Investigation of the proteolytic activity of liver trematodes in goats of Khizi-Khachmaz zone of Azerbaijan

The article presents experimental data on the detection of proteolytic activity of liver trematodes in the goats of Khizi-Khachmaz zone of Azerbaijan in different seasons of the year. Determination of the enzymatic activity was carried out spectrophotometrically using a Folin reagent on a Specol 1500 spectrophotometer (Analitik Jena). The maximum peak of intensity of proteolytic activity of trematodes isolated from goat liver was detected. The maximum value of the enzyme activity was reached in March equal to 170 μg of tyrosine per gram of wet weight of the helminth, and the minimum in June reaching 70 μg of tyrosine per gram of wet weight of the helminth

ПОСЛЕДСТВИЯ ПРЕДПОСЕВНОГО ВОЗДЕЙСТВИЯ НИЗКИХ И ПЕРЕМЕННЫХ ТЕМПЕРАТУР НА СЕМЕНА МОРКОВИ И РЕДИСА

The study of the dynamics of plant growth and yield of vegetable crops (carrot variety Absheron winter (Daucus carota subsp. sativus (Hoffm.) Schьbl.) and radish variety Virovsky white (Raphanus sativus var.radicula Pers.)) was conducted in the field conditions after presowing exposure to different temperatures: I option – sowing of seeds exposed to low temperatures (for 15 days the swollen for 24 hours seeds were kept at a temperature of 0±1°С); Option II - sowing of seeds exposed to variable temperatures (for 5 days, the swollen for 24 hours seeds were exposed to variable temperatures of + 20°C (8 hours) and 0±1°C (16 hours) and then 10 days at a temperature of 0±1°C; K1 – sowing dry seeds; K2 – sowing soaked seeds. The impact on the seeds of low and variable temperatures caused an increase in growth processes, both in radish and carrot. Both studied crops showed a tendency to increase the yield to a greater extent when exposed to swollen seeds with variable temperatures. Thus, the average weight of radish crops exceeded the control variant by 47.1% and carrots by 27.6%. The yield of root crops per m2 increased by 36.4% for radish and 30.0% for carrot. To increase the productivity of vegetable crops, we recommend using the studied methods of pre-sowing seed treatment in practice.Изучение динамики роста растений и урожайности овощных культур: местного сорта моркови столовой – Апшеронская зимняя (Daucus carota subsp. sativus (Hoffm.) Schьbl.) и сорта редиса посевного – Вировский белый (Raphanus sativus var. radicula Pers.)) в полевых условиях проводили после предпосевного воздействия разных температур: I вариант – посев семян, подвергнутых действию низких температур (набухшие за 24 часа семена содержали при температуре 0±1°С в течение 15 суток); II вариант – посев семян, подвергнутых действию переменных температур (набухшие за 24 часа семена подвергали воздействию переменных температур 20°С (8 часов) и 0±1°С (16 часов) в течение 5 суток и затем при температуре 0±1°С в течение 10 суток); контрольные варианты: К1 – посев сухих семян; К2 – посев замоченных при температуре 20°С в течение 24 часов семян. Эффективность воздействия на семена низкими и переменными температурами выражалась в усилении ростовых процессов, как у редиса, так и у моркови. У обеих изучаемых культур наблюдалась тенденция к увеличению урожая в большей степени при воздействии на набухшие семена переменных температур. Так, средняя масса корнеплодов редиса превысила показания контрольного варианта (посев сухих семян) на 47,1%, а у моркови – на 27,6%. Урожайность корнеплодов с м2 увеличилась на 36,4% – у редиса и на 30,0% – у моркови. Для повышения урожайности овощных культур рекомендуем использовать изученные методы предпосевной обработки семян в практике

Development and characterization of a novel conductive polyaniline-g-polystyrene/Fe 3 O 4 nanocomposite for the treatment of cancer

The goal of this study is to synthesize, characterize and investigate some physicochemical properties of conductive polyaniline-g-polystyrene/Fe 3 O 4 (Fe 3 O 4 /PSt-g-PANi) nanocomposites. For this purpose, initially, Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles were synthesized by a co-precipitation method. Then, the desired nanocomposite was synthesized in two steps. First, the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene was performed using an ATRP initiator attached to the surface of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles, followed by functionalization of the Fe 3 O 4 -PSt with amine groups (�NH 2 ). Second, surface oxidative graft copolymerization of aniline was accomplished using the �NH 2 moieties on the Fe 3 O 4 /PSt-NH 2 as the anchoring sites. The prepared materials were characterized by various instruments, including TEM, SEM, TGA, EDX, FT-IR, XRD and conductivity measurements. The results indicated that the synthesized conductive polymer/Fe 3 O 4 nanocomposites had higher electrical conductivity and thermal resistance than those of the corresponding homopolymers. © 2019, © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

POU6F2 mutation in humans with pubertal failure alters GnRH transcript expression

Idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) is characterized by the absence of pubertal development and subsequent impaired fertility often due to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) deficits. Exome sequencing of two independent cohorts of IHH patients identified 12 rare missense variants in POU6F2 in 15 patients. POU6F2 encodes two distinct isoforms. In the adult mouse, expression of both isoform1 and isoform2 was detected in the brain, pituitary, and gonads. However, only isoform1 was detected in mouse primary GnRH cells and three immortalized GnRH cell lines, two mouse and one human. To date, the function of isoform2 has been verified as a transcription factor, while the function of isoform1 has been unknown. In the present report, bioinformatics and cell assays on a human-derived GnRH cell line reveal a novel function for isoform1, demonstrating it can act as a transcriptional regulator, decreasing GNRH1 expression. In addition, the impact of the two most prevalent POU6F2 variants, identified in five IHH patients, that were located at/or close to the DNA-binding domain was examined. Notably, one of these mutations prevented the repression of GnRH transcripts by isoform1. Normally, GnRH transcription increases as GnRH cells mature as they near migrate into the brain. Augmentation earlier during development can disrupt normal GnRH cell migration, consistent with some POU6F2 variants contributing to the IHH pathogenesis

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1.

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field

Care of patients with inborn errors of immunity in thirty J Project countries between 2004 and 2021

IntroductionThe J Project (JP) physician education and clinical research collaboration program was started in 2004 and includes by now 32 countries mostly in Eastern and Central Europe (ECE). Until the end of 2021, 344 inborn errors of immunity (IEI)-focused meetings were organized by the JP to raise awareness and facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of patients with IEI.ResultsIn this study, meeting profiles and major diagnostic and treatment parameters were studied. JP center leaders reported patients’ data from 30 countries representing a total population of 506 567 565. Two countries reported patients from JP centers (Konya, Turkey and Cairo University, Egypt). Diagnostic criteria were based on the 2020 update of classification by the IUIS Expert Committee on IEI. The number of JP meetings increased from 6 per year in 2004 and 2005 to 44 and 63 in 2020 and 2021, respectively. The cumulative number of meetings per country varied from 1 to 59 in various countries reflecting partly but not entirely the population of the respective countries. Altogether, 24,879 patients were reported giving an average prevalence of 4.9. Most of the patients had predominantly antibody deficiency (46,32%) followed by patients with combined immunodeficiencies (14.3%). The percentages of patients with bone marrow failure and phenocopies of IEI were less than 1 each. The number of patients was remarkably higher that those reported to the ESID Registry in 13 countries. Immunoglobulin (IgG) substitution was provided to 7,572 patients (5,693 intravenously) and 1,480 patients received hematopoietic stem cell therapy (HSCT). Searching for basic diagnostic parameters revealed the availability of immunochemistry and flow cytometry in 27 and 28 countries, respectively, and targeted gene sequencing and new generation sequencing was available in 21 and 18 countries. The number of IEI centers and experts in the field were 260 and 690, respectively. We found high correlation between the number of IEI centers and patients treated with intravenous IgG (IVIG) (correlation coefficient, cc, 0,916) and with those who were treated with HSCT (cc, 0,905). Similar correlation was found when the number of experts was compared with those treated with HSCT. However, the number of patients treated with subcutaneous Ig (SCIG) only slightly correlated with the number of experts (cc, 0,489) and no correlation was found between the number of centers and patients on SCIG (cc, 0,174).Conclusions1) this is the first study describing major diagnostic and treatment parameters of IEI care in countries of the JP; 2) the data suggest that the JP had tremendous impact on the development of IEI care in ECE; 3) our data help to define major future targets of JP activity in various countries; 4) we suggest that the number of IEI centers and IEI experts closely correlate to the most important treatment parameters; 5) we propose that specialist education among medical professionals plays pivotal role in increasing levels of diagnostics and adequate care of this vulnerable and still highly neglected patient population; 6) this study also provides the basis for further analysis of more specific aspects of IEI care including genetic diagnostics, disease specific prevalence, newborn screening and professional collaboration in JP countries

CONSEQUENCES OF PRESOWING INFLUENCE OF LOW AND VARIABLE TEMPERATURES ON CARROT AND RADISH SEEDS

The study of the dynamics of plant growth and yield of vegetable crops (carrot variety Absheron winter (Daucus carota subsp. sativus (Hoffm.) Schьbl.) and radish variety Virovsky white (Raphanus sativus var.radicula Pers.)) was conducted in the field conditions after presowing exposure to different temperatures: I option – sowing of seeds exposed to low temperatures (for 15 days the swollen for 24 hours seeds were kept at a temperature of 0±1°С); Option II - sowing of seeds exposed to variable temperatures (for 5 days, the swollen for 24 hours seeds were exposed to variable temperatures of + 20°C (8 hours) and 0±1°C (16 hours) and then 10 days at a temperature of 0±1°C; K1 – sowing dry seeds; K2 – sowing soaked seeds. The impact on the seeds of low and variable temperatures caused an increase in growth processes, both in radish and carrot. Both studied crops showed a tendency to increase the yield to a greater extent when exposed to swollen seeds with variable temperatures. Thus, the average weight of radish crops exceeded the control variant by 47.1% and carrots by 27.6%. The yield of root crops per m2 increased by 36.4% for radish and 30.0% for carrot. To increase the productivity of vegetable crops, we recommend using the studied methods of pre-sowing seed treatment in practice

Mastitis in Sheep and Goats

Mastitis is an important desease of sheep and goats because it decreases the amount and quality of the milk produced by a dairy animal and reduce weight gain in lambs and meat kids. It can also affect the animals well-being. Mastitis is an inflammation of the udder most commonly caused by and infection in sheep, goats it is considered to be one of the principal reasons (along with lameness) for the culling of ewes. Clinical and sub-clinical mammary infections are considered a welfare issue and the primary cause of milk drop syndrome in ewes. In dairy sheep flocks mastitis has obvious financial implications due to the reduction in milk yield, milk quality and rejection of milk if antibiotics are administered. Nevertheless mastitis is also important in meat production flocks as a reduction in milk can cause sub-optimal growth of lambs. Other costs include replacement ewes and vet expenses