The Impact of Diet and Photoperiodism on the Life History of Thanatophilus sinuatus (Coleoptera: Silphidae).

The forensically important genus Thanatophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera: Silphidae) is a widespread group of carrion beetles that occupies the Holarctic and Afrotropical realms. It has recently received more recognition, as its species are frequently detected on large carrion, including humans, and can be useful in estimating the time of colonization (TOC) and the post-mortem interval (PMI). The immature stages of Thanatophilus sinuatus (Fabricius, 1775) were reared on three different meat diets (pork liver, pork muscle, and chicken muscle). Diet influence on some of the essential life history traits of the species was examined for different populations. Our findings indicated an accelerated development on pork muscle followed closely by pork liver and a prolonged development on chicken muscle. The diet significantly affected the size, and the body condition (weight/ size) as both pork muscle and liver produced individuals in better physical condition (larger and heavier). The impact of two cyclic photoperiod regimes (16 h Light (L): 8 h Dark (D) and 12 h L: 12 h D) was further evaluated and indicated no significant variability.

Developmental models of the carrion beetle Thanatophilus rugosus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Silphidae).

Coleoptera are currently considered a fundamental tool to help solve criminal investigations, allowing forensic entomologists to estimate post-mortem intervals and obtain other ecology-related information. Thanatophilus rugosus (Linnaeus, 1758) is an important necrophagous beetle distributed through most of the Palaearctic region, where it is readily found on human bodies and animal carcasses. In this study, the new thermal summation models for all the developmental stages of Thanatophilus rugosus are provided. Beetles were reared at six different constant and ecologically relevant temperatures (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 °C), and their developmental times were measured. Thermal summation constants were calculated for each developmental stage (egg, three larval instars, post-feeding stage, and pupa).

Electrostatically stabilized hybrids of carbon and maghemite nanoparticles: electrochemical study and application.

Binary hybrids have been investigated for the past few decades due to the emerging properties of nanoparticle composites. Electrostatically stabilized core-shell nanostructures composed of surface active magnetic nanoparticles (SAMNs) and differently charged carbon nanomaterials display specific electrochemical properties. In this work, a set of binary hybrids that include a new class of magnetic nanoparticles is presented and the electrochemical features of the hybrids are reported. Gallic acid derived carbon dots (GA-CDs), PEG derived graphene dots (PEG-GDs), and quaternized carbon dots (Q-CDs) characterized by different charged groups were used for the preparation of different complexes with SAMNs. Thus, a set of six binary nanomaterials was obtained, and characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry, demonstrating significant differences in the charge transfer resistance, capacitive current, electrochemical performance, and reversibility with respect to the isolated subunits. Among them, the combination of Q-CDs with an excess of SAMNs led to a Q-CD@SAMN hybrid, which displayed peculiar electrocatalytic properties attributable to the influence of the strong electrostatic interactions exerted by Q-CDs on the SAMN surface. Notwithstanding their small fraction (around 1% w/w), Q-CDs oriented the electrocatalysis of SAMNs toward the selective electro-oxidation of polyphenols at low applied potentials (+0.1 V vs. SCE). Finally, the Q-CD@SAMN hybrid was used for the development of a coulometric sensor for polyphenols, composed of a simple carbon paste electrode in a small volume electrochemical flow cell (1 µL), and used for the complete direct electro-oxidation of polyphenols from plant extracts.

Detection of the etiological agents of hospital-acquired pneumonia - validity and comparison of different types of biological sample collection: a prospective, observational study in intensive care patients.

BACKGROUND: There is still a lack of evidence as to which method of biological sample collection is optimal for identifying bacterial pathogens causing hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). Much effort has been made to find an easy and valid approach to be used in clinical practice. METHODS: The primary endpoint of this prospective, observational study was to determine the predictive value of oropharyngeal swab (OS) and gastric aspiration (GA) as simple and non-invasive methods for diagnosing HAP. Their efficacy was compared to endotracheal aspiration (ETA) and protected specimen brushing (PSB), the standard methods approved for HAP diagnosis. RESULTS: Initially, 56 patients were enrolled. Significant amounts of bacterial pathogens were detected in 48 patients (79 isolates) in Round A and in 39 patients (45 isolates) in Round B (after 72 hours). The sensitivity rates were: ETA 98%, PSB 31%, OS 64% and GA 67% in Round A and ETA 87%, PSB 32%, OS 74% and GA 42% in Round B. Strains of 12 bacterial species were identified in the samples. The three most common etiological agents (both rounds together) were Klebsiella pneumoniae (23.7%), Burkholderia multivorans (21.1%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Blind ETA is an optimum method for obtaining biological samples for identification of etiological agents causing HAP in intubated patients. Microbial etiological agents were more frequently detected in ETA samples than in those collected by PSB. If ETA/PSB results are negative, samples may be collected by OS and/or GA as these techniques followed ETA in terms of the frequency of pathogen detection.

[Primary pulmonary sarcomas]. / Primárni plicní sarkomy.

Primary pulmonary sarcomas are rare diseases unlike lung carcinomas. The occurence of these sarcomas is between 0.013-0.40% of all malignant lung tumours. There are malignant mesenchymal tumours. They are flowing from the soft tissue of lung. The pulmonary sarcomas are heterogenic group with various biological behaviour. Their morfologic structure does not digger from the sarcomas of soft tissue. The primary pulmonary sarcomas occur more often in childhood and in young people unlike lung carcinomas. Radiation and some toxic substances are noted risk factors. Some gene mutations, infectious pathoghens and contraception have a possible impact on the origin of some types of the sarcomas. The current hypothesis is, that most of the sarcomas, if not all sarcomas, stem from primitive multipotent mesenchymal cell by malignant transformation in one or more lines. The diagnostic standard is biopsy from tumour with histologic and immunohistochemistry examination of a sample. The basic diagnostic problem is exclusion of a secondary origin of sarcomatic cells in the lung, because pulmonary metastasis of extrapulmonary sarcomas are more often than the primary pulmonary involvement.The optimal treatment is a resection of the tumour.The other therapeutic modalities are radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but results of these modalities are unsatisfactory. There are various chemotherapeutic regimes, monotherapy or combination regimes. The basic cytostatics are doxorubicine, iphosphamide, dacarbazine. Problems of the chemotherapy are high toxicity and relatively low curative effect about 20%.The first studies with biological treatment of the sarcomas of soft tissue have been published recently.This types of drugs could be a part of the complex management of these primary pulmonary tumours in the future. The primary pulmonary sarcomas have mostly aggresive course and often recur. Their prognosis is usually not very good. The survival median is 48 months and 5-years survival ranges between 38 and 48%. Prognostic factors are the size of tumour, histological type, grading, clinical stage and measure of a surgery major.

[Twenty years of care for cystic fibrosis adults in Czech Republic]. / Dvacet let péce o dospelé nemocné s cystickou fibrózou v Ceske republice.

INTRODUCTION: Most of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients survive now into adulthood and they are transferred to pulmonologist care. AIMS: An overview of progress in care for CF adults in Czech Republic and evaluation of relationship of pulmonary function, nutritional status and airway colonization. METHODS: All adult CF patients followed in pulmonary departments from December 1987 to December 2007 were included into study. Data about survival status, pulmonary function, nutritional status, airway colonization and other pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations of CF were collected from patients' records. RESULTS: Total of 206 patients (96 females) were followed. Pancreatic insufficiency was present in 175 (85.0%), liver disease in 61 (29.6%) and insulin treatment in 58 (28.2%) patients. Bone disease was found in 70 (46.7%) from 150 examined patients. Sixty-two patients (23 females) died at mean age 25.4 +/- 5.5 years (median 24.3 years). Worse survival was recorded in patients with Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) airway colonization (24.4 +/- 4.0 vs 28.5 +/- 7.0 years, p = 0.012). One hundred forty-four living patients were followed to date of the 31st December 2007 with mean age 27.5 +/- 6.5 years (median 26.5 years), FEV1 64.4 +/- 28.5% pred. and BMI 20.9 +/- 3.1 kg/m2. Worse pulmonary function was present in patients with BCC colonization (FEV1 58.8 +/- 21.9 vs 67.8 +/- 27.3% pred., p = 0.041) and in malnourished patients (FEv1 49.5 +/- 18.5 vs 69.7 +/- 25.9% pred., p < 0.0001). BCC colonization was found in 54 (37.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) colonization in 92 (63.9%) and colonization without BCC or PA in 40 (27.8%) patients, respectively. Malnutrition (BMI < 19.0 kg/m2) was recorded in 38 (26.4%) patients. CONCLUSION: This study confirms growing number of CF adults in Czech Republic, close relationship of pulmonary function and nutritional status and also unfavourable influence of BCC colonization.

[Laboratory diagnostics of pleural effusion]. / Uvod do laboratorní diagnostiky pleurálního výpotku.

Pleural effusion is a frequent reason for a pulmonologist's investigation. Many pulmonary and extrapulmonary causes of pleural effusion exist. Heart failure, pneumonia and malignancies are the most frequent among them. Laboratory examination of pleural liquid is a corner stone of diagnostics. We use various biochemical, microbiological, cytologic and other methods. The first step is a differentiation between transudate and exudate. If the laboratory examinations are unsuccessful, we can use invasive procedures - pleural biopsy and thoracoscopy. Despite all modern diagnostic methods the causes of about 15% pleural effusions remain unclear.

[Pancreaticopleural fistula]. / Pankreatikopleurální pístele.

Pancreatic diseases are often accompanied by pleuropulmonal complications. Acute pancreatitis may induce a number of various pathological findings in respiratory tract including hypoxemia, decrease of transfer-factor (DLCO), decrease of transfer-coefficient (DLCO/VO), decrease in forced expiratory flow 25%- 75% of forced vital capacity (FEF25-75%), elevated and/or immobile diaphragm, basal atelectasis, unilateral or bilateral pulmonary infiltrations, mediastinal pseudocyst and pleural effusion. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the most dangerous complication of acute pancreatitis. Large, recurrent pleural effusion is sometimes present in chronic pancreatitis, typically with a very high concentration of amylase in pleural fluid. Pancreaticopleural fistula (PPF) is the most common cause of this type of pleural effusion. We describe a study group of 3 patients with PPF and pleural effusion, their clinical symptoms, diagnostics and management.