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1.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 121(10): e2310841121, 2024 Mar 05.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38412134

RESUMO

Connectomics research has made it more feasible to explore how neural circuits can generate multiple outputs. Female sexual drive provides a good model for understanding reversible, long-term functional changes in motivational circuits. After emerging, female flies avoid male courtship, but they become sexually receptive over 2 d. Mating causes females to reject further mating for several days. Here, we report that pC1 neurons, which process male courtship and regulate copulation behavior, exhibit increased CREB (cAMP response element binding protein) activity during sexual maturation and decreased CREB activity after mating. This increased CREB activity requires the neuropeptide Dh44 (Diuretic hormone 44) and its receptors. A subset of the pC1 neurons secretes Dh44, which stimulates CREB activity and increases expression of the TRP channel Pyrexia (Pyx) in more pC1 neurons. This, in turn, increases pC1 excitability and sexual drive. Mating suppresses pyx expression and pC1 excitability. Dh44 is orthologous to the conserved corticotrophin-releasing hormone family, suggesting similar roles in other species.


Assuntos
Proteínas de Drosophila , Neuropeptídeos , Animais , Masculino , Feminino , Drosophila melanogaster/metabolismo , Proteínas de Drosophila/metabolismo , Neuropeptídeos/metabolismo , Copulação/fisiologia , Corte , Hormônios , Comportamento Sexual Animal/fisiologia
2.
Plant Cell Environ ; 47(4): 1255-1268, 2024 Apr.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38178610

RESUMO

Rising temperatures and increases in drought negatively impact the efficiency and sustainability of both agricultural and forest ecosystems. Although hydraulic limitations on photosynthesis have been extensively studied, a solid understanding of the links between whole plant hydraulics and photosynthetic processes at the cellular level under changing environmental conditions is still missing, hampering our predictive power for plant mortality. Here, we examined plant hydraulic traits and CO2 assimilation rate under progressive water limitation by implementing Photosystem II (PSII) dynamics with a whole plant process model (TREES). The photosynthetic responses to plant water status were parameterized based on measurements of chlorophyll a fluorescence, gas exchange and water potential for Brassica rapa (R500) grown in a greenhouse under fully watered to lethal drought conditions. The updated model significantly improved predictions of photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and leaf water potential. TREES with PSII knowledge predicted a larger hydraulic safety margin and a decrease in percent loss of conductivity. TREES predicted a slower decrease in leaf water potential, which agreed with measurements. Our results highlight the pressing need for incorporating PSII drought photochemistry into current process models to capture cross-scale plant water dynamics from cell to whole plant level.


Assuntos
Clorofila , Água , Água/fisiologia , Complexo de Proteína do Fotossistema II/metabolismo , Secas , Clorofila A , Fotoquímica , Ecossistema , Fotossíntese/fisiologia , Folhas de Planta/metabolismo
3.
Glob Chang Biol ; 28(4): 1458-1476, 2022 02.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34783402

RESUMO

Elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2 ) typically increases aboveground growth in both growth chamber and free-air carbon enrichment (FACE) studies. Here we report on the impacts of eCO2 and nitrogen amendment on coarse root biomass and net primary productivity (NPP) at the Duke FACE study, where half of the eight plots in a 30-year-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda, L.) plantation, including competing naturally regenerated broadleaved species, were subjected to eCO2 (ambient, aCO2 plus 200 ppm) for 15-17 years, combined with annual nitrogen amendments (11.2 g N m-2 ) for 6 years. Allometric equations were developed following harvest to estimate coarse root (>2 mm diameter) biomass. Pine root biomass under eCO2 increased 32%, 1.80 kg m-2 above the 5.66 kg m-2 observed in aCO2 , largely accumulating in the top 30 cm of soil. In contrast, eCO2 increased broadleaved root biomass more than twofold (aCO2 : 0.81, eCO2 : 2.07 kg m-2 ), primarily accumulating in the 30-60 cm soil depth. Combined, pine and broadleaved root biomass increased 3.08 kg m-2 over aCO2 of 6.46 kg m-2 , a 48% increase. Elevated CO2 did not increase pine root:shoot ratio (average 0.24) but increased the ratio from 0.57 to 1.12 in broadleaved species. Averaged over the study (1997-2010), eCO2 increased pine, broadleaved and total coarse root NPP by 49%, 373% and 86% respectively. Nitrogen amendment had smaller effects on any component, singly or interacting with eCO2 . A sustained increase in root NPP under eCO2 over the study period indicates that soil nutrients were sufficient to maintain root growth response to eCO2 . These responses must be considered in computing coarse root carbon sequestration of the extensive southern pine and similar forests, and in modelling the responses of coarse root biomass of pine-broadleaved forests to CO2 concentration over a range of soil N availability.


