The transcription factors BEL1 and SPL are required for cytokinin and auxin signaling during ovule development in Arabidopsis

Hormones, such as auxin and cytokinin, are involved in the complex molecular network that regulates the coordinated development of plant organs. Genes controlling ovule patterning have been identified and studied in detail; however, the roles of auxin and cytokinin in ovule development are largely unknown. Here we show that key cytokinin pathway genes, such as isopentenyltransferase and cytokinin receptors, are expressed during ovule development. Also, in a cre1-12 ahk2-2 ahk3-3 triple mutant with severely reduced cytokinin perception, expression of the auxin efflux facilitator PIN-FORMED 1 (PIN1) was severely reduced. In sporocyteless/nozzle (spl/nzz) mutants, which show a similar phenotype to the cre1-12 ahk2-2 ahk3-3 triple mutant, PIN1 expression is also reduced. Treatment with the exogenous cytokinin N-6-benzylaminopurine also altered both auxin distribution and patterning of the ovule; this process required the homeodomain transcription factor BELL1 (BEL1). Thus, this article shows that cytokinin regulates ovule development through the regulation of PIN1. Furthermore, the transcription factors BEL1 and SPL/NZZ, previously described as key regulators of ovule development, are needed for the auxin and cytokinin signaling pathways for the correct patterning of the ovule

Обучение этике социальной работы и принятие этического решения

The ethics of social work as applied ethics defines the purpose of teaching the course: to help students in their attempts to solve contemporary moral problems, associated with making an ethical decision. Social work education reflects social issues in society related to social inclusion, poverty and prosperity. Social work training at the Faculty of Medicine of Trakia University has an established tradition in cooperation with the institutions of social services and the state social agencies. This article highlights the importance of ethical education for students to acquire ethical decision-making skills, according to the specifics of practical situations. We argue that teaching by analysis of ethical dilemmas derived from the practice is one of the most effective means to develop and consolidate the practice of the real activity of performing the difficult but justified ethical choice. In this context, five groups of dilemmas that derive from the practice of social work in Bulgaria have been analyzed. The analysis and discussion of ethical dilemmas in teaching the ethics of social work are presented as a tool for orientation of students in the moral problematic situations with which they may encounter in the practice of social work.La ética del trabajo social como ética aplicada determina el propósito de la enseñanza del curso en la disciplina: ayudar a los estudiantes en sus intentos de resolver los problemas morales contemporáneos asociados con la toma de decisiones éticas. La formación en trabajo social refleja los problemas sociales en la sociedad relacionados con la inclusión social, la pobreza y el bienestar. La formación en Trabajo social en la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Tracia tiene una tradición bien establecida en cooperación con los organismos de servicios sociales y las agencias sociales del estado. Este artículo describe la importancia de la formación profesional ética de los estudiantes para adquirir habilidades de toma de decisiones éticas de acuerdo con las características de las situaciones prácticas. Nosotros apoyamos la tesis de que la enseñanza a través del análisis de dilemas éticos sacados de la práctica es uno de los medios más efectivos para desarrollar y consolidar la práctica de la actividad real al tomar decisiones éticas difíciles pero bien fundadas. En este contexto, se han analizado cinco grupos de dilemas que surgen de la práctica del trabajo social en Bulgaria. Nosotros presentamos el análisis y la discusión de los dilemas éticos en la enseñanza de la ética del trabajo social como un medio para orientar a los estudiantes en las situaciones morales problemáticas que la práctica del trabajo social podría traerles.Этика социальной работы, будучи прикладной этикой, обосновывает цель преподавания полного курса этой дисциплины, а именно: оказать помощь студентам в их попытках решать современные моральные проблемы, требующих принятия этического решения. Образование специальности „Социальная работа“ отвечает на социальные проблемы общества, связанные с социальной интеграцией, бедностью и благополучием. В отношении обучения социальной работе Медицинский факультет Фракийского университета традиционно сотрудничает с учреждениями социальных услуг и государственными социальными агентствами. В настоящей статье подчеркивается большое значение профессионального этического обучения студентов для формирования у них умений по принятию этического решения в зависимости от специфических практических ситуаций. Мы придерживаемся тезиса, что преподавание путем анализа этических дилемм, возникших в практике, является одним из эффективнейших средств, способствующих развитию практики и ее прикреплению к реальной деятельности по осуществлению нелегкого, но обоснованного этического выбора. В данном контексте было проанализировано пять групп дилемм, возникающих в практике социальной работы в Болгарии. Анализ и обсуждение этических дилемм, применяемые в преподавании этики социальной работы, представлены нами как средство ориентации студентов в моральных проблемных ситуациях, с которыми они могли бы столкнуться в своей практике социальной работы

