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Journal of the Royal Society, Interface Mar 2018The female sex organ of the liverwort () has a characteristic parasol-like form highly suitable for collecting water droplets containing sperm for fertilization....
The female sex organ of the liverwort () has a characteristic parasol-like form highly suitable for collecting water droplets containing sperm for fertilization. Motivated by this observation and using three-dimensional printing techniques, we develop a parasol-like rigid object that can grab, transport and release water droplets of a maximum size of about 1 cm. By combining experiments and scaling theory, we quantify the object's fundamental wetting and fluid dynamical properties. We construct a stability phase diagram and suggest that it is largely insensitive to properties of liquids such as surface tension and viscosity. A simple scaling argument is developed to explain the phase boundary. Our study provides basic design rules of a simple pipette-like device with bubble-free capture and drop of liquids, which can be used in laboratory settings and has applications within soft robotics. Through systematic experimental investigations, we suggest the optimal design criteria of the liverwort-inspired object to achieve maximal pipetting performance. We also provide, based on our scalable model experiments, a biological implication for the mechanistic advantage of this structure in liverwort reproduction.
Topics: Biological Transport, Active; Biomimetic Materials; Hepatophyta; Ovule; Wettability
PubMed: 29540542
DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0868 -
Cell Oct 2017The evolution of land flora transformed the terrestrial environment. Land plants evolved from an ancestral charophycean alga from which they inherited developmental,...
The evolution of land flora transformed the terrestrial environment. Land plants evolved from an ancestral charophycean alga from which they inherited developmental, biochemical, and cell biological attributes. Additional biochemical and physiological adaptations to land, and a life cycle with an alternation between multicellular haploid and diploid generations that facilitated efficient dispersal of desiccation tolerant spores, evolved in the ancestral land plant. We analyzed the genome of the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, a member of a basal land plant lineage. Relative to charophycean algae, land plant genomes are characterized by genes encoding novel biochemical pathways, new phytohormone signaling pathways (notably auxin), expanded repertoires of signaling pathways, and increased diversity in some transcription factor families. Compared with other sequenced land plants, M. polymorpha exhibits low genetic redundancy in most regulatory pathways, with this portion of its genome resembling that predicted for the ancestral land plant. PAPERCLIP.
Topics: Adaptation, Biological; Biological Evolution; Embryophyta; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Genome, Plant; Marchantia; Molecular Sequence Annotation; Signal Transduction; Transcription, Genetic
PubMed: 28985561
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.09.030 -
American Journal of Translational... 2021Hepatic fibrosis is a chronic liver injury process, and its continuous development can lead to cirrhosis, hepatic failure and even hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).... (Review)
Review
Hepatic fibrosis is a chronic liver injury process, and its continuous development can lead to cirrhosis, hepatic failure and even hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Autophagy has attracted much attention because of its controversial role in the course of hepatic fibrosis. In this review, we introduce the mechanism related to noncoding RNAs and some of the signaling pathways that promote or inhibit fibrosis by affecting autophagy. Finally, we list some targets related to autophagy that enable hepatic fibrosis therapy and forecast its prospect in hepatic fibrosis. This review will provide new ideas in diagnosing and treating hepatic fibrosis, which will be helpful to reduce the incidence of cirrhosis and its complications.
PubMed: 34306323
DOI: No ID Found -
Current Biology : CB Mar 2016
Topics: Biological Evolution; Marchantia
PubMed: 26954434
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2015.12.013 -
Gut and Liver Jul 2016Hepatic encephalopathy is a spectrum of neurocognitive manifestations often seen in patients with liver injury or rarely in patients with portosystemic shunting without... (Review)
Review
Hepatic encephalopathy is a spectrum of neurocognitive manifestations often seen in patients with liver injury or rarely in patients with portosystemic shunting without liver injury. It can be divided into minimal (covert) hepatic encephalopathy and overt hepatic encephalopathy, depending on the severity. Patients with hepatic encephalopathy have compromised clinical outcomes, decreased quality of life, and increased healthcare utilization, often resulting in a heavy financial and personal burden on caregivers. The diagnosis remains largely clinical, with the exclusion of possible other causes for the altered mental status. Current treatment strategies include nonabsorbable disaccharides and antibiotics. This review will focus on the diagnosis, management and clinical impact of hepatic encephalopathy.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cost of Illness; Disaccharides; Forecasting; Hepatic Encephalopathy; Humans; Patient Acceptance of Health Care
PubMed: 27377741
DOI: 10.5009/gnl15419 -
Cureus Jan 2020This paper concisely reviews the benign hepatic tumors most commonly encountered by clinicians. It includes the epidemiology, pathology, and imaging characteristics of... (Review)
Review
This paper concisely reviews the benign hepatic tumors most commonly encountered by clinicians. It includes the epidemiology, pathology, and imaging characteristics of hepatic hemangiomas, focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH), and hepatic adenomas (HAs).
