• MeSH
• Enzymes MeSH
• Spectrometry, Fluorescence MeSH
• Liposomes MeSH
• Membrane Lipids MeSH
• Lipid Peroxidation MeSH
• In Vitro Techniques MeSH

In altricial birds, energy supply during growth is a major predictor of the physical condition and survival prospects of fledglings. A number of experimental studies have shown that nestling body mass and wing length can vary with particular extrinsic factors, but between-year observational data on this topic are scarce. Based on a seven-year observational study in a central European Tengmalm's owl population we examine the effect of year, brood size, hatching order, and sex on nestling body mass and wing length, as well as the effect of prey abundance on parameters of growth curve. We found that nestling body mass varied among years, and parameters of growth curve, i.e. growth rate and inflection point in particular, increased with increasing abundance of the owl's main prey (Apodemus mice, Microtus voles), and pooled prey abundance (Apodemus mice, Microtus voles, and Sorex shrews). Furthermore, nestling body mass varied with hatching order and between sexes being larger for females and for the first-hatched brood mates. Brood size had no effect on nestling body mass. Simultaneously, we found no effect of year, brood size, hatching order, or sex on the wing length of nestlings. Our findings suggest that in this temperate owl population, nestling body mass is more sensitive to prey abundance than is wing length. The latter is probably more limited by the physiology of the species.

• MeSH
• Arvicolinae physiology   MeSH
• Biological Phenomena physiology   MeSH
• Physiological Phenomena physiology   MeSH
• Nesting Behavior physiology   MeSH
• Wings, Animal pathology   MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Reproduction physiology   MeSH
• Sexual Behavior physiology   MeSH
• Strigiformes growth & development   physiology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

Cíl práce: Cílem prospektivní studie bylo zhodnotit fotopickou vysokokontrastní zrakovou ostrost, mezopickou kontrastní citlivost, aberace vyšších řádů, posoudit změny a pooperační vývoj těchto parametrů a analyzovat vztah mezi aberacemi a kontrastní citlivostí po konvenčním LASIKu. Soubor a metodika: Sledovali jsme klienty, kteří podstoupili refrakční zákrok LASIK v období od listopadu 2006 do listopadu 2007. Analyzovali jsme 51 očí (31 klientů). Průměrný věk v souboru byl 28,4±5,4 let (rozsah 18–41 let), předoperační průměrný sférický ekvivalent činil -4,95±1,24D (od -3 do -8,25D). Před zákrokem a 1, 3, 6 a 12 měsíců po LASIKu jsme hodnotili zrakovou ostrost (Snellenovy optotypy), kontrastní citlivost v mezopických podmínkách (CSV-1000E, VectorVision) a monochromatické aberace (aberometr Zywave, Bausch & Lomb). Výsledky: Rok po zákroku činila průměrná UCVA 1,07±0,15, index efektivity 0,99 a index bezpečnosti 1,02. Kontrastní citlivost byla ve 12. měsíci signifikantně snížena oproti předoperační úrovni ve frekvenci 12 c/deg, v ostatních testovaných frekvencích se po 3-6 měsících od předoperačních hodnot nelišila. Po celou dobu sledování probíhala křivka průměrných hodnot kontrastní citlivosti v horní polovině pásma normálního rozmezí. Konvenční LASIK významně indukoval aberace vyšších řádů (dvojnásobně) i sférickou aberaci (čtyřnásobně). Stejná úroveň RMS HOA či navýšená maximálně o 0,1 µm byla detekována v 10 % případů, sférická aberace byla oproti předoperačnímu stavu nižší nebo maximálně zvýšená o 0,05 µm téměř v polovině případů. Nárůst aberací vyšších řádů závisel přímo úměrně na předoperační hodnotě sférického ekvivalentu. Před zákrokem korelovaly hodnoty celkových aberací s KC nízkých prostorových frekvencí, mezi aberacemi vyšších řádů a KC závislost zjištěna nebyla. Šest měsíců po LASIKu byly hodnoty aberací vyšších řádů spjaty s kontrastní citlivostí vyjma nejnižší testované frekvence. Se snižující se kontrastní citlivostí se HOA zvyšovaly. Při roční kontrole již statisticky významný vztah KC a HOA prokázán nebyl. Souvislost mezi kontrastní citlivostí a sférickou aberací jsme nenalezli před ani v žádném období po výkonu. Závěr: Ačkoliv po konvenčním LASIKu probíhala křivka mezopické kontrastní citlivosti v horní polovině pásma normy, ve střední prostorové frekvenci zůstala oproti předoperačnímu stavu snížena. Indukce aberací vyšších řádů dosahovala dvojnásobku a byla přímo úměrná mohutnosti laserové korekce. Sférická aberace dosahovala čtyřnásobku předoperačních hodnot, na výši původní vady závislá nebyla. Jednoznačná korelace mezi kontrastní citlivostí a aberacemi vyšších řádů nebyla prokázána.

