After a series of seminal works during the last decade of the 20th century, nitric oxide (NO) is now firmly placed in the pantheon of plant signals. Nitric oxide acts in plant-microbe interactions, ...responses to abiotic stress, stomatal regulation and a range of developmental processes. By considering the recent advances in plant NO biology, this review will highlight certain key aspects that require further attention.
The following questions will be considered. While cytosolic nitrate reductase is an important source of NO, the contributions of other mechanisms, including a poorly defined arginine oxidizing activity, need to be characterized at the molecular level. Other oxidative pathways utilizing polyamine and hydroxylamine also need further attention. Nitric oxide action is dependent on its concentration and spatial generation patterns. However, no single technology currently available is able to provide accurate in planta measurements of spatio-temporal patterns of NO production. It is also the case that pharmaceutical NO donors are used in studies, sometimes with little consideration of the kinetics of NO production. We here include in planta assessments of NO production from diethylamine nitric oxide, S-nitrosoglutathione and sodium nitroprusside following infiltration of tobacco leaves, which could aid workers in their experiments. Further, based on current data it is difficult to define a bespoke plant NO signalling pathway, but rather NO appears to act as a modifier of other signalling pathways. Thus, early reports that NO signalling involves cGMP-as in animal systems-require revisiting. Finally, as plants are exposed to NO from a number of external sources, investigations into the control of NO scavenging by such as non-symbiotic haemoglobins and other sinks for NO should feature more highly. By crystallizing these questions the authors encourage their resolution through the concerted efforts of the plant NO community.
Recently, several studies have suggested that neonatal noxious insult could alter future responses to painful stimuli. However, the manifestations, mechanisms, and even developmental nature of these ...alterations remain a matter of controversy. In part, this is due to the lack of detailed information on the neonatal sensitive period(s) during which noxious stimulation influences future nociception, and the time-course and distribution of the resultant abnormalities. The present paper describes these parameters in a rat model of short-lasting (∼24 h) neonatal local inflammation of a hindpaw produced by injection of 0.25% carrageenan (1 μl/g). Examinations of paw withdrawal responses to thermal and mechanical stimulations in adult animals, which as neonates were subjected to this insult, showed that the previously-reported long-term hypoalgesia and hyperalgesia are not mutually exclusive outcomes of early noxious experience. Long-term hypoalgesia was apparent at the basal conditions and was equally strong in the previously injured and uninjured paws, which suggests a globally-driven deficit. In contrast, long-term excessive hyperalgesia had the strongest manifestation in the neonatally-injured paw after re-inflammation, indicating significant segmental involvement in its generation. The differences between mechanisms underlying the observed hypoalgesia and hyperalgesia are further underscored by the finding that, while the former is detectable only after animals reach the second month of life, the latter is elicitable immediately upon cessation of the initial neonatal inflammation. Nevertheless, we detected a significant overlap in the neonatal sensitive periods for generation of these effects (both occurring within the first postnatal week). Also, neither the basal hypoalgesia nor excessive re-inflammation-associated hyperalgesia subsided with age and were detectable in 120–125-day-old rats. These finding provide a framework within which the entire complex of long-term effects of early noxious experience can be understood and examined.
Abstract
Samples of Ag/Au nanocluster/island fractal nanofilms obtained by thermal diffusion deposition from a colloidal solution are presented. Modeling and evaluation of the features of their ...structure in the approximation of diffusion-limited aggregation are carried out. The evaluation of the scattering characteristics of the study on the model samples in the framework of the Fischer-Burford relation is made.
The article discusses the experimental results of the fractal metallic island nanofilms elaboration and their modeling in the DLA approximation. There is also presented the simulation of their ...optical properties using the Monte Carlo method and the scattering intensity, based on the fractal characteristics.
Nowadays, there is increased interest in the connection of gout and asymptomatic hyperuricemia with comorbid conditions such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, chronic ...kidney disease and other. Studies conducted over the past few decades suggest that not only gout, but also asymptomatic hyperuricemia can significantly worsen the prognosis in patients with cardiovascular diseases, as the deposition of urate crystals can be both an immediate cause and a factor in the progression of renal failure. In that way, the timely appointment of urate - lowering therapy and achieving the target serum uric acid level can not only affect joint damage, but also can significantly slow the progression of life - threatening comorbid conditions.
—
We have studied the effect of the ratio of the macrocomponents of magnesium oxide- and yttrium oxide-based composite ceramics on their microstructure and optical and mechanical properties over the ...entire composition range. The ceramics were produced under identical conditions by hot-pressing nanopowders prepared by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis. The composition of the ceramics has been shown to have a significant effect on their optical transmission, average grain size, and density, whereas their microhardness is essentially independent of composition. Composite ceramics with a magnesium oxide to yttrium oxide volume ratio of 50 : 50 are optimal for most practical applications.
Objective: to study the effectiveness of a combination of non-drug methods in the treatment of non-dementia cognitive impairment of vascular etiology.Material and methods. The study involved 60 ...patients with moderate cognitive impairment of vascular etiology. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (n=30, mean age 63.7±8.8 years) received a combination of non-drug methods in the form of cognitive training, physical activity and meal planning for 1 month; patients of the 2nd group (n=30, mean age 64.2±10.7 years) were once informed about the advisability of a healthy diet and maintenance of mental and physical activity. Neuropsychological testing was done at the inclusion stage of the study, immediately after 1 month course of treatment, 6 months and a year after the start of the study. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of cognitive functions at baseline.Results. After a month of treatment, in the 1st group the results of neuropsychological testing significantly (p<0.05) improved compared to the first visit: Montreal Cognitive Function Assessment Scale (MoCA-test) – from 22.5±2.4 to 23.7±2.8, Trail making test part A – from 56.9±20.1, up to 49.3±21.7; Trail making test part B – from 116.8±47.8 to 93.5±36.3; the Digit Symbol Substitution test (DSST) scores increased from 26.6±9.0 to 28.8±9.0. Categorical and literal fluency increased from 14.9±4.1 to 16.5±4.6 and from 10.0±1.7 to 11.6±1.9, respectively. In the 2nd group, 1 month after the start of the study, there were no significant differences from the baseline in neuropsychological tests. Differences between the groups at the second visit were statistically significant (p<0.05) according to the MoCA test, Trail making tests (parts A, B), DSST, and association tests. Significant differences between groups persisted during the first 6 months, but disappeared after 12 months of follow-up.Conclusion. Multimodal non-drug therapy in patients with moderate cognitive impairment of vascular etiology improves the main cognitive parameters.
The frequency of vascular calcification in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition disease (CPPD) has not yet been studied, and the role of calcium crystals ...(basic and pyrophosphates) in the development of calcification is also unknown.
Objective.
Determine the presence and degree of calcification of the coronary vessels in patients with calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition disease and osteoarthritis of the knee joints with no clinical signs of cardiovascular diseases.
Materials and methods.
One-stage, single-center study, performed by the “case – control” method. The main group – 20 patients with CPPD, the comparison group – 20 patients with OA of the knee joints. Inclusion criteria: age from 18 to 65 years; absence of clinical signs of cardiovascular disease at the time of examination and indications of a history of cardiovascular accidents. Exclusion criteria: unsigned informed consent; pregnancy; breastfeeding; other rheumatic disease; cancer; high and very high cardiovascular risk on the SCORE scale. The survey included an assessment of anthropometric data, blood pressure (BP), lipid profile, serum levels of glucose, creatinine, uric acid, C-reactive protein, vitamin D, osteoprotegerin, parathyroid hormone, and the levels of magnesium, phosphorus, and total calcium were studied. All patients underwent multispiral computed tomography with determination of calcium count and the number of affected arteries. To calculate the coronary score, the A.S. Agatston et al.
Results and discussion.
Most of the parameters in the compared groups did not differ. When assessing the calcification of the coronary arteries according to the A.S. Agatston et al. 9 (45%) patients with CPPD and 8 (40%) patients with OA had a coronary calcium score >1. Quantitative indicators of calcium score can correspond to coronary artery stenosis ≥20% in 8 (40%) patients with CPPD and in 5 (25%) patients with OA according to J.A. Rumberger et al. The serum level of osteoprotegerin was significantly higher in patients with a calcium score ≥27 according to J.A. Rumberger et al. (p=0.04). Calcification was detected in 9 (56%) of 16 patients with serum vitamin D levels <30 ng/ml and in 8 (33%) of 24 patients with serum vitamin D levels >30 ng/ml.
Conclusions.
In patients with an initially low cardiovascular risk, the probability of a combination of chondrocalcinosis and cardiovascular calcification is 45%, in OA it is 40%. The risk factors for coronary calcification in patients with CPPD and OA should be studied further.
To analyze the modes of immunosuppressive therapy as a risk factor for new-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) in kidney recipients.
The retrospective analysis included data from 1367 ...recipients (755 men and 612 women) who lived more than one year after NODAT and were observed at the Moscow City Nephrology Center from January 1989 to December 2018. NODAT was established for 178 (13%) patients based on criteria from the World Health Organization and the American Diabetes Association. The modes of immunosuppressive therapy using cyclosporin A (CSA), tacrolimus (Tac), mTOR inhibitors, glucocorticoids in patients with NODAT and without NODAT were evaluated. To assess the impact of risk factors, descriptive statistics methods were used, the odds ratio (OR) and the 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.
NODAT was diagnosed in 105 men and 73 women. The OR for men was 1.19 (95% CI 0.871.64), the OR for women was 0.84 (95% CI 0.611.15). At the time of transplantation, the average age of the kidney recipients in the NODAT group was higher than in the group without NODAT: 51 43; 57 and 43 32; 52 years, respectively (p=0.0001). Most patients with NODAT (82%) were older than 50 years, while in the group without NODAT, the proportion of patients of the same age was 48.5% (p=0.0001). Among patients without NODAT, transplantation of a kidney from a living donor was significantly more often compared with the group with NODAT+ (7.1% vs 1.1%;p=0.001). Among the recipients who received the regimen with CSA, diabetes developed in 75 (42.1%), those who received Tac in 102 (57.3%;p0.05). The chance (risk of development) of NODAT in patients receiving i-mTOR + Tac was 3.2 (95% CI 1.476.78;p=0.032), and for patients receiving i-mTOR + cyclosporin A, the chance of development NODAT was 1.95 (95% CI 0.884.35;p=0.044).
13% of recipients developed de novo kidney diabetes after allograft. Age at the time of allotransplantation, gender, as well as the use of tacrolimus in combination with i-mTOR are the most significant risk factors for the development of NODAT.
Currently, cognitive impairment is a determining factor in the decline in adaptation in the elderly. Damage to the cerebral vessels is one of the most common causes of the development of cognitive ...deficits. Patients with severe cognitive impairments are not easily treatable, require outside help, and have significant limitations in daily activities. In most cases, this stage is preceded by a period of mild cognitive impairment. As a rule, mild cognitive impairments often remain undiagnosed, since they do not cause restrictions in daily activities for a long time and are detected only thanks to highly specific neuropsychological tests. But it is precisely the timely diagnosis and treatment of cognitive impairment without dementia, that make it possible to achieve longterm remission of the disease, to delay the onset of pronounced cognitive deficit. Among the correction methods, non-drug methods and pharmacological therapy are distinguished. Of no small importance is the impact on vascular risk factors such as arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, smoking, alcohol abuse, etc. Nutrition planning, dosed exercise and cognitive training are the most common non-pharmacological strategies for correcting cognitive impairment. Pharmacological treatment includes anticholinesterase and neurometabolic drugs, as well as drugs aimed at correcting risk factors. A growing number of researchers agree that complex therapy, including lifestyle modification and the use of pharmacotherapy, is preferable. The article discusses the most commonly used methods of treating non-demented cognitive impairments, presents the results of large randomized clinical trials devoted to this problem, presents our own experience of both exclusively non-drug effects on patients and the use of complex treatment using a neurometabolic drug.
PDF