PubMed: 32140369
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.6813 -
Annals of Hepatology Jun 2011The term minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) refers to the subtle changes in cognitive function, electrophysiological parameters, cerebral... (Review)
Review
The term minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) refers to the subtle changes in cognitive function, electrophysiological parameters, cerebral neurochemical/neurotransmitter homeostasis, cerebral blood flow, metabolism, and fluid homeostasis that can be observed in patients with cirrhosis who have no clinical evidence of hepatic encephalopathy; the prevalence is as high as 84% in patients with hepatic cirrhosis. Physician does generally not perceive cirrhosis complications, and neuropsychological tests and another especial measurement like evoked potentials and image studies like positron emission tomography can only make diagnosis. Diagnosis of minimal hepatic encephalopathy may have prognostic and therapeutic implications in cirrhotic patients. The present review pretends to explore the clinic, therapeutic, diagnosis and prognostic aspects of this complication.
Topics: Cerebrovascular Circulation; Electrophysiological Phenomena; Hepatic Encephalopathy; Humans; Neuropsychological Tests; Prevalence; Prognosis; Severity of Illness Index
PubMed: 22228882
DOI: No ID Found -
The New Phytologist Jul 2019Methylation of DNA is an epigenetic mechanism for the control of gene expression. Alterations in the regulatory pathways involved in the establishment, perpetuation and... (Review)
Review
Methylation of DNA is an epigenetic mechanism for the control of gene expression. Alterations in the regulatory pathways involved in the establishment, perpetuation and removal of DNA methylation can lead to severe developmental alterations. Our understanding of the mechanistic aspects and relevance of DNA methylation comes from remarkable studies in well-established angiosperm plant models including maize and Arabidopsis. The study of plant models positioned at basal lineages opens exciting opportunities to expand our knowledge on the function and evolution of the components of DNA methylation. In this Tansley Insight, we summarize current progress in our understanding of the molecular basis and relevance of DNA methylation in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha.
Topics: DNA Methylation; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; Marchantia; Models, Biological; RNA, Plant
PubMed: 30920664
DOI: 10.1111/nph.15818 -
The New Phytologist Oct 2018Contents Summary 409 I. Introduction 409 II. RNA silencing machinery in Marchantia polymorpha 410 III. miRNA prediction by integrating omics approach 410 IV. miRNAs and... (Review)
Review
Contents Summary 409 I. Introduction 409 II. RNA silencing machinery in Marchantia polymorpha 410 III. miRNA prediction by integrating omics approach 410 IV. miRNAs and their targets in Marchantia polymorpha 410 V. Mpo-miR390-mediated MpTAS3 tasiRNA biogenesis and potential tasiARF target MpARF2 414 VI. Artificial miRNA and CRISPR-CAS9 edited MIR gene in Marchantia polymorpha 414 VII. Conclusions 415 Acknowledgements 415 References 415 SUMMARY: The liverwort Marchantia polymorpha occupies an important phylogenetic position for comparative studies of land plant gene regulation. Multiple gene regulatory pathways mediated by small RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), trans-acting short-interfering RNAs, and heterochromatic siRNAs often associated with RNA-dependent DNA methylation, have been characterized in flowering plants. Genes for essential components for all of these small RNA-mediated gene silencing pathways are found in M. polymorpha as well as the moss Phsycomitrella patens, indicating that these pathways existed in the ancestral land plant. However, only seven miRNAs are conserved across land plants, with both ancestral and novel targets identified in M. polymorpha. There is little or no evidence that any of these conserved miRNAs are present in algae. As with other plants investigated, most miRNAs in M. polypmorpha exhibit lineage-specific evolution. Application of artificial miRNA and CRISPR-Cas9 technologies in genetic studies of M. polymorpha provide avenues to further investigate miRNA biology.
Topics: Base Sequence; CRISPR-Cas Systems; Genomics; Marchantia; MicroRNAs; RNA Interference; RNA, Small Interfering
PubMed: 29959894
DOI: 10.1111/nph.15294 -
Revista Chilena de Infectologia :... Jun 2020The azoles are drugs that inhibit the 14α-sterol-demethylase enzyme preventing the binding of ergosterol, altering the functionality and structure of the fungal cell... (Review)
Review
The azoles are drugs that inhibit the 14α-sterol-demethylase enzyme preventing the binding of ergosterol, altering the functionality and structure of the fungal cell wall. Especially the group of triazoles: fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole and isavuconazole, are a pharmacological alternative for the treatment of the invasive fungal disease, caused by Aspergillus spp, Candida spp, Cryptococcus spp, by emerging pathogens for example, the Mucoral and finally of endemic mycosis as those caused by Histoplasma spp. and Coccidioides spp. The adverse effects of the triazoles are less frequent compared to those caused by amphotericin B, the main ones being hepatics, gastrointestinals and cardiovasculars, such as the prolongation of the QT interval. The pharmacological interactions are common and occur with molecules that use the substrates of the CYP3A4 cytochrome, for example: antiretroviral, anti-tuberculous and immunomodulators. The history, pharmacological characteristics and clinical trials are reviewed.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Azoles; Drug Resistance, Fungal; Fluconazole; Itraconazole; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Voriconazole
PubMed: 32853312
DOI: 10.4067/s0716-10182020000300219