Adrenergic and myogenic regulation of viscoelasticity in the vascular bed of the human forearm

This study tested the hypothesis that the compliance (C) and viscoelasticity (K) of the forearm vascular bed are controlled by myogenic and/or α-adrenergic receptor (αAR) activation. Heart rate (HR) and waveforms of brachial artery blood pressure (Finometer) and forearm blood flow (Doppler ultrasound) were measured in baseline conditions and during infusion of noradrenaline (NA; αAR agonist), with and without phentolamine (αAR antagonist; n= 10; 6 men and 4 women). These baseline and αAR-agonist-based measures were repeated when the arm was positioned above or below the heart to modify the myogenic stimulus. A lumped Windkessel model was used to quantify the values of forearm C and K in each set of conditions. Baseline forearm C was inversely, and K directly, related to the myogenic load (P \u3c 0.001). Compared with saline infusion, C was increased, but K was unaffected, with phentolanine, but only in the \u27above\u27 position. Compliance was reduced (P \u3c 0.001) and K increased (P= 0.06) with NA infusion (main effects of NA) across arm positions; phentolamine minimized these NA-induced changes in C and K for both arm positions. Examination of conditions with and without NA infusion at similar forearm intravascular pressures indicated that the NA-induced changes in C and K were due largely to the concurrent changes in blood pressure. Therefore, within the range of arm positions used, it was concluded that vascular stiffness and vessel wall viscoelastic properties are acutely affected by myogenic stimuli. Additionally, forearm vascular compliance is sensitive to baseline levels of αAR activation when transmural pressure is low. © 2011 The Physiological Society

Expression of insulin pathway genes during the period of caste determination in the honey bee, Apis mellifera

Female honeybees have two castes, queens and workers. Developmental fate is determined by larval diet. Coding sequences made available through the Honey Bee Genome Sequencing Consortium allow for a pathway-based approach to understanding caste determination. We examined the expression of several genes of the insulin signalling pathway, which is central to regulation of growth based on nutrition. We found one insulin-like peptide expressed at very high levels in queen but not worker larvae. Also, the gene for an insulin receptor was expressed at higher levels in queen larvae during the 2nd larval instar. These results demonstrate that the insulin pathway is a compelling candidate for pursing the relationship between diet and downstream signals involved in caste determination and differentiation

About the possibility of the type broadband channel signal aplication with linear frequency modulation in multichannel systems of satellite communication

They consider the expediency of one class of broadband channel signal application created on the basis of intrapulse phase modulation according to the pseudo-random sequence (PRS) of a linear-frequency-modulated (LFM) radio pulse in multi-channel satellite communication systems with the code division of the frequency-time resources of a communication channel. In the framework of this paper, the uncertainty functions (UF) and the mutual uncertainty functions (MUF) of the proposed class of signals are studied in order to evaluate the effect of the Doppler frequency shift on its noise immunity and the dimension of an ensemble volume concerning weakly correlated forms of this signa

Familial Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Retrospective Analysis

Background. Whether or not the familial form of papillary thyroid carcinoma is more aggressive than the sporadic form of the disease remains controversial. Methods. To explore this question and whether or not increased aggressiveness is more apparent in families with multiple affected members, we performed a chi square by trend analysis on our patients clinical and pathologic data comparing: first degree families with three or more affected members versus first degree families with two affected members versus sporadic cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Results. No statistically significant trends were seen for any presenting surgical pathology parameter, age at presentation, length of follow-up or gender distribution. The familial groups exhibited significant trends for higher rates of reoperation (P = 0.05) and/or requiring additional radioactive iodine therapy (P = 0.03), distant metastases (P = 0.003) and deaths (P = 0.01). These aggressive features were most apparent in certain families with three or more affected members. Conclusions. Using the chi square by trend analysis, a significant trend was seen for the familial form of papillary thyroid cancer to possess more aggressive features than the sporadic disease. Prompt recognition of the familial nature of the disease may provide earlier diagnosis and treatment in similarly affected family members

On the evaluation of noise immunity of different classes of wideband signals

The current stage of the development of the society is characterized by a continuous increase in remote interaction between subscribers and user requests for various types of multiservice services, with the required quality regardless of their location. This is mainly implemented on the basis of wireless communication systems (SBS) at the current tim

Выявление факторов риска регионарного метастазирования дифференцированного рака щитовидной железы

Diagnostic difficulties of regional metastases, especially lesion of the central neck, is the main problem with choosing the type of surgical intervention for patients with differentiated thyroid cancer diagnosis. The frequency of differentiated thyroid cancer regional metastasis to the neck lymph nodes is about 60 %. This article includes the search and identification of risk factors of differentiated thyroid cancer regional metastases, as well as a review of the literature on this problem. We have analyzed the results of surgical treatment of patients with papillary thyroid cancer of Stage I–III (T1–4aN0–1bM0) who underwent surgical treatment at the St. Petersburg State Healthcare Institution «City Clinical Oncology Center» in 2018–2019. As a result of the study, the data revealed a relationship between regional metastases and intrathyroid vascular invasion of the primary tumor (p < 0.05), while multifocality, extrathyroid extension and the incidence of BRAF mutation have not demonstrated this correlation (p > 0.05). After the surgical treatment we should focus on the presence of vascular invasion and, if it is detected, perform final thyroidectomy and central lymph node dissection with subsequent radioiodine therapy.Трудность диагностики регионарных метастазов, особенно при поражении центрального уровня шеи, представляет основную проблему выбора объема хирургического вмешательства у пациентов с диагнозом дифференцированного рака щитовидной железы (РЩЖ). Частота регионарного метастазирования дифференцированного РЩЖ в лимфатические узлы шеи составляет в среднем 60 %. В статье описан процесс поиска факторов риска регионарного метастазирования дифференцированного рака щитовидной железы, а также дан обзор литературы по данной проблеме. Были проанализированы результаты хирургического лечения пациентов с морфологическим диагнозом папиллярного РЩЖ I–III стадии T1–4aN0–1bM0, которым было проведено хирургическое лечение в СПБ ГБУЗ «Городской клинический онкологический диспансер» Минздрава России в период с 2018 по 2019 гг. Согласно полученным в результате исследования данным выявлена связь регионального метастазирования с интратиреоидной сосудистой инвазией первичной опухоли (p < 0,05), тогда как многофокусность, экcтратиреоидное распространение и наличие BRAF-мутации данной корреляции не продемонстрировали (p > 0,05). После выполненного хирургического лечения у пациентов с дифференцированным РЩЖ при оценке послеоперационного гистологического материала следует акцентировать внимание на наличии интратиреоидной сосудистой инвазии первичной опухоли и при её обнаружении расширять объём лечения и выполнять завершающую тиреоидэктомию с лимфодиссекцией и последующей радиойодтерапией

Primjena tehnologije rekombinantne DNA za pripravke kolinesteraza kao antidota i detektora organofosfata

