The oxidative damage induced by abiotic stress factors such as salinity, drought, extreme temperatures, heavy metals, pollution, and high irradiance has been studied in Arabidopsis thaliana. Ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) is presented as a signature reflecting the extent of the oxidation process and/or damage. It can be used to predict the physiological state and general health of plants. This study presents an overview of a potential research platform where the technique can be applied. The results presented can aid in providing invaluable information for developing strategies to mitigate abiotic stress in crops by improving plant breeding programs with a focus on enhancing tolerance. This study evaluates the applicability of charged couple device (CCD) imaging in evaluating plant stress and degree of damage and to discuss the advantages and limitations of the claimed non-invasive label-free tool.

• Klíčová slova
• Antioxidants, Reactive oxygen species, Stress imaging, Two-dimensional photon emission imaging, Wounding,
• MeSH
• Arabidopsis * fyziologie   MeSH
• fotony * MeSH
• fyziologický stres * MeSH
• oxidační stres MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

In the human skin, reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced continuously during oxidative metabolic processes (cellular respiration, oxidative burst) are essential for various cellular processes such as defense against infection, cellular signaling and apoptosis. On the other hand, when the formation of ROS exceeds a capacity of the non-enzymatic and the enzymatic antioxidant defense system, ROS cause the damage to the human skin known to initiate premature skin aging and skin cancer. In this study, two-dimensional spontaneous ultra-weak photon emission from the human skin has been measured using a highly sensitive charged coupled device (CCD) camera. It is demonstrated here that two-dimensional ultra-weak photon emission from the human skin increases with the topical application of exogenous ROS in the following order: hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) < superoxide anion radical (O₂•⁻) < hydroxyl radical (HO•). We propose here that the two-dimensional ultra-weak photon emission can be used as a non-invasive tool for the spatial and temporal monitoring of oxidative stress in the human skin.

• MeSH
• diagnostické zobrazování metody   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• elektronová paramagnetická rezonance MeSH
• fotometrie přístrojové vybavení   metody   MeSH
• fotony * MeSH
• fyziologie kůže účinky léků   MeSH
• hlava fyziologie   MeSH
• hydroxylový radikál metabolismus   MeSH
• kůže účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• oxidační stres účinky léků   MeSH
• peroxid vodíku aplikace a dávkování   farmakokinetika   farmakologie   MeSH
• reaktivní formy kyslíku aplikace a dávkování   metabolismus   farmakologie   MeSH
• ruka fyziologie   MeSH
• superoxidy metabolismus   MeSH
• trup fyziologie   MeSH
• xanthin aplikace a dávkování   farmakologie   MeSH
• xanthinoxidasa aplikace a dávkování   farmakologie   MeSH
• železo aplikace a dávkování   farmakologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• Fenton's reagent MeSH Prohlížeč
• hydroxylový radikál MeSH
• peroxid vodíku MeSH
• reaktivní formy kyslíku MeSH
• superoxidy MeSH
• xanthin MeSH
• xanthinoxidasa MeSH
• železo MeSH

BACKGROUND: The aim was to compare the speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) derived systolic longitudinal strain (SL(Smax)) with rest single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) perfusion imaging (Q(REST)), and to define the optimal cut-offs for SL(Smax) to discriminate transmural scar on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (ceCMR). METHODS AND RESULTS: In 100 patients with chronic ischemic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, myocardial viability was assessed using STE and rest SPECT to predict LV segmental relative extent of delayed enhancement (DE) >75% on ceCMR. Correlation was found between regional SL(Smax) (r=-0.59, P<0.0001) and DE on ceCMR. The SL(Smax) optimal cut-off -5.3% identified segments with DE>75% on ceCMR (sensitivity 83.1%, specificity 84.6%). Optimal cut-offs SL(Smax) for segments corresponding to individual perfusion territories (-3.6%, -5.3% and -4.7% for LAD, LCx resp. RCA perfusion territories) were identified. There was a significant difference (AUC 0.866 vs. 0.822 for SL(Smax) resp. Q(REST), p=0.036) in the accuracy of predicting non-viable segment due to the greater accuracy of SL(Smax) than Q(REST) in the RCA perfusion territory (AUC 0.893 vs. 0.75 for SLSmax resp. Q(REST), P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: STE enabled identification of LV non-viable segments. Cut-off values derived for perfusion territories of individual coronary arteries improve the accuracy of predicting a transmural scar presence. In comparison with rest myocardial SPECT perfusion imaging, STE is more accurate in predicting non-viable myocardium.

