Anatomy, Chloroplast Structure and Compartmentation of Enzymes Relative to Photosynthetic Mechanisms in Leaves and Cotyledons of Species in the Tribe Salsoleae (Chenopodiaceae)

Certain members of the family Chenopodiaceae are the dominant species of the deserts of Central Asia; many of them are succulent halophytes which exhibit C4-type CO2 fixation of the NAD- or NADP-ME (malic enzyme) subgroup. In four C4 species of the tribe Salsoleae, the Salsoloid-type Kranz anatomy in leaves or stems was studied in relation to the diversity in anatomy which was found in cotyledons. Halocharis gossypina, has C4 NAD-ME Salsoloid-type photosynthesis in leaves and C3 photosynthesis in dorsoventral non-Kranz cotyledons; Salsola laricina has C4 NAD-ME Salsoloid-type leaves and C4 NAD-ME Atriplicoid-type cotyledons; Haloxylon persicum, has C4 NADP-ME Salsoloid-type green stems and C3 isopalisade non-Kranz cotyledons; and S. richteri has C4 NADP-ME Salsoloid-type leaves and cotyledons. Immunolocalization studies on Rubisco showed strong labelling in bundle sheath cells of leaves and cotyledons of organs having Kranz anatomy. The C4 pathway enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase was localized in mesophyll cells, while the malic enzymes were localized in bundle sheath cells of Kranz-type tissue. Immunolocalization by electron microscopy showed NAD-ME is in mitochondria while NADP-ME is in chloroplasts of bundle sheath cells in the respective C4 types. In some C4 organs, it was apparent that subepidermal cells and water storage cells also contain some chloroplasts which have Rubisco, store starch, and thus perform C3 photosynthesis. In non-Kranz cotyledons of Halocharis gossypina and Haloxylon persicum, Rubisco was found in chloroplasts of both palisade and spongy mesophyll cells with the heaviest labelling in the layers of palisade cells, whereas C4 pathway proteins were low or undetectable. The pattern of starch accumulation correlated with the localization of Rubisco, being highest in the bundle sheath cells and lowest in the mesophyll cells of organs having Kranz anatomy. In NAD-ME-type Kranz organs (leaves and cotyledons of S. laricina and leaves of H. gossypina) the granal index (length of appressed membranes as a percentage of total length of all membranes) of bundle sheath chloroplasts is 1.5 to 2.5 times higher than that of mesophyll chloroplasts. In contrast, in the NADP-ME-type Kranz organs (S. richteri leaves and cotyledons and H. persicum stems) the granal index of mesophyll chloroplasts is 1.5 to 2.2 times that of the bundle sheath chloroplasts. The mechanism of photosynthesis in these species is discussed in relation to structural differences.This work was partly supported by Civilian Research and Development Foundation Grant RB1–264 and NSF Grant IBN-9807916. EV Voznesenskaya would like to thank CIES, Washington DC for a Fulbright Scholar Research Fellowship. We also thank the Electron Microscope Center of Washington State University for use of their facilities and staff assistance

Effect of one-time dextran-polyacrylamide polymer matrixes treatment on female reproductive function

Background: recently, it has been proved that copolymers with dextran cores and grafted polyacrylamide are effective in photodynamic and chemotherapy. However, further research is needed to define correct dosage and to assess the risks. Thus, animal studies are becoming more relevant to determine the effect of the treatment of such drug nano-systems on female reproductive function in particular.Methods: a technique for estimation of pre- and post-implantation death rates, in vitro meotic maturation of oocytes, double fluorescent vital assay and statistical analysis were used. The effects of a one-time treatment of different doses of dextran-polyacrylamide matrices and silver (Ag)-nanoparticles-dextran-polyacrylamide (AgNPs-D-PAA) on reproductive function, namely on 1) the number of oocytes isolated from one ovary and the meiotic maturation of such oocytes in vitro; 2) the indicators of cell viability of the cells of follicular environment of oocytes (FEO) and the cells of inguinal lymph nodes (ILN); 3) the pre- and post-implantation mortality rates and the number of live newborns (pups) were investigated in female mice.Results: no significant changes in the number of oocytes isolated from one ovary and meiotic maturation of such ovarian oocytes in vitro, the number of living cells of follicular environment of oocytes  and the number of such cells with morphological signs of apoptosis and necrosis, pre- and post-implantation mortality rates of embryos and the number of live newborns (pups) have been established under conditions of one-time treatment with dextran-polyacrylamide at doses of 0.39 mg/kg and 3.90 mg/kg and Ag-nanoparticles-dextran-polyacrylamide at doses of 0.20 mg/kg and 2.00 mg/kg.Conclusions: branched polymer systems (dextran-polyacrylamide (D-PAA) polymer matrices) are promising materials for use in next-generation medicine

