Acetylcholinesterase, catalase and glutathione S-transferase activity in beet armyworm ( Spodoptera exigua ) exposed to nickel and/or diazinon

The effect of single and combined action of nickel and pesticide (diazinon) on enzymes activity (glu- tathione S-transferase, catalase and acetylcholinesterase) in the digestive tract, body wall and fat body as well as basic growth parameters (life span and body mass) of Spodoptera exigua were investigated under laboratory conditions. The experiment was carried out on two nickel treated groups [300 (NiI) and 900 (NiII) mg Ni · kg –1 dry weight of the culture medium] and a control group. The results showed that mor- tality of caterpillars in NiII group was higher (51.1%) when compare with the controls. The body mass of the caterpillars in the NiI group was higher by 20% than in the control group, and the body mass of the pupae in the NiII group was lower by 22% than in the control group. Exposure to nickel influenced AChE, GST and catalase activity in the body wall (increase up to 66%) and GI tract, while in the fat body the above-mentioned activity remained unchanged. The pesticide application caused a strong, about 70% reduction in AChE activity in GI tract, while in case of GST activity pesticide treatment resulted in mul- tidirectional response depending on the organ. Nickel pre-treatment affects the susceptibility to pesticide, which is manifested in a lower activity of GST and catalase in the fat body (from 26 to 36%), when com- pare with the other experimental groups

Assessment of adipokines, adenine nucleotides and uric acid in the dynamics of coronary intervention

Introduction: The association of vaspin and visfatin, with a myocardial infarction is still not fully understood. Reduced levels of adenine nucleotides are hallmarks of chronic heart failure. There is little data concerning the relationship between these markers and their changes over time. Material/Methods: The concentration of adenine nucleotides, vaspin and visfatinwere assessed in 41 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction one before (day I) and four days after (day IV) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and a control group. Results: Visfatin concentrations were higher before and after PCI vs. control (visfatin I: median 25.55, 20.12 - 30.69 ng/ml; visfatin IV: median 20.79, 16.89 - 25.61 ng/ml vs. control: median 14.94, 10.66 - 25.25 ng/ml; p < 0.0001). Vaspin concentrations were lower before and after PCI vs. control (vaspin I: median 0.18, 0.11 - 0.44 ng/ml; vaspin IV: median 0.24, 0.15 - 0.58 ng/ml vs. control: median 1.303, 1.13 - 2.26 ng/ml, p < 0.00001). Concentrations of visfatin, day I, correlated well to vaspin concentrations (r2 = 0.201, p = 0.011). ATP levels were significantly lower in patients vs. controls (day I: p = 0.00012; day IV: p = 0.0001). Conclusions: Changes in the analyzed visfatin and vaspin concentrations can be used as potential MI markers. Visfatin serum concentration may be considered a potential marker to differentiate MI over time