It has been hypothesized that carotenoid-based sexual ornamentation signals male fertility and sperm competitive ability as both ornamentation and sperm traits may be co-affected by oxidative stress, resulting in positive covariation (the 'redox-based phenotype-linked fertility hypothesis'; redox-based PLFH). On the other hand, the 'sperm competition theory' (SCT) predicts a trade-off between precopulatory and postcopulatory traits. Here, we manipulate oxidative status (using diquat dibromide) and carotenoid availability in adult zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) males in order to test whether carotenoid-based beak ornamentation signals, or is traded off against, sperm resistance to oxidative challenge. Initial beak colouration, but not its change during the experiment, was associated with effect of oxidative challenge on sperm velocity, such that more intense colouration predicted an increase in sperm velocity under control conditions but a decline under oxidative challenge. This suggests a long-term trade-off between ornament expression and sperm resistance to oxidative challenge. Shortening of the sperm midpiece following oxidative challenge further suggests that redox homeostasis may constrain sperm morphometry. Carotenoid supplementation resulted in fewer sperm abnormalities but had no effect on other sperm traits. Overall, our data challenge the redox-based PLFH, partially support the SCT and highlight the importance of carotenoids for normal sperm morphology.

• MeSH
• karotenoidy fyziologie   MeSH
• oxidační stres * MeSH
• pigmentace * MeSH
• spermie fyziologie   MeSH
• zobák MeSH
• zpěvní ptáci fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a cornerstone of vertebrate innate immunity. In this study, we identified orthologues of TLR4, TLR5 and TLR7 (representing both bacterial- and viral-sensing TLRs) in the grey partridge (Perdix perdix), a European Galliform game bird species. The phylogeny of all three TLR genes follows the known phylogeny of Galloanserae birds, placing grey partridge TLRs (PePeTLRs) in close proximity to their turkey and pheasant orthologues. The predicted proteins encoded by the PePeTLR genes were 843, 862-863 and 1,047 amino acids long, respectively, and clearly showed all TLR structural features. To verify functionality in these genes we mapped their tissue-expression profiles, revealing generally high PePeTLR4 and PePeTLR5 expression in the thymus and absence of PePeTLR4 and PePeTLR7 expression in the brain. Using 454 next-generation sequencing, we then assessed genetic variation within these genes for a wild grey partridge population in the Czech Republic, EU. We identified 11 nucleotide substitutions in PePeTLR4, eight in PePeTLR5 and six in PePeTLR7, resulting in four, four and three amino acid replacements, respectively. Given their locations and chemical features, most of these non-synonymous substitutions probably have a minor functional impact. As the intraspecific genetic variation of the three TLR genes was low, we assume that either negative selection or a bottleneck may have reduced TLR population variability in this species.

• MeSH
• exprese genu MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• Galliformes klasifikace   genetika   MeSH
• genetická variace * MeSH
• konformace proteinů MeSH
• molekulární evoluce MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• orgánová specificita MeSH
• toll-like receptor 4 chemie   genetika   MeSH
• toll-like receptor 5 chemie   genetika   MeSH
• toll-like receptor 7 chemie   genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Several recent hypotheses consider oxidative stress to be a primary constraint ensuring honesty of condition-dependent carotenoid-based signalling. The key testable difference between these hypotheses is the assumed importance of carotenoids for redox homeostasis, with carotenoids being either antioxidant, pro-oxidant or unimportant. We tested the role of carotenoids in redox balance and sexual signalling by exposing adult male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) to oxidative challenge (diquat dibromide) and manipulating carotenoid intake. As the current controversy over the importance of carotenoids as antioxidants could stem from the hydrophilic basis of commonly-used antioxidant assays, we used the novel measure of in vivo lipophilic antioxidant capacity. Oxidative challenge reduced beak pigmentation but elicited an increase in antioxidant capacity suggesting resource reallocation from signalling to redox homeostasis. Carotenoids counteracted the effect of oxidative challenge on lipophilic (but not hydrophilic) antioxidant capacity, thereby supporting carotenoid antioxidant function in vivo. This is inconsistent with hypotheses proposing that signalling honesty is maintained through either ROS-induced carotenoid degradation or the pro-oxidant effect of high levels of carotenoid-cleavage products acting as a physiological handicap. Our data further suggest that assessment of lipophilic antioxidant capacity is necessary to fully understand the role of redox processes in ecology and evolution.

