Variability and heritability of technological characteristics of Amaranthus leaves and seeds

This study aimed to determine the variability properties of four major types of Amaranthus species in protein and amino acids content in leaves and flowers. Obtained results by ion exchange chromatography in our study have shown high values for the content of essential amino acids lysine and methionine. In the leaf, the lysine content ranged from 3.9 (A. caudatus) to 7.0 (A. cruentus; A. moleros), and in the flowers from 4.2 (A. caudatus) to 6.7 (A. molleros). The methionine content ranged from 3.1 (A. caudatus) to 7.4 (A. mantegazzianus) in the leaf and in the flower from 2.9 (A. caudatus) to 6.7 (A. mantegazzianus). Besides lysine and methionine, significant values of other essential amino acids were recorded, respectively. Significant concentrations of total proteins were recorded in all examined genotypes. The heritability of the studied characters as protein and mineral content of seeds and leaves, and oil contents of seed were significantly high. The maximum values of the protein content of seeds were 16.55% (A. cruentus), in leaves 20.10% (A. caudatus), and the minerals in seeds 2.73% (A. moleros), and leaves 18.76% (A. mantegazzianus). The oil content of seeds was 6.16% (A. moleros). The oil content of the seed’s proportion of genetic variance to total phenotypic variance was 72%, and it has a significant impact on ecological factors. Tested divergent Amaranthus genotypes may serve as parents for further crossing. Amaranth seeds is gluten-free and is important in the diet of celiac patients and contains amino acids, especially lysine, which acts against the herpes virus. Amaranth from amaranth leaves biologically active substance that prevents heart muscle damage during ischemic processes. Amaranth seed oil has hypolipemic, anti-atherosclerotic, hypotensive and antioxidant activity

Lipoprotein(a) Is the Best Single Marker in Assessing Unstable Angina Pectoris

This study evaluated whether statin therapy changed a diagnostic validity of lipid and inflammatory markers in ischemic heart disease (IHD) patients. Levels of lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, inflammatory markers, and atherogenic indexes were determined in 49 apparently healthy men and women, 82 patients having stable angina pectoris (SAP), 80 patients with unstable angina (USAP), and 106 patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated or not treated with statins. Diagnostic accuracy of markers was determined by ROC curve analysis. Significantly lower apoA-I in all statin-treated groups and significantly higher apoB in statin-treated STEMI group compared to non-statin-treated groups were observed. CRP showed the best ROC characteristics in the assessment of STEMI patients. Lp(a) is better in the evaluation of SAP and USAP patients, considering that Lp(a) showed the highest area under the curve (AUC). Regarding atherogenic indexes, the highest AUC in SAP group was obtained for TG/apoB and in USAP and STEMI patients for TG/HDL-c. Statins lowered total cholesterol, LDL-c, and TG but fail to normalize apoA-I in patients with IHD

Variability and heritability of technological characteristics of Amaranthus leaves and seeds

This study aimed to determine the variability properties of four major types of Amaranthus species in protein and amino acids content in leaves and flowers. Obtained results by ion exchange chromatography in our study have shown high values for the content of essential amino acids lysine and methionine. In the leaf, the lysine content ranged from 3.9 (A. caudatus) to 7.0 (A. cruentus; A. moleros), and in the flowers from 4.2 (A. caudatus) to 6.7 (A. molleros). The methionine content ranged from 3.1 (A. caudatus) to 7.4 (A. mantegazzianus) in the leaf and in the flower from 2.9 (A. caudatus) to 6.7 (A. mantegazzianus). Besides lysine and methionine, significant values of other essential amino acids were recorded, respectively. Significant concentrations of total proteins were recorded in all examined genotypes. The heritability of the studied characters as protein and mineral content of seeds and leaves, and oil contents of seed were significantly high. The maximum values of the protein content of seeds were 16.55% (A. cruentus), in leaves 20.10% (A. caudatus), and the minerals in seeds 2.73% (A. moleros), and leaves 18.76% (A. mantegazzianus). The oil content of seeds was 6.16% (A. moleros). The oil content of the seed’s proportion of genetic variance to total phenotypic variance was 72%, and it has a significant impact on ecological factors. Tested divergent Amaranthus genotypes may serve as parents for further crossing. Amaranth seeds is gluten-free and is important in the diet of celiac patients and contains amino acids, especially lysine, which acts against the herpes virus. Amaranth from amaranth leaves biologically active substance that prevents heart muscle damage during ischemic processes. Amaranth seed oil has hypolipemic, anti-atherosclerotic, hypotensive and antioxidant activity

EFFECTS OF INHALATED GLUCOCORTICOSTEROIDS TREATMENT ON CLINICAL AND EOSINOPHILIC INFLAMMATORY PARAMETERS IN PATIENTS WITH BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

Inhaled glucocorticosteroids are the most efficient anti-inflamatory drugs used in asthma treatment that can bring the improvement of clinical symptoms as well as lung function. Eosinophils (Eo) are the key efector cells in asthmatic inflammation, and determination of their number and concentration of mediators which can bring about eosinophilic activation- interleukin-5 (IL-5) would contribute to the evaluation of anti-inflammatory treatment effects in asthma patients.The aim of this study was to compare clinical parameters and eosinophilic inflammation parameters in patients with asthma, after 4-week treatment with fluticasone-propionate (FP) in a daily dose of 500 μg.The study involved 39 patients with bronchial asthma as well as 17 healthy subjects (controls). Asthma symptom scores, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, total number of Eo in peripheral blood and IL-5 concentracion in serum were measured in all subjects, before and after FP 500 treatment. There was a significant decrease in asthma symptom scores (p<0.001) and improvement of FEV1 and FEV1/FVC (p<0.05) after FP 500 treatment.There was also a statistically significant negative correlation beetwen asthma symptom score and FEV1 before and after the treatment (r=-0,415, p<0,01; r=-0,346, p<0,05). The concentration of eosinophilic inflammatory parameters (Eo, IL-5) was significantly reduced after the treatment (p<0.05) in groups of patients with larger number of eosinophiles prior to the therapy.Besides lung function normalisation and improvement of disease symptoms after the treatment, there were higher concentrations of eosinophilic inflammatory parameters that point to persistant inflammation of airways during well-controlled asthma. It is necessary to constantly compare the symptoms of desease, lung function, severity of desease and level of inflammation parameters in order to assess the treatment effects of inhaled glycocortico-steroids

Plasma nitrite/nitrate concentrations in patients with schizophrenia

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) is known to be a signaling molecule with many physiogical functions including apoptotic process regulation. Since apoptosis may contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, this study was undertaken to determine the plasma concentrations of NO in schizophrenics. Methods: Nitrite/nitrate (NO2–/NO3–) concentrations were measured in plasma from 40 patients with schizophrenia, and 36 age- and gender-matched healthy persons using a colorimetric test. Results: Plasma NO2–/NO3– concentrations were significantly higher in patients with schizophrenia (102.8±34.7 μmol/L, p&#60;0.0001) than in controls (69.2±13.2 μmol/L). Also, mean NO2–/NO3– values in female patients and controls were significantly higher (118.2±44.7 μmol/L, p&#60;0.001; 74.8±16.1 μmol/L, p&#60;0.05, respectively) compared to males (94.7±25.3 μmol/L, 67.6±10.8 μmol/L). Significant correlation was seen between plasma NO2–/NO3– concentrations and heredity, number of episodes and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) caspase-3 activity, which was significantly higher in patients than in controls (p&#60;0.05). There was no significant difference in NO2–/NO3– concentrations between patients with different Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores or between patients treated with haloperidol (97.2±31.2 μmol/L) and those treated with other atypical antipsychotic drugs (109.8±33.7 μmol/L). Both parameters showed no significant differences between smokers and non-smokers. Conclusions: This study showed that plasma NO2–/NO3– concentrations were significantly increased in patients with schizophrenia, being significantly higher in female than male patients, and showing a significant correlation with heredity, number of episodes and PBMC caspase-3 activity. These results suggest that NO could be considered an inducer or regulator of apoptosis in patients with schizophrenia. Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:89–94.Peer Reviewe

Age-related changes of superoxide dismutase activity in patients with schizophrenia

Background/Aim: Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is the critical enzyme in the detoxification of superoxide radicals because those are the first species produced in the majority of biological free radical producing reactions. Inconsistent data are present about SOD activity in patients with schizophrenia. Numerous studies have shown that SOD has been elevated in chronic schizophrenic patients. However, decreased SOD activity was found in neuroleptic naïve, first episode schizophrenic patients, in chronic-medicated patients and in chronic-unmedicated patients. The aim of this study was to examine which of the following factors including age, gender, the onset of the disease, the duration, the number of episodes, heredity, psychopathologic symptoms and drug treatment could affect erythrocyte SOD activity in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: This study included 68 consecutive patients with schizophrenia (29 males and 39 females) ranging in age from 18 to 61 years, divided into two age groups (34 years). SOD activity was measured in erythrocyte hemolyzates by Ransod commercially available test. Results: In the group of patients younger than 34 years SOD levels were significantly higher (1381±273 U/gHb, p=0.038) compared to the levels of the older group (1231±206 U/gHb). Gender and heredity did not induce any significant difference in SOD activity between younger and older subgroups. A significant difference in enzyme activity was found between the younger and older subgroups having the onset of the disease after 24 years of age (1408±217 U/gHb vs. 1252±213 U/gHb, p=0.031). The patients of the younger group who had more than one psychotic episode had significantly higher SOD activity (1492±298 U/gHb; p=0.009) than those who had only one episode (1256±177 U/gHb), as well as than the older subgroup with more than one episode (1253±231 U/gHb; p=0.014). Although the duration of the disease did not induce any significant difference in enzyme activity between younger and older subgroups, a significant negative correlation was obtained between SOD activity and the duration of the disease (r=-0.511, p<0.01). No significant differences were found in SOD activity between the subgroups with different PANSS scores. First generation antipsychotics were associated with elevated enzyme activity in both groups. Simultaneous treatment of patients with first generation antipsychotics and second generation antipsychotics induced a significant decrease in SOD activity in the younger group. Conclusion: Our results show that erythrocyte SOD activity is increased in the early phase of schizophrenia and that depends on age of onset of the disease, the number of psychotic episodes, the duration of the disease and medical treatment

Elemental and ecophysiological profiles of orchid Dactylorhiza sambucina show distinct responses to contrasting geological substrates

Orchids are known for their complex relationships with mycorrhizal fungi and pollinators, their sensitivity to changes in environmental conditions, and the fact that they grow in almost all terrestrial ecosystems on different geological substrates. However, their tolerance mechanisms and general ecophysiology are poorly understood. This raises the question as to whether terrestrial orchids have different elemental profiles and ecophysiological responses when growing on contrasting geological substrates, including ultramafic soils. Eight populations of the terrestrial orchid Dactylorhiza sambucina from three types of substrates (ultramafic, carbonate, and siliceous) from Serbia were analysed to assess the differences in their elemental and physiological and biochemical parameters. The results show a striking potential for the accumulation of Zn and Cu in the shoots. Substantial potential for shoot accumulation of mafic elements (Fe, Ni, Co, Cr) is found only in a few populations, generally not in those growing on ultramafic soils, and the root concentrations are higher than the shoot concentrations. The highest concentrations of photosynthetic pigments were found in the samples from the carbonate site, while the highest concentrations of phenolic compounds, malondialdehyde and antioxidant capacity were found in the samples from the ultramafic soils. Although there are no pronounced effects of ultramafic soils on the elemental profile of the populations of D. sambucina, the analysis of the physiological and biochemical parameters shows that the lowest stress is in individuals from carbonate soils