Inbred mouse strains provide phenotypic homogeneity between individual mice. However, stochastic morphogenetic events combined with epigenetic changes due to exposure to environmental factors and ontogenic experience result in variability among mice with virtually identical genotypes, reducing the reproducibility of experimental mouse models. Here we used microscopic and cytometric techniques to identify individual patterns in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) that are induced by exposure to microbiota. By comparing germ-free (GF), conventional (CV) and gnotobiotic mice colonized with a defined minimal mouse microbiota (oMM12) MHC II-EGFP knock-in mice we quantified antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the lamina propria, cryptopatches (CP), isolated lymphoid follicles (ILFs), Peyer's patches (PPs) and specific sections of the mesenteric lymphoid complex. We found that GF mice had a significantly larger outer intestinal surface area compared to CV and oMM12-colonized mice, which partially compensated for their lower density of the villi in the distal ileum. GF mice also contained fewer APCs than oMM12 mice in the Iamina propria of the villi and had a significantly smaller volume of the solitary intestinal lymphoid tissue (SILT). In both GF and oMM12 mice, PP follicles were significantly smaller compared to CV mice, although number was similar. Concomitantly, the number of pDCs in PPs was significantly lower in GF mice than in CV mice. Moreover, the cecal patch was dispersed into small units in GF mice whereas it was compact in CV mice. Taken together, we here provide further evidence that microbiota regulates SILT differentiation, the size and morphology of PPs, the cellular composition of mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and the morphology of cecal patch. As such, microbiota directly affect not only the functional configuration of the immune system but also the differentiation of lymphoid structures. These findings highlight how standardized microbiota, such as oMM12, can promote reproducibility in animal studies by enabling microbiologically controlled experiments across laboratories.

• Keywords
• Germ-free and gnotobiotic models, Gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), Lymphoid tissue morphogenesis, MHCII-EGFP knock-in mice, Microbiota-induced immunity, Phenotypic plasticity,
• MeSH
• Antigen-Presenting Cells immunology   MeSH
• Germ-Free Life MeSH
• Lymphoid Tissue * immunology   cytology   microbiology   MeSH
• Mice, Inbred C57BL MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Peyer's Patches immunology   cytology   MeSH
• Gastrointestinal Microbiome * immunology   MeSH
• Intestinal Mucosa immunology   microbiology   cytology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Infertility has emerged as a significant public health concern, with assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a last-resort treatment option. However, ART's efficacy is limited by significant financial cost and physical discomfort. The aim of this study is to build Machine learning (ML) decision-support models to predict the optimal range of embryo numbers to transfer, using data from infertile couples identified through literature reviews. Binary classification models were developed to classify cases into two groups: those transferring two or fewer embryos and those transferring three or four. Four popular ML algorithms were used, including random forest (RF), logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), and artificial neural network (ANN), considering seven criteria: the woman's age, sperm origin, the developmental qualities of four potential embryos, infertility duration, assessment of the woman, morphological qualities of the four best embryos on the day of transfer, and number of oocytes extracted. The stratified 3-fold cross-validation results show that the SVM model obtained the highest average accuracy (95.83%) and demonstrated the best overall performance, closely followed by the ANN and LR models with an average accuracy equal to 91.67%. The RF model achieved a slightly lower average accuracy (88.89%), which demonstrated the lowest variability. Testing on a new dataset revealed all models performed well, with ANN and SVM models classified all test set instances correctly, while the RF and LR models achieved 91.68% accuracy. These results highlight the superior generalization and effectiveness of the ANN and SVM models in guiding ART decisions.

• Keywords
• Artificial neural network, assisted reproductive technology, embryo transfer, infertility, multi-criteria decision aiding, number of embryos,
• MeSH
• Reproductive Techniques, Assisted * MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Infertility * therapy   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Neural Networks, Computer MeSH
• Embryo Transfer * MeSH
• Machine Learning * MeSH
• Support Vector Machine MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

