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Here we determined the impact of salt shock and salt stress on the level of DNA methylation in selected CpG islands localized in promoters or first exons of sixteen salt-responsive genes in beets. Two subspecies differing in salt tolerance were subjected for analysis, a moderately salt-tolerant sugar beet Beta vulgaris ssp . vulgaris cv. Huzar and a halophytic beet, Beta vulgaris ssp . maritima . The CpG island methylation status was determined. All target sequences were hyper- or hypomethylated under salt shock and/or salt stress in one or both beet subspecies. It was revealed that the genomic regions analyzed were highly methylated in both, the salt treated plants and untreated controls. Methylation of the target sequences changed in a salt-dependent manner, being affected by either one or both treatments. Under both shock and stress, the hypomethylation was a predominant response in sugar beet. In Beta vulgaris ssp . maritima , the hypermethylation occurred with higher frequency than hypomethylation, especially under salt stress and in the promoter-located CpG sites. Conversely, the hypomethylation of the promoter-located CpG sites predominated in sugar beet plants subjected to salt stress. This findings suggest that DNA methylation may be involved in salt-tolerance and transcriptomic response to salinity in beets.

Purpose. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of IL-6 and sTREM-1 in the course of SIRS and sepsis in children with reference to routinely used CRP and PCT. Methods. A prospective study included 180 patients at the ages from 2 months to 18 years hospitalized due to fever from November 2015 to January 2017. Forty-nine children without fever hospitalized due to noninfectious causes formed the control group. IL-6 and sTREM-1 serum concentrations were assessed with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Results. The mean serum concentrations of all the analyzed biomarkers were statistically significantly higher in the study group compared to the control group. Mean IL-6, sTREM-1, and PCT serum concentrations were statistically significantly higher in the group of patients with SIRS/sepsis compared to the group of feverish patients without diagnosed SIRS (N-SIRS). Based on the ROC curve analysis, it was shown that of all the biomarkers tested, only two—IL-6 and procalcitonin—had potential usefulness in the diagnosis of SIRS/sepsis in children with fever. Conclusion. Elevated levels of IL-6 and PCT are important risk factors for the development of SIRS/sepsis in children with fever. It seems that elevated IL-6 baseline serum level may predict a more severe course of febrile illness in children, because based on the ROC curve analysis, it was found that IL-6 is a statistically significant prognostic marker of prolonged fever≥3 days and prolonged hospitalization>10 days. The assessment of the usefulness of sTREM-1 in the diagnosis of SIRS/sepsis in feverish children requires further research.

Background Yellow lupine ( Lupinus luteus L.) is a high-protein crop of considerable economic and ecological significance. It has the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in symbiosis with Rhizobium , enriching marginal soils with this essential nutrient and reducing the need for artificial fertilizers. Additionally, lupine produces seeds with a high protein content, making it valuable for animal feed production. However, drought negatively affects lupine development, its mutualistic relationship with bacteria, and overall yield. To understand how lupine responds to this stress, global transcriptome sequencing was conducted, along with in-depth biochemical, chromatography, and microscopy analyses of roots subjected to drought. The results presented here contribute to strategies aimed at mitigating the effects of water deficit on lupine growth and development. Results Based on RNA-seq, drought-specific genes were identified and annotated to biological pathways involved in phytohormone biosynthesis/signaling, lipid metabolism, and redox homeostasis. Our findings indicate that drought-induced disruption of redox balance characterized by the upregulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging enzymes, coincided with the accumulation of lipid-metabolizing enzymes, such as phospholipase D (PLD) and lipoxygenase (LOX). This disruption also led to modifications in lipid homeostasis, including increased levels of triacylglycerols (TAG) and free fatty acids (FFA), along with a decrease in polar lipid content. Additionally, the stress response involved alterations in the transcriptional regulation of the linolenic acid metabolism network, resulting in changes in the composition of fatty acids containing 18 carbons. Conclusion The first comprehensive global transcriptomic profiles of lupine roots, combined with the identification of key stress-responsive molecules, represent a significant advancement in understanding lupine’s responses to abiotic stress. The increased expression of the Δ12DESATURASE gene and enhanced PLD activity lead to higher level of linoleic acid (18:2), which is subsequently oxidized by LOX, resulting in membrane damage and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation. Oxidative stress elevates the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT), while the conversion of FFAs into TAGs provides protection against ROS. This research offers valuable molecular and biochemical candidates with significant potential to enhance drought tolerance . It enables innovative strategies in lupine breeding and crop improvement to address critical agricultural challenges.

Objectives: This study aimed to endoscopically assess nasal patency in terms of adenoid obstruction and its mucous coverage, as well as nasal obstruction caused by the inferior nasal turbinate in children with vocal fold nodules. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted involving 54 children admitted to an ENT clinic due to hoarseness caused by vocal fold nodules from 2022 to 2024. The study analyzed medical history, the results of performed flexible nasofiberoscopy and tympanometry. Results: Children with vocal fold nodules snored and slept with open mouths less frequently than the control group of other patients admitted to the ENT outpatient clinic without voice disorders (p = 0.003 and 0.004, respectively). Pathological mucous coverage of the adenoid was observed more often (p = 0.02). The mean adenoid size in the A/C ratio was 52.1% compared to 63.4% in the control group (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Children with vocal fold nodules typically have smaller adenoids, fewer incidents of snoring and open-mouth breathing, but more frequent pathological nasal mucus. It was not possible to prove that the incorrect breathing path through the mouth, causing reduced humidity of the inhaled air, affects the formation of vocal fold nodules.

Objectives: To demonstrate the effectiveness of endoscopic assessment of the pharyngeal tonsil in defining the size of the adenoid hypertrophy in endoscopic examination that would be equivalent to intraoperative assessment as a large adenoid, and to determine the lowest necessary frequency of tests to assess the variability of its size. Methods: The study is based on an analysis of two groups of children diagnosed and treated in a children’s ENT outpatient clinic and ENT department. In the first group, adenoid size was assessed based on flexible endoscopy, and then with a consequent adenoid surgery with assessment of the intraoperative size of the adenoid, we compared the size of the adenoid. The second part of the study included a group of 81 children. We analyzed performed flexible nasopharyngoscopy examinations (FNE) of each child, and compared the change of adenoid size in a minimum of two subsequent examinations over a period of 1 year or more. Results: The sensitivity of flexible endoscopic examination in the assessment of the pharyngeal tonsil was determined at 97.3%, and specificity at 72.7%. The ROC curve shows the value of adenoid-to-choana (A/C) ratio as 75% or more in the preoperative FNE, indicating that the tonsil during surgery is assessed as large. Among the children, 26.3% had a change in adenoid size of more than 15% in the A/C ratio in 1 year of observation, and 45% of the children had A/C ratio changed above 15% in a period of 3 years of observation. Conclusions: FNE examination is highly effective in assessing the size of the pharyngeal tonsil. We proposed a schema for frequencies of FNE examinations and treatment dependent on A/C ratio and worsening of ailments.

Lipid membranes, as primary places of the perception of environmental stimuli, are a source of various oxygenated polyunsaturated fatty acids—oxylipins—functioning as modulators of many signal transduction pathways, e.g., phytohormonal. Among exogenous factors acting on plant cells, special attention is given to drought, especially in highly sensitive crop species, such as yellow lupine. Here, we used this species to analyze the contribution of lipid-related enzymes and lipid-derived plant hormones in drought-evoked events taking place in a specialized group of cells—the flower abscission zone (AZ)—which is responsible for organ detachment from the plant body. We revealed that water deficits in the soil causes lipid peroxidation in these cells and the upregulation of phospholipase D, lipoxygenase, and, concomitantly, jasmonic acid (JA) strongly accumulates in AZ tissue. Furthermore, we followed key steps in JA conjugation and signaling under stressful conditions by monitoring the level and tissue localization of enzyme providing JA derivatives (JASMONATE RESISTANT1) and the JA receptor (CORONATINE INSENSITIVE1). Collectively, drought-triggered AZ activation during the process of flower abscission is closely associated with the lipid modifications, leading to the formation of JA, its conjugation, and induction of signaling pathways.

This study evaluated the long-term (up to 4 years) efficacy and safety of entecavir ETV treatment and analysed the significance of baseline and on-treatment factors in long-term ETV outcomes in adolescents with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We determined the cumulative virological and serological outcomes of 44 adolescents with CHB receiving ETV for up to 4 years. To investigate the dynamics of HBV DNA, ALT activity and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion over time and their associations with the considered factors, generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used. The cumulative rates of undetectable HBV DNA (<20 IU/ml) and HBeAg seroconversion after 4 years were 89.7% and 55.4%, respectively. In the study group, we showed that having undetectable HBV DNA at the 6.sup.th or 12.sup.th month of therapy predicted the achievement of a sustained response rate (SRR, defined as the loss of HBV DNA, loss of HBeAg and ALT normalization) at year 3 of ETV therapy (P = 0.048, OR = 5.83; P = 0.012; OR = 14.57, respectively). The GEE analysis indicated that of the different factors, the duration of ETV therapy had a strong impact on the achievement of virological suppression, HBeAg seroconversion and SRR in adolescents. Each month after the initiation of therapy, the odds of loss of HBV DNA increased by approximately 5% (OR = 1.05, P<0.0001), on average. Additionally, the GEE analysis revealed that adolescents with an age at infection of [greater than or equal to]10 years had 3 times higher odds of achieving undetectable HBV DNA than patients with a younger infection age (OR = 3.67, P = 0.028). None of the ETV-treated patients reported significant adverse effects. ETV is an effective and safe treatment option for adolescents with CHB. Undetectable HBV DNA in the 6.sup.th and/or 12.sup.th month of ETV treatment and older age at infection could predict maintained virological suppression.

Global gene expression in liver transcriptome varies among cattle breeds. The present investigation was aimed to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), metabolic gene networks and metabolic pathways in bovine liver transcriptome of young bulls. In this study, we comparatively analyzed the bovine liver transcriptome of dairy (Polish Holstein Friesian (HF); n = 6), beef (Hereford; n = 6), and dual purpose (Polish-Red; n = 6) cattle breeds. This study identified 895, 338, and 571 significant (p < 0.01) differentially expressed (DE) gene-transcripts represented as 745, 265, and 498 hepatic DE genes through the Polish-Red versus Hereford, Polish-HF versus Hereford, and Polish-HF versus Polish-Red breeds comparisons, respectively. By combining all breeds comparisons, 75 hepatic DE genes (p < 0.01) were identified as commonly shared among all the three breed comparisons; 70, 160, and 38 hepatic DE genes were commonly shared between the following comparisons: (i) Polish-Red versus Hereford and Polish-HF versus Hereford; (ii) Polish-Red versus Hereford and Polish-HF versus Polish-Red; and (iii) Polish-HF versus Hereford and Polish-HF versus Polish-Red, respectively. A total of 440, 82, and 225 hepatic DE genes were uniquely observed for the Polish-Red versus Hereford, Polish-HF versus Hereford, and Polish-Red versus Polish-HF comparisons, respectively. Gene ontology (GO) analysis identified top-ranked enriched GO terms (p < 0.01) including 17, 16, and 31 functional groups and 151, 61, and 140 gene functions that were DE in all three breed liver transcriptome comparisons. Gene network analysis identified several potential metabolic pathways involved in glutamine family amino-acid, triglyceride synthesis, gluconeogenesis, p38MAPK cascade regulation, cholesterol biosynthesis (Polish-Red versus Hereford); IGF-receptor signaling, catecholamine transport, lipoprotein lipase, tyrosine kinase binding receptor (Polish-HF versus Hereford), and PGF-receptor binding, (Polish-HF versus Polish-Red). Validation results showed that the relative expression values were consistent to those obtained by RNA-seq, and significantly correlated between the quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) and RNA-seq (Pearson’s r  > 0.90). Our results provide new insights on bovine liver gene expressions among dairy versus dual versus beef breeds by identifying the large numbers of DEGs markers submitted to NCBI gene expression omnibus (GEO) accession number GSE114233, which can serve as useful genetic tools to develop the gene assays for trait-associated studies as well as, to effectively implement in genomics selection (GS) cattle breeding programs in Poland.

Purpose This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the combined maximal medical treatment for adenoid hypertrophy in preschool children. Methods Sixty-four children underwent one-year combined therapy with intranasal mometasone furoate, oral desloratadine, nasal saline irrigation, and bacteriotherapy. Additionally, decongestion drops were applied during scheduled breaks. Results Of the 64 treated children, 72% showed clinical improvement in adenoid symptoms while 28% did not improve and underwent surgery. These groups differed significantly in terms of the overall reduction in ailments after treatment ( p  < 0.001), infection rate ( p  < 0.001), catarrh severity ( p  < 0.001) and nasal patency ( p  < 0.001). Endoscopic examination confirmed that responders experienced, on average, a decrease of 8.4% in the adenoid/choana ratio and an improvement in mucosal coverage of the adenoid. These effects were not observed in the group of children whose parents opted for surgery after nine months of conservative treatment. Conclusions The proposed new schema of long-term maximal medical treatment with the use of combined intermittent treatment of intranasal mometasone furoate and decongestion drops, oral desloratadine, nasal saline irrigation, and bacteriotherapy can be attempted in patients with adenoid hypertrophy symptoms, and responders may avoid the need for surgery. The applied treatment breaks resulted in a low number of therapeutic side effects.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare adenoid size in preschool-age siblings using flexible nasopharyngoscopy examination (FNE) when they reach the same age. The occurrence of adenoid symptoms in these patients was also analyzed. This study was conducted to analyze the adenoid size in siblings when they reach the same age and substantiate a correlation between adenoid hypertrophy (AH) and adenoid symptoms. Methods: We analyzed and reported on the symptoms, ENT examination results, and FNE of 49 pairs of siblings who were examined at the same age. Results: There was a strong association in adenoid size between siblings when they are at a similar age (r = 0.673, p < 0.001). Second-born children whose older sibling had IIIo AH (A/C ratio > 65%) had a risk of IIIo AH 26 times greater than patients whose older sibling did not have IIIo AH (OR = 26.30, 95% CI = 2.82–245.54). Over 90% of snoring children whose siblings had confirmed IIIo AH would develop IIIo AH by the time they reach the same age. Second-born children in whom snoring occurs and whose older siblings have a IIIo AH have about a 46 times higher risk of IIIo AH compared to patients who did not meet these two conditions (p < 0.001, OR = 46.67, 95% CI = 8.37–260.30). Conclusions: A significant familial correlation between adenoid size in siblings when they reach the same age was shown. If the older sibling has a confirmed overgrown adenoid (IIIo AH) and their younger sibling presents adenoid symptoms, particularly snoring, it is highly probable that they will also have an overgrown adenoid.