Hormone Dynamics Research Articles

Elucidating the dynamics of polypeptide hormones in the physiological and preeclampsic placental trophoblast cells across gestation at single-cell level

Elucidating the dynamics of polypeptide hormones in the physiological and preeclampsic placental trophoblast cells across gestation at single-cell level

Thyroid hormone dynamics of Tharparkar and Sahiwal cattle during induced heat stress

Thyroid hormones and Cortisol level are the essential biomarkers in the assessment of stress condition. This study was done to estimate the metabolic hormonal profile of Tharparkar and Sahiwal during heat stress condition. The experiment was conducted on two groups consisting of Tharparkar and Sahiwal animals (5 in each group) and the experimental period comprised a 7-day acclimatization period, a heat exposure period of 21days at control (25°C), moderate (35°C) and severe (42°C) heat stress within a 9-10-day recovery period between each exposure. The hormonal concentrations of T3, T4 and cortisol were determined in serum. The serum concentration of Thyroxine (T4) and tri-iodothyronine (T3) decreases whereas cortisol level increases in both the breeds when subjected to heat stress. However, the serum level of T4 was significantly (p < 0.05) more declined in Sahiwal as compared to Tharparkar but there was no significant difference found between the two breeds in serum T3 levels. The cortisol levels were elevated in both breeds during heat stress but significantly (p < 0.05) more elevated in the Sahiwal. Hence, observations of these hormonal profiles suggest a better thermo-adaptability in Tharparkar as compared to Sahiwal.

Long-distance hormone transport via the phloem

Several key plant hormones are synthesised in the shoot and are advected within the phloem to the root tip. In the root tip, these hormones regulate growth and developmental processes, and responses to environmental cues. However, we lack understanding of how environmental factors and biological parameters affect the delivery of hormones to the root tip. In this study, we build on existing models of phloem flow to develop a mathematical model of sugar transport alongside the transport of a generic hormone. We derive the equations for osmotically driven flow in a long, thin pipe with spatially varying membrane properties to capture the phloem loading and unloading zones. Motivated by experimental findings, we formulate solute membrane transport in terms of passive and active components, and incorporate solute unloading via bulk flow (i.e. advection with the water efflux) by including the Staverman reflection coefficient. We use the model to investigate the coupling between the sugar and hormone dynamics. The model predicts that environmental cues that lead to an increase in active sugar loading, an increase in bulk flow sugar unloading or a decrease in the relative root sugar concentration result in an increase in phloem transport velocity. Furthermore, the model reveals that such increases in phloem transport velocity result in an increase in hormone delivery to the root tip for passively loaded hormones.

Theoretical studies of diverse sexual patterns in marine animals.

Marine animals show diverse and flexible sexual systems. Here, we review several advancements of theoretical studies made in the last decade. (i) Sex change in coral fishes is often accompanied by a long break in reproductive activity. The delay can be shortened by retaining the inactive gonad for the opposite sex. (ii) Barnacles adopt diverse sexual patterns. The game model was analysed assuming that newly settled larvae choose either growth or immediate reproduction and large individuals adjust male-female investments. (iii) Some parasitic barnacles produce larvae with sexual size dimorphism and others produce larvae with the sex determined after settlement on hosts. (iv) In some fish and many reptiles, sex is determined by the temperature experienced as eggs. The dynamics of sex hormones were studied when the enzymatic reaction rates were followed by the Arrhenius equation. The FMF pattern (male at intermediates temperature; female both at high and low temperatures) required some reactions with enhanced temperature dependence at higher temperatures. The game model provides a useful framework for understanding diverse sexual patterns if we incorporate various constraints, such as unpredictability, cost of trait change and social situations. For further developments, we need to consider constraints imposed by physiological and molecular mechanisms.

STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF BODY CONDITION ON THE DYNAMICS OF SEX HORMONES IN THE BLOOD OF BITCHES

The physiological mechanisms of regulation of the reproductive function of bitches are well studied, however, the issue of individual characteristics of the body on the dynamics of sex hormones in the blood remained out of the attention of researchers. Therefore, we set ourselves the goal of studying the influence of body condition on the dynamics of sex hormones in the blood of bitches. The experiment was carried out on 15 bitches of the bull terrier breed with different body conditions according to the Body Condition Scoring scale. Three groups of animals were formed for the experiment: the control group was the ideal weight (the average BCS score was 5 points); I research group – low weight (average BCS score – 3.6 points); Group II – overweight (average BCS score – 6.6 points). For the first time, the dynamics of the content of sex hormones (progesterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estadiol) in the blood of bull terrier bitches with different body conditions was studied. New scientific data on the breed features of humoral regulation of the sexual cycle in the body of bitches have been obtained. The results of the studies indicate that factors such as overweight and low weight of bitches have an impact on the dynamics of sex hormones in the blood plasma of bitches during the sexual cycle. In particular, a significant effect of excess weight on the level of luteinizing hormone (P≤0.05) and progesterone (P≤0.05) at the stage of diestrus, on the level of progesterone (P≤0.05) at the stage of estrus was established. Low bitch weights were accompanied by higher levels of follicle-stimulating hormone at the proestrus stage (P≤0.05). Thus, our findings highlight that the characteristics of the corpus luteum of bitches and the synthesis of progesterone are influenced by many factors that have received little scientific attention to date.

Reproductive status of a female white cockatoo (Cacatua alba) based on relationships among urofecal steroid hormone dynamics, molting, and body weight.

The detailed reproductive physiology of cockatoos based on gonadal hormone dynamics is unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate ovarian activity by monitoring urofecal sex steroid hormone profiles in a captive female white cockatoo (Cacatua alba) and to noninvasively reveal basic reproductive physiology by comparing the hormone profiles with the laying dates, body mass changes, and molt progress. Urofeces were collected regularly for approximately 4 years from one female that frequently laid unfertilized eggs under single-rearing conditions. Urofecal progesterone (P4) and estradiol-17β (E2) were measured by enzyme immunoassay. In addition, body mass and the number of fallen feathers were measured periodically. The urofecal P4 concentration peaked at an average of 17.7 days after the start of the rise in urofecal E2 concentration, and egg laying began on the day after the peak urofecal P4 concentration. The clutch size was usually two eggs, with an average interval of 4.5 days between eggs in each egg-laying cycle. There was a significant correlation between the dynamics of E2 concentration in urofeces and body mass. The results strongly suggest that E2 and P4 reflect the follicle growth and ovulation status, respectively, and that noninvasive monitoring of hormone dynamics using urofeces can accurately capture ovarian activity in the white cockatoo. Furthermore, changes in body mass can predict follicular growth, and reproduction and molt are antagonistic.

Monitoring hormone and small molecule secretion dynamics from islets-on-chip.

Tissue functions such as hormone secretion involve the interplay of multiple chemical signals and metabolic processes over time. Measuring the different components involved is useful in unraveling the interactions, but often requires use of multiple analytical techniques. The challenge of measuring the necessary components with temporal resolution is greater when tissue samples are limited. Here, an accessible microfluidic platform compatible with multiple measurement techniques to monitor cell secretions has been developed. The platform is applied to islets of Langerhans, micro-organs involved in glucose homeostasis and diabetes. The device houses 1 to 8 islets and the perfusion fluid can be controlled to change conditions, e.g., glucose concentration, in seconds. Samples are collected in fractions and split for offline analysis. The device is paired with a scaled-down immunoassay, AlphaLISA, for hormone quantification and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for small molecule quantification to study secretion dynamics. The combined system allows the first simultaneous measurement of insulin, glucagon, biogenic amines, and amino acids from islet secretions. The combined measurements revealed correlation in secretion events and differences in timing of release between hormones and biogenic amines and amino acids. These efforts decreased the number of islets required compared to standard approaches, thus decreasing necessary animal use, reagent use, and cost, while increasing information content achievable from one sample. The microfluidic device is a suitable platform for in-depth characterization of secretion from small tissue samples.