• MeSH
• dysfunkce levé srdeční komory diagnóza   MeSH
• echokardiografie * MeSH
• ischemická choroba srdeční diagnóza   diagnostické zobrazování   patofyziologie   MeSH
• jednofotonová emisní výpočetní tomografie * MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• magnetická rezonanční tomografie MeSH
• odpočinek MeSH
• prediktivní hodnota testů MeSH
• přežití tkáně MeSH
• radiofarmaka * MeSH
• reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• senzitivita a specificita MeSH
• zátěžový test MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Názvy látek
• radiofarmaka * MeSH

Two-dimensional imaging of spontaneous ultra-weak photon emission was measured in the yeast cells, Arabidopsis plant and the human hand using highly sensitive charge coupled device (CCD) camera. For the first time, the detail analysis of measuring parameters such as accumulation time and binning is provided with the aim to achieve two-dimensional images of spontaneous ultra-weak photon emission of good quality. We present data showing that using a hardware binning with binning factor 4 × 4, the accumulation time decreases in the following order: yeast cells (30 min) > the human hand (20 min) > Arabidopsis plant (10 min). Analysis of measuring parameters provides a detailed description of standard condition to be used for two-dimensional spontaneous ultra-weak photon imaging in microbes, plants and animals. Thus, CCD imaging can be employed as a unique tool to examine the oxidative state of the living organism with the application in microbiological, plant and medical research.

• MeSH
• Arabidopsis fyziologie   MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• fotony * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• oxidace-redukce MeSH
• ruka fyziologie   MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

BACKGROUND: Definite Alzheimer's disease (AD) requires neuropathological confirmation. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) may enhance diagnostic accuracy, but due to restricted sensitivity and specificity, the role of SPECT is largely limited with regard to this purpose. METHODS: We propose a new method of SPECT data analysis. The method is based on a combination of parietal lobe selection (as regions-of-interest (ROI)), 3D fuzzy edge detection, and 3D watershed transformation. We applied the algorithm to three-dimensional SPECT images of human brains and compared the number of watershed regions inside the ROI between AD patients and controls. The Student's two-sample t-test was used for testing domain number equity in both groups. RESULTS: AD patients had a significantly reduced number of watershed regions compared to controls (p < 0.01). A sensitivity of 94.1% and specificity of 80% was obtained with a threshold value of 57.11 for the watershed domain number. The narrowing of the SPECT analysis to parietal regions leads to a substantial increase in both sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Our non-invasive, relatively low-cost, and easy method can contribute to a more precise diagnosis of AD.

• MeSH
• algoritmy * MeSH
• Alzheimerova nemoc diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• fuzzy logika * MeSH
• interpretace obrazu počítačem metody   MeSH
• jednofotonová emisní výpočetní tomografie metody   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mozek diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• rozpoznávání automatizované metody   MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• senzitivita a specificita MeSH
• vylepšení obrazu metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

It is well established that every living organism spontaneously emits photons referred to as ultra-weak photon emission (synonym biophotons or low-level chemiluminescence) which inherently embodies information about the wellbeing of the source. In recent years, efforts have been made to use this feature as a non-invasive diagnostic tool related to the detection of food quality, agriculture and biomedicine. The current study deals with stress resulting from wounding (mechanical injury) on Arabidopsis thaliana and how it modifies the spontaneous ultra-weak photon emission. The ultra-weak photon emission from control (non-wounded) and stressed (wounded) plants was monitored using different modes of ultra-weak photon emission measurement sensors like charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras and photomultiplier tubes (PMT) and the collected data were analyzed to determine the level of stress generated, photon emission patterns, and underlying biochemical process. It is generally considered that electronically excited species formed during the oxidative metabolic processes are responsible for the ultra-weak photon emission. In the current study, a high-performance cryogenic full-frame CCD camera was employed for two-dimensional in-vivo imaging of ultra-weak photon emission (up to several counts/s) and the spectral analysis was done by using spectral system connected to a PMT. The results show that Arabidopsis subjected to mechanical injury enhances the photon emission and also leads to changes in the spectral pattern of ultra-weak photon emission. Thus, ultra-weak photon emission can be used as a tool for oxidative stress imaging and can pave its way into numerous plant application research.

• Klíčová slova
• Arabidopsis, mechanical injury, oxidative radical reaction, reactive oxygen species, spectral properties, ultra-weak photon emission, wounding,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: A lot of unresolved questions still exist concerning the exact mechanism of the beneficial effects of bone marrow cell (BMC) transplantation for myocardial regeneration. The aim of this communication is to report the cases of patients with and without post-transplantation left ventricular function improvement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To this study we included consecutive patients with irreversible damage after a first acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated by coronary angioplasty with stent implantation. The irreversible damage was identified by dobutamine echocardiography and confirmed by rest gated Tc-99m-MIBI gated SPECT and in the majority of patients by F-18-FDG PET imaging as well. Using 4D-MSPECT software, we quantified MIBI/FDG uptake and gated SPECT left ventricular ejection fraction, end-diastolic/end-systolic volumes (LVEF, EDV/ESV) before BMC therapy and 3 months later. RESULTS: The results obtained in the initial group of patients in this study (27 patients in the BMC treated group, 16 patients in the control group) have been published previously [Eur J Nucl Med 2005; 32 (Suppl 1 ): S46]. Among the BMC group, we identified 13 responders to therapy with average LVEF improvement from 43.3% +/- 11% to 51.4% +/- 10.4% and EDV/ESV improvement from 145 ml/84 ml to 133 ml/67 ml. The remaining 14 patients were non-responders to therapy with no significant change in LVEF (39.1% +/- 8.1% versus 39.8% +/- 7.4%), the EDV/ESV increased from 166 ml/105 ml to 188 ml/116 ml. Responders to the cell therapy had prevailing MIBI uptake in the range of 31-50% of maximum in the infarction territory. On the other hand, non-responders to BMC therapy had prevailing MIBI uptake in the range of 0-30% of maximum. Two cases are presented in this report. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies with a larger cohort of patients would be helpful to evaluate our findings. We observed strong interindividual differences in the effectiveness of the cell therapy. Prevailing residual MIBI uptake in the range of 31-50% of maximum was in the subgroup of responders to the cell therapy.

• MeSH
• buňky kostní dřeně cytologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• echokardiografie MeSH
• fluorodeoxyglukosa F18 farmakologie   MeSH
• infarkt myokardu patologie   MeSH
• jednofotonová emisní výpočetní tomografie metody   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• myokard patologie   MeSH
• pozitronová emisní tomografie metody   MeSH
• radiofarmaka farmakologie   MeSH
• technecium 99mTc sestamibi farmakologie   MeSH
• transplantace kostní dřeně metody   MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• zobrazování trojrozměrné MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• klinické zkoušky MeSH
• multicentrická studie MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• fluorodeoxyglukosa F18 MeSH
• radiofarmaka MeSH
• technecium 99mTc sestamibi MeSH

Solar radiation that reaches Earth's surface can have severe negative consequences for organisms. Both visible light and ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation are known to initiate the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human skin by photosensitization reactions (types I and II). In the present study, we investigated the role of visible light and UVA radiation in the generation of ROS on the dorsal and the palmar side of a hand. The ROS are known to oxidize biomolecules such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids to form electronically excited species, finally leading to ultraweak photon emission. We have employed a highly sensitive charge coupled device camera and a low-noise photomultiplier tube for detection of two-dimensional and one-dimensional ultraweak photon emission, respectively. Our experimental results show that oxidative stress is generated by the exposure of human skin to visible light and UVA radiation. The oxidative stress generated by UVA radiation is claimed to be significantly higher than that by visible light. Two-dimensional photon imaging can serve as a potential tool for monitoring the oxidative stress in the human skin induced by various stress factors irrespective of its physical or chemical nature.

