Maintenance Of Balance Research Articles

Using the model of closed-loop economy in certain branches of the agro-industrial complex

From agricultural production to domestic consumption of products, the food industry produces huge amounts of waste every year, which leads to contamination of soil, water and air. Waste created upon processing agricultural raw materials and using axillary materials, such as additives, certain chemical components, fuel and so on, enhances an impact of the food chain on the environment leading to depletion of natural resources. In the last few years, production branches of economy, including the agro-industrial complex, have made attempts to maintain the balance between their impact on the environment, the use of resources, well-being of the population and economic benefits. This trend stimulates the intensive development of the theory of circular (cyclic) economy or closed-loop economy and facilitates a search for methods of its realization in the real economic system. The paper summarizes the main specific features typical of circular economy: strengthened control of supply of limited natural resources and maintenance of the stable balance of renewable resources; optimization of consumption processes by development and use of products, components and materials that correspond to the highest level of their reuse; detection and prevention of negative external effects of current production activities to increase efficiency of the economic and ecological systems. With that, despite the fact that the concept of circular economy was formulated several decades ago, its comprehensive definition is still a subject of discussions. Ambiguity of the existing definitions shows that the concept of closed-loop economy has different meaning for stakeholders. The paper examines several aspects of using elements of closed-loop economy in certain branches of the agro-industrial complex, including the meat industry. A special attention in this work is given to the introduction of modern technologies and equipment for efficient processing of waste from crop husbandry, animal husbandry and meat production to include it into the economic turnover. In addition, ecological problems arising in the course of activities of enterprises of the food and processing industries are examined and the possibilities of solving these problems by introduction of the model of circular economy have been established. Risks and barriers preventing transition of Russia to the model of circular economy have been revealed. The authors propose measures and directions of scientific research aimed at the development and introduction of elements of closed-loop economy in the meat sub-complex, including related branches of the agro-industrial complex.

BIOCHEMICAL INDICATORS OF MILITARY BLOOD ON THE ISCHEMIC AND DENERVATION PROCESS IN MUSCLES AFTER A MINE-EXPLOSIVE INJURYS

The injuries received are accompanied by massive damage to the soft tissues of the limbs, main vessels and nerves, and the development of compartment syndrome. Violation of muscle function in the case of a limb injury can be both a consequence of denervation — as a result of damage to peripheral nerves, and ischemia with subsequent necrosis and fibrosis — as a result of direct or indirect damage to muscles, «tenotomy syndrome» — in case of traumatic damage to tendons and muscles yams, with the simultaneous combination of denervation and ischemia. Markers for assessing the state of muscle tissue — levels of Na+, K+ and Ca++ electrolytes, indicators of kidney function (urea, creatinine); glucose and the products of its transformations — lactate (lacticacid) and pyruvate (pyruvic acid) and, finally, muscle enzymes, namely creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Objective. To study the biochemical indicators of blood (activity of energy metabolism enzymes and electrolyte content) of military personnel with ischemic contracture and muscle denervation after a mine-explosive injury. Methods. The blood serum of 45 people, who were divided into IV groups, was analyzed. The average age of patients of the II group was 33.75 ± 3.46; III — 37 ± 3.66; IV — 35.86 ± 2.35. The results. The activity of LDH and CK and the content of electrolytes Na+, K+, Ca++ were determined in blood serum. Conclusions. LDH plays a key role in lactate metabolism and maintenance of energy balance in skeletal muscle. Its increased activity indicates the presence of hypoxia due to ischemic contracture of the limb and damage to peripheral nerves. KK enzyme protects cell membranes from damage. The tendency to decrease the activity of CC is a negative sign that reflects the initial process of destruction of the cell membranes of muscles damaged by a mine-explosive injury. The obtained results can be used to determine the severity of pathological processes in patients after traumatic damage to peripheral nerves and ischemic contracture, as well as when assessing the expediency of surgical intervention.

A review of factors affecting the soil microbial community structure in wetlands.