The effect of auxin status driven by bacterivorous nematodes on root growth of Arabidopsis thaliana

Bacterivorous nematodes are one of the dominant microbial organisms and play an important role in shaping the bacterial community and hormone dynamics in rhizosphere soils. It has been found that the presence of bacterivorous nematodes potentially regulate indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) content in soils by interacting with the status of IAA-producing bacteria, and eventually act on the growth of plant roots. However, the mechanism behind this interaction in broad soil ecosystems remains unknown. This study reveals the interaction between bacterivorous nematodes and the soil bacterial community, especially IAA-producing bacteria, based on denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis. The results of DGGE showed that the bacterial diversity in soil was increased by inoculation of nematodes during certain periods of plant culture, and was also affected by the genotype of the Arabidopsis thaliana (Johannes Thal, 1577) plants. The variation in soil bacterial communities among the treatments with different genotypes of A. thaliana and nematodes indicated that the soil bacterial community structure was affected by both genotype and nematode grazing. Furthermore, we measured the root architectures of four genotypes of A. thaliana, including wild type (Col-0), two IAA-insensitive mutants (Axr5 and Axr3–1), and DR5::GUS transgenic type (IAA sensitive) under different conditions of bacterivorous nematode inoculation. We found that the root architecture of the IAA-sensitive A. thaliana developed more tips and slender roots under inoculation with activated bacterivorous nematodes, while the root architectures of auxin-insensitive A. thaliana mutants showed no significant differences between alive and inactivated bacterivorous nematodes, even though the IAA content increased in the soil under inoculation with alive nematodes. This study confirms that the presence of bacterivorous nematodes in soils increases the soil IAA content significantly by regulating the bacterial community structure, which leads to an accumulation of auxin in the root tips of A. thaliana, and eventually enhances the plant root growth.

Dynamics of sex hormones in cows in the period of deep pregnancy and after calving in connection with hyperbilirubinemia

The article presents the results of comparing the level of sex hormones estradiol, progesterone and testosterone in cows with normal and elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood during deep pregnancy and immediately after calving. A study was carried out on 20 cows, which, according to the results of the concentration of bilirubin in after calving, were divided into two groups: the first group included 8 animals with an increased level of it, the second group included 12 animals with a normal content of bilirubin. It was determined that hyperbilirubinemia is accompanied by a significant increase in the level of progesterone by 45,2% and testosterone by 52,1% in the first week after calving in comparison with animals that do not have high concentrations of bilirubin in the blood. In the absence of statistically significant differences at the beginning of the observation period 15-20 days before calving, both in the concentration of bilirubin and in the content of sex steroids in the blood, 3-8 days before calving, an increase in the level of bilirubin, progesterone and testosterone in group 1 by 43,0%, 48,0% and 19,4% than in group 2. Since progesterone and testosterone are precursors of estradiol in the process of ovarian steroidogenesis, the revealed ratio of sex steroids in the studied cows may indicate, on the one hand, a violation biosynthesis of the most important estrogen estradiol in liver pathology, but on the other hand, this may be a consequence of a slowdown in the catabolism of progesterone and testosterone with the participation of hepatic microsomal enzymes and conjugation processes.

Dynamics of Hormones of the Pituitary-Thireoid System and EEG of Brain Activity in High-Mountain Residents

The article presents an analysis of the results of studies to determine the functional state of the pituitary-thyroid system and to identify their relationship with the neurodynamic EEG parameters of the brain in mountainous conditions (2800m). The results of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays of blood in mountain dwellers indicate functional activation (according to average values of T4 and T3 levels) of the peripheral link and compensatory calmness of the central link (relatively low levels of TSH) of the pituitary-thyroid system. A decrease in TSH secretion at a normal level of thyroxine indicates a trend towards a decrease in the functional state of the thyroid gland, which confirms the presence of adaptive changes in the body of mountaineers. At the same time, the detected normal (or with a slight deviation in one direction or another) thyroxine leveldoes not at all contradict the general pattern, because reflects the variability inherent in biological phenomena, due to the individual characteristics of the organism, and the dependence of the studied indicator on factors other than hypoxic factors. Due to the high tension of the functioning of the central nervous system in high altitude conditions, there is a peculiar shift in the EEG parameters towards a decrease in the alpha rhythm and an increase in the theta rhythm of tension, which causes a noticeable redistribution of typological groups. The type of CMR of the brain on the EEG has close functional relationships with the level of TSH, and also has a weak functional relationship with the levels of thyroid hormones.

