Mechanism of action of probiotics

The modern diet doesn't provide the required amount of beneficial bacteria. Maintenance of a proper microbial ecology in the host is the main criteria to be met for a healthy growth. Probiotics are one such alternative that are supplemented to the host where by and large species of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Saccharomyces are considered as main probiotics. The field of probiotics has made stupendous strides though there is no major break through in the identification of their mechanism of action. They exert their activity primarily by strengthening the intestinal barrier and immunomodulation. The main objective of the study was to provide a deep insight into the effect of probiotics against the diseases, their applications and proposed mechanism of action

Semiochemical-based alternatives to synthetic toxicant insecticides for pollen beetle management

There is an urgent need to develop sustainable pest management systems to protect arable crops in order to replace the current over-reliance on synthetic insecticides. Semiochemicals are insect- or plant-derived chemicals that are used by organisms as information signals. Integrated pest management tools are currently in development that utilise semiochemicals to manipulate the behaviour of pest insects and their natural enemies to provide effective control of pests within the crop. These innovative tools usually require fewer inputs and can involve multiple elements therefore reducing the likelihood of resistance developing compared with use of synthetic toxicants. We review here the life cycle of the pollen beetle Brassicogethes aeneus (previously known as Meligethes aeneus) which is a pest insect of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and describe the current knowledge of any behaviour mediated by semiochemicals in this species. We discuss the behavioural processes where semiochemical-based control approaches may be appropriate and consider how these approaches could be integrated into an integrated pest management strategy for this important arable crop

Antiinflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease

Background: Experimental and clinical data suggest that reducing inflammation without affecting lipid levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis has remained unproved. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of canakinumab, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β, involving 10,061 patients with previous myocardial infarction and a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level of 2 mg or more per liter. The trial compared three doses of canakinumab (50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg, administered subcutaneously every 3 months) with placebo. The primary efficacy end point was nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: At 48 months, the median reduction from baseline in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was 26 percentage points greater in the group that received the 50-mg dose of canakinumab, 37 percentage points greater in the 150-mg group, and 41 percentage points greater in the 300-mg group than in the placebo group. Canakinumab did not reduce lipid levels from baseline. At a median follow-up of 3.7 years, the incidence rate for the primary end point was 4.50 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group, 4.11 events per 100 person-years in the 50-mg group, 3.86 events per 100 person-years in the 150-mg group, and 3.90 events per 100 person-years in the 300-mg group. The hazard ratios as compared with placebo were as follows: in the 50-mg group, 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.07; P = 0.30); in the 150-mg group, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.98; P = 0.021); and in the 300-mg group, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; P = 0.031). The 150-mg dose, but not the other doses, met the prespecified multiplicity-adjusted threshold for statistical significance for the primary end point and the secondary end point that additionally included hospitalization for unstable angina that led to urgent revascularization (hazard ratio vs. placebo, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.95; P = 0.005). Canakinumab was associated with a higher incidence of fatal infection than was placebo. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio for all canakinumab doses vs. placebo, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.06; P = 0.31). Conclusions: Antiinflammatory therapy targeting the interleukin-1β innate immunity pathway with canakinumab at a dose of 150 mg every 3 months led to a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events than placebo, independent of lipid-level lowering. (Funded by Novartis; CANTOS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01327846.

ATP13A3 is a major component of the enigmatic mammalian polyamine transport system

Polyamines, such as putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, are physiologically important polycations, but the transporters responsible for their uptake in mammalian cells remain poorly characterized. Here, we reveal a new component of the mammalian polyamine transport system using CHO-MG cells, a widely used model to study alternative polyamine uptake routes and characterize polyamine transport inhibitors for therapy. CHO-MG cells present polyamine uptake deficiency and resistance to a toxic polyamine biosynthesis inhibitor methylglyoxal bis-(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG), but the molecular defects responsible for these cellular characteristics remain unknown. By genome sequencing of CHO-MG cells, we identified mutations in an unexplored gene, ATP13A3, and found disturbed mRNA and protein expression. ATP13A3 encodes for an orphan P5B-ATPase (ATP13A3), a P-type transport ATPase that represents a candidate polyamine transporter. Interestingly, ATP13A3 complemented the putrescine transport deficiency and MGBG resistance of CHO-MG cells, whereas its knockdown in WT cells induced a CHO-MG phenotype demonstrated as a decrease in putrescine uptake and MGBG sensitivity. Taken together, our findings identify ATP13A3, which has been previously genetically linked with pulmonary arterial hypertension, as a major component of the mammalian polyamine transport system that confers sensitivity to MGBG

