INTRODUCTION: Threats to our survival are often posed by the environment in which humans have evolved or live today. Animal and human ancestors developed complex physiological and behavioral response systems to cope with two types of threats: immediate physical harm from predators or conspecifics, triggering fear, and the risk of infections from parasites and pathogens leading to the evolution of the behavioral immune system (BIS) with disgust as the key emotion. Here we ask whether the BIS has adapted to protect us from pandemic risks or poisoning by modern toxic substances. METHODS: We have developed a survey comprised of 60 vignettes describing threats evoking fear and disgust belonging to one of the three main categories of threats: (1) ancestral, (2) modern, and (3) pandemic of airborne disease. Each vignette was evaluated on a 7-point Likert scale based on fear, disgust, and anger. Respondents also completed an assessment battery. RESULTS: The results show that the strongest fear is triggered by modern threats (electricity, car accidents), while the highest disgust is evoked by ancient threats (body waste products, worms). Disgust does not respond to modern threat stimuli such as toxic substances or radioactivity as these evoke mainly fear and anger. A discriminant factor analysis classified nine out of 10 pandemic disgust vignettes into the ancestral disgust category, convincingly assigning the pandemic disgust threats to the ancestral type. Gender, age, and type of education were significant moderators of emotional responses across all threat categories. DISCUSSION: Our study reveals that while fear is more context-dependent, particularly triggered by modern threats, disgust operates on an evolutionarily hardwired basis, making it less effective against contemporary risks. Furthermore, disgust experienced during a pandemic outbreak is more closely aligned with ancestral disgust-related threats tapping into evolutionary ancient survival circuits of the BIS. However, as disgust declines with age, the brain must adaptatively shift the emotional processing from disgust to fear to protect older adults from contamination risks. Finally, our study reveals that pandemic fear is better predicted by specific behaviors rather than general anxiety, suggesting a need for new assessments.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

• MeSH
• biologická evoluce MeSH
• buňky MeSH
• čití, cítění fyziologie   MeSH
• kognice fyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mozek fyziologie   MeSH
• původ života MeSH
• uvědomování si MeSH
• vědomí * fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• přehledy MeSH

OBJECTIVES: Microstructural characterization of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been shown to correlate better with disability compared to conventional radiological biomarkers. Quantitative MRI provides effective means to characterize microstructural brain tissue changes both in lesions and normal-appearing brain tissue. However, the impact of the location of microstructural alterations in terms of neuronal pathways has not been thoroughly explored so far. Here, we study the extent and the location of tissue changes probed using quantitative MRI along white matter (WM) tracts extracted from a connectivity atlas. METHODS: We quantified voxel-wise T1 tissue alterations compared to normative values in a cohort of 99 MS patients. For each WM tract, we extracted metrics reflecting tissue alterations both in lesions and normal-appearing WM and correlated these with cross-sectional disability and disability evolution after 2 years. RESULTS: In early MS patients, T1 alterations in normal-appearing WM correlated better with disability evolution compared to cross-sectional disability. Further, the presence of lesions in supratentorial tracts was more strongly associated with cross-sectional disability, while microstructural alterations in infratentorial pathways yielded higher correlations with disability evolution. In progressive patients, all major WM pathways contributed similarly to explaining disability, and correlations with disability evolution were generally poor. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that microstructural changes evaluated in specific WM pathways contribute to explaining future disability in early MS, hence highlighting the potential of tract-wise analyses in monitoring disease progression. Further, the proposed technique allows to estimate WM tract-specific microstructural characteristics in clinically compatible acquisition times, without the need for advanced diffusion imaging.

