Virtual reality-based neuroproprioceptive physiotherapy in multiple sclerosis: a protocol for a double-arm randomised assessor-blinded controlled trial on upper extremity function, postural function and quality of life, with molecular and functional MRI assessment.

Introduction: Upper limb (UL) impairment is common in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), and functional recovery of the UL is a key rehabilitation goal. Technology-based approaches, like virtual reality (VR), are increasingly promising. While most VR environments are task-oriented, our clinical approach integrates neuroproprioceptive 'facilitation and inhibition' (NFI) principles.

lncRNA Biomarkers of Glioblastoma Multiforme.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA molecules of 200 nucleotides or more in length that are not translated into proteins. Their expression is tissue-specific, with the vast majority involved in the regulation of cellular processes and functions. Many human diseases, including cancer, have been shown to be associated with deregulated lncRNAs, rendering them potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for differential diagnosis.

Biomolecules to Biomarkers? U87MG Marker Evaluation on the Path towards Glioblastoma Multiforme Pathogenesis.

The heterogeneity of the glioma subtype glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) challenges effective neuropathological treatment. The reliance on in vitro studies and xenografted animal models to simulate human GBM has proven ineffective. Currently, a dearth of knowledge exists regarding the applicability of cell line biomolecules to the realm of GBM pathogenesis.

Expanding the classical paradigm: what we have learnt from vertebrates about sex chromosome evolution.

Until recently, the field of sex chromosome evolution has been dominated by the canonical unidirectional scenario, first developed by Muller in 1918. This model postulates that sex chromosomes emerge from autosomes by acquiring a sex-determining locus. Recombination reduction then expands outwards from this locus, to maintain its linkage with sexually antagonistic/advantageous alleles, resulting in Y or W degeneration and potentially culminating in their disappearance.

All-Trans Retinoic Acid Fosters the Multifarious U87MG Cell Line as a Model of Glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a primary brain cancer of poor prognosis, with existing treatments remaining essentially palliative. Current GBM therapy fails due to rapid reappearance of the heterogeneous neoplasm, with models suggesting that the recurrent growth is from treatment-resistant glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs). Whether GSCs depend on survival/proliferative cues from their surrounding microenvironmental niche, particularly surrounding the leading edge after treatment remains unknown.

Characterization of novel lectins from Burkholderia pseudomallei and Chromobacterium violaceum with seven-bladed β-propeller fold.

Burkholderia pseudomallei and Chromobacterium violaceum are bacteria of tropical and subtropical soil and water that occasionally cause fatal infections in humans and animals. Microbial lectins mediate the adhesion of organisms to host cells, which is the first phase in the development of infection. Here we report the discovery of two novel lectins from the above-mentioned bacteria - BP39L and CV39L.

The processes associated with lipid peroxidation in human embryonic lung fibroblasts, treated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organic extract from particulate matter.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may cause lipid peroxidation via reactive oxygen species generation. 15-F2t-isoprostane (IsoP), an oxidative stress marker, is formed from arachidonic acid (AA) by a free-radical induced oxidation. AA may also be converted to prostaglandins (PG) by prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase (PTGS) induced by NF-κB.

Adaptation of the human population to the environment: Current knowledge, clues from Czech cytogenetic and "omics" biomonitoring studies and possible mechanisms.

The human population is continually exposed to numerous harmful environmental stressors, causing negative health effects and/or deregulation of biomarker levels. However, studies reporting no or even positive impacts of some stressors on humans are also sometimes published. The main aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the last decade of Czech biomonitoring research, concerning the effect of various levels of air pollution (benzo[a]pyrene) and radiation (uranium, X-ray examination and natural radon background), on the differently exposed population groups.

Prenylated flavonoid morusin protects against TNBS-induced colitis in rats.

Morusin is a prenylated flavonoid isolated from the root bark of Morus alba. Many studies have shown the ability of flavonoids to act as anti-inflammatory agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of morusin on experimentally colitis induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzensulfonic acid in Wistar rats and to compare it with sulfasalazine, a drug conventionally used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Genome Compositional Organization in Gars Shows More Similarities to Mammals than to Other Ray-Finned Fish.

Genomic GC content can vary locally, and GC-rich regions are usually associated with increased DNA thermostability in thermophilic prokaryotes and warm-blooded eukaryotes. Among vertebrates, fish and amphibians appeared to possess a distinctly less heterogeneous AT/GC organization in their genomes, whereas cytogenetically detectable GC heterogeneity has so far only been documented in mammals and birds. The subject of our study is the gar, an ancient "living fossil" of a basal ray-finned fish lineage, known from the Cretaceous period.

Butyrate alters expression of cytochrome P450 1A1 and metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene via its histone deacetylase activity in colon epithelial cell models.

Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid produced by fermentation of dietary fiber, is an important regulator of colonic epithelium homeostasis. In this study, we investigated the impact of this histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor on expression/activity of cytochrome P450 family 1 (CYP1) and on metabolism of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), in colon epithelial cells. Sodium butyrate (NaBt) strongly potentiated the BaP-induced expression of CYP1A1 in human colon carcinoma HCT116 cells.

[Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome - case study].

Objective: To draw attention to the issue and the need of interdisciplinary cooperation in treating severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).

Design: Case study.

Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Kolín.

In vitro synergistic effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa aqueous extract in combination with standard antibiotics against Helicobacter pylori clinical isolates.

Context The increasing problem of drug-resistant strains has led to the failure of current treatment regimens of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection. Recently, a new treatment strategy has been developed to overcome the problem by using natural products in combination with antibiotics to enhance the treatment efficacy. Objective The antimicrobial combinatory effect of the aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L.

Novel X-linked genes revealed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in the green anole, Anolis carolinensis.

The green anole, Anolis carolinensis (ACA), is the model reptile for a vast array of biological disciplines. It was the first nonavian reptile to have its genome fully sequenced. During the genome project, the XX/XY system of sex chromosomes homologous to chicken chromosome 15 (GGA15) was revealed, and 106 X-linked genes were identified.

A ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system in the thick-tailed Gecko ( Underwoodisaurus milii; Squamata: Gekkota: Carphodactylidae), a member of the ancient gecko lineage.

Geckos (Gekkota) are a highly diversified group of lizards with an exceptional diversity in sex-determining systems. Despite this intriguing documented variability, data on sex determination in many lineages is still scarce. Here, we document the previously overlooked heteromorphic ZZ/ZW sex chromosomes in the thick-tailed gecko, Underwoodisaurus milii, a member of the ancient lineage of pygopodoid geckos.

Cretaceous park of sex determination: sex chromosomes are conserved across iguanas.

Many poikilothermic vertebrate lineages, especially among amphibians and fishes, possess a rapid turnover of sex chromosomes, while in endotherms there is a notable stability of sex chromosomes. Reptiles in general exhibit variability in sex-determining systems; as typical poikilotherms, they might be expected to have a rapid turnover of sex chromosomes. However, molecular data which would enable the testing of the stability of sex chromosomes are lacking in most lineages.

Multiple sex chromosomes in the light of female meiotic drive in amniote vertebrates.

It is notable that the occurrence of multiple sex chromosomes differs significantly between major lineages of amniote vertebrates. In this respect, birds are especially conspicuous, as multiple sex chromosomes have not been observed in this lineage so far. On the other hand, in mammals, multiple sex chromosomes have evolved many times independently.

Conserved sex chromosomes across adaptively radiated Anolis lizards.

Vertebrates possess diverse sex-determining systems, which differ in evolutionary stability among particular groups. It has been suggested that poikilotherms possess more frequent turnovers of sex chromosomes than homoiotherms, whose effective thermoregulation can prevent the emergence of the sex reversals induced by environmental temperature. Squamate reptiles used to be regarded as a group with an extensive variability in sex determination; however, we document how the rather old radiation of lizards from the genus Anolis, known for exceptional ecomorphological variability, was connected with stability in sex chromosomes.

New derivatives of salicylamides: Preparation and antimicrobial activity against various bacterial species.

Three series of salicylanilides, esters of N-phenylsalicylamides and 2-hydroxy-N-[1-(2-hydroxyphenylamino)-1-oxoalkan-2-yl]benzamides, in total thirty target compounds were synthesized and characterized. The compounds were evaluated against seven bacterial and three mycobacterial strains. The antimicrobial activities of some compounds were comparable or higher than the standards ampicillin, ciprofloxacin or isoniazid.

Rapidly developing yeast microcolonies differentiate in a similar way to aging giant colonies.

During their development and aging on solid substrates, yeast giant colonies produce ammonia, which acts as a quorum sensing molecule. Ammonia production is connected with alkalization of the surrounding medium and with extensive reprogramming of cell metabolism. In addition, ammonia signaling is important for both horizontal (colony centre versus colony margin) and vertical (upper versus lower cell layers) colony differentiations.

Conservation of chromosomes syntenic with avian autosomes in squamate reptiles revealed by comparative chromosome painting.

In contrast to mammals, birds exhibit a slow rate of chromosomal evolution. It is not clear whether high chromosome conservation is an evolutionary novelty of birds or was inherited from an earlier avian ancestor. The evolutionary conservatism of macrochromosomes between birds and turtles supports the latter possibility; however, the rate of chromosomal evolution is largely unknown in other sauropsids.

Microsatellite distribution on sex chromosomes at different stages of heteromorphism and heterochromatinization in two lizard species (Squamata: Eublepharidae: Coleonyx elegans and lacertidae: Eremias velox).

Background: The accumulation of repetitive sequences such as microsatellites during the differentiation of sex chromosomes has not been studied in most squamate reptiles (lizards, amphisbaenians and snakes), a group which has a large diversity of sex determining systems. It is known that the Bkm repeats containing tandem arrays of GATA tetranucleotides are highly accumulated on the degenerated W chromosomes in advanced snakes. Similar, potentially homologous, repetitive sequences were found on sex chromosomes in other vertebrates.