Survival and Longevity of \u3ci\u3eOtiorhynchus Ligustici\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Alfalfa Hay Bales in Eastern Ontario

The alfalfa snout beetle, Otiorhynchus ligustici, a pest of European origin, has recently spread into mainland Ontario. A two-year study showed that dispersing adults incorporated into bales of alfalfa during harvest can survive therein for up to 46 days of storage in a mow. Furthermore, they can remain fertile for most of this period. This has important implications with respect to the shipment of hay from infested areas

Vascular architecture of the human uterine cervix, as assessed in light and scanning electron microscopy

Objectives. The aim of this study was to visualize and describe the vasculature of the human uterine cervix.Materials and Methods. The material for this study was obtained from women (age between 20 to 45 years) during autopsy. The material was collected not later than 24 hours post-mortem. This study was performed using uteri from cadavers of menstruating nulliparas (33 uteri) and menstruating multiparas (27 uteri). Collected uteri were perfused via the afferent vessels with Mercox resin (for corrosion-casting and SEM assessment) or acrylic paint solution (light microscopy assessment). The research protocol was approved by the Jagiellonian University Ethics Committee (registry KBET/121/8/2007).Results. In all cases bilateral cervical branches (1-4), originating from the uterine artery, were found. Both in the vaginal and supravaginal parts of the cervix, four distinct vascular zones were found. In the pericanalar zone ran small veins, responsible for draining the mucosal capillaries. Both in the muscular layer, as well as in the pericanalar zone, arterioles and venules passed close to each other, often adjoining.Conclusions. This study does not confirm the existence of a single “cervicovaginal” artery, but shows that the vascular supply of the cervix comes from several vessels. It also introduces the idea of two systems, responsible for draining blood from the mucosal capillaries. Neither assessment in light microscopy nor in SEM has revealed any differences between multiparas and nulliparas, as to the vascular architecture of the cervix

‘Venous lakes’ — a corrosion cast scanning electron microscopy study of regular and myomatous human uterine blood vessels

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the venous structure of regularand myomatous human uteri, using corrosion casting and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Special attention was paid to the endometrium and the socalled ‘venous lakes’.Materials and methods: Uteri collected at autopsy (n = 67) were injected with Mercox CL-2R resin, which penetrated the capillary bed and filled both arteriesand veins. After the polymerisation of the resin, the corrosion was performed. The obtained vascular casts, visualising all vessels including capillaries, were examinedusing scanning electron microscopy.Results: Amongst the 67 uteri prepared for the corrosion casting, only 22 (15 containing leiomyomata) yielded casts of acceptable quality for SEM assessment. Veins of the endometrium and the myometrium were present in the form of a chaotic network, which did not run parallel to the arterialsystem, but was rather independent. Microscopic venous dilations (‘venouslakes’) were observed both within the functional layer of the endometrium and the myometrium. They were digit-like in shape and could be compared to venous sinuses. They drained the subendothelial capillary plexus and were supplied by numerous capillaries and venules. Their size ranged from 270 to 420 μm. Those dilatations were absent in the outer myometrium and the perimetrium, as well as the uterine cervix. We have not observed any arteriovenous anastomoses.Conclusions: The myomatous uteri tend to have larger venous lakes than the normal uteri. The number and size of venous lakes increases with menstrual cycle progression. Further data on morphology and changes in venous lakesusing scanning electronic microscopy should be acquired