Microbial community in wetland soils is crucial for maintaining the stability of the wetland ecosystem. Nevertheless, the soil microbial community is sensitive to the environmental stress in wetlands. This leads to the possibility that the microbial community structure may be influenced by environmental factors. To gain an in-depth understanding in the response of microbial community structure in wetland soils under different environmental factors, this review comprehensively explores the factors of natural conditions (e.g., different types of wetland, soil physical and chemical properties, climate conditions), biological factors (e.g., plants, soil animals), and human activities (e.g., land use, soil pollution, grazing). Those factors can affect microbial community structure and activities in wetland soils through different ways such as (i) affecting the wetland soil environment in which soil microorganisms survived in, (ii) influencing the available nutrients (e.g., carbon, nitrogen) required for microbial activity, and (iii) the direct effects on soil microorganisms (toxicity or promotion of resistant species). This review can provide references for the conservation of microbial diversity in wetland soils, the maintenance of wetland ecosystem balance, and the wetland ecological restoration.

The Greek-Turkish Rivalry: A Bayesian VAR Approach

ABSTRACT The persistent Greek-Turkish rivalry has garnered considerable attention among defense economists, prompting an exploration of whether these two nations are locked in an arms race. The longstanding divisions between them are deeply rooted in historical conflict and mutual distrust, and diplomatic efforts aimed at reconciliation have proven largely ineffective, with brief rapprochements typically ending swiftly. Recent discoveries of natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean have exacerbated tensions, leading to military expansion plans that have heightened the risk of escalation. Given the lack of consensus in empirical studies on the relationship between their military expenditures, we employ a linear Bayesian Vector Autoregression (BVAR) modeling approach to explore potential interdependencies among four distinct proxies of the states’ physical arms build-up. Utilizing an annual dataset running from 1960 to 2020, our findings reveal that shocks to one nation’s military expenditure do not significantly affect the opponent’s defense spending. This suggests that contrary to strategies focused on the costly maintenance of strategic balance, these rivals should prioritize cooperation to jointly foster peace and economic development across the broader Mediterranean region.

Role of Forest Conservation in Climate Regulation in Thailand

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyzing the role of forest conservation in climate regulation in Thailand. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: Forest conservation in Thailand plays a vital role in climate regulation through biodiversity preservation, carbon sequestration, and maintenance of ecological balance. It acts as a carbon sink, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and contributes to regional climate stability by influencing local weather patterns. Conservation efforts also protect watersheds, ensuring sustainable freshwater resources. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Biogeochemical cycles theory, ecosystem services theory & forest resilience theory may be used to anchor future studies on role of forest conservation in climate regulation in Thailand. Implementing sustainable practices such as reduced-impact logging, reforestation, and agroforestry promotes forest health and resilience. Strengthening international agreements like the Paris Agreement and regional forest governance frameworks supports global forest conservation efforts.

Effect Of Vitamin D3 On Lipids Metabolism And Adipose Tissue Biology

There are many different kinds of cells that make up adipose tissue, and it plays a vital part in the regulation of inflammation and the maintenance of energy balance, both locally and throughout the body. It is one of the most important organs that is not skeletal in nature and serves as the principal storage location for vitamin D. Vitamin D also has an effect on this organ. It is vital to take into consideration the specific cell type, the stage of differentiation, and the length of time that the therapy is delivered in order to determine how vitamin D can affect multiple aspects of adipose tissue function and development. This is because vitamin D can help determine how vitamin D can influence these aspects. In spite of this, vitamin D has the ability to either slow down or speed up the differentiation process of adipocytes, which are cells that are responsible for the synthesis of fat. This is dependent on the specific cell type. Vitamin D is not only responsible for this, but it also plays a role in the regulation of the energy metabolism that occurs in adipose tissue. The oxidation of fatty acids, the expression of uncoupling proteins, insulin resistance, and the synthesis of adipokines are all altered as a result of this process. Furthermore, inflammation of adipose tissue is a substantial contribution to the metabolic abnormalities that are often associated with obesity. This is because adipose tissue is a major source of fat. There is evidence that vitamin D has the potential to influence the inflammatory response of immune cells, as well as the systemic response and adipocytes that are present in adipose tissue. Vitamin D also has the ability to influence the inflammatory response of immune cells. Additionally, vitamin D has the capacity to prevent the development of cancer in some people.

Bifurcation analysis of a Leslie-type predator–prey system with prey harvesting and group defense

In this paper, we investigate a Leslie-type predator–prey model that incorporates prey harvesting and group defense, leading to a modified functional response. Our analysis focuses on the existence and stability of the system’s equilibria, which are essential for the coexistence of predator and prey populations and the maintenance of ecological balance. We identify the maximum sustainable yield, a critical factor for achieving this balance. Through a thorough examination of positive equilibrium stability, we determine the conditions and initial values that promote the survival of both species. We delve into the system’s dynamics by analyzing saddle-node and Hopf bifurcations, which are crucial for understanding the system transitions between various states. To evaluate the stability of the Hopf bifurcation, we calculate the first Lyapunov exponent and offer a quantitative assessment of the system’s stability. Furthermore, we explore the Bogdanov–Takens (BT) bifurcation, a co-dimension 2 scenario, by employing a universal unfolding technique near the cusp point. This method simplifies the complex dynamics and reveals the conditions that trigger such bifurcations. To substantiate our theoretical findings, we conduct numerical simulations, which serve as a practical validation of the model predictions. These simulations not only confirm the theoretical results but also showcase the potential of the model for predicting real-world ecological scenarios. This in-depth analysis contributes to a nuanced understanding of the dynamics within predator–prey interactions and advances the field of ecological modeling.

The effect of strabismus surgery on the dynamic balance in children with strabismus

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the effect of strabismus surgery on dynamic balance by using computerized dynamic posturography in children with strabismus. Methods: This study was designed as a prospective observational study. Hearing tests and complete ophthalmological examinations were performed for all subjects. Patients with moderate and severe amblyopia, hearing loss at any level, and/or any suspicion of balance impairment were excluded from the study. Postural stability evaluation was performed by computerized dynamic posturography including sensory organization test, adaptation test, and rhythmic weight shift test. All tests were applied preoperatively and in the postoperative 1st and 3rd months, respectively. Results: Fifteen female and twelve male pre-adolescents aged between 7 and 12 (9.67 ± 1.62 years) were included in the current study. In the sensory organization test, the preoperative visual ratio percentages (73.19 ± 14.95%) improved statistically significantly at the postoperative 1st and 3rd months (78.59 ± 16.21% and 81.44 ± 14.18; p = .026, p = .021, respectively). The preoperative toes up (110.66 ± 33,48) and toes down (81.46 ± 28.36) adaptation tests improved statistically significantly in the postoperative 3rd month (88.74 ± 20.94 and 63.36 ± 16.03; p < .001, p = .001, respectively). In the Rhythmic Weight Shift test, the postoperative 3rd-month directional control (forward-backward) value (74.25 ± 11.51%) was statistically significantly higher compared to the preoperative directional control (forward-backward) value (67.76 ± 11.38%) (p = .011). The postoperative 3rd-month directional control (forward-backward) value (74.25 ± 11.51%) was statistically significantly higher compared to the postoperative 1st-month directional control (forward-backward) value (68.43 ± 14.00%) (p = .028). Conclusion: Surgical treatment resulted in an improvement in the maintenance of dynamic balance in children with strabismus.

Investigating hormesis, aging, and neurodegeneration: From bench to clinics.

Mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species production at a moderate physiological level plays a fundamental role in the anti-aging signaling, due to their action as redox-active sensors for the maintenance of optimal mitochondrial balance between intracellular energy status and hormetic nutrients. Iron regulatory protein dysregulation, systematically increased iron levels, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the consequent oxidative stress are recognized to underlie the pathogenesis of multiple neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Central to their pathogenesis, Nrf2 signaling dysfunction occurs with disruption of metabolic homeostasis. We highlight the potential therapeutic importance of nutritional polyphenols as substantive regulators of the Nrf2 pathway. Here, we discuss the common mechanisms targeting the Nrf2/vitagene pathway, as novel therapeutic strategies to minimize consequences of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, generally associated to cognitive dysfunction, and demonstrate its key neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory properties, summarizing pharmacotherapeutic aspects relevant to brain pathophysiology.

