https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/1 Faculties 2026-04-09T12:26:34Z https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/3733 Unraveling the telomere-mitochondrial axis in colorectal cancer: Results from a prospectively followed cohort Gil-Korilis, Adrián; Ergui-Arbizu, Jorge; Hanák, Petr; Danešová, Natálie; Tomášová, Kristýna; Valíčková, Anna; Horák, Josef; Gentiluomo, Manuel; Levý, Miroslav; Křivonosková, Soňa; Král, Jan; Jungwirth, Jiří; Vodičková, Ľudmila; Vymetálková, Veronika; Azqueta, Amaya; Campa, Daniele; Vodička, Pavel; Vodenková, Soňa Background Telomere shortening and mitochondrial dysfunction are well-known independent contributors to many diseases, but emerging evidence suggests a reciprocal relationship between the two processes. The role of the so-called telomere-mitochondrial axis in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains largely unknown. Methods This prospective cohort study screened CRC patients who underwent surgery, from whom peripheral blood, intestinal mucosa, and tumor samples were collected. Colonoscopically confirmed cancer- and adenoma-free healthy individuals were screened as controls, from whom peripheral blood and intestinal mucosa samples were obtained. Relative mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) and relative telomere length (RTL) were measured in all samples by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and were further compared and correlated considering clinical data. Relative mtDNA-CN was quantified using both TaqMan probes and SYBR Green to compare both methods. Finally, multivariable analyses were conducted to investigate the association between both biomarkers and the risk of tumor recurrence and mortality. Results A total of 166 CRC patients and 61 healthy individuals were included in the study. In TNM stage I patients, relative mtDNA-CN and RTL were negatively correlated with each other in intestinal mucosa (ρ = -0.77, p < 0.0001), tumor tissue (ρ = -0.41, p = 0.032), and the tumor-to-intestinal mucosa ratio (ρ = -0.39, p = 0.046). However, these associations disappeared with increasing TNM stage, suggesting a dysregulation of the telomere-mitochondrial axis in advanced disease. Higher relative mtDNA-CN in blood was associated with a lower risk of disease recurrence even after adjusting for multiple covariates (HR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.20-0.97, p = 0.041), highlighting its potential use as a prognostic tool. The quantification of mtDNA-CN performed by both methods -TaqMan probes and SYBR Green- was shown to be positively correlated (p < 0.01). Relative mtDNA-CN and RTL were found to be tissue-dependent in both CRC patients and healthy controls. Conclusions This study provides a novel contribution to the understanding of the almost unexplored telomere-mitochondrial axis in CRC, highlighting its potential role in disease progression and prognosis. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/3732 Effects of Bioturbation by Earthworms on Litter Flammability in Young and Mature Afforested Stands Martinovská, Aneta; Mudrák, Ondřej; Frouz, Jan The quantity, quality, and accumulation rate of plant litter play a key role in forest floor flammability and, by extension, fire regimes. The varying foliage properties of different tree species also determine litter's decomposition and its accumulation on the forest floor. The removal of litter by soil fauna, i.e., bioturbation, depends on both the dominant tree species and the successional stage of the forest stand. This research involved laboratory mesocosm experiments aiming to determine the effects of litter quality and earthworm activity on the flammability of the forest floor material at different successional ages. The mesocosms simulated the planting of four tree species (the broadleaf species Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. (Black alder) and Quercus robur L. (English oak) and the conifers Picea omorika (Pan & ccaron;i & cacute;) Purk. (Serbian spruce) and Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold (Austrian pine)) at a reclamation site near Sokolov (NW Czechia). The mesocosms contained litter from these different tree species, placed directly on overburden soil (immature soil) or on well-developed Oe and A layers (mature soil), inoculated or not inoculated with earthworms, and incubated for 4 months. The surface material in the mesocosms was then subjected to simulated burn events, and the fire path and soil temperature changes were recorded. Burn testing showed that litter type (tree species) and soil maturity significantly influenced flammability. Pine had longer burning times and burning paths and higher post-burn temperatures than those of the other tree species. The immature soil with earthworms had significantly shorter burning times, whereas in the mature soil, earthworms had no effect. We conclude that earthworms have a significant, immediate effect on the litter flammability of immature soils. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/3731 Understanding meat and fish consumption: Socio-demographic and value insights from five European countries Kmeťková, Diana; Ščasný, Milan; Zvěřinová, Iva; Máca, Vojtěch Current dietary patterns in developed countries, characterised by high intakes of processed and animalsourcefoods, are linked to increased obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases, as well as environmentalburdens. This paper investigates determinants of red meat, white meat, and fish consumption across five Europeancountries, using representative survey data from over 10 000 individuals. Our findings reveal that men consume morered meat and fish than women, though, when adjusted for body weight, women consume significantly more whitemeat and fish. While vegetarians are mostly people younger than 35 years, meat eaters in the same age category tendto eat more red meat than older people. Cross-country differences highlight the need for localised policy approaches. Individual values also shape dietary choices. Security-oriented people prefer red meat, while altruistic individuals consume less of it. Biospheric values, while strongly associated with being vegetarian, show no significant association with meat or fish intake. To reduce red meat consumption, policies should highlight health benefits of eating less meat, with messages tailored to specific demographic groups. Additionally, enhancing meat alternatives' affordability, taste, and appearance is essential for promoting dietary shifts. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/3729 Osobnostní a sociální výchova jako prevence rizik kyberprostoru u žáků 1. stupně ZŠ Novák, Jaroslav; Nováková, Melanie Příspěvek se zaměřuje na důsledky stále častějšího a intenzivnějšího využívání digitálního zařízení ve výuce i v osobním životě dětí, což vede k jejich vyšší expozici kyberprostoru. Tato situace je akcelerována revizí Rámcového vzdělávacího programu pro základní vzdělávání (RVP ZV) z roku 2021, která do kurikula zařadila klíčovou digitální kompetenci (KDK) a modernizovaný vzdělávací obor Informatika. S těmito změnami se pojí nutnost komplexně řešit rizika, která s digitálním prostředím souvisejí. Kyberprostor je specifické prostředí, ve kterém se negativní jevy projevují v různé míře a podobách, od ostrakizace přes kyberšikanu až po závažné kriminální jevy.V textu jsou detailně diskutovány jevy a situace spojené zejména s negativním dopadem na tělesné a duševní zdraví žáků při využívání digitálních technologií. Text přitom propojuje požadavky na eliminaci rizik s nově zavedenými koncepty digitální gramotnosti a wellbeingem, jak je formulováno v RVP ZV. Hlavním cílem je na základě těchto faktů zdůvodnit klíčovou roli osobnostní a sociální výchovy (OSV) v prevenci rizikového chování v kyberprostoru. Klíčovým závěrem je potřeba uplatnění efektivní a systematické OSV, která by v ideálním případě byla realizována jako samostatný vyučovací předmět z disponibilní časové dotace, aby se zajistila její plnohodnotná implementace a dopad na rozvoj sociálně-emocionálních dovedností žáků.; This text focuses on the consequences of the increasingly frequent and intensive use of digital devices in teaching and in children's personal lives, which leads to their higher exposure to cyberspace. This situation is accelerated by the 2021 revision of the Framework Educational Programme for Basic Education (FEP BE), which included the Key Digital Competence (KDC) and the modernized Informatics curriculum into the syllabus. These changes bring with them the necessity to comprehensively address the risks associated with the digital environment. Cyberspace is a specific setting where negative phenomena manifest to varying degrees and in different forms, ranging from ostracism and cyberbullying to serious criminal acts.The paper thoroughly discusses phenomena and situations connected primarily with the negative impact on pupils' physical and mental health when utilizing digital technologies. The text connects the demands for risk elimination with the newly introduced concepts of digital literacy and wellbeing, as formulated in the FEP BE.The main objective is to use these facts to justify the key role of Personal and Social Education (PSE) in the prevention of risky behaviour in cyberspace. The key conclusion is the necessity of applying effective and systematic PSE, which should ideally be implemented as a separate subject derived from the school's flexible time allocation, thus ensuring its full implementation and impact on the development of pupils' socio-emotional skills. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z