Non-canonical bases differentially represented in the sex chromosomes of the dioecious plant Silene latifolia.

The oxidation of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC), known as oxi-mCs, garners significant interest in plants as potential epigenetic marks. While research in mammals has established a role in cell reprogramming, carcinogenesis, and gene regulation, their functions in plants remain unclear. In rice, 5hmC has been associated with transposable elements (TEs) and heterochromatin. This study utilizes Silene latifolia, a dioecious plant with heteromorphic sex chromosomes and a genome with a large proportion of TEs, which provides a favourable environment for the study of oxi-mCs in individual sexes. Notably, we detected surprisingly high levels of oxi-mCs in S. latifolia comparable with mammals. Nuclei showed enrichment in heterochromatic regions, except for 5hmC whose signal was homogeneously distributed. Intriguingly, the same X chromosome in females displayed overall enrichment of 5hmC and 5fC compared with its counterpart. This fact is shared with 5mC, resembling dosage compensation. Co-localization showed higher correlation between 5mC and 5fC than with 5hmC, indicating no potential relationship between 5hmC and 5fC. Additionally, the promoter of several sex-linked genes and sex-biased TEs clustered in a clear sex-dependent way. Together, these findings unveil a hypothetical role for oxi-mCs in S. latifolia sex chromosome development, warranting further exploration.

Sexy ways: the methodical approaches to study plant sex chromosomes.

Sex chromosomes have evolved in many plant species with separate sexes. Current plant research is shifting from examining the structure of sex chromosomes to exploring their functional aspects. New studies are progressively unveiling the specific genetic and epigenetic mechanisms responsible for shaping distinct sexes in plants. While the fundamental methods of molecular biology and genomics are generally employed for the analysis of sex chromosomes, it is often necessary to modify classical procedures not only to simplify and expedite analyses but sometimes to make them possible at all. In this review, we demonstrate how, at the level of structural and functional genetics, cytogenetics, and bioinformatics, it is essential to adapt established procedures for sex chromosome analysis.

Beyond timing and step counting in 360° turning-in-place assessment: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Turning in place is a challenging motor task and is used as a brief assessment test of lower limb function and dynamic balance. This review aims to examine how research of instrumented analysis of turning in place is implemented. In addition to reporting the studied population, we covered acquisition systems, turn detection methods, quantitative parameters, and how these parameters are computed. METHODS: Following the development of a rigorous search strategy, the Web of Science and Scopus were systematically searched for studies involving the use of turning-in-place. From the selected articles, the study population, types of instruments used, turn detection method, and how the turning-in-place characteristics were calculated. RESULTS: Twenty-one papers met the inclusion criteria. The subject groups involved in the reviewed studies included young, middle-aged, and older adults, stroke, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease patients. Inertial measurement units (16 studies) and motion camera systems (5 studies) were employed for gathering measurement data, force platforms were rarely used (2 studies). Two studies used commercial software for turn detection, six studies referenced previously published algorithms, two studies developed a custom detector, and eight studies did not provide any details about the turn detection method. The most frequently used parameters were mean angular velocity (14 cases, 7 studies), turn duration (13 cases, 13 studies), peak angular velocity (8 cases, 8 studies), jerkiness (6 cases, 5 studies) and freezing-of-gait ratios (5 cases, 5 studies). Angular velocities were derived from sensors placed on the lower back (7 cases, 4 studies), trunk (4 cases, 2 studies), and shank (2 cases, 1 study). The rest (9 cases, 8 studies) did not report sensor placement. Calculation of the freezing-of-gait ratio was based on the acceleration of the lower limbs in all cases. Jerkiness computation employed acceleration in the medio-lateral (4 cases) and antero-posterior (1 case) direction. One study did not reported any details about jerkiness computation. CONCLUSION: This review identified the capabilities of turning-in-place assessment in identifying movement differences between the various subject groups. The results, based on data acquired by inertial measurement units across studies, are comparable. A more in-depth analysis of tests developed for gait, which has been adopted in turning-in-place, is needed to examine their validity and accuracy.

Effect of Different Feed Particle Size on Gastrointestinal Tract Morphology, Ileal Digesta Viscosity, and Blood Biochemical Parameters as Markers of Health Status in Broiler Chickens.

The study is focused on how the physical structure of the feed affects the health status of broiler chickens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of feed particle size in broiler diets on gastrointestinal tract morphology, digesta viscosity, and blood biochemical parameters. A total of 90 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly divided into three different experimental groups (with five replicates per pen), with 6 birds per cage. The first experimental group (Coarse) was fed with the coarsest particle size, with feed with a geometric mean diameter (GMD) of 1111.26 µm, the next group (Medium) was fed with a less coarse feed size of GMD 959.89 µm, and the last group (Fine) was fed a diet with a fine feed particle size of GMD 730.48 µm. The use of coarse feed particle size in the diet had a positive effect on the gizzard weight and small intestinal villi height and crypt depth, which increased the surface area intended for digesting nutrients. The use of finely ground particles in the feed increased the level of gamma-glutamyl transferase and at the same time, decreased the level of urea, which could indicate adverse changes in the liver.

