The usefulness of RAPD and AFLP markers for determining genetic similarity in rye [Secale L.] species and subspecies

In this work we searched for genetic similarities in twelve wild rye species and subspecies and a control (S. cereale ssp. cereale, cv. Walet), using RAPD and AFLP markers. AFLP is useful for distinguishing homo- and heterozygotes but is not recommended for evaluation of codominant markers. We assessed the usefulness of the applied methods for examining genetic similarity in rye. RAPD yielded four groups of genetic similarity, with similarity values between 0.32 and 0.81. AFLP markers distinguished two groups of genetic similarity, ranging from 0.49 to 0.79

Fast consumption increases the risk of overweight and obesity

Background. Overweight and obesity are a problem negatively affecting human health. Besides the excess of energy from food, development of overweight can also result from food preferences, the frequency of meals and the speed of eating. Objective. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of eating habits and physical activity on the occurrence of overweight and obesity. Material and method. The questionnaire survey concerning eating habits and physical activity was conducted among adults aged 20-59 (n=420) in Lublin province (Poland). The subjects were divided into two groups – normal (BMI 18.5-25 kg/m2, n=250) and overweight and obese (BMI≥25 kg/m2, n=170). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc Tukey’s test as well as chi-square independence test were applied. In addition, the relative risk of overweight for groups divided according to their habits was determined. Results. The analysis of speed of eating was on the basis of subjective assessment of the subjects and as a relative speed of eating compared to family members and friends. In both methods of assessment, it has been shown that overweight and obesity facilitates fast food intake rate (p=0.0078 and p=0.0010, respectively) The relative risk of obesity and overweight increases almost twice (RR 1.79) when the number of meals consumed daily is between one and two compared to those having five meals a day. In addition, it has been shown that overweight facilitates low physical activity. Conclusions. Slowly consumed meals, high physical activity and having more than two meals a day promotes maintaining a normal body weight.Wprowadzenie. Nadwaga i otyłość są problemem wpływającym negatywnie na zdrowie człowieka. Oprócz nadmiaru energii pochodzącej z pożywienia, rozwój nadwagi może wynikać również z preferencji żywieniowych, częstotliwości spożywania posiłków i szybkości jedzenia. Cel. Celem badań była analiza wpływu nawyków żywieniowych i aktywności fizycznej na występowanie nadwagi i otyłości. Materiał i metoda. Ankieta dotycząca nawyków żywieniowych i aktywności fizycznej została przeprowadzona wśród osób dorosłych w wieku 20–59 lat (n = 420) w województwie lubelskim. Badanych podzielono na dwie grupy – o prawidłowej masie ciała (BMI 18.5-25 kg/m2, n = 250) i z nadmierną masą ciała (BMI ≥25 kg/m2, n = 170). Zastosowano jednoczynnikową analizę wariancji (ANOVA) i test post-hoc Tukeya, a także test niezależności chi-kwadrat. Dodatkowo wyznaczono względne ryzyko wystąpienia nadwagi dla poszczególnych grup. Wyniki. Analiza szybkości jedzenia była oparta na subiektywnej ocenie badanych oraz jako względna szybkość jedzenia w porównaniu z członkami rodziny i przyjaciół. W obu metodach oceny wykazano, że nadmiernej masie ciała sprzyja szybkie tempo spożywania posiłków (odpowiednio p = 0,0078 i p = 0,0010). Względne ryzyko otyłości i nadwagi wzrasta prawie dwukrotnie (RR 1,79), gdy liczba spożywanych posiłków wynosi od jednego do dwóch w porównaniu do tych osób, które spożywają pięć posiłków dziennie. Ponadto wykazano, że nadwadze sprzyja niska aktywność fizyczna. Wnioski. Wolno spożywane posiłki, duża aktywność fizyczna i spożywanie więcej niż dwóch posiłków dziennie sprzyja utrzymaniu prawidłowej masy ciała

Up-regulation of inducible heat shock protein-70 expression in multiple sclerosis patients

