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Understanding the stabilizing protein interactions in protein gels is of high importance for food- and biotechnology. Protein interactions in protein gels can help to predict hardness, deformability and other gel parameters. Currently there are two types methods used. One is to use protein interaction blocking agents and the other is to dissolve the gel in different buffer systems, which cleave the interactions. The first method alters the gelling mechanism, which is why the second method is the preferred one. However, currently published methods are often only suitable for specific gel systems as for example weakly bound protein gels. In this paper, a method is introduced, which is suitable for highly denatured whey and plant protein. • Suitable for strongly cross-linked whey protein and plant protein gels • Stronger buffer system to ensure cleavage of all protein interactions • More reproducible and simplified crushing of the gel without the introduction of uncontrolled shear stress excessively affecting the analysis of chemical bonds

The α1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine (PE) and Angiotensin II (Ang II) are both potent vasoconstrictors at peripheral resistance arteries. PE has pure vasoconstrictive properties. Ang II, additionally, modulates central nervous blood pressure (BP) control via sympathetic baroreflex resetting. However, it is unknown whether Ang II vs. PE mediated vasoconstriction at equipressor dose uniformly or specifically modifies arterial stiffness. We conducted a three-arm randomized placebo-controlled cross-over trial in 30 healthy volunteers (15 female) investigating the effects of Ang II compared to PE at equal systolic pressor dose on pulse wave velocity (PWV), pulse wave reflection (augmentation index normalized to heart rate 75/min, AIx) and non-invasive hemodynamics by Mobil-O-Graph™ and circulating core markers of endothelial (dys-)function. PE but not Ang II-mediated hypertension induced a strong reflex-decrease in cardiac output. Increases in PWV, AIx, total peripheral resistance and pulse pressure, in contrast, were stronger during PE compared to Ang II at equal mean aortic BP. This was accompanied by minute changes in circulating markers of endothelial function. Moreover, we observed differential hemodynamic changes after stopping either vasoactive infusion. Ang II- and PE-mediated BP increase specifically modifies arterial stiffness and hemodynamics with aftereffects lasting beyond mere vasoconstriction. This appears attributable in part to different interactions with central nervous BP control including modified baroreflex function.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an alternative method for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases with a high recovery rate. Disadvantages are ethical concerns, high donor requirements and the low storability of stool samples. The cultivation of an in vitro microbiota in a continuous bioreactor was established as an alternative to FMT to overcome these problems. In this study, the influence of the system parameters and donor stool characteristics was investigated. Each continuous colonic fermentation system was inoculated with feces from three different donors until a stable state was established. The influence of the fermentation conditions on the system’s behavior regarding cell count, metabolic activity, short-chain fatty acid profile and microbiota composition as well as richness and diversity was assessed. Cultivation conditions were found to affect the microbial system: the number of cells and the production of short-chain fatty acids increased. The abundance of Actinobacteria and Firmicutes decreased, Bacteroidetes increased, while Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia remained largely unaffected. Diversity in the in vitro system decreased, but richness was unaffected. The cultivation of stool from different donors revealed that the performance of the created in vitro system was similar and comparable, but unique characteristics of the composition of the original stool remained.

Background: Studies attempting to distinguish suicide attempters from ideators have found that impulsivity is consistently associated with attempts across the spectrum of suicidal behavior from self-harm to lethal suicidal behavior. Impulsivity is readily assessed using complementary clinical and laboratory measures, making it a viable target for pharmacological strategies to prevent suicide risk. Lithium reduces suicidal behavior across diagnoses, and has been implicated in the reduction of impulsivity triggered by stress mediated phosphatidylinositol turnover. We used a placebo controlled cross-over design to study the effects of repeated lithium dosing on risk factors predisposing to suicidal behavior. Methods: 15 patients with a recent (past year) medically severe suicide attempt (MSSA) (37.5% male, 40.13 ± 13.66 years) received lithium carbonate and matching pill placebo separately in a randomized double-blind crossover design administered six weeks apart. To test the effect of lithium on measures of impulsivity and arousal, participants completed the Immediate Memory Task (IMT), Internal State Scale (ISS), and the Time Perception Task (TPT). We conducted separate analyses for each variable using repeated measures analysis of covariance. Results: Lithium dosing was associated with increased IMT response latency (p = .017, pη2 = 0.23), and decision bias (p = .048, pη2 = 0.21). Lithium did not significantly alter time perception or activation. Conclusions: Our results suggest that lithium may reduce risk in MSSA survivors by increasing the response latency and increasing conservative response bias during decision-making. Future studies should conduct long-term follow-ups with adjunct behavioral therapy with lithium on factors contributing to suicidal behavior.

