Role of Conserved Non-Coding Regulatory Elements in LMW Glutenin Gene Expression

Transcriptional regulation of LMW glutenin genes were investigated in-silico, using publicly available gene sequences and expression data. Genes were grouped into different LMW glutenin types and their promoter profiles were determined using cis-acting regulatory elements databases and published results. The various cis-acting elements belong to some conserved non-coding regulatory regions (CREs) and might act in two different ways. There are elements, such as GCN4 motifs found in the long endosperm box that could serve as key factors in tissue-specific expression. Some other elements, such as the AACA/TA motifs or the individual prolamin box variants, might modulate the level of expression. Based on the promoter sequences and expression characteristic LMW glutenin genes might be transcribed following two different mechanisms. Most of the s- and i-type genes show a continuously increasing expression pattern. The m-type genes, however, demonstrate normal distribution in their expression profiles. Differences observed in their expression could be related to the differences found in their promoter sequences. Polymorphisms in the number and combination of cis-acting elements in their promoter regions can be of crucial importance in the diverse levels of production of single LMW glutenin gene types

Vestibular habituation training for positional vertigo in elderly patients.

peer reviewedPositional vertigo can be successfully treated by exercises (Vestibular Habituation Training, VHT) in elderly patients as well as in younger ones. Provided the patients have been correctly selected, this type of treatment is the only way for an adequate treatment of such a type of vertigo. Application of VHT has to be recommended also in elderly people, as the results obtained are as favourable as those in younger people. Only a slower evolution is observed, which can be correlated with a more restricted activity pattern in the elderly

Vestibular habituation training: exercise treatment for vertigo based upon the habituation effect.

Vestibular habituation training is an exercise treatment for positional vertigo based on the assumption that such a type of vertigo can be cured by habituation effect. The latter is produced by repeating the situation eliciting vertigo. In this way the mechanisms of adaptation and compensation are stimulated, processes of which have been considered "error controlled." Clinical experience with the vestibular habituation training test battery (consisting of 19 maneuvers) showed that in each particular patient only a limited number of responses were positive in various combinations. Selecting the exercises is then a logical consequence. Followup showed a progressive reduction of the positive cases, as well as the number of positive maneuvers. This is in accordance with the development of compensation as it has been observed in experimental conditions and with the decline of progressive responses observed in habituation experiments