• MeSH
• Contrast Sensitivity MeSH
• Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ adverse effects   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Myopia surgery   MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Corneal Topography MeSH
• Visual Acuity MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH

Ukončování ventilační podpory představuje u nemocných v terminálním stadiu orgánové dysfunkce možnou součást procesu odnímání postupů orgánové podpory. Cílem ukončení umělé plicní ventilace není v žádném případě urychlení procesu umírání, ale vysazení součásti terapie, která nemá své medicínské odůvodnění, a kdy útrapy, stres, bolest, dyskomfort a strádání spojené s pokračováním ventilační podpory nejsou vyváženy jejím přínosem z hlediska ovlivnění nepříznivé prognózy u nemocného s ireverzibilně narušenou integritou orgánových funkcí. Proces ukončování umělé plicní ventilace probíhá nejčastěji stupňovitým snižováním parametrů ventilace, méně častým způsobem je terminální extubace. Při splnění všech nezbytných podmínek a předpokladů představuje ukončení ventilační podpory postup, který je v souladu s etickými principy medicíny i se současným právním rámcem poskytování zdravotní péče, a nelze jej označit za eutanazii.

Terminal weaning from ventilatory support represents on of the possible techniques of complex withdrawing of therapy in patients with irreversible failure of vital functions. In the period from January 1, 1999 to June 1, 2000 mechanical ventilation was withdrawn in 15 patients with terminal illnesses; all patients from the group died. In ten patients, withdrawing of ventilatory support was done by terminal disconnection from the ventilator, in five patients ventilatory support was gradually decreased without terminal extubation. Analgosedation was used in eight patients, no muscle relaxants were used. The mean period of ventilatory support withdrawal until the pronounciation of death was 243 minutes. The detailed information on ventilatory support withdrawal as a part of the process of organ functions supporting measures withdrawal was given to the family in five cases. Ventilatory support withdrawal is medically accepted management in appropriate cases. This is in accordance with ethical principles of current practice of medicine, as well as with current legislation on health care provision.

• MeSH
• Intensive Care Units MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Monitoring, Physiologic MeSH
• Terminal Care MeSH
• Pulmonary Ventilation MeSH
• Resuscitation Orders legislation & jurisprudence   MeSH
• Respiration, Artificial legislation & jurisprudence   MeSH
• Medical Futility MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH

Cíl: Analyzovat a porovnat zrakovou ostrost, refrakční výsledky a aberace vyššího řádu po standardním a wavefront-guided Femto-LASIK v 1, 3 a 12 měsících po operaci. Metodika: Studie 95 konsekutivních očí myopických pacientů (-0,5 až -7,0 D), kteří podstoupili Femto-LASIK se standardním laserovým ablačním profilem (STA) (49 očí) nebo wavefront-guided ablaci (WFG) (46 očí) s využitím femtosekundového laseru LDV Ziemer a excimerového laseru MEL 80 Zeiss s iris registrací. Sledovanými parametry byly nekorigovaná zraková ostrost do dálky (UDVA), korigovaná zraková ostrost do dálky (CDVA), manifestní refrakce a aberace vyššího řádu (HOAs). Celkové oční aberace vyšších řádů byly měřeny na Hartmann-Shackově wavefront aberometru WASCA, HOAs analyzovány pro průměr pupily 6 mm, hodnoceny celkové aberace vyššího řádu (RMS HOAs) a jednotlivé Zernikeho koeficienty. Výsledky: Předoperačně nebyly mezi STA a WFG rozdíly v UDVA, CDVA, manifestní refrakci nebo HOAs. V porovnání s předoperačními hodnotami je hodnota sférické aberace (Z4,0) rok po operaci o 0,24 ?m vyšší v obou skupinách a je hlavním faktorem zvýšení RMS HOAs (o 0,05 ?m u STA a o 0,08 ?m u WFG). U obou ablačních profilů dosahuje index bezpečnosti hodnotu 1,0, index efektivity hodnotu 1,0. Medián UDVA a CDVA je pooperačně v obou skupinách 1,2. U žádného pacienta nedošlo 12 měsíců po operaci ke ztrátě řádku. Všichni pacienti měli 12 měsíců po operaci méně než ? 0,5 D. 1, 3 a 12 měsíců po operaci nebyl zjištěn statisticky významný rozdíl mezi hodnotami UDVA, CDVA, manifestní refrakce a HOAs po standardní a wavefront-guided ablaci. Závěr: Femto-LASIK s platformou LDV a MEL 80 prokázal výbornou efektivitu a bezpečnost u WFG i STA ablačních profilů. Myopický Femto-LASIK pouze mírně zvyšuje RMS HOAs, zejména indukcí sférické aberace. Oba ablační profily mají po operaci ekvivalentní aberační stav. Klíčová slova: Femto-LASIK, aberace vyšších řádů, wavefront-guided, zraková ostrost.

Purpose: To analyze and compare visual acuity, refractive outcomes and higher-order aberrations after standard and wavefront-guided Femto-LASIK at 1, 3, and 12 months postoperatively. Methods: Study of 95 consecutive eyes of myopic patients (-0.5 to -7.0 D), who underwent Femto-LASIK with standard ablation profile (STA) (49 eyes) or wavefront-guided ablation (WFG) (46 eyes) using femtosecond laser LDV Ziemer and excimer laser MEL 80 Zeiss with iris registration. Primary outcome measures were uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), manifest refraction and higher-order ocular aberrations (HOAs). HOAs were measured with Hartmann-Shack wavefront aberrometer WASCA, HOAs analyzed at 6 mm pupil, assessed total HOAs root mean square (RMS HOAs) and individual Zernike coefficients. Results: Preoperatively, there were no significant differences between STA and WFG groups in UDVA, CDVA, manifest refraction or HOAs. As compared with preoperative values, spherical aberration Z(4,0) increased by 0.24 ?m in both groups and it is the main increasing factor of RMS HOAs (0.05 ?m in STA group and 0.08 ?m in WFG group). Safety and efficacy index is 1.0 in both ablation profiles. Postoperatively, median UDVA and CDVA achieved 1.2. No patient lost line of CDVA at 12 month postoperatively. All patients were within ? 0,5 D of emmetropia at 12 months. Significant differences were not found between STA and WFG in UDVA, CDVA, manifest refraction or HOAs at 1, 3 and 12 month. Conclusions: Both wavefront-guided and standard Femto-LASIK with LDV and MEL 80 platform have shown very good efficacy and safety. Myopic Femto-LASIK only slightly increases RMS HOAs, especially by induction of spherical aberration. Both methods have equivalent postoperative aberration score one year postoperatively.