• MeSH
• bílá hmota * diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• magnetická rezonanční tomografie metody   MeSH
• mozek diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• roztroušená skleróza * diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1), narcolepsy type 2 (NT2) and idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) have as a main symptom central hypersomnia (CH). The etiopathophysiology of NT1 is related to the hypocretin deficiency of autoimmune origin. The etiopathophysiology of NT2 and IH is unknown. There are doubts on the independence of NT2 and IH and their long-term course. The gut microbiota has an impact on brain functions and behavior either directly by mediators’ production or indirectly via autoantibodies against selected neurons. This evokes the hypothesis that microbiota has a role in etiopathophysiology of diseases with CH and may modify actual intensity of hypersomnia itself. Patients with CH and healthy controls will be clinically examined (including the long-term evolution of NT2 and IH). Their stools will be genetically analyzed in attempt to define the microbiome of the gut microbiota. The autoantibodies will be searched in their blood. The results will be mutually correlated. This research may elucidate the pathophysiology of CH disorders as well as may help to counselling the patients and fina

Narkolepsie typ 1 (NT1), narkolepsie typ 2 (NT2) a idiopatická hypersomnie (IH) mají hlavní symptom centrální hypersomnii (CH). Etiopatofyziologie NT1 je spojena s deficitem hypokretinu autoimunitního původu. Etiopatofyziologie NT2 a IH je neznámá. Jsou pochybnosti o nezávislosti NT2 a IH a o jejich dlouhodobém průběhu. Střevní microbiota má vliv na mozkové funkce a chování buď přímo přes tvorbu mediátorů nebo nepřímo prostřednictvím autoprotilátek proti vybraným neuronům. Lze proto vyslovit hypotézu, že microbiota hraje roli v etiopatofyziologii nemocí s CH a může modifikovat aktuální intenzitu samotné hypersomnie. Nemocní s CH a zdravé kontroly budou klinicky vyšetřeni (včetně dlouhodobého vývoje NT2 a IH). Jejich stolice bude geneticky analyzována s cílem definovat mikrobiom střevní mikrobioty. Bude pátráno po autoprotilátkách. Výsledky budou vzájemně korelovány. Tento výzkum má osvětlit patofyziologii nemocí s CH a také má pomoci v doporučeních nemocným a může otevřít nové směry léčby.

• Klíčová slova
• autoimmunity, mikrobiom, microbiome, autoprotilátky, autoantibodies, idiopatická hypersomnie, Idiopathic hypersomnia, autoimunita, elderly, extrakce DNA, vysoce výkonné sekvenování (HTS), funkce střevní bariéry, DNA extraction, high throughput sequencing (HTS), stáří, mikrobiota, microbiota, Narkolepsie typ 1 - narkolepsie s kataplexií, narkolepsie typ 2 - narkolepsie bez kataplexie, centrální hypersomnie, vývoj nemoci, Narcolepsy type 1 - narcolepsy with cataplexy, narcolepsy type 2 - narcolepsy without cataplexy, central hypersomnia, intesintal barrier function, disease evolution,

• NLK Publikační typ
• závěrečné zprávy o řešení grantu AZV MZ ČR

The evolution of whole-body endothermy occurred independently in dinosaurs and mammals and was associated with some of the most significant neurocognitive shifts in life's history. These included a 20-fold increase in neurons and the evolution of new brain structures, supporting similar functions in both lineages. We propose the endothermic brain hypothesis, which holds that elaborations in endotherm brains were geared towards increasing caloric intake through efficient foraging. The hypothesis is grounded in the intrinsic coupling of cognition and organismic self-maintenance. We argue that coevolution of increased metabolism and new forms of cognition should be jointly investigated in comparative studies of behaviors and brain anatomy, along with studies of fossil species. We suggest avenues for such research and highlight critical open questions.

• MeSH
• biologická evoluce * MeSH
• kognice * fyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mozek * fyziologie   MeSH
• potraviny MeSH
• stravovací zvyklosti fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

