Reducing flower competition for assimilates by half results in higher yield of Fagopyrum esculentum

Despite abundant flowering throughout the season, common buckwheat develops a very low number of kernels probably due to competition for assimilates. We hypothesized that plants with a shorter flowering period may give a higher seed yield. To verify the hypothesis, we studied nutrient stress in vitro and in planta and analyzed different embryological and yield parameters, including hormone profile in the flowers. In vitro cultivated flowers on media with strongly reduced nutrient content demonstrated a drastic increase in degenerated embryo sacs. In in planta experiments, where 50% or 75% of flowers or all lateral ramifications were removed, the reduction of the flower competition by half turned out to be the most promising treatment for improving yield. This treatment increased the frequency of properly developed embryo sacs, the average number of mature seeds per plant, and their mass. Strong seed compensation under 50% inflorescence removal could result from increased production of salicylic and jasmonic acid that both favor more effective pollinator attraction. Plants in single-shoot cultivation finished their vegetation earlier, and they demonstrated greater single seed mass per plant than in control. This result suggests that plants of common buckwheat with shorter blooming period could deliver higher seed yield

Micropropagation of Viola uliginosa (Violaceae) for endangered species conservation and for somaclonal variation-enhanced cyclotide biosynthesis

Viola uliginosa Besser is a European violet having its main distribution range in the Baltic Sea region. Today it is considered endangered and threatened. Species of Violaceae from different genera and sections are known to produce cyclotides, cyclic polypeptides of much interest due to their medicinal properties and chemical structure. The present study introduced a rare species of violet (V. uliginosa) to in vitro culture for biodiversity protection and as a model for cyclotide biosynthesis research in the Violaceae. Leaf and petiole fragments were cultured on MS medium solidified with agar and supplemented with different concentrations of plant growth regulators: TDZ, KIN and 2,4-D. Direct and indirect (via callus) organogenesis was induced on MS supplemented with TDZ (0.5 or 1 mg l−1) or with equal concentrations (2 mg l−1) of KIN and 2,4-D, followed by callus transfer on 1 mg l−1 TDZ. Shoots were rooted on MS with 2 % sucrose and 0.5 mg l−1 IBA and acclimatized. AFLP marker polymorphism was low but flow cytometry revealed that a large share of the obtained regenerants were tetraploid (2C = 4x = 2.7–2.8 pg), unlike the maternal diploid plants (2C = 2x = 1.4 pg). Eleven different cyclotides were distinguished in the aerial parts of maternal plants. Cyclotide production was significantly higher in tetraploid than in diploid plants regenerated in vitro

Biobank Łódź® – population based biobank at the University of Łódź, Poland

Biobank Laboratory of the University of Łódź is a unit in the organizational structure of the De- partment of Molecular Biophysics at the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection. It was established in 2014 as one of the results of the TESTOPLEK project. One of the main goals of the unit is to collect and share biological material of human origin and related clinical and survey data. Moreover, Biobank Laboratory conducts work in the field of genetics and molecular biology on human biological material. Biobank Laboratory gathers over 40.000 samples such as DNA, FFPE, saliva, together with their data. Data about its material is available for researchers in directories e.g. BBMRI-ERIC Directory 4.0. Since 2014, the unit belongs to the national Consortium BBMRI.pl, and since 2017 it executes a project entitled Research Infrastructure for Biobanks and Biomolecular Resources BBMRI-ERIC, co-creating the Polish Network of Biobanks. Biobank Laboratory is focused on coopera- tion with domestic and foreign scientific institutions and medical units, as well as entities from the local, business and public sector

The genetic basis of endometriosis and comorbidity with other pain and inflammatory conditions

Endometriosis is a common condition associated with debilitating pelvic pain and infertility. A genome-wide association study meta-analysis, including 60,674 cases and 701,926 controls of European and East Asian descent, identified 42 genome-wide significant loci comprising 49 distinct association signals. Effect sizes were largest for stage 3/4 disease, driven by ovarian endometriosis. Identified signals explained up to 5.01% of disease variance and regulated expression or methylation of genes in endometrium and blood, many of which were associated with pain perception/maintenance (SRP14/BMF, GDAP1, MLLT10, BSN and NGF). We observed significant genetic correlations between endometriosis and 11 pain conditions, including migraine, back and multisite chronic pain (MCP), as well as inflammatory conditions, including asthma and osteoarthritis. Multitrait genetic analyses identified substantial sharing of variants associated with endometriosis and MCP/migraine. Targeted investigations of genetically regulated mechanisms shared between endometriosis and other pain conditions are needed to aid the development of new treatments and facilitate early symptomatic intervention

The genetic basis of endometriosis and comorbidity with other pain and inflammatory conditions

Endometriosis is a common condition associated with debilitating pelvic pain and infertility. A genome-wide association study meta-analysis, including 60,674 cases and 701,926 controls of European and East Asian descent, identified 42 genome-wide significant loci comprising 49 distinct association signals. Effect sizes were largest for stage 3/4 disease, driven by ovarian endometriosis. Identified signals explained up to 5.01% of disease variance and regulated expression or methylation of genes in endometrium and blood, many of which were associated with pain perception/maintenance (SRP14/BMF, GDAP1, MLLT10, BSN and NGF). We observed significant genetic correlations between endometriosis and 11 pain conditions, including migraine, back and multisite chronic pain (MCP), as well as inflammatory conditions, including asthma and osteoarthritis. Multitrait genetic analyses identified substantial sharing of variants associated with endometriosis and MCP/migraine. Targeted investigations of genetically regulated mechanisms shared between endometriosis and other pain conditions are needed to aid the development of new treatments and facilitate early symptomatic intervention

Interaction of nicotinic receptors with bupropion: Structural, functional, and pre-clinical perspectives

Besides the antidepressant activity of bupropion (BP), preclinical studies in rodents provide evidence that this compound and its hydroxyl metabolites can attenuate nicotine withdrawal, reversing both the physical and negative affective aspects of nicotine abstinence. Co-interactions of BP with nicotine or other psychostimulants influence decrease anxiety- and cognitive- related processes. BP also attenuates the reinstatement of nicotine-induced conditioned place preference in rats caused by a priming dose of nicotine, morphine, cannabinoids, or ethanol. Therefore, BP can offer an interesting approach to the prevention of relapse in humans. There is emerging evidence that BP inhibits, in the low to intermediate micromolar range, various nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) expressed in different neuronal pathways. The BP selectivity for different AChRs follows the sequence: α3- > α4- ~ α1- > α7-containing AChRs. This receptor blockade may contribute to its dual therapeutic activity as either an antidepressant or anti-nicotinic drug. Regarding the structural aspects, two distinct binding sites for [125I]SADU-3-72, a photosensitive derivative of BP, were identified in the Torpedo AChR. A binding site is located within the ion channel, which coincides with the molecular docking results, whereas a second site is found near the extracellular end of α1-M1 when the receptor is in the desensitized state. Interestingly, BP greatly reduces the potentiating action elicited by Zn2+ on different non-α7 AChRs, and vice versa this cation increases the inhibitory strength of BP. This contrasting behavior supports the concept that the binding sites for BP and Zn2+are located at different domains. The understanding of the BP activity, alone or in combination with other drugs (e.g., nicotine), at the molecular and behavioral levels, may improve the knowledge of the underlying mechanisms of action. This knowledge is essential for the development of novel BP (or other antidepressant) derivatives with improved clinical profiles for the treatment of depression and psychostimulant-related addictions

Flatulence and eructation

Flatulence (bloating) is a symptom associated with the presence of excessive amount of gas within the bowel. Eructation (belching) is a functional disorder consisting in a retrograde passage of gas from the oesophagus and stomach to the oral cavity, associated with escape of gustatory and olfactory admixtures. Air enters the digestive tract being swallowed during eating or drinking. Some of it escapes back as a result of belching or passes to more distal segments of the digestive tract. Intra-enteric reactions generate such gases as methane, hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Ailments resulting from an increased gas production are frequently reported by patients with functional disorders of the digestive tract, e.g. irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia, functional diarrhoea, constipation and flatulence. Altered absorption of carbohydrates results in eructation, flatulence, abdominal pain and excessive passage of gas. Overproduction of enteric gas may result from excessive bacterial colonization of small bowel or infestation by Giardia lamblia. Bloating is seen in patients with gastroparesis, fat intolerance, premature stomach emptying, Hirschsprung disease and megacolon. Patients with flatulence and excessive amount of enteric gas require a detailed analysis of dietary habits and a search for correlation between development of symptoms and ingestion of a specific food. Noteworthy is that gumchewing and cigarette-smoking predisposes to aerophagia. A complete analysis of the problem is impossible without an adequate degree of sensitiveness, accurateness and attentiveness on the part of the examining physician.Wzdęcie to objaw związany z obecnością nadmiernej ilości gazów w jelitach. Odbijanie to zaburzenie motoryczne polegające na wstecznym przepływie gazów z przełyku i żołądka do jamy ustnej, czemu towarzyszy wydostawanie się domieszek smakowych i zapachowych. Powietrze dostaje się do przewodu pokarmowego wskutek połykania go podczas jedzenia lub picia. Część z niego wydostaje się z powrotem w wyniku odbijania, natomiast część przechodzi do dalszych odcinków przewodu pokarmowego. Produkcja wewnątrzjelitowa powoduje powstanie takich gazów, jak metan, wodór i dwutlenek węgla. Dolegliwości wynikające ze zwiększonego wytwarzania gazów są często zgłaszane przez pacjentów z czynnościowymi chorobami jelit, takimi jak zespół jelita drażliwego, dyspepsja czynnościowa, czynnościowymi biegunkami, zaparciami i wzdęciami. Zaburzenia wchłaniania węglowodanów wywołują objawy w postaci odbijania, wzdęć, bólów brzucha i nadmiernego oddawania gazów. Nadprodukcja gazów jelitowych może być następstwem nadmiernej kolonizacji bakteryjnej jelita cienkiego lub zakażenia Giardia lamblia. Wzdęcia obserwuje się u chorych z gastroparezą, nietolerancją tłuszczów, szybkim opróżnianiem żołądka, chorobą Hirschprunga i w okrężnicy olbrzymiej. U pacjentów ze wzdęciem i nadmiernymi gazami należy szczegółowo przeanalizować nawyki dietetyczne oraz korelację między występowaniem dolegliwości a spożyciem konkretnego posiłku. Trzeba pamiętać, że żucie gumy i palenie papierosów predysponuje do aerofagii. Pełna analiza problemu nie jest możliwa bez odpowiedniej wrażliwości, dokładności i uwagi ze strony badającego lekarza

Wzdęcia i odbijania

Wzdęcie to objaw związany z obecnością nadmiernej ilości gazów w jelitach. Odbijanie to zaburzenie motoryczne polegające na wstecznym przepływie gazów z przełyku i żołądka do jamy ustnej, czemu towarzyszy wydostawanie się domieszek smakowych i zapachowych. Powietrze dostaje się do przewodu pokarmowego wskutek połykania go podczas jedzenia lub picia. Część z niego wydostaje się z powrotem w wyniku odbijania, natomiast część przechodzi do dalszych odcinków przewodu pokarmowego. Produkcja wewnątrzjelitowa powoduje powstanie takich gazów, jak metan, wodór i dwutlenek węgla. Dolegliwości wynikające ze zwiększonego wytwarzania gazów są często zgłaszane przez pacjentów z czynnościowymi chorobami jelit, takimi jak zespół jelita drażliwego, dyspepsja czynnościowa, czynnościowymi biegunkami, zaparciami i wzdęciami. Zaburzenia wchłaniania węglowodanów wywołują objawy w postaci odbijania, wzdęć, bólów brzucha i nadmiernego oddawania gazów. Nadprodukcja gazów jelitowych może być następstwem nadmiernej kolonizacji bakteryjnej jelita cienkiego lub zakażenia Giardia lamblia. Wzdęcia obserwuje się u chorych z gastroparezą, nietolerancją tłuszczów, szybkim opróżnianiem żołądka, chorobą Hirschprunga i w okrężnicy olbrzymiej. U pacjentów ze wzdęciem i nadmiernymi gazami należy szczegółowo przeanalizować nawyki dietetyczne oraz korelację między występowaniem dolegliwości a spożyciem konkretnego posiłku. Trzeba pamiętać, że żucie gumy i palenie papierosów predysponuje do aerofagii. Pełna analiza problemu nie jest możliwa bez odpowiedniej wrażliwości, dokładności i uwagi ze strony badającego lekarza