Cumulus expansion is impaired with advanced reproductive age due to loss of matrix integrity and reduced hyaluronan

Reproductive aging is associated with ovulatory defects. Age-related ovarian fibrosis partially contributes to this phenotype as short-term treatment with anti-fibrotic compounds improves ovulation in reproductively old mice. However, age-dependent changes that are intrinsic to the follicle may also be relevant. In this study, we used a mouse model to demonstrate that reproductive aging is associated with impaired cumulus expansion which is accompanied by altered morphokinetic behavior of cumulus cells as assessed by time-lapse microscopy. The extracellular matrix integrity of expanded cumulus–oocyte complexes is compromised with advanced age as evidenced by increased penetration of fluorescent nanoparticles in a particle exclusion assay and larger open spaces on scanning electron microscopy. Reduced hyaluronan (HA) levels, decreased expression of genes encoding HA-associated proteins (e.g., Ptx3 and Tnfaip6), and increased expression of inflammatory genes and matrix metalloproteinases underlie this loss of matrix integrity. Importantly, HA levels are decreased with age in follicular fluid of women, indicative of conserved reproductive aging mechanisms. These findings provide novel mechanistic insights into how defects in cumulus expansion contribute to age-related infertility and may serve as a target to extend reproductive longevity.     

Mitochondrial unfolded protein response gene Clpp is required to maintain ovarian follicular reserve during aging,for oocyte competence,and development of pre‐implantation embryos

Caseinolytic peptidase P mediates degradation of unfolded mitochondrial proteins and activates mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mtUPR) to maintain protein homeostasis. Clpp^?/? female mice generate a lower number of mature oocytes and two‐cell embryos, and no blastocysts. Clpp^?/? oocytes have smaller mitochondria, with lower aspect ratio (length/width), and decreased expression of genes that promote fusion. A 4‐fold increase in atretic follicles at 3 months, and reduced number of primordial follicles at 6–12 months are observed in Clpp^?/? ovaries. This is associated with upregulation of p‐S6, p‐S6K, p‐4EBP1 and p‐AKT473, p‐mTOR2481 consistent with mTORC1 and mTORC2 activation, respectively, and Clpp^?/? oocyte competence is partially rescued by mTOR inhibitor rapamycin. Our findings demonstrate that CLPP is required for oocyte and embryo development and oocyte mitochondrial function and dynamics. Absence of CLPP results in mTOR pathway activation, and accelerated depletion of ovarian follicular reserve.     

Quality of life in children after cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease

The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life children after cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) and to compare these results with healthy children. To assess the quality of life children after surgery for CHD we performed a cross-sectional study of 114 patients who were patients at the Department of Paediatrics in Tuzla, between the ages of 2 and 18 years, of both sexes, and with one of their parents. We used the "PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales", with both child self-report and parent proxy-reports. By self assessment, the PedsQL total scores for quality of life were statistically significantly different between children after cardiac surgery for ages 13 to 18 years and healthy children, while by parent report PedsQL total scores were statistically significantly different between children after cardiac surgery for ages 5 to 7 years and healthy children. By self assessment, children after cardiac surgery for ages from 5 to 7 and 13 to 18 years reported that they have a statistically significantly lower quality of life in the segment school functioning compared to the healthy children. By parental assessment, children after cardiac surgery for ages 2 to 4, 5 to 7 and 8 to 12 years have a statistically significantly lower quality of life in the segments of physical and psychosocial health, emotional, social and school functioning. The results of our study indicate that children after cardiac surgery for CHD by self and parent assessment have a lower quality of life than healthy children.     

Health-related quality of life and metabolic control in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The primary objective of the study was to examine the relationship between generic and disease-specific HRQOL scores and metabolic control in children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM). This cross-sectional study included 65 consecutive children between ages 5 and 18 years with T1DM. According to their values of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1C)), the children were assigned to one of two groups. In Group 1 (N = 21) were the children with HbA(1C) values < 8% (good to moderate metabolic control) and Group 2 (N = 44) were children with > 8% (poor metabolic control). To evaluate generic and disease-specific HRQOL scores in children with T1DM in relation to metabolic control, we used the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales and the PedsQL 3.0 Diabetes Module. The patients in Group 1, by pediatric patient self-report and parent proxy-report, had statistically better disease-specific HRQOL scores on the diabetes symptoms, treatment barriers, treatment adherence and worry domains in comparison with Group 2. We also found significant correlations between the total generic HRQOL scores and HbA(1C) for both parent proxy-reports' Spearman's coefficient of rank correlation rho = -0.257; p = 0.0412 and pediatric patients' Spearman's coefficient of rank correlation rho = -0.269; p = 0.0313. The current findings suggest that poor glycemic control in children with T1DM is associated with lower generic and disease-specific HRQOL scores in developing and transitional countries.     

