The high-rank syntaxa of the rock-cliff and scree vegetation of the mainland Greece and Crete

A revision was undertaken of the high-rank syntaxa of the vegetation occurring in rock fissures, ledges and screes of mainland Greece and Crete. All published phytosociological relevés available were collected and subjected to numerical classification and ordination. Four orders (Androsacetalia vandelii, Onosmetalia frutescentis, Potentilletalia speciosae andPetromaruletalia pinnatae) comprising 8 alliances (one of them new) were distinguished within theAsplenietea trichomanis (rock fissures, clefts, and ledges). The scree vegetation was classified partly within theThlaspietea rotundifolii (Drypidetalia spinosae with 2 alliances) and partly within theDaphno-Festucetea (Saturejo-Scutellarietalia—a new order, with 2 alliances). Ordination revealed clear differences in floristic composition of the alliances distinguished. The studied chasmophytic vegetation of Greece contains a very high proportion of endemics which serve as diagnostic species of the syntaxa. Further, an analysis of chorological species spectra suggested that the chorological homogeneity of a syntaxon should be considered an important diagnostic feature at high-syntaxon levels.     

The crisis seen from below,within, and against: from solidarity economy to food distribution cooperatives in Greece

Anthropological literature on crises and social and solidarity economies can benefit from integrated approaches that assess grassroots cooperatives formed during critical periods of capitalist recession. This article debates on why it is problematic to conceptualize the Greek crisis as exceptional and then examines the relationship between the solidarity economy and cooperatives and argues that the latter is a development of the former in the future plans of people struggling against the crisis being witnessed in Greece. It moreover makes a case for there being a need to pay more attention to the distribution sector. Its main aim is to point out how participants engaged in initiatives related to the solidarity economy tend to imagine that their activities are inspired by larger aims and claims than the immediate significance of their material actions. This is done by ethnographically analyzing organized social responses against crises through the rise of popular solidarity economies associated with distribution of food without middlemen.     

Chasing long-range evolutionary couplings in the AlphaFold era

Coevolution between protein residues is normally interpreted as direct contact. However, the evolutionary record of a protein sequence contains rich information that may include long-range functional couplings, couplings that report on homo-oligomeric states or even conformational changes. Due to the complexity of the sequence space and the lack of structural information on various members of a protein family, it has been difficult to effectively mine the additional information encoded in a multiple sequence alignment (MSA). Here, taking advantage of the recent release of the AlphaFold (AF) database we attempt to identify coevolutionary couplings that cannot be explained simply by spatial proximity. We propose a simple computational method that performs direct coupling analysis on a MSA and searches for couplings that are not satisfied in any of the AF models of members of the identified protein family. Application of this method on 2012 protein families suggests that ~12% of the total identified coevolving residue pairs are spatially distant and more likely to be disordered than their contacting counterparts. We expect that this analysis will help improve the quality of coevolutionary distance restraints used for structure determination and will be useful in identifying potentially functional/allosteric cross-talk between distant residues.     

Combined metformin-salicylate treatment provides improved anti-tumor activity and enhanced radiotherapy response in prostate cancer; drug synergy at clinically relevant doses

BackgroundThere is need for well-tolerated therapies for prostate cancer (PrCa) secondary prevention and to improve response to radiotherapy (RT). The anti-diabetic agent metformin (MET) and the aspirin metabolite salicylate (SAL) are shown to activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), suppress de novo lipogenesis (DNL), the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and reduce PrCa proliferation in-vitro. The purpose of this study was to examine whether combined MET+SAL treatment could provide enhanced PrCa tumor suppression and improve response to RT.MethodsAndrogen-sensitive (22RV1) and resistant (PC3, DU-145) PrCa cells and PC3 xenografts were used to examine whether combined treatment with MET+SAL can provide improved anti-tumor activity compared to each agent alone in non-irradiated and irradiated PrCa cells and tumors. Mechanisms of action were investigated with analysis of signaling events, mitochondria respiration and DNL activity assays.ResultsWe observed that PrCa cells are resistant to clinically relevant doses of MET. Combined MET + SAL treatment provides synergistic anti-proliferative activity at clinically relevant doses and enhances the anti-proliferative effects of RT. This was associated with suppression of oxygen consumption rate (OCR), activation of AMPK, suppression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC)-DNL and mTOR-p70^s6k/4EBP1 and HIF1α pathways. MET + SAL reduced tumor growth in non-irradiated tumors and enhanced the effects of RT.ConclusionMET+SAL treatment suppresses PrCa cell proliferation and tumor growth and enhances responses to RT at clinically relevant doses. Since MET and SAL are safe, widely-used and inexpensive agents, these data support the investigation of MET+SAL in PrCa clinical trials alone and in combination with RT.     

MMP-2 −1306C > T polymorphism in breast cancer: a case–control study in a South European population

This case control study aims to investigate the role of MMP-2 ?1306C > T polymorphism as a potential risk factor and possible prognostic marker for breast cancer in a South European population. 113 consecutive incident cases of histologically confirmed ductal breast cancer and 124 healthy controls were recruited. MMP-2 ?1306C > T polymorphism was genotyped; multivariate logistic regression as well as Cox regression analysis were performed. MMP-2 ?1306C > T status was not associated with breast cancer risk either at the total sample or at the subanalyses on premenopausal and postmenopausal women. At the survival analysis, a trend towards a favorable association between MMP-2 ?1306C > T allele and disease-free survival as well as overall survival was observed. Regarding subanalyses on ER-negative and ER-positive cases, the favorable association implicating MMP-2 ?1306C > T allele was particularly evident among ER-positive cases; no significant associations emerged among ER-negative cases. MMP-2 ?1306C > T polymorphism does not seem to be a risk factor for breast cancer in South European population; however, a trend towards a favorable association with survival has been observed.     

A new approach to toxicity testing in Daphnia magna: application of high throughput FT-ICR mass spectrometry metabolomics

Currently there is a surge of interest in exploiting toxicogenomics to screen the toxicity of chemicals, enabling rapid and accurate categorisation into classes of defined mode-of-action (MOA), and prioritising chemicals for further testing. Direct infusion FT-ICR mass spectrometry-based metabolomics can provide a sensitive and unbiased analysis of metabolites in only 15 mins and therefore has considerable potential for chemical screening. The water flea, Daphnia magna, is an OECD test species and is utilised internationally for toxicity testing. However, no metabolomics studies of this species have been reported. Here we optimised and evaluated the effectiveness of FT-ICR mass spectrometry metabolomics for toxicity testing in D. magna. We confirmed that high-quality mass spectra can be recorded from as few as 30 neonates (<24 h old; 224 μg dry mass) or a single adult daphnid (301 μg dry mass). An OECD 24 h acute toxicity test was conducted with neonates at copper concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 25, 50 μg l⁻¹. A total of 5447 unique peaks were detected reproducibly, of which 4768 were assigned at least one empirical formula and 1017 were putatively identified based upon accurate mass measurements. Significant copper-induced changes to the daphnid metabolome, consistent with the documented MOA of copper, were detected thereby validating the approach. In addition, N-acetylspermidine was putatively identified as a novel biomarker of copper toxicity. Collectively, our results highlight the excellent sensitivity, reproducibility and mass accuracy of FT-ICR mass spectrometry, and provide strong evidence for its applicability to high-throughput screening of chemical toxicity in D. magna. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Methodology of evaluation of morphology of the spine and the trunk in idiopathic scoliosis and other spinal deformities - 6th SOSORT consensus paper

Background

Comprehensive evaluation of the morphology of the spine and of the whole body is essential in order to correctly manage patients suffering from progressive idiopathic scoliosis. Although methodology of clinical and radiological examination is well described in manuals of orthopaedics, there is deficit of data which clinical and radiological parameters are considered in everyday practise. Recently, an increasing tendency to extend scoliosis examination beyond the measure of the Cobb angle can be observed, reflecting a more patient-oriented approach. Such evaluation often involves surface parameters, aesthetics, function and quality of life.

Aim of the study

To investigate current recommendations of experts on methodology of evaluation of the patient with spinal deformity, essentially idiopathic scoliosis.

Methods

Structured Delphi procedure for collecting and processing knowledge from a group of experts with a series of questionnaires and controlled opinion feedback was performed. Experience and opinions of the professionals - physicians and physiotherapists managing scoliosis patients - were studied. According to Delphi method a Meeting Questionnaire (MQ) has been developed, resulting from a preliminary Pre-Meeting Questionnaire (PMQ) which had been previously discussed and approved on line. The MQ was circulated among the SOSORT experts during Consensus Session on "Measurements" which took place at the Annual Meeting of the Society, totally 23 panellists being engaged. Clinical, radiological and surface topography parameters were checked for agreement.

Results

90% agreement or more was reached in 35 items and superior than 75% agreement was reached in further 25 items. An evaluation form was proposed to be used by clinicians and researchers.

Conclusion

The consensus was reached on evaluation of the morphology of the patient with idiopathic scoliosis, comprising clinical, radiological and, to less extend, surface topography assessment. Considering the variety of parameters indicated by the panellists, the Cobb angle, yet the gold standard, can be seen neither as the unique nor the only decisive parameter in the management of patients with idiopathic scoliosis.