scholarly journals Role of copper in the process of spermatogenesis

2017 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 0-0 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateusz Ogórek ◽  
Łukasz Gąsior ◽  
Olga Pierzchała ◽  
Regina Daszkiewicz ◽  
Małgorzata Lenartowicz
Keyword(s):  
Male Fertility ◽  
Somatic Cells ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
The Body ◽  
Male Gametes ◽  
Cell Life ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Gonad Production ◽  
In Cells

Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element required for the normal development of living organisms. Due to its redox potential, copper is a cofactor in many enzymes responsible for important processes in cells. Copper deficiency has a significant influence on the reduction or the total eradication of copper-dependent enzymes in the body, thereby inhibiting cell life processes. On the other hand, copper is a very reactive element and in its free state, it can trigger the production of large amounts of free radicals, which will consequently lead to the damage of proteins and DNA. Because of those reasons, living organisms have developed precise mechanisms regulating the concentration of copper in cells. Copper also plays a very important role in male fertility. It is an essential element for the production of male gametes. The significant role of copper is also described in the processes of cell division – mitotic and meiotic. Copper-dependent enzymes such as ceruloplasmin, superoxide dismutase SOD1 and SOD3, group of metallothionein and cytochrome c oxidase are present at all stages of gametogenesis as well as in the somatic cells of the testis and in the somatic cells of epididymis. Substantial amounts of copper can also be found in liquids associated with sperm in the epididymis and prostate. Copper also affects the integral androgen distribution in terms of fertility on the line hypothalamic-pituitary-testis. Both copper increase and deficiency leads to a significant reduction in male fertility, which spans the entire spectrum of abnormalities at the sperm level, male gonad, production of hormones and distribution of micronutrients such as zinc and iron. Nowadays, the effects of copper on gametes production have become more important and are connected with the increasing levels of pollution with heavy metals in environment.

Iron Homeostasis and Disorders in Dogs and Cats: A Review

2011 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. McCown ◽  
Andrew J. Specht
Keyword(s):  
Iron Deficiency ◽  
Iron Overload ◽  
Iron Homeostasis ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
The Body ◽  
Deficiency Anemia ◽  
Enzyme Systems ◽  
Living Organisms

Iron is an essential element for nearly all living organisms and disruption of iron homeostasis can lead to a number of clinical manifestations. Iron is used in the formation of both hemoglobin and myoglobin, as well as numerous enzyme systems of the body. Disorders of iron in the body include iron deficiency anemia, anemia of inflammatory disease, and iron overload. This article reviews normal iron metabolism, disease syndromes of iron imbalance, diagnostic testing, and treatment of either iron deficiency or excess. Recent advances in diagnosing iron deficiency using reticulocyte indices are reviewed.

The role of vitamin D in the control of Leishmania infection

2015 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 369-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Espiridión Ramos-Martínez ◽  
Laila Gutierrez-Kobeh ◽  
Mónica Irais Villaseñor-Cardoso
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
The Body ◽  
Bone Architecture ◽  
Leishmania Infection ◽  
Vast Number ◽  
Clinical Syndromes ◽  
Leishmania Spp ◽  
Vector Borne

Vitamin D has been described as an essential element for maintaining the homeostasis of mineral content in the body and bone architecture. However, our view of the physiological functions of this micronutrient has radically changed, owing to the vast number of properties, not calcium-related, mediated by its nuclear receptor. This receptor has been found in a variety of cells, including the immune cells, where many of the functions performed by vitamin D are related to inflammation. Although the effect of vitamin D has been widely studied in many diseases caused by viruses or bacteria, very little is known about its role in parasitic diseases, such as leishmaniasis, which is a vector-borne disease caused by different species of the intracellular parasite Leishmania spp. This disease occurs as a spectrum of different clinical syndromes, all of them characterized by a large amount of tissue damage, sometimes leading to necrosis. Owing to the involvement of vitamin D in inflammation and wound healing, its role in leishmaniasis must be relevant, and could be used as an adjuvant for the control of this parasitic disease, opening a possibility for a therapeutic application.

Passé or a time to pause? A phenomenological study of family physicians’ experiences of physical examination

2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. bjgp18X696797
Author(s):  
Martina Kelly ◽  
Lisa Freeman
Keyword(s):  
Physical Examination ◽  
Family Practice ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Family Physicians ◽  
The Body ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Qualitative Phenomenological

BackgroundOnce the cornerstone of clinical family practice, the role of physical examination is changing. Patients and physicians alike express concern that emphasis on evidence-based medicine and increasing reliance of technology has relegated the role of physical examination in clinical practice.AimTo understand the role of physical examination in contemporary family practice.MethodQualitative phenomenological study, interpreted through the writings of Merleau-Ponty. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of sixteen family physicians; men, women, recent graduates and experienced physician working in urban, rural and academic practices. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and examined using template analysis, complimented with researcher reflexivity.ResultsStudy participants described physical examination as core to practice, to diagnose, to communicate, and to validate patient and practitioner concerns. Performance of physical examination became routine over time but a disruption to the expected caused physicians to pause. Participants described this as a slowing of time where they became conscious of the body of the patient and their own body, intertwined in a moment. Physicians experienced affective, intellectual, and physical phenomena, which integrated to guide their behaviour, diagnosis, and management of the patient. The role of physical examination was to not only diagnosis as an evidence-based medical expert, but was experienced as a form of embodied, nonverbal communication, which expressed care.ConclusionPhysical examination plays an important role to reassure and communicate trust in the doctor–patient relationship, enacted through the body of the physician. Complimenting diagnosis, the laying on of hands remains an essential element of patient care.

3. Kill or be killed

2018 ◽  
pp. 24-32
Author(s):  
Dorothy H. Crawford
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Herpes Simplex ◽  
The Body ◽  
Protective Mechanism ◽  
Human Immune Response ◽  
Human Immune ◽  
Epstein Barr ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Simplex Virus

‘Kill or be killed’ shows how viruses survive—they must reproduce before the host either dies or its immune system recognizes and eliminates them. The transmission routes of viruses such as flu, measles, common cold, herpes simplex virus, HIV, Epstein–Barr, and hepatitis B are discussed. How do we fight viruses? All living organisms have defences against invading viruses. Vertebrates, and possibly some invertebrates, are immune to re-infection by the same virus. Another protective mechanism, used by plants, but also by insects and other animal species, is gene silencing by RNA interference. The human immune response is explained, discussing the role of lymphocytes and immunopathology, where the immune response may actually harm the body.

scholarly journals Unity, Continuity, Structure, and Function. The Ongoing Search for a Deeper Understanding of the Many Roles Attributed to Fascia in the Living Human Body - An Osteopathic Perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 06 (03) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Colin Armstrong ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Body ◽  
The Body ◽  
Human Form ◽  
In Situ Methods ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
The Many ◽  
And Function ◽  
Dynamic Interplay

Progress in technologies, notably in vivo and in situ methods, has equipped scientists with the necessary skills to explore the living human body in increasingly minute detail. This has led to a better understanding of the dynamic interplay between the various elements that make up the living human body. To further understand the interplay, this research focuses on the insights and observations of the founders of osteopathy, who placed great importance on the role of fascia in the body. Modern anatomical investigation still relies heavily on dissection to describe the structural organization of living organisms. Therefore, at present, a major challenge faced by modern anatomists is to move towards a more holistic and integrative understanding of the unity, continuity, and dynamic interplay between the various elements that come together to create the living human form.

scholarly journals Is the major Drosophila heat shock protein present in cells that have not been heat shocked?

1983 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 286-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
J M Velazquez ◽  
S Sonoda ◽  
G Bugaisky ◽  
S Lindquist
Keyword(s):  
Heat Shock ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Culture Conditions ◽  
Hsp 70 ◽  
Cloned Gene ◽  
Shock Proteins ◽  
Drosophila Cells ◽  
In Cells

When eukaryotic cells are exposed to elevated temperatures they respond by vigorously synthesizing a small group of proteins called the heat shock proteins. An essential element in defining the role of these proteins is determining whether they are unique to a stressed state or are also found in healthy, rapidly growing cells at normal temperatures. To date, there have been conflicting reports concerning the major heat-induced protein of Drosophila cells, HSP 70. We report the development of monoclonal antibodies specific for this protein. These antibodies were used to assay HSP 70 in cells incubated under different culture conditions. The protein was detectable in cells maintained at normal temperatures, but only when immunological techniques were pushed to the limits of their sensitivity. To test for the possibility that these cells contain a reservoir of protein in a cryptic antigenic state (i.e., waiting posttranslational modification for use at high temperature), we treated cells with cycloheximide or actinomycin D immediately before heat shock. HSP 70 was not detected in these cells. Finally, we tested for the presence of a reservoir of inactive messages by using a high stringency hybridization of 32P-labeled cloned gene sequences to electrophoretically separated RNAs. Although HSP 70 mRNA was detectable in rapidly growing cells, it was present at less than 1/1,000th the level achieved after induction.

scholarly journals The Role of Fe, Zn, and Cu in Pregnancy

Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1176
Author(s):  
Konrad Grzeszczak ◽  
Sebastian Kwiatkowski ◽  
Danuta Kosik-Bogacka
Keyword(s):  
Binding Sites ◽  
Great Influence ◽  
The Body ◽  
Multiple Pregnancies ◽  
Regulate Gene Expression ◽  
Induced Hypertension ◽  
Zn And Cu In ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Cu And Zn

Iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) are microelements essential for the proper functioning of living organisms. These elements participatein many processes, including cellular metabolism and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory defenses, and also influence enzyme activity, regulate gene expression, and take part in protein synthesis. Fe, Cu, and Zn have a significant impact on the health of pregnant women and in the development of the fetus, as well as on the health of the newborn. A proper concentration of these elements in the body of women during pregnancy reduces the risk of complications such as anemia, induced hypertension, low birth weight, preeclampsia, and postnatal complications. The interactions between Fe, Cu, and Zn influence their availability due to their similar physicochemical properties. This most often occurs during intestinal absorption, where metal ions compete for binding sites with transport compounds. Additionally, the relationships between these ions have a great influence on the course of reactions in the tissues, as well as on their excretion, which can be stimulated or delayed. This review aims to summarize reports on the influence of Fe, Cu, and Zn on the course of single and multiple pregnancies, and to discuss the interdependencies and mechanisms occurring between Fe, Cu, and Zn.

