Self-organized spatial targeting of contractile actomyosin rings for synthetic cell division.

A key challenge for bottom-up synthetic biology is engineering a minimal module for self-division of synthetic cells. Actin-based cytokinetic rings are considered a promising structure to produce the forces required for the controlled excision of cell-like compartments such as giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). Despite prior demonstrations of actin ring targeting to GUV membranes and myosin-induced constriction, large-scale vesicle deformation has been precluded due to the lacking spatial control of these contractile structures.

Microbial Contamination in Contact Lenses, Lens Care Solutions, and Accessories Among Asymptomatic Soft Contact Lens Users.

Objective This study aimed to evaluate microbial contamination of contact lenses (CL) and their accessories among asymptomatic lens users and identify behavioral risk factors that might exacerbate the said contamination. Methodology Ninety-five asymptomatic soft CL users were recruited. In total, 380 samples were collected from the inner surface of lenses, the base of lens cases, the tip of the multipurpose solution bottle, and the solution itself.

The Dynamics of Synthesis and Localization of Jumbo Phage RNA Polymerases inside Infected Cells.

A nucleus-like structure composed of phage-encoded proteins and containing replicating viral DNA is formed in cells infected by jumbo bacteriophage phiKZ. The PhiKZ genes are transcribed independently from host RNA polymerase (RNAP) by two RNAPs encoded by the phage. The virion RNAP (vRNAP) transcribes early viral genes and must be injected into the cell with phage DNA.

Caspase-3, Caspase-8 and XIAP Gene Expression in the Placenta: Exploring the Causes of Spontaneous Preterm Labour.

A better understanding of the pathogenesis of preterm birth (PTB) will allow us to lower the PTB rate, reducing perinatal morbidity and mortality. This article presents the hypothesis that premature placenta apoptosis could be a potential cause of PTB. We evaluated gene expression involved in apoptosis: caspase-3, caspase-8, and XIAP (X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis) in the placenta during pregnancy (n = 41), at the onset of preterm labour (n = 42), after preterm (n = 44) and term (n = 32) labour.

Matrix Metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 Occupy a New Role in Severe Preeclampsia.

Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE) is a life-threatening condition for the mother, the fetus, and the newborn. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) participate in the two primary stages of PE: remodeling of blood vessels at the stage of placental formation and the development of hypertension due to damage to the basement membrane of blood vessels. The object of the present study was to reveal the role of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the development of severe preeclampsia.

Maturation of Pseudo-Nucleus Compartment in Infected with Giant phiKZ Phage.

The giant phiKZ phage infection induces the appearance of a pseudo-nucleus inside the bacterial cytoplasm. Here, we used RT-PCR, fluorescent hybridization (FISH), electron tomography, and analytical electron microscopy to study the morphology of this unique nucleus-like shell and to demonstrate the distribution of phiKZ and bacterial DNA in infected cells. The maturation of the pseudo-nucleus was traced in short intervals for 40 min after infection and revealed the continuous spatial separation of the phage and host DNA.

Mixed-Method Study of Utilizing Portfolios to Document and Assess Co-Curricular Activities: Student and Advisor Perceptions.

Development of professional behaviors must occur in tandem with clinical skills to ensure graduates provide quality care. Portfolios have been widely utilized as a medium to document and reflect on experiences related to professional skills. Students were required to complete a series of co-curricular activities and document them via paper or electronic portfolios, which were shared with their advisors for feedback and review.

Polymorphism of the IL-1β, TNF, IL-1RA and IL-4 Cytokine Genes Significantly Increases the Risk of Preterm Birth.

Preterm birth is not only medical, but also a social problem. The global goal of medicine is prevention of preterm labor and identification of risk factors leading to preterm birth. The objective of our study was to find the association between polymorphic markers in the cytokine IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-1Ra, and IL-4 genes and development of preterm labor.

Genetic Aspects of Preeclampsia: The Role of Polymorphisms in the Genes of the Renin-Angiotensin System.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a severe complication that develops in 10% pregnant women. It is the leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The goal of this study was to reveal the frequency of polymorphisms in the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene (ACE I/D) and type 1 angiotensin II receptor gene (AGTR1 A1166C) in pregnant women with severe early- and late-onset PE.

Maternal Cardiac Function after Normal Delivery, Preeclampsia, and Eclampsia: A Prospective Study.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to assess maternal cardiac function in the postpartum period, after 2 and 6 months in the parturient with preeclampsia and eclampsia.

Materials And Methods: Prospective study: 90 postpartum women after preeclampsia and eclampsia and 55 patients after an uncomplicated pregnancy. The parameters of maternal hemodynamics were recorded on days 1, 3, 5, 9, and 14 of postpartum period, after 2 and 6 months.

Recent advances and future directions in the management of hepatitis C infections.

Current estimates indicate that the hepatitis C virus is the leading cause of death in the United States with infection rates steadily increasing. Successful treatment is made difficult by the presence of various host, virus, and treatment-related factors, warranting the development of new approaches to combat the silent epidemic. The addition of telaprevir and boceprevir to the pharmacotherapeutic arsenal drastically improved success rates in genotype 1 infected patients, but rapid development of resistance mechanisms, increases in adverse effects, and a low spectrum activity proved to be barriers to efficacious treatment.

[The neurological syndromes in Lyme disease in children].

Clinical characteristics of Lyme disease (LD) course in children have been studied. Altogether 86 patients were examined. Serodiagnosis was made in patients basing on indirect immunofluorescence and enzyme immunoassay with LD agent antigens.

[Brain bioenergetic parameters in rats with varying resistance to hypoxia].

Spontaneous electrical activity, adenyl nucleotides' and cytochromes' contents, activity of respiratory chain enzymes complex in brain slices, homogenate and isolated mitochondria of rats, preliminary divided into non-resistant (NR) and high resistant (HR) animals by their sensitivity to hypobaric hypoxia have been investigated. It has been shown that in HR animals brain slices high resistant to hypoxia neurons and in NR brain slices non-resistant neurons predominate. ATP content and energetic charge in the HR animals brain slice were maintained at more high level than in NR.

[The correlation of energy-consuming and energy-synthesizing reactions in rat hepatocytes in different O2-deficient states].

It is shown that rat liver cells have different sensitivity to oxygen deficiency. Hepatocytes of highly resistant animals have higher viability and maintain higher ATP levels during acute hypoxia. The data obtained enable us to suppose that liver cells of highly resistant rats are more resistant to oxygen deficiency than nonresistant ones.

[Effects of emotional-pain stress on induction of P-450 cytochrome in the rat liver].

Stress effect on cytochrome P-450 content in rat liver has been studied. There is evidence to the effect that stress factors of different origin cause the decline in cytochrome P-450 content both in the control group and in the conditions of induction. The data obtained enable us to suppose that stress causes intensification of cytochrome P-540 degradation process, the induction efficiency being steady.