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Evolutionary Anthropology Sep 2016All living organisms need to consume nutrients to grow, survive, and reproduce, making the successful acquisition of food resources a powerful selective pressure.... (Review)
Review
All living organisms need to consume nutrients to grow, survive, and reproduce, making the successful acquisition of food resources a powerful selective pressure. However, acquiring food is only part of the challenge. While all animals spend much of their daily activity budget hunting, searching for, or otherwise procuring food, a large part of what is involved in overall nutrition occurs once the meal has been swallowed. Most nutritional components are too complex for immediate use and must be broken down into simpler compounds, which can then be absorbed by the body. This process, digestion, is catalyzed by enzymes that are either endogenous or produced by the host's microbial population. Research shows that the nutritional value of food is partially constrained by the digestive abilities of the microbial community present in the host's gut and that these microbes rapidly adapt to changes in diet and other environmental pressures. An accumulating body of evidence suggests that endogenously produced digestive enzymes also have been, and still are, common targets of natural selection, further cementing their crucial role in an organism's digestive system..
Topics: Animals; Digestion; Enzymes; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Humans; Primates
PubMed: 27753218
DOI: 10.1002/evan.21498 -
Aging Aug 2023The evolutionarily conserved circadian system allows organisms to synchronize internal processes with 24-h cycling environmental timing cues, ensuring optimal...
The evolutionarily conserved circadian system allows organisms to synchronize internal processes with 24-h cycling environmental timing cues, ensuring optimal adaptation. Like other organs, the pancreas function is under circadian control. Recent evidence suggests that aging by itself is associated with altered circadian homeostasis in different tissues which could affect the organ's resiliency to aging-related pathologies. Pancreas pathologies of either endocrine or exocrine components are age-related. Whether pancreas circadian transcriptome output is affected by age is still unknown. To address this, here we profiled the impact of age on the pancreatic transcriptome over a full circadian cycle and elucidated a circadian transcriptome reorganization of pancreas by aging. Our study highlights gain of rhythms in the extrinsic cellular pathways in the aged pancreas and extends a potential role to fibroblast-associated mechanisms.
Topics: Transcriptome; Pancreas; Bicycling; Fibroblasts
PubMed: 37647013
DOI: 10.18632/aging.204929 -
Archives of Medical Science : AMS Jan 2019IgG4-related disease is a set of symptoms resulting from a chronic, usually multiple organ inflammatory condition which affects various organs. It consists of...
IgG4-related disease is a set of symptoms resulting from a chronic, usually multiple organ inflammatory condition which affects various organs. It consists of lymphoplasmacytic infiltrations with attendant fibrosis and deep vein thrombosis. Frequently observed tissue lesions are accompanied by elevated IgG4 levels in serum. The etiopathogenesis of the lesions is of multifactor character and the clinical manifestation of the disease is highly diverse. The diagnostic process is based on the patient's medical history, clinical examination and additional tests, including a histopathological examination of the infected organ's tissues. Almost forty different locations of the disease have been reported, including disorders of the endocrine system. IgG4-related endocrinopathies are quite rare. However, it is likely that the diagnosis is under-reported due to lack of awareness of this clinical entity. Despite increasing interest in the subject, there are not enough reliable studies evaluating the link between IgG4-RD and endocrine disorders.
PubMed: 30697253
DOI: 10.5114/aoms.2017.70889 -
Medicine and Science in Sports and... Apr 1986In summary, we have shown that the design of the pulmonary system from the architectural capacities of the lung parenchyma and respiratory muscles to the remarkable,... (Review)
Review
In summary, we have shown that the design of the pulmonary system from the architectural capacities of the lung parenchyma and respiratory muscles to the remarkable, multi-level neural integration of breathing pattern and respiratory muscle recruitment is clearly intended for the exercising state. Furthermore, the system shows remarkable capability for true adaptation, both phylogenetically and even within only a few generations within a species, when preservation of the organism's ability to survive and function is at stake. At the same time there are limits to the system's homeostatic capabilities, and these appear in instances other than the "usual" ones, where the capabilities for gas transport and utilization beyond the lung (i.e., by the cardiovascular and musculo-skeletal systems) surpass those of the lung and chest wall, such as during exercise in certain pulmonary disease states or in alien environments or in the highly trained. Exercise-induced hypoxemia in the thoroughbred horse is a different type of dominance of the superior locomotor control system, because their extraordinary capability to produce and sustain a very high limb velocity dictates requirements for airway flow rates which may surpass the mechanical capabilities of the lung and perhaps even the chest wall. So this hypothesis does indeed suggest that the healthy pulmonary system may become a so-called "limiting" factor to oxygen transport and utilization and to CO2 transport and elimination, at least during short-term maximum exercise in the highly trained. On the one hand, the idea is especially appealing in a philosophical sense because of its conceptual tidiness and its confirmation of the premise that no organ system has limitless functional capacity; on the other hand, given the long list of our still untested speculations, we could use a bit more data.
Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Animals; Biomechanical Phenomena; Environment; Feedback; Homeostasis; Horses; Humans; Lung; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Muscles; Oxygen Consumption; Physical Education and Training; Physical Exertion; Pulmonary Gas Exchange; Respiration; Running
PubMed: 3517547
DOI: No ID Found -
The Science of the Total Environment Jan 2023Microplastics are persistent and complex contaminants that have recently been found in freshwater systems, raising concerns about their presence in aquatic organisms....
Microplastics are persistent and complex contaminants that have recently been found in freshwater systems, raising concerns about their presence in aquatic organisms. Plastics tend to be seen as an inert material; however, it is not well known if exposure to plastics for a prolonged time, in combination with organic chemicals, causes organism mortality. Ingestion of microplastics in combination with another pollutant may affect a host organism's fitness by altering the host microbiome. In this study, we investigated how microplastics interact with other pollutants in this multi-stress system, and whether they have a synergistic impact on the mortality of an aquatic organism and its microbiome. We used wild water boatmen Hemiptera (Corixidae) found at lake Erken located in east-central Sweden in a fully factorial two-way microcosm experiment designed with polystyrene microspheres and a commonly used detergent. The microplastic-detergent interaction is manifested as a significant increase in mortality compared to the other treatments at 48 h of exposure. The diversity of the microbial communities in the water was significantly affected by the combined treatment of microplastics and the detergent while the microbial communities in the host were affected by the treatments with microplastics and the detergent alone. Changes in relative abundance in Gammaproteobacteria (family Enterobacteriaceae), were observed in the perturbed treatments mostly associated with the presence of the detergent. This confirms that microplastics can interact with detergents having toxic effects on wild water boatmen. Furthermore, microplastics may impact wild organisms via changes in their microbial communities.
Topics: Microplastics; Plastics; Detergents; Environmental Monitoring; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Aquatic Organisms; Lakes; Microbiota; Water
PubMed: 36183774
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159106 -
European Journal of Anaesthesiology.... May 1995Pain and similar stressful behavioural states are characterized by organized neural responses of the somatomotor, somatosensory (analgesia), autonomic and neuroendocrine... (Review)
Review
Pain and similar stressful behavioural states are characterized by organized neural responses of the somatomotor, somatosensory (analgesia), autonomic and neuroendocrine systems. These defensive behaviours consist of confrontational defence, flight and quiescence. These integrated reactions of the sympathetic nervous system are well-orchestrated responses of the different sympathetic pathways to cardiovascular and other target organs which prepare the body to meet threatening challenges. The neural basis of the autonomic reactions is to be found in the target-organ specific organization of the sympathetic pathways in the periphery and neuraxis. The spinal reflex pathways are relatively specific for putative nociceptive responses of the sympathetic nervous systems. The medulla oblongata and hypothalamus contain the circuits for the specific homeostatic regulations in which the sympathetic nervous system is involved. The mesencephalon (lateral and ventrolateral periaqueductal grey) and hypothalamus contain the neuronal programmes for the defensive mechanisms which are switched on when the organism is in pain and under stress.
Topics: Central Nervous System; Humans; Pain; Stress, Physiological; Sympathetic Nervous System
PubMed: 7641645
DOI: No ID Found -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2019Circadian timekeeping allows appropriate temporal regulation of an organism's internal metabolism to anticipate and respond to recurrent daily changes in the... (Review)
Review
Circadian timekeeping allows appropriate temporal regulation of an organism's internal metabolism to anticipate and respond to recurrent daily changes in the environment. Evidence from animal genetic models and from humans under circadian misalignment (such as shift work or jet lag) shows that disruption of circadian rhythms contributes to the development of obesity and metabolic disease. Inappropriate timing of food intake and high-fat feeding also lead to disruptions of the temporal coordination of metabolism and physiology and subsequently promote its pathogenesis. This review illustrates the impact of genetically or environmentally induced molecular clock disruption (at the level of the brain and peripheral tissues) and the interplay between the circadian system and metabolic processes. Here, we discuss some mechanisms responsible for diet-induced circadian desynchrony and consider the impact of nutritional cues in inter-organ communication, with a particular focus on the communication between peripheral organs and brain. Finally, we discuss the relay of environmental information by signal-dependent transcription factors to adjust the timing of gene oscillations. Collectively, a better knowledge of the mechanisms by which the circadian clock function can be compromised will lead to novel preventive and therapeutic strategies for obesity and other metabolic disorders arising from circadian desynchrony.
Topics: Animals; Circadian Clocks; Circadian Rhythm Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Energy Metabolism; Humans; Metabolic Diseases
PubMed: 30935034
DOI: 10.3390/ijms20071597 -
Journal of Basic and Clinical... Jun 2018What is an organ and what is an organ system? According to the 'standard' hierarchical model of physiology, each living organism comprises of organ systems including...
What is an organ and what is an organ system? According to the 'standard' hierarchical model of physiology, each living organism comprises of organ systems including those that offer sensory and control functions (nervous system), energy accumulation (gastrointestinal system), internal dissipation (circulatory system) and mobility (musculoskeletal system). Each organ system in turn is comprised of individual organs. This taxonomy has conceptual flaws as not every organ has a single organ system function but may participate in a myriad of physiological functions. To answer this philosophical question, several principles are applied. At one level, the assessment of physiological function and organ system can be considered to have some relation to the broader issue of the species problem in the philosophy of biology. Additionally, however, there is a relationship to the more fundamental issue of the biochemistry of each organ that can be considered through the philosophy of chemistry. The philosophy of physiology can therefore be considered to occupy a position somewhere between these two strata of thought on the path of science reductionism. A distinctive philosophy of physiology and pathophysiology may ultimately offer a myriad of new pathways through which to better explore the metaphysical elements of medicine and science.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Models, Biological; Philosophy; Physiology; Systems Biology
PubMed: 29408799
DOI: 10.1515/jbcpp-2017-0143 -
Scientific Reports Mar 2020Extraocular photoreception, the ability to detect and respond to light outside of the eye, has not been previously described in deep-sea invertebrates. Here, we...
Extraocular photoreception, the ability to detect and respond to light outside of the eye, has not been previously described in deep-sea invertebrates. Here, we investigate photosensitivity in the bioluminescent light organs (photophores) of deep-sea shrimp, an autogenic system in which the organism possesses the substrates and enzymes to produce light. Through the integration of transcriptomics, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry we find evidence for the expression of opsins and phototransduction genes known to play a role in light detection in most animals. Subsequent shipboard light exposure experiments showed ultrastructural changes in the photophore similar to those seen in crustacean eyes, providing further evidence that photophores are light sensitive. In many deep-sea species, it has long been documented that photophores emit light to aid in counterillumination - a dynamic form of camouflage that requires adjusting the organ's light intensity to "hide" their silhouettes from predators below. However, it remains a mystery how animals fine-tune their photophore luminescence to match the intensity of downwelling light. Photophore photosensitivity allows us to reconsider the organ's role in counterillumination - not only in light emission but also light detection and regulation.
PubMed: 32161283
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61284-9 -
F1000Research 2016Infectious agents are not the only agressors, and the immune system is not the sole defender of the organism. In an enlarged perspective, the 'normative self model'...
Infectious agents are not the only agressors, and the immune system is not the sole defender of the organism. In an enlarged perspective, the 'normative self model' postulates that a 'natural defense system' protects man and other complex organisms against the environmental and internal hazards of life, including infections and cancers. It involves multiple error detection and correction mechanisms that confer robustness to the body at all levels of its organization. According to the model, the self relies on a set of physiological norms, and NONself (meaning : Non Obedient to the Norms of the self) is anything 'off-norms'. The natural defense system comprises a set of 'civil defenses' (to which all cells in organs and tissues contribute), and a 'professional army ', made of a smaller set of mobile cells. Mobile and non mobile cells differ in their tuning abilities. Tuning extends the recognition capabilities of NONself by the mobile cells, which increase their defensive function. To prevent them to drift, which would compromise self/NONself discrimination, the more plastic mobile cells need to periodically refer to the more stable non mobile cells to keep within physiological standards.
PubMed: 27303629
DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.8518.1