Micro- and Macroscale Patterns of Petal Morphogenesis in Nigella damascena (Ranunculaceae) Revealed by Geometric Morphometrics and Cellular Analyses

Petals, the inner organs in a differentiated perianth, generally play an important role in pollinator attraction. As such they exhibit an extraordinary diversity of shapes, sizes, and colors. Being involved in pollinator attraction and reward, they are privileged targets of evolution. The corolla of the Ranunculaceae species Nigella damascena consists of elaborate nectariferous petals, made of a stalk, upper, and lower lips forming a nectar pouch, shiny pseudonectaries, and pilose ears. While the main events of petal development are properly described, a few is known about the pattern of organ size and shape covariation and the cellular dynamics during development. In this study, we investigated the relationships between morphogenesis and growth of N. damascena petals using geometric morphometrics coupled with the study of cell characteristics. First, we found that petal shape and size dynamics are allometric during development and that their covariation suggests that petal shape change dynamics are exponentially slower than growth. We then found that cell proliferation is the major driver of shape patterning during development, while petal size dynamics are mostly driven by cell expansion. Our analyses provide a quantitative basis to characterize the relationships between shape, size, and cell characteristics during the development of an elaborate floral structure. Such studies lay the ground for future evo-devo investigations of the large morphological diversity observed in nectariferous structures, in Ranunculaceae and beyond.

The Use of Wearable Sensor Technology to Detect Shock Impacts in Sports and Occupational Settings: A Scoping Review

Shock impacts during activity may cause damage to the joints, muscles, bones, or inner organs. To define thresholds for tolerable impacts, there is a need for methods that can accurately monitor shock impacts in real-life settings. Therefore, the main aim of this scoping review was to present an overview of existing methods for assessments of shock impacts using wearable sensor technology within two domains: sports and occupational settings. Online databases were used to identify papers published in 2010–2020, from which we selected 34 papers that used wearable sensor technology to measure shock impacts. No studies were found on occupational settings. For the sports domain, accelerometry was the dominant type of wearable sensor technology utilized, interpreting peak acceleration as a proxy for impact. Of the included studies, 28 assessed foot strike in running, head impacts in invasion and team sports, or different forms of jump landings or plyometric movements. The included studies revealed a lack of consensus regarding sensor placement and interpretation of the results. Furthermore, the identified high proportion of validation studies support previous concerns that wearable sensors at present are inadequate as a stand-alone method for valid and accurate data on shock impacts in the field.

Biomechanical trade-offs in the pelvic floor constrain the evolution of the human birth canal

Compared with most other primates, humans are characterized by a tight fit between the maternal birth canal and the fetal head, leading to a relatively high risk of neonatal and maternal mortality and morbidities. Obstetric selection is thought to favor a spacious birth canal, whereas the source for opposing selection is frequently assumed to relate to bipedal locomotion. Another, yet underinvestigated, hypothesis is that a more expansive birth canal suspends the soft tissue of the pelvic floor across a larger area, which is disadvantageous for continence and support of the weight of the inner organs and fetus. To test this “pelvic floor hypothesis,” we generated a finite element model of the human female pelvic floor and varied its radial size and thickness while keeping all else constant. This allowed us to study the effect of pelvic geometry on pelvic floor deflection (i.e., the amount of bending from the original position) and tissue stresses and stretches. Deflection grew disproportionately fast with increasing radial size, and stresses and stretches also increased. By contrast, an increase in thickness increased pelvic floor stiffness (i.e., the resistance to deformation), which reduced deflection but was unable to fully compensate for the effect of increasing radial size. Moreover, larger thicknesses increase the intra-abdominal pressure necessary for childbirth. Our results support the pelvic floor hypothesis and evince functional trade-offs affecting not only the size of the birth canal but also the thickness and stiffness of the pelvic floor.

Linguocultural Anatomical Code: Concept of Sacredness

The article examines the Kazakh people’s linguocultural anatomical code, which has developed due to nomadic culture over the centuries and reflected their beliefs, rituals, rites, and traditions. The linguocultural code is viewed as a secondary modeling semiotic system, or as a connotative semiotics. Certain anatomical concepts, i.e. body parts, bones, and internal organs serve as the cultural code’s elements. Culturally conditioned sacral significance, tracing to pagan magic, myths, and legends, is revealed in their lexical and phraseological representations in the connotative meaning. Thus, the article analyzes such concepts as 12 (on eki) múshe, jauyryn, ókpe. 12 (on eki) múshe serves as the basic concept of the Kazakh anatomical code, defining views on human and animals’ anatomy, the role and functions of certain anatomical concepts in spiritual, religious, and ritual-rite culture. A high degree of sacredness of the named concepts, depending on the level of linguistic unit total number and cultural sacred meaning units, was identified as well. Thus, the purpose of our article is to identify the specifics of the Kazakh anatomical linguocultural code by analyzing certain sacred concepts, verbalized in the names of skeleton, bones, some inner organs, as well as to define the degree of their sacredness, preserved in the modern Kazakh language. We have developed the methodology for studying these concepts, based on the secondary semiotic sign analysis, i.e. lexical and phraseological verbal units and their semantics: denotative and connotative, and defined certain concepts’ sacredness degree.

Overgrowth Syndrome and Multi-Stage Reconstruction of Hand and Feet Deformations

A case of asymmetric overgrowth of feet, fingers and toes is presented and the performed diagnostic and multi-stage surgical reconstruction described. The condition in hands and feet was already present at birth. The hypertrophic growth advanced progressively, and histological investigation of the affected tissues revealed no pathology. The examination of inner organs, skin, subcutaneous tissue, nerves and vessels showed no deviations, the girl's karyotype was normal, 46 xx, no mosaicism was confirmed. In view of the new diagnostic criteria, this case cannot be assigned to any of the overgrowth syndromes. The most suitable classification would be in the group of Proteus-like syndrome. At this time only isolated hypertrophy of soft tissues and skeleton is present. According to the data from the literature, later development of anomalies is possible, so Proteus-like syndrome cannot be completely excluded.

«Cultural autopsy»: The Inner Body in the Visual and Verbal Space of the Modern Westerner

The paper reviews the main trends in the perception of the inner body in the western culture of the late 20th – early 21st centuries caused by its wide discursivization in the visual and verbal formats. Up until the late 20th century the inner body was culturally marginalized and routinely associated with something incomprehensible, irrational, and dirty. However, postmodernism, with its clear somatocentric perspective, removed the old conceptual and discursive restrictions placing the inner body into the cultural limelight. Until recently the inner body was deemed to be part of the individual’s subjective reality which was supposed to be felt rather than understood. It was mainly defined through negation, by listing the features it was devoid of. The crucial phenomenological properties of the inner body were unobservability, unsociability, uncontrollability and unverifiability. In total, these features shaped the irrational mode of the inner-body perception prompting its discursive representation through mythopoesis. These features lose relevance with the development and ubiquitous spread of technologies, which enable online visualization of the living inner body, perceptual replication of the processes which take place within its realm and control over the activities of the inner organs. In the modern world, it is no longer possible to see these technologies as something external in relation to humans and something which is artificially brought into their experience of embodiment, because they are an integral part of our everyday existence (P.-P. Verbeek). Objective knowledge is no longer juxtaposed to the felt experience forming a synthetic unity with it. An extra factor in shaping a new type of the inner-body experience is people’s forced immersion into new discursive practices when the inner body is widely represented in their verbal and visual lifespace.

Comorbidity in patients with alopecia areata

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is a non-scarring hair loss characterized by the immune intolerance of hair follicles, leading to the development of T-cell-mediated inflammation and subsequent hair loss. Different ages of onset, repeated relapses, and changes in the appearance of patients lead to psychoemotional distress and contribute to AA and socially significant skin diseases. Scientific data based on the effect of comorbid disorders in the course of alopecia (atopy, autoimmune diseases, and endocrinopathies) should be considered by dermatologists. This publication contains data of own research. AIM: The study aimed to determine the concomitant pathology and its effect on the course of AA, especially on the content of vitamin D, to optimize further treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research was based on the clinical materials of 132 patients with different severities of AA and concomitant nosologies. Several allergic (atopic dermatitis) and other autoimmune diseases (vitiligo and autoimmune thyroiditis) present similar pathogenetic mechanisms of development to AA. An ultrasound investigation was carried out, and a number of autoimmune and allergic nosologies accompanying the course of AA and the level of vitamin D in blood serum depending on the disease severity were revealed. RESULTS: The analysis of results of ultrasound investigation of the inner organs was presented and revealed comorbid autoimmune and allergic nosologies affecting the course or associating with AA. The moderate (32.67 0.91 nmol/l; р 0.5) and severe clinical forms (32.9 0.84 nmol/l) of AA vitamin D significantly decreased compared with the mild course of the disease (56.75 0.62 nmol/l). Two clinical cases of patients with AA and concomitant diseases were presented. CONCLUSION: The results revealed that the concomitant pathology of AA correlates with the literature source data and suggest their correction by doctors of narrow specialties. Vitamin D in the blood serum of patients was examined as a possible comorbid factor and predictor of disease activity. The role of trichoscopy as an investigation tool for the visualization and verification of the diagnosis and determination of the activity of AA was outlined.

The Mycotoxin Deoxynivalenol (DON) Promotes Campylobacter jejuni Multiplication in the Intestine of Broiler Chickens With Consequences on Bacterial Translocation and Gut Integrity

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the major health concern in poultry production as it targets epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract and contributes to the loss of the epithelial barrier function. It is well-documented that DON severely compromises various important intestinal functions in coincidence with aggravated clinical symptoms in livestock. In addition, a prolonged persistence of intestinal pathogens (e.g., Salmonella, Clostridium) in the gut has also been reported in pigs and chickens, respectively. Similar to DON, recent studies demonstrated that an experimental Campylobacter infection has severe consequences on gut health. Through experimental infection, it was found that Campylobacter (C.) jejuni negatively affects the integrity of the intestine and promotes the translocation of bacteria from the gut to inner organs. So far, no data are available investigating the simultaneous exposure of DON and C. jejuni in broilers albeit both are widely distributed. Thus, the aim of the present study was to explore the interaction between DON and C. jejuni which is of a significant public and animal health concern as it may affect the prevalence and the ability to control this pathogen. Following oral infection of birds at 14 days of age with C. jejuni NCTC 12744, we show that the co-exposure to DON and C. jejuni has a considerable consequence on C. jejuni loads in chicken gut as well as on gut permeability of the birds. A reduced growth performance was found for DON and/or C. jejuni exposed birds. Furthermore, it was found that the co-exposure of DON and C. jejuni aggravated the negative effect on paracellular permeability of the intestine already noticed for the bacteria or the mycotoxin alone by the Ussing chamber technique at certain times or intestinal segments. Furthermore, the increased paracellular permeability promotes the translocation of C. jejuni and E. coli to inner organs, namely liver and spleen. Interestingly, C. jejuni loads in the intestine were higher in DON-fed groups indicating a supportive growth effect of the mycotoxin. The actual study demonstrates that co-exposure of broiler chickens to DON and C. jejuni has not only considerable consequences on gut integrity but also on bacterial balance. These findings indicate that the co-exposure of broiler chickens to DON and C. jejuni could have a significant impact on gut health and bacteria translocation leading to an increased risk for public health.

Bone Regulation of Insulin Secretion and Glucose Homeostasis

For centuries our image of the skeleton has been one of an inert structure playing a supporting role for muscles and a protective role for inner organs like the brain. Cell biology and physiology modified this view in the 20st century by defining the constant interplay between bone-forming and bone resorbing cells that take place during bone growth and remodeling, therefore demonstrating that bone is as alive as any other tissues in the body. During the past 40 years human and, most important, mouse genetics, have allowed not only the refinement of this notion by identifying the many genes and regulatory networks responsible for the crosstalk existing between bone cells, but have redefined the role of bone by showing that its influence goes way beyond its own physiology. Among its newly identified functions is the regulation of energy metabolism by 2 bone-derived hormones, osteocalcin and lipocalin-2. Their biology and respective roles in this process are the topic of this review.