Psycho-emotional state during pregnancy and one year after childbirth in mothers of children with functional gastrointestinal disorders

Aim. To determine the relationship between the incidence of functional gastrointestinal disorders in children up to 1 year of age and the psycho-emotional state of their mothers during pregnancy and after childbirth. Materials and methods. A survey of 1203 mothers of children under 4 years of age was conducted using a questionnaire of functional gastrointestinal disorders according to the Rome IV criteria (2016). The questionnaire contained domains on general issues (the age of the mother at the time of the child's birth, the data of obstetric and gynecological anamnesis, the type of child's nutrition at the time of the survey), psycho-emotional state (retrospectively, the psychological component of the gestational dominant – PСGD – during pregnancy, Beck's anxiety and Beck's depression questionnaires) and questions on functional disorders in infants and young children. Results. Questionnaires of 487 mothers of children of the 1st year of life were analyzed. Only in 34.4% of cases, mothers' responses lacked anxious and depressive PCGD. In mothers with anxious PСGD, the risk of regurgitation in their children was statistically significantly 2-fold higher compared to mothers with depressive PСGD. In mothers with optimal PСGD, the rate of colic in their children was statistically significantly 2-fold lower compared to mothers with anxious and depressive PСGD. After childbirth, anxiety was noted in 17% mothers and signs of depression in 59% mothers. Significant and severe depression was diagnosed in 10% mothers; the children of these mothers had persistent regurgitation.. In the absence of depression in mothers, the probability of no regurgitation and colic in their children was statistically significantly 2-fold higher compared to the children of mothers with depression. Conclusion. The incidence of functional gastrointestinal disorders in a child up to 1 year of age is associated with maternal anxiety during pregnancy and maternal depression after childbirth

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

Wolf attacks on humans: an update for 2002–2020

Linnell, J. D. C., Kovtun, E. & Rouart, I. 2021. Wolf attacks on humans: an update for 2002–2020. NINA Report 1944. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. The degree to which wolves pose a threat to human safety has been a central part of the public controversy surrounding wolf recovery in Europe for the last three decades. This report seeks to update our knowledge for the period 2002 to 2020. We searched the peer-reviewed literature, technical reports, online news media sources and contacted regional experts to gather as much information as possible. Our coverage for Europe and North America is likely to be high, but for the rest of Eurasia we have at best found a good sample of events, especially for the period after 2015. We identified relatively reliable cases involving 491 human victims. Of these 67 were victims of predatory attacks (9 fatal), 382 were victims of rabid attacks (14 fatal), and 42 were victims of provoked / defensive attacks (3 fatal). Attacks were found in Canada, USA, Croatia, Poland, Italy, Iran, Iraq, Israel, India, Kirgizstan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Mongolia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia. In addition, we found an almost equal number of cases that we could not include because of poor documentation as well as cases that we could clearly reject based on evidence, for example where the attack was actually caused by dogs. The distribution of attacks by rabid wolves closely follows the distribution of rabies cases in humans and other wildlife species. As such this represents a very low risk for Europe due to the near eradication of rabies. The predatory attacks had move diverse etiology. Some clusters, such as those from western Iran, appeared to be linked to landscapes with low wild prey density, high density of humans living in poor socio-economic conditions, and where livestock were the main prey of wolves. A single case appeared to be due to an injured wolf in poor health. A range of other cases though were associated with situations where wolves had been demonstrating fearless behaviour and had been utilising anthropogenic food sources over time before the attacks. Such cases represent a close parallel to the risk factors that are known from other large canids like coyotes in North America and dingoes in Australia. Finally, a single and well-documented fatal attack from Alaska involved a group of healthy wolves in an area with no previous history of fearless wolves or feeding. There is an urgent need to learn more about the behaviour of “bold” or “fearless” wolves and understand at what point a harmless degree of habituation to humans (which is necessary to live in human-dominated landscapes) can lead to potentially dangerous behaviour. There is also a need to develop clear management procedures to both prevent dangerous situations from developing (i.e. feeding) and to react to such situations when they appear. Finally, there is a need for increased communication and awareness raising in this area, both to the public and to medical, veterinary and wildlife management institutions. As our understanding of wolf attacks increases there appears to be a high degree of convergence with the much better understood risks associated with bears, which allows for a more consistent multi-species communication strategy. While being aware of the potential risks associated with wolves it is also crucial to place this into context. In Europe and North America we only found evidence for 11 attacks, of which 2 (both in North America) were fatal, across a period of 18 years. Considering that there are close to 60.000 wolves in North America and 15.000 in Europe, all sharing space with hundreds of millions of people it is apparent that the risks associated with a wolf attack are above zero, but far too low to calculate.Linnell, J. D. C., Kovtun, E. & Rouart, I. 2021. Wolf attacks on humans: an update for 2002–2020. NINA Report 1944. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. I hvor stor grad ulver utgjør en risiko for mennesker har vært en sentral del av kontroversen rundt tilbakekomsten av ulv i Europa de siste tre tiårene. Denne rapporten forsøker å oppdatere kunnskapsnivået for dette temaet i perioden 2002-2020. Vi søkte etter ulveangrep på mennesker i vitenskapelig litteratur, nyhetssaker på nett og kontaktet regionale eksperter for å samle så mye informasjon som mulig. Dekningen vår for Europa og Nord-Amerika er trolig høy, men for resten av Eurasia har vi i det beste funnet et godt utvalg av tilfeller, særlig for perioden etter 2015. Vi identifiserte 491 offer fra saker som vi anså som relativt troverdige. Av disse var 67 offer for predatorangrep (ni døde), 382 var utsatt for rabiesangrep (14 døde) og 42 var offer for provoserte/forsvarsangrep (3 døde). Ulveangrep på mennesker ble funnet i Canada, USA, Kroatia, Polen, Italia, Iran, Irak, Israel, India, Kirgisistan, Tyrkia, Kasakhstan, Ukraina, Hviterussland, Moldova, Russland, Mongolia, Armenia, Aserbajdsjan, Tadsjikistan og Saudi-Arabia. I tillegg fant vi mange saker som vi ikke kunne inkludere på grunn av dårlig dokumentasjon eller saker som vi kunne avises basert på beviser, for eksempel når det var hunder som faktisk stod bak angrepet. Fordelingen av angrep fra rabiesulver følger fordelingen av rabiestilfeller hos mennesker og dyr. Derfor representerer disse angrepene en veldig lav risiko i Europa siden rabies nærmest er utryddet her. Predatorangrepene hadde en mer variert etiologi. Noen angrep, slik som vest i Iran, ser ut til å være knyttet til områder med lav tetthet av ville byttedyr, høy tetthet av mennesker som lever under dårlige sosioøkonomiske forhold og hvor husdyr er de viktigste byttedyrene for ulv. Et enkelt tilfelle var antagelig fra en skadet ulv i dårlig kondisjon. En rekke andre tilfeller var knyttet til situasjoner der ulvene hadde vist fryktløs adferd ovenfor mennesker og hadde utnyttet menneskelig matkilder, for eksempel søppelfyllinger, over tid før angrepet skjedde. Disse tilfellene er en nær parallelle til risikofaktorene som er kjent fra andre store hundedyr, som prærieulver i Nord-Amerika og dingoer i Australia. Vi fant ett enkelttilfelle av et dødelig ulveangrep som kom fra en frisk ulveflokk i Alaska, og som ikke hadde vist fryktløs adferd ovenfor mennesker tidligere. Dette tilfellet var godt dokumentert. Det er et stort behov for å lære mer om adferden til «fryktløse» ulver («bold wolves») og forstå når en harmløs grad av tilvenning til mennesker (som er nødvendig for å leve i menneskedominerte landskap) kan føre til potensielt farlig adferd. Det er også et behov for å utvikle tydelige forvaltningsprosedyrer for å forhindre at farlige situasjoner utvikler seg (f. eks fôring) og for å reagere når de oppstår. Til slutt er det et behov for å øke kommunikasjonen og bevisstheten rundt dette temaet, både for offentligheten og for medisin-, veterinær- og naturforvaltningsinsti-tusjoner. I det vår forståelse om ulveangrep øker, ser det ut som at det kan være stor likhet med bjørneangrep. Bjørneangrep er mye bedre forstått enn risikoen assosiert med ulv. Det kan derfor være mulig å oppnå en mer konsistent kommunikasjons- og tiltaksstrategi som er rettet mot flere rovdyrarter samtidig. I forbindelse med å være oppmerksom på risikoen assosiert med ulve-angrep er det også viktig å sette dette i kontekst. I Europa og Nord-Amerika fant vi bare bevis for 11 ulveangrep over en 18 års periode, hvor to (begge i Nord-Amerika) endte med dødelig utfall. Når vi tar hensyn til at det er rundt 60 000 ulver i Nord-Amerika og 17 000 i Europa, hvor alle deler landskapet med flere hundre millioner mennesker er det opplagt at sannsynligheten for et ulveangrep er over null, men altfor liten til å bli beregnet

Wolf attacks on humans: an update for 2002–2020

Linnell, J. D. C., Kovtun, E. & Rouart, I. 2021. Wolf attacks on humans: an update for 2002–2020. NINA Report 1944. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. The degree to which wolves pose a threat to human safety has been a central part of the public controversy surrounding wolf recovery in Europe for the last three decades. This report seeks to update our knowledge for the period 2002 to 2020. We searched the peer-reviewed literature, technical reports, online news media sources and contacted regional experts to gather as much information as possible. Our coverage for Europe and North America is likely to be high, but for the rest of Eurasia we have at best found a good sample of events, especially for the period after 2015. We identified relatively reliable cases involving 491 human victims. Of these 67 were victims of predatory attacks (9 fatal), 382 were victims of rabid attacks (14 fatal), and 42 were victims of provoked / defensive attacks (3 fatal). Attacks were found in Canada, USA, Croatia, Poland, Italy, Iran, Iraq, Israel, India, Kirgizstan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Mongolia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia. In addition, we found an almost equal number of cases that we could not include because of poor documentation as well as cases that we could clearly reject based on evidence, for example where the attack was actually caused by dogs. The distribution of attacks by rabid wolves closely follows the distribution of rabies cases in humans and other wildlife species. As such this represents a very low risk for Europe due to the near eradication of rabies. The predatory attacks had move diverse etiology. Some clusters, such as those from western Iran, appeared to be linked to landscapes with low wild prey density, high density of humans living in poor socio-economic conditions, and where livestock were the main prey of wolves. A single case appeared to be due to an injured wolf in poor health. A range of other cases though were associated with situations where wolves had been demonstrating fearless behaviour and had been utilising anthropogenic food sources over time before the attacks. Such cases represent a close parallel to the risk factors that are known from other large canids like coyotes in North America and dingoes in Australia. Finally, a single and well-documented fatal attack from Alaska involved a group of healthy wolves in an area with no previous history of fearless wolves or feeding. There is an urgent need to learn more about the behaviour of “bold” or “fearless” wolves and understand at what point a harmless degree of habituation to humans (which is necessary to live in human-dominated landscapes) can lead to potentially dangerous behaviour. There is also a need to develop clear management procedures to both prevent dangerous situations from developing (i.e. feeding) and to react to such situations when they appear. Finally, there is a need for increased communication and awareness raising in this area, both to the public and to medical, veterinary and wildlife management institutions. As our understanding of wolf attacks increases there appears to be a high degree of convergence with the much better understood risks associated with bears, which allows for a more consistent multi-species communication strategy. While being aware of the potential risks associated with wolves it is also crucial to place this into context. In Europe and North America we only found evidence for 11 attacks, of which 2 (both in North America) were fatal, across a period of 18 years. Considering that there are close to 60.000 wolves in North America and 15.000 in Europe, all sharing space with hundreds of millions of people it is apparent that the risks associated with a wolf attack are above zero, but far too low to calculate

Genetic characterization of free-ranging Asiatic wild ass in Central Asia as a basis for future conservation strategies

Loss of genetic diversity due to drift and inbreeding reduces a population’s ability to respond to environmental change and may result in inbreeding depression. The Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus), regionally also known as Gobi khulan, Turkmen kulan, or Persian onager, has become confined to less than 3% of its historic distribution range. Remaining populations in Central Asia outside of the Mongolian Gobi are small and fragmented. Questions concerning subpopulation status remain disputed and concerns over the viability of these populations have been raised because of small size, past bottlenecks, or recent founder events. We used non-invasive faecal samples to assess the genetic diversity and divergence among Turkmen kulan and Persian onager from five free-ranging and one captive population from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Iran and compared their genetic constitution to the large autochthonous population in the Mongolian Gobi. We observed loss of genetic diversity (drift and inbreeding) in the captive and reintroduced populations as well as in one rapidly declining autochthonous population. Population differentiation and structure using microsatellites and mtDNA based phylogenetic analysis do not support the current separation of the autochthonous populations of Turkmen kulan and Persian onager into different subspecies, but rather suggest a cline with the Iranian population in Bahram-e-Goor at the southern end and the Turkmen population in Badhyz at the northern end falling into two distinct clusters, and the northern Iranian population in Touran being intermediate. We compare our findings to other population genetics studies of equids and discuss the implications of our findings for the future conservation of the Asiatic wild ass in the region.acceptedVersio

Non-Specific Lipid Transfer Proteins in Triticum kiharae Dorof. et Migush.: Identification, Characterization and Expression Profiling in Response to Pathogens and Resistance Inducers

Non-specific lipid-transfer proteins (nsLTPs) represent a family of plant antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) implicated in diverse physiological processes. However, their role in induced resistance (IR) triggered by non-pathogenic fungal strains and their metabolites is poorly understood. In this work, using RNA-seq data and our AMP search pipeline, we analyzed the repertoire of nsLTP genes in the wheat Triticum kiharae and studied their expression in response to Fusarium oxysporum infection and treatment with the intracellular metabolites of Fusarium sambucinum FS-94. A total of 243 putative nsLTPs were identified, which were classified into five structural types and characterized. Expression analysis showed that 121 TkLTPs including sets of paralogs with identical mature peptides displayed specific expression patters in response to different treatments pointing to their diverse roles in resistance development. We speculate that upregulated nsLTP genes are involved in protection due to their antimicrobial activity or signaling functions. Furthermore, we discovered that in IR-displaying plants, a vast majority of nsLTP genes were downregulated, suggesting their role as negative regulators of immune mechanisms activated by the FS-94 elicitors. The results obtained add to our knowledge of the role of nsLTPs in IR and provide candidate molecules for genetic engineering of crops to enhance disease resistance

Amino acid formulas in patients with food allergy

The article presents modern approaches to the use of balanced formulas for nutrition and diet correction in children with various forms of food allergies. The guidelines are based on all available up to date evidence on the efficacy, safety and utility of using such innovative medical technology as specialized amino acid formulas. This formula is the targeted medical intervention for food allergies and confirmed cow's milk protein allergy, and particularly for patients with reduced physical growth and development (growth rates included). The material is based on methodological guidelines on the amino acid formulas usage previously developed by specialist experts of the Union of pediatricians of Russia in 2020