Development of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for use in commercial maize (Zea mays L.) germplasm

The development of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in maize offers the opportunity to utilize DNA markers in many new areas of population genetics, gene discovery, plant breeding and germplasm identification. However, the steps from sequencing and SNP discovery to SNP marker design and validation are lengthy and expensive. Access to a set of validated SNP markers is a significant advantage to maize researchers who wish to apply SNPs in scientific inquiry. We mined 1,088 loci sequenced across 60 public inbreds that have been used in maize breeding in North America and Europe. We then selected 640 SNPs using generalized marker design criteria that enable utilization with several SNP chemistries. While SNPs were found on average every 43 bases in 1,088 maize gene sequences, SNPs that were amenable to marker design were found on average every 623 bases; representing only 7% of the total SNPs discovered. We also describe the development of a 768 marker multiplex assay for use on the Illumina^® BeadArray? platform. SNP markers were mapped on the IBM2 intermated B73 × Mo17 high resolution genetic map using either the IBM2 segregating population, or segregation in multiple parent-progeny triplets. A high degree of colinearity was found with the genetic nested association map. For each SNP presented we give information on map location, polymorphism rates in different heterotic groups and performance on the Illumina^® platform.     

Diurnal temperature-related variations in photosynthetic enzyme activities of two C<Subscript>4</Subscript> species of Chenopodiaceae grown in natural environment

The effects of the diurnal variations in ambient temperature on some C₃ and C₄ enzymes in the Salsola dendroides and Suaeda altissima species of Chenopodiaceae family were studied during the intensive vegetation period. Activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) and cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase (AsAT) were shown to decrease in both species in the afternoon and evening. The activity of the mitochondrial AsAT decreased in S. altissima, remained relatively constant in S. dendroides during the day. The activity of alanine aminotransferase was high in the S. dendroides species in the morning and evening and decreased in the S. altissima species by the evening. Glucose-6-phosphate activated PEPC in both species throughout the day. The study of the redox status-regulated C₃ enzymes showed temperature-related increases in NADP-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in both plants, in fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase activity in the S. altissima species, and in NADP-MDH activity in the S. dendroides species in the afternoon.     

Traffic accidents and environmental physical activity

Environmental physical activity (EPA) is considered as one of main regulators of human homeostasis. Evidence is growing that components of this activity through the “human factor” (i.e., changing human physiological and psychological status) can affect the dynamics of traffic accidents (TA)—the modern life epidemic. This paper presents results of studies conducted in order to reveal the potential influence of EPA [solar (SA), geomagnetic (GMA) and cosmic ray (CRA) activities] on the number of TA and related casualties in the years of the maximum and declining phase of SA cycle 23 (2000–2005). We selected the 7,160 most severe TA and their related 7,558 deaths and 1,647 severe injuries, registered in the Grand Baku Area (Azerbaijan, middle latitudes), for analysis. A significant increase of TA and victims was observed during the whole year and also during the last months of the year. The monthly numbers of TA and victims were inversely related to SA (probability p = 0.0002), and non-significantly to background GMA, but were significantly affected by major geomagnetic disturbances and storms. A strong correlation between CRA variations (cosmic ray intensity measured by ground-based neutron monitors on the Earth’s surface) and the number of TA (p = 0.001) has been observed. It was found that the number of TA which occur within a month depends significantly on the particular month of the year, the CRA, and the SA levels (inverse correlation). The increase of the number of TA is also significantly linked to geomagnetic storms, but not to steady GMA. These effects can be related to changes in human functional and behavioral markers provoked by EPA influences.     

Modulation of prefrontal cortex with anodal tDCS prevents post-exercise facilitation interference during dual task

In this study we aimed to investigate whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) reduces interference effects of a dual task (DT) on post-exercise facilitation (PEF) of the motor evoked potentials. Anodal tDCS reversed the DT interference on PEF after a non-fatiguing isometric contraction. We conclude that anodal DLPFC tDCS improves the ability to allocate attentional resources and modulates plastic adaptations across brain systems.