scholarly journals Regulation of abscisic acid metabolism in relation to the dormancy and germination of cereal grains

2015 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Fidler ◽  
Edyta Zdunek-Zastocka ◽  
Wiesław Bielawski
Keyword(s):  
Abscisic Acid ◽  
Cereal Grains ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Aba Metabolism ◽  
Dormancy Period ◽  
Abscisic Acid Metabolism ◽  
And Function ◽  
Made In

Seed dormancy is of particular importance in the cultivation of cereals, as it directly affects the quality of crop yield. If the dormancy period is too short, this may lead to pre-harvest sprouting, whereas a dormancy period that is too long may cause uneven germination; both of these scenarios are associated with economic losses. Most enzymes engaged in the metabolism of abscisic acid (ABA) have been identified, and significant progress has been made in understanding the role of this phytohormone in the induction and maintenance of dormancy, mainly as a result of research conducted in <em>Arabidopsis</em>. Much less is known about the metabolism and function of ABA in cereal grains, especially in relation to dormancy and germination. This review focuses on the regulation of ABA metabolism in dormant and non-dormant cereal grains, in both the dry state and upon imbibition. Moreover, this review describes the influence of factors such as after-ripening, light, temperature, nitric oxide, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) on the dormancy and germination of cereal grains. These factors, with the exception of ROS, appear to affect the level of dormancy and germination of grains through regulation of ABA metabolism.

scholarly journals Immune Checkpoints Expression in Chronic Lung Allograft Rejection

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilaria Righi ◽  
Valentina Vaira ◽  
Letizia Corinna Morlacchi ◽  
Giorgio Alberto Croci ◽  
Valeria Rossetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Lymphocytes ◽  
Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome ◽  
Immune Checkpoints ◽  
Hla Antibodies ◽  
Restrictive Allograft Syndrome ◽  
And Function ◽  
Shed Light

Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) is the main cause of poor survival and low quality of life of lung transplanted patients. Several studies have addressed the role of dendritic cells, macrophages, T cells, donor specific as well as anti-HLA antibodies, and interleukins in CLAD, but the expression and function of immune checkpoint molecules has not yet been analyzed, especially in the two CLAD subtypes: BOS (bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome) and RAS (restrictive allograft syndrome). To shed light on this topic, we conducted an observational study on eight consecutive grafts explanted from patients who received lung re-transplantation for CLAD. The expression of a panel of immune molecules (PD1/CD279, PDL1/CD274, CTLA4/CD152, CD4, CD8, hFoxp3, TIGIT, TOX, B-Cell-Specific Activator Protein) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in these grafts and in six control lungs. Results showed that RAS compared to BOS grafts were characterized by 1) the inversion of the CD4/CD8 ratio; 2) a higher percentage of T lymphocytes expressing the PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA4 checkpoint molecules; and 3) a significant reduction of exhausted PD-1-expressing T lymphocytes (PD-1pos/TOXpos) and of exhausted Treg (PD-1pos/FOXP3pos) T lymphocytes. Results herein, although being based on a limited number of cases, suggest a role for checkpoint molecules in the development of graft rejection and offer a possible immunological explanation for the worst prognosis of RAS. Our data, which will need to be validated in ampler cohorts of patients, raise the possibility that the evaluation of immune checkpoints during follow-up offers a prognostic advantage in monitoring the onset of rejection, and suggest that the use of compounds that modulate the function of checkpoint molecules could be evaluated in the management of chronic rejection in LTx patients.

The Irresponsible Expert Witness: A Failure of Biomedical Graduate Education and Professional Accountability

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 754-762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Brent
Keyword(s):  
Expert Witness ◽  
Expert Witnesses ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Witness Testimony ◽  
Expert Witness Testimony ◽  
Professional Accountability ◽  
Proper Role ◽  
And Function

Many forces have created the epidemic of negligence and malpractice litigation. One of the contributing factors to the rising rate of nonmeritorious litigation is the increasing number of unqualified and irresponsible expert witnesses. The high remuneration has attracted physican-scientists who are unaware of the proper role of an expert witness. They are frequently manipulated by the attorneys and function as partisans rather than scholars. The role of the expert witness should be taught in medical and graduate school. Testimony should be treated as a scholarly endeavor and experts should be encouraged to seek peer review of their opinions and not to testify secretly and in isolation. It is suggested that greater visibility of experts and their testimony (light of day phenomenon) should raise the quality of expert witness testimony and encourage more qualified experts to participate as expert witnesses, thus removing the stigmata usually associated with unqualified expert witnesses.

scholarly journals The Role of Adrenoceptors in the Retina

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 2594
Author(s):  
Yue Ruan ◽  
Tobias Böhmer ◽  
Subao Jiang ◽  
Adrian Gericke
Keyword(s):  
Visual Information ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Retinal Diseases ◽  
System A ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Individual ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Brain

The retina is a part of the central nervous system, a thin multilayer with neuronal lamination, responsible for detecting, preprocessing, and sending visual information to the brain. Many retinal diseases are characterized by hemodynamic perturbations and neurodegeneration leading to vision loss and reduced quality of life. Since catecholamines and respective bindings sites have been characterized in the retina, we systematically reviewed the literature with regard to retinal expression, distribution and function of alpha1 (α1)-, alpha2 (α2)-, and beta (β)-adrenoceptors (ARs). Moreover, we discuss the role of the individual adrenoceptors as targets for the treatment of retinal diseases.

Contrasting dynamics in abscisic acid metabolism in different Fragaria spp. during fruit ripening and identification of involved enzymes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolás E Figueroa ◽  
Thomas Hoffmann ◽  
Klaus Olbricht ◽  
Suzanne R Abrams ◽  
Wilfried Schwab
Keyword(s):  
Abscisic Acid ◽  
Fruit Ripening ◽  
Plant Hormone ◽  
Acid Metabolism ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Phaseic Acid ◽  
Aba Metabolism ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Dihydrophaseic Acid ◽  
Abscisic Acid Metabolism

Abstract Abscisic acid (ABA) is a key hormone in non-climacteric Fragaria spp, regulating multiple physiological processes throughout fruit ripening. Its level increases during ripening, and it promotes fruit (receptacle) development. However, its metabolism in the fruit is largely unknown. We analyzed the levels of ABA and its catabolites at different developmental stages of strawberry ripening in diploid and octoploid genotypes and identified two functional ABA-glucosyltransferases (FvUGT71A49 and FvUGT73AC3) and two regiospecific ABA-8’-hydroxylases (FaCYP707A4a and FaCYP707A1/3). ABA-glucose-ester content increased during ripening in diploid F. vesca varieties but decreased in octoploid F. xananassa. Dihydrophaseic acid content increased throughout ripening in all analyzed receptacles, while 7’-hydroxy-ABA and neo-phaseic acid did not show significant changes during ripening. In the studied F. vesca varieties, the receptacle seems to be the main tissue for ABA metabolism, as the content of ABA and its metabolites in the receptacle was generally 100 times higher than in achenes, respectively. The accumulation patterns of ABA catabolites and transcriptomic data from the literature show that all strawberry fruits produce and metabolize considerable amounts of the plant hormone ABA during ripening, which is therefore a conserved process, but also illustrate the diversity of this metabolic pathway which is species, variety and tissue dependent.

scholarly journals Targeting Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway for Developing Therapies for Hair Loss

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 4915 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bu Young Choi
Keyword(s):  
Hair Loss ◽  
Hair Growth ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Intracellular Targets ◽  
Remarkable Progress ◽  
Made In

Persistent hair loss is a major cause of psychological distress and compromised quality of life in millions of people worldwide. Remarkable progress has been made in understanding the molecular basis of hair loss and identifying valid intracellular targets for designing effective therapies for hair loss treatment. Whereas a variety of growth factors and signaling pathways have been implicated in hair cycling process, the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays a central role in hair follicle regeneration. Several plant-derived chemicals have been reported to promote hair growth by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling in various in vitro and in vivo studies. This mini-review sheds light on the role of Wnt/β-catenin in promoting hair growth and the current progress in designing hair loss therapies by targeting this signaling pathway.

scholarly journals Revisiting the Role of Leukocytes in Cystic Fibrosis

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 3380
Author(s):  
Monica Averna ◽  
Paola Melotti ◽  
Claudio Sorio
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Therapeutic Response ◽  
Bacterial Colonization ◽  
Immune Dysregulation ◽  
Clinical Applications ◽  
And Function ◽  
Leukocyte Populations ◽  
Cftr Modulators

Cystic fibrosis in characterized by pulmonary bacterial colonization and hyperinflammation. Lymphocytes, monocytes/macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells of patients with CF express functional CFTR and are directly affected by altered CFTR expression/function, impairing their ability to resolve infections and inflammation. However, the mechanism behind and the contribution of leukocytes in the pathogenesis of CF are still poorly characterized. The recent clinical introduction of specific CFTR modulators added an important tool not only for the clinical management of the disease but also to the investigation of the pathophysiological mechanisms related to CFTR dysfunction and dysregulated immunity. These drugs treat the basic defect in cystic fibrosis (CF) by increasing CFTR function with improvement of lung function and quality of life, and may improve clinical outcomes also by correcting the dysregulated immune function that characterizes CF. Measure of CFTR function, protein expression profiling and several omics methods were used to identify molecular changes in freshly isolated leukocytes of CF patients, highlighting two roles of leukocytes in CF: one more generally related to the mechanism(s) causing immune dysregulation in CF and unresolved inflammation, and another more applicative role, which identifies in myeloid cells, an important tool predictive of the therapeutic response of CF patients. In this review we will summarize available data on CFTR expression and function in leukocyte populations and will discuss potential clinical applications based on available data.

scholarly journals Evaluation and Pain Management in Children with Cancer: About 48 Cases in Dakar

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Pain Management ◽  
Acute Leukemia ◽  
Medical Emergency ◽  
Cancer Pain Management ◽  
Children With Cancer ◽  
Morphine Administration ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
Made In

Introduction: Pain is ubiquitous in cancer and is the most dreaded symptom in children with cancer. It is a medical emergency. In Senegal, there is little data on the assessment and management of pain in children. The objective of this study is to evaluate the role of morphine in cancer pain management in children. Methodology: This is a prospective study carried out over a period of 4 and a half months (from April 15 to August 31, 2017). All children hospitalized at the pediatric Oncology Department and who used morphine as part of their treatment were included in this study. The hospital prevalence was 69.5%. The most common tumor pathologies found were acute leukemia, followed by nephroblastoma and Burkitt’s lymphoma. Results: Pain was present for an average of 30.3 days; It was abdominal in half of the cases. Nociceptive pain was present in 89.6% of cases. An average 40% reduction in pain intensity was observed following morphine administration on the first day. Analgesia was obtained on average after 6 days. Conclusion: Morphine has a crucial role in pain management in children with cancer. Efforts still need to be made in our unit to improve the quality of pain management in children.

scholarly journals Novel Insight Into the Development and Function of Hypopharyngeal Glands in Honey Bees

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saboor Ahmad ◽  
Shahmshad Ahmed Khan ◽  
Khalid Ali Khan ◽  
Jianke Li
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bees ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Hypopharyngeal Glands ◽  
And Function ◽  
First Time ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Made In

Hypopharyngeal glands (HGs) are the most important organ of hymenopterans which play critical roles for the insect physiology. In honey bees, HGs are paired structures located bilaterally in the head, in front of the brain between compound eyes. Each gland is composed of thousands of secretory units connecting to secretory duct in worker bees. To better understand the recent progress made in understanding the structure and function of these glands, we here review the ontogeny of HGs, and the factors affecting the morphology, physiology, and molecular basis of the functionality of the glands. We also review the morphogenesis of HGs in the pupal and adult stages, and the secretory role of the glands across the ages for the first time. Furthermore, recent transcriptome, proteome, and phosphoproteome analyses have elucidated the potential mechanisms driving the HGs development and functionality. This adds a comprehensive novel knowledge of the development and physiology of HGs in honey bees over time, which may be helpful for future research investigations.

scholarly journals Peran Kepemimpinan Kepala Madrasah dalam Meningkatkan Budaya Disiplin Siswa di MAS Patra Mandiri Plaju Palembang

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-300
Author(s):  
Sandy Surya ◽  
Ahmad Zainuri ◽  
Sayid Habiburrahman
Keyword(s):  
Role Models ◽  
Student Attitudes ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Leadership Role ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Disciplinary Culture ◽  
And Function ◽  
Role And Function

Discipline culture is a reflection of the quality of educational institutions. The low level of discipline is the main problem of every educational institution. The role of leadership is very much needed in overcoming this problem. This paper aims to describe the leadership role of madrasah principals in improving the disciplinary culture of students at MAS Patra Mandiri Plaju Palembang. This research uses a qualitative approach with a descriptive analytic study method. Data were collected using interview techniques, observation and documentation study. The results of this study indicate that the headmaster of MAS Patra Mandiri Plaju Palembang has played its role and function in improving the disciplinary culture of students in a fairly good category. This is supported by 2 factors, namely (1) the role models of madrasah principals in complying with school regulations; and (2) socialization of school discipline rules and sanctions for violations. The obstacles faced by madrasah principals are (1) there are still some teachers who do not exemplify student attitudes; and (2) there are still students who are not "deterred" to be given disciplinary violations.

scholarly journals Abscisic Acid Metabolism during Fruit Development and Maturation of Mangosteens

2002 ◽  
Vol 127 (5) ◽  
pp. 737-741 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoru Kondo ◽  
Wanvisa Ponrod ◽  
Sirichai Kanlayanarat ◽  
Nobuhiro Hirai
Keyword(s):  
Abscisic Acid ◽  
Fruit Development ◽  
Acid Metabolism ◽  
Phaseic Acid ◽  
Garcinia Mangostana ◽  
Aba Metabolism ◽  
Dihydrophaseic Acid ◽  
Main Pathway ◽  
Abscisic Acid Metabolism ◽  
Nonclimacteric Fruit

Endogenous abscisic acid (ABA), its 2-trans isomer (trans-ABA), phaseic acid (PA), and dihydrophaseic acid (DPA) concentrations were quantified in the peel, aril, and seed of mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.). Changes in carbon dioxide (CO2) and ethylene (C2H4) production and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) concentration in the peel and aril were also examined. ACC concentration and CO2 and C2H4 production were high at the beginning of fruit development and gradually decreased toward harvest, which confirms that mangosteen is a nonclimacteric fruit. In the peel and aril, the increase in ABA concentration preceded the decrease in peel firmness and coloring of the peel. This suggests that ABA may induce the maturation of mangosteens. The state of ABA metabolism varied with the part of fruit. In the peel, PA and DPA were not considered to be predominant metabolites of ABA because their concentrations were low compared to ABA throughout fruit development. In contrast, in the aril and seed, it is possible that the PA-DPA pathway may be a main pathway of ABA metabolism because the concentrations of DPA in the aril and of PA in the seed directly coincided with the concentrations of ABA. The differences in the ABA metabolites between aril and seed may be caused by the rate of ABA metabolism. The concentrations of ABA and its metabolite in the seed decreased toward harvest.

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