OBJECTIVE: The potential of magnetization transfer imaging (MTI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for the detection and evolution of new multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions was analyzed. METHODS: Nineteen patients with MS obtained conventional MRI, MTI, and DTI examinations bimonthly for 12 months and again after 24 months at 1.5 T MRI. MTI was acquired with balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) in 10 min (1.3 mm3 isotropic resolution) yielding both magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and quantitative magnetization transfer (qMT) parameters (pool size ratio (F), exchange rate (kf), and relaxation times (T1/T2)). DTI provided fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD). RESULTS: At the time of their appearance on MRI, the 21 newly detected MS lesions showed significantly reduced MTR/F/kf and prolonged T1/T2 parameters, as well as significantly reduced FA and increased AD/MD/RD. Significant differences were already observed for MTR 4 months and for qMT parameters 2 months prior to lesions' detection on MRI. DTI did not show any significant pre-lesional differences. Slightly reversed trends were observed for most lesions up to 8 months after their detection for qMT and less pronounced for MTR and three diffusion parameters, while appearing unchanged on MRI. CONCLUSIONS: MTI provides more information than DTI in MS lesions and detects tissue changes 2 to 4 months prior to their appearance on MRI. After lesions' detection, qMT parameter changes promise to be more sensitive than MTR for the lesions' evolutional assessment. Overall, bSSFP-based MTI adumbrates to be more sensitive than MRI and DTI for the early detection and follow-up assessment of MS lesions. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: When additionally acquired in routine MRI, fast bSSFP-based MTI can complement the MRI/DTI longitudinal lesion assessment by detecting MS lesions 2-4 months earlier than with MRI, which could implicate earlier clinical decisions and better follow-up/treatment assessment in MS patients. KEY POINTS: • Magnetization transfer imaging provides more information than DTI in multiple sclerosis lesions and can detect tissue changes 2 to 4 months prior to their appearance on MRI. • After lesions' detection, quantitative magnetization transfer changes are more pronounced than magnetization transfer ratio changes and therefore promise to be more sensitive for the lesions' evolutional assessment. • Balanced steady-state free precession-based magnetization transfer imaging is more sensitive than MRI and DTI for the early detection and follow-up assessment of multiple sclerosis lesions.

• MeSH
• anizotropie MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• magnetická rezonanční tomografie metody   MeSH
• mozek diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• roztroušená skleróza * diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• zobrazování difuzních tenzorů * metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The chondrocranium provides the key initial support for the fetal brain, jaws and cranial sensory organs in all vertebrates. The patterns of shaping and growth of the chondrocranium set up species-specific development of the entire craniofacial complex. The 3D development of chondrocranium have been studied primarily in animal model organisms, such as mice or zebrafish. In comparison, very little is known about the full 3D human chondrocranium, except from drawings made by anatomists many decades ago. The knowledge of human-specific aspects of chondrocranial development are essential for understanding congenital craniofacial defects and human evolution. Here advanced microCT scanning was used that includes contrast enhancement to generate the first 3D atlas of the human fetal chondrocranium during the middle trimester (13 to 19 weeks). In addition, since cartilage and bone are both visible with the techniques used, the endochondral ossification of cranial base was mapped since this region is so critical for brain and jaw growth. The human 3D models are published as a scientific resource for human development.

• MeSH
• chrupavka diagnostické zobrazování   embryologie   MeSH
• lebka diagnostické zobrazování   embryologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• plod diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• rentgenová mikrotomografie MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• zobrazování trojrozměrné * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• dataset MeSH

