Risk factors for perinatal mortality in Murmansk County, Russia: a registry-based study

Source at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2017.1270536 Background: Factors contributing to perinatalmortality (PM) in Northwest Russia remain unclear. This study investigated possible associations between selected maternal and fetal characteristics and PM based on data from the population-based Murmansk County Birth Registry. Objective: This study investigated possible associations between selected maternal and fetal characteristics and PM based on data from the population-based Murmansk County Birth Registry. Methods: The study population consisted of all live- and stillbirths registered in the Murmansk County Birth Registry during 2006–2011 (n = 52,806). We excluded multiple births, births prior to 22 and after 45 completed weeks of gestation, infants with congenital malformations, and births with missing information regarding gestational age (a total of n = 3,666) and/or the studied characteristics (n = 2,356). Possible associations between maternal socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics, maternal pre-pregnancy characteristics, pregnancy characteristics, and PM were studied by multivariable logistic regression. Crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results: Of the 49,140 births eligible for prevalence analysis, 338 were identified as perinatal deaths (6.9 per 1,000 births). After adjustment for other factors, maternal low education level, prior preterm delivery, spontaneous or induced abortions, antepartum hemorrhage, antenatally detected or suspected fetal growth retardation, and alcohol abuse during pregnancy all significantly increased the risk of PM. We observed a higher risk of PM in unmarried women, as well as overweight or obese mothers. Maternal underweight reduced the risk of PM. Conclusions: Our results suggest that both social and medical factors are important correlates of perinatal mortality in Northwest Russia

PROTEIN QUALITY OF BREAD WHEAT

The storage proteins content and their composition have important role in determination of protein quality in bread wheat. The aim of this work is analysis of gluten content, loaf volume and their relationship with gliadin and high molecular weight glutenin subunits in bread wheat. In investigation included 10 wheat genotypes grown in two vegetation seasons (2015/16 and 2016/17) with different climatic conditions. In the first year, the genotype G-3634-2 had the lowest dry gluten content (21.20%) and loaf volume (380 ml), while genotype G-3622-1, had the highest dry gluten content (26.54%) and loaf volume (500 ml). In second year, the lowest dry gluten content (23.44%) and the lowest loaf volume was in wheat G-3601-4 (400 ml), while in genotype G-3622-1, found the highest dry gluten content (29.86%) and loaf volume (540 ml). Wheat genotypes which possess glutenin subunits 2* encoded by Glu-A1b, 7+9 encoded by Glu-B1c, and 5+10 encoded by Glu-D1d. For improving bread making quality are necessary select and wheat genotypes in terms of gluten protein composition (gliadin and glutenin’s) and higher gluten content

Strangeness Production in pp and pn Reactions at COSY

The COoler SYnchrotron COSY-J\"ulich delivers phase-space cooled, polarized proton and deuteron beams with momenta up to p=3.65 GeV/c. Various experiments on hadron-induced strangeness production on proton, neutron and nuclear targets have been carried out. Here we report about recent results on associated strangeness production in pp -> KYN (Y= Lambda,Sigma) reactions, on K^+ production in pn collisions, and on K K-bar pair production in pp interactions. We also briefly discuss possible measurements to disentangle the parity of the recently discovered pentaquark state Theta^+, the spin dependence of the YN interaction, as well as planned experiments which aim at the determination of the a_0-f_0 mixing matrix element, a quantity which is believed to be sensitive to the nature of the light scalar mesons a_0/f_0(980).Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures; Proc. VIII Int. Conf. on Hypernuclear and Strange Particle Physics, JLab, Oct. 14 - 18, 200

Time trends in smoking in Russia in the light of recent tobacco control measures: synthesis of evidence from multiple sources

Background - The study aims at identifying long-term trends and patterns of current smoking by age, gender, and education in Russia, including the most recent period from 2008 during which tobacco control policies were implemented, and to estimate the impact on mortality of any reductions in prevalence. We present an in-depth analysis based on an unprecedentedly large array of survey data. Methods - We examined pooled micro-data on smoking from 17 rounds of the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Study of 1996–2016, 11 other surveys conducted in Russia in 1975–2017, and two comparator surveys from England and the USA. Standardization by age and education, regression and meta-analysis were used to estimate trends in the prevalence of current smoking by gender, age, and educational patterns. Results - From the mid-1970s to the mid-2000s smoking prevalence among men was relatively stable at around 60%, after which time prevalence declined in every age and educational group. Among women, trends in smoking were more heterogeneous. Prevalence more than doubled above the age of 55 years from very low levels ( Conclusions - The implementation of an effective tobacco control strategy in Russia starting in 2008 coincided with a decline in smoking prevalence among men from what had been stable, high levels over many decades regardless of age and education. Among women, the declines have been more uneven, with young women showing recent downturns, while the smoking prevalence in middle age has increased, particularly among those with minimal education. Among men, these positive changes will have made a small contribution to the reduction in mortality seen in Russia since 2005

PROTEIN CONTENT AND AMINO ACID COMPOSITION IN SEED OF BREAD WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.)

The aim of this study was determination of protein content and amino acid composition in seeds of bread wheat, with particular focus of evaluation essential amino acids (EAAs). For analysis used flour samples of grained seed of 10 wheat variety, which selected in different breeding center (in Novi Sad and Kragujevac, Serbia). Kjeldahl method was used for determination of nitrogen (N) contents which value multiplied with coefficient 5.7 for computing protein content (protein contents = 5.7 x % N contents). Amino acids analyses of wheat samples were performed by ion exchange chromatography, followed by the ninhydrin colour reaction and photometric detection at 570 nm and 440 nm (for proline). The results showed that the mean protein content for wheat varied from the lowest value 10.24% in Ljubičevka to the highest 14.21% in Fortuna variety. The mean contents (g 100 g-l protein) of nonessential amino acids (NEAAs) were aspartic acid 5.42%, serine 4.23%, glutamic acid 18.51%, proline 12.18%, glycine 4.17%, alanine 3.64%, tyrosine 2.52%, arginine 5.02%, while mean contents of essential amino acids (EAAs) were threonine 2.86%, valine 4.52%, methionine 1.28%, isoleucine 3.87%, leucine 5.87%, phenylalanine 4.62%, histidine 2.46%, lysine 2.91%. The wheat variety contained relatively high concentration of the most deficient EAAs. The variety Ljubičevka contained relatively high concentration of the most deficient EAAs (threonine, valine, leucine, lysine,). The highest value (29.31 g 100 g-l protein) of total essential amino acids (TEAA), 59.79 g 100 g-l protein of total nonessential amino acids (TNEAA) as well as the highest value (90.35 g 100 g-l protein) of total amino acids (TAA). Obtained results provide variability of wheat variety on the base of amino acid contents and indicate reliable variety for selecting desirable parents in breeding program for improving nutrient quality © 2023, Genetika.All Rights Reserved

The relationship between gluten proteins and loaf volume

The storage proteins influence technological quality value of grain wheat, dough quality traits, and loaf quality. The aim of this study is to estimate variability in the dry gluten content, loaf volume, and their relationships with encoding alleles of gliadin and glutenins. Wheat genotypes grown in two vegetation seasons (2015/16 and 2016/17) were studied. The technological quality traits analyzed in this study varied in wheat genotypes within and between vegetation seasons. In both vegetation seasons the highest dry gluten content was established in G-3621-1 (30.23% and 31.15%) and the highest value of loaf volume in G-3621-1 (530 ml and 540 ml). In both vegetation seasons the least dry gluten content was found in G-3606-6 (25.42% and 25.98%) and the least loaf volume in G-3606-6 (380 ml and 390 ml). The composition of gliadin and glutenin alleles in the wheat genotypes analyzed was different. The genotypes carrying Gli-B1b, Gli-D1b, Gli-D2b, and Glu-A1b, Glu-B1c, Glu-D1d had the highest gluten content, while the genotype that carried Gli-B1l and Glu-A1b, Glu-B1c, Glu-D1d had high bread volume. The results have shown relationships between gliadin and glutenin alleles and quality traits of grain, flour, and bread

Long-term trends in blood pressure and hypertension in Russia: an analysis of data from 14 health surveys conducted in 1975-2017

Background Hypertension is recognized as an important contributor to high cardiovascular mortality in Russia. A comprehensive analysis of data from Russian studies that measured blood pressure in population-based samples has not been previously undertaken. This study aims to identify trends and patterns in mean blood pressure and the prevalence of hypertension in Russia over the most recent 40 years. Methods We obtained anonymized individual records of blood pressure measurements from 14 surveys conducted in Russia in 1975-2017 relating to a total of 137,687 individuals. For comparative purposes we obtained equivalent data from 4 surveys in the USA and England for 23,864 individuals. A meta-regression on aggregated data adjusted for education was undertaken to estimate time trends in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, the prevalence of elevated blood pressure (> 140/90 mmHg), and hypertension (defined as elevated blood pressure and/or the use of blood pressure-lowering) medication. A meta-analysis of pooled individual-level data was used to assess male-female differences in blood pressure and hypertension. Results During the period 1975-2017 mean blood pressure, the prevalence of elevated blood pressure and hypertension remained stable among Russian men. Among Russian women, mean systolic blood pressure decreased at an annual rate of 0.25 mmHg (p < 0.1) at age 35-54 years and by 0.8 mmHg (p < 0.01) at ages 55 and over. The prevalence of elevated blood pressure also decreased by 0.8% per year (p < 0.01), but the prevalence of hypertension remained stable. Mean blood pressure and prevalence of hypertension were higher in Russia compared to the USA and England at all ages and for both sexes. Conclusions In contrast to the generally observed downward trend in elevated blood pressure in many other countries, levels in Russia have changed little over the past 40 years, although there are some positive trends among women. Improved strategies to bring down the high levels of mean blood pressure and hypertension in Russia compared to countries such as England and the USA are important to further reduce the high burden of CVD in Russia

