Zmodyfikowana metoda ekstrakcji sekwencyjnej Wallschlägera, jako narzędzie do oceny mobilności rtęci

The presented studies were focused on evaluating the utility of one of sequential extraction methods for evaluating the bioavailability of mercury in soils polluted by this element. Soil samples collected from horizons 0-20 cm and 20-80 cm were subject to analysis of the basic physical and chemical properties of soils. Moreover, the total content of mercury was determined and sequential extraction of mercury was conducted using a modified five-stage Wallschläger method. The analyses show that the studied soils are characterized by a variable mercury content, the highest in the surface soil horizons. Sequential extraction of mercury in the analyzed soils has indicated that the highest percentage content in the total content had mercury linked with sulphides. A high content of mercury linked with organic matter was also noted. The content of bioavailable mercury did not exceed 1.5% of the total content.Celem podjętych badań była ocena przydatności wybranej metody ekstrakcji sekwencyjnej rtęci do oceny biodostępności rtęci w glebach zanieczyszczonych tym pierwiastkiem. Do badań pobrano próbki glebowe z warstw 0-20 cm i 20-80 cm. Przeprowadzono analizę podstawowych właściwości fizycznych i chemicznych badanych gleb, oznaczono całkowitą zawartość rtęci oraz wykonano ekstrakcję sekwencyjną rtęci według zmodyfikowanej pięcioetapowej metody Wallschlägera. Na podstawie dokonanych analiz stwierdzono, że badane gleby charakteryzowały się zróżnicowanymi zawartościami rtęci, przy czym największe jej zawartości stwierdzono w powierzchniowych warstwach gleby. Przeprowadzona ekstrakcja sekwencyjna rtęci w glebach wykazała, że największy procentowy udział w całkowitej zawartości rtęci stanowiła rtęć związana z siarczkami. Zaobserwowano także znaczący udział rtęci związanej z materią organiczną. Zawartość rtęci w formie biodostępnej nie przekraczała 1,5% zawartości ogólnej

SYNTHESIS AND ANTICONVULSANT PROPERTIES OF SOME N-ARYL AND N-ARYLAMINOMETHYL DERIVATIVES OF 3-P-ISOPROPOXYPHENYLPYRROLIDINE-2,5-DIONE

Introduction: Anticonvulsant properties of newly synthesized compounds and potential antiepileptic drugs are usually assessed in screen tests in experimental animals. One of the most commonly used screen tests in mice is the maximal electroshock-induced seizure test that reflects tonic-clonic seizures in humans. Materials and Method: A series of 3-p-isopropoxyphenylpyrrolidine-2,5-dione derivatives, including N-aryl and N-arylaminomethyl analogs, were characterized for their anticonvulsant properties in the maximal electroshock-induced seizure test in mice. Electroconvulsions (tonic-clonic seizures) were evoked in adult Albino Swiss mice by a current (sine-wave, 25mA, 50Hz, 500V, 0.2s stimulus duration) delivered via auricular electrodes. Results: N-aryl derivatives did not show any anticonvulsant activity, whereas some representatives of N-arylaminomethyl derivatives, i.e. N-Mannich bases, exhibited a distinct protective action against maximal electroshock-induced (MES) convulsions in mice. Conclusions: Several N-arylaminomethyl derivatives of 3-p-isopropoxyphenylpyrrolidine-2,5-dione may become in future new antiepileptic drugs, or they could serve as valuable supporting materials for obtaining new derivatives with stronger anticonvulsant activities than their maternal compounds

Fiber Type-Specific Satellite Cell Content in Cyclists Following Heavy Training With Carbohydrate and Carbohydrate-Protein Supplementation

The central purpose of this study was to evaluate the fiber type-specific satellite cell and myonuclear responses of endurance-trained cyclists to a block of intensified training, when supplementing with carbohydrate (CHO) vs. carbohydrate-protein (PRO). In a crossover design, endurance-trained cyclists (n=8) performed two consecutive training periods, once supplementing with CHO (de facto ‘control’ condition) and the other with PRO. Each training period consisted of 10 days of intensified cycle training (ICT – 120% increase in average training duration) followed by 10 days of recovery (RVT – reduced volume training; 33% volume reduction vs. normal training). Skeletal muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis before and after ICT and again following RVT. Immunofluorescent microscopy was used to quantify SCs (Pax7+), myonuclei (DAPI+), and myosin heavy chain I (MyHC I). Data are expressed as percent change ± 90% confidence limits. The 10-day block of ICTCHO increased MyHC I SC content (35 ± 28%) and myonuclear density (16 ± 6%), which remained elevated following RVTCHO (SC = 69 ± 50% vs. PRE; Nuclei = 17 ± 15% vs. PRE). MyHC II SC and myonuclei were not different following ICTCHO, but were higher following RVTCHO (SC = +33 ± 31% vs. PRE; Nuclei = 15 ± 14% vs. PRE), indicating a delayed response compared to MyHC I fibers. The MyHC I SC pool increased following ICTPRO (37 ± 37%), but without a concomitant increase in myonuclei. There were no changes in MyHC II SC or myonuclei following ICTPRO. Collectively, these trained endurance cyclists possessed a relatively large pool of SCs that facilitated rapid (MyHC I) and delayed (MyHC II) satellite cell proliferation and myonuclear accretion with CHO. The current findings strengthen the growing body of evidence demonstrating alterations in SC number without hypertrophy. SC pool expansion is typically viewed as an advantageous response to exercise. However, when coupled with our previous report that PRO possibly enhanced whole muscle recovery and increased MyHC I and II fiber size, the limited satellite cell/myonuclear response observed with carbohydrate-protein seem to indicate that protein supplementation was beneficial and may have minimized the necessity for satellite cell involvement