The effects of exercise on mechanical hyperalgesia, joint contracture, and muscle injury resulting from immobilization are not completely understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cyclic stretching on these parameters in a rat model of chronic post-cast pain (CPCP). Seventeen 8-week-old Wistar rats were randomly assigned to (1) control group, (2) immobilization (CPCP) group, or (3) immobilization and stretching exercise (CPCP+STR) group. In the CPCP and CPCP+STR groups, both hindlimbs of each rat were immobilized in full plantar flexion with a plaster cast for a 4-week period. In the CPCP+STR group, cyclic stretching exercise was performed 6 days/week for 2 weeks, beginning immediately after cast removal prior to reloading. Although mechanical hyperalgesia in the plantar skin and calf muscle, ankle joint contracture, and gastrocnemius muscle injury were observed in both immobilized groups, these changes were significantly less severe in the CPCP+STR group than in the CPCP group. These results clearly demonstrate the beneficial effect of cyclic stretching exercises on widespread mechanical hyperalgesia, joint contracture, and muscle injury in a rat model of CPCP., Kazuhiro Hayashi, Saori Fukuyasu-Matsuo, Takayuki Inoue, Mitsuhiro Fujiwara, Yuji Asai, Masahiro Iwata, Shigeyuki Suzuki., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The frequent occurrence of monsoon winds usually leads to the formation of inverted soybean leaves. However, the effect of leaf inversion on photosynthetic capacity remains unclear. The responses of leaf anatomical traits, chlorophyll fluorescence induction kinetics parameters, photosynthetic capacity, and nonstructural carbohydrates of fully expanded leaves to inversion of leaves in two soybean cultivars were studied. Leaf inversion decreased the stomatal size and thickness of developed leaves. The net photosynthetic rate was significantly reduced under leaf inversion, which resulted from reduced excitation energy trapping and electron transport of PSII reaction center. Leaf inversion increased leaf temperature 10 d after leaf inversion but reduced the instantaneous water-use efficiency compared to normally oriented leaves. Due to the decreased light-saturated net photosynthetic rate, the soluble sugars of light-sensitive cultivar decreased significantly. In summary, leaf inversion deactivated the PSⅡ reaction centers, reduced photosynthesis and nonstructural carbohydrates in upper canopy soybean leaves.
The Tisza River Basin is an important area as it is a green corridor in which there are highly endangered habitats and a high level of biodiversity. The patterns in the species richness of invertebrates and the environmental conditions affecting these patterns are poorly studied in the grassy habitats in the lower reaches of the Tisza River Basin. The present study focuses on the effects of flooding, habitat and landscape features on the species richness of orthopterans at 24 grassland sites in two different landscapes. The relations between the explanatory variables and the pattern of diversity of orthopterans with different life-history traits were studied, using ordination and Generalized Linear Mixed Models. Although the influential factors for the different trait groups differed, we suggest that landscape features are the most important in shaping orthopteran assemblages, whereas habitat characteristics and flooding have comparatively little effect. Habitat characteristics affected only the non-xerophilous and Ensifera species and only the species richness of non-xerophilous orthopterans in flooded and non-flooded sites differed. We emphasize that even in countries where there are still considerable areas of high value natural grasslands, such as Hungary, non-protected meadows, linear grassy habitats (dikes, ditch banks, road verges, etc.) need more attention and should be given higher priority in the conservation of invertebrates., Attila Torma, Miklós Bozsó., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Histidine (HIS) is investigated for therapy of various disorders and as a nutritional supplement to enhance muscle performance. We examined effects of HIS on amino acid and protein metabolism. Rats consumed HIS in a drinking water at a dose of 0.5 g/l (low HIS), 2 g/l (high HIS) or 0 g/l (control) for 4 weeks. At the end of the study, the animals were euthanized and blood plasma, liver, soleus (SOL), tibialis (TIB), and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles analysed. HIS supplementation increased food intake, body weight and mass and protein contents of the liver and kidneys, but not muscles. In blood plasma there were increases in glucose, urea, and several amino acids, particularly alanine, proline, aspartate, and glutamate and in high HIS group, ammonia was increased. The main findings in the liver were decreased concentrations of methionine, aspartate, and glycine and increased alanine. In muscles of HIS-consuming animals increased alanine and glutamine. In high HIS group (in SOL and TIB) increased chymotrypsin-like activity of proteasome (indicates increased proteolysis); in SOL decreased anserine (beta-alanyl-N1-methylhistidine). We conclude that HIS supplementation increases ammonia production, alanine and glutamine synthesis in muscles, affects turnover of proteins and HIScontaining peptides, and increases requirements for glycine and methionine.