• MeSH
• analýza selhání vybavení MeSH
• dávka záření MeSH
• design vybavení MeSH
• fotony MeSH
• kůže metabolismus   účinky záření   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• radiometrie přístrojové vybavení   MeSH
• reaktivní formy kyslíku metabolismus   MeSH
• světlo MeSH
• ultrafialové záření MeSH
• vztah dávky záření a odpovědi MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• reaktivní formy kyslíku MeSH

Skin plays an important role in protection, metabolism, thermoregulation, sensation, and excretion whilst being consistently exposed to environmental aggression, including biotic and abiotic stresses. During the generation of oxidative stress in the skin, the epidermal and dermal cells are generally regarded as the most affected regions. The participation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a result of environmental fluctuations has been experimentally proven by several researchers and is well known to contribute to ultra-weak photon emission via the oxidation of biomolecules (lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids). More recently, ultra-weak photon emission detection techniques have been introduced to investigate the conditions of oxidative stress in various living systems in in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro studies. Research into two-dimensional photon imaging is drawing growing attention because of its application as a non-invasive tool. We monitored spontaneous and stress-induced ultra-weak photon emission under the exogenous application of a Fenton reagent. The results showed a marked difference in the ultra-weak photon emission. Overall, these results suggest that triplet carbonyl (3C=O∗) and singlet oxygen (1O2) are the final emitters. Furthermore, the formation of oxidatively modified protein adducts and protein carbonyl formation upon treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were observed using an immunoblotting assay. The results from this study broaden our understanding of the mechanism of the generation of ROS in skin layers and the formation/contribution of various excited species can be used as tools to determine the physiological state of the organism.

• Klíčová slova
• malondialdehyde, oxidative radical reaction, porcine skin, protein carbonyls, protein modification, reactive oxygen species, two-dimensional imaging, ultra-weak photon emission,
• MeSH
• kůže * metabolismus   MeSH
• oxidace-redukce MeSH
• oxidační stres MeSH
• peroxid vodíku * metabolismus   MeSH
• proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• reaktivní formy kyslíku metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• peroxid vodíku * MeSH
• proteiny MeSH
• reaktivní formy kyslíku MeSH

BACKGROUND: The extent of scar or viable hypocontractile myocardial tissue determines postinfarction left ventricle remodeling. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the revascularization effect in a group of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and LV systolic dysfunction indicated for surgical revascularization, based on evidence for multivessel disease on coronarography and viable myocardium (CMR, SPECT). AIMS: To evaluate the revascularization effect in patients with ischemic LV systolic dysfunction and to find preoperative predictors of revascularization effect. METHODS: 33 patients (64+/-11 years) with baseline LVEF 34.9+/-9.3 % were included in the study. After a follow-up of 10.7+/-1.2 months, ECHO and SPECT were performed again. The whole group of patients was divided according to revascularization effect (postoperative increase LVEF > 5 % and postoperative decrease LVESV > 5 % compared with baseline) into revascularization responders (R, n = 22) and nonresponders (NR, n = 11). RESULTS: At baseline there was no difference between the subgroups in LVEF (R = 35.7+/-11.0 % vs. NR = 34.3+/-8.2 %), EDV (R = 183.6+/-43.2 vs. NR = 180.2+/-80.5 ml), ESV (R = 118.5+/-40.4 vs. NR = 119.7+/-55.2 ml). The responders showed in a revascularization effect subanalysis differences in the values of LVEF (+9.8+/-8.1 %, p < 0.009), reduction of EDV (-39.9+/-50.9 ml, p = 0.05) and ESV (-35.4+/-42.6 ml, p = 0,002) compared with baseline. The only preoperative parameters predicting LV reverse remodeling were the T(E-Em) (R = -10.6+/-44.1 vs. NR = 29.7+/-43.7 ms, p = 0.037) and the size of fixed perfusion defect (FPD) (R = 11.9+/-13.5 vs. NR = 22.9+/-15.3 % of LV, p = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ischemic LV systolic dysfunction with a preoperatively determined myocardial viability develop LV reverse remodeling. The only preoperative parameters predicting LV reverse remodeling were echocardiographic T(E-Em) and FPD on SPECT.

• MeSH
• dysfunkce levé srdeční komory komplikace   MeSH
• echokardiografie * MeSH
• ischemická choroba srdeční komplikace   patofyziologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• remodelace komor * MeSH
• revaskularizace myokardu MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• srdeční akcí synchronizovaná jednofotonová emisní počítačová tomografie * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH