The Toxic Effects of Ppz1 Overexpression Involve Nha1-Mediated Deregulation of K+ and H+ Homeostasis

The alteration of the fine-tuned balance of phospho/dephosphorylation reactions in the cell often results in functional disturbance. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the overexpression of Ser/Thr phosphatase Ppz1 drastically blocks cell proliferation, with a profound change in the transcriptomic and phosphoproteomic profiles. While the deleterious effect on growth likely derives from the alteration of multiple targets, the precise mechanisms are still obscure. Ppz1 is a negative effector of potassium influx. However, we show that the toxic effect of Ppz1 overexpression is unrelated to the Trk1/2 high-affinity potassium importers. Cells overexpressing Ppz1 exhibit decreased K+ content, increased cytosolic acidification, and fail to properly acidify the medium. These effects, as well as the growth defect, are counteracted by the deletion of NHA1 gene, which encodes a plasma membrane Na+, K+/H+ antiporter. The beneficial effect of a lack of Nha1 on the growth vanishes as the pH of the medium approaches neutrality, is not eliminated by the expression of two non-functional Nha1 variants (D145N or D177N), and is exacerbated by a hyperactive Nha1 version (S481A). All our results show that high levels of Ppz1 overactivate Nha1, leading to an excessive entry of H+ and efflux of K+, which is detrimental for growth.

Tin and Antimony As Soil Pollutants Along The Railway Lines

Antimony (Sb) and tin (Sn) in soils along railway lines pose a serious environmental risk. The study, conducted at 60 sites along the 160 km railway line connecting the Croatian capital Zagreb with surrounding smaller settlements and towns, showed pronounced soil Sb and Sn enrichment up to 87 and 33 times the median for European soils, respectively. The total mass fractions of Sb ranged from 0.98 to 52.0 mg/kg and of Sn from 3.04 mg/kg to 97.6 mg/kg. The origin of the enrichment is railway traffic, but precise sources are difficult to define, however available literature points to abrasion from brakes, rails, wheels and overhead wires, exhaust fumes from locomotive engines and cargo waste as predominant sources. The comprehensive data analysis suggested that the Sb and Sn distribution in soils near railway lines was not only conditioned by natural factors such as soil texture, humus content and soil pH, but also by the distance to the tracks, which is not necessarily linear, the site functionality, the topography and the age of the railway line. Observed soil contamination with antimony and tin requires further research to increase knowledge of the impact of railways on Sb and Sn soil content, and to establish safety distances that will ensure the least possible impact of rail traffic on nearby crops and prevent their excessive entry into the food chain.

Demokrasi dalam Keluarga di Ruang Komunikasi Digital Masa Kini

This paper background describes about democratic values such as equality, honesty, openness, freedom due to the intervention of digital technology. The basic assumption of this paper is that democracy which is known to the public is accepted and has strong roots in the family lives. Family is the first place a person gets to know democracy. Home is a space for the seeds of democracy to grow. Democracy in the family matures the democratic process in society and the state. A democraticperson in family is a democratic cittizen in state life. The purpose of this paper is to explore democratic values in the family as a place for the development of democracy at the state level, and how the shift in democracy at the family level occurs due to the presence of digital technology which distorts communication, relationships, and the value of equality. The description in this paper comes to the conclusion that there is a good side to democracy in a family that grows above physical and emotional relationships, direct and face-to-face relationships. The facts that occur in today's families, the breakdown, estrangement, and disharmony in today's families, one of which is triggered by the lack of direct communication due to excessive entry of digital technology.

PROOXIDANT AND ANTIOXIDANT BLOOD SYSTEMS AND CYTOKINE PROFILE IN PATIENTS WITH ABDOMINAL SEPSIS

Aim. to study the dynamics of clinical and laboratory parameters of endogenous intoxication and prooxidant and antioxidant blood systems in patients with abdominal sepsis. Material and methods. 57 patients with abdominal sepsis were examined. The inclusion criteria for the study were the presence of a clinic of abdominal sepsis and changes in the parameters of the prooxidant and antioxidant blood systems and blood cytokines. Results. In patients with abdominal sepsis, signs of oxidative damage to lipids and proteins were found, as evidenced by a significant increase in the MDA level up to 5.8 μmol / L, catalase content in erythrocytes 94 mmol / min*gHb, spontaneous NBT test activity up to 95% and a decrease in ceruloplasmin in the blood up to 194 mg / l. With abdominal sepsis, a significant increase in the level of TNF-82.7 pkg/ml, IL-10 to 167.6 pkg/ml, IL-6 to the maximum values in this study up to 286.4 pg/ml and IL to 34 pkg was /ml observed. Conclusion. It was found that in patients with abdominal sepsis there is an increase in lipid peroxidation indicators - malondialdehyde in the blood plasma, the activity of the spontaneous NBT test, depending on the phase of the disease and the presence of complicated forms. Changes in the antioxidant defense of the body in abdominal sepsis are manifested by inhibition of the plasma antioxidant ceruloplasmin with a simultaneous increase in catalase in erythrocytes, depending on the phase of the disease and also on the presence of complicated forms of the disease. As a result of this study, increased production of a complex of both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines with their rapid and excessive entry into the peripheral blood was revealed.

Activity of the humoral component in anti-endotoxin immunity in patients with influenza A

Избыточное поступление в кровь эндотоксинов грамотрицательных микроорганизмов играет важную роль в развитии целого ряда нозологий и их осложнений. Учитывая возможность усиления бактериальной транслокации на фоне гриппа, мы посчитали целесообразным изучить некоторые показатели активности гуморального антиэндотоксинового иммунитета у больных гриппом А средней степени тяжести. Целью исследования было проведение сравнительного анализа изменений антиэндотоксинового иммунитета при заболевании. Материалы и методы. В основу работы положены результаты клинического наблюдения и клинико-лабораторного обследования 152 больных гриппом А средней тяжести. Контрольную группу составили 15 здоровых доноров крови Центра переливания крови г. Симферополя. Антиэндотоксиновые антитела различных классов определяли методом твердофазного иммуноферментного анализа. Результаты. В результате исследования выявлено, что уровень антиэндотоксиновых антител класса G был повышен на 40-45%, у всех больных отмечалась тенденция к постепенной нормализации данного показателя на фоне проводимой терапии. В то же время обращает на себя внимание повышенный уровень антиэндотоксиновых антител класса M - в 3-3,5 раза в начальный период болезни и на фоне терапии. Больные с осложнённым течением заболевания имели более низкие темпы нормализации данного показателя в целом, а больные с наиболее тяжёлыми формами осложнений, несмотря на относительную редкость их развития при средней степени тяжести заболевания и адекватных сроках начала терапии, имели сниженный уровень антиэндотоксиновых антител класса M по сравнению с другими группами. Заключение. Можно предполагать, что в большинстве случаев процесс усиления бактериальной транслокации при гриппе носит преимущественно субкомпенсированный характер, а исследование показателей антиэндотоксинового иммунитета может быть полезным для прогноза присоединения бактериальных осложнений. Excessive entry into the blood of endotoxins of gram-negative microorganisms plays an important role in development of a number of diseases and their complications. Considering a possibility of enhanced bacterial translocation associated with influenza we focused on some indexes of humoral anti-endotoxic immunity in patients with moderate type A influenza. The aim of the study was to perform a comparative analysis of changes in humoral antiendotoxic immunity during moderate influenza A. Methods. The study was based on results of clinical observations and clinical and laboratory evaluation of 152 patients with moderate influenza A. The control group consisted of 15 healthy blood donors from the Simferopol Blood Transfusion Center. Anti-endotoxic antibodies of different classes were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. Concentrations of class G anti-endotoxin antibodies (AET AB IgG) were increased by 40-45%; all patients showed a tendency to gradual normalization of this index following the treatment. Noteworthy, the level of class M anti-endotoxic antibodies (AET AB IgM) was significantly increased by 3-3.5 times in the early period of the disease and therapy. This index generally normalized slower in patients with complicated disease; patients with the most severe complications had reduced levels of AET IgM antibodies compared to other groups. Conclusion. In most cases, the enhanced bacterial translocation in influenza is primarily subcompensated, and studying indexes of anti-endotoxic immunity may be useful for predicting development of associated bacterial complications.

Efficiency Wages in Cournot-Oligopoly

In a Cournot-oligopoly with free but costly entry and business stealing, output per firm is too low and the number of competitors excessive, assuming labor productivity to depend on the number of employees only or to be constant. However, a firm can raise the productivity of its workforce by paying higher wages. We show that such efficiency wages accentuate the distortions occurring in oligopoly. Specifically, excessive entry is aggravated and the welfare loss due to market power rises.