Assuntos
Nitrogênio , Pinus taeda , Biomassa , Dióxido de Carbono , Solo
4.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 115(7): 1535-1540, 2018 02 13.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29386394

RESUMO

Fluid clearance from the respiratory system during developmental transitions is critically important for achieving optimal gas exchange in animals. During insect development from embryo to adult, airway clearance occurs episodically each time the molt is completed by performance of the ecdysis sequence, coordinated by a peptide-signaling cascade initiated by ecdysis-triggering hormone (ETH). We find that the neuropeptide Kinin (also known as Drosokinin or Leukokinin) is required for normal respiratory fluid clearance or "tracheal air-filling" in Drosophila larvae. Disruption of Kinin signaling leads to defective air-filling during all larval stages. Such defects are observed upon ablation or electrical silencing of Kinin neurons, as well as RNA silencing of the Kinin gene or the ETH receptor in Kinin neurons, indicating that ETH targets Kinin neurons to promote tracheal air-filling. A Kinin receptor mutant fly line (Lkrf02594 ) also exhibits tracheal air-filling defects in all larval stages. Targeted Kinin receptor silencing in tracheal epithelial cells using breathless or pickpocket (ppk) drivers compromises tracheal air-filling. On the other hand, promotion of Kinin signaling in vivo through peptide injection or Kinin neuron activation through Drosophila TrpA1 (dTrpA1) expression induces premature tracheal collapse and air-filling. Moreover, direct exposure of tracheal epithelial cells in vitro to Kinin leads to calcium mobilization in tracheal epithelial cells. Our findings strongly implicate the neuropeptide Kinin as an important regulator of airway clearance via intracellular calcium mobilization in tracheal epithelial cells of Drosophila.


Assuntos
Obstrução das Vias Respiratórias/tratamento farmacológico , Drosophila melanogaster/fisiologia , Hormônios de Inseto/farmacologia , Cininas/farmacologia , Neurônios/fisiologia , Traqueia/fisiologia , Animais , Cálcio/metabolismo , Proteínas de Drosophila/genética , Proteínas de Drosophila/metabolismo , Drosophila melanogaster/efeitos dos fármacos , Canais Iônicos , Larva/efeitos dos fármacos , Larva/fisiologia , Neurônios/citologia , Neurônios/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptores de Peptídeos/genética , Receptores de Peptídeos/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais , Canal de Cátion TRPA1/genética , Canal de Cátion TRPA1/metabolismo , Traqueia/citologia , Traqueia/efeitos dos fármacos
5.
Glob Chang Biol ; 26(4): 2519-2533, 2020 Apr.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31869491

