Impact of symptoms of eating disorders on the risk of gastrointestinal diseases

The aim of the study - to study the risk of comorbidity of gastrointestinal diseases with eating disordersЦель исследования - изучить влияние симптомов РПП на риск возникновения заболеваний желудочно-кишечного тракта (ЖКТ)

FoxM1 Is a General Target for Proteasome Inhibitors

Proteasome inhibitors are currently in the clinic or in clinical trials, but the mechanism of their anticancer activity is not completely understood. The oncogenic transcription factor FoxM1 is one of the most overexpressed genes in human tumors, while its expression is usually halted in normal non-proliferating cells. Previously, we established that thiazole antibiotics Siomycin A and thiostrepton inhibit FoxM1 and induce apoptosis in human cancer cells. Here, we report that Siomycin A and thiostrepton stabilize the expression of a variety of proteins, such as p21, Mcl-1, p53 and hdm-2 and also act as proteasome inhibitors in vitro. More importantly, we also found that well-known proteasome inhibitors such as MG115, MG132 and bortezomib inhibit FoxM1 transcriptional activity and FoxM1 expression. In addition, overexpression of FoxM1 specifically protects against bortezomib-, but not doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. These data suggest that negative regulation of FoxM1 by proteasome inhibitors is a general feature of these drugs and it may contribute to their anticancer properties

From Barbie to the oligarchs wife: Reading fantasy femininity and globalisation in post-Soviet Russian womens magazines

This article shows how an analysis of fantasy femininity sheds light on how norms of gender, class and national identity reflect global and local cross-cultural currents in post-Soviet Russia. Drawing on a discourse analysis of women’s magazines and in-depth interviews with readers, it shows how, in the globalized post-Soviet cultural landscape, fantasy femininity represents both change and continuity. Feminine archetypes in women’s magazines, from fairytale princesses to Barbie dolls, reflect a wider post-Soviet cultural hybridisation, and show how Western women’s magazines have adapted to the Russian context. Furthermore, the article highlights readers’ ambiguous attitudes towards post-Soviet cultural trends linked to perceived Westernisation or globalisation, such as individualism, conspicuous consumption, and glamour

AMP-activated protein kinase deficiency reduces ozone-induced lung injury and oxidative stress in mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Acute ozone exposure causes lung oxidative stress and inflammation leading to lung injury. At least one mechanism underlying the lung toxicity of ozone involves excessive production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediates such as peroxynitrite. In addition and beyond its major prooxidant properties, peroxynitrite may nitrate tyrosine residues altering phosphorylation of many protein kinases involved in cell signalling. It was recently proposed that peroxynitrite activates 5'-AMP-activated kinase (AMPK), which regulates metabolic pathways and the response to cell stress. AMPK activation as a consequence of ozone exposure has not been previously evaluated. First, we tested whether acute ozone exposure in mice would impair alveolar fluid clearance, increase lung tissue peroxynitrite production and activate AMPK. Second, we tested whether loss of AMP-activated protein kinase alpha1 subunit in mouse would prevent enhanced oxidative stress and lung injury induced by ozone exposure.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Control and AMPKα1 deficient mice were exposed to ozone at a concentration of 2.0 ppm for 3 h in glass cages. Evaluation was performed 24 h after ozone exposure. Alveolar fluid clearance (AFC) was evaluated using fluorescein isothiocyanate tagged albumin. Differential cell counts, total protein levels, cytokine concentrations, myeloperoxidase activity and markers of oxidative stress, i.e. malondialdehyde and peroxynitrite, were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung homogenates (LH). Levels of AMPK-Thr¹⁷²phosphorylation and basolateral membrane Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase abundance were determined by Western blot.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In control mice, ozone exposure induced lung inflammation as evidence by increased leukocyte count, protein concentration in BAL and myeloperoxidase activity, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in LH. Increases in peroxynitrite levels (3 vs 4.4 nM, p = 0.02) and malondialdehyde concentrations (110 vs 230 μmole/g wet tissue) were detected in LH obtained from ozone-exposed control mice. Ozone exposure consistently increased phosphorylated AMPK-Thr¹⁷²to total AMPK ratio by 80% in control mice. Ozone exposure causes increases in AFC and basolateral membrane Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase abundance in control mice which did not occur in AMPKα1 deficient mice.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results collectively suggest that AMPK activation participates in ozone-induced increases in AFC, inflammation and oxidative stress. Further studies are needed to understand how the AMPK pathway may provide a novel approach for the prevention of ozone-induced lung injury.</p

СЛУЧАЙ НЕТЯЖЕЛОГО ТЕЧЕНИЯ ВРОЖДЕННОГО НЕФРОТИЧЕСКОГО СИНДРОМА

Nephrotic syndrome is a severe renal disease that may result in the end-stage renal failure despite the extent of proteinuria. Prognosis and tactics of therapy of nephrotic syndrome depend both on the morphological diagnosis and on the cause of the disease. It ought to be considered that congenital nephrotic syndrome is resistant to immunosuppressive therapy. However, several foreign authors demonstrate cases of immunosuppressive therapy effectiveness (steroids and cyclosporine A) in a range of familial cases of nephroticsyndrome. Timely detection of children with genetically caused nephrotic syndrome allows to define the patient management tactics in each case on time. This clinical case represents non-severe course of congenital nephrotic syndrome caused by an NPHS2 gene mutation, which had not before been described neither in Russian nor in foreign literature. The authors deem introduction of the molecular genetic analysis to the routine clinical practice for all cases of congenital nephrotic syndrome and steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome reasonable. Нефротический синдром — серьезное заболевание почек, исходом которого независимо от степени протеинурии может стать терминальная стадия почечной недостаточности. Прогноз и тактика терапии нефротического синдрома зависят как от морфологического диагноза, так и от причины возникновения данного заболевания. Следует учитывать тот факт, что врожденный нефротический синдром является резистентным к иммуносупрессивной терапии. Однако, ряд зарубежных авторов демонстрирует примеры эффективности применения иммуносупрессивных препаратов (стероиды и циклоспорин А) при некоторых семейных случаях нефротического синдрома. Своевременное выявление детей с генетически обусловленным нефротическим синдромом позволяет вовремя определиться с тактикой ведения пациента в каждом конкретном случае. Представленный в статье клинический пример описывает нетяжелое течение врожденного нефротического синдрома, причиной которого стала ранее не описанная в отечественной и зарубежной литературе мутация гена NPHS2. Авторы считают целесообразным введение молекулярно-генетического исследования в повседневную клиническую практику при всех случаях врожденного нефротического синдрома, а также при стероидрезистентном варианте нефротического синдрома.

Symbiotic Associations in the Phenotypically-Diverse Brown Alga Saccharina japonica

The brown alga Saccharina japonica (Areschoug) Lane, Mayes, Druehl et Saunders is a highly polymorphic representative of the family Laminariaceae, inhabiting the northwest Pacific region. We have obtained 16S rRNA sequence data in symbiont microorganisms of the typical form (TYP) of S. japonica and its common morphological varieties, known as “longipes” (LON) and “shallow-water” (SHA), which show contrasting bathymetric distribution and sharp morphological, life history traits, and ecological differences. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA sequences shows that the microbial communities are significantly different in the three forms studied and consist of mosaic sets of common and form-specific bacterial lineages. The divergence in bacterial composition is substantial between the TYP and LON forms in spite of their high genetic similarity. The symbiont distribution in the S. japonica forms and in three other laminarialean species is not related to the depth or locality of the algae settlements. Combined with our previous results on symbiont associations in sea urchins and taking into account the highly specific character of bacteria-algae associations, we propose that the TYP and LON forms may represent incipient species passing through initial steps of reproductive isolation. We suggest that phenotype differences between genetically similar forms may be caused by host-symbiont interactions that may be a general feature of evolution in algae and other eukaryote organisms. Bacterial symbionts could serve as sensitive markers to distinguish genetically similar algae forms and also as possible growth-promoting inductors to increase algae productivity

Deletion of Forkhead Box M1 Transcription Factor from Respiratory Epithelial Cells Inhibits Pulmonary Tumorigenesis

The Forkhead Box m1 (Foxm1) protein is induced in a majority of human non-small cell lung cancers and its expression is associated with poor prognosis. However, specific requirements for the Foxm1 in each cell type of the cancer lesion remain unknown. The present study provides the first genetic evidence that the Foxm1 expression in respiratory epithelial cells is essential for lung tumorigenesis. Using transgenic mice, we demonstrated that conditional deletion of Foxm1 from lung epithelial cells (epFoxm1−/− mice) prior to tumor initiation caused a striking reduction in the number and size of lung tumors, induced by either urethane or 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA)/butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Decreased lung tumorigenesis in epFoxm1−/− mice was associated with diminished proliferation of tumor cells and reduced expression of Topoisomerase-2α (TOPO-2α), a critical regulator of tumor cell proliferation. Depletion of Foxm1 mRNA in cultured lung adenocarcinoma cells significantly decreased TOPO-2α mRNA and protein levels. Moreover, Foxm1 directly bound to and induced transcription of the mouse TOPO-2α promoter region, indicating that TOPO-2α is a direct target of Foxm1 in lung tumor cells. Finally, we demonstrated that a conditional deletion of Foxm1 in pre-existing lung tumors dramatically reduced tumor growth in the lung. Expression of Foxm1 in respiratory epithelial cells is critical for lung cancer formation and TOPO-2α expression in vivo, suggesting that Foxm1 is a promising target for anti-tumor therapy

Molecular Determinants and Dynamics of Hepatitis C Virus Secretion

The current model of hepatitis C virus (HCV) production involves the assembly of virions on or near the surface of lipid droplets, envelopment at the ER in association with components of VLDL synthesis, and egress via the secretory pathway. However, the cellular requirements for and a mechanistic understanding of HCV secretion are incomplete at best. We combined an RNA interference (RNAi) analysis of host factors for infectious HCV secretion with the development of live cell imaging of HCV core trafficking to gain a detailed understanding of HCV egress. RNAi studies identified multiple components of the secretory pathway, including ER to Golgi trafficking, lipid and protein kinases that regulate budding from the trans-Golgi network (TGN), VAMP1 vesicles and adaptor proteins, and the recycling endosome. Our results support a model wherein HCV is infectious upon envelopment at the ER and exits the cell via the secretory pathway. We next constructed infectious HCV with a tetracysteine (TC) tag insertion in core (TC-core) to monitor the dynamics of HCV core trafficking in association with its cellular cofactors. In order to isolate core protein movements associated with infectious HCV secretion, only trafficking events that required the essential HCV assembly factor NS2 were quantified. TC-core traffics to the cell periphery along microtubules and this movement can be inhibited by nocodazole. Sub-populations of TC-core localize to the Golgi and co-traffic with components of the recycling endosome. Silencing of the recycling endosome component Rab11a results in the accumulation of HCV core at the Golgi. The majority of dynamic core traffics in association with apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and VAMP1 vesicles. This study identifies many new host cofactors of HCV egress, while presenting dynamic studies of HCV core trafficking in infected cells

Ultimate energy recovery from spent relativistic electron beam in energy recovery linear accelerators

Energy recovery linear accelerators (ERLs) rely upon single-axis superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities to be an efficient source of relativistic electrons for high energy and nuclear physics. SRF cavities are also considered relevant for next-generation photon factories and radio-isotope production facilities. The ultimate energy recovery capability for the accelerator would be the ability to operate with a sufficiently spent beam and decrease the energy of the beam before the beam dump to a value lower than the beam injection energy. This is especially important for high current accelerators, where the beam injection energy could be as high as several MeV, and systems where partial beam loss can be expected. The efficient operation of energy recovery in linear accelerators is adversely affected by the typical degradation of the beam quality and current loss. This hinders the application of the ERLs in research and industry, and enabling the use of spent (partially lost current), degraded beams should broaden their application. We suggest that the use of the asymmetric operating mode observed in the dual-axis asymmetric cavities will enable such ultimate capabilities. We discuss the advantages of the application of fields of different amplitude along the cavity accelerating and decelerating axes and demonstrate that the fields can be tuned separately in each axis of the dual-axis cavity. The design of such a cavity and ways to optimize the energy recovery of a spent electron beam by tuning the dual-axis asymmetric SRF cavity are discussed