Alteration of the Intestinal Microbial Flora and the Serum IL-17 Level in Patients with Graves’ Disease Complicated with Vitamin D Deficiency

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Intestinal flora is associated with Graves’ disease (GD). This study explored the association of serum 25(OH)D with the diversity of the intestinal flora and serum IL-17 in GD patients. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Patients newly diagnosed with GD at 2 centers between 2018 and 2021 were consecutively included. According to their 25(OH)D levels, they were divided into the deficiency group, the insufficiency group, and the sufficiency group. Some patients with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency were randomly selected and were matched with healthy volunteers (normal control [NC]) in terms of sex, age, and case number. The diversity and differential species of the intestinal flora and serum IL-17 levels were compared. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Serum 25(OH)D negatively correlated with serum IL-17, the platelet/lymphocyte ratio, and TSH receptor antibody. The diversity of the intestinal flora decreased in the GD group, with noticeable differences in the composition of the intestinal flora when compared with the NC group. At the phylum level, the GD group exhibited a significantly lower abundance of Firmicutes but a higher abundance of Actinobacteria. At the genus level, the GD group exhibited higher relative abundances of Bifidobacterium, Collinsella, and Pediococcus but lower abundances of Roseburia and Dialister. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The changes in the vitamin D level and the composition of the intestinal flora may partially contribute to the development of GD.

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein N501Y mutation causes differential species transmissibility and antibody sensitivity: a molecular dynamics and alchemical free energy study

Multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants have widely spread around the globe since the end of 2020, all carrying the common N501Y mutation at the receptor binding motif of the viral-surface spike protein....

Differential species traits of Trichostrongylus tenuis (Nematoda, Trichostrongylidae)

Trichostrongylus tenuis Mehlin, 1846 is a helminth species that parasitizes in the gastrointestinal tract of birds and causes trichostrongylosis. Research on the differential features of the pathogen at various stages of development facilitates timely finding of the foci of infection and providing recommendations for prevention and control. In the present study, the differential species traits of male and female Trichostrongylus nematodes parasitizing in the domestic goose were examined. The nematodes were obtained in helminthological dissection of the intestine of birds kept at farms and private households in Poltava region, Ukraine. It was revealed that the morphological features of T. tenuis females that should be considered in species identification include the structural specifics of the reproductive system and the tail end. 22 metric parameters were suggested for species identification, including the female body measurements for different parts, specifics of vulva and anus location, sizes of the ovijector, sphincter, ejector and vulval area. Differences were found in the metric parameters of the lateral crests of the cuticle in female nematodes in relation to the position of crests on the parasite’s bodies. The cuticular crests were absent at 0.1 mm from the head and tail ends, and the length of crests was 9.3 mm in total. The longest and widest crests were observed in the middle of the body, the shortest were found in the anus area, and the narrowest crests were from the anterior part of esophagus to its middle. The distance between crests varied 0.2–3.0 μm, the longest at the transition of esophagus into the intestine and the shortest in area between the vulva and the anus. The metric parameters of T. tenuis eggs obtained from bird feces and in the nematode uterus differed significantly by 5 characters. The collected data on the morphological and metric parameters of females and eggs of T. tenuis can be used in species identification and understanding of the taxonomic position of that species.

Floristic characteristics of the black alder forests in Kostanay region

The species diversity and quantitative participation of the dominant species of black alder forests of the Kostanai region (Northern Torgai) are summarized in four plant associations. Associations: Thelypterio-Equiseto-Violosum-Alnetum; Athyrio-Alnetum; Urticosum-Alnetum и Matteuccio struthiopteri-Alnetum glutinosae. The distinguished associations or conassociations of black alder forests quite clearly differ in environmental conditions and in the presence of a group of differential species characterizing the stability of price ecosystems.

Nicosulfuron Absorption, Translocation, and Metabolism in Annual Bluegrass and Four Turfgrass Species

Nicosulfuron provides POST weed control in corn, pastures, and grassy roadsides, and has potential for use in fine turfgrass. The objective of this research was to evaluate tolerance, absorption, translocation, and metabolism of nicosulfuron in annual bluegrass and four turfgrass species. In greenhouse experiments, relative tolerance of grasses to nicosulfuron (35, 70, or 140 g ai ha−1) from high to low was bermudagrass = zoysiagrass > tall fescue > creeping bentgrass > annual bluegrass. In laboratory experiments, grasses had similar foliar and root absorption of14C-nicosulfuon. Annual bluegrass and creeping bentgrass averaged 80% greater radioactivity per unit dry mass in shoots than bermudagrass following root uptake of14C-nicosulfuron, but other species were similar to these grasses. At 72 h after treatment (HAT), annual bluegrass metabolized 36% of absorbed14C-nicosulfuron, which was less than bermudagrass, tall fescue, and zoysiagrass that metabolized 47 to 58%. Creeping bentgrass metabolism of nicosulfuron was similar to annual bluegrass. Tall fescue had similar levels of metabolism to bermudagrass and zoysiagrass, averaging 67%, at 168 HAT but produced fewer metabolites. Overall, turfgrass tolerance to nicosulfuron is associated with relative herbicide concentrations in shoots and differential species metabolism.

Differential Response of FourTrifoliumSpecies to Common Broadleaf Herbicides: Implications for Mixed Grass-Legume Swards

Clovers are commonly included as utility plants within mixed grass swards, such as pastures and roadside right-of-ways. As such, they provide supplemental nitrogen, quality forage, and insect habitat. Yet weed control within mixed swards is often hampered by the lack of selective herbicides that are tolerated by clovers. Differential tolerance of legumes to common row-crop and pasture herbicides has previously been reported, yet little information is available that is specific to clover species. Herbicide injury of clover is often inconsistent, hypothetically due to differential species tolerance. Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted with the objective of testing differential tolerance amongst four clover species. Our experiments suggest varying tolerances amongst clover species and common broadleaf herbicides. Only imazaquin control differed due to species; however, treatment by clover interactions were further demonstrated due to variable reductions in clover height. Imazaquin, 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, and triclopyr height reductions differed due to clover species. Differential clover response to herbicide treatment should be an important consideration when managing mixed grass–clover swards and should be accounted for in future research. On a more practical level, our experiments demonstrate a range of herbicides that effectively control clover species, including atrazine, dicamba, clopyralid, 2,4-D, triclopyr, metsulfuron, and trifloxysulfuron. However, results suggest that 2,4-DB, imazethapyr, and bentazon are candidate herbicides for weed control in scenarios in which clover is a desirable crop.