Asp327Asn polymorphism of sex hormone-binding globulin gene is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus incidence

Endogenous sex hormones have been observed to have a role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) predisposition. Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) regulates the bioavailability of sex hormones to target tissues. Therefore, we examined the distribution of the SHBG functional polymorphism Asp327Asn (rs6259) in SLE patients (n = 150) and controls (n = 150) in a Polish population. We found a contribution of the SHBG327Asn variant to the development of SLE. Women with the Asp/Asn and Asn/Asn genotypes displayed a 2.630-fold increased risk of SLE (95% CI = 1.561–4.433, P = 0.0003). SHBG has a much higher affinity for testosterone than estradiol, and the SHBG327Asn variant displays a reduction of estradiol clearance. Therefore we suggest that the opposing effects of estrogens and testosterone on the immune system and imbalance in the levels of these hormones in SLE patients can be enhanced by the SHBG327Asn protein variant.     

Astronomically controlled deep-sea life in the Late Cretaceous reconstructed from ultra-high-resolution inoceramid shell archives

The periodicity of the mutual position of celestial bodies in the Earth-Moon-Sun system is crucial to the functioning of life on Earth. Biological rhythms affect most of the processes inside organisms, and some can be recorded in skeletal remains, allowing one to reconstruct the cycles that occur in nature deep in time. In the present study, we have used ultra-high-resolution elemental ratio scans of Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca and Mn/Ca from the fossil, ca. 70 Ma old inoceramid bivalve Inoceramus (Platyceramus) salisburgensis from deep aphotic water and identified a clear regularity of repetition of the geochemical signal every of ~0.006 mm. We estimate that the shell accretion rate is on average ~0.4 cm of shell thickness per lunar year. Visible light–dark lamination, interpreted as a seasonal signal corresponding to the semilunar-related cycle, gives a rough shell age estimate and growth rate for this large bivalve species supported by a dual feeding strategy. We recognize a biological clock that follows either a semilunar (model A) or a tidal (model B) cycle. This cycle of tidal dominance seems to fit better considering the biological behaviour of I. (P.) salisburgensis, including the estimated age and growth rate of the studied specimens. We interpret that the major control in such deep-sea environment, well below the photic zone and storm wave base, was due to barotropic tidal forces, thus changing the water pressure.     

Green Synthesis of Genistein-Fortified Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticles as a Potent Hepatic Cancer Inhibitor: Validation through Experimental and Computational Studies

In hepatic cancer, precancerous nodules account for damage and inflammation in liver cells. Studies have proved that phyto-compounds based on biosynthetic metallic nanoparticles display superior action against hepatic tumors. This study targeted the synthesis of genistein-fortified zinc ferrite nanoparticles (GENP) trailed by anticancer activity assessment against diethylnitrosamine and N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene induced hepatic cancer. The process of nucleation was confirmed by UV/VIS spectrophotometry, X-ray beam diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and FT-IR. An in vitro antioxidant assay illustrated that the leaves of Pterocarpus mildbraedii have strong tendency as a reductant and, in the nanoformulation synthesis, as a natural capping agent. A MTT assay confirmed that GENP have a strong selective cytotoxic potential against HepG2 cancer cells. In silico studies of genistein exemplified the binding tendency towards human matrix metalloproteinase comparative to the standard drug marimastat. An in vivo anticancer evaluation showed that GENP effectively inhibit the growth of hepatic cancer by interfering with hepatic and non-hepatic biochemical markers.     

“Decoding the Dots”: The ImageStream system (ISS) as a novel and powerful tool for flow cytometric analysis

The aim of this article is to provide a brief review of the ImageStream system (ISS). The ISS technology was developed as a novel method for multiparameter cell analysis and subsequently as a supportive tool for flow cytometry (FC). ISS integrates the features of FC and fluorescent microscopy collecting images of acquired cells for offline digital image analysis. The article presents an overview of the main characteristics of ISS and a comparison between ISS, FC and the laser scanning cytometer (LSC). We reviewed ISS applications focusing on those involved in cellular phenotyping and provide our own experience with using ISS as a supportive tool to classical FC and demonstrate the compatibility between FC and ISS photometric analysis as well as the advantages of using ISS to confirm FC results.     

Reciprocal MicroRNA Expression in Mesocortical Circuit and Its Interplay with Serotonin Transporter Define Resilient Rats in the Chronic Mild Stress

Prolonged stress perturbs physiological balance of a subject and thus can lead to depression. Nevertheless, some individuals are more resilient to stress than the others. Defining molecular factors underlying resilience to stress may contribute to the development of a new antidepressant strategy based on the restoration of resilient phenotype in depressed subjects. We used chronic mild stress (CMS) paradigm—well-characterized animal model of depression which caused in rats behavioral deficits (anhedonia) manifested by decreased consumption of sucrose solution. CMS also generated a proportion of resilient rats which did not alter sucrose consumption despite being stressed. Recently, regulation of a gene expression associated with microRNA (miRNA) is considered as an important factor modulating biochemical response to stress. Based on our previous work and literature survey, we investigated changes in the expression level of seven miRNAs (i.e., miR-18a-5p, miR-34a-5p, miR-135a-5p, miR-195-5p, miR-320-3p, miR-674-3p, miR-872-5p) in mesocortical circuit—crucially involved in stress response in order to find differences between susceptible and resilient phenotype. Bioinformatic analysis showed that all miRNAs of interest potentially target serotonin transporter (SERT). Chronic stress caused global increase in the expression of the abovementioned miRNAs in ventral tegmental area (VTA) of stressed rats followed by parallel decrease in miRNA expression in prefrontal cortex (PCx). This effect was more profound in resilient than anhedonic animals. Moreover, we observed decreased level of SERT in VTA of resilient rats. Our findings show that mesocortical circuit is involved in the response to stress and this phenomenon is more efficient in resilient animals.     

Demographic parameters of Phyllocoptes adalius (Acari: Eriophyoidea) and influence of insemination on female fecundity and longevity

The biology of Phyllocoptes adalius Keifer (Acari: Eriophyoidea) and influence of insemination on female fecundity and longevity were studied. The experiment was conducted at a constant temperature of 25 ± 0.5 °C, 70–80 % RH and 16-h photoperiod. A modified method of mite rearing on detached leaves in closed cells was successfully applied and demonstrated to be efficient for biological studies of eriophyoids. Survival and development duration of the immature stages, as well as fecundity of female and longevity of adults, were calculated. The longest time of development was observed for eggs, which was almost twice as long as that for larvae and nymphs. Egg-to-adult development did not significantly differ between males and females. Survival rate for the immature stages was highest for nymphs (98.2 %), exceeding 86.2 % for overall pre-adult stages. Life table parameters of P. adalius were estimated as follows: mean generation time (T), 15.8 days; doubling time (Dt), 3.3 days; net reproductive rate (R ₀ ), 27.8 female eggs/female; the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r _m ), 0.21 female eggs/female/day; the finite rate of increase (λ), 1.23 female eggs/female/day; and sex ratio (proportion females), 0.82. Our studies indicate that P. adalius has the potential for rapid population increase, becoming one of the most important rose mite species.     

Influence of dam removal on trichopteran assemblages in the lowland Drzewiczka River,Poland

The aim of this study is to assess the response of Trichoptera in a patchy tailwater stretch of the Drzewiczka River (Poland) to dam removal as compared to the previous pulse discharge disturbance. The study was carried out in the river at the end of a whitewater slalom canoeing track located downstream of the dam reservoir called Drzewieckie Lake (area 0.84 km²). Between February and April 2002, the dam reservoir was gradually emptied before its dredging, and the Drzewiczka River recovered its natural discharge (1.7–4.5 m³ s⁻¹) for several years (temporary renaturisation). Altogether, 120 monthly samples of macroinvertebrates and their environments were collected in two sampling cycles, S1 in 2000–2001 during high discharge fluctuations (2.1–12.0 m³ s⁻¹ daily) and S2 in 2002–2003 during renaturisation after emptying the reservoir, from the following five habitats: H_P—pool habitat, H_S—stagnant habitat, H_M—macrophyte habitat, H_B—bank habitat and H_R—riffle habitat. On the basis of trichopteran abundance, the patterns in their assemblages were recognised with use of a self-organising map that was a Kohonen artificial neural network. The obtained classification of trichopteran samples was found to be based in general on the spatial criterion, i.e. dependent on habitats, irrespective of which sampling cycle the samples originated from, which clearly showed that the habitat mosaic of the river bed was observed both in S1 and S2. In addition, a very important function was noted for riparian and land plants, which developed intensively at the bottom of the Drzewieckie Reservoir immediately after it was emptied. They restricted extensive transport of reservoir sediments to the downstream river reach, thus reducing differences between S1 and S2 in the tailwater. It is also worth noting that in S1, in comparison to S2, Cyrnus trimaculatus, Mystacides azurea and Lype reducta flowing downstream from the reservoir were observed more frequently in the river, which confirmed that impoundments can be conducive to the presence of certain species downstream of dams. Summing up, although artificial short-term flow fluctuations usually diminish the quality and quantity of benthos, the article presents a case in which they were small and short enough to allow the formation of a mosaic of bed patches and positively affected certain parameters of macrobenthic communities according to the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. Handling editor: David Dudgeon