Systematics meanders of microsporidia

Meanders of systematics of Microsporidia. Taxonomical questions of Microsporidia, its systematic position and evolutionary relationship with other Eukaryota are discussed. Utilizations of modern methods of investigations of microsporidians cause new taxonomical troubles. At the present time it is difficult to create a clear hypothesis concerning the phylogeny and evolution of Microsporidia. Most likely they are representatives of a new kingdom of Eukaryota. Existing problems will not be dissolved until new detailed data concerning the new and common species are obtained.     

Properties of Cold Sprayed Titanium and Titanium Alloy Coatings after Laser Surface Treatment

Additive manufacturing (AM) has seen remarkable development in recent years due to relatively high efficiency of the process. Cold spraying (CS) is a particular method of AM, in which titanium and titanium alloy powders are used. CS is a very competitive technology enabling the deposition of coatings, repairing machine parts, and manufacturing new components. For specific applications, the surface of cold-sprayed materials may require further processing. This paper reports an attempt to employ laser surface treatment (LST) of cold-sprayed coatings on an aluminium alloy substrate. The influence of laser beam interaction time on the coatings’ properties was analysed. The microstructure was investigated and observed employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM). To evaluate residual stress after CS and LST, the sin²ψ technique was used. Investigations were also performed on Vickers hardness, contact angle, and surface roughness. Significant changes in the surface morphology of the coatings and elevated residual stress levels dependent on the laser beam interaction time were observed. Increased Vickers hardness was recorded for titanium alloy Ti6Al4V. LST also led to increased surface hydrophilicity of the modified materials Ti and Ti6Al4V.     

Speckle tracking echocardiography derived 2-dimensional myocardial strain predicts left ventricular function and mass regression in aortic stenosis patients undergoing aortic valve replacement

Regression of left ventricular (LV) mass in severe aortic stenosis (AS) following aortic valve replacement (AVR) reduces the potential risk of sudden death and congestive heart failure associated with LV hypertrophy. We investigated whether abnormalities of resting LV deformation in severe AS can predict the lack of regression of LV mass following AVR. Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) was performed in a total of 100 subjects including 60 consecutive patients with severe AS having normal LV ejection fraction (EF > 50 %) and 40 controls. STE was performed preoperatively and at 4 months following AVR, including longitudinal strain assessed from the apical 4-chamber and 2-chamber views and the circumferential and rotational mechanics measured from the apical short axis view. In comparison with controls, the patients with AS showed a significantly lower LV longitudinal (p < 0.001) and circumferential strain (p < 0.05) and higher apical rotation (p < 0.001). Following AVR, a significant improvement was seen in both strains (p < 0.001 for each respectively), however, apical rotation remained unchanged (p = 0.14). On multivariate analysis, baseline LV mass (odds ratio 1.02; p = 0.011), left atrial volume (odds ratio 0.81; p = 0.048) and circumferential strain (odds ratio 0.84; p = 0.02) independently predicted LV mass regression (>10 %) following AVR. In conclusion, STE can quantify the burden of myocardial dysfunction in patients with severe AS despite the presence of normal LV ejection fraction. Furthermore, resting abnormalities in circumferential strain at LV apex is related with a hemodynamic milieu associated with the lack of LV mass regression during short-term follow up after AVR.     

Combined transcranial direct current stimulation and home-based occupational therapy for upper limb motor impairment following intracerebral hemorrhage: a double-blind randomized controlled trial

Purpose: To investigate the combined effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and home-based occupational therapy on activities of daily living (ADL) and grip strength, in patients with upper limb motor impairment following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods: A double-blind randomized controlled trial with one-week follow-up. Patients received five consecutive days of occupational therapy at home, combined with either anodal (n?=?8) or sham (n?=?7) tDCS. The primary outcome was ADL performance, which was assessed with the Jebsen–Taylor test (JTT). Results: Both groups improved JTT over time (p?p?=?0.025). However, this difference was attenuated at one-week follow-up. There was a non-significant tendency for greater improvement in JTT in the anodal group compared with the sham group, from baseline to post-assessment (p?=?0.158). Conclusions: Five consecutive days of tDCS combined with occupational therapy provided greater improvements in grip strength compared with occupational therapy alone. tDCS is a promising add-on intervention regarding training of upper limb motor impairment. It is well tolerated by patients and can easily be applied for home-based training. Larger studies with long-term follow-up are needed to further explore possible effects of tDCS in patients with ICH.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• Five consecutive days of tDCS combined with occupational therapy provided greater improvements in grip strength compared with occupational therapy alone.

• tDCS is well tolerated by patients and can easily be applied for home-based rehabilitation.

     

Analysis of leptin pulses in serum in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVES: Authors estimate the influence of body mass on the leptin serum concentrations changes in course of 24 hours in twelve women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The course of leptin pulses was analysed in two volunteers' six-persons groups, both with PCOS. first group with BMI < 22 kg/m2 and the second group with BMI >26 kg/m2. The blood samples (0,5 ml) were taken from cubital vein in 15-20 minutes intervals through 48 hours. In the first day of clinical experiment three meals were accepted but in the second day the women were starved and they could drink only mineral water. RESULTS: The significant difference in average leptin concentration in any woman's group between each experimental day was observed. The value of leptin pulses amplitude compared between both women's group on each experimental daytime was significant too. The results we got relating number of leptin pulses and their duration time compared between both women's group and into groups between night and day were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: For leptin pulses detection in blood the cluster method was applied, which confirmed the pulses appearance in leptin secretion in both woman's group.