Profile of subpopulation composition of regulatory T lymphocytes and intestinal microbiota in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

The following specificcharacteristics of the composition of intestinal microbiota in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were identified using a metagenomic analysis (16 S rRNA): 1) an increase in the representation of Actinobacteria, including Bifidobacterium spp., Firmicutes, including representatives of Streptococcaceae (Streptococcus), Lachnosperaceae (Dorea), Veillonellaceae (Dialister), Proteobacteria (Enterobacteriaceae and Desulfovibrionaceae families); 2) a decrease in the population of Bacteroidetes, including representatives of the families Prevotellacea (Prevotella spp.), Bacteroidaceae (Bacteroides spp.). Firmicutes belonging to the families Clostridiaceae and Ruminococcaceae (Fecalibacterium spp.).Flow cytometry in the study of the subpopulation composition of T regulatory (Treg) lymphocytes in patients with IBS revealed an increase in the number of CD45R0+CD62L+ central memory cells (CM), which can regulate the processes of maturation and differentiation of lymphocytes in lymphoid tissue. A decrease in the expression of exonucleases CD39 and CD73 was detected, which can have a significant effect on their activity. A reduction in effector memory cells (EM) Treg was observed.Changes in the expression level of exonucleases CD39 and CD73 were inversely correlated with the content of Proteobacteria and the representation of the genera Bifidobacterium spp. and Faecalibacterium spp. The content of СЫ Treg was directly correlated with the content of Dorea spp.The results may be indicative of impairment in the processes of Treg differentiation, which are closely related to changes in key components of intestinal microbiocenosis in IBS

Visual Cells Remember Earlier Applied Target: Plasticity of Orientation Selectivity

BACKGROUND: A canonical proposition states that, in mature brain, neurons responsive to sensory stimuli are tuned to specific properties installed shortly after birth. It is amply demonstrated that that neurons in adult visual cortex of cats are orientation-selective that is they respond with the highest firing rates to preferred oriented stimuli. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In anesthetized cats, prepared in a conventional fashion for single cell recordings, the present investigation shows that presenting a stimulus uninterruptedly at a non-preferred orientation for twelve minutes induces changes in orientation preference. Across all conditions orientation tuning curves were investigated using a trial by trial method. Contrary to what has been previously reported with shorter adaptation duration, twelve minutes of adaptation induces mostly attractive shifts, i.e. toward the adapter. After a recovery period allowing neurons to restore their original orientation tuning curves, we carried out a second adaptation which produced three major results: (1) more frequent attractive shifts, (2) an increase of their magnitude, and (3) an additional enhancement of responses at the new or acquired preferred orientation. Additionally, we also show that the direction of shifts depends on the duration of the adaptation: shorter adaptation in most cases produces repulsive shifts, whereas adaptation exceeding nine minutes results in attractive shifts, in the same unit. Consequently, shifts in preferred orientation depend on the duration of adaptation. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The supplementary response improvements indicate that neurons in area 17 keep a memory trace of the previous stimulus properties, thereby upgrading cellular performance. It also highlights the dynamic nature of basic neuronal properties in adult cortex since repeated adaptations modified both the orientation tuning selectivity and the response strength to the preferred orientation. These enhanced neuronal responses suggest that the range of neuronal plasticity available to the visual system is broader than anticipated

Bilateralism as an essential characteristic of the accultu­ration process (based on the written language and cultural artifacts of Kiev Rus)

На артефактах храмового зодчества, иконописи и письменности Киевской Руси анализируется процесс взаимовлияния культур Византии, Болгарии и Руси после христианизации последней. Впервые предлагается рассмотреть аккуль­турацию с точки зрения двусторонности, что позволяет увидеть новые грани взаимодействия разных культур.Process of mutual interaction of cultures of Byzantium, Bulgaria and Russia after the Christening of the latter, is analyzed on the basis of temple architecture artifacts, iconography and written language of Kiev Rus. The purpose of the article is to substantiate methodological significance of the “acculturation” category, which is based on the study of its essential characteristics —bilateralism. For the first time it is suggested to consider acculturation in terms of bilateralism, which allows to see new verges of interaction between different cultures