RESUMO

Increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2 ) concentrations are expected to lead to increases in the rate of tree biomass accumulation, at least temporarily. On the one hand, trees may simply grow faster under higher CO2 concentrations, preserving the allometric relations that prevailed under lower CO2 concentrations. Alternatively, the allometric relations themselves may change. In this study, the effects of elevated CO2 (eCO2 ) on tree biomass and allometric relations were jointly assessed. Over 100 trees, grown at Duke Forest, NC, USA, were harvested from eight plots. Half of the plots had been subjected to CO2 enrichment from 1996 to 2010. Several subplots had also been subjected to nitrogen fertilization from 2005 to 2010. Allometric equations were developed to predict tree height, stem volume, and aboveground biomass components for loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), the dominant tree species, and broad-leaved species. Using the same diameter-based allometric equations for biomass, it was estimated that plots with eCO2 contained 21% more aboveground biomass, consistent with previous studies. However, eCO2 significantly affected allometry, and these changes had an additional effect on biomass. In particular, P. taeda trees at a given diameter were observed to be taller under eCO2 than under ambient CO2 due to changes in both the allometric scaling exponent and intercept. Accounting for allometric change increased the treatment effect of eCO2 on aboveground biomass from a 21% to a 27% increase. No allometric changes for the nondominant broad-leaved species were identified, nor were allometric changes associated with nitrogen fertilization. For P. taeda, it is concluded that eCO2 affects allometries, and that knowledge of allometry changes is necessary to accurately compute biomass under eCO2 . Further observations are needed to determine whether this assessment holds for other taxa.

6.
PLoS Biol ; 15(3): e2000532, 2017 03.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28350856

RESUMO

Here, we show that the enzymatic cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) inhibits feeding in Drosophila. BH4 biosynthesis requires the sequential action of the conserved enzymes Punch, Purple, and Sepiapterin Reductase (Sptr). Although we observe increased feeding upon loss of Punch and Purple in the adult fat body, loss of Sptr must occur in the brain. We found Sptr expression is required in four adult neurons that express neuropeptide F (NPF), the fly homologue of the vertebrate appetite regulator neuropeptide Y (NPY). As expected, feeding flies BH4 rescues the loss of Punch and Purple in the fat body and the loss of Sptr in NPF neurons. Mechanistically, we found BH4 deficiency reduces NPF staining, likely by promoting its release, while excess BH4 increases NPF accumulation without altering its expression. We thus show that, because of its physically distributed biosynthesis, BH4 acts as a fat-derived signal that induces satiety by inhibiting the activity of the NPF neurons.


Assuntos
Biopterinas/análogos & derivados , Proteínas de Drosophila/fisiologia , Drosophila melanogaster/metabolismo , Oxirredutases do Álcool/genética , Oxirredutases do Álcool/fisiologia , Animais , Biopterinas/genética , Biopterinas/metabolismo , Biopterinas/fisiologia , Tamanho Corporal , Proteínas de Drosophila/genética , Proteínas de Drosophila/metabolismo , Drosophila melanogaster/genética , Drosophila melanogaster/fisiologia , Corpo Adiposo/metabolismo , Comportamento Alimentar , Técnicas de Silenciamento de Genes , Testes Genéticos , MicroRNAs/fisiologia , Modelos Biológicos , Neuropeptídeos/metabolismo
7.
Arch Insect Biochem Physiol ; 103(1): e21620, 2020 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31625196

RESUMO

Olfactory sensing and its modulation are important for the insects in recognizing diverse odors from the environment and in making correct decisions to survive. Identifying new genes involved in olfactory modulation and unveiling their mechanisms may lead us to understand decision making processes in the central nervous system. Here, we report a novel olfactory function of the cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channel CG42260 in modulating ab3A olfactory sensory neurons, which specifically respond to food-derived odors in fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. We found that two independent CG42260 mutants show reduced responses in the ab3A neurons. Unlike mammalian CNGs, CG42260 is not expressed in the odorant sensory neurons but broadly in the central nervous system including neuropeptide-producing cells. By using molecular genetic tools, we identified CG42260 expression in one pair of neuropeptide F (NPF) positive L1-l cells known to modulate food odor responsiveness. Knockdown of CG42260 in the NPF neurons reduced production of NPF in Ll-1 cells, which in turn, led to reduction of neuronal responses of the ab3A neurons. Our findings show the novel biological function of CG42260 in modulating olfactory responses to food odor through NPF.


