While there is substantial research on what people want in their romantic and sexual partners, much of this work focuses on WEIRD, youthful samples, fails to consider the role of undesirable characteristics (i.e., things people do not want in partners) at all, or in conjunction with desirable characteristics (i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImmunogenic cell death (ICD) refers to an immunologically distinct process of regulated cell death that activates, rather than suppresses, innate and adaptive immune responses. Such responses culminate into T cell-driven immunity against antigens derived from dying cancer cells. The potency of ICD is dependent on the immunogenicity of dying cells as defined by the antigenicity of these cells and their ability to expose immunostimulatory molecules like damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and cytokines like type I interferons (IFNs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMaternal antibodies are passively transferred to the fetus via the placenta during gestation and can play an important role in protecting the newborn from infection. For example, in malaria-endemic regions, maternal antibodies likely provide substantial protection against malaria in the first 6 months of life. However, circulating maternal antibodies can also interfere with vaccine efficacy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPre-erythrocytic malaria vaccines that induce high-titer, durable antibody responses can potentially provide protection from infection. Here, we engineered a virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccine targeting a recently described vulnerable epitope at the N-terminus of the central repeat region of the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein that is recognized by the potently inhibitory monoclonal antibody L9 and show that immunization with L9 VLPs induces strong antibody responses that provide protection from blood-stage malaria in a mouse infection model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim Of The Study: Spontaneous spinal epidural haematomas (SSEH) are rare nosological units wherein acute collections of blood develop in the spinal canal. SSEH are usually manifested by sudden severe back pain accompanied by the development of neurological symptoms. In this study, we retrospectively describe management and the main risk factors of SSEH in a series of 14 cases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: During the 30th symposium of assisted reproduction held on November 11, 2020 in Brno, the solved problems in reproductive medicine in the Czech Republic in 2020 were presented. The selected topics have concerned not only current issues in the field of clinical embryology and genetics as well as gynecology, but also legislation and ethics. Discussed topics: 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA malaria vaccine that elicits long-lasting protection and is suitable for use in endemic areas remains urgently needed. Here, we assessed the immunogenicity and prophylactic efficacy of a vaccine targeting a recently described epitope on the major surface antigen on Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites, circumsporozoite protein (CSP). Using a virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccine platform technology, we developed a vaccine that targets the junctional region between the N-terminal and central repeat regions of CSP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Grand Canyon National Park has seen an increase in visitors traversing the canyon from rim to rim (R2R) in a single day. R2R hikers travel over 33.8 km (21 mi) over 3300 m (11,000 ft) of elevation change and endure large temperature changes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To compare results after stimulation with corifollitropin alfa (Elonva) in unselected group of women entering for the first time in in vitro fertilization programme (IVF) with results from Phase III randomized trials with selected groups of women.
Design: Prospective study.
Setting: Sanatorium Pronatal, Praha.
Objective: To demonstrate successful restoration of ovarian function after ovarian transplantation in young woman with premature ovarian failure after gonadotoxic treatment of breast carcinoma and to discuss its possibilities.
Design: Case report.
Setting: Sanatorium Pronatal, Prague.
Introduction: During the 25th symposium of assisted reproduction in Brno was lunch time organised as the lunch table discussion on the selected topics of assisted reproduction. More than 150 specialists reviewed themes related to gynecology and embryology.Discussed topics: Lunch table discussion covered the following topics: (1) Cross-border health care in assisted reproduction; (2) Indication for PGS (preimplantation genetic screening) in the context of actual information; (3) Does ovarian stimulation belong to the ambulance of registering gynecologists? (4) Therapy with clomifen - only for IVF specialists? (5) How and with whom should psychological support be directed during IVF? (6) Stimulation in women with low ovarian reserve; (7) Is basic semen analyses sufficient? (8) Time-lapse systems as relevant markers of embryonic development; (9) How to be oriented with choices of media and consumables in the IVF lab, and (10) "Freeze All" - is this new trend in cryopreservation suitable for all?
Conclusions: Panel conclusions were presented during the afternoon session, which had great attendance, featured lively commentary, and produced some definitive consensus.
