Lichens and allied fungi new for Latvia

Six lichenized fungi (Calicium parvum, C. trabinellum, Carbonicola anthracophila, C. myrmecina, Peltigera extenuata, Pycnora sorophora), two lichenicolous (Clypeococcum hypocenomycis and Illosporium carneum), and two saprobic calicioid fungi (Chaenothecopsis savonica and Microcalicium arenarium) are reported as new for Latvia.

The main drivers for the occurrence of six red-listed epiphytic bryophytes and lichens in the boreo-nemoral forest landscape, Latvia

Forest landscape plays a significant role in rare cryptogam distribution. However, data about the environmental demands of rare epiphytic bryophytes and lichens in boreo-nemoral forest landscapes are not complete. In this study, we focused on finding the main environmental predictors influencing the occurrence of three red-listed epiphytic bryophytes and three red-listed epiphytic lichens in the Latvian boreo-nemoral forest landscape. We obtained the records of species from the Natural Data Management System OZOLS database, which is a national information system on all rare taxa. We analyzed the occurrence of species in relation to forest stand age and area, forest type, heterogeneity and tree bark pH class. We found that selected red-listed bryophyte and lichen occurrence was mainly influenced by forest stand age and area. However, each of the red-listed epiphytic bryophyte and lichen has their own ecological demands in the boreo-nemoral landscape

Evaluation of Histological Findings of Airways of Rats Exposed to Highly Polluted Indoor Air in Offices

Publisher Copyright: © 2016 Žanna Martinsone et al., published by De Gruyter Open 2016.Humans are exposed to chemicals and PM (particulate matter), including ultrafine particles (nanoparticles), mainly through inhalation. This creates a risk to their health. Another effect to exposure is expression of cytokines and their role in lung inflammation and morphpathogenesis. We conducted a pilot project based on testing of realistic exposure scenarios by describing morphological changes of the respiratory tract in Wistar rats (male) during a 30-day exposure in office where there was high intensity of printing activities. Tracheal tissue of experimental animals had increasing concentrations of inflammatory interleukin IL-1 and decreasing concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α. The lungs of the experimental animals tended to show focal infiltration of inflammatory cells, vascular plethora, focal and/or diffuse localisation of lymphatic nodules, and also vascular sclerosis and focal emphysema. The results suggested potential dangerous and adverse effect of poor indoor air quality (particles, including nanoparticles, and chemical compounds) on respiratory tract tissue of rats.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Where the interesting species grow – remarkable records of lichens and lichenicolous fungi found during a Nordic Lichen Society meeting in Estonia

In August 2019, the Nordic Lichen Society held its bi-annual meeting and excursion in south-western Estonia. The most remarkable findings of lichenized and lichenicolous fungi are recorded herewith, including nine new species (of them two lichenicolous), and one new intraspecific taxon for the country. Full species lists are provided for two notable locations, sandstone outcrop at the river Pärnu and an oak woodland in the Naissoo Nature Reserve, for which no previous data were available, to illustrate the importance of collective survey effort.   2019. a augustis toimus Eestis korraline, iga kahe aasta järel korraldatav Põhjamaade Lihhenoloogide Ühingu kokkutulek ja ekskursioon. Artiklis anname ülevaate huvitavatest lihheniseerunud ja lihhenikoolsete liikide leidudest, sealhulgas üheksa (neist kahe lihhenikoolse) liigi esmaleiust Eestis ja ühe liigisisese taksoni esmaleiust. Lisaks esitatakse lihheniseerunud, lihhenikoolsete ja neile lähedaste seente täisnimekirjad, mis koostati kahe elupaiga – Tori Põrgu Maastikukaitseala liivakivipaljandi ning Naissoo Looduskaitseala koosseisu jääva Naissoo tammiku – kohta

Non-invasive diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease using gastrin- and pepsinogen-based tests

Gastrin-17 (G-17), pepsinogen-1 (Pg1) and pepsinogen-2 (Pg2) reflect the functional state of gas-tric mucosa and are used for non-invasive diagnosis and screening of atrophic gastritis. The aimof the study was to clarify if erosive reflux disease (ERD) or non-ERD (NERD) can be distin-guished from other dyspeptic conditions in patients, in a non-invasive manner using specificbiomarkers. Levels of G-17, Pg1, and Pg2 were measured in 141 ERD patients (median age 48years, males — 68), 122 NERD patients (median age 45 years, males — 32) and 410 control pa-tients (median age 50 years, males — 97). Levels of biomarkers in ERD and NERD groups werecompared to controls. Median levels of G-17 (1.94 vs 2.92 pmol/L, p = 0.036) and Pg2 (6.70 vs7.79 μg/l,p= 0.046) were lower in the ERD group compared to control patients; no differencewith respect to the control was found for the NERD group. After exclusion of the patients havingat least one potential condition that might modify the levels of the biomarkers (gastric mucosa at-rophy, Helicobacter pylori colonisation), no difference in levels of biomarkers was observed withrespect to the control for both the ERD and NERD groups. G-17, Pg1, and Pg2 based tests can-not be used to distinguish ERD or NERD from other dyspeptic conditions in patients.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Lack of Association between Rs2067474 Polymorphism in the Histamine Receptor H2 Gene and Gastric Cancer in Latvian Population

Funding Information: The study was partly supported by the Latvian Government Research Programme BIOMEDICINE 2014–2017 Project Nr. 4 “Study of gastric cancer mortality reduction capability in Latvia”. Publisher Copyright: © 2018 Georgijs Moisejevs et al.Histamine has an important role in the process of the gastric mucosa inflammation acting via histamine receptor H2 (encoded by the gene HRH2). Single nucleotide polymorphism of the enhancer element of HRH2 gene promoter rs2067474 (1018G>A)may be associated with changes of expression of the receptor. We attempted to clarify the association of this polymorphism with gastric cancer and/or atrophic gastritis in the Latvian (Caucasian) population. The study group consisted of 121 gastric cancer patients and 650 patients with no evidence of gastric neoplasia on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Genotyping for rs2067474 was performed with the TaqMan probe-based system using a commercially available probe for RT-PCR. The frequency of the A allele in the gastric cancer group was 0.41% and in the control group - 1.54% (p = 0.231). No significant differences were found comparing genotypes between gastric cancer versus control patients (OR = 0.236, CI95% = 0.030-1.896), patients with (n = 165) versus without (n = 485) gastric metaplastic lesions (OR = 0.854, CI95% = 0.288-2.540) and patients with (n = 297) and without (n = 353) gastric atrophic lesions (OR = 1.145, CI95% = 0.451-2.906). Our findings suggest that the HRH2 -1018G>A polymorphism (rs2067474) is neither associated with gastric cancer nor the grade of atrophic gastritis in the Latvian (Caucasian) population.Peer reviewe

Glutathione reductase is associated with the clinical outcome of septic shock in the patients treated using continuous veno-venous haemofiltration

Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Background and objectives: At present, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of continuous veno-venous haemofiltration (CVVH) in the early treatment of septic shock. This study focuses on the association between survival and different parameters of oxidative stress (RedOx). Thereby, we evaluated whether RedOx markers are associated with the outcome of septic shock in patients under early-initiated CVVH treatment. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study of 65 patients with septic shock who started CVVH within 12 h after hospital admission. Blood samples were taken from each patient prior to the start of CVVH. The following RedOx markers were measured: glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase (GR), total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, nitric oxide, malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal. The odds ratio (OR) was calculated using binary logistic regression and stepwise multivariable regression. Results: The 65 patients had a median age of 66 years and 39 were male. Based on the outcome, the patients were divided into two groups—non-survivors (n = 29) and survivors (n = 36)—and the levels of RedOx markers were compared between them. Of all the markers, only higher GR activity was found to be significantly associated with the fatal outcome; 100.3 U/L versus 60.5 U/L, OR = 1.027 (95% CI, 1.010–1.044). Following adjustment for the sequential organ failure assessment score and other parameters, GR activity still presented a significant association with the fatal outcome, OR = 1.020 (95% CI, 1.002–1.038). Conclusions: GR activity is associated with in-hospital fatal outcomes among septic shock patients under early-initiated CVVH treatment. Septic shock patients who have a lower GR activity at hospital admission may have a favourable outcome of the early initiation of CVVH.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Lichens and allied fungi from the Gauja National Park (Latvia), including new records for the country

In summer and autumn 2020, a lichenological inventory took place in the Gauja National Park (Latvia, Northern Europe). In total, 60 species of lichenized fungi, six non-lichenized saprophytic fungi and three non-lichenized fungi are reported as new for Gauja National Park. Among them, ten species are new to Latvia. Data on habitats, substrates, main characteristics and distribution in the neighbouring countries to Latvia are provided. The total number of lichenized and closely related fungi for the Gauja National Park is 346

New records of lichens and lichenicolous fungi from Latvia, with a list of lichenicolous fungi reported from Latvia

Four species of lichen-forming fungi (Calicium pinastri, Chaenotheca laevigata, Lecania croatica and Pycnora praestabilis) and two lichenicolous fungi (Arthrorhaphis aeruginosa and Chaenothecopsis epithallina) are reported as new for Latvia. The first comprehensive list of lichenicolous fungi in Latvia is also presented, including their hosts and distribution in Latvia (northern Europe)