Footprint Areas of Pollen From Alder (Alnus) and Birch (Betula) in the UK (Worcester) and Poland (Wrocław) During 2005–2014

In this study we analyzed daily pollen concentrations of Alnus spp. and Betula spp. from Worcester, UK and Wrocław, Poland. We analyzed seasonality, annual pollen index and footprint areas for the observed pollen concentrations by using the trajectory model hybrid single particle Lagrangian integrated trajectory (HYSPLIT). We examined 10 years of data during the period 2005–2014 and found substantial differences in the seasonality, pollen indices and footprint areas. For both genera, concentrations in Wrocław are in general much higher, the seasons are shorter and therefore more intense than in Worcester. The reasons appear to be related to the differences in overall climate between the two sites and more abundant sources in Poland than in England. The footprint areas suggest that the source of the pollen grains are mainly local trees but appear to be augmented by remote sources, in particular for Betula spp. but only to a small degree for Alnus spp. For Betula spp., both sites appear to get contributions from areas in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, while known Betula spp. rich regions in Russia, Belarus and Scandinavia had a very limited impact on the pollen concentrations in Worcester and Wrocław. Substantial and systematic variations in pollen indices are seen for Betula spp. in Wrocław with high values every second year while a similar pattern is not observed for Worcester. This pattern was not reproduced for Alnus spp

Extension of WRF-Chem for birch pollen modelling – a case study for Poland.

In recent years, allergies due to airborne pollen have shown an increasing trend, along with the severity of allergic symptoms in most industrialised countries, while synergism with other common atmospheric pollutants has also been identified as affecting the overall quality of citizenly’ life. In this study we propose the state-of-the-art WRF-Chem model, which is a complex Eulerian meteorological model integrated on-line with atmospheric chemistry. We used a combination of the WRF-Chem extended towards birch pollen, and the emission module based on heating degree days, which has not been tested before. The simulations were run for the moderate season in terms of birch pollen concentrations (year 2015) and high season (year 2016) over Central Europe, which were validated against 11 observational stations located in Poland. The results show that there is a big difference in the model’s performance for the two modelled years. In general, the model overestimates birch pollen concentrations for the moderate season and highly underestimates birch pollen concentrations for the year 2016. The model was able to predict birch pollen concentrations for first allergy symptoms (above 20 pollen m-3) as well as for severe symptoms (above 90 pollen m-3) with Probability of Detection at 0.78 and 0.68 and Success Ratio at 0.75 and 0.57, respectively for the year 2015. However, the model failed to reproduce these parameters for the year 2016. The results indicate the potential role of correcting the total seasonal pollen emission in improving the model’s performance, especially for specific years in terms of pollen productivity. The application of chemical transport models such as WRF-Chem for pollen modelling provides a great opportunity for simultaneous simulations of chemical air pollution and allergic pollen with one goal, which is a step forward for studying and understanding the co-exposure of these particles in the air

Oxidative stress in pregnancy and fertility pathologies

Oxidative stress designates the state of imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant levels. In a healthy placenta, there is an increase in ROS production, due to formation of new tissues and inherent metabolism, but this is balanced by higher levels of antioxidants. However, this balance is lost in some situations, with a consequent increase in oxidative stress levels. Oxidative stress has been implicated in several placental disorders and pregnancy pathologies. The present review intends to summarize what is known about the relationship between oxidative stress and well-known pregnancy disorders

Effect of regular exercises on the function of lower extremity muscles in patients with Parkinson disease - a pilot study

Cel pracy: Ocena wpływu ćwiczeń ruchowych na czynność mięśni działających na stawy kolanowe u pacjentów z chorobą Parkinsona. Grupa badana: 10 pacjentów (kobiet) z chorobą Parkinsona, średni wiek 72,9 lat (grupa badana), oraz 12 osób zdrowych (kobiety), słuchaczki Uniwersytetu Trzeciego Wieku, średni wiek 65,0 lat (grupa kontrolna). Metoda badań: Wykonano badania czynnościowe mięśni zginaczy i prostowników stawu kolanowego na stanowisku do badań izokinetycznych Biodex System 3 Multi Joint. Badania przeprowadzono przed przystąpieniem do usprawniania pacjentów leczonych z powodu choroby Parkinsona oraz po okresie dwóch miesięcy regularnych ćwiczeń. Wyniki: W grupie pierwszej, w przypadku prędkości kątowej 60%, uzyskano istotną poprawę wszystkich analizowanych parametrów mięśni zginaczy i prostowników, zarówno w obrębie kończyny dolnej prawej, jak i lewej. Natomiast w przypadku prędkości kątowej 1807s istotnie wzrosły analizowane parametry dla mięśni prostowników i zginaczy stawu kolanowego prawego oraz dla mięśni prostowników stawu kolanowego lewego. W grupie 2. nie stwierdzono żadnych istotnych różnic. Wnioski: Ćwiczenia ruchowe prowadzone u osób z chorobą Parkinsona poprawiają czynność mięśni kończyn dolnych, w związku z powyższym mogą zmniejszyć ryzyko występowania upadków oraz powikłań z nimi związanych.The influence of the regular exercises on the function of lower extremities muscles acting on the knee joints in patients with Parkinson's disease. Subjects: 10 women with Parkinson's disease at the average age of 72,9 and 12 healthy females at the average age of 65,0 (control group). Methods: Biodex dynamometer was used to measure strength - velocity parameters in the knee flexors and extensors muscles. The examination were performed before the period of patients rehabilitation and after two months of regular exercises. Results: In a group 1, in case of the angular velocity of 60°/s, a significant improvement of all analyzed parameters of flexor and extensor muscles was obtained, both in the right and the left lower extremity. In the case of the angular velocity of 1807s, a significant increase of analyzed parameters of flexor and extensor muscles was noted. No significant differences were found in a group 2. Conclusions: Exercises in case of patients with Parkin-son's disease increase the muscular function of lower extremities and therefore may decrease the risk of falls and complications resulting from injures

Interleukin 1alpha-induced disruption of the Sertoli cell cytoskeleton affects gap junctional communication

Gap junctions (GJ) are transmembrane channels that connect the cytoplasms of adjacent cells, thereby facilitating the rapid exchange of ions, second messengers, and metabolites smaller than 1 kDa. Connexin 43, the best-studied GJ protein, is a component of the Sertoli cell barrier/blood–testis barrier (BTB). To gain insight into the biology of the BTB, we investigated the effects of interleukin 1alpha (IL1A), a pro-inflammatory cytokine that disrupts BTB function, on gap junctional communication (GJC) in Sertoli cells. Compared with controls, the levels of connexin 43 and connexin 43 (Ser 368) increased ~ 30- and 20-fold, respectively, at 24 h after IL1A treatment. To assess GJ function, we investigated fluorescence recovery in photobleached Sertoli cells after vehicle or IL1A treatment. Compared with the control, IL1A affected the ability of calcein to return to photobleached cells, indicating that GJC was compromised. To explain the effects of IL1A on GJ function, the involvement of the Sertoli cell cytoskeleton was investigated. Stress fibers aggregated at the periphery of Sertoli cells treated with IL1A. These results were substantiated by a biochemical assay that showed IL1A to disrupt the bundling of exogenous F-actin by Sertoli cells. In summary, IL1A regulates GJC in Sertoli cells, which is critical for BTB restructuring

Annexin A2 is critical for blood-testis barrier integrity and spermatid disengagement in the mammalian testis

Throughout spermatogenesis, two important processes occur at late stage VIII of the seminiferous epithelial cycle in the rat testis: preleptotene spermatocytes commence entry into the adluminal compartment and step 19 spermatids release from the seminiferous epithelium. Presently, it is not clear how these processes, which involve extensive restructuring of unique Sertoli–Sertoli and Sertoli–germ cell junctions, are mediated. We aimed to determine whether annexin A2 (ANXA2), a Ca2 +-dependent and phospholipid-binding protein, participates in cell junction dynamics. To address this, in vitro and in vivo RNA interference studies were performed on prepubertal Sertoli cells and adult rat testes. The endpoints of Anxa2 knockdown were determined by immunoblotting, morphological analyses, fluorescent immunostaining, and barrier integrity assays. In the testis, ANXA2 localized to the Sertoli cell stalk, with specific staining at the blood–testis barrier and the concave (ventral) surface of elongated spermatids. ANXA2 also bound actin when testis lysates were used for immunoprecipitation. Anxa2 knockdown was found to disrupt the Sertoli cell/blood–testis barrier in vitro and in vivo. The disruption in barrier function was substantiated by changes in the localization of claudin-11, zona occludens-1, N-cadherin, and β-catenin. Furthermore, Anxa2 knockdown resulted in spermiation defects caused by a dysfunction of tubulobulbar complexes, testis-specific actin-rich ultrastructures that internalize remnant cell junction components prior to spermiation. Additionally, there were changes in the localization of several tubulobulbar complex component proteins, including actin-related protein 3, cortactin, and dynamin I/II. Our results indicate that ANXA2 is critical for the integrity of the blood–testis barrier and the timely release of spermatids

Peptyd natriuretyczny NT-proBNP jako wskaźnik przeciążenia układu sercowo-naczyniowego u kobiet w ciąży z nadwagą i otyłością

Wstęp. Nadwaga i otyłość to coraz powszechniejsze problemy wśród kobiet w ciąży. Otyłość często skorelowanajest z przeciążeniem układu sercowo-naczyniowego, co może mieć odzwierciedlenie w zmienionym stężeniu biomarkerówsercowych.Materiał i metody. W prezentowanym badaniu oceniono stężenie w surowicy N-końcowego fragmentu (pro) peptydunatriuretycznego typu B (NT-proBNP, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide) w grupach kobiet ciężarnych: z prawidłowąmasą ciała, z nadwagą i z otyłością, a za pomocą metod statystycznych porównano różnice w stężeniachtego markera między grupami.Wyniki. Najwyższe stężenia peptydu natriuretycznego obserwowano u pacjentek z prawidłową wartością BMI,natomiast w surowicy krwi ciężarnych z nadwagą i otyłością obserwowano niższe stężenia NT-proBNP.Wnioski. Kobiety powinny mieć świadomość negatywnego wpływu nadmiernej ilości tkanki tłuszczowej oraz nadmiernegoprzyrostu masy ciała na rozwój płodu i jego wzrastanie oraz negatywnych konsekwencji zdrowotnych dlanich samych. Stężenie NT-proBNP u pacjentek z nieprawidłowo wysokimi wartościami BMI jest trudne do interpretacji,dlatego konieczne jest prowadzenie dalszych badań w celu wykrycia miarodajnego markera oceniającegowydolność układu krążenia u ciężarnych zarówno z prawidłowymi wartościami BMI, jak i nieprawidłowymi

Germ cells contribute to the function of the Sertoli cell barrier

One of the most important but still poorly understood cellular phenomena occurring during spermatogenesis is the movement of preleptotene/leptotene spermatocytes across the blood–testis barrier (BTB), an ultrastructure comprised of tight junctions (TJs), basal ectoplasmic specializations, gap junctions, and desmosomes. Previous studies have shown cytokines and androgens to mediate BTB restructuring, but it is not yet entirely known if germ cells can regulate barrier function, and if yes, how. To address this question, we utilized a previously characterized Sertoli–germ cell coculture model coupled with transepithelial electrical resistance (TER), immunoblotting, and immunolocalization experiments. When freshly isolated germ cells from adult rat testes were added to Sertoli cells at a Sertoli:germ cell ratio of 1:5 (Sertoli cells were previously cultured at high density on Matrigel™-coated culture inserts for 3 d to allow assembly of a functional permeability barrier that mimicked the Sertoli cell BTB in vivo), there was a significant increase in TER compared with time-matched controls (i.e., Sertoli cells only), illustrating that germ cells promote Sertoli cell barrier function. This increase in barrier function was not likely the result of TJ gene expression by germ cells. Instead, germ cells upregulated the steady-state levels of several TJ proteins, including occludin, tricellulin, claudin, junctional adhesion molecule-A, and coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) in Sertoli cells. These results were corroborated in part by immunofluorescence staining when an increase in occludin at Sertoli–Sertoli cell borders was observed in vitro. Taken collectively, our results illustrate that germ cells contribute to BTB integrity, which is essential for spermatogenesis and fertility