IRON METABOLISM AND INDICATORS REFLECTING ITS CHANGES IN PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS (REVIEW OF LITERATURE)

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 149-154
Author(s):  
E. A. Borodulina ◽  
E. V. Yakovleva
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Tuberculosis ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Iron Metabolism ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
The Body ◽  
Cellular Respiration ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
Intracellular Iron ◽  
Iron Pool

Iron is an essential element for human and bacteria, including mycobacterium tuberculosis. Over review includesthe literature on the problem of iron metabolism in patients with tuberculosis and with comorbid pathology HIV infection and tuberculosis. The literature was searched for when writing this review using the RSCI, CyberLeninka, Scopus, Web of Science, MedLine, PubMed databases using the following keywords: iron, ferritin, hepsidin, lactoferrin, tuberculosis, pneumonia, HIV infection. Iron compounds are involved in many redox reactions: oxygen transport, cellular respiration, the trichloroacetic acid cycle, DNA biosynthesis, and others. The ratio of intracellular and extracellular iron in the body is regulated by the low molecular weight hormone hepcidin, the mechanism of action of which is to block the function of ferroportin, an exporter of iron from cells, which leads to the accumulation of the intracellular iron pool and the prevention of the toxic effect of free iron. The role of iron in the interaction of the human body with ferro-dependent bacteria has been established. Iron is necessary for the growth and development of bacterial cells, and the methods for its production from the host are different. Information on the effect of iron metabolism on pulmonary tuberculosis is scarce and contradictory: some authors have identified a decrease in hemoglobin and transferrin in combination with elevated levels of ferritin in patients with tuberculosis; according to other sources, hyperferritinemia in tuberculosis cannot be predictive, but is a marker inflammation. At the same time, there are studies that indicate a significant increase in ferritin in patients with disseminated tuberculosis relative to other clinical forms. Currently, the incidence of tuberculosis in patients with HIV infection is increasing, while diagnostic tests are not very informative. The search for diagnostic markers in terms of iron metabolism may open up new possibilities for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

scholarly journals The Effect of Magnesium Deficiency on Neurological Disorders: A Narrative Review Article

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenwen XUE ◽  
Jing YOU ◽  
Yingchao SU ◽  
Qinglu WANG
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Cerebral Vasospasm ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
The Body ◽  
Mg Deficiency

Background: Magnesium (Mg) is an essential element for the body. It is a cofactor for ATP, DNA, and RNA and more than 600 enzymes. As it is similar to Ca2+, this element can also act as a cell signaling molecule and play multiple important roles in the nervous, muscle, and immune systems. Recent studies have associated Mg-deficiency with many neurological disorders, such as cerebral vasospasm, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and migraine. As it plays such a crucial role in human body, therefore, we summarized the role of Mg in neurological disorders to illustrate the symptoms caused by Mg-deficiency and the possible underlying mechanisms. Methods: We critically discuss the role of it that we review the recent literature of magnesium. We also review the available data which are concerning the role of magnesium in neurological disorders. Results: Magnesium is related to neurological disorders on the basis of the study of animals and humans experiments. Furthermore, these nervous systems related diseases include cerebral vasospasm, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and migraine. Conclusion: Magnesium has effects on neurological disorders, such as its utility in cerebral vasospasm, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and migraine. So here we make a brief review to conclude it.

scholarly journals Polyamines: Functions, Metabolism, and Role in Human Disease Management

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 44
Author(s):  
Narashans Alok Sagar ◽  
Swarnava Tarafdar ◽  
Surbhi Agarwal ◽  
Ayon Tarafdar ◽  
Sunil Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Growth And Development ◽  
Cellular Responses ◽  
Cellular Level ◽  
The Body ◽  
Post Translational Modifications ◽  
Healthy Cell ◽  
Optimum Quantity ◽  
Health Disorders ◽  
Living Organisms

Putrescine, spermine, and spermidine are the important polyamines (PAs), found in all living organisms. PAs are formed by the decarboxylation of amino acids, and they facilitate cell growth and development via different cellular responses. PAs are the integrated part of the cellular and genetic metabolism and help in transcription, translation, signaling, and post-translational modifications. At the cellular level, PA concentration may influence the condition of various diseases in the body. For instance, a high PA level is detrimental to patients suffering from aging, cognitive impairment, and cancer. The levels of PAs decline with age in humans, which is associated with different health disorders. On the other hand, PAs reduce the risk of many cardiovascular diseases and increase longevity, when taken in an optimum quantity. Therefore, a controlled diet is an easy way to maintain the level of PAs in the body. Based on the nutritional intake of PAs, healthy cell functioning can be maintained. Moreover, several diseases can also be controlled to a higher extend via maintaining the metabolism of PAs. The present review discusses the types, important functions, and metabolism of PAs in humans. It also highlights the nutritional role of PAs in the prevention of various diseases.

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