The cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase gene family is involved in the response to Fusarium oxysporum in resistant and susceptible flax genotypes

Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is used for the production of textile, oils, pharmaceuticals, and composite materials. Fusarium wilt, caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lini, is a very harmful disease that reduces flax production. Flax cultivars that are resistant to Fusarium wilt have been developed, and the genes that are involved in the host response to F. oxysporum have been identified. However, the mechanisms underlying resistance to this pathogen remain unclear. In the present study, we used transcriptome sequencing data obtained from susceptible and resistant flax genotypes grown under control conditions or F. oxysporum infection. Approximately 250 million reads, generated with an Illumina NextSeq instrument, were analyzed. After filtering to exclude the F. oxysporum transcriptome, the remaining reads were mapped to the L. usitatissimum genome and quantified. Then, the expression levels of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) family genes, which are known to be involved in the response to F. oxysporum, were evaluated in resistant and susceptible flax genotypes. Expression alterations in response to the pathogen were detected for all 13 examined CAD genes. The most significant differences in expression between control and infected plants were observed for CAD1B, CAD4A, CAD5A, and CAD5B, with strong upregulation of CAD1B, CAD5A, and CAD5B and strong downregulation of CAD4A. When plants were grown under the same conditions, the expression levels were similar in all studied flax genotypes for most CAD genes, and statistically significant differences in expression between resistant and susceptible genotypes were only observed for CAD1A. Our study indicates the strong involvement of CAD genes in flax response to F. oxysporum but brings no evidence of their role as resistance gene candidates. These findings contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the response of flax to F. oxysporum infection and the role of CAD genes in stress resistance

AVAILABILITY OF ARTHROSONOGRAPHY FOR DIAGNOSIS OF SUBCLINIC A L SYNOVITIS IN PATIENTS WITH EARLY GONARTHRITIS (PRELIMINARY DATA)

A hs tract. Objective. Analysis of possibilities of arthrosonography of knee joints for ihe diagnosis of synovitis on early stages of gonarthritis. Material and methods. Ultrasound study of knee joints was carried out in 77 patients with gonarthritis of 1-11 Kellgren R-stage, in 12 pts X-ray symptoms of gonarthritis were absent. Study was carried out on ALOKA- 2200 (Japan) using method of two-measured tomography (В-method) with the help of linear sensor with frequency 7.5 MHz in real time. Frontal and posterior (popliteal) surfaces of knee joint were studied using longitudinal and transversal projections in lying position with maximal extension of knee joint. Results. It was found that in the group of joints with clinical synovitis the II radiologic stage of gonarthritis (58,3%) prevailed, and in the group of joints without clinical symptoms of synovitis the 1st radiological stage of gonarthritis (53%) prevailed. In the group of joints with clinical synovitis ultrasound synovitis symptoms were found in 17 joints which is 70.8% of joints with clinical synovitis (24) and 11% of total number of examined joints (154). Fluid in Ihc space of knee joints was localized prevalently over condyle of the Libia (70.8%), in 16.6% fluid was found also in b.suprapatellaris. Enlargement of synovia more than 3 mm prevalently on account of oedema was found in 79.8% whereas in the group of joints without clinical symptoms of synovitis only in 23%. In the group of joints without clinical synovitis subclinical synovitis, i.e. synovitis found in US study was revealed in 34 joints which was 26.1% of the number of joints without clinical synovitis (130) and 22% of total number of examined joints (154). Enlargement of synovia more than 3 mm in this group of joints was found in 23% joints, namely in patients with subclinical synovitis. Decrease of cartilage thickness less than 2 mm was found in great number of joints in the group of joints wilh clinical synovitis as well as in the group og joints without synovitis (95.S% and 91.5% correspondingly). Conclusion. Arthrosonography in early gonarthritis including pre-radiologieal stage is rather informative method of diagnosis of clinical and subclinical synovitis and taking it into consideration allows us to determine optimal therapy of gonarthritis

Arthrosonography as a method of assessment of xefocam efficacy in rheumatoid gonitis

Arthrosonography of 74 knee joints performed in 37 pts with rheumatoid arthritis before treatment with xefocam (Nicomed) in 34 revealed signs of intra and extra-articular inflammation with presence in 100% fluid in fore part of the joint, increase B. Suprapatellaris size and thickening of synovial membrane. Fluid in lateral parts was revealed in 33 joints and in back part - in 22 joints. Semimembranosus muscle tenosynovitis was revealed at 22 joints. After xefocam administration (intra-articular injections 8 mg once a week for 3 weeks) signs of intra-articular inflammation decreased in 28 and extra-articular - in 21 joints. So xefocam provides anti-inflammatory effect and can be used for treatment of synovitis

FAKTORY PROGRESSIROVANIYa OSTEOARTROZA KOLENNYKh SUSTAVOV (5-letnee prospektivnoeNABLYuDENIE)

The pain is the main clinical symptom of osteoarthritis (OA) and it has significant influence on the daily activity. It has been shown that joint pain and synovitis are principal risk factors for the disease progression. But the data of some studies are not support this statement. The objective of our study was investigation of association between synovitis, pain intensity and progression of OA. Materials and Methods: a 5-year prospective study included 110 Women (age 42 to 80 years) with knee OA (ACR criteria). We used special questionnaire, visual analog scale for the pain assessment and x-ray and ultrasound examination of the knee joints. Results: At the end of the study 70 patients (group 1) had not radiographic changes and 40 patients (group 2) had radiographic progression. All patients were adjusted for the age and duration of the disease. However the patients from the second group had more often synovitis which was confirmed clinically and instrumentally (accordingly 65,0% and 34,3 %, p=0,004 , 50,0 % and 18,6 %, p=0,001), more severe pain in the knee joints (accordingly 57, 8±16,6 and 48,7±13,3 mm, p=0,002), and higher BMI value (33,2±6,0 and 30,5±5,6 kg/m 2, p=0,021). The patients with radiographic progression had more severe pain at the all visits. At the end of the study increasing of the pain was 56,3±14,7 mm in the nonprogression group and 67,5±21,7 mm in the group with radiographic progression (p=0,002). Conclusion: synovitis, intensity of the pain and higher BMI are risk factors for the progression of OA

Machine Learning Analysis of Longevity-Associated Gene Expression Landscapes in Mammals

One of the important questions in aging research is how differences in transcriptomics are associated with the longevity of various species. Unfortunately, at the level of individual genes, the links between expression in different organs and maximum lifespan (MLS) are yet to be fully understood. Analyses are complicated further by the fact that MLS is highly associated with other confounding factors (metabolic rate, gestation period, body mass, etc.) and that linear models may be limiting. Using gene expression from 41 mammalian species, across five organs, we constructed gene-centric regression models associating gene expression with MLS and other species traits. Additionally, we used SHapley Additive exPlanations and Bayesian networks to investigate the non-linear nature of the interrelations between the genes predicted to be determinants of species MLS. Our results revealed that expression patterns correlate with MLS, some across organs, and others in an organ-specific manner. The combination of methods employed revealed gene signatures formed by only a few genes that are highly predictive towards MLS, which could be used to identify novel longevity regulator candidates in mammals

Machine Learning Analysis of Longevity-Associated Gene Expression Landscapes in Mammals

One of the important questions in aging research is how differences in transcriptomics are associated with the longevity of various species. Unfortunately, at the level of individual genes, the links between expression in different organs and maximum lifespan (MLS) are yet to be fully understood. Analyses are complicated further by the fact that MLS is highly associated with other confounding factors (metabolic rate, gestation period, body mass, etc.) and that linear models may be limiting. Using gene expression from 41 mammalian species, across five organs, we constructed gene-centric regression models associating gene expression with MLS and other species traits. Additionally, we used SHapley Additive exPlanations and Bayesian networks to investigate the non-linear nature of the interrelations between the genes predicted to be determinants of species MLS. Our results revealed that expression patterns correlate with MLS, some across organs, and others in an organ-specific manner. The combination of methods employed revealed gene signatures formed by only a few genes that are highly predictive towards MLS, which could be used to identify novel longevity regulator candidates in mammals