Polimorfizam alela glijadina i glutenina kod pšenice (Triticum aestivum L.)

Glijadini i glutenini se deponuju u endospermu semena i imaju najveći udeo u sadržaju proteina semena. Cilj ovog rada je identifikacija polimorfizama genskih alela koji kodiraju glijadine i glutenine. U istraživanje je uključeno 10 sorti pšenice. Od svakog genotipa je korišćeno 30 semena za ekstrakciju glijadina sa 70% etanolom, a glutenina sa 10% β-merkaptoetanolom. Glijadini su razdvojeni elektroforezom u rastvoru pufera (pH=3,1) na 8,33% poliakrilamidnom gelu, dok su glutenini razdvajani pomoću SDS-PAGE (pH-8,6) na 11,8% gelu. Elektroforegrami su korišćeni za određivanje alela Gli-1 i Gli-2, kao i alela Glu-1. Identifikovano je pet alela (a, b, c, f, m) na Gli-A1, četiri alela (b, g, e, l) na Gli-B1, četiri alela (a, b, g, k) na Gli-D1, pet alela (b, e, g, m, n) na Gli-A2, šest alela (b, c, d, g, k, o) na Gli-B2 i tri alela (a, b , e, h, m) na Gli-D2 lokusu. Za podjedinice glutenina visoke molekularne mase (HMVGS) je identifikovano tri alela (a, b, c) na Glu-A1, sedam alela (a, b, c, d, f, h, i) na Glu-B1 i tri alela (a, c, d) na Glu-D1. Identifikovani aleli na svakom Gli-1, Gli-2 i Glu-1 lokusu ukazuju na visok polimorfizam proteina glutena i genetičku divergentnost analiziranih genotipova pšenice

Defensin-like peptides in wheat analyzed by whole-transcriptome sequencing: a focus on structural diversity and role in induced resistance

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are the main components of the plant innate immune system. Defensins represent the most important AMP family involved in defense and non-defense functions. In this work, global RNA sequencing and de novo transcriptome assembly were performed to explore the diversity of defensin-like (DEFL) genes in the wheat Triticum kiharae and to study their role in induced resistance (IR) mediated by the elicitor metabolites of a non-pathogenic strain FS-94 of Fusarium sambucinum. Using a combination of two pipelines for DEFL mining in transcriptome data sets, as many as 143 DEFL genes were identified in T. kiharae, the vast majority of them represent novel genes. According to the number of cysteine residues and the cysteine motif, wheat DEFLs were classified into ten groups. Classical defensins with a characteristic 8-Cys motif assigned to group 1 DEFLs represent the most abundant group comprising 52 family members. DEFLs with a characteristic 4-Cys motif CX{3,5}CX{8,17}CX{4,6}C named group 4 DEFLs previously found only in legumes were discovered in wheat. Within DEFL groups, subgroups of similar sequences originated by duplication events were isolated. Variation among DEFLs within subgroups is due to amino acid substitutions and insertions/deletions of amino acid sequences. To identify IR-related DEFL genes, transcriptional changes in DEFL gene expression during elicitor-mediated IR were monitored. Transcriptional diversity of DEFL genes in wheat seedlings in response to the fungus Fusarium oxysporum, FS-94 elicitors, and the combination of both (elicitors + fungus) was demonstrated, with specific sets of up- and down-regulated DEFL genes. DEFL expression profiling allowed us to gain insight into the mode of action of the elicitors from F. sambucinum. We discovered that the elicitors up-regulated a set of 24 DEFL genes. After challenge inoculation with F. oxysporum, another set of 22 DEFLs showed enhanced expression in IR-displaying seedlings. These DEFLs, in concert with other defense molecules, are suggested to determine enhanced resistance of elicitor-pretreated wheat seedlings. In addition to providing a better understanding of the mode of action of the elicitors from FS-94 in controlling diseases, up-regulated IR-specific DEFL genes represent novel candidates for genetic transformation of plants and development of pathogen-resistant crops