REGIONAL MANIFESTATIONS OF THE DETERIORATION OF THE NATURAL CONDITIONS OF HEAT AND MOISTURE SUPPLY OF THE TERRITORY IN THE CONDITIONS OF MAINTAINING THE SUSTAINABLE FUNCTIONING OF ECONOMY SYSTEMS IN THE TERRITORY OF TERNOPIL REGION

The publication examines the influence of regional manifestations of the deterioration of natural conditions (moisture supply and unfavorable thermal parameters) on agricultural management. Global climate changes are superimposed by regional manifestations of adverse processes, such as the emission of greenhouse gases generated by an unbalanced land structure, in which we observe an excessive share of arable land. Excessive plowing of the territory leads to increased production of greenhouse gases by arable land, which complicates the manifestation of the greenhouse effect at the local level. Data on the structure of land plots of Ternopil region and Borsukiv territorial community are given. Attention is drawn to the map scheme of changes in the moisture supply of the territory of Ukraine, according to which a very wet climatic annual balance will be preserved only in the mountainous part of the Carpathians, Ternopil region will go from wet to insufficiently wet in its southeastern part, and over time, according to the forecast of 2100, to an insufficiently wet balance in the greater its territory At the same time, about 55% of the southeastern regions are threatened by dry and very dry climatic annual balance. According to the authors, the search for ways to solve the problem can be found in the optimization of land use. The algorithm of the optimization model is prescribed in the methodology of Professor Mykhailo Grodzynskii and consists in determining and ranking the development priorities of the research area and achieving a scientifically justified ratio between natural and anthropogenic land areas. Based on the materials of the Borsukiv territorial community, an optimization model of land use was created, according to which it is proposed to reduce the share of arable land from 65% to 45% due to the removal of heavily eroded and poorly productive lands from the arable wedge and their transfer to liming and afforestation, the share of which in the land use structure of the territorial community increased respectively 21% and 23%. Such optimization measures will ensure the transition from the emission of greenhouse gases by land to their assimilation by forest and meadow vegetation. Increasing the share of forests by 14% will contribute to a 5% increase in precipitation of local origin, which is especially important for stabilizing the water balance of the territory. An increase in the share of natural vegetation will contribute to the maintenance of ecological balance, restoration of biotic and landscape diversity, improved water balance, and natural living conditions of the population.Increasing or stabilizing the degree of humidification of territories under the conditions of global and regional climate changes is becoming an important scientific and applied problem, the solution of which requires the development and implementation of strategic tasks of sustainable development at the levels of regional, administrative and district territorial entities, the level of territorial communities, Starosty districts. Taking into account the priority criteria for the development of territorial entities is the first stage of optimizing the use of nature in these administrative-territorial entities. The second stage of the landscape and ecological optimization of territories is the substantiation of the ratio of natural and anthropogenic lands. Land optimization will contribute to tireless use of nature and the balancing of basic natural processes with anthropogenic ones. In the future, we envisage the creation of optimization models of land use for all territorial communities of the region, which will optimize the development of natural and economic systems. Keywords: regional manifestations of climatic conditions, land use structure, optimization, territorial community.

Photostasis and photosynthetic adaptation to polar life.

Photostasis is the light-dependent maintenance of energy balance associated with cellular homeostasis in photoautotrophs. We review evidence that illustrates how photosynthetic adaptation in polar photoautrophs such as aquatic green algae, cyanobacteria, boreal conifers as well as terrestrial angiosperms exhibit an astonishing plasticity in structure and function of the photosynthetic apparatus. This plasticity contributes to the maintenance of photostasis, which is essential for the long-term survival in the seemingly inhospitable Antarctic and Arctic habitats. However, evidence indicates that polar photoautrophic species exhibit different functional solutions for the maintenance of photostasis. We suggest that this reflects, in part, the genetic diversity symbolized by inherent genetic redundancy characteristic of polar photoautotrophs which enhances their survival in a thermodynamically challenging environment.

Correlation between acute muscle damage and oxidative protection enzymes during different aerobic exercises

Different types of aerobic exercise can cause different disorders of homeostasis. This cross-over experiment aimed to determine the muscle fatigue and the antioxidative protection of female basketball players following a load caused by three different aerobic-type exercises (low-intensity continuous, high-intensity continuous, and high-intensity interval training). Twelve female basketball players (age 17.7±4.3 years; weight 67.3±9.8 kg; height 178.0±7.4 cm) voluntarily participated in the study. A wash-out period of 7 days between single sessions of different training was provided. Venous blood was drawn right before and immediately after each exercise session. The parameters that were analyzed are markers of muscle damage and enzymes of antioxidant protection. As a marker of muscle damage, myoglobin (F=2.884; p=0.065) and lactates (F=5.254; p=0.008) have higher values and statistically significant differences between training types. Creatinine shows higher values after each training session (F=4.053; p=0.022). Results of enzyme activity for oxidative protection show statistically significant differences between groups for catalase (F=5.811; p=0.005) with different types of training intervention. At the beginning of the preparatory period, parameters of acute muscle damage values are high. During the season, in response to different types of training, those parameters decrease in response to the body's adaptation to exercise-induced stress. Training leads to maintenance of physiological balance in the body and oxidative stress is not a necessary phenomenon of high aerobic training load. The inclusion of antioxidant protection enzymes decreases as the body adapts to a certain type of exercise.

Aging and Autophagy: Roles in Musculoskeletal System Injury.

Aging is a multifactorial process that ultimately leads to a decline in physiological function and a consequent reduction in the health span, and quality of life in elderly population. In musculoskeletal diseases, aging is often associated with a gradual loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, resulting in reduced functional capacity and an increased risk of chronic metabolic diseases, leading to impaired function and increased mortality. Autophagy is a highly conserved physiological process by which cells, under the regulation of autophagy-related genes, degrade their own organelles and large molecules by lysosomal degradation. This process is unique to eukaryotic cells and is a strict regulator of homeostasis, the maintenance of energy and substance balance. Autophagy plays an important role in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes such as cell homeostasis, aging, immunity, tumorigenesis and neurodegenerative diseases. On the one hand, under mild stress conditions, autophagy mediates the restoration of homeostasis and proliferation, reduction of the rate of aging and delay of the aging process. On the other hand, under more intense stress conditions, an inadequate suppression of autophagy can lead to cellular aging. Conversely, autophagy activity decreases during aging. Due to the interrelationship between aging and autophagy, limited literature exists on this topic. Therefore, the objective of this review is to summarize the current concepts on aging and autophagy in the musculoskeletal system. The aim is to better understand the mechanisms of age-related changes in bone, joint and muscle, as well as the interaction relationship between autophagy and aging. Its goal is to provide a comprehensive perspective for the improvement of diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

MiR319a-mediated salt stress response in poplar.

Maintenance of intracellular ion balance, especially Na+ and K+, plays an important role in plant responses to salt stress. Vessels in xylem are responsible for long-distance ion transport in vascular plants. Knowledge on the salt stress response in woody plants in limited. In this study, we identified miR319a as an important regulator in respond to salt stress in poplar. miR319a overexpression transgenic poplar showed a salt-tolerant phenotype, and cytological observation showed reduced cambium cell layers, wider xylem, increased number and lumen area of vessels and fibers, and thinner cell wall thickness in the transgenics. The miR319a-MIMIC plants, meanwhile, had opposite phenotypes, with narrower xylem, reduced number and lumen area of vessels and fibers cells, and increased wall thickness. In addition, overexpression of miR319a driven by the vessel-specific promoter significantly improved the salt tolerance compared with the fiber-specific promoter. The expression levels of PagHKT1;2 and PagSKOR1-b, which encoded high-affinity K+ and Na+ transporters for Na+ efflux and K+ influx, respectively, were positively correlated with the vessel number and lumen area. These results suggest that miR319 not only promotes ion transport rates by increasing vessel number and lumen area and reducing cell wall thickness, but also regulates the concentrations of Na+ and K+ in the xylem by up-regulating PagHKT1;2 and PagSKOR1-b. We demonstrate that miR319 may coordinate the response of poplar to salt stress through both mechanisms, enriching our understanding of the synergistic effects of the secondary xylem structure and long-distance ion transport balance in the salt tolerance of poplar.

