Prioritization of biological processes based on the reconstruction and analysis of associative gene networks describing the response of plants to adverse environmental factors

Methods for prioritizing or ranking candidate genes according to their importance based on specific criteria via the analysis of gene networks are widely used in biomedicine to search for genes associated with diseases and to predict biomarkers, pharmacological targets and other clinically relevant molecules. These methods have also been used in other fields, particularly in crop production. This is largely due to the development of technologies to solve problems in marker-oriented and genomic selection, which requires knowledge of the molecular genetic mechanisms underlying the formation of agriculturally valuable traits. A new direction for the study of molecular genetic mechanisms is the prioritization of biological processes based on the analysis of associative gene networks. Associative gene networks are heterogeneous networks whose vertices can depict both molecular genetic objects (genes, proteins, me tabolites, etc.) and the higher-level factors (biological processes, diseases, external environmental factors, etc.) related to regulatory, physicochemical or associative interactions. Using a previously developed method, biological processes involved in plant responses to increased cadmium content, saline stress and drought conditions were prioritized according to their degree of connection with the gene networks in the SOLANUM TUBEROSUM knowledge base. The prioritization results indicate that fundamental processes, such as gene expression, post-translational modifications, protein degradation, programmed cell death, photosynthesis, signal transmission and stress response play important roles in the common molecular genetic mechanisms for plant response to various adverse factors. On the other hand, a group of processes related to the development of seeds (“seeding development”) was revealed to be drought specific, while processes associated with ion transport (“ion transport”) were included in the list of responses specific to salt stress and processes associated with the metabolism of lipids were found to be involved specifically in the response to cadmium

Systems biology analysis of the WOX5 gene and its functions in the root stem cell niche

WUSCHEL RELATED HOMEOBOX 5 (WOX5) gene encodes the transcription factor, which is one of the key regulators, maintaining structure and functioning of the stem cell niche in plant root tips. Protein WOX5 is expressed in the quiescent center of the root apical meristem, preventing differentiation of columella initials and altogether with SCR, SHR, PLT1 and PLT2 participating in the control of differentiation of other root meristem initials. However, the details of WOX5 functioning are unclear. The WOX5 protein belongs to WUSCHEL related homeobox (WOX) family, the founder of which is the transcription factor WUSCHEL (WUS) providing maintenance of the stem cell niche in the shoot apical meristem. WOX5 and WUS diverged from a common ancestor at the base of angiosperms, which resulted in a specialization of shoot and root stem cell niches. However, the problem of WOX5 structural and functional divergence during angiosperm evolution was poorly addressed. In this review we present a systems biology analysis of the WOX5 gene to reveal specific features of its evolution and functioning. To this end, we performed a phylogenetic analysis on 62 publicly available WOX5 amino acid sequences, generalized published data about WOX5 expression domain in Arabidopsis and other species and its role in development, integrated the results of experiments on identification of primary and secondary targets for this transcription factor. Data on possible mechanisms of direct and indirect regulation of WOX5 expression were discussed. Particularly, we performed the analysis of WOX5 promoter regions from 30 species. Possible direct regulators of the WOX5 gene expression were proposed based on the presence of putative binding sites for the candidate transcription factors in conserved WOX5 promoter regions

How Does Bilingualism Affect the Volume of Vocabulary in Senior Preschoolers?

Рассматривается влияние билингвизма на развитие активного и пассивного словарного запаса у детей старшего дошкольного возраста. Выборку составили 218 детей (средний возраст — 78,7 мес., SD — 5,87), живущих в Республике Саха (Якутия), из которых русскоязычных монолингвов 137 чел., якутско-русских билингвов — 81 чел. (на основании опроса воспитателей). Было выявлено, что билингвизм является негативным фактором для развития как пассивного словаря ребенка, так и его вербальной беглости. Однако благодаря развитию регуляторных функций этот негативный эффект может быть преодолен.The authors examine the influence of bilingualism on the development of active and passive vocabulary in senior preschool children. The sample consisted of 218 children (average age — 78,7 months, SD — 5,87) living in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), of which 137 are Russian-speaking monolinguals, 81 are Yakut-Russian bilinguals (based on a questionnaire of educators). It was found that bilingualism is a negative factor for the development of both a child’s passive vocabulary and his/her verbal fluency. However, due to the development of regulatory functions, this negative effect can be overcome.Исследование поддержано грантом РНФ № 21‑18‑00581

Hypertensive crisis as cerebrovascular disease risk factor

Objective. To assess main epidemiological indicators for hypertensive crises (HC) in the population of productive age and to study possible correlations of crisis associated arterial hypertension (AH) with clinical and instrumental phenomenon of chronic cerebrovascular diseases. Materials and methods. Data of several studies presented: cross-sectional studies of 726 people aged 35-64 and 415 people aged 40-59. Observational cohort study of 109 patients aged 57.4±5.8 with uncomplicated AH. For the detection of HC in anamnesis, there were used special criteria which widens standard HC definition for additional account of light and mild severity cases. Results. Overall AH prevalence was 45% (95% CI 41-51), in men - 48% (40.2-55.9), in women - 45% (38.4-51.6). History of HC in anamnesis was 11.8% (95% CI 9-15.2), in men 8.8% (5.4-14) and in women - 13.8% (10-18.7). Proportion of HC associated AH defined at the level of 25-30% of all AH cases. The most prevalence of HC associated AH was found in people with “high normal” (130-139/85-89) arterial pressure - 37%. Prevalence of the complaints on headaches, dizziness, poor memory and lower intellectual productivity was higher in people with HC. Chronic cerebrovascular disease was found 2-fold frequently in HC associated AH. But in generally analysis of possible correlations of HC with clinical and instrumental phenomenon of chronic cerebrovascular diseases didn’t revealed any statistically significant differences. Conclusion. HC burden for healthcare system is serious, because it is important risk factor for cerebrovascular diseases and associated with significant lowering of the quality of life. Prevalence of the HC cases with light and mild severity is underestimated. Despite that the study of the most prevalent forms of HC (rare, light and mild severity) didn’t find any associations with morphological or persistent clinical pathology, functional phenomenon were found statistically significant frequently

Children’s Speech Development at the Age of 5–6 Years Old: A Longitudinal Study

Our longitudinal study is devoted to the study of the mutual influence of speech development and regulatory functions in children aged 5–7 years. It has been shown that the relationship between the development of regulatory functions and speech exists, but remains different for various aspects of both regulatory functions and speech. In general, it can be argued that in the case of an improvement in regulatory functions in the period of 5–6 years, the child’s performance of speech tasks improves. The data obtained allow a new approach to the development of children 5–6 years old and create complex methods for both the development of speech and regulatory functions.Представленное лонгитюдное исследование посвящено изучению взаимного влияния развития речи и регуляторных функций у детей в возрасте 5–7 лет. Показано, что связь между развитием регулятор‑ ных функций и речи существует, однако выражена в разной степени для различных аспектов как регуляторных функций, так и речи. В целом можно утверждать, что в случае улучшения регуляторных функций в период 5–6 лет у ребенка улучшается выполнение заданий на развитие речи. Полученные данные позволяют по-новому подойти к проблеме развития детей 5–6 лет и создавать комплексные методики развития речи и регуляторных функций.Работа выполнена при поддержке гранта РФФИ № 17-29-09112

The prevalence of electrocardiographic abnormalities in the Russian population in the early 21st century (the ESSE-RF study)

Electrocardiography (ECG) takes the lead in assessing the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in the population. ECG disorders, grouped in the Major (certain) and Minor (possible) categories, are prognostic markers of a high risk of cardiovascular diseases and sudden cardiac death. Unified assessing methods of ECG disorders prevalence and their associations with socio-demographic parameters have not previously been made in Russia.Aim. To study the prevalence of ECG parameters of certain and possible coronary artery disease among population of Russia, depending on the socio-demographic characteristics — age, sex, education and place of residence (city or country).Material and methods. We used 17504 ECGs from representative samples of population (25-64 years old), who participated in the epidemiological study “Epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors in the Russian Federation”. The analysis using Minnesota code was carried out among men and women of four age groups, two educational levels, among citizens and countrymen.Results. The highest prevalence was observed in the “Certain” (5,7%) and “Possible signs of CAD” (7,1%) categories, in the “Certain” (3,8%) and “Possible myocardial ischemia” groups (4,9%), the smallest is in the “Rhythm and conduction disorder” (0,7%) and “STT changes in left ventricular hypertrophy” (0,4%) groups. It was shown that the frequency of ECG disorders increases with age, has an sharp increase after 55 years, regardless of sex. In the age dynamics of categories, STT changes and atrial fibrillation have a decrease of gender differences. All groups of ECG disorders are detected more often among men than women, except for STT changes. With an increase in the level of education, the frequency of ECG pathologies decreases, with the exception of the groups of “major” and “minor Q (QS)”, “major rhythm and conduction disorders”. The prevalence of most ECG disorders does not depend on the place of residence. However, signs of major myocardial ischemia in men are more common in country than in the city (3,9% vs. 2,7%, p<0,05).Conclusion. The results confirm the patterns identified earlier. There is a steady association of ECG data with socio-demographic characteristics

Chitosan Hydrogel Improves Bioavailability of Megosin

The aim of this study was to obtain chitosan hydrogels containing megosin, an antiviral medicinal substance, to prolong its bioavailability. Megosin as an immunomodulating agent possesses at least twice higher virostatic and virucidal activities than gossypol, the megosin precursor, and other imine derivatives of gossypol

Three-dimensional growth of breast cancer cells potentiates the anti-tumor effects of unacylated ghrelin and AZP-531

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women and notwithstanding important therapeutic advances, remains the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Despite extensive research relating to the hormone ghrelin, responsible for the stimulation of growth hormone release and appetite, little is known of the effects of its unacylated form, especially in cancer. The present study aimed to characterize effects of unacylated ghrelin on breast cancer cells, define its mechanism of action, and explore the therapeutic potential of unacylated ghrelin or analog AZP-531. We report potent anti-tumor effects of unacylated ghrelin, dependent on cells being cultured in 3D in a biologically-relevant extracellular matrix. The mechanism of unacylated ghrelin-mediated growth inhibition involves activation of Gαi and suppression of MAPK signaling. AZP-531 also suppresses the growth of breast cancer cells in vitro and in xenografts, and may be a novel approach for the safe and effective treatment of breast cancer