In many temperate marshes, the surface microtopography is determined by specific growth forms of dominant wetland plants. The formation of long-lasting distinct tussocks by some Carex species represents a growth adaptation, which significantly changes the ecosystem and facilitates the survival of other wetland plants. Therefore, the gradual decline of such an ecosystem engineer may affect both species diversity and the surface microtopography of wetlands in the long term. Using in situ terrestrial laser scanning, we analyzed tussock characteristics in five different stands typical of a temperate sedge-grass marsh to determine potential microtopography changes due to an altered water regime. Tussocks of Carex acuta were different in 2D area, perimeter, height, and roundness. The distances among tussocks were similar and distributed evenly in all vegetation stands. The highest tussocks occurred in stands dominated by Carex acuta and in Carex acuta and Calamagrostis canescens mixture stands. Glyceria maxima and Acorus calamus significantly modified the height and the shape of tussocks in contrast to Calamagrostis canescens, which affects tussocks at least and uses them as habitats. The characteristics of tussocks in mixed stands were influenced by the growth characteristics of all co-occurring dominant plants (ecosystem engineers). Frequent shallow short-term flooding is necessary to maintain the current microtopography in the studied sedge-grass marsh as it promotes the dominance of tussock forming wetland plants and excludes ruderal or invasive terrestrial plant species.

• Klíčová slova
• Ecology, Ecosystem engineer, Ground-based LiDAR, Point cloud, Sedges, Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), Virtual reality, Wetland,
• MeSH
• Carex (rostlina) * růst a vývoj   MeSH
• ekosystém MeSH
• lipnicovité * růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• mokřady * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether implementing a nutritional care bundle is associated with growth and morbidity in very preterm (VPT) infants. STUDY DESIGN: This study compared 87 VPT infants (<32 gestational weeks) born 2018 (Before group) with 75 infants born 2020 (After group), treated at a single center in the Czech Republic. A nutritional care bundle was implemented during 2019. RESULTS: Median gestational age (weeks) was 30.0 [IQR 27.6-31.1] for the Before group and 29.9 [IQR 27.9-30.6] for the After group. During postnatal days 1-14, parenteral fluid intake was significantly lower in the After group compared to the Before group and conversely for enteral fluid intake. Infants in the After group achieved full enteral feeds by postnatal day 14 (72.9 % vs. Before group 51.9 %). Weight z-scores decreased significantly less from birth to 36 weeks postmenstrual age in the After group (-0.8 [IQR -1.3 to -0.5]) compared to the Before group (-1.5 [IQR -2.0 to -1.2]). Head circumference z-scores decreased significantly less in the After group (-0.8±0.9) than the Before group (-1.6±1.1). Decreased rate of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) requiring treatment was observed in the After group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a nutritional care bundle in VPT infants was associated with improved postnatal growth and may reduce treatment-requiring PDA.

• Klíčová slova
• Parenteral nutrition, Patent ductus arteriosus, Preterm, Weight change,
• MeSH
• balíčky péče metody   MeSH
• enterální výživa metody   MeSH
• gestační stáří MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• novorozenec nedonošený * růst a vývoj   MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• vývoj dítěte MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Solitary fibrous tumour is a relatively rare soft tissue fibroblastic tumour, accounting for approximately 2% of soft tissue tumours. It has been described primarily as a tumour of the pleural cavity; however, up to 70% of cases occur elsewhere, in any anatomical location, which can make diagnosis difficult. If this is the diagnosis being considered, the STAT6 antibody is currently available with high sensitivity and specificity. In this paper we describe the case of a 72-year-old female patient, followed up and treated by an outpatient endocrinologist for a multinodular euthyroid goitre for several years. Due to complete nodular remodelling of the left lobe of the thyroid gland and sonographic findings of several small nodules in the right lobe of the thyroid gland, total thyroidectomy was recommended to the patient. The operation was performed at the ENT department in Jindřichův Hradec Hospital. Material from the operation was subsequently sent for histopathological examination. Several hyperplastic colloid nodules and a small oncocytic adenoma were detected microscopically in the right lobe of the thyroid gland. In the left lobe, an imprecisely delineated, greyish-white lesion measuring 2 x 1.8 x 1.5 cm was observed on the section. Microscopically, the tumour consisted of spindle-shaped cells in a focally hyalinised stroma. In the immunohistochemical examination, tumour cells reacted positively with the CD34 antibody, and negatively with antibodies against thyroglobulin, cytokeratins (CK AE1/AE3) and S100 protein. Further immunohistochemical examinations (Bcl2, CD99, STAT6) with positive results were supplemented upon consultation at a higher facility. Based on morphology and the results of the immunohistochemical examinations, the tumour was diagnosed as a solitary fibrous tumour of the thyroid gland. This is a relatively unusual finding in this location; according to literature, only a few dozen cases have been described.

