Relationship Between Anti-DFS70 Autoantibodies and Oxidative Stress

Background: The anti-DFS70 autoantibodies are one of the most commonly and widely described agent of unknown clinical significance, frequently detected in healthy individuals. It is not known whether the DFS70 autoantibodies are protective or pathogenic. One of the factors suspected of inducing the formation of anti-DFS70 antibodies is increased oxidative stress. We evaluated the coexistence of anti-DFS70 antibodies with selected markers of oxidative stress and investigated whether these antibodies could be considered as indirect markers of oxidative stress. Methods: The intensity of oxidative stress was measured in all samples via indices of free-radical damage to lipids and proteins such as total oxidant status (TOS), concentrations of lipid hydroperoxides (LPH), lipofuscin (LPS), and malondialdehyde (MDA). The parameters of the non-enzymatic antioxidant system, such as total antioxidant status (TAS) and uric acid concentration (UA), were also measured, as well as the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Based on TOS and TAS values, the oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. All samples were also tested with indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and 357 samples were selected for direct monospecific anti DFS70 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing. Results: The anti-DFS70 antibodies were confirmed by ELISA test in 21.29% of samples. Compared with anti-DFS70 negative samples we observed 23% lower concentration of LPH (P =.038) and 11% lower concentration of UA (P =.005). TOS was 20% lower (P =.014). The activity of SOD was up to 5% higher (P =.037). The Pearson correlation showed weak negative correlation for LPH, UA, and TOS and a weak positive correlation for SOD activity. Conclusion: In samples positive for the anti-DFS70 antibody a decreased level of oxidative stress was observed, especially in the case of samples with a high antibody titer. Anti-DFS70 antibodies can be considered as an indirect marker of reduced oxidative stress or a marker indicating the recent intensification of antioxidant processes

The accuracy of some meteorological parameters modeling for the southern Baltic Sea area – a comparative study

W ramach projektu PROZA w Instytucie Oceanografii UG prowadzone są prace nad uruchomieniem zintegrowanego modelu falowo-prądowego dla obszaru Morza Bałtyckiego. Wykorzystywane w tym celu modele falowy WAM i prądowy POM zasilane są danymi z numerycznych prognoz pogody modelu Coupled Oce-an/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS), działającego w ICM. Dokładność prognoz parametrów meteorologicznych wpływa bezpośrednio na prognozy falowania i prądów morskich. Oceniono dokładności wyników modeli numerycznych krótkoterminowych prognoz pogody COAMPS oraz Unified Model (UMPL), działających w ICM dla dwóch lokalizacji na polskim wybrzeżu Morza Bałtyckiego. Dla dwóch badanych lokalizacji (Łeba i Hel) z największą dokładnością prognozowana jest temperatura powietrza (r>90%), natomiast prognozy prędkości, a zwłaszcza kierunku wiatru cechuje mniejsza dokładność (r<85%).As part of PROZA project at the Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, work is being carried out on launching an integrated wave-current model for the Baltic Sea region. Wave WAM and current POM models used for this purpose, are supplied with data from numerical weather forecasts from the Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS) model operating at ICM. The accuracy of forecasts of meteorological parameters directly impacts the forecasts of wind wave and sea current fields. The accuracy of results of short term weather forecasts generated by COAMPS and Unified Model (UMPL) operating at ICM, was assessed for two locations on the coast of Baltic Sea in Poland. For the two studied locations (Łeba and Hel), air temperature is forecasted with highest accuracy (r>90%), and wind direction and velocity forecasts are characterized by lower accuracy (r<85%

Port of Gdańsk and Port of Gdynia’s exposure to threats resulting from storm extremes

This study is intended to make a first estimate of the exposure of the two Polish largest ports – Gdańsk and Gdynia, localized in the Gulf of Gdańsk – to threats from storm extremes. These ports are elements of the Polish critical infrastructure and presented analysis is one of the tasks related to critical infrastructure protection. Hypothetical extreme meteorological conditions have been defined based on 138-year NOAA data and assumed wave fields for those conditions have been generated. Using HIPOCAS project database the 21 extreme historical storms over the period 1958–2001 were selected to simulate realistic conditions in the vicinity of the ports. The highest significant wave height was found to be nearly 4 m in the vicinity of Port of Gdańsk and nearly 2 m in the vicinity of Port of Gdynia. A future intensification of these wave conditions should be considered due to the climate change and sea level rise

Rip currents in the non-tidal surf zone with sandbars: numerical analysis versus field measurements

Rip currents, which are local seaward-directed jets with their mean velocity exceeding 0.5 m/s, have been a subject of many studies since the 1940s. They are an important part of the nearshore current system and in specific hydro- and litomorphological conditions can cause changes in the local bathymetry. Thus, a detailed analysis of the characteristics of this phenomenon is crucial both to public safety and hydroengineering. The main purpose of this research is to determine the wave conditions of a multi-bar non-tidal coastal zone environment in which rip currents can occur. In this study, we focus on a multi-bar non-tidal coastal zone environment located in the Southern Baltic Sea, where rip current driving forces are mostly reduced to the wind and wind-induced waves. This is one of very few comprehensive approaches to exploring the possibility of rip currents occurrence in such environmental conditions. During two field expeditions, there were carried out in situ measurements exploiting two GPS drifters. The results indicate the formation of irregular non-longshore flows (related to rip currents) in the studied area. To answer the question under what conditions the formation of rip currents takes place, an extended modelling experiment was performed. Deep-water wave conditions typical of the studied area were chosen due to bouy measurements. The total of 589 combinations of the significant wave height, the mean period and wave direction values were examined as test cases. The coastal flow in the area and tracks of virtual drifters were simulated by XBeach numerical model for all test cases. As a result, 589 nearshore currents fields were generated and two scenarios were indicated: a regular circulation (dominated by the longshore current) which is typical of this area (547 cases), and flows with rip current features (42 cases). This reflects the results of the field measurements carried out. It can be concluded that the wave direction is a dominating factor in the formation of rip currents. Namely the flows of this type may occur in the area of interest when the direction of a deep water wave is almost perpendicular to the shore. Such situations occur rarely. They cover about 7% of the days of the year. Thus, rip currents do not appear to be a significant factor in the reconstruction of the sea bottom in the studied area

Structural characterization of agmatine at physiological conditions

Abstract The present work aims at determining the structure–activity relationships (SAR’s) which rule the biological function of agmatine (4-(aminobutyl)guanidinium, AGM), a biogenic amine produced by decarboxylation of arginine. Its structural preferences, both as an isolated molecule and in aqueous solution (namely at physiological conditions) were ascertained, by vibrational (Raman) spectroscopy coupled to theoretical (density functional) calculations. An evaluation of mitochondrial functions (membrane potential (??), mitochondrial swelling, and cytochrome c release) in rat liver mitochondria (RLM) was also carried out. The results thus obtained, coupled to the conformational analysis performed for the distinct polyamine protonation states, allowed to individualize the agmatine structures which interact with the mitochondrial site responsible for its transport and for the protection against mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) induction, as well as to gain information on the specific mechanisms involved