PURPOSE: NF2-related schwannomatosis (NF2) patients are predisposed to develop multiple peripheral and central nervous tumors including bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VS). Decision on patient management, especially in large growing tumors, might be challenging concerning possible treatment-related complications and quality of life. Systemic therapy with bevacizumab has been reported to slow VS growth and improve hearing. Here, we present single-center outcomes of NF2 patients treated with bevacizumab. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 15 NF2 patients with morphologically diagnosed unilateral or bilateral VS indicated for systemic therapy with bevacizumab (5 mg/kg every 2 weeks) in 2015-2022. Tumor growth rate, volume, and hearing thresholds were assessed before, during, and after first-line bevacizumab therapy. RESULTS: 15 patients (5 male, 10 females, mean age at the start of the therapy 30y, mean no. of bevacizumab cycles 35) and 25 tumors were evaluated. Radiologically significant (> 20% from the baseline) tumor volume reduction was observed in 5 patients. Notably, in patients with bilateral VS, volume reduction occurred on only one side. Three patients demonstrated a significantly reduced growth rate and tumor stabilization. Hearing improvement was documented in 1 patient, while another experienced significant hearing decline. CONCLUSION: Bevacizumab therapy may contribute to tumor shrinkage and hearing stabilization in NF2 patients. However, treatment response is variable, with meaningful tumor reduction and hearing improvement observed only in a minority of cases.

• Keywords
• Bevacizumab, Neurofibromatosis, Schwannomatosis, Vestibular schwannoma,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

INTRODUCTION: Ultrasonography is a non-invasive and safe method for assessing muscle morphology. Among its parameters, echo intensity (EI), derived from grayscale image analysis, has emerged as a promising indicator of muscle quality and intramuscular fat infiltration. This study aims to validate EI as a marker for evaluating muscle quality in a population of Czech children, through integration with gold-standard assessments of muscle strength and body composition. The primary aim of this study is to assess the reliability and construct validity of quadriceps muscle EI using ultrasound as a proxy measure of morphological muscle quality in children aged 10-14 years. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Children aged 10-14 years will undergo ultrasound assessment of the quadriceps femoris (QF). EI will be derived from longitudinal scans of each QF head and the cross-sectional area (CSAQF) from panoramic mid-thigh images. Muscle function will be assessed as maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of isometric knee extension with muscle quality expressed as MVC/CSAQF. A 30 s sit-to-stand test (30STS) will be used as an additional functional measure. EI reliability (intra-rater, inter-rater and test-retest) will be evaluated with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), Bland-Altman plots and complementary indices. Exploratory known-groups validity will be tested by comparing EI between weight-status groups. Control variables include dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-derived body composition, skeletal age (as determined by DXA hand scans) and physical activity (assessed using 7-day accelerometry).This study will include 200 children (100 girls and 100 boys) aged 10-14 years using an a priori power analysis based on the primary objective of assessing construct validity through multiple linear regression, assuming an alpha level of 0.05 and 80% power. Participants will be recruited from paediatric outpatients of the Paediatric Obesity Clinic and individuals reached through a recruitment campaign. Inclusion criteria require general good health, while exclusion criteria include a history or symptoms of cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic or neurological disease, as well as the use of over-the-counter or prescribed medications. Informed consent and assent will be obtained from all participants.Reliability of ultrasound-derived EI will be assessed for intra-rater, inter-rater and test-retest agreement using ICC coefficients, Bland-Altman plots and complementary indices such as SE of measurement, coefficient of variation and minimal detectable change at 95% CI, following Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments guidelines. Construct validity will be examined by modelling associations between EI and functional muscle quality (MVC/CSAQF), with 30STS as an additional functional measure. Known-groups validity will be tested by comparing EI across weight groups, using generalised linear regression models adjusted for skeletal age, body composition and physical activity. All validity analyses will be conducted separately for girls and boys. Ultrasound-derived EI of the QF is expected to show high reliability (ICC≥0.80) and acceptable test-retest reproducibility. Construct validity should be supported by moderate associations with functional muscle quality (MVC/CSAQF), while known-groups validity is expected to reveal higher EI values in children with obesity and/or insufficient physical activity. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University (EK 101/2024). Written parental consent and verbal assent from children will be obtained, with all data handled confidentially and anonymised. Results will be disseminated transparently to participants and their families in line with ethical principles of respect, beneficence and justice. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT06792279.

• Keywords
• Child, Obesity, Ultrasound,
• MeSH
• Quadriceps Muscle * diagnostic imaging   physiology   MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Observational Studies as Topic MeSH
• Cross-Sectional Studies MeSH
• Reproducibility of Results MeSH
• Body Composition MeSH
• Muscle Strength * physiology   MeSH
• Ultrasonography methods   MeSH
• Validation Studies as Topic MeSH
• Research Design MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Clinical Trial Protocol MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a fibroblastic neoplasm characterized by prominent, staghorn, or delicate "hemangiopericytoma (HPC)-like vasculature", NAB2::STAT6 gene fusion, and its surrogate STAT6 expression. SFT may exhibit an unpredictable clinical course, necessitating risk assessment based on tumor characteristics. Renal SFTs are rare and have not been well characterized. Forty-three primary kidney SFT cases are reviewed for clinical, morphological, and immunohistochemical (STAT6, BCL2, CD34, and PAX8) features. A four-variable risk stratification by Demicco was applied based on patient age, tumor size, mitotic activity, and tumor necrosis. The mean age was 49 years (range 11-83 years) with a slight female predominance (male:female = 20:23). The mean tumor size was 7.8 cm (1.6-32 cm). Tumors were mainly located at the hilus (22/32, 68%) and had well-demarcated borders (31/42, 74%). Morphologically, tumors were categorized as 1) Fibrous ("SFT-like", 19/43, 44%), characterized by hypocellularity and prominent fine-reticular or keloidal collagen; 2) Cellular ("HPC-like", 8/43, 19%), with hypercellularity, short spindle to small cell-like proliferation, and lacking a collagenous background; 3) mixed fibrous/cellular (16/43, 37%) displaying both components. Four cases featured a lipomatous component. BCL2 was positive in all tested cases (28/28), CD34 in all but 3 cases (93%), and STAT6 in all but one case (39/40, 97.5%). PAX8 was positive in 6/34 (18%) cases. Most cases (29/43, 68%) were classified as low-risk, followed by intermediate (12/43, 27%) and high-risk (2/43, 5%) groups. Five of 29 (18%) patients had metastatic disease, and two patients with high-risk and one with intermediate-risk tumors died from the disease, while 25 patients with low- or intermediate-risk tumors were alive for an average of about 36 months. We emphasize the usefulness of the risk stratification system in predicting prognosis. PAX8 expression in a subset of renal SFT represents a potential diagnostic pitfall.

• Keywords
• Hemangiopericytoma, Kidney, PAX8, Prognosis, Renal, STAT6, Solitary fibrous tumor, Stratification,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Transformation and degradation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) are of considerable magnitude in large rivers but studies investigating a river system from source to sea are scarce. DOM composition changes from headwaters to tide-impacted river stretches due to natural processes, but is also influenced by anthropogenic impacts on river morphology and water quality. We tested the hypotheses that (1) aromatic, oxygen-rich, and large molecules of terrestrial DOM in upstream regions are transformed to more saturated, nitrogen-rich, and smaller molecules towards the tidal and coastal parts, and (2) chlorophyll a concentration and salinity are important explanatory variables of DOM transformation. We tracked the longitudinal dynamics of DOM composition and relevant drivers along the Elbe River in Central Europe from the Czech headwater region via the lowland freshwater section and the tidal region to the coastal waters of the North Sea applying a Lagrangian sampling approach. Chlorophyll a concentration and oxygen saturation increased longitudinally in the river but showed a distinct minimum in the estuary upstream of the salinity gradient whereas dissolved nutrients were depleted by algae in the freshwater part and were released at algal die-off in the estuary. DOM was dominated by aromatic, oxygen-rich components of terrestrial origin in the upstream region. However, the imprint of this terrestrial signal constantly decreased with increasing river stretch while the proportion of organic nitrogen increased towards the estuary and coastal regions. Analyses of DOM transformations along the river-estuary-ocean gradient revealed that decarboxylation was the most frequent transformation and that phytoplankton and salinity were major explanatory variables of DOM quality. Overall, our unique data set demonstrated a distinct sequence of DOM transformation along the land-ocean gradient highlighting the large activity of riverine and estuarine systems in terms of organic carbon dynamics.

• Keywords
• DOM composition, FT-ICR MS, Lagrangian sampling approach, Land-ocean gradient,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Members of Oxyspirura are mainly parasites in the eye of a wide variety of wild and domestic birds, as well as of some mammals. The latter group is represented by species found in non-human primates from zoological gardens. Recently, dead non-human primates of 12 species were examined to determine those with infections in the eyes, as well as their morphological and molecular identification. For that, 14 and six individual nematodes were used for the morphological and molecular analyses (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS, and cox1 genes), respectively. Three out of the 12 non-human primate species (Leontopithecus chrysomelas, Saguinus midas, and Saguinus oedipus) showed eye infection with nematodes, whose specific identification resulted in the erection of a new species, Oxyspirura (Oxyspirura) tamarina sp. nov. This species is characterized by having a divided buccal capsule, spicules unequal and dissimilar, gubernaculum present or absent, and variability in the number of precloacal papillae. All newly generated sequences were identical to each other. The new species differs morphologically from its congeners in the shape of the buccal capsule, length of spicules, and number and distribution of caudal papillae; molecularly, the genetic divergence was higher than 5% in all markers. Despite the morphological differences of the nematodes studied, the molecular analysis allowed us to recognize them as a sole species, thus becoming the third species of Oxyspirura reported in primates kept in captivity around the world.

