Binocular video head impulse test: Normative data study.

Introduction: The video head impulse test (vHIT) evaluates the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). It's usually recorded from only one eye. Newer vHIT devices allow a binocular quantification of the VOR.

The Associations of Selenoprotein Genetic Variants with the Risks of Colorectal Adenoma and Colorectal Cancer: Case-Control Studies in Irish and Czech Populations.

Background: Selenium manifests its biological effects through its incorporation into selenoproteins, which play several roles in countering oxidative and inflammatory responses implicated in colorectal carcinogenesis. Selenoprotein genetic variants may contribute to colorectal cancer (CRC) development, as we previously observed for SNP variants in a large European prospective study and a Czech case-control cohort.

Methods: We tested if significantly associated selenoprotein gene SNPs from these studies were also associated with CRC risk in case-control studies from Ireland (colorectal neoplasia, i.

The 3D imaging of mesenchymal stem cells on porous scaffolds using high-contrasted x-ray computed nanotomography.

This study presents an X-ray computed nanotomography (nano-CT) based, high-resolution imaging technique. Thanks to a voxel resolution of 540 nm, this novel technique is suitable for observing the 3D morphology of soft biopolymeric scaffolds seeded with stem cells. A sample of highly porous collagen scaffold seeded with contrasted mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) was investigated by using lab-based nano-CT.

Nucleoli in embryos: a central structural platform for embryonic chromatin remodeling?

Nucleoli are the site of ribosomal RNA production and subunit assembly. In contrast to active nucleoli in somatic cells, where three basic sub-compartments can be observed, mammalian oocytes and early embryos contain atypical nucleoli termed "nucleolus-like bodies" or "nucleolus precursor bodies", respectively. Unlike their somatic counterparts, these structures are composed of dense homogenous fibrillar material and exhibit no polymerase activity.

Neural Stem Cells Derived from Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Their Use in Models of CNS Injury.

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are derived from differentiated cells by different reprogramming techniques, by introducing specific transcription factors responsible for pluripotency. Induced pluripotent stem cells can serve as an excellent source for differentiated neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs/NPs). Several methods and protocols are utilized to create a robust number of NSCs/NPs without jeopardizing the safety issues required for in vivo applications.

Neuroprotective Potential of Cell-Based Therapies in ALS: From Bench to Bedside.

Motor neurons (MN) degeneration is a main feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurological disorder with a progressive course. The diagnosis of ALS is essentially a clinical one. Most common symptoms include a gradual neurological deterioration that reflect the impairment and subsequent loss of muscle functions.

A neuroprotective astrocyte state is induced by neuronal signal EphB1 but fails in ALS models.

Astrocyte responses to neuronal injury may be beneficial or detrimental to neuronal recovery, but the mechanisms that determine these different responses are poorly understood. Here we show that ephrin type-B receptor 1 (EphB1) is upregulated in injured motor neurons, which in turn can activate astrocytes through ephrin-B1-mediated stimulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3). Transcriptional analysis shows that EphB1 induces a protective and anti-inflammatory signature in astrocytes, partially linked to the STAT3 network.

Antibody recognizing 4-sulfated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans restores memory in tauopathy-induced neurodegeneration.

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are the main active component of perineuronal nets (PNNs). Digestion of the glycosaminoglycan chains of CSPGs with chondroitinase ABC or transgenic attenuation of PNNs leads to prolongation of object recognition memory and activation of various forms of plasticity in the adult central nervous system. The inhibitory properties of the CSPGs depend on the pattern of sulfation of their glycosaminoglycans, with chondroitin 4-sulfate (C4S) being the most inhibitory form.

The Osteogenic Potential of Human Nondifferentiated and Pre-differentiated Mesenchymal Stem Cells Combined with an Osteoconductive Scaffold - Early Stage Healing.

Despite the huge research into stem cells and their regenerative properties for bone healing, there are still unanswered questions including the recipient's respond to the presence of the stem cells, the fate of stem cells inside the bone defect and the possible advantage in utilizing pre-differentiated cells. To address these problems, we used human multipotent mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs), GMP Grade, in a rat model of bone formation. In a "bioreactor concept" approach seven Wistar rats were implanted with 0.

Chemical angioplasty with spasmolytics for vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background: Clinically symptomatic vasospasm leading to delayed ischemic neurological deficits occurs in up to 30% of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Vasospasm can result in a serious decline in clinical conditions of patients with SAH, yet the algorithm for vasospasm treatment and prevention remains unclear. Intra-arterial administration of vasodilators is one of the modalities used for vasospasm therapy.

Current developments in cell- and biomaterial-based approaches for stroke repair.

Introduction: Stroke is one of the most devastating diseases and a leading cause of mortality worldwide. So far, clinical management of stroke involves surgical clot retrieval or thrombolytic treatment inducing reperfusion of the occluded vessels in the cerebral infarcted area, which is dependent on early intervention following insult. New treatment strategies involve the promotion of angiogenesis and neuroplasticity, stimulation of endogenous neurogenesis, remyelinization, and immunomodulation by means of cell transplantation and sustained drug delivery.

Chromium-doped DLC for implants prepared by laser-magnetron deposition.

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) thin films are frequently used for coating of implants. The problem of DLC layers lies in bad layer adhesion to metal implants. Chromium is used as a dopant for improvement of adhesion of DLC films.

Functional evaluation of DNA repair in human biopsies and their relation to other cellular biomarkers.

Thousands of DNA lesions are estimated to occur in each cell every day and almost all are recognized and repaired. DNA repair is an essential system that prevents accumulation of mutations which can lead to serious cellular malfunctions. Phenotypic evaluation of DNA repair activity of individuals is a relatively new approach.