• Klíčová slova
• solitary fibrosis tumor, SFT extrapleural, STAT6, thyroid gland,
• MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádory štítné žlázy * patologie   diagnóza   chirurgie   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• solitární fibrózní tumory * patologie   diagnóza   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• kazuistiky MeSH

Carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake by plant photosynthesis, referred to as gross primary production (GPP) at the ecosystem level, is sensitive to environmental factors, including pollutant exposure, pollutant uptake, and changes in the scattering of solar shortwave irradiance (SWin) - the energy source for photosynthesis. The 2020 spring lockdown due to COVID-19 resulted in improved air quality and atmospheric transparency, providing a unique opportunity to assess the impact of air pollutants on terrestrial ecosystem functioning. However, detecting these effects can be challenging as GPP is influenced by other meteorological drivers and management practices. Based on data collected from 44 European ecosystem-scale CO2 flux monitoring stations, we observed significant changes in spring GPP at 34 sites during 2020 compared to 2015-2019. Among these, 14 sites showed an increase in GPP associated with higher SWin, 10 sites had lower GPP linked to atmospheric and soil dryness, and seven sites were subjected to management practices. The remaining three sites exhibited varying dynamics, with one experiencing colder and rainier weather resulting in lower GPP, and two showing higher GPP associated with earlier spring melts. Analysis using the regional atmospheric chemical transport model (LOTOS-EUROS) indicated that the ozone (O3) concentration remained relatively unchanged at the research sites, making it unlikely that O3 exposure was the dominant factor driving the primary production anomaly. In contrast, SWin increased by 9.4 % at 36 sites, suggesting enhanced GPP possibly due to reduced aerosol optical depth and cloudiness. Our findings indicate that air pollution and cloudiness may weaken the terrestrial carbon sink by up to 16 %. Accurate and continuous ground-based observations are crucial for detecting and attributing subtle changes in terrestrial ecosystem functioning in response to environmental and anthropogenic drivers.

• Klíčová slova
• Aerosol optical depth, Air quality, COVID-19, Eddy covariance, Gross primary production, Shortwave irradiance,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Internal concentrations in the culm nodes of Phragmites australis and fluxes of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) were recorded in the treatment bed of constructed wetland (CW) with subsurface wastewater horizontal flow. Fluxes of CH4 and CO2 from the CW treatment bed were in ranges of 0 to 490 μmol m-2 h-1 and from 0 to 4499 μmol m-2 h-1 for CH4 and CO2, respectively. The highest CH4 soil fluxes were recorded in the unvegetated coarse gravel inflow zone of the CW treatment bed. The nearby inflow zone exhibited the highest CO2 fluxes. Internal culm node concentrations of CH4 and CO2 were related to oxygen (O2) stem concentrations and environmental conditions during diurnal courses. The concentrations of CH4 and CO2 gases were significantly correlated and opposing O2 concentrations. Culm node parameters and shoot density of P. australis influenced internal gas concentrations and the buffering of CH4 and CO2 emissions. The effect of buffering CH4 emissions is distinctive in the outflow zone of the treatment bed and is less important in the highly polluted inflow zone of the CW. Buffering of CH4 and partially also CO2 emissions by stems of P. australis is a process which affects the diurnal dynamics of CH4 and CO2 fluxes from common reed wetlands.

