About 30 percent of patients diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) progress to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The senescence of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) seems to be one of the determining factors in inducing this drift. Research is continuously looking for new methodologies and technologies that can use bioelectric signals to act on senescence and cell differentiation towards the phenotype of interest. The Radio Electric Asymmetric Conveyer (REAC) technology, aimed at reorganizing the endogenous bioelectric activity, has already shown to be able to determine direct cell reprogramming effects and counteract the senescence mechanisms in stem cells. Aim of the present study was to prove if the anti-senescence results previously obtained in different kind of stem cells with the REAC Tissue optimization – regenerative (TO-RGN) treatment, could also be observed in BMSCs, evaluating cell viability, telomerase activity, p19ARF, P21, P53, and hTERT gene expression. The results show that the REAC TORGN treatment may be a useful tool to counteract the BMSCs senescence which can be the basis of AML drift. Nevertheless, further clinical studies on humans are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Amiodarone seems to exhibit some antiviral activity in the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Here we have examined the SARS-CoV-2 disease course in the entire population of the Czech Republic and compared it with the course of the disease in patients treated with amiodarone in two major Prague’s hospitals. In the whole population of the Czech Republic SARSCoV-2 infected 1665070 persons (15.6 %) out of 10694000 (100 %) between 1 April 2020 and 30 June 2021. In the same time period only 35 patients (3.4 %) treated with amiodarone were infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus out of 1032 patients (100 %) who received amiodarone. It appears that amiodarone can prevent SARS-CoV-2 virus infection by multiple mechanisms. In in-vitro experiments it exhibits SARS-CoV-2 virus replication inhibitions. Due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it may have beneficial effect on the complications caused by SARS-CoV-2 as well. Additionally, inorganic iodine released from amiodarone can be converted to hypoiodite (IO- ), which has antiviral and antibacterial activity, and thus can affect the life cycle of the virus.
The ants of the genus Protalaridris are revised based upon their morphology. Seven species are recognized; the type species (P. armata Brown, 1980) and six species described as new: P. aculeata Lattke & Alpert, sp. n., P. arhuaca Guerrero, Lattke & Alpert, sp. n., P. bordoni Lattke, sp. n., P. leponcei Delsinne & Lattke, sp. n., P. loxanensis Lattke, sp. n., and P. punctata Lattke, sp. n. The genus is patchily distributed in mesic forested areas from western Panama to northern Venezuela and along the Andes to the Amazon watershed of southwestern Peru. The generic description is modified to accommodate a short-mandibulate species. Sporadic biological observations of one long-mandibulate species suggest they are sit-and-wait ambush predators that open their jaws to approximately 180° when stalking. All species are described and imaged, an identification key and a distribution map is provided. Comparing the mandibular morphology of long-mandibulate Protalaridris with other extant and extinct ants bearing elongate, dorsoanterior arching mandibles suggests the supposed mandibular apex in these taxa is actually a hypertrophied, preapical tooth and their supposed basal mandibular tooth is the main mandibular shaft., John E. Lattke, Thibaut Delsinne, Gary D. Alpert, Roberto J. Guerrero., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Despite the fact that vessels have sparse cholinergic innervation, acetylcholine (ACh), the primary neurotransmitter of parasympathetic nervous system, has been commonly used in physiological experiments to assess vascular function. ACh is hydrolyzed by two cholinesterases (ChE), namely acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). However, little is known about these enzymes in blood vessels. The aim of the project was to characterize the expression and activity of ChE in rat aorta. As the effect of ACh on vascular tone depends on the presence of endothelium, Wistar rats were used as a model with intact endothelium and spontaneously hypertensive rats as a model of impaired endothelial function. Relative expressions of both ChE in different parts of the aorta were determined using RT-qPCR. Enzyme activities were assessed in tissue homogenates by Ellman's assay. Here we showed that both ChE are present in each part of rat aorta, while mRNA is more abundant for BChE than for AChE, irrespective of aortic compartment or genotype. Normotensive Wistar rats possess higher aortic mRNA expression and activity of BChE compared to SHR. We concluded that BChE is the dominant type of ChE in rat aorta and it might play an important role in the regulation of vascular tone., Kristína Szmicseková, Lenka Bies Piváčková, Zuzana Kiliánová, Ľubica Slobodová, Peter Křenek, Anna Hrabovská., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Atrial fibrillation is associated with atrial remodeling, in which connexin 43 (Cx43) and cell hypertrophy play important roles. In this study, apelin-13, an aliphatic peptide, was used to explore the protective effects of the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mTOR signaling pathway on Cx43 expression and autophagy, using murine atrial HL-1 cells. The expression of Cx43, AMPK, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and pathway-related proteins was detected by Western blot analysis. Cellular fluorescence imaging was used to visualize Cx43 distribution and the cytoskeleton. Our results showed that the Cx43 expression was significantly decreased in HL-1 cells treated with angiotensin II but increased in cells additionally treated with apelin-13. Meanwhile, apelin-13 decreased BNP expression and increased AMPK expression. However, the expression of Cx43 and LC3 increased by apelin-13 was inhibited by treatment with compound C, an AMPK inhibitor. In addition, rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, promoted the development of autophagy, further inhibited the protective effect on Cx43 expression and increased cell hypertrophy. Thus, apelin-13 enhances Cx43 expression and autophagy via the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway, and serving as a potential therapeutic target for atrial fibrillation., Yifan Chen, Xi Qiao, Lijun Zhang, Xuewen Li, Qinghua Liu., and Obsahuje bibliografii
We have evaluated the therapeutic effect of a compound mixture of caprylic acid (200 mg/kg fish), organic iron (0.2% of diet) and mannan oligosaccharide (0.4% of diet) in gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata Linnaeus, infected with Sparicotyle chrysophrii Beneden et Hesse, 1863 in controlled conditions. One hundred and ten reared and S. chrysophrii-free fish (197 g) located in a cement tank were infected by the parasite two weeks following the addition of 150 S. chrysophrii-infected fish (70 g). Growth parameters and gill parasitic load were measured in treated against control fish after a ten-week-period. Differences in final weight, feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate and feed efficiency were not statistically significant between the experimental groups, suggesting no evident effect with respect to fish growth during the study period. Although the prevalence of S. chrysophrii was not affected by the mixture at the end of the experiment, the number of adults and larvae was significantly lower. The mean intensity encompassing the number of adults and larvae was 8.1 in treated vs 17.7 in control fish. Individual comparisons of gill arches showed that the preferred parasitism site for S. chrysophrii it the outermost or fourth gill arch, consistently apparent in fish fed the modified diet and in control fish. In conclusion, the combined application of caprylic acid, organic iron and mannan oligosaccharide can significantly affect the evolution of infection with S. chrysophrii in gilthead sea bream, being capable of reducing adult and larval stages of the monogenean. However, no difference in growth improvement was observed after the trial period, potentially leaving space for further optimisation of the added dietary compounds., George Rigos, Ivona Mladineo, Chrysa Nikoloudaki, Anamarija Vrbatovic, Dimitra Kogiannou., and Obsahuje bibliografii
In this work we report on the implementation of methods for data processing signals from microelectrode arrays (MEA) and the application of these methods for signals originated from two types of MEAs to detect putative neurons and sort them into subpopulations. We recorded electrical signals from firing neurons using titanium nitride (TiN) and boron doped diamond (BDD) MEAs. In previous research, we have shown that these methods have the capacity to detect neurons using commerciallyavailable TiN-MEAs. We have managed to cultivate and record hippocampal neurons for the first time using a newly developed custom-made multichannel BDD-MEA with 20 recording sites. We have analysed the signals with the algorithms developed and employed them to inspect firing bursts and enable spike sorting. We did not observe any significant difference between BDD- and TiN-MEAs over the parameters, which estimated spike shape variability per each detected neuron. This result supports the hypothesis that we have detected real neurons, rather than noise, in the BDD-MEA signal. BDD materials with suitable mechanical, electrical and biocompatibility properties have a large potential in novel therapies for treatments of neural pathologies, such as deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease.
Authors propose a beneficial methodology for hydrological planning in their study. Prospective evaluations of the basins' net capacity can be done using the technique presented. The HEC-HMS (Hydrologic Modelling System) software can be used to estimate in a basin, the sediment emitted. For a certain precipitation, this methodology allows estimating, within a certain range, the gradual blockage of a reservoir, and even a projected date for total blockage. This has some applications to adopt corrective measures that prevent or delay the planned blockage deadlines. The model is of the semi-distributed type, estimating the generation and emission of sediments by sub-basins. The integration of different return periods in HEC-HMS with a semi-distributed model by sub-basins and the application of a mathematical model are the differentiating element of this research. The novelty of this work is to allow prognosing the reservoir sedimentation rate of basins in a local and regional scale with a medium and large temporary framework. The developed methodology allows public institutions to take decisions concerning hydrological planning. It has been applied to the case of "Charco Redondo" reservoir, in Cádiz, Andalusia, in southern Spain. Applying the methodology to this case, an average soil degradation of the reservoir basin has been estimated. Therefore, it is verified that in 50 years the reservoir is expected to lose 8.4% of its capacity.
Vapor condensation, whether due to dew or fog, may add a stable and important source of water to deserts. This was also extensively assessed in the Negev, regarded as a dew desert. Dew deserts necessitate a large reservoir of vapor, and are therefore confined to near oceans or seas. Yet, examples of such deserts are scarce. Here we try to assess whether the Tabernas Desert in SE Spain can be regarded as a dew desert, and may therefore facilitate the growth of certain organisms that otherwise would not survive the dry season. We analyze some of the abiotic conditions of four relatively dry months (June, July, August, September) in the Tabernas and Negev deserts (with the Negev taken as an example of a dew desert) during 2003–2012. The analysis showed substantially lower values of relative humidity (by 10–13%) in the Tabernas in comparison to the Negev, with RH ≥95% being on average only 0.9–1.1 days a month in the Tabernas in comparison to 9.7–13.9 days in the Negev. Our findings imply that the Tabernas Desert cannot be regarded as a dew desert, suggesting that rain will be the main factor responsible for the food web chain in the Tabernas.