Collagen/hydroxyapatite scaffold enriched with polycaprolactone nanofibers, thrombocyte-rich solution and mesenchymal stem cells promotes regeneration in large bone defect in vivo.

A three-dimensional scaffold of type I collagen and hydroxyapatite enriched with polycaprolactone nanofibers (Coll/HA/PCL), autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in osteogenic media, and thrombocyte-rich solution (TRS) was an optimal implant for bone regeneration in vivo in white rabbits. Nanofibers optimized the viscoelastic properties of the Coll/HA scaffold for bone regeneration. MSCs and TRS in the composite scaffold improved bone regeneration.

Both genetic and dietary factors underlie individual differences in DNA damage levels and DNA repair capacity.

The interplay between dietary habits and individual genetic make-up is assumed to influence risk of cancer, via modulation of DNA integrity. Our aim was to characterize internal and external factors that underlie inter-individual variability in DNA damage and repair and to identify dietary habits beneficial for maintaining DNA integrity. Habitual diet was estimated in 340 healthy individuals using a food frequency questionnaire and biomarkers of antioxidant status were quantified in fasting blood samples.

Differential distribution of glycine receptor subtypes at the rat calyx of Held synapse.

The properties of glycine receptors (GlyRs) depend upon their subunit composition. While the prevalent adult forms of GlyRs are heteromers, previous reports suggested functional α homomeric receptors in mature nervous tissues. Here we show two functionally different GlyRs populations in the rat medial nucleus of trapezoid body (MNTB).

Magnetic resonance imaging of stem cell migration.

Noninvasive cellular imaging allows the real-time tracking of grafted cells as well as the monitoring of their migration. In this review, we will focus on cell tracking using MRI, since MRI is noninvasive, clinically transferable, and displays good resolution, ranging from 50 μm in animal experiments up to 300 μm using whole body clinical scanners. In addition to information about grafted cells, MRI provides information about the surrounding tissue (i.

Neural stem/progenitor cells derived from the embryonic dorsal telencephalon of D6/GFP mice differentiate primarily into neurons after transplantation into a cortical lesion.

D6 is a promoter/enhancer of the mDach1 gene that is involved in the development of the neocortex and hippocampus. It is expressed by proliferating neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) of the cortex at early stages of neurogenesis. The differentiation potential of NSPCs isolated from embryonic day 12 mouse embryos, in which the expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) is driven by the D6 promoter/enhancer, has been studied in vitro and after transplantation into the intact adult rat brain as well as into the site of a photochemical lesion.

MR tracking of stem cells in living recipients.

Noninvasive cellular imaging allows the real-time tracking of grafted cells as well as the monitoring of their migration. Several techniques for in vivo cellular imaging are available that permit the characterization of transplanted cells in a living organism, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), bioluminescence, positron emission tomography, and multiple photon microscopy. All of these methods, based on different principles, provide distinctive, usually complementary information.

Mechanisms of neurogenic pulmonary edema development.

Neurogenic pulmonary edema is a life-threatening complication, known for almost 100 years, but its etiopathogenesis is still not completely understood. This review summarizes current knowledge about the etiology and pathophysiology of neurogenic pulmonary edema. The roles of systemic sympathetic discharge, central nervous system trigger zones, intracranial pressure, inflammation and anesthesia in the etiopathogenesis of neurogenic pulmonary edema are considered in detail.

In vivo tracking of stem cells in brain and spinal cord injury.

Cellular magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a rapidly growing field that aims to visualize and track cells in living organisms. Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles offer a sufficient signal for T2 weighted MR images. We followed the fate of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) labeled with iron oxide nanoparticles (Endorem) and human CD34+ cells labeled with magnetic MicroBeads (Miltenyi) in rats with a cortical or spinal cord lesion, models of stroke and spinal cord injury (SCI), respectively.

Migration, fate and in vivo imaging of adult stem cells in the CNS.

Adult stem cells have been intensively studied for their potential use in cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, ischemia and traumatic injuries. One of the most promising cell sources for autologous cell transplantation is bone marrow, containing a heterogenous cell population that can be roughly divided into hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs are multipotent progenitor cells that, in the case of severe tissue ischemia or damage, can be attracted to the lesion site, where they can secrete bioactive molecules, either naturally or through genetic engineering.

Chromosomal aberration frequencies determined by conventional methods: Parallel increases over time in the region of a petrochemical industry and throughout the Czech Republic.

The rationale for cytogenetic monitoring to determine if safe maximum allowable concentrations (MAC) of genotoxic chemicals are being maintained in a workplace is that exposure levels that do not increase chromosomal aberration frequencies are without harmful effects. Such monitoring, widely used in occupational health programs in the Czech Republic (CR), includes workers exposed to 1,3-butadiene (BD) or other chemicals. Studies of BD exposed workers in the years 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, and 2004 compared mean frequencies of cells carrying chromosomal aberrations (frequency of aberrant cells=%AB.

Magnetic resonance tracking of transplanted stem cells in rat brain and spinal cord.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging provides a noninvasive method to study the fate of transplanted cells in vivo.

Objective: We studied the fate of embryonic and mesenchymal stem cells labeled with iron oxide nanoparticles (Endorem) and human CD34+ cells labeled with magnetic MicroBeads (Miltenyi) in rats with a cortical or spinal cord lesion.

Methods: Cells were grafted intracerebrally, contralaterally to a cortical photochemical lesion, or injected intravenously.