Features of Photosynthesis in Haloxylon Species of Chenopodiaceae that are Dominant Plants in Central Asian deserts

Haloxylon aphyllum and H. persicum of Chenopodiaceae are dominant plants in the continental deserts of the Asian Irano-Turanian region. The photosynthetic organs, assimilating shoots and leaf-like cotyledons of these two species were studied to characterize their photosynthetic types. 13C/12C isotope ratios, the cellular anatomy of assimilating organs, primary photosynthetic products, and activities of carbon metabolism enzymes, RUBP carboxylase, PEP carboxylase, malic enzymes, and aspartate aminotransferase, indicate different pathways of CO~2 fixation in the photosynthetic organs. Assimilating shoots had attributes of the C4 photosynthesis entirely, while cotyledons lack Kranz-anatomy and incorporated CO2 via C3 photosynthesis. Cotyledons and seeds had lower δ13C values compared to shoots, consistent with the contribution of C3-like CO2 assimilation. Two pathways of carbon donation to the C3 cycle via decarboxylation of C4 acids in bundle sheath cells are suggested to occur in shoots of Haloxylon. The primary photosynthetic product malate can be utilized through NADP+-malic enzyme which occurs in high activity. NAD+-malic enzyme may contribute to C4 photosynthesis (some aspartate is formed as an initial product, the bundle sheath chloroplasts have some grana, and NAD+-malic enzyme is found in bundle sheath cells of shoots, all criteria for NAD+-malic enzyme type photosynthesis). We propose that organ diversity of CO2 fixation pathway in Haloxylon species is an important factor for their growth, survival and reproduction in continental climate deserts.The study was supported in part by a Civilian Research and Development Foundation Grant RB1-264 to V.P., E.A., E.V., G.E., and M.K., a NATO Collaborative Research Grant 970588 to C.C.B., and National Science Foundation Grant IBN 9317756 to G.E.E. V.I. Pyankov would like to thank CIES, Washington for a Fulbright Scholar Research Fellowship and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens for provision of facilities during part of the work

Diabetes mellitus type 1 and coronary artery disease with severe systolic heart failure in 25 year-old adult

Diabetes mellitus (DM) type 1 accounts for up to 90% of all cases of diabetes among children, adolescents and young adults (10 % are represented by T2DM, MODY, etc.). DM is characterized not only by glucose metabolism disorder, but also by abnormal protein and lipid metabolism, leading to severe macrovascular complications. A clinical case of diabetes type 1, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease (CAD) and chronic heart failure (HF) in a 25-year-old adult has been demonstrated. The medical examination revealed lipid metabolism disorders, multivessel coronary artery disease, which required myocardial revascularization, and severe heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The clinical case demonstrates that proper cardiovascular examination should be performed in all patients with diabetes and lipid disorders, regardless of age and type of diabetes. The authors also consider the use of sodium-glucos

ДЕТСКАЯ АСТМА: КЛЮЧЕВЫЕ ПРИНЦИПЫ ДОСТИЖЕНИЯ КОНТРОЛЯ НА СОВРЕМЕННОМ ЭТАПЕ

The article is dedicated to the issue of bronchial asthma in children. Immaturity of respiratory and immune systems, peculiarities of the disease course, difficulty in establishing diagnosis and selecting delivery devices for drugs and a limited amount of evidence-based recommendations determine the current situation: only few guides touch upon the subject of infant asthma management. Although asthma is the most widespread disease of lower respiratory tract in children, a significant number of patients do not receive adequate treatment, which is why they cannot control asthma. The authors of this article analyzed the most up-to-date documents (ICON, GINA, PRACTALL, NAEPP, SIGN) that touch upon this subject and briefly stated the key principles of attaining control over this nosology in order to increase availability, spread and introduction of standard therapy of infant asthma. Статья посвящена проблеме бронхиальной астмы у детей. Незрелость дыхательной и иммунной систем, особенности течения болезни, трудности при постановке диагноза и выборе средств доставки лекарственных средств, а также небольшое количество доказательных рекомендаций по лечению астмы у детей обусловливают тот факт, что немногие руководства касаются вопроса ведения детской астмы. Несмотря на то, что астма является наиболее распространенным хроническим заболеванием у детей, значительное количество пациентов не получают адекватного лечения, в связи с чем по-прежнему не могут контролировать свою болезнь. Авторами статьи в целях увеличения доступности, распространения и внедрения стандартной терапии детской астмы были проанализированы наиболее современные документы (ICON, GINA, PRACTALL, NAEPP, SIGN), касающиеся данного вопроса, и кратко изложены основные ключевые принципы достижения контроля над астмой

Rubisco evolution in C₄ eudicots: an analysis of Amaranthaceae sensu lato.

BACKGROUND: Rubisco (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) catalyses the key reaction in the photosynthetic assimilation of CO₂. In C₄ plants CO₂ is supplied to Rubisco by an auxiliary CO₂-concentrating pathway that helps to maximize the carboxylase activity of the enzyme while suppressing its oxygenase activity. As a consequence, C₄ Rubisco exhibits a higher maximum velocity but lower substrate specificity compared with the C₃ enzyme. Specific amino-acids in Rubisco are associated with C₄ photosynthesis in monocots, but it is not known whether selection has acted on Rubisco in a similar way in eudicots. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We investigated Rubisco evolution in Amaranthaceae sensu lato (including Chenopodiaceae), the third-largest family of C₄ plants, using phylogeny-based maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods to detect Darwinian selection on the chloroplast rbcL gene in a sample of 179 species. Two Rubisco residues, 281 and 309, were found to be under positive selection in C₄ Amaranthaceae with multiple parallel replacements of alanine by serine at position 281 and methionine by isoleucine at position 309. Remarkably, both amino-acids have been detected in other C₄ plant groups, such as C₄ monocots, illustrating a striking parallelism in molecular evolution. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings illustrate how simple genetic changes can contribute to the evolution of photosynthesis and strengthen the hypothesis that parallel amino-acid replacements are associated with adaptive changes in Rubisco

Пищевая аллергия к белкам пшеницы. Трудности диагностики и лечения

The article is dedicated to the problem of food allergy in children. The number of patients with this pathology continues to rise, which can be explained by multiple factors, which speaks for the relevance and the social importance of the matter. For food allergy, the causesignificant allergens are both simple and complex food proteins. Wheat is one of the most prevalent source of food allergens not only for children, but for adults too. The article contains the main information concerning the ley characteristics of this product; the protein content and the different roles of individual components in forming allergic reactions and cross activity are thoroughly investigated. The authors provide recommendations for the diagnostics and treatment of wheat protein allergy, and various difficulties in different clinical cases are examined. The article also contains main treatment approaches, which are relevant to the modern data. An individual approach in each case means regular monitoring of the main figures, preventing the negative consequences of an eliminative diet at wheat protein allergy through using specialized gluten-free products.Статья посвящена проблеме пищевой аллергии у детей. Множество факторов объясняют тенденцию увеличения числа пациентов с данной патологией, что обусловливает актуальность и медико-социальную составляющую этой проблемы. Причинно-значимыми аллергенами при пищевой аллергии являются белки пищевых продуктов, как простые, так и сложные. Пшеница — один из наиболее важных и распространенных источников пищевых аллергенов не только для детей, но и для взрослых. В статье представлены основные сведения по ключевым характеристикам данного продукта, подробно рассмотрены белковый состав и разноплановые роли отдельных компонентов в развитии аллергических реакций и перекрестной реактивности. Авторами представлены рекомендации по диагностике аллергии на белок пшеницы, рассматриваются возможные трудности в разных клинических случаях. В статье также предложены основные лечебные подходы, отвечающие современным данным. Индивидуальный подход в каждом конкретном случае заключается в регулярном мониторинге основных показателей, профилактике нежелательных последствий строгой элиминационной диеты при аллергии к белкам пшеницы с использованием специализированных продуктов, не содержащих глютен