Assuntos
Canais de Cátion Regulados por Nucleotídeos Cíclicos/metabolismo , Drosophila melanogaster/fisiologia , Neuropeptídeos/metabolismo , Neurônios Receptores Olfatórios/metabolismo , Animais , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Canais de Cátion Regulados por Nucleotídeos Cíclicos/genética , Drosophila melanogaster/genética , Drosophila melanogaster/metabolismo , Fenômenos Eletrofisiológicos , Mutagênese Insercional , Neuropeptídeos/genética , Odorantes , Olfato/fisiologia
8.
Gen Comp Endocrinol ; 278: 79-88, 2019 07 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30543770

RESUMO

Ecdysis triggering hormone receptors (ETHR) regulate the behavioral sequence necessary for cuticle shedding. Recent reports have documented functions for ETHR signaling in adult Drosophila melanogaster. In this study, we report that ETHR silencing in local interneurons of the antennal lobes and fruitless neurons leads to sharply increased rates of male-male courtship. RNAseq analysis of ETHR knockdown flies reveals differential expression of genes involved in axon guidance, courtship behavior and chemosensory functions. Our findings indicate an important role for ETHR in regulation of Drosophila courtship behavior through chemosensory processing in the antennal lobe.


Assuntos
Antenas de Artrópodes/inervação , Corte , Drosophila melanogaster/fisiologia , Interneurônios/fisiologia , Receptores de Peptídeos/metabolismo , Comportamento Sexual Animal/fisiologia , Animais , Sistema Nervoso Central/metabolismo , Regulação para Baixo/genética , Feminino , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Ontologia Genética , Masculino , Interferência de RNA , Receptores de Peptídeos/genética
9.
Glob Chang Biol ; 24(10): 4841-4856, 2018 10.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29949220

RESUMO

Changes in evapotranspiration (ET) from terrestrial ecosystems affect their water yield (WY), with considerable ecological and economic consequences. Increases in surface runoff observed over the past century have been attributed to increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations resulting in reduced ET by terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we evaluate the water balance of a Pinus taeda (L.) forest with a broadleaf component that was exposed to atmospheric [CO2 ] enrichment (ECO2 ; +200 ppm) for over 17 years and fertilization for 6 years, monitored with hundreds of environmental and sap flux sensors on a half-hourly basis. These measurements were synthesized using a one-dimensional Richard's equation model to evaluate treatment differences in transpiration (T), evaporation (E), ET, and WY. We found that ECO2 did not create significant differences in stand T, ET, or WY under either native or enhanced soil fertility, despite a 20% and 13% increase in leaf area index, respectively. While T, ET, and WY responded to fertilization, this response was weak (<3% of mean annual precipitation). Likewise, while E responded to ECO2 in the first 7 years of the study, this effect was of negligible magnitude (<1% mean annual precipitation). Given the global range of conifers similar to P. taeda, our results imply that recent observations of increased global streamflow cannot be attributed to decreases in ET across all ecosystems, demonstrating a great need for model-data synthesis activities to incorporate our current understanding of terrestrial vegetation in global water cycle models.


Assuntos
Dióxido de Carbono/metabolismo , Florestas , Pinus taeda/metabolismo , Transpiração Vegetal , Solo/química , Água/metabolismo , Ecossistema , Folhas de Planta/fisiologia
10.
Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj ; 1862(6): 1452-1461, 2018 06.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29550429

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Adaptive mutations that alter protein functionality are enriched within intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDRs), thus conformational flexibility correlates with evolvability. Pre-structured motifs (PreSMos) with transient propensity for secondary structure conformation are believed to be important for IDR function. The glucocorticoid receptor tau1core transcriptional activation domain (GR tau1core) domain contains three α-helical PreSMos in physiological buffer conditions. METHODS: Sixty change-of-function mutants affecting the intrinsically disordered 58-residue GR tau1core were studied using disorder prediction and molecular dynamics simulations. RESULTS: Change-of-function mutations were partitioned into seven clusters based on their effect on IDR predictions and gene activation activity. Some mutations selected from clusters characterized by mutations altering the IDR prediction score, altered the apparent stability of the α-helical form of one of the PreSMos in molecular dynamics simulations, suggesting PreSMo stabilization or destabilization as strategies for functional adaptation. Indeed all tested gain-of-function mutations affecting this PreSMo were associated with increased stability of the α-helical PreSMo conformation, suggesting that PreSMo stabilization may be the main mechanism by which adaptive mutations can increase the activity of this IDR type. Some mutations did not appear to affect PreSMo stability. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in PreSMo stability account for the effects of a subset of change-of-function mutants affecting the GR tau1core IDR. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: Long IDRs occur in about 50% of human proteins. They are poorly characterized despite much recent attention. Our results suggest the importance of a subtle balance between PreSMo stability and IDR activity, which may provide a novel target for future pharmaceutical intervention.


