Chicken feather hydrolysate as an inexpensive complex nitrogen source for PHA production by Cupriavidus necator on waste frying oils.

The chicken feather hydrolysate (FH) has been tested as a potential complex nitrogen source for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates by Cupriavidus necator H16 when waste frying oil was used as a carbon source. The addition of FH into the mineral salt media with decreased inorganic nitrogen source concentration improved the yields of biomass and polyhydrohyalkanoates. The highest yields were achieved when 10 vol.% of FH prepared by microwave-assisted alkaline hydrolysis of 60 g l-1 feather was added. In this case, the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) yields were improved by more than about 50% as compared with control cultivation. A positive impact of FH was also observed for accumulation of copolymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) when sodium propionate was used as a precursor. The copolymer has superior processing and mechanical properties in comparison with PHB homopolymer. The application of FH eliminated the inhibitory effect of propionate and resulted in altered content of 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) in copolymer. Therefore, the hydrolysed feather can serve as an excellent complex source of nitrogen for the polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) production. Moreover, by the combination of two inexpensive types of waste, such as waste frying oil and feather hydrolysate, it is possible to produce PHA with substantially improved efficiency and sustainability. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT THE STUDY: Millions of tons of feathers, important waste product of poultry-processing industry, are disposed off annually without any further benefits. Thus, there is an inevitable need for new technologies that enable ecologically and economically sensible processing of this waste. Herein, we report that alkali-hydrolysed feathers can be used as a complex nitrogen source considerably improving polyhydroxyalkanoates production on waste frying oil employing Cupriavidus necator.

[Inferior vena cava filters in pulmonary embolism prevention]. / Uloha kaválních filtru v prevenci plicní embolie.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the most serious sign of venous thromboembolism and the 3rd most frequent cause of cardiovascular death. Therapy with anticoagulants represents, among other measures, the mainstay of PE treatment. However, anticoagulant therapy does not prevent recurrence of pulmonary embolism in 3-20% of patients. Most frequently, the source of pulmonary embolism is in venous circulation of lower limbs and pelvis. Interception of the inferior vena cava, originally surgical, later using inferior vena cava filters, is used as a preventive measure. Indications and contraindications of inferior vena cava filters have been redressed and modified several times; the paper provides their list. Older filters used to be retained within the inferior vena cava (so called permanent filters). This was one of the causes of relatively high incidence of complications related to the use of these filters, particularly venous thromboses, as confirmed by so far the only randomised study PREPIC. Consequently, retrievable filters that are currently preferred have been developed. The authors also provide an overview of studies in progress, describe the process of implantation and describe own patient group.

[Case reports of family members with multiple occurrences of aortic dissection]. / Kazuistika clenu rodiny s mnohocetným výskytem aortální disekce.

Aortal dissection belongs to the group of aortal diseases with a high mortality rate and varied clinical account. This disease does not appear very often and therefore it is often diagnosed late. Diagnostic and therapeutic developments have recently improved. Classification and indication criteria about prophylactic interventions on aorta have become more specific. It leads to the gradual decrease of mortality caused by this disease. Frequent accumulation of familiar aortal dissection was described. It can be important for the early identification of individuals at risk. In our casuistry we describe a family with the accumulation of aortal dissection coinciding with Marfan syndrome from the mother's side and the prevalence of this disease in siblings from their patient's father. The evident predisposition was not clearly demonstrated in these cases. We also examined and began to dispenser other members of the family but we did not find an evident predisposition factor. We would like to emphasize the importance of good interdisciplinary and institutional cooperation in diagnostic and treatment of this disease. Further we want to emphasize the contribution of careful sampling of familiar anamnesis in the cases stricken with the disease. We focused on sudden death. It is well known that the gene analysis may contribute to the identification of individuals at risk in these families. We do not have this possibility in our country now.

Segmentation of sequences of echocardiographic images using a simplified 3D active contour model with region-based external forces.

A method of segmenting echocardiography images based on three dimensional (two spatial and one time) surface was developed and tested on transcutaneous images from 38 patients and a four-dimensional (three spatial and one time) transesophageal scan of one patient. Active contour models with finite elements representing the curves in the imaging planes and finite difference description linking curves from time frame to time frame were employed. Region-based external forces were incorporated into the framework of the model and an analytical procedure for estimating the values of most of the model parameters was developed and used.