Glucagon-like-peptide 2 (GLP-2) is an endogenous enteroendocrine physiological trophic peptide. Glepaglutide is a novel long-acting GLP-2 analog under development for the treatment of patients with Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS). The objective of this work was to compare the small intestinal trophic effects in both genders following short (1 week) versus long-term (26-39 weeks) GLP-2 treatment in Wistar rats and Beagle dogs. Following both short- and long-term treatment with glepaglutide, a significant dose-dependent intestinotrophic effect was seen in both genders and species. At all doses increased length and weight of the small intestine as well as macroscopic thickening and villous hypertrophy were noted in all segments of the small intestine, without any differences between genders. The findings were still present following a 6-week recovery period, indicating long-acting intestinotrophic effects of glepaglutide. These studies demonstrate that a long-acting GLP-2 analog (glepaglutide) has a fast onset and long duration of intestinotrophic action with similar profile in both genders and species (rat and dog).
Arterial compliance (C) is a complex parameter influencing ventricular-arterial coupling depending on structural (arterial wall remodeling) and functional (blood pressure, smooth muscles tone) changes. Based on Windkessel model, C can be calculated as the ratio of a time constant Tau characterizing diastolic blood pressure decay and total peripheral resistance (TPR). The aim of this study was to assess changes of C in the context of systolic arterial pressure (SAP) perturbations during four physiological states (supine rest, head-up tilt, supine recovery, mental arithmetic). In order to compare pressure independent changes of C a new index of C120 was proposed predicting C value at 120 mm Hg of SAP. Eighty-one healthy young subjects (48 f, average age 18.6 years) were examined. Hemodynamic parameters were measured beat-to-beat using volume-clamp photoplethysmographic method and impedance cardiography. We observed that C was strongly related to SAP values on the beat-to-beat time scale. Interestingly, C120 decreased significantly during stress phases. In conclusion, potential changes of SAP should be considered when measuring C. Arterial compliance changes in the opposite direction to TPR pointing towards influence of vascular tone changes on its value.
Despite the increasing interest in applying composts as soil amendments worldwide, there is a lack of knowledge on short-term effects of compost amendments on soil structural and hydraulic properties. Our goal was to study the effect of compost and vermicompost-based soil amendments on soil structure, soil water retention characteristics, aggregate stability and plant water use efficiency compared to that of mineral fertilizers and food-waste digestate and examine if these effects are evident within a short time after application. We set up a pot experiment with spring wheat using a sandy and a loamy soil receiving either mineral fertilizer (MF); dewatered digestate from anaerobic digestion of food waste (DG), vermicomposted digestate (VC_DG); sewage sludge-based compost (C_SS) and sewage sludge-based vermicompost (VC_SS). We then monitored and calculated the soil water balance components (irrigation, outflow, evaporation, transpiration, and soil water content). At harvest, we measured shoot biomass, soil texture, bulk density, water retention characteristics and aggregate stability. The irrigation use efficiency (IE) and the plant water use efficiency (WUE) were calculated for each treatment by dividing the transpiration and the dry shoot biomass with the amount of water used for irrigation, respectively. For the sandy soil, we used X-Ray computed tomography to visualise the pore system after applying organic amendments and to derive metrics of the pore-network such as its fractal dimension, imaged macroporosity and critical pore diameter. X-Ray tomography indicated that composting and vermicomposting resulted in more complex and diverse porous system and increased soil macroporosity. The increased fractal dimensions also indicated that compost and vermicompost can contribute to structure formation and stabilization within a short time after their application. Despite the small application rate and short incubation time, the application of organic amendments to the two different soil types resulted in improved soil water holding capacity and water use efficiency. Composting and vermicomposting appeared to have the best effect at reducing the irrigation demand and evaporation losses and increasing the water use efficiency of the plant, likely through their effect on soil structure and the pore-size distribution.
Sibling competition leading to physiological stress and elevated allostatic load is driven by asymmetrical development and limited resources. To investigate these predictions, we studied broods of the lesser kestrel Falco naumanni, from a nest-box population in Armenio, Central Greece. For each nestling reared in nest-boxes, we noted the age (in days) since hatching, measured the wing chord length and body mass. We also clipped the central right rectrix for ptilochronology for subsequent analysis in the laboratory. We measured 206 nestlings from 61 broods (range 2-5 nestlings). In the case of nestlings < 18 days old (n = 198, 96.1% of all) we also measured the length of feathers. As a measure of body condition, we used the residuals of the linear regression for the relationship between wing chord length and body mass, while the growth bar width of feathers was used as a second, independent index of body size and allostatic load. A GLMM and information-theory criterion showed that both measures of body condition decreased incrementally from the first sibling to the most subordinate in the brood. Body condition of subordinate siblings was influenced by the number of siblings in the nest; i.e. the larger the brood size the greater the discrepancy in body condition between siblings. At the same time, we did not find any influence of sex on either measure of fitness. Thus, our results indirectly support the hypothesis that sibling competition may cause physiological developmental stress which is reflected in decreased body condition and increased allostatic load for younger nestlings.
The aim of the article is to examine side effects of increased dietary intake of amino acids, which are commonly used as a dietary supplement. In addition to toxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity, attention is focused on renal and gastrointestinal tract functions, ammonia production, and consequences of a competition with other amino acids for a carrier at the cell membranes and enzymes responsible for their degradation. In alphabetic order are examined arginine, β-alanine, branchedchain amino acids, carnosine, citrulline, creatine, glutamine, histidine, β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate, leucine, and tryptophan. In the article is shown that enhanced intake of most amino acid supplements may not be risk-free and can cause a number of detrimental side effects. Further research is necessary to elucidate effects of high doses and long-term consumption of amino acid supplements on immune system, brain function, muscle protein balance, synthesis of toxic metabolites, and tumor growth and examine their suitability under certain circumstances. These include elderly, childhood, pregnancy, nursing a baby, and medical condition, such as diabetes and liver disease. Studies are also needed to examine adaptive response to a long-term intake of any substance and consequences of discontinuation of supplementation.
Information and communication technology are promising channels in delivering the mindful-ness-based intervention. A common problem in these interventions is the lack of study of treat-ment adherence. The current article summarizes the state of measuring and reporting adherence, the rate of adherence, and possible predictors of adherence in the form of a systematic review following the PRISMA statement. A database search of PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, Scopus, and PsychINFO identified 3104 poten-tially relevant articles published up to the end of December 2019. The review focuses only on the SARS-CoV-2 pre-pandemic time because the accelerated development of the eHealth Mind-fulness-based interventions and a vast amount of newly published interventions in the follow-ing years was expected. A total of 69 studies met all the eligibility criteria. Out of these studies, 61% reported some measure of adherence and 36% reported the adherence rate. The adherence rate in clinical populations ranged from 41% to 92%; in non-clinical populations, it ranged from 1% to 85%. Predictors of adherence were inves-tigated in 48% of the studies; however, the ma-jority of assessed variables had mixed findings about predicting adherence. There was a huge variety in the definitions and measurements of adherence. A standardized system of measuring and reporting adherence and further investiga-tion of its predictors is needed. and Informační a komunikační technologie předsta-vují nové a slibné kanály, jak lze k uživatelům doručit intervence založené na Mindfulness pří-stupu. Běžným problémem v této oblasti apliko-vaného výzkumu je nedostatek evidence o adhe-renci ke zmíněným programům. Aktuální článek ve formě systematické review podle PRISMA protokolu shrnuje informace o tom, jaká je ad-herence k intervencím ve studiích zabývajících se eHealth Mindfulness programy, jak je adhe-rence měřena a co jsou její možné prediktory. V databázích PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, Scopus a PsychINFO bylo do konce roku 2019 identifikováno 3104 potenciálně relevantních článků. Vzhledem k očekávanému nárůstu im-plementace eHealth programů na podporu du-ševního zdraví pro zdravou i klinickou populaci v důsledku pandemie SARS-CoV-2, se stávající review zabývala jen studiemi před začátkem pandemie. 69 z nich splnilo všechna vstupní kri-téria pro systematickou review. 61 % studií ve svých výsledcích prezentovalo různé parametry adherence, 36 % pak prezentovalo základní tzv. adherence rate. Míra adherence v klinických populacích se pohybovala od 41 % do 92 %; v neklinických populacích se pohybovala od 1 % do 85 %. Prediktory adherence byly zkoumány ve 48 % studií, většina hodnocených proměn-ných však přinesla značně heterogenní výsled-ky. Velká heterogenita byla pozorována také v samotné definici adherence a ve způsobech a nástrojích jejího měření. Aktuální systematická review jednoznačně dokládá potřebu standardi-zovaného systému měření adherence a dalšího výzkumu v oblasti jejích prediktorů.
Galleria mellonella larvae spin protective tubes, which they use until they finish feeding, when they spin cocoons. A feeding choice experiment showed that some of the silk produced by feeding larvae was consumed in addition to the standard diet (STD). To determine the effect of feeding on silk, last instar larvae were fed for 24 h on foods based on STD but modified by replacing the dry milk component (10% of the diet) with equal amounts of different kinds of silk. While each control larva consumed 21 ± 0.5 mg of the STD and produced 4.5 ± 0.1 mg of silk, larvae that ate the food that contained larval silk consumed 10 ± 0.4 mg of food and produced 6.1 ± 0.1 mg silk; the percentage ratio of silk produced to diet consumed was 21% and 61%, respectively. A more pronounced reduction in food consumption occurred when larvae were supplied with Galleria "cocoon" silk or the sericin fraction of such silk, and only 3.8 mg/larva was ingested of the diet containing Bombyx mori cocoon silk or its sericin fraction. Silk production expressed in terms of percentage of diet consumed was always higher than that recorded for larvae fed STD. We conclude that G. mellonella larvae recycle part of the silk that they produce during feeding. Presence of silk in the diet reduces food intake but increases the ratio of silk production to diet consumption. Sericin fraction of the cocoon silk seems to deter feeding., Haq Abdul Shaik, Archana Mishra, František Sehnal., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Pulmonary hypertension is a group of disorders characterized by elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance. To test our hypothesis that combining two drugs useful in experimental pulmonary hypertension, statins and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), is more effective than either agent alone, we induced pulmonary hypertension in adult male rats by exposing them to hypoxia (10 %O2) for 3 weeks. We treated them with simvastatin (60 mg/l) and DHEA-S (100 mg/l) in drinking water, either alone or in combination. Both simvastatin and DHEA-S reduced mPAP (froma mean±s.d. of 34.4±4.4 to 27.6±5.9 and 26.7±4.8 mmHg, respectively), yet their combination was not more effective (26.7±7.9 mmHg). Differences in the degree of oxidative stress (indicated by malondialdehydeplasma concentration), the rate of superoxide production (electron paramagnetic resonance), or blood nitric oxide levels (chemiluminescence) did not explain the lack of additivity of the effect of DHEA-S and simvastatin on pulmonary hypertension. We propose that the main mechanism of both drugs on pulmonary hypertension could be their inhibitory effect on 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, which could explain their lack of additivity.
Male dimorphism in insects is often accompanied by alternative mating tactics, which may, together with morphological traits, determine fitness of the different male morphs. Fitness consequences of male head horn size, male-male competition and male nest-staying behaviour were experimentally assessed in Copris acutidens, in which major and minor males can co-occur in nests. Possible differences in their reproductive behaviour and breeding success were assayed in a breeding experiment, in which females were paired with one major male, one minor male, or a pair of major and minor males. The advantage of major males staying in a nest along with a rival male is that major males are reproductively more successful than minor males in this species. The weight of dung transported into nests was significantly less in rearing containers containing two males than in those with a single male of either morph, although it did not differ between major and minor males when kept alone. The results indicate that the presence of a rival male negatively affects male provisioning due to interference from rival males. In contrast, in the present study, an increased incidence of male nest-staying behaviour was recorded in the two- male and one minor male treatment than in the one major male treatment. These results indicate that because of the risk of sperm competition, major males stay longer in nests if a rival male is present. Furthermore, minor males (which are subject to a higher risk of sperm competition) stay longer than major males in nests without a rival male. In other words, the present study revealed an alternative behaviour during the post-copulatory stage associated with horn dimorphism and the presence or absence of a rival male., Mayumi Akamine., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The ongoing process of climate change will result in higher temperatures during winter and therefore might increase the survival of overwintering invertebrates. However, the process may also lead to a reduction in snow cover and expose overwintering invertebrates to lower temperatures, which could result in higher mortality. During a field experiment, I investigated the effects of a reduction in snow cover on the survival of the ant Temnothorax crassispinus, which overwinters in nests located on the ground. Ant colonies differed in the survival rate of the workers in the experimental (from which snow cover was removed) and control group. In the control group, the survival rate was unrelated to colony size. However, in the experimental group, from which snow was removed after each heavy snowfall, worker survival was lower in small colonies. Such colony size related mortality may affect the fusion of colonies before winter. and Sławomir Mitrus.