Use of kisspeptin to trigger oocyte maturation during in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment.

Infertility is a major global health issue and is associated with significant psychological distress for afflicted couples. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) utilises supra-physiological doses of stimulatory hormones to induce the growth of multiple ovarian follicles to enable surgical retrieval of several oocytes for subsequent fertilisation and implantation into the maternal endometrium. The supra-physiological degree of ovarian stimulation can lead to potential risks during IVF treatment, including ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and multiple pregnancy. The choice of oocyte maturation trigger, such as human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) or gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa), can impact both the efficacy of IVF treatment with a bearing on luteal phase hormonal dynamics and thus the degree of luteal phase support required to maintain optimal pregnancy rates, as well as on safety of treatment with particular respect to the risk of OHSS. Kisspeptin regulates gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) release and is therefore a key regulator of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Kisspeptin has been shown to be requisite for the occurrence of the physiological ovulatory luteinising hormone (LH) surge. In this review, we discuss the potential use of kisspeptin as a novel trigger of oocyte maturation.

Molecular docking of Vitamin D3 Receptor (VDR) with potential herbal substance as ligand to prevent excessive hair loss in menopausal women

Hair loss is commonly found in menopausal women. Hair loss is one of the consequences of hormonal dynamics when a woman stops having menstrual cycle, which affect calcium and vitamin D level in the body. Although it is clear enough that hormonal adjustment is required, older people and another sociodemographic factor prefer herbal-based therapeutic rather than synthetic-based due to tradition and positive experience factors. This study is an in-silico study which aims to point out the possible ligand candidates that can work as Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) agonists. We perform molecular docking using Autodock version 4.2 with the criteria of Lamarckian GA. VDR (PDB ID: 1TXI) was docked with ten compounds and one native ligand, then analyzed using Autodock 4.2. Dolichosterone, Gartanin, and (-)-Matairesinol, Luteolin, 5-HETE, Sinapyl glucoside, and geraniol, in order shows smallest to bigger binding energy when simulated in the software (-9.72, -7.70, -7.20, -6.88, -5.76, -5.71 kcal/mol). Thus, we found that these compounds are potential to become VDR agonist. Further research is still required to determine each compound drug potential and maximize therapeutic concentration for medicinal purposes.

Morpho-histology, endogenous hormone dynamics, and transcriptome profiling in Dacrydium pectinatum during female cone development.

Dacrydium pectinatum de Laubenfels is a perennial dioeciously gymnosperm species dominant in tropical montane rain forests. Due to deforestation, natural disasters, long infancy, and poor natural regeneration ability, the population of this species has been significantly reduced and listed as an endangered protected plant. To better understand the female cone development in D. pectinatum, we examined the morphological and anatomical changes, analyzed the endogenous hormone dynamics, and profiled gene expression. The female reproductive structures were first observed in January. The morpho-histological observations suggest that the development of the D. pectinatum megaspore can be largely divided into six stages: early flower bud differentiation, bract primordium differentiation, ovule primordium differentiation, dormancy, ovule maturity, and seed maturity. The levels of gibberellins (GA), auxin (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), and cytokinin (CTK) fluctuate during the process of female cone development. The female cones of D. pectinatum need to maintain a low level of GA3-IAA-ABA steady state to promote seed germination. The first transcriptome database for female D. pectinatum was generated, revealing 310,621 unigenes. Differential expression analyses revealed several floral (MADS2, AGL62, and LFY) and hormone biosynthesis and signal transduction (CKX, KO, KAO, ABA4, ACO, etc.) genes that could be critical for female cone development. Our study provides new insights into the cone development in D. pectinatum and the foundation for female cone induction with hormones.

