Sucker Shapes, Skeletons, and Bioinspiration: How Hard and Soft Tissue Morphology Generates Adhesive Performance in Waterfall Climbing Goby Fishes.

Many teleost fish, such as gobies, have fused their paired pelvic fins into an adhesive disc. Gobies can use their pelvic suckers to generate passive adhesive forces (as in engineered suction cups), and different species exhibit a range of adhesive performance, with some even able to climb waterfalls. Previous studies have documented that, in the Hawaiian Islands, species capable of climbing higher waterfalls produce the highest passive pull-off forces, and species found at higher elevation sites are likely to have more rounded suction discs than those found in the lowest stream segments. Morphology of the pelvic girdle also varies between species, with more robust skeletons in taxa with superior passive adhesion. To investigate what factors impact the passive adhesive performance of waterfall climbing gobies, we tested biomimetic suction cups designed with a range of shapes and embedded bioinspired "skeletons" based on micro-CT scans of goby pelvic girdles. We found that while the presence of an internal skeleton may provide some support against failure, the performance of suction cups may be more strongly affected by their external shape. Nonetheless, factors besides external shape and skeletal morphology may still have a stronger influence on sucker tenacity. Our results suggest that the relationship between suction disc morphology and adhesive performance may be influenced by a variety of physical factors, and live animal performance likely is further complicated by muscle activation and climbing behavior. These results have implications for the evolution of suction disc shape in adhesive fish and for improving the design of biomimetic suction cups.

The potential of RFID technology in Blood Center processes.

Current RFID technology deployment is limited by safety, procedural and physical limitations in healthcare field. It is important to define and ensure safe operation of technologies without actual deployment in real operation. Potential problems could arise due to the consequences of technical and physical characteristics of RFID technology and its improper location. This article deals with manipulation of blood products and the definition of suitable places for radio identification. Each suitable place must undergo laboratory experiments and tests. The results can provide a convenient base for defining efficient and safe deployment of RFID technology in Blood Centers with substantial financial savings for Czech healthcare.

[Results of induction therapy in newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemias in study 911 at the Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion]. / Výsledky indukcní lécby nove zjistených akutních myeloidních leukémií ve studii UHKT-911.

Thirty-seven patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemias were admitted to the Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion in Prague in February 1991-December 1993. Their age was 18-85 years with a median of 46 years. Two patients died on the day of admission, chemotherapy was initiated in 35 patients. Altogether 27 patients (77%) achieved complete remission (CR), i.e. 18 (81%) of 22 patients younger than 55 years and 9 (70%) of 13 patients older than 55 years. Only 7 (35%) of 20 patients achieved CR after a single therapy course 3/7 consisting of 3 doses of daunorubicin 45 mg/m2 on days 1, 3, 5 and cytosine arabinoside 150-200 mg/m2 every 12 hours for 7 days. However, 8 (61%) of 13 patients achieved CR after a single treatment course 4/7 with 4 doses of daunorubicin 45 mg/m2 on days 1, 3, 5, 7 and identical doses of cytosine arabinoside as in the 3/7 treatment. We used the course with 10 high-doses of cytosine arabinoside 2000 mg/m2 every 12 hours and daunorubicin 45 mg/m2 on days 4 and 5 (treatment HDAC/DNR) as the 1st, 2nd or 3rd induction therapy in 12 patients and 9 (75%) of them achieved CR. The treatment was associated with a high toxicity. An intensified therapy 3/7h similar to the 3/7 one but with the doubled dose of cytosine arabinoside 300-400 mg/m2 on days 5-7 was given to 5 patients as the 2nd induction but it did not improve the CR rate and it was associated with a high toxicity similar to the HDAC/DNR therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Diagnosis of systemic mycotic infections]. / Diagnostika systémových mykotických infekcí.

The diagnosis of mycotic infections still remains a serious problem. The clinical picture lacks specific manifestations, usually it does not differ substantially from bacterial infections. Routine laboratory examinations are only of subsidiary importance and even more specific methods (assessment of antibodies, and in particular detection of mycotic antigens) do not meet expectations so far. To establish the diagnosis of systemic mycosis it is thus most important to consider the possibility and to support clinical suspicion by an aimed examination.

[Treatment of oropharyngeal and esophageal mycoses in immunodeficient patients with fluconazole (Diflucan, Pfizer)]. / Lécba orofaryngeální a jícnové mykózy u imunodeficitních nemocných Fluconazolem (Diflucan, Pfizer).

Thirteen patients with oropharyngeal and oesophageal mycosis were treated with a new triazole antimycotic, fluconazole. In the whole group in addition to the basic neoplastic disease as multifactorial predisposition to mycotic infection was revealed. After treatment a 100% clinical as well a laboratory effect was achieved. However, within one month a relapse developed in three of eight patients and reinfection in four of eight (renewal of laboratory evidence). The preparation was well tolerated by the patients, no laboratory signs of organ toxicity were revealed. In patients with cumulation of predisposing factors for mycotic infection the authors recommend long-term prophylactic protection with a small dose of fluconazole.