The relationship between plasma concentration of metoprolol and CYP2D6 genotype in patients with ischemic heart disease

Background Metoprolol is the one of the most commonly used β-blockers in the treatment of ischemic heart disease and it is extensively metabolized in the liver undergoing oxidation by CYP2D6 isoenzyme of cytochrome P450. Gene encoding the CYP2D6 enzyme is characterized by genetic polymorphism. The CYP2D6 oxidation polymorphism has a major impact on the effectiveness and safety of the treatment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between plasma concentration of metoprolol and the CYP2D6 genotype in patients with ischemic heart disease. Methods Fifty patients were interviewed and subsequently enrolled into the study. The patients received metoprolol twice daily at a dose of 50 mg. The blood samples were analyzed for two major defective alleles for CYP2D6 – CYP2D6*4 and CYP2D6*3 – by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Metoprolol concentration in plasma was determined by using the new and unique high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method in the author's own modification with Corona CAD detector (Charged Aerosol Detection). Results In the test group, genotypes conditioning poor oxidation (PM) occurred in 3 patients (6%), while 47 patients (94%) had genotypes coding for extensive metabolism (EM). Patients with PM genotypes had significantly higher plasma concentrations of metoprolol than the patients with EM genotype (mean 92.25 ± SD 36.78 ng/ml vs. mean 168.22 ± SD 5.61 ng/ml, respectively). Established relationships were statistically significant (NIR test, p = 0.0009). Conclusions This study demonstrated that the CYP2D6 genotype remains a major determinant of the metoprolol plasma concentrations. The pharmacogenetic effect is likely to have consequences on both, the clinical benefit of metoprolol treatment and adverse drug reactions. The use of Corona CAD detector seems to be a very good alternative method for the determination of metoprolol concentration in plasma

Distribution of nitrogen compounds in important sections of sugar beets

In literature the beet is often described as consisting of the following technologically important sections: crown, root and tail. The aim of the study was to determine the distribution of nitrogen compounds in the technologically important beet sections of untopped sugar beets with particular emphasis on the content of nitrate and nitrite. The Finezja sugar beet variety had been collected from the clamps in one of the Polish sugar factories in October during 2013/2014 campaign. The untopped sugar beets were divided into three sections: crown, root and tail. The content of total amount of nitrogen, proteinaceous nitrogen, α-amino nitrogen, the sum of the amide and ammonia nitrogen, nitrates and nitrite in these sections were determined. Although the crown of the sugar beet represented only 14.7% of it mass, this section contained on average 30% of the total quantity of α-amino acids as well as amide and ammonia nitrogen.This section contained approximately 77% of the total quantity of nitrate and 88% of nitrite. Untopped sugar beets would introduce much higher amounts of nitrogen compounds in comparison to topped raw material

Does physical activity affect the pain and mobility of the lumbosacral spine in pregnant women? - case-control study

Background: Daily physical training is safe and brings many benefits to pregnant woman. When there are no contraindications, regular exercise of gymnastics has a positive effect on the overall physical fitness, well-being of the woman. In addition it reduces the symptoms of typical pregnancy. Material and methods: The study involved pregnant women who were in the second or third trimester during the study. The study group consisted of 45 healthy pregnant women (n=45). During the research, range of motion and the shape of the curvature of the lumbar spine using the CMS10 Zebris device was performed. Additionally, the author’s questionnaire was also used, which allowed to gather important information about the practiced physical activity in the pregnancy of the surveyed women and check the knowledge about physical activity during pregnancy. The questionnaire was also used to gather basic information such as age, weight, height or education. Results: In the examined group of pregnant women the mean flexion of the lumbar spine to the front was 54.5⁰, to the back 16⁰, to the left 23⁰ and to the right 24.5⁰. The average spine turn to the left is 16.5⁰ and to the right 15.5⁰. 100% of the surveyed women, responded that physical activity during pregnancy is recommended, 82.22% of them are active during pregnancy. The most common physical activities are walking, next is swimming and special exercises for pregnant women and yoga. The fewest group were the women exercising Pilates. 31.11% of women exercise three times a week, 37.78% - twice a week, 22.22% - one a week and 6.67% less than one a week. 64.44% of women feel good thanks to practiced physical activity, 31.11% of women say that exercises improve their wellbeing. Conclusions: Regular physical activity has a positive impact on the wellbeing of women which participated in the research. Women’s knowledge about physical activity during pregnancy is quite high although it does not always translate to real world performed exercises. The study did not show the impact of physical activity on the mobility of the lumbar spine, but the study should be continued at a larger study group

Evaluation of the household sewage treatment process

Materiały konferencyjne zostały wydane jako numer specjalny czasopisma "Ochrona przed Korozją - 9s/A/2006".Przeprowadzono badania efektywności oczyszczania ścieków socjalno-bytowych w osadniku gnilnym. Analizie poddawano ścieki pobierane z komór osadnika oraz studzienki rewizyjnej przed drenażem rozsączającym przydomowej oczyszczalni. Stwierdzono dużą zmienność stężeń zanieczyszczeń w kolejnych seriach pomiarowych. Wartości ChZT w I komorze osadnika wahały się w granicach 528-2153 g/m³ a zawiesiny ogólnej 186-1360 g/m³. Jednocześnie zmiany wartości średnich ładunków zanieczyszczeń miedzy I komorą, a studzienką, były niewielkie i wynosiły, 14% dla BZT5 i 26% dla ChZT. Odnotowano też 67% wzrost średniej koncentracji azotu amonowego oraz około 2-krotny wzrost stężeń fosforanów, sodu i potasu. Natomiast koncentracje metali o mniejszej rozpuszczalności, zwłaszcza żelaza i cynku, ulegały obniżeniu w toku procesu mechanicznego oczyszczania.An evaluation of the effectiveness of the household sewage treatment process in a septic tank was undertaken. Sewage samples were collected from two compartments of a septic tank as well as from a dosing box. During the experimental period great variations of all measured indicators were observed. The values of COD and suspended solids in a I compartment ranged from 528-2153 g/m³, and 186-1360 g/m³ respectively, whereas in the dosing box they varied from 530-1041 g/m³ ,and 174-880 g/m3 respectively. Simultaneously, the average contents of pollutants did not varied considerably in the following steps of the plant. The percentage changes of pollutants, measured between I compartment and the dosing box showed 26% of COD decrease, 14% of BOD5 decrease and 67% of ammonium increase. An increasing tendency for phosphates, sodium and potassium was also observed, whereas iron, zinc and copper concentrations were significantly reduced

The Effect of Different Starch Liberation and Saccharification Methods on the Microbial Contaminations of Distillery Mashes, Fermentation Efficiency, and Spirits Quality

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different starch liberation and saccharification methods on microbiological contamination of distillery mashes. Moreover, the effect of hop α-acid preparation for protection against microbial infections was assessed. The quality of agricultural distillates was also evaluated. When applying the pressureless liberation of starch (PLS) and malt as a source of amylolytic enzymes, the lactic acid bacteria count in the mashes increased several times during fermentation. The mashes obtained using the pressure-thermal method and malt enzymes revealed a similar pattern. Samples prepared using cereal malt exhibited higher concentrations of lactic and acetic acids, as compared to mashes prepared using enzymes of microbial origin. The use of hop α-acids led to the reduction of bacterial contamination in all tested mashes. As a result, fermentation of both mashes prepared with microbial origin enzyme preparations and with barley malt resulted in satisfactory efficiency and distillates with low concentrations of aldehydes

Combined Yeast Cultivation and Pectin Hydrolysis as an Effective Method of Producing Prebiotic Animal Feed from Sugar Beet Pulp

An effective and ecological method for liberation of pectin-derived oligosaccharides (POS) from sugar beet pulp (SBP) was developed using enzymatic and microorganism-mediated biomass conversion. The POS may be applied in the production of prebiotic feed additives. Various yeast strains were screened for their capacity for protein synthesis and monosaccharide assimilation. Combined yeast cultivation and pectin hydrolysis were found to be an effective method of producing prebiotics. Separate enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of SBP resulted in the release of 3.6 g of POS per 100 g d.w., whereas the yield of POS acquired after the combined process was 17.9% higher, giving 4.2 g of POS per 100 g d.w. Introducing the yeast into the process improved hydrolysis performance due to lower enzyme inhibition by mono- and disaccharides. The prebiotic effect of the POS was assessed by in vitro fermentation using individual cultures of gastrointestinal bacteria. The POS in the SBP hydrolysate effectively promoted the growth of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. A large increase in adherence to Caco-2 cells in the presence of POS was noted for beneficial Lactobacillus brevis strains, whereas pathogenic bacteria and yeast (C. albicans, C. lusitanie, C. pelliculosa), responsible for infections in breeding animals, showed much weaker adhesion