Neonatal thermoregulation and dynamics of serum thyroid hormones in tropical breeds of goat kids

The study was aimed at evaluating the concentration of serum thyroid hormones and diurnal trends in rectal and body surface temperatures in neonatal buck-kids and doelings. Rectal and body surface (eye, head and trunk) temperatures as well as the differences between rectal and surface (DBRS) temperatures were determined in 39 kids, having equal number of Red Sokoto, Sahel and West African Dwarf (WAD) goats during daytime nadir (07:00 h) and zenith (13:00 h) in ambient temperatures. All variables and blood samples were obtained from birth to Day 20, post-natal. Results revealed significantly (P < 0.05) lower values of morning and afternoon rectal temperatures at birth with subsequent post-natal increase, attaining higher stable values after Day 2. Morning head surface temperature decreased significantly after birth, whereas, DBRS temperatures were lower at birth and increased in subsequent days. From birth, diurnality was distinct (P < 0.05) in all body surface and DBRS temperatures, while, diurnality in rectal temperature was only observed on Days 1–8 (P < 0.05). All body temperatures (rectal, eye, head and trunk) recorded during the afternoon hours in the late neonatal life (Days 10–20) were significantly higher in WAD than Red Sokoto and Sahel kids. Buck-kids had higher (P < 0.05) values of morning rectal temperature than doelings. Circulating concentration of tri-iodothyronine was significantly lower in Sahel than Red Sokoto and WAD goat kids, whereas, the values of thyroxin were lower (P < 0.05) in Red Sokoto than Sahel and WAD kids. Similarly, lower (P < 0.05) values of tri-iodothyronine were recorded in buck-kids, while a higher (P < 0.05) level of thyroxin was recorded in doelings. In conclusion, neonatal adjustment in body temperatures of tropical breeds was influenced by thyroid hormone concentration, and the feeble cutaneous thermoregulation atbirth, contributed significantly to heat loss and gain during the morning and afternoon hours, respectively.

Cardio-Hypothalamic-Pituitary Coupling during Rest and in Response to Exercise.

The objective of this study was to examine cardio hypothalamic-pituitary coupling and to better understand how the temporal relations between these systems are altered during rest and exercise conditions. An intensive within subjects study design was used. Seven adult males completed two visits, each consisting of either a 24 h period of complete rest or a 24 h period containing a high-intensity exercise bout. An intravenous catheter was used to collect serum samples every 10 min throughout the 24 h period (i.e., 145 samples/person/condition) to assess growth hormone (GH) dynamics throughout the 24 h period. Cardiac dynamics were also collected throughout the 24 h period and epoched into 3 min windows every 10 min, providing serial short-time measurements of heart rate variability (HRV) concurrent to the GH sampling. The standard deviation of the normal RR interval (SDNN), the root mean square of successive differences (rMSSD), and sample entropy (SampEn) was calculated for each epoch and used to create new profiles. The dynamics of these profiles were individually quantified using SampEn and recurrence quantification analysis (RQA). To address our central question, the coupling between these profiles with GH was assessed using cross-SampEn and cross-RQA (cRQA). A comparison between the epoched HRV profiles indicated a main effect between profiles for sample entropy (p < 0.001) and several measures from RQA. An interaction between profile and condition was observed for cross-SampEn (p = 0.04) and several measures from cRQA. These findings highlight the potential application of epoched HRV to assess changes in cardiac dynamics, with specific applications to assessing cardio hypothalamic-pituitary coupling.

The impact of hormonal dynamics and serum sodium fluctuations on symptomatic vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage

BackgroundSymptomatic vasospasm (SVS) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and serum sodium frequently decreases before SVS. Serum sodium changes might be regulated by sodium metabolism-related hormones. This multi-institutional prospective cohort study therefore investigated the measurement of sodium metabolism-related hormones to elucidate the pathophysiology of serum sodium changes in SAH. MethodsSAH patients were treated with clipping or coiling from September 2017 to August 2020 at five hospitals. The laboratory data of 133 SAH patients were collected over 14 days and correlations between changes in serum sodium, sodium metabolism-related hormones (plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), serum cortisol, plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP)), and SVS were determined. Serum sodium concentrations were measured every day and serum sodium levels >135 mEq/L were maintained until day 14. ResultsOf the 133 patients, 18 developed SVS within 14 days of subarachnoid hemorrhage onset (SVS group) and 115 did not suffer from SVS (non-SVS group). Circulating AVP, ACTH, and cortisol concentrations were significantly higher on day 1 in the SVS group compared with the non-SVS group. Fluctuations in serum sodium in the SVS group were significantly higher than those in the non-SVS group. There were antiparallel fluctuations in serum sodium and potassium from days 2 to 14. ConclusionsElevated levels of ACTH/cortisol and AVP on day 1 may be predictive markers for the occurrence of SVS. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that serum sodium fluctuations were associated with SVS occurrence. Serum sodium fluctuations were associated with stress-related hormonal dynamics. (249 words)

Luteinizing Hormone Dynamics in Menstruation.