Lower Limb Exoskeleton Sensors: State-of-the-Art.

Due to the ever-increasing proportion of older people in the total population and the growing awareness of the importance of protecting workers against physical overload during long-time hard work, the idea of supporting exoskeletons progressed from high-tech fiction to almost commercialized products within the last six decades. Sensors, as part of the perception layer, play a crucial role in enhancing the functionality of exoskeletons by providing as accurate real-time data as possible to generate reliable input data for the control layer. The result of the processed sensor data is the information about current limb position, movement intension, and needed support. With the help of this review article, we want to clarify which criteria for sensors used in exoskeletons are important and how standard sensor types, such as kinematic and kinetic sensors, are used in lower limb exoskeletons. We also want to outline the possibilities and limitations of special medical signal sensors detecting, e.g., brain or muscle signals to improve data perception at the human-machine interface. A topic-based literature and product research was done to gain the best possible overview of the newest developments, research results, and products in the field. The paper provides an extensive overview of sensor criteria that need to be considered for the use of sensors in exoskeletons, as well as a collection of sensors and their placement used in current exoskeleton products. Additionally, the article points out several types of sensors detecting physiological or environmental signals that might be beneficial for future exoskeleton developments.

Caraway (Carum carvi L.) in fast-growing and slow-growing broiler chickens' diets and its effect on performance, digestive tract morphology and blood biochemical profile.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the addition of caraway (1%) in fast-growing and slow-growing broiler chickens' diet and its effect on performance parameters, blood biochemical profile, and relative organ sizes and ileum morphology in slow-growing broilers. Two separated experiments were performed. On the first day of age, the broilers were divided into 2 equal groups (Control and Caraway) with 6 replicates per treatment in both experiments. Experiment I: The total of 276 male fast-growing Ross 308 broiler chickens were used. The trial lasted from the first day to 35th day of chickens' age. Experiment II: The total of 216 male slow-growing (Hubbard JA 57) broilers were used. The trial lasted from the first to 50th day of chickens' age. Mean liveweight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, blood biochemical parameters, and relative organ sizes were not significantly different in these trials. The group of slow-growing broilers supplemented with 1% of caraway in the diet showed longer villi and deeper crypt in the ileum after 50 d of life. Based on our results, it can be stated that the proportion of 1% caraway in fast-growing and slow-growing broiler chickens' diet did not influence performance parameters, blood biochemical profile and relative organ sizes. In case of the experiment with the slow-growing broilers supplemented with caraway, a significant difference in the height of the villi and the depth of the crypts was found. Caraway can be included in the broiler chickens' diets without negative effects, but further study of the effect on the intestinal morphology is necessary.

Eda controls the size of the enamel knot during incisor development.

Ectodysplasin (Eda) plays important roles in both shaping the developing tooth and establishing the number of teeth within the tooth row. Sonic hedgehog (Shh) has been shown to act downstream of Eda and is involved in the initiation of tooth development. Eda-/- mice possess hypoplastic and hypomineralized incisors and show changes in tooth number in the molar region. In the present study we used 3D reconstruction combined with expression analysis, cell lineage tracing experiments, and western blot analysis in order to investigate the formation of the incisor germs in Eda-/- mice. We show that a lack of functional Eda protein during early stages of incisor tooth germ development had minimal impact on development of the early expression of Shh in the incisor, a region proposed to mark formation of a rudimental incisor placode and act as an initiating signalling centre. In contrast, deficiency of Eda protein had a later impact on expression of Shh in the primary enamel knot of the functional tooth. Eda-/- mice had a smaller region where Shh was expressed, and a reduced contribution from Shh descendant cells. The reduction in the enamel knot led to the formation of an abnormal enamel organ creating a hypoplastic functional incisor. Eda therefore appears to influence the spatial formation of the successional signalling centres during odontogenesis.

Increase of serum interleukin 6 and interferon γ is associated with the number of impulses in patients with supraventricular arrhythmias treated with radiofrequency catheter ablation.

