Spexin-expressing neurons in the magnocellular nuclei of the human hypothalamus

Neuropeptides are involved in numerous brain activities being responsible for a wide spectrum of higher mental functions. The purpose of this concise, structural and qualitative investigation was to map the possible immunoreactivity of the novel neuropeptide spexin (SPX) within the human magnocellular hypothalamus. SPX is a newly identified peptide, a natural ligand for the galanin receptors (GALR) 2/3, with no molecular structure similarities to currently known regulatory factors. SPX seems to have multiple physiological functions, with an involvement in reproduction and food-intake regulation recently revealed in animal studies. For the first time we describe SPX expressing neurons in the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei of the human hypothalamus using immunohistochemical and fluorescent methods, key regions involved in the mechanisms of osmotic homeostasis, energy expenditure, consummatory behaviour, reproductive processes, social recognition and stress responses. The vast majority of neurons located in both examined neurosecretory nuclei show abundant SPX expression and this may indirectly implicate a potential contribution of SPX signalling to the hypothalamic physiology in the human brain. © 2020 Elsevier B.V

Biological effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields – an experimental study

Prezentowana praca jest przeglądem badań eksperymentalnych nad wpływem pól elektromagnetycznych na procesy biologiczne przebiegające w organizmach żywych. Przedstawiono metody stosowane do oceny oddziaływania pól elektromagnetycznych na poziomie komórkowym oraz dokonano analizy otrzymanych za ich pomocą wyników.The paper is a review of experimental studies on the effects of electromagnetic fields on biological processes in living organisms. It presents the methods used and analyses the results obtained with different experimental approaches

Mismatch and blunt to protruding-end joining by DNA ligases.

A nuclear DNA ligase activity from immature chicken erythrocytes, and to a lesser extent T4-induced DNA ligase, can join cohesive-ends (3 and 5-nucleotides long) having one of the mismatches, A/A, T/T, C/C, G/G, at the middle position. The rate of ligation depends on the length and stability of the mispaired intermediate (G/G, T/T greater than A/A, C/C). When the non-complementary overhanging-ends are short (i.e. 1-nucleotide) both ligases catalyze the joining of the single-stranded protruding-end with a blunt-end. This reaction occurs at low but significant rates compared to blunt-end ligation. The chicken ligase has lower flush-end joining activity than T4 DNA ligase, but it is more permissive since it joins C/C or A/A mismatched-ends, whereas the prokaryotic ligase does not. Possible biological implications of the reactions are discussed. We have also found that BstEII easily cleaves at sites harboring a C/C or a G/G mismatch at the center of its recognition sequence, whereas AvaII (T/T or A/A), HinfI (G/G) and DdeI (G/G) do not

Decreased percentage of CD4+Foxp3+TGF-β+ and increased percentage of CD4+IL-17+ cells in bronchoalveolar lavage of asthmatics

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways with the proven role of Th2 cells in its pathogenesis. The role and characteristic of different subsets of CD4(+) cells is much less known. AIM: The aim of the study was to analyze the incidence of different subsets of CD4(+) T cells, in particular different subsets of CD4(+) cells with the co-expression of different cytokines. METHODS: Twenty five stable asthmatic and twelve age-matched control subjects were recruited to the study. Bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were performed in all study subjects. CD4(+) T cells were isolated from BAL fluid by positive magnetic selection. After stimulation simultaneous expression of TGF-β, FoxP3, CD25, IFN-γ, IL-4, TNF-α (set 1); IL-10, FoxP3, CD25, IFN-γ, IL-4, MIP-1β (set 2); IL-17A, IL-8, IFN-γ, IL-4, MIP-1β (set 3) were measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The percentage of CD4(+) cells co-expressing Foxp3 and TGF-β (CD4(+)Foxp3(+)TGF-β(+) cells) was significantly lower (P = 0.03), whereas the percentage of CD4(+)IL-17(+) cells (P = 0.008), CD4(+)IL-17(+) IFN-γ(+) cells (P = 0.047) and CD4(+)IL-4(+) cells (P = 0.01) were significantly increased in asthmatics compared with that seen in healthy subjects. A significantly higher percentage of CD4(+)Foxp3(+) cells from asthma patients expressed IFN-γ (P = 0.01), IL-4 (P = 0.004) and CD25 (P = 0.04), whereas the percentage of CD4(+)IL-10(+) cells expressing Foxp3 was significantly decreased in asthmatics (P = 0.03). FEV(1)% predicted correlated negatively with the percentage of CD4(+)IL-17(+) cells (r = -0.33; P = 0.046) and positively with CD4(+)Foxp3(+)TGF-β(+) cells (r = 0.43; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that in the airways of chronic asthma patients there is an imbalance between increased numbers of CD4(+)IL-17(+) cells and Th2 cells and decreased number of CD4(+)Foxp3(+)TGF-β(+)

Electromagnetic fields and radiation of frequency 0 Hz - 300 GHz Rationale documentation for revision harmonizing workers' permissible exposure level with the Directive 2004/40/EC

Obowiązujący w Polsce dopuszczalny poziom ekspozycji pracowników na pola elektromagnetyczne został poprzednio zmodyfikowany w 1999 r. (aktualnie publikowany w: DzU 2002, nr 217, poz. 1833), a terminologię oraz zharmonizowane z nim metody pomiarów i oceny ekspozycji zdefiniowano w normie PN-T-06580:2002. Jego dokumentacja została przyjęta przez Międzyresortową Komisję ds. NDS i NDN i opublikowana w artykule: Korniewicz i in. „Pola i promieniowanie elektromagnetyczne z zakresu częstotliwości 0 Hz - 300 GHz. Dokumentacja proponowanych znowelizowanych wartości dopuszczalnych ekspozycji zawodowej” (PiMOŚ 2001, nr 2(28). W związku z koniecznością transpozycji wymagań dyrektywy europejskiej 2004/40/WE do prawa polskiego, niezbędna jest harmonizacja z nimi postanowień rozporządzenia ministra pracy i polityki społecznej w sprawie NDN pól elektromagnetycznych (DzU 2002, nr 217, poz. 1833).The permissible level of occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) being in force in Poland was last amended in 1999 (current issue: DzU 2002; No 217, item 1833); terminology and harmonized measurement methods regarding this exposure limitations were defined by PN-T-06580:2002. Relevant rationale documentation was adopted by the Interdepartmental Commission for Maximum Admissible Concentrations and Intensities for Agents Harmful to Health in the Working Environment and published in Korniewicz i in. - Pola i promieniowanie elektromagnetyczne z zakresu częstotliwości 0 Hz - 300 GHz. Dokumentacja proponowanych znowelizowanych wartości dopuszczalnych ekspozycji zawodowej (Kor-niewicz et al. Electromagnetic fields and radiation in the frequency range of 0 Hz ÷ 300 GHz. Documen-tation of a draft amendment of maximal admissible values of occupational exposure. PiMOŚP. 2001;17(2); 97–238. In Polish.

Radiolabeled somatostatin analogs in prostate cancer

Vapreotide (RC-160), a somatostatin analog, was labeled with 99mTc by a direct method and also by using CPTA [1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane]as a bifunctional chelating agent. The labeled compounds were evaluated in nude mice bearing experimental human prostate cancers. In these studies, 111In-DTPA-D-Phe-Octreotide ( 111In-DTPA-octreotide) served as a standard and 99mTc-oxytocin as a receptornon-specific control. 99mTc-octreotide was also used. The 24 htumor uptake of 99mTc-RC-160 was nearly 400% higher, ( p < 0.05), than that of 111In-DTPA-octreotide and diminished upon receptor blocking. In all tissues except the kidneys, the uptake of 99mTc-RC-160 was also higher than that of 111In-DTPA-octreotide. The uptake of 99mTc-RC-160 was influenced by the amount of peptide injected and the best tumor/muscle and tumor/blood ratios were obtained when only one μg of the peptide (200 Ci/mmol) was administered

The GnRH analogues affect novel neuropeptide SMIM20/phoenixin and GPR173 receptor expressions in the female rat hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis

The recently discovered peptide phoenixin (PNX) and its receptor GPR173 are novel factors that exhibit a large spectrum of regulatory activity, especially when considered as a central modulator of GnRH-related hormonal control of reproductive processes. It has been already proven that GnRH agonists and antagonists can modulate peptidergic signalling in the HPG axis. Despite these findings, there is so far no information regarding the influence of treatment with GnRH analogues on SMIM20/phoenixin signalling in the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. In the current study, SMIM20/phoenixin and GPR173 mRNA levels were measured in the hypothalamus, pituitary and ovaries of female rats in the dioestrus phase following treatment with GnRH-R agonist (buserelin) and antagonist (cetrorelix) using quantitative real-time PCR. The serum PNX concentrations were also estimated with ELISA technique. The hypothalamic, hypophyseal and especially ovarian levels of SMIM20 mRNA were increased after both buserelin and cetrorelix administration. The GPR173 expressions were in turn decreased in the hypothalamus and pituitary. Treatment with the GnRH analogues led to the modulation of SMIM20/phoenixin and GPR173 mRNA expression in the female rat hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. By identifying buserelin and cetrorelix as novel modulators of phoenixin signalling in the animal HPG axis, these results cast new light on the GnRH analogues mode of action and contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the hormonal control of reproduction. © 2019 John Wiley &amp; Sons Australia, Lt