Menstruation is a finely-controlled cycle that responds to the prevailing endocrine and paracrine environment. However, social stigma has led to inadequate menstrual literacy, both among academics and the larger public. The poorly understood mechanisms of menstruation ultimately lead to suboptimal healthcare treatment and services for biological females, culminating in a physical, financial, and emotional burden. Various hormones signal the beginning and end of each stage of menstruation. In particular, luteinizing hormone (LH) is a major player in ovulation, corpus luteum function, and the stimulation of other key hormones. A LH model could be used to understand the larger control system of menstruation if analyzed in conjunction with models for other major hormones (e.g., FSH, progesterone, and GnRH). Thus, exploring a smaller subsection of LH dynamics within the larger control system of menstruation can lead to a greater understanding of menstruation, contributing towards therapeutics and research for women's health. Using parameters and kinetic equations in the existing body of literature, a transfer function was derived to model LH dynamics. Analysis of system stability reveals overdamped dynamics in LH sensitization at baseline, and underdamped mildly resonant dynamics at the peak of the menstrual cycle, the strength of which depends on the values of the rate constants of LH receptor formation, binding, and desensitization.

P-463 Anti-Müllerian hormone levels in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy with or without concurrent luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist: results from the PROMISE phase III trial

Abstract Study question How (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy and concurrent administration of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist (LHRHa) affect Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and estradiol level dynamics in premenopausal breast cancer patients. Summary answer Breast cancer chemotherapy has a major negative impact on patients’ ovarian function and reserve. Women receiving LHRHa showed higher probability of long-term ovarian function recovery. What is known already The risk of developing treatment-induced premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and infertility following chemotherapy is among the most important concern in premenopausal breast cancer patients. AMH is a promising biomarker for assessing treatment-induced gonadotoxicity in patients receiving anticancer therapies. Concurrent administration of LHRHa with chemotherapy is associated with a lower risk of treatment-induced ovarian failure and higher rates of menstrual function recovery. However, data on the impact of LHRHa during chemotherapy on patients’ ovarian reserve are still insufficient. Study design, size, duration Between 2003 and 2008, the PROMISE-GIM6 trial randomized 281 premenopausal early breast cancer women to receive chemotherapy alone (control group) or chemotherapy plus triptorelin (LHRHa group). Primary endpoints were incidence of early menopause and long-term ovarian function. For exploratory purposes in a subset of patients, AMH and estradiol levels were measured at baseline, &amp;lt;3 months after last cycle of chemotherapy, 1 year after last cycle of chemotherapy, and at the end of adjuvant endocrine treatment. Participants/materials, setting, methods The main results of the trial showed that use of concurrent LHRHa significantly reduced the risk of early menopause, increased the chances of long-term ovarian function recovery and did not influence survival outcomes (JAMA 2011, JAMA 2015, JNCI 2022). The present exploratory analysis reports on dynamics of ovarian biomarkers (AMH and estradiol) at baseline and following (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy. Main results and the role of chance Out of 281 enrolled patients, 48 enrolled at the coordinating centers had at least one measurement of AMH and estradiol levels at baseline and after (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy. Baseline patient characteristics were similar between treatment arms, with median age being 41 and 39 years, and median AMH levels being 3.9 and 4.9 mcg/L in the control and LHRHa groups, respectively. In the overall population, estradiol levels showed a significant decrease at the end of chemotherapy, a significant increase after one year, and a return to baseline values at the end of endocrine therapy. By contrast, AMH levels showed a constant decrease over time. As compared to patients in the control group, those in the LHRHa group had a significant reduction in the risk of early menopause (p = 0.02) and significantly higher estradiol levels at the end of chemotherapy and 1 year after chemotherapy (p &amp;lt; 0.001), suggesting a higher probability of ovarian function recovery. By contrast, no significant differences were observed in the AMH level dynamics between patients receiving LHRHa and those who did not. Limitations, reasons for caution Relatively small number of included patients (n = 48) and small number of patients with AMH and estradiol levels determined at each timepoint. Wider implications of the findings This biomarker analysis within a phase III randomized trial confirmed that patients receiving LHRHa had a higher probability of ovarian function recovery also supported by estradiol dynamics. However, both patients in the LHRHa and control group showed a major decline in AMH levels after chemotherapy that persisted over time. Trial registration number NCT00311636

Genetic Determinants of Biomass in C4 Crops: Molecular and Agronomic Approaches to Increase Biomass for Biofuels.

Bio-based fuels have become popular being efficient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly alternatives to fossil fuels. Among plant sources exploited as feedstocks, C4 grasses, such as sugarcane, maize, sorghum, and miscanthus, are highly resourceful in converting solar energy into chemical energy. For a sustainable and reliable supply of feedstocks for biofuels, we expect dedicated bioenergy crops to produce high biomass using minimum input resources. In recent years, molecular and genetic advancements identified various factors regulating growth, biomass accumulation, and assimilate partitioning. Here, we reviewed important genes involved in cell cycle regulation, hormone dynamics, and cell wall biosynthesis. A number of important transcription factors and miRNAs aid in activation of important genes responsible for cell wall growth and re-construction. Also, environmental components interacting with genetic controls modulate plant biomass by modifying gene expression in multiple interacting pathways. Finally, we discussed recent progress using hybridization and genome editing techniques to improve biomass yield in C4 grasses. This review summarizes genes and environmental factors contributing biomass yield in C4 biofuel crops which can help to discover and design bioenergy crops adapting to changing climate conditions.

Association of sex hormone dynamics with 10-year survival in men with implanted cardiac resynchronization therapy devices

Aim. To assess association of different dynamics of sex hormones with 10-year survival in men with congestive heart failure (CHF) and implanted cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices.Methods. Based on tercile of testosterone at the end of the study (TESend), 157 men with CRT (mean age 58.7±9.7 years old; 95 men (60.5%) w/ ischemic CHF) were divided into 3 groups: gr. I (n=52) - TESend&lt;13.3 nmol/l; gr. II (n=53) - TESend&gt;13.3&lt;19.2 nmol/l; gr. III (n=52) - TESend&gt;19.2 nmol/l. Parameters of echocardiography (Echo) were investigated in dynamics, N-terminal fragment of probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), total and free testosterone (TES), estradiol (E2), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), progesterone (PGN), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), E2/TES ratio were tested in plasma. Survival in groups was assessed using Kaplan-Meier method.Results. Groups were comparable in age, presence of ischemic CHF, arterial hypertension and surgeries on myocardial revascularization. Higher incidence of atrial fibrillation, obesity, complete left bundle branch block, tendency to higher incidence of diabetes mellitus and higher body mass index was revealed in gr. I compared to gr. III. At baseline, groups didn’t differ in Echo parameters; the highest TES levels were found in gr. III. After CRT, there was less reverse cardiac remodeling, decrease of TES level (p&lt;0.001) in gr. I vs increase of TES level in gr. II (p=0.041) and gr. III (&lt;0.001); E2 level increased (p=0.008), levels of NT-proBNP and IL-6 decreased only in gr. III. In absence of dynamics of E2/TES index and DHEAS level in groups, E2/TES index was the highest and DHEAS level was the lowest in gr. I after CRT. 10-year survival of groups was 17.6%, 42.8%, 46.2% (Log Rank test I-II=0.016; Log Rank test I-III=0.004; Log Rank test II-III=0.528).Conclusion. Obtained results indicated different dynamics of sex steroids after CRT. Sex hormones variation pattern, interrelated with increase in levels of testosterone, estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and decrease in testosterone to estradiol ratio, was associated with better 10-year survival in men with implantable CRT devices with greater reverse cardiac remodeling and reduction in activity of systemic immune inflammation.