A possible role of tachykinin-related peptide on an immune system activity of mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor L.

Tachykinin-related peptides (TRPs) are important neuropeptides. Here we show that they affect the insect immune system, especially the cellular response. We also identify and predict the sequence and structure of the tachykinin-related peptide receptor (TRPR) and confirm the presence of expression of gene encoding TRPR on Tenebrio molitor haemocytes. After application of the Tenmo-TRP-7 in T. molitor the number of circulating haemocytes increased and the number of haemocytes participating in phagocytosis of latex beads decreased in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Also, Tenmo-TRP-7 affects the adhesion ability of haemocytes. Six hours after injection of TenmoTRP-7, a decrease of haemocyte surface area was observed under both tested Tenmo-TRP-7 concentrations (10-7 and 10-5 M). The opposite effect was reported 24 h after injection, which indicates that the influence of Tenmo-TRP-7 on modulation of haemocyte behaviour differs at different stages of stress response. Tenmo-TRP-7 application also resulted in increased phenoloxidase activity 6 and 24 h after injection. The assessment of DNA integrity of haemocytes showed that the injection of Tenmo-TRP-7 at 10-7 M led to a decrease in DNA damage compared to control individuals. This effect was only visible 6 h after Tenmo-TRP-7 application. After 24 h, Tenmo-TRP-7 injection increased DNA damage. We also confirmed the expression of immune-related genes in nervous tissue of T. molitor. Transcripts for genes encoding receptors participating in pathogen recognition processes and antimicrobial peptides were detected in T. molitor brain, retrocerebral complex and ventral nerve cord. These results may indicate a role of the insect nervous system in pathogen recognition and modulation of immune response similar to vertebrates. Taken together, our results support the notion that tachykinin-related peptides probably play an important role in the regulation of the insect immune system. Moreover, some resemblances with action of tachykininrelated peptides and substance P showed that insects can be potential model organisms for analysis of hormonal regulation of conserved innate immune mechanisms

The Review of Ophthalmic Symptoms in COVID-19

Aleksander Robert Stawowski,1 Joanna Konopińska,2 Sylwester Szymon Stawowski,3 Justyna Adamczuk,4 Monika Groth,5 Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska,4 Piotr Czupryna4 1Department of Ophthalmology, University Clinical Hospital in Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland; 3Non-Public Health Care Facility MEDIX, Bialystok, Poland; 4Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfectious, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland; 5Department of Allergology and Internal Diseases, University Clinical Hospital in Bialystok, Bialystok, PolandCorrespondence: Aleksander Robert Stawowski, Department of Ophthalmology, University Clinical Hospital in Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland, Tel +48-668101778, Email [email protected]: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 had a significant impact on the health of the global human population, affecting almost every human organ, including the organ of vision. Research focus on understanding the pathophysiology, identifying symptoms and complications of the disease. Eye-related pathologies are important foci of research due to the potential for direct impact of the virus. Ophthalmologists around the world are reporting various symptoms of eye infections and ocular pathologies associated with SARS-CoV-2. The review of ophthalmic symptoms was conducted to help physicians of various specialties recognize possible ophthalmic manifestations of this viral disease. A literature review was conducted from January 2020 to July 2023 in the PubMed, MEDLINE, Science Direct, Scopus, Scielo and Google Scholar databases. The review of the literature showed that conjunctivitis is the most common ophthalmic symptom observed during the course of COVID-19 and can occur at any stage of the disease. Changes in the eye may result from the direct effect of the virus, immune response, prothrombotic states, comorbidities, and medications used. Symptoms related to the organ of vision can be divided into: changes affecting the protective apparatus of the eye, the anterior eye segment, the posterior eye segment, neuro-ophthalmic, and orbital changes. Ocular symptoms may suggest COVID-19 infection or appear several weeks after recovery. Following COVID-19 vaccinations, a diverse range of ophthalmic symptoms was observed in various locations and at different times, mirroring the ocular symptoms experienced throughout the course of the COVID-19 illness. It is important for physicians of all specialties to be aware of possible potential connections between eye diseases and SARS-CoV-2, in order to effectively diagnose and treat patients.Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, ocular symptom

Controversies in the Use of MIGS

Abstract Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) has fulfilled an unmet need in the management of glaucoma. This chapter highlights some controversial issues regarding the use of MIGS in clinical practice, including (1) whether there is sufficient evidence to advocate combining MIGS with cataract surgery over cataract surgery alone, (2) the merits and drawbacks of different approaches to trabecular bypass and canal-based MIGS procedures, (3) the effect of MIGS on endothelial cell loss, (4) suprachoroidal MIGS devices and whether there is still a role for these procedures, and (5) a comparison between subconjunctival MIGS and trabeculectomy. Several questions are still left unanswered and hopefully, further research and more clinical experience with these new technologies will help improve surgical outcomes for patients

Wpływ rodzaju podłoża i nawożenia azotem na plonowanie i skład chemiczny truskawki odmiany "Elsanta" uprawianej w nieogrzewanym tunelu foliowym

The main factors determining the quantity and quality of the yield of plants grown in the soilless system is the kind of cultivation substrate used and the level of supplying the plants with nutrients. Studies conducted in the years 2005–2006 were aimed at determining the effect of substrates (peat, peat mixed with pine bark in the proportion of 1:1, peat with pine sawdust in the ratio of 1:1), as well as of differentiated nitrogen dose (140 and 210 mg N·dm-3) upon yielding, chemical composition of strawberry (Fragaria × ananasa Duch.) leaves and fruit, cultivar „Elsanta”, grown in unheated foil tunnel. In those studies no significant differences were found in total and marketable yield of strawberry fruit grown in peat, as well as in peat with pine bark. Significantly smaller total (435.8 g·plant-1) and marketable (286.5 g·plant-1) fruit yield was reported when strawberries were grown in peat mixed with pine sawdust. In plants grown in peat mixed with sawdust significantly smaller fruit unit weight (10.7 g) was found, as compared to plants that grew in the remaining substratums. In our studies no significant effect of differentiated nitrogen fertilization upon strawberry yielding was demonstrated. In the leaves of strawberries fertilized with nitrogen in the dose of 210 mg N·dm-3 we found significantly more nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as less calcium and magnesium, as compared to plants fertilized with smaller doses of this nutrient. The fruit of strawberries fertilized with a higher nitrogen dose contained significantly more nitrogen and potassium, as well as less vitamin C and soluble solids, as compared to the fruit collected from plants fertilized with nitrogen in the dose of 140 mg N·dm-3.Głównymi czynnikami decydującymi o ilości i jakości plonu roślin w uprawach bezglebowych jest rodzaj podłoża uprawowego oraz poziom zaopatrzenia w składniki pokarmowe. Badania przeprowadzone w latach 2005–2006 miały na celu określenie wpływu podłoży (torf , torf zmieszany z korą sosnową w proporcji 1:1, torf z trocinami sosnowymi w proporcji 1:1) oraz zróżnicowanej dawki azotu (140 i 210 mg N·dm-3) na plonowanie, skład chemiczny liści oraz owoców truskawki (Fragaria × ananasa Duch.) odmiany „Elsanta” uprawianej w nieogrzewanym tunelu foliowym. W badaniach nie stwierdzono istotnych różnic w plonie ogólnym i handlowym owoców truskawki uprawianej w torfie oraz w torfie z korą sosnową. Istotnie mniejszy plon ogólny (435,8 g·roślina-1) i handlowy (286,5 g·roślina-1) owoców odnotowano przy uprawie truskawki w torfie zmieszanym z trocinami sosnowymi. U roślin uprawianych w torfie zmieszanym z trocinami stwierdzono istotnie mniejszą masę jednostkową owoców (10,7 g) w porównaniu do roślin rosnących w pozostałych podłożach. W badaniach nie wykazano istotnego wpływu zróżnicowanego nawożenia azotem na plonowanie truskawki. W liściach truskawki nawożonych azotem w dawce 210 mg N·dm-3 stwierdzono istotnie więcej azotu i fosforu oraz mniej wapnia i magnezu w porównaniu z roślinami nawożonymi mniejszą dawką tego składnika. Owoce truskawki nawożonej większą dawką azotu zawierały istotnie więcej azotu i potasu oraz mniej witaminy C i ekstraktu w porównaniu do owoców zebranych z roślin nawożonych azotem w dawce 140 mg N·dm-3

Electron-argon scattering: a high angle minimum in differential cross sections

Ab initio relativistic calculations of the high angle differential cross section minimum have been presented. Theoretical method is based on the Dirac-Hartree-Fock scattering equation. Ab initio polarization and exact exchange have been included. Calculations have been performed for the low energy elastic electron scattering from argon. A very good agreement with the recent experimental data has been found

New proctolin analogues modified by the novel D-or L-phenylglycine derivatives. Synthesis and biological studies

New analogues of insect neuromodulator proctolin (H-Arg-Tyr-Leu-Pro-Thr-OH), modified in position 2 of the peptide chain by L-or D-phenylglycine and its 4-substituted derivatives were synthesized. For modification of proctolin a series of novel L-or D-phenylglycine derivatives H-Phg(4-NO2)-OH (1), Boc-Phg(4-NO2)-OH (2), Boc-Phg(4-Me2N)-OH (3), H-Phg(4-OBzl)-OH (4), Boc-Phg(4-OBzl)-OH (5), H-D-Phg(4-NO2)-OH (6), Boc-D-Phg(4-NO2,)-OH (7), Boc-D-Phg(4-Me2N)-OH (8), were used. The following proctolin analogues were synthesized: H-Arg-Phg-Leu-Pro-Thr-OH (9), H-Arg-D-Phg-Leu-Pro-Thr-OH (10), H-Arg-Phg(4-OH)-Leu-Pro-Thr-OH (11), H-Arg-D-Phg(4-OH)-Leu-Pro-Thr-OH (12), H-Arg-Phg(4-NO2)-Leu-Pro-Thr-OH (13), H-Arg-D-Phg(4-NO2)-Leu-Pro-Thr-OH (14), H-Arg-Phg(4-NH2)-Leu-Pro-Thr-OH (15), H-Arg-D-Phg(4-NH2)-Leu-Pro-Thr-OH (16), H-Arg-Phg(4-NMe2)-Leu-Pro-Thr-OH (17), H-Arg-D-Phg(4-NMe2)-Leu-Pro-Thr-OH (18). Myotropic activity of proctolin analogues 9-18 was assayed in vitro on the semi-isolated heart of the mealworm Tenebrio molitor and on the foregut of the locust Schistocerca gregaria. All analogues showed a weak or none activity.</p