Tolerogenic dendritic cells (tDCs) may offer an intervention therapy in autoimmune diseases or transplantation. Stable immaturity and tolerogenic function of tDCs after encountering inflammatory environment are prerequisite for positive outcome of immunotherapy. However, the signaling pathways regulating their stable tolerogenic properties are largely unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe guidlines are the recommendation for good laboratory practice in embryological laboratories. In this first part the requirements of the clean environment from the point of view of the oocytes, sperm, and embryos protection against infection and from point of view of the embryological laboratory staff health protection were described.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSpontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is a rare neurologic condition with threatening consequences when spinal cord compression is present. The diagnosis must be performed quickly using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which shows collection of blood in the epidural space. With spinal cord compression, there is an indication for urgent surgical decompression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The purpose of this study is to determine whether an innovative interactive distance training program is an effective modality to train community health workers (CHWs) to become members of the diabetes health care team. The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center has developed a rigorous diabetes training program for CHWs involving both distance and hands-on learning as part of Project ECHO™ (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes).
Methods: Twenty-three diverse CHW participants from across New Mexico were enrolled in the first training session.
Objective: To compare clinical and embryological characteristics in donor cycles triggered for final oocytes maturation with Pregnyl 10 000 IU i.m. versus triptorelin 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim Of The Study: To assess the PGD results in couples with robertsonian and reciprocal translocations.
Design: Retrospective study.
Setting: Sanatorium Pronatal, Prague, accredited IVF unit.
The major cause of death among pulmonary hypertension patients is right heart failure, but the biology of right heart is not well understood. Previous studies showed that mechanisms of the activation of GATA4, a major regulator of cardiac hypertrophy, in response to pressure overload are different between left and right ventricles. In the left ventricle, aortic constriction triggers GATA4 activation via posttranslational modifications without influencing GATA4 expression, while pulmonary artery banding enhances GATA4 expression in the right ventricle.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPulmonary hypertension is involved in the development of various diseases and therefore it can be caused by several mechanisms from a simple pressure elevation in the pulmonary artery to the serious impairments of pulmonary vessels. The recently increased interest in the problems of pulmonary hypertension results namely from the new therapeutic means for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic thrombembolic pulmonary hypertension. The algorism of pharmacotherapy results from the test of acute pulmonary vasodilation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKinex antibody microarray analyses was used to investigate the regulation of 188 protein kinases, 24 protein phosphatases, and 170 other regulatory proteins during meiotic maturation of immature germinal vesicle (GV+) pig oocytes to maturing oocytes that had completed meiosis I (MI), and fully mature oocytes arrested at metaphase of meiosis II (MII). Increases in apparent protein levels of protein kinases accounted for most of the detected changes during the GV to MI transition, whereas reduced protein kinase levels and increased protein phosphorylation characterized the MI to MII transition. During the MI to MII period, many of the MI-associated increased levels of the proteins and phosphosites were completely or partially reversed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe binding of mRNAs to ribosomes is mediated by the protein complex eIF4F in conjunction with eIF4B (eukaryotic initiation factor 4F and 4B). EIF4F is a three subunit complex consisting of eIF4A (RNA helicase), eIF4E (mRNA cap binding protein), and eIF4G (bridging protein). The crucial role is played by eIF4E, which directly binds the 5'-cap structure of the mRNA and facilitates the recruitment to the mRNA of other translation factors and the 40S ribosomal subunit.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a serious primary illness of the pulmonary arterioles, characterised by progressive precapillary pulmonary hypertension. The conventional therapy for this condition is so-called specific pharmacotherapy, which addresses the key mechanisms in the pathophysiology of the illness, making use of drugs from the prostanoid group, endothelin receptor antagonists and phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Treprostinil is a stable analogue of prostacyclin, which can be administered subcutaneously, intravenously or by inhalation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) plays an important role in mRNA translation by binding the 5'-cap structure of the mRNA and facilitating the recruitment to the mRNA of other translation factors and the 40S ribosomal subunit. eIF4E undergoes regulated phosphorylation on Ser-209 and this phosphorylation is believed to be important for its binding to mRNA and to other initiation factors. The findings showing that the translation initiation factor eIF4E becomes gradually phosphorylated during in vitro maturation (IVM) of pig oocytes with a maximum in metaphase II (M II) stage oocytes have been documented by us recently (Ellederova et al.
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