BACKGROUND: Activation of the immune system plays a pathogenic role in the process of myocardial remodeling in patients with supraventricular arrhythmias. The intensity of this process is associated with the effectiveness of electrical cardioversion and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA). The aim of this study was to test the ability of the biochip microarray to detect immune parameters in patients with supraventricular arrhythmias undergoing RFA treatment. METHODS: We used a biochip-based microarray system to determine multiple immune parameters in a group of 35 patients who had undergone RFA for atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT), atrial flutter (AFL) and atrial fibrillation (AF). RESULTS: Before the procedure, serum IL-6 and VEGF levels were significantly increased in patients with atrial fibrillation compared to patients with AVNRT (IL-6: 6.4±6.3 ng/L vs. 1.5±0.7 ng/L, P < 0.01; VEGF: 132.4±74 ng/L vs. 88.5±56.4 ng/L, P < 0.01). After the procedure, serum IL-6, VEGF, IFN-γ and MCP-1 levels significantly increased compared to baseline (IL-6: 5.2±4.8 ng/L vs. 2.9±2.1 ng/L, P < 0.01; VEGF: 195.8±160 ng/L vs. 119.8± 110 ng/L, P < 0.05; IFN-γ: 3.1±1.2 ng/L vs. 2.3±0.6 ng/L, P < 0.05; MCP-1: 104.1±84.5 ng/L vs. 54.5±50 ng/L, P < 0.05). Serum IL-6 and IFN-γ were associated with the number of RFA applications (IL-6: r = 0.56, n 33; IFN-γ: r = 0.47, n 33). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that biochip-based microarray can be useful in the detection of immune activation in patients with arrhythmias and can detect myocardial injury after RF procedures.

Cardiomyopathy as one of the less frequent manifestations of Takayasu's arteritis.

The authors present the case of a young woman with newly diagnosed Takayasu's arteritis. This woman, with arterial hypertension, was investigated for the unspecific symptoms at the beginning. Afterwards, the transthoracic echocardiography showed dysfunction of the left ventricle and the abdominal sonography showed a stenosis of the right renal artery. PET/CT scan showed chronic modification after inflammatory processes on the wall of the thoracic and abdominal aorta. This case report should be instructive to other clinicians and refers to the necessity to remember this rare disease in our country too.

Use of the biochip microarray system in detection of myocardial injury caused by radiofrequency catheter ablation.

BACKGROUND: In a prospective study, we measured plasma markers of myocardial damage induced by radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) with the protein biochip microarray system. METHODS: A total of 32 consecutive patients undergoing RFA for atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia (AVNRT), right atrial flutter (AFL) and atrial fibrillation (AF) were included in the study. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB), heart-type fatty acid binding protein (hFABP) and glycogen phosphorylase BB (GPBB) were measured using biochip array technology at baseline and 24 h after the procedure. RESULTS: Values for all markers increased 24 h after RFA (cTnI: 0.92+/-0.49 microg/L vs. 0.33+/-0.06 microg/L, p<0.001; CK-MB: 3.79+/-2.04 microg/L vs. 1.85+/-0.55 microg/L, p<0.001; hFABP: 2.82+/-0.95 microg/L vs. 2.00+/-0.95 microg/L, p<0.001; GPBB: 9.07+/-5.83 microg/L vs. 4.70+/-2.50 microg/L, p<0.001). The correlations between plasma marker levels and RFA time were cTnI: r=0.63, p<0.01; CK-MB: r=0.75, p<0.01; hFABP: r=0.55, p<0.05, GPBB: r=0.51, p<0.05; the correlation between RFA time and number of RF applications was significant (r=0.81, p<0.001). Patients with RFA due to AF or flutter had elevated cTnI, CK-MB and hFABP levels compared to patients with AVNRT (cTnI: 1.14+/- 0.49 microg/L vs. 0.59+/-0.25 microg/L, p<0.05; CK-MB: 4.46+/- 2.07 microg/L vs. 2.81+/-1.54 mug/L, p<0.05; hFABP: 3.21+/- 0.98 microg/L vs. 2.25+/-0.54 microg/L, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial injury induced by RFA can be detected by cTnI, CK-MB, hFABP and GPBB. Plasma cTnI, CK-MB and hFABP levels significantly increased in patients with AFL and AF compared to patients with AVNRT. The increase of cTnI, CK-MB and GPBB levels correlates with the total duration of RFA.

Thrombolytic treatment of thrombosis on the aortic valvular prosthesis complicated by brain embolism.

The authors present a case of thrombosis on the St. Jude Medical 19 aortic valve prosthesis. The diagnosis was confirmed by transthoracic and transoesofageal echocardiography, cardiac fluoroscopy revealed restricted movement of the aortic valve prosthesis leaflet. Thrombolytic therapy was complicated with brain embolism that was successfully percutaneously removed from the cerebral artery by the mechanical device. The patient has fully recovered without any neurological residual symptoms. This case report should be instructive to other clinicians who encounter the same complications after thrombolytic treatment.