The Impact of Mutations in the HvCPD and HvBRI1 Genes on the Physicochemical Properties of the Membranes from Barley Acclimated to Low/High Temperatures

1) Background: The study characterized barley mutants with brassinosteroid (BR) biosynthesis and signaling disturbances in terms of the physicochemical/structural properties of membranes to enrich the knowledge about the role of brassinosteroids for lipid metabolism and membrane functioning. (2) Methods: The Langmuir method was used to investigate the properties of the physicochemical membranes. Langmuir monolayers were formed from the lipid fractions isolated from the plants growing at 20 C and then acclimated at 5 C or 27 C. The fatty acid composition of the lipids was estimated using gas chromatography. (3) Results: The BR-biosynthesis and BR-signaling mutants of barley were characterized by a temperature-dependent altered molar percentage of fatty acids (from 14:0 to 20:1) in their galactolipid and phospholipid fractions in comparison to wild-type (WT). For example, the mutants had a lower molar percentage of 18:3 in the phospholipid (PL) fraction. The same regularity was observed at 5 C. It resulted in altered physicochemical parameters of the membranes (Alim, coll, Cs1). (4) Conclusions: BR may be involved in regulating fatty acid biosynthesis or their transport/incorporation into the cell membranes. Mutants had altered physicochemical parameters of their membranes, compared to the WT, which suggests that BR may have a multidirectional impact on the membrane-dependent physiological processes

Population growth rate of dry bulb mite, Aceria tulipae (Acariformes: Eriophyidae), on agriculturally important plants and implications for its taxonomic status

Dry bulb mite (DBM), Aceria tulipae, is an economically important mite with a worldwide distribution and a broad host range. As a generalist, it is the most important eriophyoid mite attacking bulbous plants such as garlic, onion and tulip. To date, DBM has been recorded on host plants belonging to the families Liliaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Melanthiaceae and Asparagaceae. However, a precise understanding of DBM host range is lacking as it is largely based on casual records of mites on plants, some of which may include accidental hosts. Moreover, the possible existence of cryptic species has not been considered. In this study the hypothesis that DBM may be a complex of distinct genetic lineages or cryptic species was tested by comparing the common barcode sequence marker mtDNA COI of specimens from several populations originating from the Netherlands and Poland. The population growth rate of DBM on seven agriculturally important plant species and on various parts of the garlic plant was also experimentally assessed in the laboratory. The results did not support the first hypothesis, and indicated that DBM populations originating from Poland and the Netherlands shared essentially the same genome. In addition, they indicated that DBM reached the highest population growth rate on leek and also displayed high growth rates on garlic, chive and red onion, whereas white onion and wheat were not colonized by the mites. Answering the question of whether DBM is a single polyphagous species rather than a complex of cryptic lineages is of particular importance since the misidentification of pests may lead to ineffective control strategies. Moreover, improved knowledge of DBM host range is essential for assessing risk to crops

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS' QUALITY OF LIFE IN POLAND AND RUSSIA

The main purpose of the article is to compare different quality of life variables in Poland and Russia. The study presents definitional problems associated with the concept of quality of life and defines its various dimensions. The study reviews the subject literature applying a descriptive method as well as presents own empirical research. The research project was based on the surveys carried out among Polish students of the Cracow University of Economics and Russian students of the Saint - Petersburg State University of Economics. The research was carried out in the second quarter of 2018 using the G-Suit package. The research-based questionnaire was conducted as a CSAQ (Computerized Self - Administered Questionnaire), a computer-based questionnaire where respondents were giving their answers directly. The collected data were analysed using the methods of single, double and multidimensional statistics and developed using the SPSS 25

Repolarization parameters in patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention with respect to predischarge ST-T pattern: A preliminary study

Background: Negative T wave and lack of ST segment elevation in predischarge ECG in ST-segment elevation myocardial infraction (STEMI) patients are given as markers of good prognosis. Repolarization duration, especially its late part (TpeakTend - TpTe), likewise ST-T patterns, is related to local post-myocardial infarction myocardial attributes. We analyzed the differences in QT parameters in STEMI patients with negative or not-negative T wave pattern in predischarge ECG. Methods: The data from 83 STEMI patients (LVEF > 45%, first MI, one-vessel disease) who underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention of infarct-related coronary artery (TIMI 3 flow) were collected. According to ST-T patterns in predischarge ECG, the cohort was divided into two groups: 38 patients with persistent ST elevation and/or non-negative T wave pattern (STT+), and 45 patients with negative T wave, without ST elevation (STT-). QT, QTpeak, and TpTe intervals were obtained from 5 consecutive beats of sinus rhythm 60–70 bpm between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. from Holter recording, corrected to the heart rate (HR) with Bazett’s formula. Results: The study groups did not differ in gender, age, or treatment. No true antiarrhythmics were given. Both QTc and TpTec were longer in STT+ patients: 459 ± 26 ms vs. 440 ± 25 ms, p = 0.01 and 108 ± 10 ms vs. 96 ± 11 ms, p = 0.000015, respectively. Prolongation of late repolarization was found both in anterior and inferior infarction. Conclusions: STEMI patients who underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention of infarct-related coronary arteries and demonstrated persistent ST elevation, without negative T wave at hospital discharge, had a longer repolarization duration, especially the late phase of it. Further studies are necessary to assess the prognostic value of this finding

Postpregnancy glycemic control and weight changes in type 1 diabetic women

OBJECTIVE - Pregnancy in type 1 diabetes requires excellent glycemic control. Most pregnant type 1 diabetic women achieve normoglycemia; however, there is scarce data on their postdelivery characteristics. We aimed to examine postpregnancy glycemic control and weight changes in type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - We identified and followed (median 20 months) 254 women with singleton pregnancies receiving postdelivery medical care at a single institution. RESULTS - Study subjects were 28.3 6 4.7 years of age (mean 6 SD), with a diabetes duration of 12.0 6 7.7 years. Mean A1C before conception was 6.9 6 1.4%, and preconception weight and BMI were 64.4 6 10.0 kg and 23.9 6 3.3 kg/m2, respectively. Mean A1C decreased during pregnancy, reaching 5.7 6 0.8% in the third trimester. We observed a mean weight gain of 14.4 6 6.5 kg during pregnancy. Within 6 months after delivery, A1C increased by 0.8% (P , 0.0001) compared with the last trimester, and body weight and BMI were 4.4 kg and 2.5 kg/m2 higher (P , 0.0001) compared with the preconception baseline. A1C further deteriorated by 0.8% until the end of follow-up. For women in the "pregnancy planning" program (n = 117), A1C .12 months after delivery was worse compared with before conception (7.1 vs. 6.5%, P = 0.0018), whereas in women with unplanned pregnancies, it was similar to the pregestational levels (7.3 vs.7.4%, P = 0.59). Weight and BMI in the entire study group did not return to prepregnancy levels and were 2.5 kg (P = 0.0079) and 0.9 kg/m2 higher (P = 0.0058). CONCLUSIONS - In this clinical observation, type 1 diabetic women showed postpregnancy deterioration in glycemic control and were unable to return to prepregnancy weight. Type 1 diabetic women seem to require special attention after delivery to meet therapeutic targets

Stress conditions affect the immunomodulatory potential of Candida albicans extracellular vesicles and their impact on cytokine release by THP-1 human macrophages

Human immune cells possess the ability to react complexly and effectively after contact with microbial virulence factors, including those transported in cell-derived structures of nanometer sizes termed extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are produced by organisms of all kingdoms, including fungi pathogenic to humans. In this work, the immunomodulatory properties of EVs produced under oxidative stress conditions or at host concentrations of $CO_{2}$ by the fungal pathogen Candida albicans were investigated. The interaction of EVs with human pro-monocytes of the U-937 cell line was established, and the most notable effect was attributed to oxidative stress-related EVs. The immunomodulatory potential of tested EVs against human THP-1 macrophages was verified using cytotoxicity assay, ROS-production assay, and the measurement of cytokine production. All fungal EVs tested did not show a significant cytotoxic effect on THP-1 cells, although a slight pro-oxidative impact was indicated for EVs released by C. albicans cells grown under oxidative stress. Furthermore, for all tested types of EVs, the pro-inflammatory properties related to increased IL-8 and TNF-$\alpha$ production and decreased IL-10 secretion were demonstrated, with the most significant effect observed for EVs released under oxidative stress conditions

Udar krwotoczny w przebiegu mózgowej angiopatii amyloidowej

Mózgowa angiopatia amyloidowa (CAA, cerebral amyloid angiopathy) jest schorzeniem zwyrodnieniowym naczyń, w którym dochodzi do uszkodzenia ściany naczyń mózgowych i ich końcowych rozgałęzień, w wyniku odkładania się w nich b-amyloidu. W CAA występują krwawienia mózgowe o typowej lokalizacji i różnej manifestacji klinicznej. Pewne rozpoznanie ustala się na podstawie badania neuropatologicznego. Istotną rolę w przyżyciowej diagnostyce CAA odgrywają także nowoczesne metody neuroobrazow

Genetics of lineage diversification and the evolution of host usage in the economically important wheat curl mite, Aceria tosichella Keifer, 1969

BACKGROUND: Understanding the mechanisms that underlie the diversification of herbivores through interactions with their hosts is important for their diversity assessment and identification of expansion events, particularly in a human-altered world where evolutionary processes can be exacerbated. We studied patterns of host usage and genetic structure in the wheat curl mite complex (WCM), Aceria tosichella, a major pest of the world\u27s grain industry, to identify the factors behind its extensive diversification. RESULTS: We expanded on previous phylogenetic research, demonstrating deep lineage diversification within the taxon, a complex of distinctive host specialist and generalist lineages more diverse than previously assumed. Time-calibrated phylogenetic reconstruction inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequence data suggests that lineage diversification pre-dates the influence of agricultural practices, and lineages started to radiate in the mid Miocene when major radiations of C4 grasses is known to have occurred. Furthermore, we demonstrated that host specificity is not phylogenetically constrained, while host generalization appears to be a more derived trait coinciding with the expansion of the world\u27s grasslands. Demographic history of specialist lineages have been more stable when compared to generalists, and their expansion pre-dated all generalist lineages. The lack of host-associated genetic structure of generalists indicates gene flow between mite populations from different hosts. CONCLUSIONS: Our analyses demonstrated that WCM is an unexpectedly diverse complex of genetic lineages and its differentiation is likely associated with the time of diversification and expansion of its hosts. Signatures of demographic histories and expansion of generalists are consistent with the observed proliferation of the globally most common lineages. The apparent lack of constrains on host use, coupled with a high colonization potential, hinders mite management, which may be further compromised by host range expansion. This study provides a significant contribution to the growing literature on host-association and diversification in herbivorous invertebrates

Positive left atrial remodeling in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation after a successful radiofrequency pulmonary vein isolation

Background: The potential relationship between the initial left atrial (LA) echocardiographic parameters and LA remodeling after pulmonary vein isolation with RF energy (PVI) with effectiveness of this treatment is discussed. Aim: To determine the influence of initial and after follow-up transthoracic echocardiography derived predictors of successful PVI in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: 80 patients with paroxysmal AF (58 [interquartile range, IQR], 50–63] years, males: 58 [IQR, 50–63]), hospitalized for the first time PVI procedure were included. Before and after a minimum of 6 months of follow-up period a clinical and echocardiographic evaluation were performed. LA morphological parameters (diameter, volumes and other detailed LA parameters), as well as LA peak segmental and global longitudinal strains (PLS) and LA wall strain synchrony were assessed. Results: In the whole group after a follow-up period, patients presented higher mean LA Volconduit. Patients with no AF recurrences had lower post-PVI LA volumes, higher LA ejection fraction and LA expansion index, when compared to the patients after ineffective PVI. Patients who maintained sinus rhythm after PVI procedure were characterized by a higher initial segmental strains: LA PLSbasal-inferior and PLSapical-septal, as well as higher LA wall strain dispersion in time. Conclusions: Some echocardiographic parameters related to LA morphology improve after successful PVI treatment. LA strains and wall strain dispersion in time are not related to LA remodeling after successful PVI procedure. However the baseline LA standard and novel echocardiographic parameters cannot be used as a remote evaluation of the effectiveness of the PVI procedure