Potato spindle tuber viroid

Viroids belong to a very interesting class of molecules attracting researchers in phytopathology and molecular evolution. Here we review recent literature data concerning the genetics of Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) and the mechanisms related to its pathological effect on the host plants. PSTVd can be transmitted vertically through microspores and macrospores, but not with pollen from another infected plant. The 359 nucleotidelong genomic RNA of PSTVd is highly structured and its 3D-conformation is responsible for interaction with host cellular factors to mediate replication, transport between tissues during systemic infection and the severity of pathological symptoms. RNA replication is prone to errors and infected plants contain a population of mutated forms of the PSTVd genome. Interestingly, at 7 DAI, only 25 % of the newly synthesized RNAs were identical to the master copy, but this proportion increased to up to 70 % at 14 DAI and remained the same afterwards. PSTVd infection induces the immune response in host plants. There are PSTVd strains with a severe, a moderate or a mild pathological effect. Interestingly, viroid replication itself does not necessarily induce strong morphological or physiological symptoms. In the case of PSTVd, disease symptoms may occur due to RNA-interference, which decreases the expression levels of some important cellular regulatory factors, such as, for example, potato StTCP23 from the gibberellic acid pathway with a role in tuber morphogenesis or tomato FRIGIDA-like protein 3 with an early flowering phenotype. This association between the small segments of viroid genomic RNAs complementary to the untranslated regions of cellular mRNAs and disease symptoms provides a way for new resistant cultivars to be developed by genetic editing. To conclude, viroids provide a unique model to reveal the fundamental features of living systems, which appeared early in evolution and still remain undiscovered

Lipid profile of patients with arterial hypertension who underwent COVID-19: possibilities of drug therapy/ LEADER

Aim. To study the dynamics of the lipid profile of hypertensive patients with dyslipidemia who underwent COVID-19.Material and methods. Hypertensive patients with dyslipidemia who underwent COVID-19 [n=126; 58 men and 68 women; median age 60 (56.0; 65.5) years] examined. Patients were included into two groups: group 1 (n=64) received a single pill combination of lisinopril + amlodipine + rosuvastatin; 2 groups (n=62) continued the previous drug treatment. Clinical, demographic, office blood pressure (BP), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were assessed in all patients in 3 visits within 24 weeks.Results. The groups did not differ in prior antihypertensive therapy (except for more frequent use of angiotensin II receptor blockers in group 2, p<0.05), lipid profile and blood pressure parameters at study entry. A decrease in systolic (by 9.5%) and diastolic blood pressure (by 12.1%) after 24 weeks was found in group 1 compared with 4.29% and 5.56%, respectively, in group 2 (p<0.05). A decrease in the level of total cholesterol by 14.5% and LDL-c by 31.4% after 24 weeks was found in group 1 compared with 11.2% and 9.7%, respectively, in group 2 (p<0.05). The level of CRP during the observation period decreased by 53.7% in group 1 versus 43.4% in patients of group 2 (p<0.05).Conclusion. The single pill combination of lisinopril/amlodipine/rosuvastatin in hypertensive patients with dyslipidemia who underwent COVID-19 led to an improvement in lipid profile and blood pressure control

The plastid and mitochondrial genomes of <i>Vavilovia Formosa</i> (Stev.) Fed. and the phylogeny of related legume genera

The plastid and mitochondrial genomes of Vavilovia formosa (Stev.) Fed. were assembled on the base of the data of high-throughput sequencing of DNA isolated from a sample from North Osetia, Russia, using Illumina and PacBio platforms. The long PacBio reads were sufficient for reliable assembling organellar genomes while the short Illumina reads obtained from total DNA were unacceptable for this purpose because of substantial contamination by nuclear sequences. The organellar genomes were circular DNA molecules; the genome of mitochondria was represented by two circular chromosomes. A phylogenetic analysis on the basis of plastid genomes available in public databases was performed for some representatives of the tribes Fabeae, Trifolieae and Cicereae. As was expected, the V. formosa branch proved to be sister to the Pisum branch, and the tribe Fabeae was monophyletic. The position of Trifolium L. appeared sensitive to the phylogeny reconstruction method, either clustering with Fabeae or with the genera Medicago L., Trigonella L. and Melilotus Mill., but the internodes between successive divergences were short in all cases, suggesting that the radiation of Trifolium, other Trifolieae and Fabeae was fast, occurring within a small time interval as compared to further evolution of these lineages. The data on the relatedness of the plastid genomes of Trifolium and Fabeae correlate with the similarity of N2-fixing symbionts in these legumes represented by Rhizobium leguminosarum biovars trifolii and viciae, while the symbionts of Medicago, Melilotus and Trigonella belong to the Sinorhizobium meliloti and S. medicae species, which are distant from Rhizobium