Optimization of the Composition of Cobalt Catalyst in the Process of Producing Propylpropionate from Ethylene

В данной работе представлено исследование, направленное на оптимизацию состава каталитического комплекса на основе Co2(CO)8: промотор для реакции карбоалкоксилирования этилена с целью максимизации выхода и чистоты пропилпропионата. В качестве промоторов были использованы: пиридин, диметиланилин, триэтиламин и диметиламинопиридин. Выявлено, что наилучшей каталитической активностью обладают каталитические комплексы на основе пиридина и диметиламинопиридина. Использование данных промоторов позволяет достигнуть 97 % конверсии этилена при селективности по целевому продукту – 95 и 90 % для пиридина и диметиламинопиридина соответственно. Установлено, что для каталитического комплекса Co2(CO)8: пиридин добавление водорода в реакционную среду приводит к увеличению выхода целевого продукта, в то время как для комплекса Co2(CO)8: диметиламинопиридин наблюдается обратный эффект. Кроме того, было определено оптимальное соотношение для каталитического комплекса Co2(CO)8: диметиламинопиридин, которое составляет 14:1, что позволяет достигнуть конверсии 93 % при селективности по пропилпропионату 94 %This paper presents a study aimed at optimizing the composition of a Co2(CO)8: promoter catalytic complex for the ethylene carboalkoxylation reaction in order to maximize the yield and purity of propyl propionate. The following promoters were used: pyridine, dimethylaniline, triethylamine and dimethylaminopyridine. It was found that pyridine and dimethylaminopyridine have the highest catalytic activity. The use of these promoters makes it possible to achieve ethylene conversion of up to 97 % with selectivity for the target product equal to 95 % for pyridine and 90 % for dimethylaminopyridine. It was also found that for the catalytic system Co2(CO)8: pyridine the addition of hydrogen to the reaction stock leads to an increase in the target product yield, while for the catalytic system Co2(CO)8: dimethylaminopyridine, this activity leads to the opposite effect. In addition, the optimal ratio of the catalytic system Co2(CO)8: dimethylaminopyridine was determined to be 14:1. This ratio allows achieving a conversion of 94 % and selectivity for propyl propionate of 93

Thermal acclimation increases the stability of a predator-prey interaction in warmer environments.

Global warming over the next century is likely to alter the energy demands of consumers and thus the strengths of their interactions with their resources. The subsequent cascading effects on population biomasses could have profound effects on food web stability. One key mechanism by which organisms can cope with a changing environment is phenotypic plasticity, such as acclimation to warmer conditions through reversible changes in their physiology. Here, we measured metabolic rates and functional responses in laboratory experiments for a widespread predator-prey pair of freshwater invertebrates, sampled from across a natural stream temperature gradient in Iceland (4-18℃). This enabled us to parameterize a Rosenzweig-MacArthur population dynamical model to study the effect of thermal acclimation on the persistence of the predator-prey pairs in response to warming. Acclimation to higher temperatures either had neutral effects or reduced the thermal sensitivity of both metabolic and feeding rates for the predator, increasing its energetic efficiency. This resulted in greater stability of population dynamics, as acclimation to higher temperatures increased the biomass of both predator and prey populations with warming. These findings indicate that phenotypic plasticity can act as a buffer against the impacts of environmental warming. As a consequence, predator-prey interactions between ectotherms may be less sensitive to future warming than previously expected, but this requires further investigation across a broader range of interacting species

MECHANISM FOR IMPLEMENTING THE NEW «ASIAN POLICY» 
 OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS IN THE 
 CONTEXT OF GLOBAL POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INSTABILITY

The article considers the main directions and problems of Russia's foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific Region and South-East Asia within the framework of the concept of advanced development of the Russian Far East, building an economy in the Far East focused on exporting goods and services to Asian markets through the implementation of investment projects. The article analyzes the effectiveness of the implementation of Asian foreign policy through cooperation in the main integration structures in the conditions of global political and economic instability.</jats:p