Abstract. Background. An increase in life expectancy has led to an increased elderly population. In turn, this aging population is more likely to develop health conditions, such as pelvic floor disorders (PFDs). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of these disorders and the associated quality of life in institutionalized and noninstitutionalized elderly women. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 80 female participants older than 60 years, divided into 2 groups: institutionalized and noninstitutionalized participants. The Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory Short-Form and a sociodemographic questionnaire were used. A chi-squared test was used to assess the differences in prevalence between groups. Results. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the prevalence of PFDs or quality of life. In this study, the prevalence of PFDs was higher than that reported previously. In institutionalized women, a higher prevalence of PFDs and impaired quality of life were expected, although not observed. Conclusions. There was a higher prevalence of pelvic disorders and impaired quality of life due to these disorders in elderly women.

Abstract A 6‐year‐old female spayed Great Dane was evaluated for acute onset cluster seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) identified a mass in the olfactory bulbs with a large mucoid component caudal to the primary mass. The mass was removed via transfrontal craniotomy and histopathology revealed a tyrosine crystalline‐rich, fibrous meningioma with a high mitotic index. Repeat MRI at 6 months showed no detectable tumor regrowth. The dog is clinically normal with no seizures at the time of publication 10 months after surgery. This meningioma subtype is rare in humans. This unique meningioma occurred in a dog of younger age and uncommon breed for intracranial meningioma. Biological progression of this tumor subtype is unknown; however, growth rate might be slow despite the high mitotic index.

Abstract Background Genetic variation in regulatory sequences that alter transcription factor (TF) binding is a major cause of phenotypic diversity. Brassinosteroid is a growth hormone that has major effects on plant phenotypes. Genetic variation in brassinosteroid-responsive cis-elements likely contributes to trait variation. Pinpointing such regulatory variations and quantitative genomic analysis of the variation in TF-target binding, however, remains challenging. How variation in transcriptional targets of signaling pathways such as the brassinosteroid pathway contributes to phenotypic variation is an important question to be investigated with innovative approaches. Results Here, we use a hybrid allele-specific chromatin binding sequencing (HASCh-seq) approach and identify variations in target binding of the brassinosteroid-responsive TF ZmBZR1 in maize. HASCh-seq in the B73xMo17 F1s identifies thousands of target genes of ZmBZR1. Allele-specific ZmBZR1 binding (ASB) has been observed for 18.3% of target genes and is enriched in promoter and enhancer regions. About a quarter of the ASB sites correlate with sequence variation in BZR1-binding motifs and another quarter correlate with haplotype-specific DNA methylation, suggesting that both genetic and epigenetic variations contribute to the high level of variation in ZmBZR1 occupancy. Comparison with GWAS data shows linkage of hundreds of ASB loci to important yield and disease-related traits. Conclusion Our study provides a robust method for analyzing genome-wide variations of TF occupancy and identifies genetic and epigenetic variations of the brassinosteroid response transcription network in maize.

Abstract Background Many plant species exhibit genetic variation for coping with environmental stress. However, there are still limited approaches to effectively uncover the genomic region that regulates distinct responsive patterns of the gene across multiple varieties within the same species under abiotic stress. Results By analyzing the transcriptomes of more than 100 maize inbreds, we reveal many cis- and trans-acting eQTLs that influence the expression response to heat stress. The cis-acting eQTLs in response to heat stress are identified in genes with differential responses to heat stress between genotypes as well as genes that are only expressed under heat stress. The cis-acting variants for heat stress-responsive expression likely result from distinct promoter activities, and the differential heat responses of the alleles are confirmed for selected genes using transient expression assays. Global footprinting of transcription factor binding is performed in control and heat stress conditions to document regions with heat-enriched transcription factor binding occupancies. Conclusions Footprints enriched near proximal regions of characterized heat-responsive genes in a large association panel can be utilized for prioritizing functional genomic regions that regulate genotype-specific responses under heat stress.

Abstract The Heat Shock Factor (HSF) transcription factor family is a central and required component of plant heat stress responses and acquired thermotolerance. The HSF family has dramatically expanded in plant lineages, often including a repertoire of 20 or more genes. Here we assess and compare the composition, heat responsiveness, and chromatin profiles of the HSF families in maize and Setaria viridis (Setaria), two model C4 panicoid grasses. Both species encode a similar number of HSFs, and examples of both conserved and variable expression responses to a heat stress event were observed between the two species. Chromatin accessibility and genome‐wide DNA‐binding profiles were generated to assess the chromatin of HSF family members with distinct responses to heat stress. We observed significant variability for both chromatin accessibility and promoter occupancy within similarly regulated sets of HSFs between Setaria and maize, as well as between syntenic pairs of maize HSFs retained following its most recent genome duplication event. Additionally, we observed the widespread presence of TF binding at HSF promoters in control conditions, even at HSFs that are only expressed in response to heat stress. TF‐binding peaks were typically near putative HSF‐binding sites in HSFs upregulated in response to heat stress, but not in stable or not expressed HSFs. These observations collectively support a complex scenario of expansion and subfunctionalization within this transcription factor family and suggest that within‐family HSF transcriptional regulation is a conserved, defining feature of the family.

Enhancer elements can control spatial and temporal patterns of gene expression. Here the authors profile chromatin accessibility, histone modifications and gene expression during Arabidopsis flower development providing evidence for sets of distal enhancers acting in a highly stage-specific manner.

In June 2019, more than a hundred plant researchers met in Cologne, Germany, for the 6th European Workshop on Plant Chromatin (EWPC). This conference brought together a highly dynamic community of researchers with the common aim to understand how chromatin organization controls gene expression, development, and plant responses to the environment. New evidence showing how epigenetic states are set, perpetuated, and inherited were presented, and novel data related to the three-dimensional organization of chromatin within the nucleus were discussed. At the level of the nucleosome, its composition by different histone variants and their specialized histone deposition complexes were addressed as well as the mechanisms involved in histone post-translational modifications and their role in gene expression. The keynote lecture on plant DNA methylation by Julie Law (SALK Institute) and the tribute session to Lars Hennig, honoring the memory of one of the founders of the EWPC who contributed to promote the plant chromatin and epigenetic field in Europe, added a very special note to this gathering. In this perspective article we summarize some of the most outstanding data and advances on plant chromatin research presented at this workshop.

The present study investigated the effects of running at 0.8 or 1.2 km/h on inflammatory proteins (i.e., protein levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and NF-κB) and metabolic proteins (i.e., protein levels of SIRT-1 and PGC-1α, and AMPK phosphorylation) in quadriceps of rats. Male Wistar rats at 3 (young) and 18 months (middle-aged rats) of age were divided into nonexercised (NE) and exercised at 0.8 or 1.2 km/h. The rats were trained on treadmill, 50 min per day, 5 days per week, during 8 weeks. Forty-eight hours after the last training session, muscles were removed, homogenized, and analyzed using biochemical and western blot techniques. Our results showed that: (a) running at 0.8 km/h decreased the inflammatory proteins and increased the metabolic proteins compared with NE rats; (b) these responses were lower for the inflammatory proteins and higher for the metabolic proteins in young rats compared with middle-aged rats; (c) running at 1.2 km/h decreased the inflammatory proteins and increased the metabolic proteins compared with 0.8 km/h; (d) these responses were similar between young and middle-aged rats when trained at 1.2 km. In summary, the age-related increases in inflammatory proteins, and the age-related declines in metabolic proteins can be reversed and largely improved by treadmill training.