Assuntos
Proteínas Intrinsicamente Desordenadas/química , Simulação de Dinâmica Molecular , Mutação , Conformação Proteica em alfa-Hélice , Receptores de Glucocorticoides/química , Humanos , Proteínas Intrinsicamente Desordenadas/genética , Receptores de Glucocorticoides/genética , Ativação Transcricional
11.
J Nanosci Nanotechnol ; 18(2): 1141-1144, 2018 Feb 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29448547

RESUMO

Recently various nanomaterials have been prepared using the microwave irradiation technology because of its advantages over conventional thermal decomposition methods such as the precise control of reaction temperature, lower energy consumption, and target-oriented uniform heating. In this study, water-soluble Cu-In-S/ZnS core/shell quantum dots (QDs) with average size in the range 3.5-3.7 nm were successfully synthesized in aqueous phase by microwave irradiation. L-glutathione and trisodium citrate dihydrate were used as a stabilizer between indium and copper ions. A strong photoluminescence (PL) emission peak was observed from the QDs prepared in weak acidic conditions. With longer reaction times and higher In/Cu ratios, we observed redshift in the PL spectra.

12.
PLoS Genet ; 11(9): e1005513, 2015 Sep.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26401953

RESUMO

The ecdysis behavioral sequence in insects is a classic fixed action pattern (FAP) initiated by hormonal signaling. Ecdysis triggering hormones (ETHs) release the FAP through direct actions on the CNS. Here we present evidence implicating two groups of central ETH receptor (ETHR) neurons in scheduling the first two steps of the FAP: kinin (aka drosokinin, leucokinin) neurons regulate pre-ecdysis behavior and CAMB neurons (CCAP, AstCC, MIP, and Bursicon) initiate the switch to ecdysis behavior. Ablation of kinin neurons or altering levels of ETH receptor (ETHR) expression in these neurons modifies timing and intensity of pre-ecdysis behavior. Cell ablation or ETHR knockdown in CAMB neurons delays the switch to ecdysis, whereas overexpression of ETHR or expression of pertussis toxin in these neurons accelerates timing of the switch. Calcium dynamics in kinin neurons are temporally aligned with pre-ecdysis behavior, whereas activity of CAMB neurons coincides with the switch from pre-ecdysis to ecdysis behavior. Activation of CCAP or CAMB neurons through temperature-sensitive TRPM8 gating is sufficient to trigger ecdysis behavior. Our findings demonstrate that kinin and CAMB neurons are direct targets of ETH and play critical roles in scheduling successive behavioral steps in the ecdysis FAP. Moreover, temporal organization of the FAP is likely a function of ETH receptor density in target neurons.


Assuntos
Drosophila/genética , Muda , Peptídeos/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais , Animais , Cálcio/metabolismo , Drosophila/metabolismo , Drosophila/fisiologia , Hormônios de Inseto/metabolismo , Cininas/metabolismo , Neurônios/metabolismo , Neurônios/fisiologia
13.
Int J Mol Sci ; 19(11)2018 Nov 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30445805

RESUMO

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are unorthodox proteins that do not form three-dimensional structures under non-denaturing conditions, but perform important biological functions. In addition, IDPs are associated with many critical diseases including cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and viral diseases. Due to the generic name of "unstructured" proteins used for IDPs in the early days, the notion that IDPs would be completely unstructured down to the level of secondary structures has prevailed for a long time. During the last two decades, ample evidence has been accumulated showing that IDPs in their target-free state are pre-populated with transient secondary structures critical for target binding. Nevertheless, such a message did not seem to have reached with sufficient clarity to the IDP or protein science community largely because similar but different expressions were used to denote the fundamentally same phenomenon of presence of such transient secondary structures, which is not surprising for a quickly evolving field. Here, we summarize the critical roles that these transient secondary structures play for diverse functions of IDPs by describing how various expressions referring to transient secondary structures have been used in different contexts.


