Expansion of water chestnut in a small dam reservoir: from pioneering colony to dense floating mat

Background and Purpose: This manuscript reports on the rapid spread of water chestnut in a shallow dam reservoir. The water chestnut is a critically endangered plant in Poland. Materials and Methods: From 2008 to 2016 during the vegetation season we investigated the distribution of water chestnut in the Rzeszów dam reservoir.Results: The colony has grown from sparse individual plants which probably appeared around 2005, to a dense floating mat of plants with the total area of over 14 ha today. Recently water chestnut has also appeared in all shallow parts of the reservoir with weak water flow. Conclusions: Taking into consideration the dynamic expansion of the water chestnut, it can be assumed that in the near future this species may control many parts of the Rzeszów reservoir, while in others it can be displaced by reeds. It is highly probable then that the total area of water chestnut patches will decrease, rather than increase.</p

Anomalous origin of culprit coronary arteries in acute coronary syndromes

Background: The aim of the study was to describe a series of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients in whom anomalous origin of culprit coronary artery (AOCCA) was diagnosed. Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in AOCCA are performed very infrequently. Methods: Electronic databases from three high-volume tertiary cardiac centers were retrospectively searched for the presence of AOCCA in ACS. Results: Different types of AOCCA in ACS were identified in 20 patients. The most frequent AOCCA was left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) originating from right coronary artery (RCA) or directly from the right coronary sinus (RCS), n = 13, followed by high/atypical RCA, n = 3, left coronary artery (LCA) originating from RCS (n = 3) with either RCA-AOCCA (n = 1) or left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD)-AOCCA (n = 1) or RCA originating from left sinus of Valsalva, (n = 1), LAD originating from RCA (n = 1). In 1 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)-patient RCA-AOCCA cannulation was unsuccessful, in 1 non-STEMI-patient AOCCA was missed, 1 ACS- -patient was treated surgically and 1 ACS-patient was treated conservatively (both patients with non- STEMI). In the remaining patients PCI was successfully performed. Conclusions: The most frequently encountered AOCCA is LCx branching-off from RCA. AOCCA may either be difficult to cannulate and PCI aborted even in STEMI, or missed, especially when the intermediate branch from LCA is mimicking proper LCx

Rotational atherectomy in everyday clinical practice. Association of Cardiovascular Interventions of the Polish Society of Cardiology (Asocjacja Interwencji Sercowo-Naczyniowych Polskiego Towarzystwa Kardiologicznego - AISN PTK) : expert opinion

The common use of stents, including antiproliferative drug-eluting stents, has been a major breakthrough in invasive cardiology. Nowadays, a change in the clinical presentation of patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is observed. The typical clinical characteristics now include advanced age, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, and multilevel atherosclerosis. Age, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease are the main predictors of coronary artery calcifications. Severe coronary artery calcifications are the main factor limiting the efficacy of PCI. Successful stent implantation is challenging in the presence of calcifications, because it is difficult to achieve full stent expansion and proper stent apposition. Therefore, it is necessary to adequately prepare the lesion before stent implantation. This document presents the technique of rotational atherectomy (rotablation) as well as indications for and contraindications to the procedure, along with its possible complications and their prevention. Training in rotablation for operators as well as reimbursement policy for the procedure in Poland are also discussed

Reduction of left ventricular mass, left atrial size, and N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide level following alcohol septal ablation in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy

Background: Alcohol septal ablation (ASA) is an alternative to surgical treatment in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Through alcohol-induced necrosis, ASA leads to an increase in left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) diameter and a decrease in LVOT pressure gradient. Aims: We sought to assess the effect of ASA on left ventricular (LV) wall thickness and mass, left atrial (LA) size, and N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level. Methods: The study cohort consisted of 50 patients with HOCM (30 in the ASA group, 20 in the optimal pharmacotherapy group [OPG]). Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), and NT-proBNP level analysis were performed at baseline and at six months. Results: All parameters are presented as means. In the ASA group, the maximal LVOT pressure gradient decreased from 122.7 to 54.8 mmHg directly after ASA and to 37.2 mmHg after a further six months (p &lt; 0.0001). The NT-proBNP level decreased from 2174.4 to 1103.4 pg/mL (p &lt; 0.001). On TTE, the interventricular septum (IVS) thickness decreased to from 23.6 to 19.4 mm (p &lt; 0.0001) and the lateral wall (LW) thickness decreased from 15.9 to 14.2 mm (p &lt; 0.007). On CMR, basal IVS thickness decreased from 23.7 to 18.0 mm (p &lt; 0.0001) and the LW thickness decreased from 13.2 to 12.2 mm (p = 0.02). IVS mass reduced from 108.9 to 91.5 g (–16%; p &lt; 0.001). All of the above parameters remained unchanged in the OPG. Conclusions: Successful ASA reduces LV hypertrophy and improves parameters of the LV overload, resulting in LV wall hy­pertrophy regression, and LA size and NT-proBNP level reduction. The above parameters may be as useful in assessing the efficacy of ASA as the LVOT gradient itself

The life cycles of three species of Ephemeroptera in two streams in Poland

Abstract Nymphs of Rhithrogena iridina, Baetis alpinus and Baetis melanonyx were collected in the Wołosatka and Terebowiec streams; Bieszczady National Park, southeastern Poland. The streams have different environmental conditions. The life cycles of Rhithrogena iridina in the Wołosatka and the Terebowiec streams were of the univoltine winter type. In the Wołosatka (Station 1) this species had a univoltine life cycle with one cohort. In the Terebowiec (Station 2), R. iridina had a univoltine life cycle with two cohorts -winter and summer. The development of Baetis alpinus took various courses depending on environmental conditions. At the lower station (Wołosatka), where water temperature reached higher values and the stream bed is less shady, the species had a winter-summer cycle with two generations a year. At the higher station, (Terebowiec) it likely had a winter cycle with one or two generations. Baetis melanonyx had summer cycles with one generation at both stations

Beaver impact on stream fish life histories : the role of landscape and local attributes

The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) has been reintroduced into the Carpathian Mountains and has once again become an important factor for modifying streams. Forty-three sampling sites were compared with 10 reference sites in streams not settled by beavers. Models related to the impacts of beavers on various fish life history stages and a model presenting attributes influencing the ichthyofauna structure in streams with and without beavers were generated. Significant differences in the fish species composition were found between beaver ponds versus the running sections of streams. The changes associated with pond aging caused decrease of Siberian bullhead (Cottus poecilopus) density. For brown trout (Salmo trutta), beaver ponds were the only location where large individuals were found, while the upstream parts of the beaver complexes provided spawning habitat and an area for fry growth. Common minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) and stone loach (Barbatula barbatula) had higher density in ponds than in streams. The decisive factors for the ichthyofauna in the mountain streams settled by beavers were local attributes related to beaver activity. Our results illustrate interactions among beaver, landscape context, and fish life history in influencing the response of the stream fish assemblages to beaver recolonization. It also helps answer the question of how Eurasian beaver influence stream fish assemblages, at a much larger scale than previous studies. </jats:p

Senescence as a trade-off between successful land colonisation and longevity: critical review and analysis of a hypothesis

Background Most common terrestrial animal clades exhibit senescence, suggesting strong adaptive value of this trait. However, there is little support for senescence correlated with specific adaptations. Nevertheless, insects, mammals, and birds, which are the most common terrestrial animal clades that show symptoms of senescence, evolved from clades that predominantly did not show symptoms of senescence. Thus, we aimed to examine senescence in the context of the ecology and life histories of the main clades of animals, including humans, and to formulate hypotheses to explain the causes and origin of senescence in the major clades of terrestrial animals. Methodology We reviewed literature from 1950 to 2020 concerning life expectancy, the existence of senescence, and the adaptive characteristics of the major groups of animals. We then proposed a relationship between senescence and environmental factors, considering the biology of these groups of animals. We constructed a model showing the phylogenetic relationships between animal clades in the context of the major stages of evolution, distinguishing between senescent and biologically ‘immortal’ clades of animals. Finally, we synthesised current data on senescence with the most important concepts and theories explaining the origin and mechanisms of senescence. Although this categorisation into different senescent phenotypes may be simplistic, we used this to propose a framework for understanding senescence. Results We found that terrestrial mammals, insects, and birds show senescence, even though they likely evolved from non-senescent ancestors. Moreover, secondarily aquatic animals show lower rate of senescence than their terrestrial counterparts. Based on the possible life histories of these groups and the analysis of the most important factors affecting the transition from a non-senescent to senescent phenotype, we conclude that aging has evolved, not as a direct effect, but as a correlated response of selection on developmental strategies, and that this occurred separately within each clade. Adoption of specific life history strategies could thus have far-reaching effects in terms of senescence and lifespan. Conclusions Our analysis strongly suggests that senescence may have emerged as a side effect of the evolution of adaptive features that allowed the colonisation of land. Senescence in mammals may be a compromise between land colonisation and longevity. This hypothesis, is supported by palaeobiological and ecological evidence. We hope that the development of new research methodologies and the availability of more data could be used to test this hypothesis and shed greater light on the evolution of senescence