Assessment of the Clinical Progression of Diabetic Kidney Disease

Diabetic microangiopathy is a specific, generalized damage of microcirculation (arterioles, capillaries and venules). Diabetic nephropathy is a chronic microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus, characterized by progressive proteinuria and deterioration of renal function, expressed in a decrease in glomerular filtration rate. In recent years, diabetic kidney disease has taken first place among the causes of end-stage renal disease. The term diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is generally used to cover the spectrum of people with diabetes who have either albuminuria or reduced glomerular filtration rate. The risk of developing diabetic nephropathy (DN) varies between individuals and depends not only on the duration of diabetes mellitus, but is also influenced by other factors, such as glycemic control, blood pressure, and genetic predisposition. While most DN cases arise in type 2 diabetes, which accounts for 90% of global diabetes cases, it is often linked to arterial hypertension and heightened cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The main objective in managing diabetic nephropathy involves preventing the progression of microalbuminuria to macroalbuminuria, delaying the decline in glomerular filtration rate, and preventing associated cardiovascular complications

Vascular cambium regeneration and vessel formation in wounded inflorescence stems of Arabidopsis

Synchronized tissue polarization during regeneration or de novo vascular tissue formation is a plant-specific example of intercellular communication and coordinated development. According to the canalization hypothesis, the plant hormone auxin serves as polarizing signal that mediates directional channel formation underlying the spatio-temporal vasculature patterning. A necessary part of canalization is a positive feedback between auxin signaling and polarity of the intercellular auxin flow. The cellular and molecular mechanisms of this process are still poorly understood, not the least, because of a lack of a suitable model system. We show that the main genetic model plant, Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) can be used to study the canalization during vascular cambium regeneration and new vasculature formation. We monitored localized auxin responses, directional auxin-transport channels formation, and establishment of new vascular cambium polarity during regenerative processes after stem wounding. The increased auxin response above and around the wound preceded the formation of PIN1 auxin transporter-marked channels from the primarily homogenous tissue and the transient, gradual changes in PIN1 localization preceded the polarity of newly formed vascular tissue. Thus, Arabidopsis is a useful model for studies of coordinated tissue polarization and vasculature formation after wounding allowing for genetic and mechanistic dissection of the canalization hypothesis

Factors Responsible For The Development Of Erythropoietin Resistance In Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global socially significant health problem that now affects more than 10% of the world's population. Anemia is a common complication of CKD and is associated with reduced quality of life, increased morbidity and mortality, and higher treatment costs. Erythropoietin resistance is a common condition in the treatment of anemia in patients with CKD and is one of the most potent predictors of risk for cardiovascular events and mortality. The aim of the present study was to analyze some factors leading to the development of erythropoietin resistance in patients with chronic kidney disease. In 80 patients of the Clinic of Nephrology of St. Marina University Hospital, Varna, demographic indicators, levels of serum iron, folic acid, vitamin B12, iPTH, iFGF23, soluble erythropoietin receptor (sEPOR) and antiEPOab were studied

Correlative Interactions Between Visfatin and Inflammatory Biomarkers for Chronic Kidney Disease

The life expectancy of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is significantly reduced due to premature death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in more than 50% of this patient population. Impaired of renal function may lead to an increase in general inflammatory reactions due to a decrease in renal clearance of factors that are directly or indirectly involved in inflammation. Thus, the presence of even minor renal dysfunction is considered a significant risk factor for subsequent CVD and death.Axelsson et al., in 2007, for the first time reported an increase in serum levels of visfatin in CKD, and several other studies later supported this link. In addition, Axelsson et al. found that visfatin is associated with soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1, which is a biomarker for endothelial damage in CKD. Proteinuria, in turn, is an important predictor of endothelial dysfunction (ED) in diabetic nephropathy. An association between proteinuria and visfatin levels has been discussed. Significant progress has been made so far in identifying the association of visfatin with visceral adipose tissue, diabetes mellitus, and inflammation, but further studies are needed to confirm an increase in its levels in patients with CKD

Factors affecting the quality of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis

Health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in hemodialysis patients is significantly lower than in the general population and increases the risk of hospitalization and death, regardless of a number of demographic and comorbid factors.With the diagnosis of end-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the daily life of these patients there are a number of changes related to physical activity, diet, professional, social and personal development. At the same time, the appearance of negative symptoms of dialysis therapy (pain, sleep disorders, depression, fluctuations in blood pressure) or limitations resulting from the disease reduce the quality of life of this group of patients. The aim of the present study was to analyze the factors influencing the quality of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis. A questionnaire examined the quality of life of 64 patients undergoing regular hemodialysis treatment at the Clinic of Nephrology at the St. Marina University Hospital, Varna. Health-related quality of life assessment is important, as earlier recognition of low quality of life may allow healthcare providers to identify potentially vulnerable patients who are at increased risk of death. In addition, despite its strong association with death, HR-QOL itself is a major measure of the outcome of care for patients with end-stage CKD.

Влияние на торенето върху износа на макроелементи с биомасата на слънчоглед

The study was conducted under pot experimental conditions with Alluvial-meadow soil. The aim of the trial was to evaluate the effect of different nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and silicon fertilizer rates in the soil and their impact on the uptake of basic macronutrients with sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) biomass. The experiment included 16 variants of increased fertilizer rates in 3 replications. Data on the yield of fresh and absolutely dry biomass from the aboveground part of plants and on the content of N, P, K, Si, Ca and Mg in the dry biomass was obtained. According to the data obtained, the content and uptake of the examined macroelements with the sunflower biomass were significantly influenced by the rates and fertilizer combinations. The highest uptake of nitrogen was in the variants with the following rates: N200, N300, and N400. The changes in the macroelements’ uptake followed the changes in the quantities of the relevant elements in dry biomass in the variants of the experiment. By increasing the fertilizer rates the content of N, P, and Si, and their uptakes with sunflower biomass was increased. This trend with potassium was expressed to a lower extent.Проведено е изследване в условията на съдов опит върху Алувиално-ливадна почва. Целта на експеримента е да се оцени ефективността и взаимодействието на различни норми на азотни, фосфорни, калиеви и силициеви торове в почвата и влиянието им върху износа на основни макроелементи с биомасата от слънчоглед (Helianthus annuus L.). Опитът включва 16 варианта на торене с 3 повторения. Получени са данни за добива от свежа и абсолютно суха биомаса от надземната част и съдържанието на N, P, K, Si, Ca и Mg в получената суха биомаса от растенията. Съгласно получените експериментални данни съдържанието и износът на изследваните макроелементи с биомасата са повлияни значително от торовите норми и комбинации. Най-висок е износът на азота във вариантите с норма N200, N300 и N400. Установено е, че измененията на износите на изследваните макроелементи следват измененията на количествата от съответните елементи в сухата биомаса по варианти в опита. С повишаване на нормите на торене се повишава не само съдържанието, но и износът на N, P, и Si. При калия тази тенденция е изразена в по-малка степен

Factors responsible for the development of erythropoietin resistance among patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global socially significant health problem affecting more than 10% of the world's population. One of the complications of CKD is the anemic syndrome, which is associated with reduced quality of life, increased morbidity and mortality and higher treatment costs. A common condition in the treatment of anemia in patients with CKD is erythropoietin resistance. It is one of the most powerful predictors of the risk of cardiovascular accidents and mortality. The aim of the present study was to analyze some of the major factors leading to the development of erythropoietin resistance. In 50 patients undergoing regular hemodialysis treatment at the Clinic of Nephrology of the St. Marina University Hospital, Varna were studied demographic indicators, levels of serum iron, TIBC, TSAT (transferrin saturation), URR, ERI, CRP and iPTH

Influence of the occupational burnout syndrome on the work attractiveness among social workers

The objective of this article is to study and analyze the influence of burnout syndrome on the "work attractiveness" in social workers. For the purposes of the analysis, an empirical study was conducted among 170 social workers from 142 social services in Bulgaria. The data from the study confirmed though partially but statistically significant, the dependence of work attractiveness on the parameters of the occupational burnout syndrome in the professional social work practice. The following tendencies have been outlined: Influence of the “occupational burnout syndrome” in the part of emotional exhaustion on the work attractiveness. The high level of emotional exhaustion does not presuppose low work attractiveness, just the opposite. Influence of the “occupational burnout syndrome” in the part of emotional exhaustion on the probability of leaving. The dependency between the high emotional exhaustion and the low work dissatisfaction precondition a higher probability of leaving. Influence of the “occupational burnout syndrome” in the part reduction of personal achievements on the work attractiveness. The high reduction determines the higher level of occupational dissatisfaction. Our study shows that specification of social work depends both on the conditions of labor and the personal qualities of the social workers