DIABETIC CARDIOMYOPATHY. RESISTIN: A CONTROL OF A MYOCARDIAL HYPERTROPHY

Aim. To evaluate the association of serum resistin with morphological and functional indices of hypertrophic myocardium in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic heart failure (CHF) with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.Material and methods. Patients (n=60; 12 men and 48 women) with type 2 diabetes and ischemic heart disease and CHF class II-III (NYHA) were included into the study. Clinical, laboratory and instrumental examinations, as well as determination of serum resistin were performed in all patients.Results. Positive correlation was found between serum resistin level and left ventricle end-diastolic pressure (LV EDP; r=0.43; p=0.02) in patients with concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Negative correlation was found between serum resistin level and LV EDP (r=-0.61; p=0.000) in patients with eccentric LVH. A number of supraventricular extrasystoles positively correlated with the serum resistin level (r=0.34; p=0.033) in patients with concentric LVH.Conclusion. The role of "physiological" levels of resistin in the formation of cardiovascular indicators of the hypertrophic myocardium as well as possible prognostic significance of different levels of resistin for optimization of therapy are shown in patients with type 2 diabetes with CHF.</p

DIABETIC CARDIOMYOPATHY. RESISTIN: A CONTROL OF A MYOCARDIAL HYPERTROPHY

Aim. To evaluate the association of serum resistin with morphological and functional indices of hypertrophic myocardium in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic heart failure (CHF) with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.Material and methods. Patients (n=60; 12 men and 48 women) with type 2 diabetes and ischemic heart disease and CHF class II-III (NYHA) were included into the study. Clinical, laboratory and instrumental examinations, as well as determination of serum resistin were performed in all patients.Results. Positive correlation was found between serum resistin level and left ventricle end-diastolic pressure (LV EDP; r=0.43; p=0.02) in patients with concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Negative correlation was found between serum resistin level and LV EDP (r=-0.61; p=0.000) in patients with eccentric LVH. A number of supraventricular extrasystoles positively correlated with the serum resistin level (r=0.34; p=0.033) in patients with concentric LVH.Conclusion. The role of "physiological" levels of resistin in the formation of cardiovascular indicators of the hypertrophic myocardium as well as possible prognostic significance of different levels of resistin for optimization of therapy are shown in patients with type 2 diabetes with CHF

Personality ecological consciousness: Values ethical vector of nature safety sustainable development

The relevance of the study is due to the current trends of the global environmental crisis. The ability of nature to self-purification in a man-made civilization is almost exhausted, and advances in science, technology, culture can no longer fundamentally affect the overcoming of the entrenched crisis. In the current difficult conditions, the importance of understanding that the solving the global environmental problem of human survival must be based on ethical values of equal interaction of nature, man and society. As one of the effective conditions to overcome the negative impact of human activity, the values’ ethical vector of nature safety sustainable development is substantiated. In this regard, on the basis of the study results the typology of the structure and content of environmental consciousness is identified and experimentally proved, determined by the ethical values of environmental safety sustainable development; the model of ethical values of environmental safety sustainable development is justified, acting as a priority for the transformation of environmental consciousness. The materials of the article have practical application and can be useful for the development and implementation of methods for environmental consciousness of different categories of the population formation, as well as in making management decisions that regulate environmental activities. © Foundation Environmental Protection & Research-FEPR

HEART FAILURE, DIABETES, BETA-BLOCKERS AND RISK OF HYPOGLYCEMIA

Aim. To evaluate an influence of carvedilol on risk of hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes type 2 (D2) and chronic heart failure (CHF) treated with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.Material and methods. 13 patients (10 men, 3 women; aged 59,8±6,7 y.o.) with D2 and CHF caused by ischemic heart disease were included in the study. Before inclusion all patients were treated with ACE inhibitors and various beta-blockers (atenolol, metoprolol, bisoprolol). These beta-blockers were changed for carvedilol. Heart ultrasonography, blood pressure control, glycemia monitoring, HbA1c level determination were performed before, during and after carvedilol therapy.Results. Carvedilol reduces frequency and duration of hypoglycaemia episodes. There were not episodes of severe hypoglycaemia during carvedilol therapy.Conclusion. Carvedilol reduces risk of hypoglycemia when it is used in combination with ACE inhiditors in diabetic patients with CHF