• MeSH
• antioxidancia metabolismus   MeSH
• karotenoidy metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• oxidační stres * MeSH
• pěnkavovití fyziologie   MeSH
• sexuální chování zvířat * MeSH
• signální transdukce * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

INTRODUCTION: Low initial differential renal function (DRF) in patients with primary non-refluxing megaureter (PNRM) is considered an indication for surgery as are an increase of dilatation and symptoms. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that low DRF is not necessarily a result of obstruction, but may be due to impaired development of the upper urinary tract. Thus, in the absence of symptoms, there is a low risk for further loss of renal function. This study aimed to assess whether initially low DRF is a reliable indicator of obstruction. STUDY DESIGN: We reviewed data from four university centers between 1995 and 2010. Patients under 12 months of age with unilateral primary non-refluxing megaureter (PNMR) and a DRF between 10% and 40%, and followed minimally 24 months, were included. Patients were placed in two groups based on management: group A, surgical; group B, conservative. The dynamics of DRF in relation to age and type of treatment was studied. In each patient we recorded the earliest (initial) DRF, the last known (final) DRF, the age when MAG-3 scans were performed and the type of treatment. RESULTS: From 25 patients, 16 were treated surgically (group A) and 9 followed conservatively (group B). The initial mean DRF in group A was 33.1% and in group B 34.5%, at a mean age 3.0 and 3.6 months, respectively. The final mean DRF in group A was 40.1% and in group B 43%, at a mean age 59.9 and 46.3 months, respectively. Using two-way repeated ANOVA (age [initial DRF, final DRF] vs. group [group A, group B]), we found non-significant difference between the groups in the DRF, F (1, 21) = 0.96, p = 0.338, while we observed statistically significant and similar increase from the initial to final DRF in both groups, F (1, 21) = 16.66, p = 0.001 (Figure). DISCUSSION: This is the first study focusing on the evolution of renal function in patients with PNRM and low initial DRF. Results suggest that the diagnosis of obstruction is inaccurate in most infants with unilateral PNRM if it is based on low initial DRF only. Renal deterioration rarely occurs in asymptomatic patients, and even profoundly impaired kidneys have potential for improvement. Limitations of our study include retrospective design and lack of standardization of treatment among the four centers. CONCLUSION: Low DRF in asymptomatic and anatomically stable patients with PNMR should not be considered an indication for early surgery. These findings challenge current practice and should be confirmed by a prospective study.

• MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• dilatace patologická MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• ledviny patofyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemoci močovodu patofyziologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• urologické chirurgické výkony MeSH
• vyšetření funkce ledvin MeSH
• Check Tag
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• multicentrická studie MeSH

• MeSH
• kvasinky MeSH
• reakce na tepelný šok MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae MeSH
• ultrafialové záření MeSH

