Bioinformatic search for Ca 2+ - and calmodulin-dependent protein kinases potentially associated with the regulation of plant cytoskeleton

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a bioinformatic search for Ca²⁺- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinases from Arabidopsis thaliana, which may potentially participate in cytoskeleton regulation. Homologues were chosen based on their similarity with the calmodulin-dependent protein kinases from Homo sapiens and Mus musculus, which modulate the structure and dynamic behavior of the cytoskeleton. In total, the sequences for the catalytic domains of 41 animal protein kinases and their known 42 plant homologues have been aligned. The closest animal and plant homologues have been determined using the methods of phylogenetic clusterization. According to the bioinformatic research results, the following plant protein kinases were selected as the most probable regulators of the plant cytoskeleton: CPK7, CPK14, CPK32, CPK17, CPK34, CPK20, CPK27, CPK16, CPK18, CPK28, CPK7, CRK2, CRK4, and CRK6.

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Features of genetic variability in microsatellite DNA loci in the French Bulldog dog breed

Abstract

Genetic variability in microsatellite markers PEZ1, PEZ3, PEZ6, PEZ8, FHC2010, and FHC2054 from a panel recommended by the International Society for Animal Genetics has been assessed for a micropopulation of dogs of the French Bulldog breed. The number and size of alleles, the number of alleles per locus, the effective number of alleles, the polymorphism index, expected and actual heterozygosity, and Wright's fixation index have been determined to characterize each locus investigated. Deficit of heterozygous genotypes was observed in the micropopulation investigated, which is indicative of inbreeding. The relationship between the degree of homozygosity for six microsatellite loci and the degree of inbreeding has been analyzed. The results obtained point at a trend for increase of the relative abundance of homozygous loci upon an increase in the inbreeding coefficient of individuals.

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Apoptosis and the processes of DNA fragmentation in native and cryopreserved human sperm cells with normo- and pathosperma

Abstract

Cryopreserved human sperm is widely applied in the treatment of infertility using methods of assisted reproductive technologies. Comprehensive studies of the sperm condition after cryopreservation and subsequent cultivation will update the efficiency of the programs based on assisted reproductive technologies. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cryopreservation factors on the state of DNA and apoptotic processes in isolated human spermatozoa fractions in normo- and pathospermia. The analysis of DNA fragmentation and the assessment of apoptotic processes (human spermatozoa necrosis) were performed using the sperm chromatin dispersion test and the flow cytometry method. According to our study, sperm cryopreservation has not affected the DNA fragmentation index in normozoospermia and significantly increased it in oligoastenoteratozoospermia. The postcultivation increase of apoptotic and necrotic processes in oligoastenoteratozoospermia gives reason for choosing an alternative technique for oocyte fertilization— intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

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Change of Mendelian ratios and meiotic recombination parameters in F 1 hybrid tomatoes under the influence of γ-irradiation

Abstract

The effect of γ-irradiation treatment of seeds of intra- and interspecific F₁ hybrid tomatoes on distortion of Mendelian monohybrid segregation, crossover variability, and recombination frequency of unlinked marker genes of chromosomes 2 and 6 was studied. It was found that more significant distortion effect on the segregation of marker loci of studied chromosomes was detected for seed treatment with 130 Gy. The significant direct relationship between Mendelian segregation for m-2 gene and a rf _m-2c vaue for 60 Gy and for aw and m-2 genes and rf _awc , _awm-2 values for 60 and 130 Gy treatment in combination Mo500 × var. cerasiforme was revealed. The latter corresponds to the effect of "quasirepulsion."

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Karyotypic study of five Lutjanid species using conventional and Ag-NORs banding techniques

Abstract

The first cytogenetic comparisons of five snapper species from Thailand were presented here. Renal cell samples were taken from blacktail snapper (Lutjanus fulvus), five lined snapper (L. quinquelineatus), dory snapper (L. fulviflamma), brownstripe red snapper (L. vitta), and mangrove red snapper (L. argentimaculatus). The mitotic chromosome preparation was prepared directly from kidney cells. Conventional staining and Ag-NOR banding techniques were applied to stain the chromosomes. The results exhibited that all five snapper species have the diploid chromosome numbers of 2n = 48 and the fundamental numbers (NF) of 48. The presences of large, medium, and small telocentric chromosomes were 22-24-2, 24-20-4, 36-10-2, 28-16-4 and 36-10-2, respectively. The Ag- NORs banding technique provides the pair of nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) at subcentromeric region of the long arm of the respective telocentric chromosome pairs 9, 1, 3, 4 and 9. Their karyotype formulas is as follows: L. fulvus (2n = 48): L ₂₂^t + M ₂₄^t + S ₂^t , L. quinquelineatus (2n = 48): L ₂₄^t + M ₂₀^t + S ₄^t , L. fulviflamma (2n = 48): Lt36 + Mt10 + St2, L. vitta (2n = 48): L ₂₈^t + M ₁₆^t + S ₄^t , and L. argentimaculatus (2n = 48): L ₃₆^t + M ₁₀^t + S ₂^t .

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Characteristics of the chromosome set of Holstein cows with reproductive disorders in the North-Caucasian cattle population

Abstract

Increase in the degree of consanguinity of Holstein breed identified to the best-cultivated dairy breeds is one of the major ways to improve the genotypes of the dairy cattle in many countries all over the world. The widespread biotechnology and large-scale selection adoption reduced the range of the used bull sires in dairy stockbreeding, which resulted in the occurrence of different abnormalities associated with the inheritance caused by gene mutations and chromosomal disorders in the newborn calves. Since the main part of such abnormalities has a recessive inheritance pattern, they represent a hidden genetic load, which is not always expressed in a phenotype. In recent years, the cytogenetic and karyotyping approaches have become more widespread and are required for both the detailed theoretical prerequisites and the applied problem solutions to prevent losses in agricultural production. The results of the cytogenetic analysis of the North- Caucasian population of Holstein cows having problems in reproduction have been reported. The aberrant cells are detected (frequency of occurrence is 5.35%); the number of aberrations per analyzed cell (0.05/1.0) is determined; the absence of the reciprocal translocations in a karyotype in the analyzed livestock is revealed. The genealogical interrelations of ancestors of the lines of Montivik-Chifteyn no. 95679 and Reflekshn- Sovering no. 198998 bull sires with the values for stillbirth incidence among their progeny have been traced.

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A novel androgen receptor mutation in a patient with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome

Abstract

Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) occurs when target tissues are resistant to the effect of androgens resulting in phenotype with varying degrees of feminization ranging from male infertility to completely normal female external genitalia in patients with male karyotype. Androgen receptor (AR) following activation by androgenic hormones binds to DNA in cells of target tissues and induces biological changes leading to differentiation and development of male urogenital structures. To date, more than 800 mutations in AR gene have been described in patients with AIS with the majority being located in the ligand-binding domain. Here a detailed description of a family with two affected 46,XY females with complete androgen insensitivity is provided. Whole exome sequencing revealed a novel mutation in exon 1 (c.238C>T) of AR gene. The mutation was detected in a proband and her sister, both with normal male karyotype and phenotypic expression of complete androgen insensitivity syndrome.

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How to reduce cisatracurium consumption in ARDS patients: the TOF-ARDS study

Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) have been shown to improve the outcome of the most severely hypoxemic, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients. However, the recommended dosage as well as the ...

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Relevance of Spatial Heterogeneity of Immune Infiltration for Predicting Risk of Recurrence After Endocrine Therapy of ER+ Breast Cancer

Abstract

Background

Despite increasing evidence supporting the clinical utility of immune infiltration in the estrogen receptor–negative (ER-) subtype, the prognostic value of immune infiltration for ER+ disease is not well defined.

Methods

Quantitative immune scores of cell abundance and spatial heterogeneity were computed using a fully automated hematoxylin and eosin–stained image analysis algorithm and spatial statistics for 1178 postmenopausal patients with ER+ breast cancer treated with five years' tamoxifen or anastrozole. The prognostic significance of immune scores was compared with Oncotype DX 21-gene recurrence score (RS), PAM50 risk of recurrence (ROR) score, IHC4, and clinical treatment score, available for 963 patients. Statistical tests were two-sided.

Results

Scores of immune cell abundance were not associated with recurrence-free survival. In contrast, high immune spatial scores indicating increased cell spatial clustering were associated with poor 10-year, early (0–5 years), and late (5–10 years) recurrence-free survival (Immune Hotspot: LR-χ² = 14.06, P < .001, for 0–10 years; LR-χ² = 6.24, P = .01, for 0–5 years; LR-χ² = 7.89, P = .005, for 5–10 years). The prognostic value of spatial scores for late recurrence was similar to that of IHC4 and RS in both populations, but was not as strong as other tests in comparison for recurrence across 10 years.

Conclusions

These results provide a missing link between tumor immunity and disease outcome in ER+ disease by examining tumor spatial architecture. The association between spatial scores and late recurrence suggests a lasting memory of protumor immunity that may impact disease progression and evolution of endocrine treatment resistance, which may be exploited for therapeutic advances.

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Congenital pharyngeal webs: Treatment of a rare clinical entity by endoscopic CO2 laser approach

Oesophageal inlet stenosis can promote dysphagia and aspiration. We report the cases of syndromic children with congenital pharyngeal webs successfully treated with endoscopic CO2 laser.

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Cleaved kininogen as a biomarker for bradykinin release in hereditary angioedema

Cleaved high-molecular weight kininogen (cHK) in plasma is a biomarker for bradykinin formation. We developed an immuno-assay to detect cHK in plasma. cHK plasma levels are increased in asymptomatic C1-INH-HAE patients, and increase further during angioedema attacks.

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CDHR3 gene variation and childhood bronchiolitis

This genetic study combining data from five countries shows that the CDHR3 rs6967330 polymorphism is not associated to bronchiolitis triggered by RSV but might increase risk of bronchiolitis triggered by other infectious agents.

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Plasma cell deficiency in humans with heterozygous mutations in SEC61A1

Heterozygous mutations in SEC61A1 are associated with plasma cell deficiency in patients with early-onset hypogammaglobulinemia and severe, recurrent respiratory tract infections but with normal B cell subpopulations in the peripheral blood.

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A new allergen family involved in pollen food associated syndrome: snakin/gibberellin regulated proteins

At least two pollen food associated syndromes were described with cypress pollen allergy involving peach and citrus. Snakin/gibberellin regulated proteins are described herein to be the cross-reactive allergens between Cupressus sempervirens pollen and fruit/vegetables.

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Alesutan I.

Translational regulation of the serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase-1 (SGK1) in platelets. Pelzl L., Biochem. ... Res. Commun. 425, 1-5(2012).

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Drug eruption caused by enzalutamide: A case and literature review of androgen receptor inhibitor-related drug eruptions

Abstract

Enzalutamide is an androgen receptor inhibitor. We report a new cutaneous eruption to this drug and review cases of drug eruptions caused by androgen receptor inhibitors.

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Congenital pharyngeal webs: Treatment of a rare clinical entity by endoscopic CO2 laser approach

Oesophageal inlet stenosis can promote dysphagia and aspiration. We report the cases of syndromic children with congenital pharyngeal webs successfully treated with endoscopic CO2 laser.

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A new technique for creating a neo-umbilicus in abdominoplasty

The umbilicus is an essential feature of the abdomen. In this article we describe a new technique for creating a neo-umbilicus in abdominoplasties.

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Brazilian Portuguese version of the Female Genital Self Image Scale (FGSIS) for women seeking abdominoplasty

Female body image is a multifaceted construct associated with satisfaction with specific body parts (e.g., abdomen, arms, thighs, among others), body size, and feeling comfortable showing the body to the partner or others1,2. These perceptions and feelings about the body are influenced by socio-cultural aspects and personal views, and may affect sexual performance and satisfaction3. Changes in body image are particularly evident in women who have experienced changes in the body, including pregnancy, weight gain, serious diseases such as cancer, and aging.

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Re: Impact of the Method and Success of Pharyngeal Reconstruction on the Outcome of Treating Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancers with Pharyngolaryngectomy: A National Analysis

Life expectancy is crucial to evaluate in patients that undergo pharyngolaryngectomy, in order to be able to choose the best reconstructive strategy for each case. Ileocolon free flap represents our preference when voice reconstruction is aimed, especially in patients with long life expectancy.

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