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The topic of ragweed pollen (RW) versus house dust mites (HDMs) has often been deliberated, but the increasing incidence of co-sensitization between them has been scarcely addressed. Utilizing Sprague Dawley rats, we explored the effects of co-sensitization with the combination of HDMs and RW pollen extracts in correlation with high-fructose diet (HFrD) by in vitro tracheal reactivity analysis in isolated organ bath and biological explorations. Our findings unveiled interrelated connections between allergic asthma, dyslipidemia, and HFrD-induced obesity, shedding light on their compounding role through inflammation. The increased CRP values and airway hyperresponsiveness to the methacholine challenge suggest a synergistic effect of obesity on amplifying the existing inflammation induced by asthma. One of the major outcomes is that the co-sensitization to HDMs and RW pollen led to the development of a severe allergic asthma phenotype in rats, especially in those with HFrD. Therefore, the co-sensitization to these allergens as well as the HFrD may play a crucial role in the modulation of systemic inflammation, obesity, and airway reactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of DNA methylation in mollusks is just beginning to be understood. This review synthesizes current knowledge on this potent molecular hallmark of epigenetic control in gastropods—the largest class of mollusks and ubiquitous inhabitants of diverse habitats. Their DNA methylation machinery shows a high degree of conservation in CG maintenance methylation mechanisms, driven mainly by DNMT1 homologues, and the presence of MBD2 and MBD2/3 proteins as DNA methylation readers. The mosaic-like DNA methylation landscape occurs mainly in a CG context and is primarily confined to gene bodies and housekeeping genes. DNA methylation emerges as a critical regulator of reproduction, development, and adaptation, with tissue-specific patterns being observed in gonadal structures. Its dynamics also serve as an important regulatory mechanism underlying learning and memory processes. DNA methylation can be affected by various environmental stimuli, including as pathogens and abiotic stresses, potentially impacting phenotypic variation and population diversity. Overall, the features of DNA methylation in gastropods are complex, being an essential part of their epigenome. However, comprehensive studies integrating developmental stages, tissues, and environmental conditions, functional annotation of methylated regions, and integrated genomic-epigenomic analyses are lacking. Addressing these knowledge gaps will advance our understanding of gastropod biology, ecology, and evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Farmacia is the property of Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: The Upper Cretaceous (Santonian-Campanian) sediments of the New Jersey coastal plain subsurface yielded rich planktonic foraminiferal assemblages at certain stratigraphic levels in three wells: Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg [...]

In this paper, the tools of nonlinear dynamic analysis are used to quantify the influence of an orthosis on the human gait stability of a sample of patients suffering of osteoarthritic knee (OAK). The Lyapunov exponents (LEs) are computed based on the experimental data series collected during walking on horizontal treadmill (TM) for the movements in sagittal plane and frontal plane for all six main joints (hips, knees and ankles) of both lower limbs, in two cases: without orthosis and after two months of knee rehabilitation by using orthosis mounted on OAK. The results are compared with the similar values of LEs computed for a sample of healthy subjects. The result show the influence of the orthosis on the knee stability, but on the other joints’ stability, is a significant one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Farmacia is the property of Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Farmacia is the property of Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A high resolution taxonomy and classification framework is developed for the representatives of the calcareous benthic foraminiferal family Bolivinoididae; this family consists of 24 species assigned to three genera. This new classification includes data pertaining of the test ultrastructure, ornamentation and porosity, which are obtained with the aid of careful and extensive study of the specimens under the scanning electron microscope. Two new taxa are described: Bolivinoides antiquum - n. sp. and Swiecickina - n. gen. A biostratigraphical framework consisting of eleven biozones based on bioevents given by species of the genera Bolivinoides and Swiecickina is developed for the middle Santonian-Maastrichtian stratigraphical interval; its resolution is more than double when compared to those of the previously developed biostratigraphical frameworks based on the representatives of this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]