Inducible heat shock protein (HSP)70 (HSP70-1A and HSP70-1B proteins) is a chaperone responsible for assisting proper protein folding. Following stress conditions, HSP70 is highly up-regulated to mediate cytoprotective functions. In addition, HSP70 is able to trigger innate and adaptive immune responses that promote the immune recognition of antigens and to act as a cytokine when it is released. The data in the literature are controversial with regard to expression studies in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In the present study, we aimed to examine if alterations of HSP70-1A/B expression are involved in the autoimmune pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). We determined both mRNA and protein expression in PBMCs of MS patients and healthy donors (HDs). We found a baseline increased expression of the HSPA1A gene in PBMCs from MS patients compared with HDs. Gene expression findings were associated with an increased protein expression of HSP70-1A/B in T lymphocytes (CD4+ and CD8+) and monocytes from MS patients under basal conditions that may reflect the immunological activation occurring in MS patients. We also provided evidence that heat shock (HS) stimulus induced HSP70-1A/B protein expression in HDs and MS patients, and that HS-induced HSP70-1A/B protein expression in monocytes correlated with the number of T2 lesions at baseline in MS patients. However, after lipopolysaccharide inflammatory stimulus, monocytes from MS patients failed to induce HSP70-1A/B protein expression. Our data hint at altered immune responses in MS and may indicate either a state of chronic stress or increased vulnerability to physiological immune responses in MS patients

Tendon Tissue Engineering: Effects of Mechanical and Biochemical Stimulation on Stem Cell Alignment on Cell-Laden Hydrogel Yarns

Fiber-based approaches hold great promise for tendon tissue engineering enabling the possibility of manufacturing aligned hydrogel filaments that can guide collagen fiber orientation, thereby providing a biomimetic micro-environment for cell attachment, orientation, migration, and proliferation. In this study, a 3D system composed of cell-laden, highly aligned hydrogel yarns is designed and obtained via wet spinning in order to reproduce the morphology and structure of tendon fascicles. A bioink composed of alginate and gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) is optimized for spinning and loaded with human bone morrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs). The produced scaffolds are subjected to mechanical stretching to recapitulate the strains occurring in native tendon tissue. Stem cell differentiation is promoted by addition of bone morphogenetic protein 12 (BMP-12) in the culture medium. The aligned orientation of the fibers combined with mechanical stimulation results in highly preferential longitudinal cell orientation and demonstrates enhanced collagen type I and III expression. Additionally, the combination of biochemical and mechanical stimulations promotes the expression of specific tenogenic markers, signatures of efficient cell differentiation towards tendon. The obtained results suggest that the proposed 3D cell-laden aligned system can be used for engineering of scaffolds for tendon regeneration

Hsp70 regulates immune response in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Heat shock protein (Hsp)70 is one of the most important stress-inducible proteins. Intracellular Hsp70 not only mediates chaperone-cytoprotective functions but can also block multiple steps in the apoptosis pathway. In addition, Hsp70 is actively released into the extracellular milieu, thereby promoting innate and adaptive immune responses. Thus, Hsp70 may be a critical molecule in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis and a potential target in this disease due to its immunological and cytoprotective functions. To investigate the role of Hsp70 in MS pathogenesis, we examined its immune and cytoprotective roles using both in vitro and in vivo experimental procedures. We found that Hsp70.1-deficient mice were more resistant to developing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) compared with their wild-type (WT) littermates, suggesting that Hsp70.1 plays a critical role in promoting an effective myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-specific T cell response. Conversely, Hsp70.1-deficient mice that developed EAE showed an increased level of autoreactive T cells to achieve the same production of cytokines compared with the WT mice. Although a neuroprotective role of HSP70 has been suggested, Hsp70.1-deficient mice that developed EAE did not exhibit increased demyelination compared with the control mice. Accordingly, Hsp70 deficiency did not influence the vulnerability to apoptosis of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) in culture. Thus, the immunological role of Hsp70 may be relevant in EAE, and specific therapies down-regulating Hsp70 expression may be a promising approach to reduce the early autoimmune response in MS patients