scholarly journals A Grain of Salt

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Houston ◽  
Jiaen Qiu ◽  
Stefanie Wege ◽  
Maria Hrmova ◽  
Helena Oakey ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTWe quantified grain sodium (Na+) content across a barley GWAS panel grown under optimal conditions. We identified a strong association with a region containing two low and one high Na+ accumulating haplotypes of a Class 1 HIGH-AFFINITY POTASSIUM TRANSPORTER (HKT1;5) known to be involved in regulating plant Na+ homeostasis. The haplotypes exhibited an average 1.8-fold difference in grain Na+ content. We show that an L189P substitution disrupts Na+ transport in the high Na+ lines, disturbs the plasma membrane localisation typical of HKT1;5 and induces a conformational change in the protein predicted to compromise function. Under NaCl stress, lines containing P189 accumulate high levels of Na+, but show no significant difference in biomass. P189 increases in frequency from wild-species to elite cultivars leading us to speculate that the compromised haplotype is undergoing directional selection possibly due to the value of Na+ as a functional nutrient in non-saline environments.

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (05) ◽  
pp. 0822-0824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elvira Grandone ◽  
Maurizio Margaglione ◽  
Donatella Colaizzo ◽  
Marina d'Addedda ◽  
Giuseppe Cappucci ◽  
...  

SummaryActivated protein C resistance (APCR) is responsible for most cases of familial thrombosis. The factor V missense mutation Arg506>Gln (FV Leiden) has been recognized as the commonest cause of this condition. Recently, it has been suggested that APCR is associated with second trimester fetal loss. We investigated the distribution of FV Leiden in a sample (n = 43) of Caucasian women with a history of two or more unexplained fetal losses. A group (n = 118) of parous women with uneventful pregnancies from the same ethnical background served as control. We found the mutation in 7 cases (16.28%) and 5 controls (4.24%; p = 0.011). A statistically significant difference between women with only early fetal loss vs those with late events (p = 0.04) was observed. Our data demonstrate a strong association between FV Leiden and fetal loss. Furthermore, they indicate that late events are more common in these patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M.H Muhmad Hamidi ◽  
H Sani ◽  
M.A Ibrahim ◽  
K.S Ibrahim ◽  
A.B Md Radzi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and objective Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains the principal cause of death in Malaysia. It is estimated about 20% of ACS occurs at nighttime during sleep between 12am to 6am. Factors associated with nocturnal ACS are unknown. Acute nocturnal pathophysiological response to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may increase risk of nocturnal ACS. We hypothesized that OSA risk is associated with timing of ACS onset. Methodology This study included 200 patients with ACS who underwent coronary angiogram for which the time of chest pain onset was clearly identified and divided into 2 groups; nocturnal ACS (12am-5.59am) and non-nocturnal ACS (6am–11.59pm). Two validated questionnaires, STOP-BANG and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) were self-administered by subjects to determine OSA risk. All subjects timing of ACS onset, OSA risk, demography, anthropometric measurements, comorbidities and echocardiographic characteristics were analyzed. Results Acute coronary syndrome occurs nocturnally in 19% of ACS patients. The prevalence of high risk OSA individuals among ACS patients is 43%. There is significantly higher prevalence of high risk OSA individuals in nocturnal ACS group of 95% compared to 30% of high risk OSA individuals in non-nocturnal ACS group (p=0.001). Nocturnal ACS patients was significantly younger (50.1±8.7yrs, p=0.001), had higher BMI (33.9±4.3kg/m2, p=0.005), waist circumference (106.7±10.3cm, p=0.003) and larger neck circumference (44.6±3.3cm, p=0.001) compared to non-nocturnal ACS group. These groups had similar prevalence of other comorbidities for ACS and showed no significant difference between left and right ventricular systolic function. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the most significant predictors for nocturnal ACS are OSA risk, neck circumference and age. Conclusion There is a strong association between high risk OSA individuals and nocturnal ACS onset. Patient with nocturnal ACS onset should be screened for OSA and prioritized for polysomnography. OSA prevalence according to ACS onset Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (22) ◽  
pp. 6991-6996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Suzuki ◽  
Miho Suzuki ◽  
Shinji Ogino ◽  
Ryo Umemoto ◽  
Noritaka Nishida ◽  
...  

CD44 is the receptor for hyaluronan (HA) and mediates cell rolling under fluid shear stress. The HA-binding domain (HABD) of CD44 interconverts between a low-affinity, ordered (O) state and a high-affinity, partially disordered (PD) state, by the conformational change of the C-terminal region, which is connected to the plasma membrane. To examine the role of tensile force on CD44-mediated rolling, we used a cell-free rolling system, in which recombinant HABDs were attached to beads through a C-terminal or N-terminal tag. We found that the rolling behavior was stabilized only at high shear stress, when the HABD was attached through the C-terminal tag. In contrast, no difference was observed for the beads coated with HABD mutants that constitutively adopt either the O state or the PD state. Steered molecular dynamics simulations suggested that the force from the C terminus disrupts the interaction between the C-terminal region and the core of the domain, thus providing structural insights into how the mechanical force triggers the allosteric O-to-PD transition. Based on these results, we propose that the force applied from the C terminus enhances the HABD–HA interactions by inducing the conformational change to the high-affinity PD transition more rapidly, thereby enabling CD44 to mediate lymphocyte trafficking and hematopoietic progenitor cell homing under high-shear conditions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanan M. Ghoneim ◽  
Mohamed Elprince ◽  
Tamer Yehia M. Ali ◽  
Waleed F. Gharieb ◽  
Amal A. Ahmed

Abstract Background Depression is a serious mental health disorder that might affect women in the childbearing period. Incidences increase during pregnancy as well as after delivery. Its association with intimate partner violence (defined as physical, sexual, or psychological harm by a current or former partner) has been reported in many countries. Data about this sensitive issue are lacking in Egypt. The aim of the study was to determine the relation between intimate partner violence and depression during pregnancy. Methods This was a case control study conducted at the outpatient clinics in Suez Canal University hospital, from January 2019 to March 2020. The study included two groups, the study group included women exposed to violence during the current pregnancy and a control one included women with no history of violence. Both groups were recruited according to the predetermined inclusion criteria (women aged 18-45 years, continuous marital relationship, no history of depression in current or previous pregnancies, and singleton pregnancy). Women were asked to complete the Arabic validated NorVold Domestic Abuse Questionnaire (measuring four types of abuse: emotional, physical, sexual, and violence in the health care system, the last one being excluded). Depression was evaluated using the Arabic validated form of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (comprises 10 questions that represent patients’ feelings in the last 7 days). The main outcome measure was to assess the association between intimate partner violence and depression. Results We recruited 158 women in each group. Both groups were matched in their demographic characters. Although emotional violence was reported prominently among women exposed to IPV 87.9% (139/158), it was not significantly reported in depressed women (P value 0.084). Physical and sexual violence were significantly reported among depressed women (P value 0.022 and 0.001, respectively). There was a significant difference between women exposed to violence and those who were not exposed to violence in the total depression scores (13.63 ± 5.47 and 10.65 ± 5.44, respectively with a p value < 0.001). Emotional (p value < 0.001) and sexual violence (mild and severe with p value of 0.026 and 0.002 respectively) had significant roles as risk factors for depression during pregnancy in single regression and after control of other confounders. Conclusion There was a strong association between intimate partner violence and depression during pregnancy.


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