The Chinese white pine beetle, Dendroctonus armandi Tsai and Li is a native species of bark beetle and one of the most destructive in much of western China. Little is known about the characterization of the pheromones trans-verbenol and verbenone, and their functions in D. armandi are unknown. Electroantennogram tests (EAG) and olfactory assays (Y-tube assays) in the laboratory revealed that (1) trans-verbenol may be an anti-aggregation pheromone for male and an aggregation pheromone for female D. armandi and (2) female beetles are more attracted to controls (hexane) than low concentrations of verbenone and male beetles more attracted to controls than high concentrations of verbenone. Field trials indicated that the addition of verbenone to bait used to trap D. armandi remarkably decreased the efficiency of field trapping. These results indicate that verbenone is an anti-aggregation pheromone for male D. armandi. This research provides evidence of the role of verbenone among the different types of pheromones. The pheromone verbenone clearly could be used to protect healthy Chinese white pines., Mingzhen Zhao, Lulu Dai, Yaya Sun, Danyang Fu, Hui Chen., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Development of a new dug is a very lengthy and highly expensive process since only preclinical, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and toxicological studies include a multiple of in silico, in vitro, in vivo experimentations that traditionally last several years. In the present review, we briefly report some examples that demonstrate the power of the computer-assisted drug discovery process with some examples that are published and revealing the successful applications of artificial intelligence (AI) technology on this vivid area. Besides, we address the situation of drug repositioning (repurposing) in clinical applications. Yet few success stories in this regard that provide us with a clear evidence that AI will reveal its great potential in accelerating effective new drug finding. AI accelerates drug repurposing and AI approaches are altogether necessary and inevitable tools in new medicine development. In spite of the fact that AI in drug development is still in its infancy, the advancements in AI and machine-learning (ML) algorithms have an unprecedented potential. The AI/ML solutions driven by pharmaceutical scientists, computer scientists, statisticians, physicians and others are increasingly working together in the processes of drug development and are adopting AI-based technologies for the rapid discovery of medicines. AI approaches, coupled with big data, are expected to substantially improve the effectiveness of drug repurposing and finding new drugs for various complex human diseases.
Proliferative kidney disease (PKD) is a widespread temperature-dependent disease in salmonids caused by the myxozoan parasite, Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae (Canning, Curry, Feist, Longshaw et Okamura, 1999) (Tb). Tb has a two-host life cycle, involving fish as an intermediate host and freshwater bryozoans as the definitive host. Although salmonids are acknowledged as hosts for the parasite, it is less clear which fish species are active hosts in the life cycle of Tb. Differences in infection dynamics have been observed between some fish species, which are thought to be related to the existence of two main Tb-strains, the American and European. Iceland, having three species of indigenous salmonids and positioned geographically between Europe and North America, is an ideal location to study the natural development of Tb in wild fish. The main aim of this study was to determine the genetic origin of Tb in Iceland and confirm whether mature spores are produced in Icelandic salmonids. In this study, Icelandic salmonids were infected with the European Tb-strain. In situ hybridisation revealed that intraluminal sporogonic stages, including mature spores, were commonly observed in all three salmonid species. The presence of intraluminal stages has previously been confirmed in brown trout Salmo trutta Linnaeus and Atlantic salmon S. salar Linnaeus in Europe, but they have only been observed in Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus) in North America, infected by the local strain. This is, therefore, the first time that sporogonic stages have been observed in Arctic charr in Europe, where fish are infected with the European Tb-strain. Our data strongly suggest that all the three salmonid species inhabiting Icelandic waters serve as active hosts in the life cycle of Tb. However, for full confirmation, transmission trials are needed.
Mangiferin is a kind of polyphenol chemical compound separated from these herbal medicines of Mangifera indica L., Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge. and Belamcanda chinensis L., which has anti-inflammatory, anti-virus, and other physiological activities without toxic effects. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease that is also a kind of arthritis disease in which articular cartilage or bones under the joint is damaged. In addition, artificial replacements are required in severe cases. At present, there are not too much researches on the potential biological activities of mangiferin that plays a protective role in the treatment of OA. In this study, we evaluated the protective effect of mangiferin on osteoarthritis (OA) in vitro and in vivo. First, the effect of different concentrations of mangiferin on rat chondrocytes was determined by MTT assay. Second, the effects of mangiferin on the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13, TNF-α, Collagen II, Caspase-3, and cystatin-C in interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-induced rat chondrocytes were examined by the real-time polymerase chain reaction in vitro, meanwhile the effects of mangiferin on the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway were also investigated by Western Blot. Finally, the antiosteoarthritic protective effect of mangiferin was evaluated in the rat model by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) combined with bilateral ovariectomy-induced OA in vivo. The results showed that the mangiferin was found to inhibit the expression of MMP-13, TNF-α, and Caspase-3 which also increased the expression of Collagen II and cystatin-C in IL-1β-induced rat chondrocytes. In addition, IL-1β-induced activation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and the degradation of inhibitor of κB (IκB)-α were suppressed by mangiferin. For the in vivo study in a rat model of OA, 100 μl of mangiferin was administered by intra-articular injections for rats, the results showed that the cartilage degradation was suppressed by mangiferin through Micro CT and Histological Examination. According to both in vitro and in vivo results, mangiferin has a protective effect in the treatment of OA which may be a promising therapeutic agent for OA.
Although playing an important role in shaping the environment, the mechanisms responsible for runoff initiation and yield in arid and semiarid regions are not yet fully explored. With infiltration-excess overland flow, known also as Hortonian overland flow (HOF) taking place in these areas, the uppermost surface 'skin' plays a cardinal role in runoff initiation and yield. Over large areas, this skin is composed of biocrusts, a variety of autotrophs (principally cyanobacteria, green algae, lichens, mosses) accompanied by heterotrophs (such as fungi, bacteria, archaea), which may largely dictate the infiltration capability of the surface. With most biocrust organisms being capable of excreting extracellular polymeric substances (EPS or exopolymers), and growing evidence pointing to the capability of certain EPS to partially seal the surface, EPS may play a cardinal role in hindering infiltration and triggering HOF. Yet, despite this logic thread, great controversy still exists regarding the main mechanisms responsible for runoff generation (runoff initiation and yield). Elucidation of the possible role played by EPS in runoff generation is the focus of the current review.
Flagellin (flg22) induces rapid and long-lasting defence responses. It may also affect the photosynthetic activity depending on several internal and external factors, such as the phytohormone ethylene or the day/night time. Based on the results, flg22 treatment, neither in the light phase nor in the evening, caused any significant change in chlorophyll fluorescence induction parameters in the leaves of wild-type and ethylene-receptor mutant Never ripe tomato plants measured the next morning. However, flg22 in the light phase decreased the effective quantum yield and the photochemical quenching both locally and systemically in guard cells. In parallel, the production of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide increased, which contributed to the stomatal closure and a decrease in CO2 assimilation the next day. A decrease in sugar content and elevated hexokinase activity measured after flg22 exposure can also contribute to local defence responses in intact tomato plants.
Atrial fibrillation and atrial tachycardias (AF/AT) have been reported as a common condition in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). As yet, limited data exists about the significance of the borderline post-capillary pressure component on the occurrence of AF / AT in patients with isolated pre-capillary PH. We retrospectively studied the prevalence of AF / AT in 333 patients (mean age 61±15 years, 44 % males) with pre-capillary idiopathic / familiar pulmonary arterial hypertension, and inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. The prevalence of AF / AT was analyzed in different categories of pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP). In the study population overall, the mean PAWP was 10.5±3 mmHg, median of 11 mmHg, range 2-15 mmHg. AF / AT was diagnosed in 79 patients (24 %). The proportion of AF / AT among patients with PAWP below the median (≤11 mmHg) was lower than in subjects with PAWP between 12 and 15 mmHg, 30 (16 %) vs. 46 (35 %), p=0.0001. Compared to the patients with PAWP≤11 mmHg, subjects with PAWP between 12 and 15 mmHg were older (65±13 years vs. 58±16), with more prevalent arterial hypertension [100 (70 %) vs. 106 (55 %)] and diabetes mellitus [50 (35 %) vs. 48 (25 %)], showed larger size of the left atrium (42±7 vs. 40±6 mm), and higher values of right atrium pressure (12±5 vs. 8±5 mmHg), p<0.05 in all comparisons. The prevalence of AF / AT in the group studied increased with the growing post-capillary component.
a1_Sarcopenia is defined as an age-associated loss of skeletal muscle function and muscle mass and is common in older adults. Sarcopenia as a disease is currently of interest not only to orthopedists and surgeons but also to internists, endocrinologists, rheumatologists, cardiologists, diabetologists, gynaecologists, geriatricians and paediatricians. In cooperation with the 5th Internal Medicine Clinic, we, as a unit of clinical research, aimed to describe a sarcopenic specific miRNA expression profile for disease diagnostics and classification of the severity of muscle performance deterioration. This study included a total of 80 patients (age 55-86 years) hospitalized at the V. Internal medicine clinic of LFUK and UNB with different severity of muscle performance deterioration. The study participants were evaluated and classified according to short physical performance battery score (SPPB). In this study, we investigated the role of circulating miRNAs in sarcopenia in the elderly. We hypothesized that sarcopenia effects the expression of muscle tissue-specific miRNAs (MyomiRNAs), which could be potentially reflected in the blood plasma miRNA expression profile. The expression of specific circulating miRNAs in patients with different muscle performances was analyzed. Patients’ blood plasma was evaluated for the expression of myomiRNAs: miRNA-29a, miRNA-29b, miRNA-1, miRNA-133a, miRNA-133b, miRNA-206, miRNA-208b and miRNA-499, and the data were correlated with diagnostic indicators of the disease. We showed a specific sarcopenia miRNA profile that could be considered a possible biomarker for the disease. Patients with low muscle performance showed increased miRNA-1, miRNA-29a and miRNA-29b expression and decreased for the miRNA-206, miRNA-133a, miRNA-133b, miRNA-208b and miRNA-499 expression., a2_ We show that the severity of muscle performance deterioration in sarcopenia correlates with specific miRNA expression. We also propose the profile of miRNAs expression in blood plasma as a specific biomarker for sarcopenia diagnostics. Future clinical studies will be necessary to eventually naturally have to elucidate the underlined molecular mechanism responsible for specific miRNAs expression in sarcopenia pathology and progression of the disease., Simona Valášková, Andrea Gažová, Petra Vrbová, Tomáš Koller, Barbara Šalingova, Adriana Adamičková, Nikola Chomaničová, Nikoleta Hulajová, Juraj Payer, Ján Kyselovič., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The decline in groundwater levels is a cause of concern in many regions of the world, including the Sand Ridge of Hungary. The causes of the regional depletion range from rising air temperatures, changes in precipitation, domestic and agricultural groundwater use and past amelioration and recent afforestation, including the effects of drilling for crude oil exploration. The relations between the decline, the soil water regime and groundwater recharge under existing aged forests remained unclear thus far. Based on our monitoring of groundwater and soil moisture we aim to clarify this interplay in a new experimental site on the hilltop of the Sand Ridge. We compared three land-uses: a 41-year-old black locust (Robinia Pseudoacacia) offshoot forest, an 83-year-old first generation black pine (Pinus nigra) forest, and a grassland control site. The observed differences in the soil moisture profiles and dynamics were connected to the use of water by the given type of vegetation. We indicated a connection between the disruption of the groundwater recharge and the loss of contact of the rooting system of the forests with the deepening of the unconfined aquifer. Even if the aged forests could locally contribute to the decline, we conclude that the decline at the hilltop site that may be more strongly driven by other regional factors.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the climate and geographic factors controlling the hydrological drought of the rivers located in the Upper Vistula catchment in the Polish Carpathians. Drought was identified based on the daily flow (based on water stage measered once a day at 6 UTC) series dating from between 1975 and 2019 at 49 gauging cross-sections. Four physico-geographical regions were identified in the Polish Carpathians and spatial variabilities of the basic drought characteristics were developed within these regions. Such spatial distributions were treated as maps indicating drought hazard areas in the region. In addition, an analysis was undertaken to study the seasonality of the start and end times of the drought (all in the multi-annual period), the longest duration of droughts, the droughts of the highest volume in multi-annual period, as well as the number of drought days. Multi-annual variability of the number of drought days was also analysed. The results suggest that droughts in the Polish Carpathians are events characteristic of summer and autumn, whereas in the Tatra Mountains and the Podhale region - of autumn and winter. The greatest hazard of a prolonged and highvolume drought occurs in the Podhale region and the Tatra Mountains, while the lowest hazard is observed in the Bieszczady Mountains and the eastern part of the studied area.