• MeSH
• Astigmatism * physiopathology   therapy   MeSH
• Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ * methods   utilization   MeSH
• Lasers, Excimer therapeutic use   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Myopia * physiopathology   therapy   MeSH
• Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures methods   MeSH
• Retrospective Studies MeSH
• Statistics as Topic MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Visual Acuity MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH

AIM: The aim of the study was to develop a computational module for the prediction of compressive force on the L4/L5 disc suitable for use in field settings. METHOD: The value of compressive force is intended to be used as a proxy measure of the mechanical burden of low-back when performing work activities. The compressive force predicted by the module in a particular worker should be compared with the NIOSH limit value of 3,400 N for the assessment of lumbar spine load during manual lifting tasks. Exceeding the limit will be considered as the fulfilment of "hygienic criterion" that should be met to acknowledge low-back disorder as an occupational disease. To develop the computational module we used the ergonomic software TECNOMATIX Classic Jack taking into account the anthropometric parameters of a worker and ergonomic parameters of his/her work activity. RESULTS: We calculated compressive forces on the L4/L5 disc in about 1,300 simulated combinations of various factors influencing compressive force. Parameters which turned out to be crucial for the compression of L4/L5 disc were included in the computational algorithm. CONCLUSION: Our study was primarily aimed at the assessment of lumbar disorders as occupational diseases. Moreover, the study can contribute to the recommendation of preventive measures to decrease health risks in occupations associated with the overload of low-back region. The graphic maps generated by the computational module enable a fast and exact analysis of particular job.

• MeSH
• Algorithms MeSH
• Anthropometry MeSH
• Lumbar Vertebrae physiology   MeSH
• Biomechanical Phenomena MeSH
• Ergonomics MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Low Back Pain epidemiology   physiopathology   MeSH
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. MeSH
• Occupational Diseases epidemiology   physiopathology   MeSH
• Posture physiology   MeSH
• Work Capacity Evaluation MeSH
• Predictive Value of Tests MeSH
• Software MeSH
• Weight-Bearing physiology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• United States MeSH

PURPOSE: To examine the removal of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) during plasmafiltration (PF) and determine whether the drug could be withheld prior to its organ distribution responsible for mucocutaneous toxicity. METHODS: Six patients suffering from platinum-resistant ovarian cancer were treated with a 1-h IV infusion 50 mg/m(2) of PLD/cycle-for three cycles q4w. Over 44 (46)-47(49) h postinfusion, five patients (14 cycles in total) underwent PF using a cascade PF method consisted of plasma separation by centrifugation and plasma treatment using filtration based one volume of plasma treatment, i.e., 3.18 L (±0.6 L) and plasma flow 1.0 L/h (0.91-1.48 L/h). Doxorubicin concentration in blood was monitored by a high-performance liquid chromatography method for 116 h postinfusion. Pharmacokinetic parameters determined from plasma concentration included volume of distribution, total body clearance, half-life of elimination, and area under the plasma concentration versus time. The amount of doxorubicin in the body eliminated by the patient and via extracorporeal treatment was evaluated. Toxicity was tested using CTCAE v4.0. RESULTS: The efficacy of PF and early responses to PLD/PF combination strategy were as follows: over 44(46) h postinfusion considered necessary for target distribution of PLD to tumor, patients eliminated 46 % (35-56 %) of the dose administered. Over 44(46)-47(49) h postinfusion, a single one-volume plasma filtration removed 40 % (22-45 %) (Mi5) of the remaining doxorubicin amount in the body. Total fraction eliminated attained 81 % (75-86 %). The most common treatment-related adverse events (grade 1-2) such as nausea (4/14 cycles-28 %) and vomiting (3/14 cycles-21 %) appeared during 44 h postinfusion. Hematological toxicity-anemia (5/14 cycles-35 %) was reported after cycle II termination. Symptoms of PPE-like syndrome (grade 1-2) appeared in one patient concomitantly with thrombophlebitis and malignant effusion. In this study, only one adverse reaction (1/14-7 %) as short-term malaise and nausea was reported by the investigator as probably related to PF. CONCLUSION: A single one-volume PF does remove a clinically important amount of doxorubicin in a kinetic targeting approach. There were no serious signs of drug toxicity and/or PF-related adverse events. Kinetically guided therapy with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin combined with PF may be a useful tool to the higher efficacy and tolerability of therapy with PLD.

• MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Doxorubicin administration & dosage   adverse effects   analogs & derivatives   blood   pharmacokinetics   MeSH
• Hemofiltration adverse effects   methods   MeSH
• Organs at Risk MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Metabolic Clearance Rate MeSH
• Ovarian Neoplasms * drug therapy   pathology   MeSH
• Fallopian Tube Neoplasms * drug therapy   pathology   MeSH
• Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions etiology   prevention & control   MeSH
• Area Under Curve MeSH
• Half-Life MeSH
• Polyethylene Glycols administration & dosage   adverse effects   pharmacokinetics   MeSH
• Disease Progression MeSH
• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic administration & dosage   adverse effects   blood   pharmacokinetics   MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Neoplasm Staging MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Observational Study MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

AIMS: Turner syndrome is the only chromosome monosomy that is postnatally compatible with life. The reported incidence of TS is 1 in 2500 liveborn girls. The phenotype of these girls is highly variable, with cardiac abnormalities being life-threatening defects. The aim of the study was to reveal the possible influence of the parental origin of the X chromosome in these patients on a selected phenotype that is associated with Turner syndrome. Selected symptoms and parameters were: a bicuspid aortic valve, aortic coarctation, lymphoedema, pterygium colli, coeliac disease, thyroiditis, otitis media, diabetes mellitus 2, renal abnormalities, spontaneous puberty, and IVF. METHODS: The X chromosome haplotype was determined for a group of 45,X patients verified by native FISH. A molecular diagnostic method based on the detection of different lengths of X chromosome-linked STR markers using the Argus X-12 QS kit was used to determine the X haplotype. RESULTS: Our results, analysed by Fisher's exact (factorial) test, suggest independence between the maternal/paternal origin of the inherited X chromosome and the presence of the anomalies that were studied (P=1 to P=0.34). CONCLUSION: In the group of 45,X patients, who were precisely selected by means of the native FISH method, no correlation was demonstrated with the parental origin of the X chromosome and the observed symptom.

• MeSH
• X Chromosome MeSH
• Phenotype MeSH
• Haplotypes MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Turner Syndrome * genetics   MeSH
• Heart Defects, Congenital * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The paper presents newly proposed algorithm for the blind separation of EEG and EMG sources measured by high density electrode arrays. The algorithm is based on the maximization of the variance of variances of filtered principal components. Utilized high pass filter was optimized in order to extract the information which is used by the gradient algorithm to separate New Algorithm for EEG and EMG SeparationEEG and EMG components. The performance of the algorithm was evaluated by its use for the muscular artifacts removal. Present muscular artifacts were extracted from the estimated components with the use of the previously used classifier. It is compared with other similar approaches and it is shown that the suggested algorithm achieves higher quality of the processed EEG signal especially in the case of strong muscular artifacts and is therefore useful for the preprocessing of the EEG records contaminated with the muscle activity

• Keywords
• svalové artefakty, gradient, BSS,
• MeSH
• Algorithms * MeSH
• Principal Component Analysis * MeSH
• Analysis of Variance MeSH
• Artifacts MeSH
• Electroencephalography * MeSH
• Electromyography * MeSH
• Computer Simulation MeSH
• Models, Statistical MeSH
• Image Enhancement MeSH
• Publication type
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

When considering the probabilistic approach to neural networks in the framework of statistical pattern recognition we assume approximation of class-conditional probability distributions by finite mixtures of product components. The mixture components can be interpreted as probabilistic neurons in neurophysiological terms and, in this respect, the fixed probabilistic description contradicts the well known short-term dynamic properties of biological neurons. By introducing iterative schemes of recognition we show that some parameters of probabilistic neural networks can be "released" for the sake of dynamic processes without disturbing the statistically correct decision making. In particular, we can iteratively adapt the mixture component weights or modify the input pattern in order to facilitate correct recognition. Both procedures are shown to converge monotonically as a special case of the well known EM algorithm for estimating mixtures.

• MeSH
• Algorithms MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Nerve Net MeSH
• Neural Networks, Computer MeSH
• Neurons physiology   MeSH
• Recognition, Psychology MeSH
• Pattern Recognition, Automated MeSH
• Pattern Recognition, Visual physiology   MeSH
• Models, Statistical MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH