Nonlinear models describing the difference in growth curves of cattle strains

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Leptin stimulation of cell cycle and inhibition of apoptosis gene and protein expression in OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cells

The OVCAR-3 cell line expressing the long (ObRb) and short (ObRt) isoforms of leptin receptor mRNA was used to analyze the effect of leptin on the expression of selected genes and proteins involved in the cell cycle and apoptosis. OVCAR-3 cells were exposed to 2, 20, 40, and 100 ng/ml of leptin. Cell proliferation was determined using the alamarBlue cell viability test and flow cytometry. Apoptosis was measured using a cellular DNA fragmentation ELISA kit. The expression of selected cell cycle and apoptosis genes was evaluated by real-time PCR and confirmed by western blot. The stimulatory action of leptin on cell proliferation was observed as an increase in cells in the S and G2/M phases. Up-regulation of genes responsible for inducing cell proliferation and suppression of genes responsible for inhibition of proliferation were noted. Western blots revealed increased expression of cyclins D and A and inhibition of p21WAF1/CIP1 protein expression by leptin. Inhibition of DNA fragmentation was observed under all leptin doses. Suppression of genes involved in the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathway was observed. Western blots illustrated decreased Bad, TNFR1, and caspase 6 protein expression in response to leptin treatment. Leptin promotes ovarian cancer cell line growth by up-regulating genes and proteins responsible for inducing cell proliferation as well as down-regulating pro-apoptotic genes and proteins in apoptotic pathways. Results of this study warrant examining the relationship between the risk of ovarian cancer and elevated leptin levels in obese women

Wpływ numeru laktacji, wydajności i składników mleka na temperaturę zamarzania mleka krów rasy polskiej holsztyńsko-fryzyjskiej

The objective of the study was to assess the influence of lactation number, daily milk yield, somatic cell count and milk composition on the freezing point of milk of Polish Holstein-Friesian cows. The data comprised 3,067,343 test day milk samples collected in 2014 from 865,198 first seven lactations of 714,018 Polish Holstein-Friesian cows, made available by the Polish Federation of Cattle Breeders and Dairy Farmers. The cows calved in 20,043 herds in 2013 and 2014. Four lactation classes were created: first, second, third, and fourth to seventh (4 class). Analysis of variance using the MIXED procedure in SAS was applied to milk freezing point (MFP). The following factors were included in the analysis: lactation class, daily milk yield (16 kg, 16.1–24 kg, >24 kg), fat content (4.4%), protein content (3.5%), urea content (150 mg·L-1, 151–269 mg·L-1, 270 mg·L-1), lactose content (5%), somatic cell count (24 kg), zawartość tłuszczu (4,4%), zawartość białka (3,5%), zawartość mocznika (≤150 mg·L-1, 151–269 mg·L-1, ≥270 mg·L-1), zawartość laktozy (5%), liczbę komórek somatycznych (<400 000, ≥400 000) oraz zawartość suchej masy w mleku (≤12,5%, 12,6–13,4%, ≥13,5%). W modelu uwzględniono interakcje między klasą laktacji i pozostałymi czynnikami. Temperatura zamarzania mleka (TZM) malała wraz ze wzrostem dziennej wydajności mleka, zawartości białka, mocznika, laktozy i suchej masy, natomiast TZM nieznacznie podwyższała się gdy rosła zawartość tłuszczu oraz liczba komórek somatycznych w mleku. Stwierdzono wysoce istotny wpływ (P<0.001) wszystkich badanych czynników na temperaturę zamarzania mleka

Fertility, family formation and dissolution: comparing Poland and Estonia 1989–2005

The article presents a comparative analysis of changes in fertility and family formation and dissolution, in Poland and Estonia, in the years 1989–2005. Both countries were members of the socialist bloc and launched political, economic and social system reforms at the end of the 1980s. Estonia belongs to Northern Europe, geographically referred to as Baltoscandia, and Poland to the region of Central Europe. Using basic demographic indicators, and the position of Poland and Estonia in Europe, fertility and family related processes are analysed in the context of their transformation in European countries. The article consists of two parts. The first one presents an assessment of changes in fertility. In addition to general indicators, the Bongaarts–Feeney formula is applied to measure the tempo and quantum effects during the period of rapid fertility transformation. The second part focuses on family formation and dissolution process. Both fertility and family changes, in Poland and Estonia, are considered in the broader European perspective. The findings concerning the diversity of analysed demographic changes may be summarized as follows. Both countries differ in terms of the tempo of changes, that began at the turn of the 1990s. In Estonia, the changes followed a steeper trajectory, with the drop of fertility and marriage rates to bottom levels during 6–8 years after the onset of transformation. After reaching the lowest point, both fertility and marriage rates entered a new stage and started to recuperate. In Poland, the changes featured a more gradual profile and were spread over a longer period. Although the decrease has slowed down with respect to fertility as well as marriage rates, the data until 2005 do not yet reveal any significant recuperation. Another country-specific feature of fertility and family transformation concerns the interrelationship between fertility and nuptiality. Although gradually weakening, Poland still features a relatively strong connection between childbearing and registered marriage, which is reflected in a comparatively low share of children born outside wedlock and a modest prevalence of non-married cohabitation among young people. In Estonia, the disconnection of fertility from marriage and the spread of pre-marital cohabitation started nearly at the same time as in the Scandinavian countries and accelerated rapidly, since the onset of societal transition. The strengthening of these dissimilarities was also revealed by comparisons with other European nations. The results of the Bongaarts-Feeney’s model also seem to indicate, that the observed differences are likely to persist in the foreseeable future. In general, the results support the assertion, that among the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Estonia and Poland provide valuable grounds for in-depth comparative research, on the recent fertility and family changes. Life history data, available due to the new round of national surveys carried out in both countries after the turn of the millennium, offer a favourable basis for in-depth studies, along the envisaged lines

Evidence of placental autophagy during early pregnancy after transfer of in vitro produced (IVP) sheep embryos

Pregnancies obtained by Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) are associated with limited maternal nutrient uptake. Our previous studies shown that in vitro culture of sheep embryos is associated with vascularization defects in their placentae and consequent reduction of embryo growth. Autophagy is a pro-survival cellular mechanism triggered by nutrient insufficiency. Therefore, the goal of our present study was to determine if autophagy is involved in early placental development after transfer of in vitro produced (IVP) embryos. To do this, placentae obtained following transfer of IVP sheep embryos were compared with placentae obtained after natural mating (control-CTR). The placentae were collected on day 20 post-fertilization and post-mating, respectively, and were analyzed using molecular (qPCR), ultrastructural and histological/immunological approaches. Our results show drastically increased autophagy in IVP placentae: high levels of expression (p<0.05) of canonical markers of cellular autophagy and a high proportion of autophagic cells (35.08%; p<0.001) were observed. We conclude that high autophagic activity in IVP placentae can be a successful temporary counterbalance to the retarded vasculogenesis and the reduction of foetal growth observed in pregnancies after transfer of IVP embryos

Community-acquired pneumonia complications in a patient with hereditary glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency

Wrodzony niedobór dehydrogenazy glukozo-6-fosforanowej (G6PD) może prowadzić do ciężkich powikłań w przypadku zakażenia dolnych dróg oddechowych. Przedstawiamy przypadek 68-letniego mężczyzny z wrodzonym niedoborem G6PD, u którego obserwowano ciężkie powikłania pozaszpitalnego zapalenia płuc. Niedobór G6PD u chorego rozpoznano w dzieciństwie, od wielu lat chory pozostawał bez objawów choroby. W opisywanym okresie w przebiegu zapalenia płuc obserwowano ropniaka opłucnej, przełom hemolityczny, ciężką niedokrwistość i niewydolność nerek wymagającą leczenia hemodializami. W celu wyleczenia ropnych powikłań wykonano u chorego wideopleuroskopię i drenaż opłucnej. Pozaszpitalne zapalenie płuc może prowadzić do powikłań hemolitycznych u chorych z niedoborem G6PD. Ciężkie ropne powikłania zapalenia płuc u tych chorych mogą być związane z upośledzeniem funkcji granulocytów.Severe complications of lower respiratory tract infection in a patient with hereditary glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency may occur. The case of a 68-year-old man with hereditary glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency who developed severe haemolysis after community-acquired pneumonia is presented. G6PD deficiency in our patient was diagnosed during childhood. We observed complications of community-acquired pneumonia: empyema, haemolytic crisis and renal failure. Videopleuroscopy and pleural drainage were successfully performed. Community-acquired streptococcal pneumonia may also lead to haemolysis in G6PD deficient patients. Acute haemolysis, severe anaemia and renal insufficiency secondary to haemoglobinuria can be observed. Severe purulent complications of pneumonia in G6PD deficient patients may suggest granulocyte function impairment

Effect of acute sprint exercise on myokines and food intake hormones in young healthy men

Physical exercise is known to influence hormonal mediators of appetite, but the effect of short-term maximal intensity exercise on plasma levels of appetite hormones and cytokines has been little studied. We investigated the effect of a 30 s Wingate Test, followed by a postprandial period, on appetite sensations, food intake, and appetite hormones. Twenty-six physically active young males rated their subjective feelings of hunger, prospective food consumption, and fatigue on visual analogue scales at baseline, after exercise was completed, and during the postprandial period. Blood samples were obtained for the measurement of nesfatin-1, ghrelin, leptin, insulin, pancreatic polypeptide (PP), human growth factor (hGH) and cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), irisin and plasma lactate concentrations, at 30 min before exercise, immediately (210 s) after exercise, and 30 min following a meal and at corresponding times in control sedentary males without ad libitum meal intake, respectively. Appetite perceptions and food intake were decreased in response to exercise. Plasma levels of irisin, IL-6, lactate, nesfatin-1 and ghrelin was increased after exercise and then it was returned to postprandial/control period in both groups. A significant rise in plasma insulin, hGH and PP levels after exercise was observed while meal intake potentiated this response. In conclusion, an acute short-term fatiguing exercise can transiently suppress hunger sensations and food intake in humans. We postulate that this physiological response involves exercise-induced alterations in plasma hormones and the release of myokines such as irisin and IL-6, and supports the notion of existence of the skeletal muscle-brain-gut axis. Nevertheless, the detailed relationship between acute exercise releasing myokines, appetite sensations and impairment of this axis leading to several diseases should be further examined