Effect of elevated NaCl concentration to the photosynthesis and activity of catalase in Dunaliella salina cells

Исследовано влияние повышение концентрации NaCl (от 0,5 до 4,0 м) на пигментный состав, кислородный обмен и активность каталазы клеток зеленой водоросли Dunaliella salina. Установлено оптимальную концентрацию NaCl (2,0 М), при которой отмечено интенсивное биосинтез зеленых пигментов и функционирования фотосинтетического аппарата. При повышенных концентрациях NaCl (3,0 и 4,0 м) растет активность каталазы в 5,8 раза в пересчете на 1 мг белка по сравнению с контролем, что составляло 0,5703 мкмоль / мин. на мг белка. Активность каталазы может быть использована как показатель устойчивости клеток водоросли в условиях солевого стрессаДосліджено вплив підвищення концентрації NaCl (від 0,5 до 4,0 М) на пігментний склад, кисневий обмін і активність каталази клітин зеленої водорості Dunaliella salina. Встановлено оптимальну концентрацію NaCl (2,0 М), за якої відмічено інтенсивний біосинтез зелених пігментів і функціонування фотосинтетичного апарату. При підвищених концентраціях NaCl (3,0 та 4,0 М) зростає активність каталази у 5,8 раза у перерахунку на 1 мг білка порівняно з контролем, що становило 0,5703 мкмоль/хв. на мг білка. Активність каталази може бути використана як показник стійкості клітин водорості до умов сольового стресуThe effect of elevated NaCl concentration (from 0.5 to 4.0 M) to the pigment content, O2 exchange and activities of some oxidative stress enzymes in the green alga Dunaliella salina was investigated. The optimum NaCl concentration (2.0 M) for the intensive biosynthesis of green pigments and function of the photosynthetic apparatus were established. The catalase activity increased up to 5.8 times and reached 0.5703 µmol min-1mg-1protein after 7 days of exposure to high salt concentration (3.0 and 4.0 M). The activity of catalase can be used as an indicator of alga cells’ resistance to salinity stress

Modulation of endogenous antioxidant defense and the progression of kidney disease in multi-heritage groups of patients with type 2 diabetes: PRospective EValuation of Early Nephropathy and its Treatment (PREVENT).

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is the western world's leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Glucose-dependent, oxidative stress is linked to the development of renal inflammation and sclerosis, which, in animal models of diabetes, can be prevented by anti-oxidative treatment. Patients of non-Caucasian heritage have low activity of the selenoprotein, antioxidant enzyme, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and its co-factor vitamin E, which may be linked to their increased propensity to developing end-stage renal disease. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We have designed a double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled study with selenium and/or vitamin E versus placebo as the interventions for patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 1-3. A 2 × 2 factorial design will allow a balanced representation of the heritage groups exposed to each intervention. The primary biochemical outcome is change in GPx activity, and clinical outcome measure is the actual, rate of-and/or percentage change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from baseline. Analysis will be with a marginal model for longitudinal data using Generalized Estimating Equations corrected for measures of baseline serum antioxidant enzyme activities (GPx, superoxide dismutase and catalase), micronutrient levels (vitamins E and C), measures of inflammation (interleukin 6, c-reactive protein and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) and markers of oxidative damage (plasma 8-isoprostaglandin F2α and urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine). EXPECTED RESULTS: The study will assess the relationship between GPx activity, oxidative stress, inflammation and eGFR. It will test the null hypothesis that antioxidant therapy does not influence the activity of GPx or other antioxidant enzymes and/or alter the rate of change in eGFR in these patient groups. CONCLUSIONS: Outcome data on the effect of antioxidants in human diabetic renal disease is limited. Previous post hoc analyses have not shown a beneficial effect of vitamin E on renal function. A recent trial of a pharmaceutical antioxidant agent, improved eGFR, but in patients with advanced diabetes-related chronic kidney disease its use was associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular events. We will explore whether the nutritional antioxidants, vitamin E and selenium alone, or in combination in patients at high risk of renal disease progression, forestalls a reduction in eGFR. The study will describe whether endogenous antioxidant enzyme defenses can be safely modified by this intervention and how this is associated with changes in markers of oxidative stress. Trial registration ISRCTN 97358113. Registered 21st September 2009

From ‘Unilateral’ to ‘Dialogical’: Determinants of EU–Azerbaijan Negotiations

The European Union (EU) and Azerbaijan have negotiated three different agreements for a new legal basis underpinning their relationship since 2010. Whereas the EU tries to adhere to a more unilateral approach, Azerbaijan wants cooperation to take place on a more inclusive, dialogical, basis. The essay will present a model of ‘bargaining power’ to analyse how the Azerbaijani government has tried to enforce this, and to what degree it has been successful. It finds that the bargaining power model can explain some of the changing power dynamics in EU–Azerbaijan relations, and that these might speak to the broader Eurasian region too

Ethnic minority disparities in progression and mortality of pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease : a systematic scoping review

Background: There are a growing number of studies on ethnic differences in progression and mortality for pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD), but this literature has yet to be synthesised, particularly for studies on mortality. Methods: This scoping review synthesized existing literature on ethnic differences in progression and mortality for adults with pre-dialysis CKD, explored factors contributing to these differences, and identified gaps in the literature. A comprehensive search strategy using search terms for ethnicity and CKD was taken to identify potentially relevant studies. Nine databases were searched from 1992 to June 2017, with an updated search in February 2020. Results: 8059 articles were identified and screened. Fifty-five studies (2 systematic review, 7 non-systematic reviews, and 46 individual studies) were included in this review. Most were US studies and compared African-American/Afro-Caribbean and Caucasian populations, and fewer studies assessed outcomes for Hispanics and Asians. Most studies reported higher risk of CKD progression in Afro-Caribbean/African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asians, lower risk of mortality for Asians, and mixed findings on risk of mortality for Afro-Caribbean/African-Americans and Hispanics, compared to Caucasians. Biological factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease contributed to increased risk of progression for ethnic minorities but did not increase risk of mortality in these groups. Conclusions: Higher rates of renal replacement therapy among ethnic minorities may be partly due to increased risk of progression and reduced mortality in these groups. The review identifies gaps in the literature and highlights a need for a more structured approach by researchers that would allow higher confidence in single studies and better harmonization of data across studies to advance our understanding of CKD progression and mortality

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Policy Strategies and the European Union: Successful resistance and pursued influence

In recent years, Azerbaijan has positioned itself on the international scene as an increasingly important and assertive actor. This essay focuses on Azerbaijan’s relations with the European Union (EU). It will identify the policy strategies used by Azerbaijan to engage with the EU in two areas where their interests and objectives do not align, namely democracy and human rights promotion policies, and agenda-setting of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The essay highlights, first, the relevance of national independence, ‘balancing’ and regime legitimacy in explaining Azerbaijan’s foreign policy strategies, and second, the mixed track record of Azerbaijan’s assertiveness, with different outcomes depending on whether the policy strategies are reactive or proactive

LEGAL AUTONOMY VS. POLITICAL POWER: WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE IN THE EUROPEAN INTEGRATION?

The European Court of Justice, founded as one of the main institutions of the European Union, has greatly contributed to further deepen the integration process. At the same time, the ECJ is one of the most controversial institutions. The article strives to present the role of the Court of Justice within the European architecture, analysing the debate between the two most important theoretical frameworks in the field: the legal autonomy approach and the political power approach