level. Three splice-site variants in <it>BRCA1 </it>(c.302-3C>G; c.4185G>A and c.4675+1G>A) and six splice-site variants in <it>BRCA2 </it>(c.475G>A; c.476-2>G; c.7007G>A; c.8755-1G>A; c.9117+2T>A and c.9118-2A>G) were demonstrated to result in aberrant transcripts and are considered as deleterious mutations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study represents an evaluation of deleterious genetic variants in the <it>BRCA1 </it>and <it>2 </it>genes in the Czech population. The classification of several splice-site variants as true pathogenic mutations may prove useful for genetic counselling of families with high risk of breast and ovarian cancer.</p