• Klíčová slova
• Carbon dioxide, Common reed, Greenhouse gases, Methane, Oxygen, Root traits,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: It is not known whether withdrawal of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) in children with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) is beneficial similar to adults. We report a case series of children with advanced CKD whose ACEIs were stopped. METHODS: In the last 5 years, we stopped ACEIs in seven consecutive children on ACEI therapy with rapidly declining CKD stage 4-5. The median age was 12.5 years (range 6.8-17.6); the median estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at stopping ACEIs was 12.5 ml/min/1.73 m2 (range 8.8-19.9). RESULTS: Six to twelve months after stopping ACEIs, the eGFR increased in five children (71%). The median absolute increase of eGFR was 5.0 ml/min/1.73 m2 (range -2.3 to +20.0) and relative increase of eGFR was 30% (range -34 to +99). The median follow-up after stopping ACEIs was 2.7 (range 0.5-5.0) years, either until the start of dialysis (n = 5) or until the last follow-up without dialysis (n = 2). CONCLUSIONS: This case series showed that withdrawal of ACEIs in children with CKD stage 4-5 and rapidly declining kidney function may lead to an increase in eGFR.

• Klíčová slova
• blood pressure (BP), case report, chronic kidney disease, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), proteinuria,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• kazuistiky MeSH

This biomonitoring survey brings new information on the occurrence of a total of 94 organohalogenated pollutants in 231 human breast milk samples collected in 2019 and 2021 from women living in two regions of the Czech Republic (Karvina and Ceske Budejovice). This study aimed to evaluate the concentrations of 6 indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 10 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), 34 halogenated flame retardants (HFRs), 29 perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 15 polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs). PCBs, OCPs, most of HFRs and PCNs were identified/quantified by gas chromatography coupled to (tandem) mass spectrometry (GC-MS(/MS)), while PFAS, hexabromocyclododecane isomers (HBCD), brominated phenols, and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The mean value of the sum of the 6 indicator PCBs was 123.12 nanogram per gram of lipid weight (ng g-1 lw). Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyl-dichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) were the most abundant OCPs, detected in 100 % (mean 11.8 ng g-1 lw), 94.8 % (mean 6.1 ng g-1 lw) and 100 % (mean 101.5 ng g-1 lw) of samples, respectively. PCN congeners 20, 52 and 66 were detected in <1 % of the samples. The HFRs concentrations were relatively low compared to the levels of OCP; The detection rate of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs, # 47, 99 and 153) ranged 21-68 % with a mean concentrations of 0.34 ng g-1 lw - 0.42 ng g-1 lw. PFAS concentrations were also low, with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) dominant in this group (means of 22 pg ml-1 and 21 pg ml-1, respectively). Our results confirmed the long-term trend of declining levels of banned POPs in Czech mothers. The amounts of PCBs and OCPs were higher in older breastfeeding primiparous women.

• Klíčová slova
• HFRs, Human biomonitoring, risk assessment, OCPs, PCBs, PFAS,
• MeSH
• chlorované uhlovodíky * analýza   MeSH
• dichlordifenyldichlorethylen analýza   MeSH
• fluorokarbony * analýza   MeSH
• halogenované difenylethery analýza   MeSH
• látky znečišťující životní prostředí * analýza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mateřské mléko chemie   MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí metody   MeSH
• pesticidy * analýza   MeSH
• polychlorované bifenyly * analýza   MeSH
• retardanty hoření * analýza   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• tandemová hmotnostní spektrometrie MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chlorované uhlovodíky * MeSH
• dichlordifenyldichlorethylen MeSH
• fluorokarbony * MeSH
• halogenované difenylethery MeSH
• látky znečišťující životní prostředí * MeSH
• pesticidy * MeSH
• polychlorované bifenyly * MeSH
• retardanty hoření * MeSH

