Search results for "Ink"

Trans-oceanic genomic divergence of Atlantic cod ecotypes is associated with large inversions

2017

Chromosomal rearrangements such as inversions can play a crucial role in maintaining polymorphism underlying complex traits and contribute to the process of speciation. In Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), inversions of several megabases have been identified that dominate genomic differentiation between migratory and nonmigratory ecotypes in the Northeast Atlantic. Here, we show that the same genomic regions display elevated divergence and contribute to ecotype divergence in the Northwest Atlantic as well. The occurrence of these inversions on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean reveals a common evolutionary origin, predating the >100 000-year-old trans-Atlantic separation of Atlantic cod. The long…

The consumption of snacks and soft drinks between meals may contribute to the development and to persistence of gastro-esophageal reflux disease

2019

Abstract The hypothesis The habit of snacking and drinking soft beverages between breakfast, lunch and dinner, which is very widespread in the western world, could be a primum movens, thereby contributing to the development and subsequent persistence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). What does the proposed hypothesis based on? The high prevalence of GERD suggests that it is very probably caused by factors, which are intrinsic and widespread in a western lifestyle. Ingesting snacks or imbibing soft drinks between breakfast, lunch and dinner causes additional gastric acid secretion, acid pocket formation, and additional transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (TLESRs) with a…

Hyperresponsivity in migraine: a network dysfunction or an analytic cognitive style-connected feature?

2018

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Does endogenous serum oestrogen play a role in meibomian gland dysfunction in postmenopausal women with dry eye?

2016

Aim To explore the relationship between serum concentration of sex hormones and dry eye symptoms and signs in postmenopausal women. Methods A cross-sectional analysis was undertaken. Subjects were 46 postmenopausal women with dry eye (mean age 64.4±5.2 years, 13.7±6.4 years since menopause; not undergoing hormone replacement therapy). Ocular symptoms (Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and Ocular Comfort Index (OCI)), tear function (tear osmolarity, non-invasive tear break-up time, tear secretion), corneal and conjunctival staining, and meibomian gland (MG) appearance, were recorded. Venous blood was collected and serum concentrations of 17β-oestradiol (E2), 3-α-androstanediol-glucuronide …

Sensitivity and specificity of a commercial ELISA test for anti-MAG antibodies in patients with neuropathy

2020

For the diagnosis of anti-MAG polyneuropathy the commercial ELISA manufacturer currently recommends a cut-off of 1000 Bühlmann Titer Units (BTU). We analyzed sera from 80 anti-MAG neuropathy patients and 383 controls (with other neuropathies or healthy controls) to assess the ELISA sensitivity and specificity at different thresholds. A better combination of sensitivity/specificity was found at a threshold >1500 BTU than at >1000 BTU. The best value of specificity was obtained at threshold >7000 BTU. There was a diagnostic grey area between 1500 and 7000 BTU in which the clinical phenotypes as well as electrophysiological studies need to be carefully assessed particularly to differe…

Yeasts and moulds contaminants of food ice cubes and their survival in different drinks

2018

Aims To evaluate the levels of unicellular and filamentous fungi in ice cubes produced at different levels and to determine their survival in alcoholic beverages and soft drinks. Methods and Results Sixty samples of ice cubes collected from home level (HL) productions, bars and pubs (BP) and industrial manufacturing plants (MP) were investigated for the presence and cell density of yeasts and moulds. Moulds were detected in almost all samples, while yeasts developed from the majority of HL and MP samples. Representative colonies of microfungi were subjected to phenotypic and genotypic characterization. The identification was carried out by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) ana…

Hippocampal theta phase-contingent memory retrieval in delay and trace eyeblink conditioning

2017

Hippocampal theta oscillations (3-12Hz) play a prominent role in learning. It has been suggested that encoding and retrieval of memories are supported by different phases of the theta cycle. Our previous study on trace eyeblink conditioning in rabbits suggests that the timing of the conditioned stimulus (CS) in relation to theta phase affects encoding but not retrieval of the memory trace. Here, we directly tested the effects of hippocampal theta phase on memory retrieval in two experiments conducted on adult female New Zealand White rabbits. In Experiment 1, animals were trained in trace eyeblink conditioning followed by extinction, and memory retrieval was tested by presenting the CS at t…

Menstrual dysfunction and body weight dissatisfaction among Finnish young athletes and non-athletes.

2020

To determine the prevalence of menstrual dysfunction (MD; i.e. oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea) and attitudes towards body weight among athletes and non‐athletes, we studied a cohort of athletes and non‐athletes, in adolescence (14–16 years) and subsequently in young adulthood (18–20 years). We further studied the differences between athletes reporting MD and eumenorrheic athletes at both time periods and identified physical and behavioural characteristicsthat might predict MD in young adulthood. Data were collected using questionnaires, accelerometers, and a pre‐participation screening. In adolescence, the athletes reported current primary amenorrhea more often than the non‐athletes (4.7% vs.…

Pantethine Alters Lipid Composition and Cholesterol Content of Membrane Rafts, With Down-Regulation of CXCL12-Induced T Cell Migration

2015

Pantethine, a natural low-molecular-weight thiol, shows broad activity in a large range of essential cellular pathways. It has been long known as a hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic agent. We showed recently that it exerts a neuroprotective action in mouse models of cerebral malaria and Parkinson's disease through multiple mechanisms. In the present study we looked at its effects on membrane lipid rafts that serve as platforms for molecules engaged in cell activity, therefore providing a target against inappropriate cell response leading to chronic inflammation. We found that pantethine-treated cells showed a significant change in raft fatty acid composition and cholesterol content, wit…

2021

The CMS4 mesenchymal subtype of colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with poor prognosis and resistance to treatment. The cellular prion protein PrPC is overexpressed in CMS4 tumors and controls the expression of a panel of CMS4-specific genes in CRC cell lines. Here, we sought to investigate PrPC downstream pathways that may underlie its role in CMS4 CRC. By combining gene set enrichment analyses and gain and loss of function approaches in CRC cell lines, we identify the integrin-linked kinase ILK as a proximal effector of PrPC that mediates its control on the CMS4 phenotype. We further leveraged three independent large CRC cohorts to assess correlations in gene expression pattern with pa…