Vertebrate gut microbiota (GM) is comprised of a taxonomically diverse consortium of symbiotic and commensal microorganisms that have a pronounced effect on host physiology, immune system function and health status. Despite much research on interactions between hosts and their GM, the factors affecting inter- and intraspecific GM variation in wild populations are still poorly known. We analysed data on faecal microbiota composition in 51 passerine species (319 individuals) using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA (V3-V4 variable region). Despite pronounced interindividual variation, GM composition exhibited significant differences at the interspecific level, accounting for approximately 20%-30% of total GM variation. We also observed a significant correlation between GM composition divergence and host's phylogenetic divergence, with strength of correlation higher than that of GM vs. ecological or life history traits and geographic variation. The effect of host's phylogeny on GM composition was significant, even after statistical control for these confounding factors. Hence, our data do not support codiversification of GM and passerine phylogeny solely as a by-product of their ecological divergence. Furthermore, our findings do not support that GM vs. host's phylogeny codiversification is driven primarily through trans-generational GM transfer as the GM vs. phylogeny correlation does not increase with higher sequence similarity used when delimiting operational taxonomic units. Instead, we hypothesize that the GM vs. phylogeny correlation may arise as a consequence of interspecific divergence of genes that directly or indirectly modulate composition of GM.

• MeSH
• Bacteria klasifikace   MeSH
• feces mikrobiologie   MeSH
• fylogeneze * MeSH
• Passeriformes klasifikace   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 16S genetika   MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• střevní mikroflóra genetika   MeSH
• vysoce účinné nukleotidové sekvenování MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

Life span and aging are substantially modified by natural selection. Across species, higher extrinsic (environmentally related) mortality (and hence shorter life expectancy) selects for the evolution of more rapid aging. However, among populations within species, high extrinsic mortality can lead to extended life span and slower aging as a consequence of condition-dependent survival. Using within-species contrasts of eight natural populations of Nothobranchius fishes in common garden experiments, we demonstrate that populations originating from dry regions (with short life expectancy) had shorter intrinsic life spans and a greater increase in mortality with age, more pronounced cellular and physiological deterioration (oxidative damage, tumor load), and a faster decline in fertility than populations from wetter regions. This parallel intraspecific divergence in life span and aging was not associated with divergence in early life history (rapid growth, maturation) or pace-of-life syndrome (high metabolic rates, active behavior). Variability across four study species suggests that a combination of different aging and life-history traits conformed with or contradicted the predictions for each species. These findings demonstrate that variation in life span and functional decline among natural populations are linked, genetically underpinned, and can evolve relatively rapidly.

• MeSH
• biologická evoluce * MeSH
• Cyprinodontiformes genetika   fyziologie   MeSH
• dlouhověkost MeSH
• podnebí MeSH
• selekce (genetika) * MeSH
• stárnutí * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• zvláštnosti životní historie * MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• Ewingův sarkom farmakoterapie   terapie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH

BACKGROUND: Treatment quality and outcomes of paediatric home parenteral nutrition (HPN) program during its development in the Czech Republic. METHODS: A retrospective study of patients receiving HPN from May 1995 till June 2011. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients were treated in 8 centres. In 48 patients, long-term PN began in the first year of life and in 35 of them in the first month. Sixty children had gastrointestinal and 6 had non-gastrointestinal disease. In a majority of the patients, the Broviac catheter was used. Thirty-two (48.5%) patients were weaned from PN after 1-117 months, 21 (32.8%) continued on HPN after 7-183 months, and 13 (19.7%) patients died, all on PN. The mortality in patients with primary gastrointestinal disease was significantly lower than in patients with non-gastrointestinal disease. Thirty-one paediatric patients were receiving HPN for 14,480 catheter days in 2009-2010. Fourteen patients had 23 Catheter Related Blood Stream Infections (CRBSI) episodes. The incidence of CRBSI in 2009-2010 was 1.58/1,000 catheter days. CONCLUSION: Submitted data showed that even in the absence of expert centres, patient care may achieve results comparable to countries with well-developed HPN program. A majority of Czech HPN patients are at present treated in specialized centres, following the most desirable pattern of care.

• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• incidence MeSH
• katétrové infekce krev   epidemiologie   MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• parenterální výživa doma * MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• multicentrická studie MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• život MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• Publikační typ
• beletrie MeSH

• Konspekt
• Literatura pro děti a mládež
• NLK Obory
• humanitní vědy a umění
• NLK Publikační typ
• literatura pro děti a mládež