Современные тенденции развития женской борьбы

The history of the development of women’s wrestling as an Olympic sport is considered in the article from the point of view of the statistical indicators dynamics (the period 1985–2021): changes in the number of participating countries in international competitions and the number of athletes declared from each participating country. The anylized competitions: the World Cup, the World Women’s Wrestling Championship and the Olympic Games. The purpose of the study is to assess the current state and development trends of women’s wrestling in the world. Analysis of scientific and methodological literature, statistical database processing United World Wrestling (UWW) – https://uww.org/. The indicators of the participating countries number in women’s wrestling international competitions and the number of athletes declared from each participating country were analyzed. The results obtained complement the theoretical section of the sports development history, the history of the Olympic Games and the wrwstling development history. Describing the current state of women’s wrestling, it can be noted that this type of wrestling is developing in 186 countries of the world, including Africa – 47, South and North America – 33, Asia – 40, Europe – 48 and Oceania – 18. The analysis revealed that the main trends in the development of women’s wrestling in the world are the following directions: 1) the development of women’s wrestling takes place within the sports wrestling development general history framework in the world, since women’s wrestling competitions follow the rules of freestyle wrestling; 2) the development of women’s wrestling as an independent sport (discipline) begins in the 1980s with the first international competitions and reaches its peak after being included in the program of the Olympic Games; 3) there is a high rate of the different countries women’s wrestling development (first of all, an increase in the number of participating countries and athletes participating in world championships, and secondly, an increase in the list of countries participating at least once in the Olympic Games); 4) the holding of the Olympic Games leads to a sharp increase in the number of countries, since a significant increase in the number of countries developing women’s wrestling was observed in 2008–2009 after being included in the program of the Olympic Games; 5) the achievement of the modern level of development of women’s wrestling became possible in 30 years, but women’s wrestling became the third female martial art (after judo and taekwondo) included in the program of the Summer Olympic Games. Statistical analysis confirms the need to maintain the Olympic status for this sport for further positive dynamics in the development of women’s wrestlingИстория развития женской борьбы как олимпийского вида спорта рассмотрена с точки зрения динамики статистических показателей (период 1985–2021 гг.): изменения численности стран, участвующих в соревнованиях международного уровня, и количества спортсменов, заявленных от каждой страны-участницы. Проанализированы соревнования – Кубок мира, чемпионат мира по женской борьбе и Олимпийские игры. Цель исследования – оценить современные состояние и тенденции развития женской борьбы в мире. Проведен анализ научно-методической литературы, а также статистическая обработка базы данных United World Wrestling (UWW) – https://uww.org/. Рассмотрены показатели численности стран-участниц в соревнованиях международного уровня по женской борьбе и количества спортсменок, заявленных от каждой страны-участницы. Полученные результаты дополняют теоретический раздел истории развития спорта, истории проведения Олимпийских игр и истории развития спортивной борьбы. Характеризуя современное состояние женской борьбы, можно отметить, что этот вид развивается в 186 странах мира, среди которых страны Африки – 47, Южной и Северной Америки – 33, Азии – 40, Европы – 48 и Океании – 18. В ходе анализа выявлено, что основными тенденциями развития женской борьбы в мире можно назвать следующие: 1) развитие женской борьбы происходит в рамках общей истории развития спортивной борьбы в мире, так как соревнования здесь идут по правилам вольной борьбы; 2) женская борьба как самостоятельный вид спорта (дисциплины) начинается с 1980-х годов с проведения первых международных соревнований и достигает своего пика после включения в программу Олимпийских игр; 3) высокий темп развития женской борьбы отмечен в разных странах мира (в первую очередь по росту количества стран-участниц и спортсменок-участниц в чемпионатах мира, во вторую – по увеличению списка стран, хоть единожды участвовавших в Олимпийских играх); 4) проведение Олимпийских игр приводит к резкому увеличению количества участниц, так как значительный прирост числа стран, развивающих женскую борьбу, наблюдался в 2008–2009 гг. после включения в программу Олимпийских игр; 5) современный уровень развития женской борьбы достигнут за 30 лет, причем она стала третьим женским видом единоборств (после дзюдо и тхэквондо), включенным в программу летних Олимпийских игр. Статистический анализ подтверждает необходимость сохранять олимпийский статус этого вида спорта для дальнейшей положительной динамики в темпах развития женской борьб

Development of SimCells as a novel chassis for functional biosensors

This work serves as a proof-of-concept for bacterially derived SimCells (Simple Cells), which contain the cell machinery from bacteria and designed DNA (or potentially a simplified genome) to instruct the cell to carry out novel, specific tasks. SimCells represent a reprogrammable chassis without a native chromosome, which can host designed DNA to perform defined functions. In this paper, the use of Escherichia coli MC1000 ∆minD minicells as a non-reproducing chassis for SimCells was explored, as demonstrated by their ability to act as sensitive biosensors for small molecules. Highly purified minicells derived from E. coli strains containing gene circuits for biosensing were able to transduce the input signals from several small molecules (glucarate, acrylate and arabinose) into the production of green fluorescent protein (GFP). A mathematical model was developed to fit the experimental data for induction of gene expression in SimCells. The intracellular ATP level was shown to be important for SimCell function. A purification and storage protocol was developed to prepare SimCells which could retain their functions for an extended period of time. This study demonstrates that SimCells are able to perform as 'smart bioparticles' controlled by designed gene circuits

Bi-Directional Effect of Cholecystokinin Receptor-2 Overexpression on Stress-Triggered Fear Memory and Anxiety in the Mouse

Fear, an emotional response of animals to environmental stress/threats, plays an important role in initiating and driving adaptive response, by which the homeostasis in the body is maintained. Overwhelming/uncontrollable fear, however, represents a core symptom of anxiety disorders, and may disturb the homeostasis. Because to recall or imagine certain cue(s) of stress/threats is a compulsory inducer for the expression of anxiety, it is generally believed that the pathogenesis of anxiety is associated with higher attention (acquisition) selectively to stress or mal-enhanced fear memory, despite that the actual relationship between fear memory and anxiety is not yet really established. In this study, inducible forebrain-specific cholecystokinin receptor-2 transgenic (IF-CCKR-2 tg) mice, different stress paradigms, batteries of behavioral tests, and biochemical assays were used to evaluate how different CCKergic activities drive fear behavior and hormonal reaction in response to stresses with different intensities. We found that in IF-CCKR-2 tg mice, contextual fear was impaired following 1 trial of footshock, while overall fear behavior was enhanced following 36 trials of footshock, compared to their littermate controls. In contrast to a standard Yerkes-Dodson (inverted-U shaped) stress-fear relationship in control mice, a linearized stress-fear curve was observed in CCKR-2 tg mice following gradient stresses. Moreover, compared to 1 trial, 36 trials of footshock in these transgenic mice enhanced anxiety-like behavior in other behavioral tests, impaired spatial and recognition memories, and prolonged the activation of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and glucocorticoids (CORT) following new acute stress. Taken together, these results indicate that stress may trigger two distinctive neurobehavioral systems, depending on both of the intensity of stress and the CCKergic tone in the brain. A “threshold theory” for this two-behavior system has been suggested

Postępowanie w chorobach tarczycy u kobiet w ciąży

The management of thyroid disorders during pregnancy is one of the most frequently disputed problems in modern endocrinology. It is widely known that thyroid dysfunction may result in subfertility, and, if inadequately treated during pregnancy, may cause obstetrical complications and influence fetal development. The 2007 Endocrine Society Practice Guideline endorsed with the participation of the Latino America Thyroid Association, the American Thyroid Association, the Asia and Oceania Thyroid Association and the European Thyroid Association, greatly contributed towards uniformity of the management of thyroid disorders during pregnancy and postpartum. Despite the tremendous progress in knowledge on the mutual influence of pregnancy and thyroid in health and disease, there are still important areas of uncertainty. There have been at least a few important studies published in the last 3 years, which influenced the thyroidal care of the expecting mother. It should also be remembered that guidelines may not always be universally applied in all populations with different ethnical, socio-economical, nutritional (including iodine intake) background or exposed to different iodine prophylaxis models. The Task Force for development of guidelines for thyroid dysfunction management in pregnant women was established in 2008. The expert group has recognized the following tasks: development of the coherent model of the management of thyroid dysfunction in pregnant women, identification of the group of women at risk of thyroid dysfunction, who may require endocrine care in the preconception period, during pregnancy and postpartum – that is in other words, the development of Polish recommendations for targeted thyroid disorder case finding during pregnancy, and the development of Polish trimester-specific reference values of thyroid hormones. Comprehensive Polish guidelines developed by the Task Force are to systematize the management of the thyroid disorders in pregnant women in Poland. (Pol J Endocrinol 2011; 62 (4): 362–381)Jednym z aktualnie szeroko dyskutowanych problemów współczesnej endokrynologii jest opieka tyreologiczna nad kobietą ciężarną. Powszechnie wiadomo, że dysfunkcja tarczycy może być przyczyną zaburzeń płodności, a nieleczona prawidłowo w czasie ciąży zwiększa ryzyko powikłań położniczych oraz ma wpływ na rozwój płodu. Opublikowane w 2007 roku wytyczne Towarzystwa Endokrynologicznego (Endocrine Society), opracowane przy współudziale Towarzystwa Tyreologicznego Ameryki Łacińskiej (LATS), Towarzystwa Tyreologicznego Azji i Oceanii (AOTA), Amerykańskiego Towarzystwa Tyreologicznego (ATA) oraz Europejskiego Towarzystwa Tyreologicznego (ETA), w dużym stopniu usystematyzowały zasady postępowania w chorobach tarczycy w czasie ciąży i w okresie poporodowym. Pomimo ogromnego postępu wiedzy na temat wzajemnego wpływu ciąży i funkcji gruczołu tarczowego w zdrowiu i chorobie, jaki osiągnięto w ciągu ostatnich kilkunastu lat, nadal pewne obszary wymagają dalszych badań. W ciągu 3 lat, które minęły od publikacji wytycznych, przybyło danych, które wpłynęły na niektóre zasady prowadzenia ciężarnej z chorobą tarczycy. Wytyczne nie zawsze mają charakter uniwersalny i nie mogą być w prosty sposób transponowane na społeczeństwa zróżnicowane etnicznie i ekonomicznie, o odmiennych zwyczajach dietetycznych, w tym w spożyciu nośników jodu, oraz stosujące odmienne modele profilaktyki jodowej. W 2008 roku powołano Zespół Ekspertów do spraw Opieki Tyreologicznej w Ciąży. Za cele prac Zespołu przyjęto: opracowanie modelu opieki nad ciężarną z zaburzeniami funkcji tarczycy, określenie grupy kobiet z ryzykiem zaburzeń funkcji tarczycy wymagających oceny tyreologicznej podczas planowania ciąży, w trakcie jej trwania oraz w okresie poporodowym — czyli przygotowanie polskich wskazań do badań przesiewowych oraz ustalenie wartości referencyjnych stężeń hormonów tarczycy w poszczególnych trymestrach ciąży. Opracowane przez Zespół wytyczne systematyzują zasady opieki tyreologicznej nad kobietą ciężarną w Polsce. (Endokrynol Pol 2011; 62 (4): 362–381

Resolving the neural circuits of anxiety

Although anxiety disorders represent a major societal problem demanding new therapeutic targets, these efforts have languished in the absence of a mechanistic understanding of this subjective emotional state. While it is impossible to know with certainty the subjective experience of a rodent, rodent models hold promise in dissecting well-conserved limbic circuits. The application of modern approaches in neuroscience has already begun to unmask the neural circuit intricacies underlying anxiety by allowing direct examination of hypotheses drawn from existing psychological concepts. This information points toward an updated conceptual model for what neural circuit perturbations could give rise to pathological anxiety and thereby provides a roadmap for future therapeutic development.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (U.S.) (NIH Director’s New Innovator Award DP2-DK-102256-01)National Institute of Mental Health (U.S.) (NIH) R01-MH102441-01)JPB Foundatio