Assuntos
Proteínas Intrinsicamente Desordenadas/química , Motivos de Aminoácidos , Animais , Humanos , Espectroscopia de Ressonância Magnética , Estrutura Secundária de Proteína
14.
Glob Chang Biol ; 23(9): 3501-3512, 2017 09.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28380283

RESUMO

We evaluated the effect on soil CO2 efflux (FCO2 ) of sudden changes in photosynthetic rates by altering CO2 concentration in plots subjected to +200 ppmv for 15 years. Five-day intervals of exposure to elevated CO2 (eCO2 ) ranging 1.0-1.8 times ambient did not affect FCO2 . FCO2 did not decrease until 4 months after termination of the long-term eCO2 treatment, longer than the 10 days observed for decrease of FCO2 after experimental blocking of C flow to belowground, but shorter than the ~13 months it took for increase of FCO2 following the initiation of eCO2 . The reduction of FCO2 upon termination of enrichment (~35%) cannot be explained by the reduction of leaf area (~15%) and associated carbohydrate production and allocation, suggesting a disproportionate contraction of the belowground ecosystem components; this was consistent with the reductions in base respiration and FCO2 -temperature sensitivity. These asymmetric responses pose a tractable challenge to process-based models attempting to isolate the effect of individual processes on FCO2 .


Assuntos
Dióxido de Carbono , Ecossistema , Solo/química , Fotossíntese , Folhas de Planta
15.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl ; 56(5): 1278-1282, 2017 01 24.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28000315

RESUMO

p53 is an important tumor-suppressor protein deactivation of which by mdm2 results in cancers. A SUMO-specific protease 4 (SUSP4) was shown to rescue p53 from mdm2-mediated deactivation, but the mechanism is unknown. The discovery by NMR spectroscopy of a "p53 rescue motif" in SUSP4 that disrupts p53-mdm2 binding is presented. This 29-residue motif is pre-populated with two transient helices connected by a hydrophobic linker. The helix at the C-terminus binds to the well-known p53-binding pocket in mdm2 whereas the N-terminal helix serves as an affinity enhancer. The hydrophobic linker binds to a previously unidentified hydrophobic crevice in mdm2. Overall, SUSP4 appears to use two synergizing modules, the p53 rescue motif described here and a globular-structured SUMO-binding catalytic domain, to stabilize p53. A p53 rescue motif peptide exhibits an anti-tumor activity in cancer cell lines expressing wild-type p53. A pre-structures motif in the intrinsically disordered proteins is thus important for target recognition.


Assuntos
Cisteína Endopeptidases/metabolismo , Proteína Supressora de Tumor p53/metabolismo , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Sítios de Ligação , Domínio Catalítico , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Cisteína Endopeptidases/química , Humanos , Simulação de Dinâmica Molecular , Mutagênese , Peptídeos/farmacologia , Ligação Proteica , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-mdm2/química , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-mdm2/metabolismo , Proteína Supressora de Tumor p53/química , Proteína Supressora de Tumor p53/genética
16.
Glob Chang Biol ; 22(2): 944-56, 2016 Feb.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26463669

RESUMO

Responses of forest ecosystems to increased atmospheric CO2 concentration have been studied in few free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) experiments during last two decades. Most studies focused principally on the overstory trees with little attention given to understory vegetation. Despite its small contribution to total productivity of an ecosystem, understory vegetation plays an important role in predicting successional dynamics and future plant community composition. Thus, the response of understory vegetation in Pinus taeda plantation at the Duke Forest FACE site after 15-17 years of exposure to elevated CO2 , 6-13 of which with nitrogen (N) amendment, was examined. Aboveground biomass and density of the understory decreased across all treatments with increasing overstory leaf area index (LAI). However, the CO2 and N treatments had no effect on aboveground biomass, tree density, community composition, and the fraction of shade-tolerant species. The increases of overstory LAI (~28%) under elevated CO2 resulted in a reduction of light available to the understory (~18%) sufficient to nullify the expected growth-enhancing effect of elevated CO2 on understory vegetation.


Assuntos
Dióxido de Carbono/farmacologia , Florestas , Luz , Magnoliopsida/efeitos dos fármacos , Magnoliopsida/efeitos da radiação , Pinus/efeitos dos fármacos , Biomassa , Fertilizantes , Magnoliopsida/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Nitrogênio/farmacologia , Pinus/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Árvores/efeitos dos fármacos , Árvores/crescimento & desenvolvimento
17.
J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg ; 50(1): 41-48, 2024 Feb 29.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38419520

RESUMO

Objectives: Botulinum toxin type A (BTX), a powerful neurotoxin, can be an effective treatment choice for diverse muscular disorders and can reduce abnormal muscle activities. Abnormal movements of the mandible can be caused by involuntary and uncontrolled contractions of the lateral pterygoid muscle (LP) in various pathological situations. Previous reports have shown that BTX can reduce abnormal contractions of the LP. However, needle placement into the LP for BTX injection requires skill, experience, and sufficient anatomical knowledge. To place the needle precisely into the LP, ultrasonography (USG) can be used as an effective needle-guidance modality. USG is a non-invasive imaging modality able to create real-time images without any potential risks, including radiation exposure. Patients and. Methods: The patients who had been performed USG-guided BTX injection into the LP using an intraoral approach were included in this study with a literature review and case presentations. Using the USG, four patients received BTX injections to treat recurrent temporomandibular dislocation and oromandibular dystonia resulting from involuntary LP activity. Result: Involuntary movements of the mandible were improved successfully in all patients, and showed satisfactory results without significant complication. Conclusion: The intraoral approach could prevent potential complications during needle placement. USG-guided BTX injection is an effective, convenient, and safe method that provides real-time imaging without unnecessary pain to the patient.

18.
J Neurosurg Spine ; 40(2): 132-142, 2024 Feb 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38000072

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: Lumbar degenerative kyphosis (LDK), a flexible deformity, is a common form of sagittal imbalance in Asian countries. Assessing a patient's spine prior to surgery by using positional radiographs is becoming more crucial in determining surgical planning to achieve favorable clinical and radiographic outcomes, especially in patients with flexible deformities. This study aims to identify radiographic characteristics of supine pelvic tilt (sPT) and its relation to mechanical failure (MF) following LDK correction. METHODS: A single-center, single-surgeon retrospective analysis was performed in patients who underwent LDK correction with sacropelvic fixation between January 2014 and May 2019. Patients were grouped into pelvic match and mismatch groups according to the difference between postoperative pelvic tilt (PT) and sPT. Demographic, surgical, and radiographic parameters were compared. Chronological change of PT was assessed by comparing preoperative, supine, immediate postoperative, and final PT. RESULTS: Baseline demographics and sagittal alignments were similar between PT match (n = 25) and mismatch (n = 42) groups (p > 0.05). There was a significant difference in the rate of MF between PT match and mismatch groups (4% vs 31%, p = 0.021). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that after including control variables, PT mismatch was independently associated with the likelihood of MF development (OR 33.42, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: sPT reflects postoperative PT changes; therefore, supine imaging may represent a tool that could be used for preoperative decision-making in patients with LDK or possibly those with flexible adult spinal deformity. PT mismatch > 10° or < 0° is a significant risk factor for MF following correction of LDK. Measurement of sPT would aid surgeons in optimal preoperative planning and in minimizing catastrophic MF following deformity correction surgery.


Assuntos
Cifose , Escoliose , Adulto , Humanos , Estudos Retrospectivos , Cifose/diagnóstico por imagem , Cifose/cirurgia , Coluna Vertebral/cirurgia , Pelve/diagnóstico por imagem , Pelve/cirurgia , Vértebras Lombares/diagnóstico por imagem , Vértebras Lombares/cirurgia
19.
J Orthop Case Rep ; 14(3): 187-193, 2024 Mar.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38560312

RESUMO

Introduction: Extraforaminal stenosis in L5-S1, or far-out syndrome (FOS), is defined as L5 nerve compression by the transverse process (TP) of the L5 and the ala of the sacrum and disc bulging with/without osteophytes and/or the thickened lumbosacral and extraforaminal ligament. This study aims to describe the unilateral biportal endoscopic decompression technique of the extraforaminal stenosis at L5-S1 or far out syndrome and evaluate its clinical results with a literature review. Case Report: A 44-year-old male presented with severe right sharp shooting pain in the buttock, thigh, leg, foot, and/or toes with numbness in the foot and toes (Visual Analog Scale [VAS] 8/10) for six months with an Oswestry disability index (ODI) score of 70%. Her pain aggravated when bending forward and performing daily routine activities. He also complained of exaggeration of pain in daily regular activities. On physical examination, power in the right lower limbs was 5/5 as per the Medical Research Council (MRC) grading, and deep tendon reflexes were normal. Pre-operative X-ray and CT scan showed no instability or calcified disc osteophyte, and magnetic resonance imaging showed extraforaminal stenosis due to disc herniation at L5-S1 in Figure 1. We performed UBE-L5-S1extraforaminal discectomy surgery to resolve his symptoms. The operative time was 68 min; blood loss was 30 mL. After surgery, the patient was followed up at one week, six weeks, three months, six months, 12 months, and two years. The pain and tingling sensation in the legs improved at the 1-week follow-up, with a VAS score of 0/10 and an ODI score of 10% at the 2-year follow-up. Patient satisfaction was surveyed using Macnab's criteria at the final follow-up visit of 2 years and was found to be excellent. Post-operative imaging showed a good extraforaminal decompression at L5-S. Conclusion: Unilateral biportal endoscopy technique has brought a paradigm shift in the treatment of spinal pathologies and has served as another treatment option for the past two decades. The UBE decompression technique for extraforaminal stenosis at L5-S1 has the advantages of minimally invasive spine surgery; it is a safe and effective treatment option for treating extraforaminal stenosis at L5-S1.

20.
J Orthop Case Rep ; 14(1): 165-172, 2024 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38292085

RESUMO

Introduction: High-grade spondylolisthesis is defined as cases with more than 50% displacement and spondylolisthesis with Meyerding grade III and higher. The surgical management of high-grade spondylolisthesis is highly controversial. Many surgical methods have been reported such as posterior in situ fusion, instrumented posterior fusion with or without reduction, combined anterior and posterior procedures, spondylectomy with reduction of L4 to the sacrum (for spondyloptosis), and posterior interbody fusion with trans-sacral fixation. The literature has recently mentioned minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for high-grade spondylolisthesis. This study aimed to review the recent literature that describes the surgical outcomes associated with various surgical techniques used for high-grade spondylolisthesis. Materials and Methods: Recent articles were searched on search engines such as PubMed and Google Scholar using keywords such as "high-grade spondylolisthesis," "surgical techniques," and "complications." Discussion: The surgical management of high-grade spondylolisthesis is an area of significant controversy. The literature is replete with regards to the need for reduction, decompression, levels of fusion, the nature of instrumentation, surgical approaches including open, minimally invasive, and "mini-open" procedures, and various techniques for reducing the slip and fusion strategy. The three basic options of high-grade spondylolisthesis include in-situ fusion, partial reduction and fusion, and complete reduction. Conclusion: Various techniques have been described for high-grade spondylolisthesis. Spine deformity study group classification gives guidelines about balanced and unbalanced pelvis and advises reduction and fusion in case of unbalanced pelvis for correction of biomechanical and global sagittal alignment. Each of the surgical techniques has its advantages and disadvantages. However, individual authors' experience, skill levels, and anatomic reduction with fusion techniques have yielded encouraging results.

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