To develop new avenues for synthesizing novel antidotes for organophosphate poisoning and for detection of the organophosphates, we have turned to recombinant DNA methods to synthesize cholinesterases with unusual properties. For antidotal therapy we describe mutations of the native mouse and human enzymes that allow for enhanced rates of oxime reactivation. Such enzymes, when localized in the circulation, would enable the circulating cholinesterase to become a catalytic rather than simply a stoichiometric scavenger. Hence, “oxime-assisted catalysis” provides a means for scavenging the organophosphates in the circulation thereby minimizing their tissue penetration and toxicity. Accordingly, the oxime antidote or prophylactic agent has a dual action within the circulation and at the tissue level. Second, through a novel chemistry, termed freeze-frame, click chemistry, we have used organophosphate conjugates of acetylcholinesterase as templates for the synthesis of novel nucleophilic reactivating agents. Finally, acetylcholinesterase can be modified through cysteine substitution mutagenesis and attachment of fluorophores at the substitution positions. When linked at certain locations in the molecule, the attached fluorophore is sensitive to organophosphate conjugation with acetylcholinesterase, and thus the very target of insecticide or nerve agent action becomes a detection molecule for organophosphate exposure.Razvijajući novi pristup sintezi antidota pri otrovanju organofosfatima kao i njihovu detekciju, primijenili smo metode rekombinantne DNA za pripremu kolinesteraza s neuobičajenim svojstvima. Za antidotsku terapiju istražili smo mutacije prirodnih enzima miša i čovjeka koje povećavaju brzine reaktivacije oksimom. Takvi enzimi bi po unosu u cirkulaciju postali katalitički, a ne samo stehiometrijski odstranjivači organofosfata. Na taj način “oksimom potpomognuta kataliza” omogućava čišćenje organofosfata iz cirkulacije umanjujući prodiranje organofosfata u tkiva i njihovu toksičnost. Prema tome, oksim kao antidot ima dvojaku ulogu: u cirkulaciji i na razini tkiva. S druge strane, uporabom novog sintetskog pristupa u oblikovanju biološki aktivnih spojeva poznatog kao “klik kemija” diskretnih proteinskih konformacija, organofosforilirani konjugati acetilkolinesteraze služe kao kalup u sintezi novih nukleofilnih reaktivatora. Naposljetku, acetilkolinesteraza se može mutagenezom modificirati uvo|enjem cisteina na koje se mogu vezati fluorofori. Fluorofori uvedeni na određena mjesta u molekuli acetilkolinesteraze mijenjaju svoja fluorescentna svojstva pri konjugaciji organofosfata s enzimom koji na taj način od objekta djelovanja insekticida i živčanih bojnih otrova postaje molekula za detekciju izloženosti organofosfatima

Transcript levels of ten caste-related genes in adult diploid males of Melipona quadrifasciata (Hymenoptera, Apidae) - A comparison with haploid males, queens and workers

In Hymenoptera, homozygosity at the sex locus results in the production of diploid males. In social species, these pose a double burden by having low fitness and drawing resources normally spent for increasing the work force of a colony. Yet, diploid males are of academic interest as they can elucidate effects of ploidy (normal males are haploid, whereas the female castes, the queens and workers, are diploid) on morphology and life history. Herein we investigated expression levels of ten caste-related genes in the stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata, comparing newly emerged and 5-day-old diploid males with haploid males, queens and workers. In diploid males, transcript levels for dunce and paramyosin were increased during the first five days of adult life, while those for diacylglycerol kinase and the transcriptional co-repressor groucho diminished. Two general trends were apparent, (i) gene expression patterns in diploid males were overall more similar to haploid ones and workers than to queens, and (ii) in queens and workers, more genes were up-regulated after emergence until day five, whereas in diploid and especially so in haploid males more genes were down-regulated. This difference between the sexes may be related to longevity, which is much longer in females than in males

Sequence and expression pattern of the germ line marker vasa in honey bees and stingless bees

Queens and workers of social insects differ in the rates of egg laying. Using genomic information we determined the sequence of vasa, a highly conserved gene specific to the germ line of metazoans, for the honey bee and four stingless bees. The vasa sequence of social bees differed from that of other insects in two motifs. By RT-PCR we confirmed the germ line specificity of Amvasa expression in honey bees. In situ hybridization on ovarioles showed that Amvasa is expressed throughout the germarium, except for the transition zone beneath the terminal filament. A diffuse vasa signal was also seen in terminal filaments suggesting the presence of germ line cells. Oocytes showed elevated levels of Amvasa transcripts in the lower germarium and after follicles became segregated. In previtellogenic follicles, Amvasa transcription was detected in the trophocytes, which appear to supply its mRNA to the growing oocyte. A similar picture was obtained for ovarioles of the stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata, except that Amvasa expression was higher in the oocytes of previtellogenic follicles. The social bees differ in this respect from Drosophila, the model system for insect oogenesis, suggesting that changes in the sequence and expression pattern of vasa may have occurred during social evolution