Integrative analysis of bone-formation associated genes and immune cell infiltration in osteoporosis, and the prediction of active ingredients in targeted traditional Chinese medicine

ObjectiveTo explore the differential expression and mechanisms of bone formation-related genes in osteoporosis (OP) leveraging bioinformatics and machine learning methodologies, and to predict the active ingredients of targeted traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbs. MethodsThe Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and GeneCards databases were employed to conduct a comprehensive screening of genes and disease-associated loci pertinent to the pathogenesis of OP. The R package was utilized as the analytical tool for the identification of differentially expressed genes. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression analysis and support vector machine-recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) algorithm were employed in defining the genetic signature specific to OP. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses for the selected pivotal genes were conducted. The cell-type identification by estimating relative subsets of RNA transcripts (CIBERSORT) algorithm was leveraged to examine the infiltration patterns of immune cells, with Spearman’s rank correlation analysis utilized to assess the relationship between the expression levels of the genes and the presence of immune cells. Coremine Medical Database was used to screen out potential TCM herbs for the treatment of OP. Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) was employed for forecasting the TCM active ingredients targeting the key genes. AutoDock Vina 1.2.2 and GROMACS 2020 softwares were employed to conclude analysis results, facilitating the exploration of binding affinity and conformational dynamics between the TCM active ingredients and their biological targets. ResultsTen genes were identified by intersecting the results from the GEO and GeneCards databases. Through the application of LASSO regression and SVM-RFE algorithm, four pivotal genes were selected: coat protein (CP), kallikrein 3 (KLK3), polymerase γ (POLG), and transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4). GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed that these trait genes were predominantly engaged in the regulation of defense response activation, maintenance of cellular metal ion balance, and the production of chemokine ligand 5. These genes were notably associated with signaling pathways such as ferroptosis, porphyrin metabolism, and base excision repair. Immune infiltration analysis showed that key genes were highly correlated with immune cells. Macrophage M0, M1, M2, and resting dendritic cell were significantly different between groups, and there were significant differences between different groups (P < 0.05). The interaction counts of resveratrol, curcumin, and quercetin with KLK3 were 7, 3, and 2, respectively. It shows that the interactions of resveratrol, curcumin, and quercetin with KLK3 were substantial. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations further confirmed the robust binding affinity of these bioactive compounds to the target genes. ConclusionPivotal genes including CP, KLK3, POLG, and TRPV4, exhibited commendable significant prognostic value, and played a crucial role in the diagnostic assessment of OP. Resveratrol, curcumin, and quercetin, natural compounds found in TCM, showed promise in their potential to effectively modulate the bone-forming gene KLK3. This study provides a scientific basis for the interpretation of the pathogenesis of OP and the development of clinical drugs.

Export of heme by the feline leukemia virus C receptor regulates mitochondrial biogenesis and redox balance in the hematophagous insect Rhodnius prolixus.

Heme is a prosthetic group of proteins involved in vital physiological processes. It participates, for example, in redox reactions crucial for cell metabolism due to the variable oxidation state of its central iron atom. However, excessive heme can be cytotoxic due to its prooxidant properties. Therefore, the control of intracellular heme levels ensures the survival of organisms, especially those that deal with high concentrations of heme during their lives, such as hematophagous insects. The export of heme initially attributed to the feline leukemia virus C receptor (FLVCR) has recently been called into question, following the discovery of choline uptake by the same receptor in mammals. Here, we found that RpFLVCR is a heme exporter in the midgut of the hematophagous insect Rhodnius prolixus, a vector for Chagas disease. Silencing RpFLVCR decreased hemolymphatic heme levels and increased the levels of intracellular dicysteinyl-biliverdin, indicating heme retention inside midgut cells. FLVCR silencing led to increased expression of heme oxygenase (HO), ferritin, and mitoferrin mRNAs while downregulating the iron importers Malvolio 1 and 2. In contrast, HO gene silencing increased FLVCR and Malvolio expression and downregulated ferritin, revealing crosstalk between heme degradation/export and iron transport/storage pathways. Furthermore, RpFLVCR silencing strongly increased oxidant production and lipid peroxidation, reduced cytochrome c oxidase activity, and activated mitochondrial biogenesis, effects not observed in RpHO-silenced insects. These data support FLVCR function as a heme exporter, playing a pivotal role in heme/iron metabolism and maintenance of redox balance, especially in an organism adapted to face extremely high concentrations of heme.

The CT Classification of Multilevel Cervical Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament to Guide Hybrid Anterior Controllable Antedisplacement and Fusion vs. Posterior Laminoplasty.

For precise and minimally invasive treatment of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine, the lifting segment is minimized, anterior controllable antedisplacement and fusion (ACAF) was refined and improved. In addition, the development of appropriate surgical procedures for the ossification of each segment was rarely reported. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of hybrid anterior controlled antedisplacement fusion (Hybrid ACAF) with laminoplasty for multilevel ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Between May 2018 and May 2021, 70 patients with multilevel OPLL were divided into a hybrid ACAF group and a laminoplasty group according to surgical methods. All patients were followed up for at least 1 year. Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and recovery rate (JOARR), (VAS, NDI) score and C2-C7 Cobb angle, the sagittal vertical axis of the neck (SVA), and complications (cerebrospinal fluid leakage, C5 paralysis, etc.) were compared between the two groups by t test or non-parametric test. The operation time of hybrid ACAF was longer. C5 paralysis and axial pain were more common in the laminoplasty group, while dysphagia and hoarseness were more common in the hybrid ACAF group. At the last follow-up, the hybrid ACAF group had better recovery and maintenance of cervical lordosis and sagittal plane balance and a higher JOA score and recovery rate than the laminoplasty group. Hybrid ACAF can reduce the number of vertebral bodies and expand the decompression range, which is safe, effective, and tailored to local conditions. Compared with laminoplasty, hybrid ACAF is a precise alternative for patients with OPLL.

Analysis of ankle muscle activity: A study on static balance with eyes closed and high-heeled shoes

BackgroundChanges in sensory afferent interfere with the control of postural stability by the central nervous system. Wearing high-heeled shoes is an example of an external disturbance that changes sensory inputs and results in several postural adjustments to control stability. Thus, our purpose is to investigate the influence of high-heeled shoes and visual absence on maintenance of static balance and on ankle muscle activity among young women. Our hypothesis is that the combination of high-heeled shoes with visual absence lead to an increase of postural sway and of levels of activation of the stabilizing ankle muscles. MethodsNine volunteers remained in an unrestrained erect posture on a force platform for collecting of stabilometric and electromyographic parameters in four bipodal conditions: barefoot with open eyes, barefoot with closed eyes, with high heels and open eyes and with high heels and closed eyes. ResultsWhen comparing the experimental condition open and closed eyes with high heels, there were significant differences for all stabilometric variables, except for the confidence ellipse area. Statistical differences were found for the medial gastrocnemius muscle in all comparison pairs with high heels. ConclusionThe wearing high-heeled shoes showed to be the most influencing disturbance on static balance. Our findings suggest ankle muscle activity is adapted according to changes of the center of pressure sway and the wearing of high heels changes the muscle activation and postural sway.

Dominant Somatotype Development in Relation to Body Composition and Dietary Macronutrient Intake among High-Performance Athletes in Water, Cycling and Combat Sports

Relevant properties of the somatotype as important indicators can be associated with the body composition characteristics as well as both metabolic and bio-mechanical efficiency of athletes in the sport concerned. The primary aim of this single cross-sectional study was to determine the somatotype profiles in association with body composition and nutritional profiles among Lithuanian elite athletes (n = 189) involved in water, cycling and combat sports. The body composition along with the somatotype profiles and the nutritional status of athletes were evaluated using a battery of multiple frequency (5, 50, 250, 550, and 1000 kHz) bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and a 3-day food record analysis. In terms of the prediction for athletes to be classified as endomorphs, mesomorphs or ectomorphs, the linear discriminant analysis was conducted to assess the grouping of samples. Both the multiple linear regression and multivariate logistic regression statistical analyses were performed to explore the associations between the independent and dependent variables. The central tendency values for the somatotype components of endomorphy, mesomorphy and ectomorphy in athletes playing water, cycling and combat sports were 4.3–4.9–3.4, 4.3–4.8–3.4 and 4.5–5.5–2.9, respectively. The central mesomorph somatotype with a trend towards endomorphy was dominant and varied according to a high muscle-to-fat ratio in elite athletes. Significant (p ≤ 0.001) positive associations between both endomorphy and mesomorphy values and higher body fat percentage as well as lower and upper limb muscle mass were identified. The lower levels of trunk muscle mass were related to athletes’ endomorphy and mesomorphy, too. Furthermore, in the athletes’ sample under analysis, high-level mesomorphs were prone to consume low-carbohydrate (adjusted odd ratio (AOR) 0.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.2; 0.9) and high-protein diets (AOR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1; 5.5). Contrastingly, the elite athletes with a higher expression of endomorphy were on high-carbohydrate (AOR 5.4, 95% CI 1.1; 8.3) and high-fat diets (AOR 4.6, 95% CI 1.5; 7.1) along with insufficient protein diet (AOR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1; 0.9). Finally, whilst nutrition goals as a mediator can play a significant role in undergoing the maintenance of balance between the optimal body composition for athletic performance and the development of an ecto-mesomorphic somatotype, the elite athletes with higher levels of endomorphy value should be aware of lowering the body fat percentage coupled with dietary fat reduction and higher protein intakes. The findings obtained from the study may serve as an antecedent for a more targeted management of the elite athletes’ training process. Somatotyping as an additional assessment method can be successfully deployed in choosing correct coaching techniques, contributing to talent recognition processes or identifying reference morphometric parameters in elite athletes competing in water, cycling and combat sports.

Comprehensive evaluation of Dragon's Blood in combination with borneol in ameliorating ischemic/reperfusion brain injury using RNA sequencing, metabolomics, and 16S rRNA sequencing.

Ischemia/reperfusion (IR) can induce deleterious responses such as apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress; however, there are currently no efficient therapeutics to treat IR brain injury. Dragon's blood (DB) plays a significant role in treating ischemic stroke in China. Borneol (B) is an upper ushering drug that guides drugs to the target organs, including the brain. Therefore, we hypothesized that the combination of DB and B (DB + B) would provide cooperative therapeutic benefits for IR brain injury. To confirm this, we first investigated the protective effect of DB + B in an IR brain injury rat model using the modified neurological severity score (mNSS), infarction size measure, HE staining, and laser speckle contrast imaging. Then, we comprehensively evaluated the mechanism of DB + B in ameliorating IR brain injury based on RNA sequencing, serum untargeted metabolomics, and 16S rRNA sequencing. We have confirmed that DB + B enhanced the efficacy of the ischemic stroke treatment compared to DB or B alone for the first time. Our study provisionally confirms that the mechanism by which DB + B prevents IR brain injury is related to the maintenance of intestinal microecological balance and regulation of metabolic dysfunction, thereby suppressing inflammation and regulating immunity. DB + B may effectively regulate intestinal flora including o_Pseudomonadales, s_Bacteroides_caecimuris, o_unidentified_Bacilli, f-Pseudomonadaceae, and g-Pseudomonas, mainly regulate serum metabolites including improve the protective benefit of IR brain injury lysoPCs and lysoPEs, thus inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB and IL-17 signing pathway to reduce inflammatory reactions. hat this mechanism is associated with the maintenance of intestinal flora balance and the regulation of metabolic dysfunction, thereby suppressing inflammation and regulating immunity. This provides scientific support for the clinical translation of DB + B in the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke and establishes a basis for further investigation of its therapeutic mechanism.