The metal hyperaccumulator Azolla filiculoides is accompanied by a microbiome potentially supporting plant during exposition to heavy metals. We hypothesized that the microbiome exposition to ...selected heavy metals will reveal metal tolerant strains. We used Next Generation Sequencing technique to identify possible metal tolerant strains isolated from the metal-treated plant (Pb, Cd, Cr(VI), Ni, Au, Ag). The main dominants were Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria constituting together more than 97% of all reads. Metal treatment led to changes in the composition of the microbiome and showed significantly higher richness in the Pb-, Cd- and Cr-treated plant in comparison with other (95-105 versus 36-44). In these treatments the share of subdominant Actinobacteria (0.4-0.8%), Firmicutes (0.5-0.9%) and Bacteroidetes (0.2-0.9%) were higher than in non-treated plant (respectively: 0.02, 0.2 and 0.001%) and Ni-, Au- and Ag-treatments (respectively: <0.4%, <0.2% and up to 0.2%). The exception was Au-treatment displaying the abundance 1.86% of Bacteroidetes. In addition, possible metal tolerant genera, namely: Acinetobacter, Asticcacaulis, Anabaena, Bacillus, Brevundimonas, Burkholderia, Dyella, Methyloversatilis, Rhizobium and Staphylococcus, which form the core microbiome, were recognized by combining their abundance in all samples with literature data. Additionally, the presence of known metal tolerant genera was confirmed: Mucilaginibacter, Pseudomonas, Mycobacterium, Corynebacterium, Stenotrophomonas, Clostridium, Micrococcus, Achromobacter, Geobacter, Flavobacterium, Arthrobacter and Delftia. We have evidenced that A. filiculoides possess a microbiome whose representatives belong to metal-resistant species which makes the fern the source of biotechnologically useful microorganisms for remediation processes.
High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are classified as atheroprotective because they are involved in transport of cholesterol to the liver, known as "reverse cholesterol transport (RCT)" exerting ...antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. There is also evidence for cytoprotective, vasodilatory, antithrombotic, and anti-infectious activities for these lipoproteins. HDLs are known by structural, metabolic and biologic heterogeneity. Thus, different methods are able to distinguish several subclasses of HDL. Different separation techniques appear to support different HDL fractions as being atheroprotective or related with lower cardiovascular (CV) risk. However, HDL particles are not always protective. Modification of constituents of HDL particles (primarily in proteins and lipids) can lead to the decrease in their activity and induce proatherogenic properties, especially when isolated from patients with augmented systemic inflammation. According to available studies, it seems that HDL functionality may be a better therapeutic target than HDL cholesterol quantity; however, it is still disputable which subfractions are most beneficial. There is mounting evidence supporting HDL subclasses as an important biomarker to predict and/or reduce CV risk. In this review we discuss recent notices on atheroprotective and functional characteristic of different HDL subfractions. Also, we provide a brief overview of the different methods used by clinicians and researchers to separate HDL subfractions. Ongoing and future investigations will yield important new information if any given separation method might represent a 'gold standard', and which subfractions are reliable markers of CV risk and/or potential targets of novel, more focused, and effective therapies.
Proteins whose presence prevents water from freezing in living organisms at temperatures below 0 °C are referred to as antifreeze proteins. This group includes molecules of varying size (from 30 to ...over 300 aa) and variable secondary/supersecondary conformation. Some of these proteins also contain peculiar structural motifs called solenoids. We have applied the fuzzy oil drop model in the analysis of four categories of antifreeze proteins: 1 – very small proteins, i.e. helical peptides (below 40 aa); 2 – small globular proteins (40–100 aa); 3 – large globular proteins (>100 aa) and 4 – proteins containing solenoids. The FOD model suggests a mechanism by which antifreeze proteins prevent freezing. In accordance with this theory, the presence of the protein itself produces an ordering of water molecules which counteracts the formation of ice crystals. This conclusion is supported by analysis of the ordering of hydrophobic and hydrophilic residues in antifreeze proteins, revealing significant variability – from perfect adherence to the fuzzy oil drop model through structures which lack a clearly defined hydrophobic core, all the way to linear arrangement of alternating local minima and maxima propagating along the principal axis of the solenoid (much like in amyloids). The presented model – alternative with respect to the ice docking model – explains the antifreeze properties of compounds such as saccharides and fatty acids. The fuzzy oil drop model also enables differentiation between amyloids and antifreeze proteins.
•Mechanism of the action of antifreeze proteins is proposed.•Structuralization of water around antifreeze proteins.•Structure of hydrophobic core influences the water structuralization.•Universal model of antifreeze action is independent on the protein structure.
Many pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies have been used to increase high-density lipoprotein- cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, but the results obtained have not been consistently associated ...with effective cardiovascular risk reduction. Therefore, research is now focused to improve HDL functionality, independent of HDL-C levels. The quality of HDL particles can vary considerably due to its heterogeneity caused by various lipids, proteins, vitamins, hormones and small RNAs that are associated with HDL. These components could act as potential HDL-related biomarkers, which may guide effective therapeutic interventions. Evaluation of HDL functionality seems to be more relevant, given the current evidence of the pleiotropic potentially atheroprotective functions of HDL. It is relevant to understand which HDL-related properties involved in its cardioprotective functions, in order to develop pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapies to improve HDL functionality.
Abstract
Background
High blood lipid levels are known risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular events, but associations between lipid levels and atrial fibrillation (AF) are unclear. Some ...previous studies have suggested an inverse association between lipid levels and AF referred to as the “cholesterol paradox”.
Purpose
To examine the prevalence of AF by differing lipid levels in a large population-based study of almost 14,000 adults in Poland.
Methods
The LIPIDOGRAM 2015 study is a cross-sectional study of adults aged 18 years and older recruited in Poland in 2015/2016 by 438 family physicians. Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) for AF with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for participants with differing lipid profiles. Lipid measures including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and LDL/HDL ratios were grouped into quartiles with the lowest quartile as the reference group. Models were adjusted for potential confounding factors including age, sex, waist-to-hip ratio, smoking, alcohol intake, regular physical activity, hypertension, antihypertensive medication use and treatment of dyslipidaemia.
Results
13,724 participants were recruited to the study, the median (interquartile range: IQR) age was 58.0 (47.7–65.8) years and 5.2% (n=708) had a diagnosis of AF, with a median (IQR) 3 (1–8) years since diagnosis. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, a statistically significant lower prevalence of AF was estimated for participants in the highest quartile for LDL-C (PR (95% CI): 0.60 (0.48, 0.75) p<0.001), HDL-C (0.58 (0.46, 0.74), p<0.001), TC (0.61 (0.49, 0.75), p<0.001) and LDL/HDL ratio (0.75 (0.61, 0.94), p=0.010). No statistically significant difference in prevalence of AF was observed for participants in the highest quartile for TG levels compared to the lowest quartile for TG levels.
Conclusions
The prevalence of AF was lower for people with higher levels of LDL-C, HDL-C, TC and higher LDL/HDL ratios; some of the difference in prevalence was explained by controlling for confounding factors, but in multivariable models the association remained statistically significant. This research adds to the body of evidence which suggests an inverse relationship between cholesterol levels and AF-the “cholesterol paradox” for AF.
Funding Acknowledgement
Type of funding source: None
Background. Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders affecting predominantly the motor cortex and pyramidal tract, which results in slowly progressing gait ...disorders, as well as spasticity and weakness of lower extremities. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been previously investigated as a therapeutic tool for similar motor deficits in a number of neurologic conditions. The aim of this randomized, controlled trial was to investigate the therapeutic potential of rTMS in various forms of HSP, including pure and complicated forms, as well as adrenomyeloneuropathy. Methods. We recruited 15 patients (five women and 10 men; mean age 43.7±10.6 years) with the mentioned forms of HSP. The intervention included five sessions of bilateral 10 Hz rTMS over primary motor areas of the muscles of lower extremities and five sessions of similar sham stimulation. Results. One patient dropped out due to seizure, and 14 patients completed the study protocol. After real stimulation, the strength of the proximal and distal muscles of lower extremities increased, and the spasticity of the proximal muscles decreased. Change in spasticity was still present during follow-up assessment. No effect was observed regarding gait velocity. No changes were seen after sham stimulation. A post hoc analysis revealed an inverse relation between motor threshold and the change of the strength after active rTMS. Conclusions. rTMS may have potential in improving weakness and spasticity of lower extremities in HSP, especially of proximal muscles whose motor areas are located more superficially. This trial is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03627416.
Abstract Background The object of the study was to assess the impact of one-level stabilization of the cervical spine for both anterior static and dynamic plates. Segments C2–C6 of the cervical ...spine, were investigated, from which was determined the stress and strain fields in the region of implantation and adjacent motion segments. The purpose was the comparison of changes that affect the individual stabilizers. Methods For testing we used finite element analysis. The cervical spine model takes into account local spondylodesis. The study includes both an intact anatomical model and a model with implant stabilization. Findings The analysis covered the model loaded with a moment of force for 1 Nm in the sagittal plane during movement. We compared both the modeled response of the whole fragment C2–C6 and the response of individual motion segments. The largest limitation of range of motion occurred after implantation with static plates. The study also showed that the introduction of the one-level stabilization resulted in an increase in stress in intervertebral disc endplates of adjacent segments. Interpretation The results indicate that the increase in stress caused by stiffening may result in disorders in remodeling of bone structures. The use of dynamic plates showed improved continuity strains in the tested spine, thereby causing remodeling most similar to the physiological state and reducing the stresses in adjacent segments
The electrophoretic separation of lipoproteins on polyacrylamide gels enables the quantification of nonatherogenic and atherogenic plasma lipoproteins including small dense low density lipoprotein ...(sdLDL) particles, which represent the atherogenic lipoprotein subpopulations in plasma. This methodology could help distinguish between nonatherogenic hyperlipidemia, normolipidemia with an atherogenic lipoprotein profile, non-atherogenic normolipidemia, and atherogenic hyperlipidemia. According to our pilot research of a normolipidemic population, the atherogenic lipoprotein profile might be present in about 6% of normolipidemic young healthy individuals. Therefore, if confirmed by other studies, it will be necessary to consider a different diagnostic approach and risk stratification for patients with atherogenic normolipidemia (as well as non-atherogenic hypercholesterolemia).
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