• Keywords
• Nematoda, Oxyspirura, eyes, molecular analysis, morphology, new species, phylogeny, primates,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

This study assesses the performance of the ADMS-Urban dispersion model in estimating 1-h mean nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations within the street canyons of Prague. While traditional air quality modeling that relies on sparse data from localized monitoring stations, this approach pioneers the integration of traffic, background, and rooftop sensor network, to archive a more granular validation of model outputs. The results demonstrate robust model performance, with FAC2 values ranging from 0.307 to 0.552, NMSE consistently below 1.8, and fractional bias (FB) largely within ±0.4. Notably, the rooftop sensors exhibited a higher FB of 0.775, suggesting reduced accuracy in zones with lower ambient concentrations and complex vertical mixing. Spatial mapping revealed that NO2 concentrations exceeded 50 μg/m3 at key traffic intersections, driven by vehicle idling, congestion, and restricted dispersion within enclosed canyon geometries. Street morphology played a critical role in pollutant retention, with narrow, high-walled corridors accumulating higher NO2 loads than broader, vegetated streets that allowed greater airflow and dilution. Temporal analysis indicated a marked seasonal trend, with elevated concentrations during the colder months (October to February), reflecting increased vehicular activity and meteorological influences such as lower wind speeds and temperature inversions. Overall, the findings confirm the ADMS-Urban model's capacity to accurately reflect both spatial and temporal variability in urban NO2 distribution. The results underscore the interplay between urban form, traffic dynamics, and pollutant dispersion, offering valuable insights for air quality planning in similarly dense urban environments.

• Keywords
• Geospatial analysis, Seasonal emission patterns, Sensor-based validation, Traffic-related pollution, Urban air quality,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Phytoplankton, as primary producers, play a key role in aquatic ecosystems. Their community turnover is shaped by morphological traits that enable adaptation to diverse abiotic and biotic factors. Yet, the temporal scale of these dynamics remains poorly understood due to limited high-frequency sampling studies. Employing DNA metabarcoding, we assessed the community composition of the phytoplankton lineage Synurales (Chrysophyceae) at 3-d intervals during 70 d at a shallow peat bog lake in the Czech Republic. The selected group possesses a variety of species-specific key morphological traits, such as cell size, coloniality, and bristle formation. Using a custom reference database of cultured species, we assigned 99.93% of eDNA reads to 74 species-level lineages with known morphological traits. Community changes in colonial species were influenced by abiotic drivers such as silica concentration and wind speed. By contrast, shifts in unicellular species communities were mainly driven by Cladocera predators, influencing the occurrence of bristle-bearing species. Changes in species composition and morphological traits occurred within days, mirroring environmental variability. Achieving such fine-scale resolution, especially for small or rare taxa, would be extremely difficult using microscopy alone. eDNA enabled high-resolution community profiling and abundance estimation, demonstrating its key role and the importance of comprehensive reference databases.

• Keywords
• DNA metabarcoding, Synurales, community structure, environmental variables, freshwater ecosystems, high‐throughput sequencing, morphological traits, zooplankton,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

BACKGROUND: The quadriceps femoris is the main extensor of the knee joint, traditionally described as having four heads. Since the 19th century, reports have suggested an additional head between the vastus lateralis and vastus intermedius. In 2016, Grob et al. described this structure in detail, naming it the tensor vastus intermedius (TVI) and proposing a morphological classification. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, morphology, and dimensions of the TVI in cadaveric specimens and compare the results with the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten lower limbs from five preserved cadavers (four male, one female) were dissected using a standardized protocol. The presence, Grob type, and dimensions of the TVI were recorded with an electronic caliper. A literature review included only cadaveric studies consistent with Grob's classification and containing quantitative data. RESULTS: The TVI was present in all specimens (100%). The most common type was VL (50%), followed by VI (30%) and bicipital (20%). VI and bicipital types occurred only in males; females showed only the VL type. Identical bilateral types were found in 20% of cases (females). The mean belly length was 105.99 mm, and width was 19.15 mm. Literature reports prevalence ranging from 34% to 100% with variable type distribution. CONCLUSIONS: The TVI was a consistent anatomical feature in this sample, with type VL predominating and notable sex-related differences. Findings confirm considerable morphological variability, highlighting potential relevance in imaging interpretation, surgical planning, and rehabilitation. Further imaging-based studies on larger populations are needed to clarify its biomechanical and clinical roles.

• Keywords
• Grob classification, fifth head of the quadriceps femoris muscle, quadriceps femoris muscle, tensor vastus intermedius,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH