This article focuses on the development of algorithms for a smart neurorehabilitation system, whose core is made up of artificial neural networks. The authors of the article have proposed a completely unique transfer of ACE-R results to the CHC model. This unique approach allows for the saturation of the CHC model domains according to modified ACE-R factor analysis. The outputs of the proposed algorithm thus enable the automatic creation of a personalized and optimized neurorehabilitation plan for individual patients to train their cognitive functions. A set of tasks in 6 levels of difficulty (level 1 to level 6) was designed for each of the nine CHC model domains. For each patient, the results of the ACE-R screening helped deter-mine the specific CHC domains to be rehabilitated, as well as the initial gaming level for rehabilitation in each domain. The proposed artificial neural network algorithm was adapted to real data from 703 patients. Experimental outputs were compared to the outputs of the initially designed fuzzy expert system, which was trained on the same real data, and all outputs from both systems were statistically evaluated against expert conclusions that were available. It is evident from the conducted experimental study that the smart neurorehabilitation system using artificial neural networks achieved significantly better results than the neurorehabilitation system whose core is a fuzzy expert system. Both algorithms are implemented into a comprehensive neurorehabilitation portal (Eddie), which was supported by a research project from the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic.
- Klíčová slova
- ACE-R, CHC, Fuzzy expert system model, Neural network model, Neurocognitive rehabilitation,
- MeSH
- algoritmy MeSH
- expertní systémy * MeSH
- fuzzy logika MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- neuronové sítě MeSH
- neurorehabilitace * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are hydrophobic compounds deposited on the arthropod cuticle that are of functional significance with respect to stress tolerance, social interactions and mating dynamics. We characterized CHC profiles in natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster at five levels: across a latitudinal transect in the eastern United States, as a function of developmental temperature during culture, across seasonal time in replicate years, and as a function of rapid evolution in experimental mesocosms in the field. Furthermore, we also characterized spatial and temporal changes in allele frequencies for SNPs in genes that are associated with the production and chemical profile of CHCs. Our data demonstrate a striking degree of parallelism for clinal and seasonal variation in CHCs in this taxon; CHC profiles also demonstrate significant plasticity in response to rearing temperature, and the observed patterns of plasticity parallel the spatiotemporal patterns observed in nature. We find that these congruent shifts in CHC profiles across time and space are also mirrored by predictable shifts in allele frequencies at SNPs associated with CHC chain length. Finally, we observed rapid and predictable evolution of CHC profiles in experimental mesocosms in the field. Together, these data strongly suggest that CHC profiles respond rapidly and adaptively to environmental parameters that covary with latitude and season, and that this response reflects the process of local adaptation in natural populations of D. melanogaster.
- Klíčová slova
- Drosophila *, cuticular hydrocarbons *, experimental evolution *, spatiotemporal variation *, thermal plasticity *,
- MeSH
- Drosophila melanogaster chemie MeSH
- Drosophila MeSH
- fyziologická adaptace * MeSH
- podnebí MeSH
- uhlovodíky * MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Názvy látek
- uhlovodíky * MeSH
Circulating monocytes/macrophages are important for the initiation of immune responses to hepatitis C virus (HCV). Their presentation capacities and production of immunoregulatory cytokines enable them to activate cellular immune responses which is critical in determining the outcome of infection. We used flow cytometry to examine the expression of a CD80 costimulatory molecule on the surface of peripheral blood CD14+ monocytes/macrophages and to analyse the production of IL10 and IL12 by these cells. Forty-three individuals (6 asymptomatic HCV carriers, 37 patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC)) were enrolled in this study. Thirty-seven patients with CHC (23 responders and 14 non-responders, NR) received combination (interferon+ribavirin) treatment for 52 weeks. The baseline percentage of CD14+CD80+ peripheral blood monocytes/macrophages was high in patients with CHC (P<0.001) and returned to normal after the treatment. All patients with CHC showed significantly high production of IL10 (P<0.001). In asymptomatic HCV carriers production level of this cytokine tended to be higher than in patients with CHC (P<0.001). A baseline production of IL12 was higher in asymptomatic HCV carriers and patients with CHC compared to healthy controls (P<0.001). The level of IL12 production was increased in treatment responders whereas in NR returned to normal value. Our data argue against functional impairment of circulating monocytes/macrophages during HCV infection. Furthermore, the positive therapeutic outcome following combination treatment might associate with increased production of IL12 by these cells.
- MeSH
- antigeny CD80 biosyntéza MeSH
- antivirové látky terapeutické užití MeSH
- chronická hepatitida C farmakoterapie imunologie MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- interferony terapeutické užití MeSH
- interleukin-10 metabolismus MeSH
- interleukin-12 metabolismus MeSH
- kombinovaná farmakoterapie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- makrofágy účinky léků metabolismus MeSH
- monocyty účinky léků metabolismus MeSH
- přenašečství imunologie MeSH
- průtoková cytometrie MeSH
- ribavirin terapeutické užití MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- srovnávací studie MeSH
- Názvy látek
- antigeny CD80 MeSH
- antivirové látky MeSH
- interferony MeSH
- interleukin-10 MeSH
- interleukin-12 MeSH
- ribavirin MeSH
The insect cuticle is the interface between internal homeostasis and the often harsh external environment. Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are key constituents of this hard cuticle and are associated with a variety of functions including stress response and communication. CHC production and deposition on the insect cuticle vary among natural populations and are affected by developmental temperature; however, little is known about CHC plasticity in response to the environment experienced following eclosion, during which time the insect cuticle undergoes several crucial changes. We targeted this crucial to important phase and studied post-eclosion temperature effects on CHC profiles in two natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster. A forty-eight hour post-eclosion exposure to three different temperatures (18, 25, and 30°C) significantly affected CHCs in both ancestral African and more recently derived North American populations of D. melanogaster. A clear shift from shorter to longer CHCs chain length was observed with increasing temperature, and the effects of post-eclosion temperature varied across populations and between sexes. The quantitative differences in CHCs were associated with variation in desiccation tolerance among populations. Surprisingly, we did not detect any significant differences in water loss rate between African and North American populations. Overall, our results demonstrate strong genetic and plasticity effects in CHC profiles in response to environmental temperatures experienced at the adult stage as well as associations with desiccation tolerance, which is crucial in understanding holometabolan responses to stress.
- Klíčová slova
- Drosophila melanogaster, cuticular hydrocarbons, desiccation tolerance, eclosion, natural populations, phenotypic plasticity, water loss rate,
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Chronic hyperplastic candidiasis (CHC) presents a distinctive and relatively rare form of oral candidal infection characterized by the presence of white or white-red patches on the oral mucosa. Often mistaken for leukoplakia or erythroleukoplakia due to their appearance, these lesions display nonhomogeneous textures featuring combinations of white and red hyperplastic or nodular surfaces. Predominant locations for such lesions include the tongue, retro-angular mucosa, and buccal mucosa. This paper aims to investigate the potential influence of specific anatomical locations, retro-angular mucosa, on the development and occurrence of CHC. By examining the relationship between risk factors, we present an approach based on machine learning (ML) to predict the location of CHC occurrence. In this way, we employ Gradient Boosting Regression (GBR) to classify CHC lesion locations based on important risk factors. This estimator can serve both research and diagnostic purposes effectively. The findings underscore that the proposed ML technique can be used to predict the occurrence of CHC in retro-angular mucosa compared to other locations. The results also show a high rate of accuracy in predicting lesion locations. Performance assessment relies on Mean Squared Error (MSE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), R-squared (R2), and Mean Absolute Error (MAE), consistently revealing favorable results that underscore the robustness and dependability of our classification method. Our research contributes valuable insights to the field, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and informing treatment strategies.
Discrimination of particular species within the species complexes of tephritid fruit flies is a very challenging task. In this fruit-fly family, several complexes of cryptic species have been reported, including the African cryptic species complex (FAR complex). Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) appear to be an excellent tool for chemotaxonomical discrimination of these cryptic species. In the present study, CHC profiles have been used to discriminate among three important agricultural pests from the FAR complex, Ceratitis fasciventris, Ceratitis anonae and Ceratitis rosa. Hexane body surface extracts of mature males and females were analyzed by two-dimensional gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection and differences in CHC profiles between species and sexes tested through multivariate statistics and compared with species identification by means of microsatellite markers. Quantitative as well as qualitative CHC profile differences between sexes and species are reported. The CHC profiles consisted of a mixture of linear, internally methyl-branched and mono-, di- and tri-unsaturated alkanes. Twelve compounds were pinpointed as potential chemotaxonomical markers. The present study shows that presence or absence of particular CHCs might be used in the chemical diagnosis of the FAR complex. Moreover, our results represent an important first step in the development of a useful chemotaxonomic tool for cryptic species identification of these important agricultural pests.
- MeSH
- druhová specificita MeSH
- genotyp MeSH
- hmyzí proteiny chemie MeSH
- klasifikace metody MeSH
- mikrosatelitní repetice MeSH
- pohlavní dimorfismus MeSH
- polymorfismus genetický MeSH
- Tephritidae chemie klasifikace MeSH
- uhlovodíky chemie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Názvy látek
- cuticle proteins, insects MeSH Prohlížeč
- hmyzí proteiny MeSH
- uhlovodíky MeSH
Insect cuticular hydrocarbons are usually species-specific mixtures and may serve for species and gender recognition. They are, therefore, widely used in the chemotaxonomy and zoogeography of various insect taxa. In order to provide a basic study for further comparative analyses of cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles of cryptic species hidden within the South American fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus complex (Diptera: Tephritidae), we analyzed the composition of the CHCs and their production with respect to age and sex in a laboratory population from Tucuman, Argentina. Several techniques of gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection have been used in order to develop a suitable method for CHC identification, i.e., GC-MS in EI mode, GC-MS in CI mode, and GC×GC/TOFMS. Our analyses revealed a complex profile of aliphatic hydrocarbons in both males and females, consisting predominantly of n-alkanes, methyl-branched alkanes, as well as of alkenes and alkadienes. In young individuals (up to about 5 days after emergence), the CHC profiles were similar in males and females. However, in older flies, these profiles diverged and became clearly sex-specific. The temporal dynamics of the CHC patterns in both sexes were evaluated using multivariate exploratory techniques.
- MeSH
- kůže chemie metabolismus MeSH
- pohlavní dimorfismus * MeSH
- stárnutí metabolismus MeSH
- Tephritidae anatomie a histologie chemie metabolismus fyziologie MeSH
- uhlovodíky analýza metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Názvy látek
- uhlovodíky MeSH
OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and severity of adverse effects of treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C (CHB and CHC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A group of 104 patients with CHC and 74 CHB patients treated in 1994-2005 was evaluated. The patients were divided according to their treatment patterns and sex. Selected haematologic parameters (haemoglobin, neutrophil and platelet counts) were assessed. RESULTS: In CHC patients treated with interferon alpha (IFN), IFN alpha and ribavirin (IFN+RIB) or pegylated IFN alpha with ribavirin (PEG+RIB), and in CHB patients, anaemia was observed in 6 (37.5 %), 43 (56.6 %), 27 (54.0 %) and 11 (24.4 %) cases, respectively. Anaemia was significantly more frequent in women treated with IFN(RIB or PEG+RIB +p > 0.01 and p > 0.005, respectively), and in those with CHB (p > 0.005). The difference in the incidence of anaemia in those treated with RIB and without RIB was statistically significant (55.5 vs. 27.9 %, respectively, p > 0,001). In CHC patients treated with IFN, IFN+RIB or PEG+RIB, and in CHB patients, neutropenia was observed in 9 (56.3 %), 51 (67.1 %), 36 (72.0 %) and 20 (44.4 %) cases, respectively. In women treated with IFN+RIB or PEG+RIB, neutropenia was significantly more frequent (p > 0.05). In CHC patients treated with IFN, IFN+RIB or PEG+RIB, and in CHB patients, thrombocytopenia was detected in 9 (56.3%), 41 (53.9 %), 35 (70.0 %) and 23 (51.1 %) cases, respectively. No significant difference was noted in the incidence of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia between the individual treatment patterns used in CHC or CHB patients. In two cases, the treatment was discontinued due to its adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: The data confirm a high incidence of haematologic adverse effects, mostly mild. From the point of view of haematologic complications, the treatment may be classified as safe.
- MeSH
- anemie chemicky indukované MeSH
- antivirové látky škodlivé účinky MeSH
- chronická hepatitida B krev farmakoterapie MeSH
- chronická hepatitida C krev farmakoterapie MeSH
- hemoglobiny analýza MeSH
- interferon alfa-2 MeSH
- interferon alfa aplikace a dávkování škodlivé účinky MeSH
- kombinovaná farmakoterapie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- neutropenie chemicky indukované MeSH
- polyethylenglykoly MeSH
- rekombinantní proteiny MeSH
- ribavirin aplikace a dávkování škodlivé účinky MeSH
- trombocytopenie chemicky indukované MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Názvy látek
- antivirové látky MeSH
- hemoglobiny MeSH
- interferon alfa-2 MeSH
- interferon alfa MeSH
- peginterferon alfa-2b MeSH Prohlížeč
- polyethylenglykoly MeSH
- rekombinantní proteiny MeSH
- ribavirin MeSH
OBJECTIVES: Analysis of changes in a group of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) with a special focus on risk factors for transmission. Evaluation of cooperation with organizations working with people who inject drugs (PWID) including the impact of outreach testing. METHODS: A retrospective analysis and interannual comparison of CHC patients treated with DAAs at the Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic between 2018 and 2020. RESULTS: A total of 291 (101 in the year 2018, 111 in 2019 and 79 in 2020) patients with CHC have been treated. Comparison of results from the years 2018, 2019 and 2020 demonstrated a significant rise in the proportion of PWID (46.5 %, 64.9 % and 65.8 %, respectively). Also the proportion of genotype 3a infection (23.8 %, 30.6 % and 35.4 %) increased at the expense of genotype 1b infection (52.5 %, 46.9 % and 38.0 %). By contrast, the median age (43, 40 and 38 years) and the proportion of patients with liver cirrhosis decreased (20.8 %, 15.3 % and 12.7 %). The percentage of patients started on DAA therapy within one year of diagnosis increased (47.5 %, 53.2 % and 62.0 %). And so did the proportion of patients receiving therapy as a result of cooperation with organizations and facilities working with PWID (5.9 %, 25.2 % and 25.3 %). The downside was high numbers of patients lost to follow-up (19.8 %, 23.4 % and 22.3 %). Those were mostly patients who completed their therapy as planned and were only lost to after receiving the final dose of DAAs. CONCLUSIONS: The fact that PWID have gradually become the dominant group of CHC patients is accompanied by a younger age of treated patients, a higher proportion of those with genotype 3a and less advanced liver damage. The changing spectrum of CHC patients makes medical professionals change their approach. Outreach testing and cooperation with organizations working with PWID have proved an effective way of improving the diagnosis and treatment of CHC.
- MeSH
- antivirové látky terapeutické užití MeSH
- chronická hepatitida C * farmakoterapie epidemiologie MeSH
- Hepacivirus MeSH
- hepatitida C * MeSH
- intravenózní abúzus drog * farmakoterapie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- retrospektivní studie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Názvy látek
- antivirové látky MeSH
Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) have, in insects, important physiological and ecological functions, such as protection against desiccation and as semiochemicals in social taxa, including termites. CHCs are, in termites, known to vary qualitatively and/or quantitatively among species, populations, castes, or seasons. Changes to hydrocarbon profile composition have been linked to varying degrees of aggression between termite colonies, although the variability of results among studies suggests that additional factors might have been involved. One source of such variability may be colony age, as termite colony demographics significantly change over time, with different caste and instar compositions throughout the life of the colony. We here hypothesize that the intracolonial chemical profile heterogeneity would be high in incipient termite colonies but would homogenize over time as a colony ages and accumulates older workers in improved homeostatic conditions. We studied caste-specific patterns of CHC profiles in Coptotermes gestroi colonies of four different age classes (6, 18, 30, and 42 months). The CHC profiles were variable among castes in the youngest colonies, but progressively converged toward a colony-wide homogenized chemical profile. Young colonies had a less-defined CHC identity, which implies a potentially high acceptance threshold for non-nestmates conspecifics in young colonies. Our results also suggest that there was no selective pressure for an early-defined colony CHC profile to evolve in termites, potentially allowing an incipient colony to merge nonagonistically with another conspecific incipient colony, with both colonies indirectly and passively avoiding mutual destruction as a result.
- Klíčová slova
- Coptotermes gestroi, chemical ecology, colony fusion, recognition, social insects,
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