INTRODUCTION: Romani people have a high prevalence of kidney failure. This study examined a Romani cohort for pathogenic variants in the COL4A3, COL4A4, and COL4A5 genes that are affected in Alport syndrome (AS), a common cause of genetic kidney disease, characterized by hematuria, proteinuria, end-stage kidney failure, hearing loss, and eye anomalies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 57 Romani from different families with clinical features that suggested AS who underwent next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the COL4A3, COL4A4, and COL4A5 genes, and 83 family members. RESULTS: In total, 27 Romani (19%) had autosomal recessive AS caused by a homozygous pathogenic c.1598G>A, p.Gly533Asp variant in COL4A4 (n = 20) or a homozygous c.415G>C, p.Gly139Arg variant in COL4A3 (n = 7). For p.Gly533Asp, 12 (80%) had macroscopic hematuria, 12 (63%) developed end-stage kidney failure at a median age of 22 years, and 13 (67%) had hearing loss. For p.Gly139Arg, none had macroscopic hematuria (p = 0.023), three (50%) had end-stage kidney failure by a median age of 42 years (p = 0.653), and five (83%) had hearing loss (p = 0.367). The p.Gly533Asp variant was associated with a more severe phenotype than p.Gly139Arg, with an earlier age at end-stage kidney failure and more macroscopic hematuria. Microscopic hematuria was very common in heterozygotes with both p.Gly533Asp (91%) and p.Gly139Arg (92%). CONCLUSION: These two founder variants contribute to the high prevalence of kidney failure in Czech Romani. The estimated population frequency of autosomal recessive AS from these variants and consanguinity by descent is at least 1:11,000 in Czech Romani. This corresponds to a population frequency of autosomal dominant AS from these two variants alone of 1%. Romani with persistent hematuria should be offered genetic testing.

• Klíčová slova
• Alport syndrome, Romani, consanguinity, end-stage kidney failure, hearing loss, hematuria, proteinuria,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: Schimke immunoosseous dysplasia (SIOD) is an ultra-rare inherited disease affecting many organ systems. Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, T-cell immunodeficiency and steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome are the main symptoms of this disease. CASE PRESENTATION: We aimed to characterize the clinical, pathological and genetic features of SIOD patients received at tertiary Pediatric Nephrology Center, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic during the period 2001-2021. The mean age at diagnosis was 21 months (range 18-48 months). All patients presented with growth failure, nephropathy and immunodeficiency. Infections and neurologic complications were present in most of the affected children during the course of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Although SIOD is a disease characterized by specific features, the individual phenotype may differ. Neurologic signs can severely affect the quality of life; the view on the management of SIOD is not uniform. Currently, new therapeutic methods are required.

• Klíčová slova
• Case series, Chronic kidney disease, Nephropathy, Schimke immunoosseous dysplasia, Transient ischemic attacks, Transplantation,
• MeSH
• arterioskleróza MeSH
• centra terciární péče MeSH
• kvalita života MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nefrotický syndrom * diagnóza   genetika   komplikace   MeSH
• osteochondrodysplazie * diagnóza   genetika   terapie   MeSH
• plicní embolie MeSH
• primární imunodeficience MeSH
• syndromy imunologické nedostatečnosti * diagnóza   genetika   komplikace   MeSH
• vzácné nemoci MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• kazuistiky MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to compare the analgesic/sedative effects of various fundus-related procedural pain management strategies on the risk of retinopathy in premature infants. METHOD: This was a prospective comparative study involving a total of 94 neonates randomized to three groups meeting the criteria for at-risk neonates. Ophthalmologic screening was performed to evaluate the outcome of three procedural pain management strategies. The intensity of pain over time during and after the screening examination was evaluated. At the same time, we also looked at the occurrence of vegetative symptoms and their influence by the chosen medication. Pain response was observed in all 94 neonates enrolled in the study. In group A, no pain treatment was given. Group B had a local anesthetic oxybuprocaine hydrochloride 0.4% introduced into both eyes immediately prior to the examination. Group C received oral clonidine. The study was conducted as a pilot project and aimed to clarify the problem so that a project with a higher proband representation could take place in the future. Consequently, we performed quantitative analysis of complete pain and vegetative functions, followed by a qualitative analysis of their internal components. RESULTS: In our study, we identified the most considerable effects for all three groups, including NIPS (Neonatal Infant Pain Scale) responses immediately during and after the examination. The influence of vegetative functions is of a longer-term nature and increased values can be clearly demonstrated even six hours after the examination. CONCLUSION: The current results identify and quantify differences among all three methods of pain treatment on the level of single variables. Their internal structures, however, can be analysed only qualitatively because of the small size of the analysed sample.

• Klíčová slova
• clonidine, oxybuprocaine hydrochloride 0.4%, procedural pain, retinopathy in premature newborns,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH