Electronic transport properties of graphene doped by gallium.

In this work we present the effect of low dose gallium (Ga) deposition (<4 ML) performed in UHV (10-7 Pa) on the electronic doping and charge carrier scattering in graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition. In situ graphene transport measurements performed with a graphene field-effect transistor structure show that at low Ga coverages a graphene layer tends to be strongly n-doped with an efficiency of 0.64 electrons per one Ga atom, while the further deposition and Ga cluster formation results in removing electrons from graphene (less n-doping). The experimental results are supported by the density functional theory calculations and explained as a consequence of distinct interaction between graphene and Ga atoms in case of individual atoms, layers, or clusters.

Molecular profile of 5-fluorouracil pathway genes in colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: This study addresses involvement of major 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) pathway genes in the prognosis of colorectal carcinoma patients. METHODS: Testing set and two validation sets comprising paired tumor and adjacent mucosa tissue samples from 151 patients were used for transcript profiling of 15 5-FU pathway genes by quantitative real-time PCR and DNA methylation profiling by high resolution melting analysis. Intratumoral molecular profiles were correlated with clinical data of patients. Protein levels of two most relevant candidate markers were assessed by immunoblotting. RESULTS: Downregulation of DPYD and upregulation of PPAT, UMPS, RRM2, and SLC29A1 transcripts were found in tumors compared to adjacent mucosa in testing and validation sets of patients. Low RRM2 transcript level significantly associated with poor response to the first-line palliative 5-FU-based chemotherapy in the testing set and with poor disease-free interval of patients in the validation set irrespective of 5-FU treatment. UPP2 was strongly methylated while its transcript absent in both tumors and adjacent mucosa. DPYS methylation level was significantly higher in tumor tissues compared to adjacent mucosa samples. Low intratumoral level of UPB1 methylation was prognostic for poor disease-free interval of the patients (P = 0.0002). The rest of the studied 5-FU genes were not methylated in tumors or adjacent mucosa. CONCLUSIONS: The observed overexpression of several 5-FU activating genes and DPYD downregulation deduce that chemotherapy naïve colorectal tumors share favorable gene expression profile for 5-FU therapy. Low RRM2 transcript and UPB1 methylation levels present separate poor prognosis factors for colorectal carcinoma patients and should be further investigated.

Ischemic peripheral arterial disease and recurrent iliofemoral venous thrombosis in a 24-year-old man with antiphospholipid syndrome.

The following is a case report of a young man with antiphospholipid syndrome, present with a recurrent iliofemoral venous thrombosis and premature peripheral arterial disease. This case report highlights the high risk of recurrent thrombosis upon discontinuation of anticoagulation therapy, particularly in the presence of persistent spontaneously increased aPTT and a high antiphospholipid antibody titer. The case report also reviews the potential of endovascular treatment of iliac vein thrombosis and points out the good 24-month patency rates of stents implanted into the pelvic vein region.Key words: antiphospholipid syndrome - iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis - recurrent thrombosis - accelerated atherosclerosis - peripheral arterial disease.

The common cuckoo Cuculus canorus is not locally adapted to its reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus host.

The obligate avian brood parasitic common cuckoo Cuculus canorus comprises different strains of females that specialize on particular host species by laying eggs of a constant type that often mimics those of the host. Whether cuckoos are locally adapted for mimicking populations of the hosts on which they are specialized has never been investigated. In this study, we first explored the possibility of local adaptation in cuckoo egg mimicry over a geographical mosaic of selection exerted by one of its main European hosts, the reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus. Secondly, we investigated whether cuckoos inhabiting reed warbler populations with a broad number of alternative suitable hosts at hand were less locally adapted. Cuckoo eggs showed different degrees of mimicry to different reed warbler populations. However, cuckoo eggs did not match the egg phenotypes of their local host population better than eggs of other host populations, indicating that cuckoos were not locally adapted for mimicry on reed warblers. Interestingly, cuckoos exploiting reed warblers in populations with a relatively larger number of co-occurring cuckoo gentes showed lower than average levels of local adaptation in egg volume. Our results suggest that cuckoo local adaptation might be prevented when different cuckoo populations exploit more or fewer different host species, with gene flow or frequent host switches breaking down local adaptation where many host races co-occur.

[Late complication of surgical repair of aortic coarctation: ruptured pseudoaneurysm of the aorta treated by thoracic endovascular aortic repair]. / Complication tardive d'un traitement chirurgical par interposition prothétique d'une coartation aortique: rupture d'un faux anévrisme anastomotique traitée par implantation endoluminale d'endoprothèse couverte.

Aortic coarctation is a frequent congenital defect requiring early surgical treatment. Late complications of these surgical procedures can be fatal as in the case of a ruptured anastomotic pseudoaneurysm. We present a case of a 49-year-old man presenting with hemorrhagic shock due to this complication who was successfully treated by endovascular techniques with implantation of two stent grafts. This case illustrates the fact that endovascular aortic repair is feasible, certainly less invasive and very efficient for this type of complication when used in an experienced center.

[Endovascular treatment of acute vascular occlusions]. / Endovaskulárni lécba akutních cévních uzáveru.

Acute vascular occlusion is a medical emergency and often a life threatening situation. It is caused by embolization into local arteries, by thrombosis or by occlusion of peripheral arterial bypass grafts. Percutaneous thrombectomy and local thrombolysis represent well established techniques for the treatment of acute limb ischemia and massive deep venous thrombosis especially for ileofemoral and ileocaval occlusion. The new techniques of thrombectomy allow very effective and minimally invasive therapy of acute vascular occlusions.

[Results of arthroscopic subacromial decompression in 50-year-old patients]. / Výsledky artroskopické subakromiální dekomprese u padesátiletých pacientu.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The study presents results of the surgical treatment of subacromial impingement syndrome in patients between fifty and sixty years of age using the technique of a two-step arthroscopic subacromial decompression. MATERIAL: Arthroscopic subacromial decompression was used for the operation on 12 shoulders in 12 patients. All of them underwent minimally half a year of conservative treatment. The average age of patients at the time of operation was 51 years. The youngest was 43 years, the remaining patients were older than 49 years. Only in 4 patients the subacromial impingement was not associated with another diagnosis. The group included also 2 patients with an associated diagnosis which resulted in the failure of arthroscopic technique. The follow-up ranges between 6 to 22 months. METHODS: The applied technique of arthroscopics subacromial decompression has two phases. Distal acromioplasty uses the dorsal edge of the acromion as a cutting block necessary for smoothing its inferior surface: By anterior acromioplasty was removed the anterior part of lateral clavicle prominent to the anterior edge of acromion. Part of the technique is resection of the accessible portion of the coracoacromial ligament. The difference between systolic pressure of the patient and the pressure in the subacromial space above 50 mm Hg significantly reduces bleeding. The precision of the technique is supported by a careful preoperative planning of the extent of resection on special x-ray projections. Strict observation of the schedule of postoperative physiotherapy is a necessary precondition of a successful result. The result of arthroscopic subacromial decompression is evaluated on the basis of UCLA score which allows comparison with the groups of patients of other authors. RESULTS: Using UCLA score the group of patients operated on included 3 excellent, 4 good, 3 satisfactory and 2 poor results. The first failure was recorded in a 50-year old man with a finding of a massive rupture of the rotator cuff and with an associated diagnosis of the fracture of clavicle healed in dislocation. After 6 months open acromioplasty and reconstruction of the rotator cuff was performed in this patient. Another poor result was recorded in a 57-year old female patient with an associated diagnosis of tendinitis calcarea of m. supraspinatus which was caused by the failure to remove calcification and insufficient extent of the resection of acromion. After the interval of 3 months also here open acromioplasty was performed. Ten out of twelve patients are satisfied and do not require another treatment. It means that also three satisfactory results (according to UCLA score) mean a marked pain relief and improvement of the function of the shoulder of not very active 50-year old individuals. DISCUSSION: Other authors report the frequency of good and excellent results they achieved in the range of 73-94%. Objectively evaluated arthroscopic subacromial decompression in our group of patients is not so successful as the operation performed in younger age groups. However, the subjective evaluation of the operation is very favourable. This satisfaction results from realistic expectations of patients who were not active sportsmen. In young patients active in sport with a primary subacromial impingement syndrome the arthroscopic method is a gold standard method. It is a mistake not to indicate the reconstruction of the ruptured rotator cuff in active patients under the age of 50. In the sixth decade, however, no outstanding results can be expected of it. Therefore in this group a precisely performed arthroscopic subacromial decompression has a very favourable effect mainly due to a shorter time of physiotherapy. CONCLUSION: The success of arthroscopic subacromial decompression is conditioned by a careful indication of the type of surgery, preoperative planning, precise technique of the actual operation and a strict observation of individual steps of postoperative physiotherapy of the shoulder. The operation may significantly relieve the pain and improve the function of the shoulder and at the same time it does not weaken the acromial origin of the m. deltoideus. It reduces the time of recovery and reduces also the risk of arthrofibrosis which endangers mainly older less active patients.

[Power relations in mother-child interactions in neurodermatitis constitutionalis atopica (atopic dermatitis)]. / Die Machtverhältnisse in der Mutter-Kind-Beziehung bei der Neurodermitis constitutionalis atopica (Atopische Dermatitis).

Considering the different types of mothers under the aspect of distribution of power in the relationship between mother and child, we find the dominating form of upbringing mainly during the postwar years. This form comprises both the authoritative and the over-protective ways of bringing up. As a reaction, we now observe an excessive increase of the submissive type of mothers tending to compliant education: With the help of a free upbringing, they want to make their children capable of expressing their feelings freely. As these children are not told their personal limits, they become unadaptable to their social environment and develop a thirst of power. These phenomena are increasingly observed among children with atopic dermatitis.

[Holistic-integrated therapy model of neurodermitis constitutionalis atopica (atopic dermatitis)]. / Ganzheitlich-integratives Therapiemodell der Neurodermitis constitutionalis atopica (Atopische Dermatitis).

The treatment of atopic dermatitis requires the consideration of numerous psychosomatic aspects, including their respective sociopsychic dimensions. This implicates a holistic concept of therapy as well as the interdisciplinary cooperation of therapists of various disciplines, also involving the patient himself. Taking the patient out of his everyday circumstances can give him the opportunity of developing new concepts and strategies of behavior, which in turn may promote his subsequent (re-)integration into his social environment.

Estimation of lipase activity by the diffusion plate method.

A diffusion plate method for the assay of the activity of lipases in large series of samples was worked out. When using this method the maximum deviation was found to be +/- 3.8%.

Deacylation of acetylated amino acids by the esterase from Mycobacterium phlei.

In addition to typical acetyl esters, acetic ester acetyl-hydrolase from Mycobacterium phlei can degrade aliphatic acetylated amino acids under suitable conditions.

Utilization of a lipid substrate for submerged fermentation of Streptomyces albus.

When investigating the effect of aeration on the utilization of a lipid substrate from the cultivation broth and production of salinomycin in Streptomyces albus it was demonstrated that a higher aeration results in a better utilization of soya oil and a higher production of the antibiotic.