Facultative diapause in the wax moth, Galleria mellonella, occurs in the final larval instar. Application of juvenile hormone analogs (JHAs) to the larvae of this species has similar effects to diapause, in terms of prolonged development of the larval stages and the arrest in the metamorphosis of internal organs. Here, we focus on testes development and spermatogenesis at the end of larval development in G. mellonella, how they are affected by diapause induced by an environmental decrease in temperature to 18°C and the application of a JHA (fenoxycarb) to larvae. Because neither testis development nor spermatogenesis are described in detail for this species, we examined them in individuals not in diapause during the period from the last larval instar to the newly emerged adult and present a timetable of changes that occur in the development of testes in this species. These observations have increased the very limited data on the course of spermatogenesis in pyralid insects. We then used these data for comparative analysis of testes in larvae from two experimental groups: individuals in diapause and those treated with fenoxycarb. The results on the general morphology testes revealed obvious degenerative changes caused by fenoxycarb (but not by diapause), including testicular wall hypertrophy and disarrangement of testicular follicles. Moreover, treatment with fenoxycarb finally resulted in the disintegration of nearly all testicular cyst-containing germ cells at different stages of spermatogenesis, a situation never previously described in the literature. In contrast, the main effect of diapause on testes was merely the degeneration of spermatocytes in the proximal regions of the testicular follicles. Finally, the TUNEL analyses, revealed that the degenerative changes in germ cells were apoptotic in character in the testes of both individuals in diapause and fenoxycarb-treated males., Piotr Bebas, Bronislaw Cymborowski, Michalina Kazek, Marta Anna Polanska., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Respiration changes intrathoracic pressure and lung volumes in a cyclic manner, which affect cardiac function. Invasive ventricular pressure-volume (PV) loops can be recorded during ongoing mechanical ventilation or in transient apnea. No consensus exists considering ventilatory mode during PV loop recording. The objective of this study was to investigate the magnitude of any systematic difference of bi-ventricular PV loop variables recorded during mechanical ventilation versus apnea. PV loops were recorded simultaneously from the right ventricle and left ventricle in a closed chest porcine model during mechanical ventilation and in transient apnea (n=72). Variables were compared by regression analyses. Mechanical ventilation versus apnea affected regression coefficients for important PV variables including right ventricular stroke volume (1.22, 95% CI [1.08-1.36], p=0.003), right ventricular ejection fraction (0.90, 95% CI [0.81-1.00], p=0.043) and right ventricular arterial elastance (0.61, 95%CI [0.55-0.68], p<0.0001). Right ventricular pressures and volumes were parallelly shifted with Y-intercepts different from 0. Few left ventricular variables were affected, mainly first derivatives of pressure (dP/dt(max): 0.96, 95% CI [0.92-0.99], p=0.016, and dP/dt(min): 0.92, 95% CI [0.86-0.99], p=0.026), which might be due to decreased heart rate in apnea (Y-intercept -6.88, 95% CI [-12.22; -1.54], p=0.012). We conclude, that right ventricular stroke volume, ejection fraction and arterial elastance were mostly affected by apnea compared to mechanical ventilation. The results motivate future standardization of respiratory modality when measuring PV relationships.
The presence of the parasitic copepod Neoalbionella globosa in the olfactory chamber of a specimen of the catshark Scyliorhinus canicula has been already reported in the literature, but this is the first record from the north-western Mediterranean Sea. Besides confirming this host-parasite association in the Ligurian Sea, the present study aims to describe some effects of the copepod's presence on the olfactory system of S. canicula, thus inferring potential effects of nasal parasites on olfaction. The copepod was accidentally found during a sampling campaign. The copepod, a mature female with well-developed egg sacs, parasitized the right olfactory rosette; the rosette presented visible swelling in some of the olfactory lamellae while, histologically, restricted edema was detectable close to the zone of attachment. The ipsilateral olfactory bulb, which receives the primary olfactory afferences, had a smaller number of cells and smaller neuron density compared to the contralateral bulb and to the average values for non-parasitized specimens of the same size. The results suggest that, although the olfactory rosette does not seem severely damaged, the presence of the parasite could deeply affect the highly efficient water flow within the nasal chamber, potentially causing partial olfactory impairment.
Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) have some strong advantages over more traditional types of contraception, including their consistently high contraceptive effect as well as multiple additional positive side effects. OCPs went through decades of intense pharmaceutical development and current formulas are well optimized – however, a handful of their negative side effects remain, including some that affect cardiovascular system, for example higher risk of hypertension, venous thromboembolism and increased arterial stiffness. The gold standard for arterial stiffness assessment is currently applanation tonometry, a method that relies on arterial pulse wave velocity measurement (PWV). Another possible method for arterial stiffness measurement is the use of the VaSera device, which measures cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI). The aim of this study was to discover the effect of OCPs use on selected cardiovascular parameters related to arterial stiffness. We measured these cardiovascular parameters in the OCPs using group (OCP) and in the control group (CTRL) using applanation tonometer Sphygmocor and the VaSera device. Comparison of the data from both groups showed us significantly increased diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (crPWV) as well as significantly lower subendocardial viability index (SVI) in the OCP. These results imply a negative effect of hormonal contraceptives on the cardiovascular system with most of the negative changes affecting the peripheral arteries. Despite this evidence supporting the hypothesis of OCPs having a negative effect on cardiovascular health, further research is necessary.
Trapped or residual air (or gas) is known to affect the multiphase hydraulic properties of both soils and rocks. Trapped air is known to impact many vadose zone hydrologic applications such as infiltration and flow in the capillary fringe, but is also a major issue affecting recoverable oil reserves. Although many studies have focused on the relationship between porosity and trapped gas saturation (Sgt) in sandstones, far fewer studies have been carried out for carbonate rocks. This work aims to analyze the influence of porous media properties on trapped gas saturation in carbonate rocks. For this we used thirteen Indiana Limestone and Silurian dolomite rock samples from the USA, and several coquinas from the Morro do Chaves formation in Brazil. Pore size distributions were obtained for all samples using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and Mercury Injection Capillary Pressure (MICP) data from three of the samples to determine their pore throat size distributions. Additionally, 3D microtomography (microCT) images were used to quantify macropore profiles and pore connectivities. Results indicate a lower capacity of gas trapping in carbonate rocks in which micro- and mesopores predominate. Results also indicate that in carbonate rocks, pore size exerts a greater influence on the ability of gas trapping compared to pore connectivity, so that rocks with a predominance of macropores have greater capacity for gas trapping, even when the macropores are well interconnected. These findings show that pore characteristics very much affect the processes governing gas trapping in carbonate rocks, and indirectly the multiphase hydraulic properties and recoverable oil reserves of carbonate rock reservoirs.
Objectives. At the beginning of the War in East-ern Ukraine, military personnel of the Armed Forces, National Guard of Ukraine (NGU), and soldiers of volunteer battalions, who had no combat experience for the first time faced the death of their comrades. This study aims to de-termine the effects of posttraumatic stress and combat losses on the mental health of combat-ants and to develop the typology of their resil-ience to extreme events.Sample and settings.N = 117 NGU male offic-ers (76% of contract military members and 24% of officers) participated in the study. These com-batants were withdrawn from the combat zone in June 2014 due to combat losses and the death of the unit commander.Hypothesis. After participating in hostilities, military personnel developed different types of personality resilience to the effects of traumatic stress.Statistical analyses. The participants’ typification of resilience and adaptation to extreme events was determined by hierarchical cluster analysis. The differences between groups in mean values were determined using Student’s t-test.Results. Four types of personality resilience to combat stressors were identified: “Those who predicted danger” (68.38%), “Those who were open to danger” (21.37%), “Those who identified themself with the role of the vic-tim” (6.83%), and “Those who hid their fear” (3.42%). The results showed that self-identifi-cation of a personality with symptoms of acute stress disorder affects the features of the imple-mentation of the anxiety buffer role. Limitations. The conclusions on the anxiety buffer role for the formation of PTSD require clarification and further studies. and Cíle. Na začátku války na východní Ukrajině vojáci ukrajinské armády (NGU – Národní gar-da Ukrajiny) a vojáci dobrovolnických praporů, kteří neměli bojové zkušenosti, se poprvé setka-li se smrtí svých spolubojovníků. Cílem tohoto výzkumu bylo zjistit dopady posttraumatického stresu a ztrát v boji na mentální zdraví vojáků a vytvořit typologii jejich resilience vůči extrém-ním událostem.Soubor. Výzkumu se zúčastnilo 117 mužů – dů-stojníků NGU (76 % smluvních vojáků a 24 % důstojníků z povolání). Tito vojáci byli staže-ni z bojové zóny v červnu 2014 kvůli ztrátám v boji a smrti velitele jednotky.Hypotéza. Po účasti v bojích si vojáci vyvinuli různé typy osobní resilience vůči dopadům trau-matického stresu.Statistická analýza. Typologizace resilience účastníků výzkumu a adaptace na extrémní události byla určena hierarchickou trsovou ana-lýzou. Získaná data byla popsána základními popisnými statistikami. Rozdíly mezi skupina-mi ve středních hodnotách byly zjištěny Studen-tovým t-testem.Výsledky. Byly vyčleněny čtyři typy resilience osobnosti vůči bojovým stresorům: „Ti, kdo predikovali nebezpečí“ (68,38 %), „Ti, kdo byli otevřeni nebezpečí“ (21,37 %), „Ti, kdo se identifikovali s rolí oběti“ (6,83 %), a „Ti, kdo skryli svůj strach“ (3,42 %). Výsledky ukázaly, že sebeidentifikace osoby se symptomy akutní stresové poruchy ovlivňuje prvky realizace ná-razníkové role úzkosti.Omezení studie. Závěry o nárazníkové roli úz-kosti pro utváření PTSD vyžadují objasnění a další výzkumy.