Cellular senescence correlates with changes in the transcriptome. To obtain a complete view on senescence-associated transcription networks and pathways, we assessed by deep RNA sequencing the ...transcriptomes of five of the most commonly used laboratory strains of human fibroblasts during their transition into senescence. In a number of cases, we verified the RNA-seq data by real-time PCR. By determining cellular protein levels we observed that the age-related expression of most but not all genes is regulated at the transcriptional level. We found that 78% of the age-affected differentially expressed genes were commonly regulated in the same direction (either up- or down-regulated) in all five fibroblast strains, indicating a strong conservation of age-associated changes in the transcriptome. KEGG pathway analyses confirmed up-regulation of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype and down-regulation of DNA synthesis/repair and most cell cycle pathways common in all five cell strains. Newly identified senescence-induced pathways include up-regulation of endocytotic/phagocytic pathways and down-regulation of the mRNA metabolism and the mRNA splicing pathways. Our results provide an unprecedented comprehensive and deep view into the individual and common transcriptome and pathway changes during the transition into of senescence of five human fibroblast cell strains.
Extreme precipitation in the arid Middle East can cause flash floods with dramatic societal impacts. This study investigates the synoptic‐scale dynamics of three extreme precipitation events that ...occurred in Saudi Arabia in autumn, winter and spring. Using ERA‐Interim reanalysis, soundings and observational precipitation data, we study precipitation characteristics, the synoptic circulations, moisture transport pathways and forcing mechanisms for upward motion. All three cases involved strong tropical–extratropical interactions whereby midlatitude forcing instigated an incursion of tropical moisture over the Arabian Peninsula that fuelled the heavy rainfall. In each case, a midlatitude upper‐level trough, associated with anticyclonic Rossby wave breaking, intruded into the subtropics. The phase relationship between this trough and the tropical low‐level circulation was consistent with wave amplification through baroclinic growth. Eulerian and Lagrangian analyses reveal moisture transport from nearby and remote tropical regions, leading to above‐normal tropospheric moisture content over Saudi Arabia. The autumn case (November 2009) showed a transient midlatitude upper‐level trough that interacted with the climatological Red Sea Trough near the surface, being an ‘Active Red Sea Trough’ event. The winter case (January 2005) resembled tropical plume‐like characteristics and demonstrated the coupling of a midlatitude cyclone and the equatorial low‐pressure zone over Africa, an intensified subtropical jet stream, and pronounced moisture fluxes at middle and upper levels. The spring case (April–May 2013) involved a quasi‐stationary cut‐off low and persistent advection of low‐level moist air masses, partly from the south Indian Ocean through cross‐equatorial flow. The forcing of ascent was associated with low‐level moisture convergence and decreased static stability (autumn case), dynamical lifting (winter case), strong surface sensible heating (spring case), and orographic lifting (all cases), favouring the build‐up and release of potential instability. We discuss the three cases from a seasonal perspective and present a synthesis of their common key synoptic features.
Detailed morphometric data concentrating on the development of primary ossification centres in human fetuses is critical for the early detection of developmental defects. Thus, an understanding of ...the growth and development of the parietal bone is crucial in assessing both the normal and pathological development of the calvaria.
The size of the parietal primary ossification centre in 37 spontaneously aborted human fetuses of both sexes (16 males and 21 females) aged 18-30 weeks was studied by means of computed tomography, digital-image analysis and statistics.
The numerical data of the parietal primary ossification centre in the human fetus displays neither sex nor laterality differences. With relation to fetal age in weeks, the parietal primary ossification centre grew in sagittal diameter according to the quadratic function: y = 16.322 + 0.0347 × (age)² ± 1.323 (R² = 0.96), in projection surface area according to the cubic function: y = 284.1895 + 0.051 × × (age)³ ± 0.490, while in both coronal diameter and volume according to the quartic functions: y = 21.746 + 0.000025 × (age)⁴ ± 1.256 and y = 296.984 + + 0.001 × (age)⁴, respectively.
The obtained morphometric data of the parietal primary ossification centre may be considered age-specific references, and so may contribute to the estimation of gestational ages and be useful in the diagnostics of congenital cranial defects.
Computed tomography (CT)-based quantitative analysis of primary ossification centres in the cranium has not been carried out to date due to the limited availability of the foetal human material. ...Detailed morphometric data about the development of primary ossification centres in human foetuses may be useful in the early detection of developmental defects. Understanding the growth and development of the occipital bone is crucial in assessing the normal and pathological development of the cranial base, and the cranium as a whole.
The study material comprised 37 human foetuses (16 males and 21 females) aged 18-30 weeks of gestation. Using CT, digital image analysis software, three-dimensional reconstruction and statistical methods, the size of the primary ossification centres of the lateral and basilar parts of the occipital bone was evaluated.
The morphometric characteristics of primary ossification centres of the lateral and basilar parts of the occipital bone display neither sex nor laterality differences. These ossification centres grow linearly with respect to their sagittal and transverse diameters, projection surface area and volume.
The obtained morphometric data of primary ossification centres in the lateral and basilar parts of the occipital bone may be considered as normative for their respective prenatal weeks and may contribute to the estimation of gestational ages and the diagnostics of congenital defects.
The identification of the stress-strain curve of metal strips is a common task in the metals industry. As an alternative to commonly used tensile test machines, an inexpensive, model-based optical ...measurement method is presented. Particular importance was placed on the cost and usability of the method. The indirect approach computes the stress-strain curve based on a measured strip bending line. For the measurement, a metal strip is bent over a solid roll. A defined weight can be mounted at the end of the strip to control the local bending moment in the strip. The bending line of the strip is optically measured by a camera. The identification is carried out based on an optimization problem, where the quadratic error between the measured and the modelled strip bending line is minimized. Experimental results and measurements from a tensile test machine show a good agreement and thus verify the proposed identification method.
Frontal sinuses within the frontal bone can be a potential obstacle in neurosurgical approach in this region. Their unintended opening during craniotomy is not beneficial due to the risk of brain ...infections by bacteria inhabiting the sinus mucosa. Therefore, such opening should be avoided whenever the surgical procedure does not involve the sinus itself. The aim of the study was the morphometric analysis of the frontal sinuses based on computed tomography imaging.
The width, height, projection surface area and location of the highest and most lateral points of the sinuses were determined.
The vertical diameter of the sinuses was found to be greater in men compared with women. The most lateral point of the sinuses was located higher in men, and in men was located higher on the left side. The results obtained may indicate that the frontal sinuses tend to be larger in men and that air cells in men extend further in the upper-lateral direction on the left side of the frontal bone.
This may cause an increased risk of unintentional opening of the left frontal sinus during frontal craniotomy or pterional craniotomy with frontal extension.
Feline inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the term applied to a group of poorly understood enteropathies that are considered a consequence of uncontrolled intestinal inflammation in response to a ...combination of elusive environmental, enteric microbial, and immunoregulatory factors in genetically susceptible cats. The present study sought to examine the relationship of mucosal bacteria to intestinal inflammation and clinical disease activity in cats with inflammatory bowel disease.
Duodenal biopsies were collected from 27 cats: 17 undergoing diagnostic investigation of signs of gastrointestinal disease, and 10 healthy controls. Subjective duodenal histopathology ranged from normal (10), through mild (6), moderate (8), and severe (3) IBD. The number and spatial distribution of mucosal bacteria was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization with probes to 16S rDNA. Mucosal inflammation was evaluated by objective histopathology and cytokine profiles of duodenal biopsies.
The number of mucosa-associated Enterobacteriaceae was higher in cats with signs of gastrointestinal disease than healthy cats (
P
<
0.001). Total numbers of mucosal bacteria were strongly associated with changes in mucosal architecture (
P
<
0.001) and the density of cellular infiltrates, particularly macrophages (
P
<
0.002) and CD3
+lymphocytes (
P
<
0.05). The number of Enterobacteriaceae,
E. coli, and
Clostridium spp. correlated with abnormalities in mucosal architecture (principally atrophy and fusion), upregulation of cytokine mRNA (particularly IL-1, -8 and -12), and the number of clinical signs exhibited by the affected cats.
These data establish that the density and composition of the mucosal flora is related to the presence and severity of intestinal inflammation in cats and suggest that mucosal bacteria are involved in the etiopathogenesis of feline IBD.
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