OBJECTIVES: Accurate detection of metastatic brain lesions (MBL) is critical due to advances in radiosurgery. We compared the results of three readers in detecting MBL using T1-weighted 2D spin echo (SE) and sampling perfection with application-optimized contrasts using different flip angle evolution (SPACE) sequences with whole-brain coverage at both 1.5 T and 3 T. METHODS: Fifty-six patients evaluated for MBL were included and underwent a standard protocol (1.5 T, n = 37; 3 T, n = 19), including postcontrast T1-weighted SE and SPACE. The rating was performed by three raters in two sessions > six weeks apart. The true number of MBL was determined using all available imaging including follow-up. Intraclass correlations for intra-rater and inter-rater agreement were calculated. Signal intensity ratios (SIR; enhancing lesion, white matter) were determined on a subset of 46 MBL > 4 mm. A paired t-test was used to evaluate postcontrast sequence order and SIR. Reader accuracy was evaluated by the coefficient of determination. RESULTS: A total of 135 MBL were identified (mean/subject 2.41, SD 6.4). The intra-rater agreement was excellent for all 3 raters (ICC = 0.97-0.992), as was the inter-rater agreement (ICC = 0.995 SE, 0.99 SPACE). Subjective qualitative ratings were lower for SE images; however, signal intensity ratios were higher in SE sequences. Accuracy was high in all readers for both SE (R2 0.95-0.96) and SPACE (R2 0.91-0.96) sequences. CONCLUSIONS: Although SE sequences are superior to gradient echo sequences in the detection of small MBL, they have long acquisition times and frequent artifacts. We show that T1-weighted SPACE is not inferior to standard thin-slice SE sequences in the detection of MBL at both imaging fields. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Our results show the suitability of 3D T1-weighted turbo spin echo (TSE) sequences (SPACE, CUBE, VISTA) in the detection of brain metastases at both 1.5 T and 3 T. KEY POINTS: • Accurate detection of brain metastases is critical due to advances in radiosurgery. • T1-weighted SE sequences are superior to gradient echo in detecting small metastases. • T1-weighted 3D-TSE sequences may achieve high resolution and relative insensitivity to artifacts. • T1-weighted 3D-TSE sequences have been recommended in imaging brain metastases at 3 T. • We found T1-weighted 3D-TSE equivalent to thin-slice SE at 1.5 T and 3 T.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The neurodegenerative synucleinopathies, including Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, are characterized by a typically lengthy prodromal period of progressive subclinical motor and non-motor manifestations. Among these, idiopathic REM sleep behaviour disorder is a powerful early predictor of eventual phenoconversion, and therefore represents a critical opportunity to intervene with neuroprotective therapy. To inform the design of randomized trials, it is essential to study the natural progression of clinical markers during the prodromal stages of disease in order to establish optimal clinical end points. In this study, we combined prospective follow-up data from 28 centres of the International REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Study Group representing 12 countries. Polysomnogram-confirmed REM sleep behaviour disorder subjects were assessed for prodromal Parkinson's disease using the Movement Disorder Society criteria and underwent periodic structured sleep, motor, cognitive, autonomic and olfactory testing. We used linear mixed-effect modelling to estimate annual rates of clinical marker progression stratified by disease subtype, including prodromal Parkinson's disease and prodromal dementia with Lewy bodies. In addition, we calculated sample size requirements to demonstrate slowing of progression under different anticipated treatment effects. Overall, 1160 subjects were followed over an average of 3.3 ± 2.2 years. Among clinical variables assessed continuously, motor variables tended to progress faster and required the lowest sample sizes, ranging from 151 to 560 per group (at 50% drug efficacy and 2-year follow-up). By contrast, cognitive, olfactory and autonomic variables showed modest progression with higher variability, resulting in high sample sizes. The most efficient design was a time-to-event analysis using combined milestones of motor and cognitive decline, estimating 117 per group at 50% drug efficacy and 2-year trial duration. Finally, while phenoconverters showed overall greater progression than non-converters in motor, olfactory, cognitive and certain autonomic markers, the only robust difference in progression between Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies phenoconverters was in cognitive testing. This large multicentre study demonstrates the evolution of motor and non-motor manifestations in prodromal synucleinopathy. These findings provide optimized clinical end points and sample size estimates to inform future neuroprotective trials.

• MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH
• demence s Lewyho tělísky * diagnóza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Parkinsonova nemoc * komplikace   diagnóza   MeSH
• porucha chování v REM spánku * diagnóza   MeSH
• prodromální symptomy MeSH
• progrese nemoci MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• multicentrická studie MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

• MeSH
• biologická evoluce MeSH
• fobie * etiologie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• hadi * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mozek fyziologie   MeSH
• percepce fyziologie   MeSH
• pozornost MeSH
• predátorské chování MeSH
• psychologické techniky MeSH
• psychologické testy MeSH
• teoretické modely MeSH
• učení MeSH
• vývoj dítěte MeSH
• znaky a insignie MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH