Systems biology in the cell nucleus Gorski, Stanislaw; Misteli, Tom
Journal of cell science,
09/2005, Letnik:
118, Številka:
18
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The mammalian nucleus is arguably the most complex cellular organelle. It houses the vast majority of an organism's genetic material and is the site of all major genome regulatory processes. ...Reductionist approaches have been spectacularly successful at dissecting at the molecular level many of the key processes that occur within the nucleus, particularly gene expression. At the same time, the limitations of analyzing single nuclear processes in spatial and temporal isolation and the validity of generalizing observations of single gene loci are becoming evident. The next level of understanding of genome function is to integrate our knowledge of their sequences and the molecular mechanisms involved in nuclear processes with our insights into the spatial and temporal organization of the nucleus and to elucidate the interplay between protein and gene networks in regulatory circuits. To do so, catalogues of genomes and proteomes as well as a precise understanding of the behavior of molecules in living cells are required. Converging technological developments in genomics, proteomics, dynamics and computation are now leading towards such an integrated biological understanding of genome biology and nuclear function.
Parameters of sexual activity were determined in 49 young boars used for artificial insemination, four times at three-month intervals. The parameters included the time from entering the arena until ...mounting the phantom; the time from mounting the phantom until achieving erection; the time from achieving full erection until the start of ejaculation; duration of ejaculation; and the number of times the boar mounted the phantom. Characteristics of the ejaculates were also assessed. The libido parameter associated with the greatest efficacy of artificial insemination was the effectiveness of artificial insemination service, the time from entering the arena until the start of ejaculation. The significance of this trait for predicting ejaculation performance was analysed. The libido characteristics were classified into three categories: boars with a short reaction time to the phantom, boars with an intermediate reaction time, and boars with a long reaction time. For these groups, the characteristics of ejaculates collected at the start of the period during which ejaculates were collected and after three, six and nine months were determined. The sexual experience of boars was not associated with the expression of sexual behaviour because young boars during their first three months of ejaculate collections required less time to initiate ejaculation. The ejaculates with the greatest utility were obtained after six months of service. These ejaculates had the largest volume (255.22 mL), and the most insemination doses could be prepared from these ejaculates. On average, more than 23 insemination doses were prepared from ejaculates collected after six months of semen collections, which is about four doses more than from ejaculates collected at the start of artificial insemination service (
< 0.01).The time from entering the arena to beginning ejaculation can be used to predict a boar's future libido. A relationship was shown between the level of libido and ejaculate characteristics. The ejaculates of the boars which needed the longest time to begin ejaculation at the start of semen collections had the greatest sperm concentration and number. In group 3, the boars'ejaculates contained about 6-9 × 10
more sperm than the ejaculates of boars from group 1. After six months of the experimental period, the difference was nearly 15 × 10
sperm (
< 0.05), and after nine months, it exceeded 22 × 10
sperm (
< 0.01).
Here we report the results of a three-year replicated field trial on the effects of novel clover- and alfalfa-based fertilizer products (Ekofert® K and Ekofert® L), with the input levels equivalent ...to 120, 180, or 240 kg N ha−1, on the yield and selected sensory and nutritional quality parameters of onion. The study showed that Ekofert fertilizer applied at all three levels produced similar or higher yields than the standard fertilization regimes used in conventional farming in all three seasons. Significant differences in onion composition profiles between fertilization treatments were detected within individual seasons; however, due to substantial interseasonal variation, no consistent differences could be detected between (i) mineral N and Ekofert fertilizer treatments, (ii) the two different Ekofert products, and (iii) contrasting Ekofert input levels. Results demonstrate that clover- and alfalfa-based pelleted organic fertilizer products are a suitable alternative for intensive organic field vegetable production.
Risk factors associated with L. donovani visceral leishmaniasis (VL; kala azar) relapse are poorly characterized.
We investigated patient characteristics and drug regimens associated with VL relapse ...using data from Médecins Sans Frontières - Holland (MSF) treatment centres in Southern Sudan. We used MSF operational data to investigate trends in VL relapse and associated risk factors.
We obtained data for 8,800 primary VL and 621 relapse VL patients treated between 1999 and 2007. Records of previous treatment for 166 VL relapse patients (26.7%) were compared with 7,924 primary VL patients who had no record of subsequent relapse. Primary VL patients who relapsed had larger spleens on admission (Hackett grade >or=3 vs 0, odds ratio (OR) for relapse = 3.62 (95% CI 1.08, 12.12)) and on discharge (Hackett grade >or=3 vs 0, OR = 5.50 (1.84, 16.49)). Age, sex, malnutrition, mobility, and complications of treatment were not associated with risk of relapse, nor was there any trend over time. Treatment with 17-day sodium stibogluconate/paromomycin (SSG/PM) combination therapy vs 30-day SSG monotherapy was associated with increased risk of relapse (OR = 2.08 (1.21, 3.58)) but reduced risk of death (OR = 0.27 (0.20, 0.37)), although these estimates are likely to be residually confounded. MSF operational data showed a crude upward trend in the proportion of VL relapse patients (annual percentage change (APC) = 11.4% (-3.4%, 28.5%)) and a downward trend in deaths (APC = -18.1% (-22.5%, -13.4%)).
Splenomegaly and 17-day SSG/PM vs 30-day SSG were associated with increased risk of VL relapse. The crude upward trend in VL relapses in Southern Sudan may be attributable to improved access to treatment and reduced mortality due to SSG/PM combination therapy.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the dependence between ejaculate traits, sperm morphology, and ejaculate volume in Duroc boars.
The analysis involved 121 ejaculates collected from 12 Duroc ...boars kept in three artificial insemination centres located in central Poland. Ejaculates were collected manually at one-month intervals, over a period of 10 months. At least 10 ejaculates were collected from each boar. The material was divided by ejaculate volume and each ejaculate was assigned to one of three volume groups: 160 mL and lower, 161–200 mL, and 201 mL and higher. The ejaculates were assessed to identify the basic physical traits and determine the incidence of morphological abnormalities in the spermatozoa, specifying major and minor abnormalities. Furthermore, the morphological structure indices for the spermatozoa were also calculated.
In large-volume ejaculates, spermatozoa were more elongated in shape, their heads were more elongated and had the largest flagella. With an increase in the ejaculate volume, sperm concentration in the ejaculate decreased. Moreover, while the total number of sperm in the ejaculate increased, the number of insemination doses obtained from a single ejaculate were higher.
The volume of ejaculate has little impact on the occurrence of morphological abnormalities and the size of sperm cells. Ejaculate volume is important for the shape of the sperm cells.
Women who are born with constitutional heterozygous mutations of the BRCA1 gene face greatly increased risks of breast and ovarian cancer. The product of the BRCA1 gene is involved in the repair of ...double-stranded DNA breaks and it is believed that increased susceptibility to DNA breakage contributes to the cancer phenotype. It is hoped therefore that preventive strategies designed to reduce chromosome damage will also reduce the rate of cancer in these women. To test for increased mutagenicity of cells from BRCA1 carriers, the frequency of chromosome breaks was measured in cultured blood lymphocytes following in vitro exposure to bleomycin in female BRCA1 carriers and was compared with noncarrier relatives. The frequency of chromosome breaks was also measured in BRCA1 carriers following oral selenium supplementation. Carriers of BRCA1 mutations showed significantly greater mean frequencies of induced chromosome breaks per cell than did healthy noncarrier relatives (0.58 versus 0.39; P < 10(-4)). The frequency of chromosome breaks was greatly reduced following 1 to 3 months of oral selenium supplementation (mean, 0.63 breaks per cell versus 0.40; P < 10(-10)). The mean level of chromosome breaks in carriers following supplementation was similar to that of the noncarrier controls (0.40 versus 0.39). Oral selenium is a good candidate for chemoprevention in women who carry a mutation in the BRCA1 gene.
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of electromagnetic fields and their shielding on the growth of dwarf runner bean
L. Three sectors were separated on the device emitting ...electromagnetic fields: “E” - sector emitting electromagnetic radiation with the predominance of the electrical component, “EM” - sector emitting electromagnetic radiation without domination of its components and “M” - sector with a predominance of magnetic component. Fields generated by the device were also shielded with ADR TEX, a screen based on a nanocomposite in which the electric component of the electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by water dispersed within a dielectric matrix in various ways. The composites exhibit high dielectric absorption and shield electric fields within the frequency range from ~100 mHz to ~100 kHz. Electromagnetic fields with the predominance of the electrical component and without domination of its components delayed the initial emergence of runner bean seedlings. Shielding of electromagnetic field without domination of its components with ADR TEX screen protected against this negative impact on the emergence rate of young runner bean seedlings. Exposure of plants to differentiated electromagnetic fields adversely affected their growth. Plants exposed to electromagnetic radiation without domination of its components had the lowest height and the shortest internodes. Shielding of electromagnetic fields with ADR TEX screen efficiently protected against their negative impact on the plant growth. Electromagnetic fields and their shielding did not influence the size of leaves and the index leaf greenness (SPAD).
Determination of sperm concentration and morphology in ejaculate is essential in evaluating fertility. Sperm shape and dimensions may depend on their concentration in ejaculate. The aim of the study ...was to evaluate the dependence of Hypor boar morphological and morphometric sperm characteristics on concentration in ejaculate.
The study was conducted on 120 ejaculates from 12 Hypor boars. Depending on sperm concentration, they were put into three groups: low, medium, and high. Ejaculate sperm concentration was determined with the photometric method. Slides were prepared from semen samples which were evaluated for the morphology of spermatozoa. The preparations for morphological analyses were by the eosin-gentian staining method.
As the sperm concentration in the ejaculate increased, the length, perimeter, and area of the sperm heads also did. In the ejaculates with higher sperm concentration the sperm heads were rounder. The ratios of head dimensions to tail length or total length were the highest in the sperm from ejaculates with the highest concentrations. The highest percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm was noted in ejaculates with low concentrations.
The dimensions and shape of sperm depend on the sperm concentration in the ejaculate. In ejaculates with the highest concentrations, the sperm have larger dimensions. Sperm concentration affects the frequency of morphological anomalies in the spermatozoa.
In hospital settings, delirium affects as many as 50% of older patients, aggravating their symptoms and worsening their condition, and therefore increasing the risk of in-hospital complications and ...death. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of structured, non-pharmacological care, delivered to older hospitalised patients by trained volunteers (students of medical fields), on the reduction of incidence of adverse health-related outcomes.
This trial will be a randomised, investigator-blind, controlled trial conducted in an internal medicine and geriatric ward in Poland. We aim to include 416 patients who are 70 years of age and have been hospitalised for medical reasons. Eligible patients will be randomised 1:1 to receive structured, non-pharmacological care delivered by students of medicine, psychology and nursing, together with standard medical treatment or standard medical care alone. The protocol of interventions has been designed to cover nine main risk factors for delirium, with the scope of multidisciplinary interventions being individualised and tailored. The protocol will be aimed at immobilisation, vision and hearing impairment, cognitive impairment and disorientation, stress and anxiety, sleep-wake cycle disturbances, dehydration and malnutrition, and pain. A structured evaluation of patients' cognition, mood, anxiety and functional performance is planned to be carried out twice, on the day of group allocation and at discharge; structured screening assessment for delirium will be conducted daily using the Confusion Assessment Method. The primary outcome will be the incidence of delirium in hospital; secondary outcomes will be in-hospital changes in cognition, mood and anxiety, and functional status, occurrence of falls and death.
Delirium prevention programmes are being introduced worldwide. A particular novelty of our project, however, is that invitations for voluntary work with older patients at risk for delirium will be addressed to medical students. With the use of the service learning method, the students will shape their attitudes, increase their knowledge and understanding of hospital care, and master competencies to work within interdisciplinary teams, which establishes the originality and practicality of the project.
Polish Science Database, 317484 . Registered on 23 October 2016.
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