Vital Functions Contribute to the Spread of Extracellular Fluids in the Brain: Comparison Between Life and Death

Vascular pulsations, contractions of vascular smooth muscle cells and breathing have been reported to foster movement and clearance of interstitial and cerebrospinal fluids from the brain. The aim of this study was to estimate the contribution of these vital functions. We compared the spread of an injected hydrophilic tracer (Fluoro-Emerald, a 10 kDa fluorescein-coupled dextran amine) in the brains of live anesthetized and sacrificed rats at 30 and 90 min after injection. To determine the overall pattern of distribution of tracers, we created 3D-reconstructions of the horizontal transections of the whole brain. Immunofluorescence staining with laminin and collagen IV was performed to determine the pattern of distribution of tracer in relation to the cerebrovascular basement membranes. We found that diffusion was widely restricted to the periventricular region in sacrificed rats with no spread to the contralateral hemisphere, while the bulk flow occurred along the vasculature and reached the surface and the contralateral hemisphere as soon as 30 min after injection in live anesthetized animals. The tracer appeared to be localized along the vascular basement membranes and along fiber tracts as reported previously. Thus, our data indicate that vital functions are essential for the remote movement of extracellular fluids within the cerebral parenchyma

Abiotic Determinants of the Historical Buildings Biodeterioration in the Former Auschwitz II – Birkenau Concentration and Extermination Camp

The paper presents the results of a study conducted at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oświecim on the occurrence of biodeterioration. Visual assessment of the buildings revealed signs of deterioration of the buildings in the form of dampness, bulging and crumbling plaster, and wood fiber splitting. The external surfaces, and especially the concrete strips and ground immediately adjoining the buildings, were colonized by bryophytes, lichens, and algae. These organisms developed most intensively close to the ground on the northern sides of the buildings. Inside the buildings, molds and bacteria were not found to develop actively, while algae and wood-decaying fungi occurred locally. The factors conducive to biological corrosion in the studied buildings were excessive dampness of structural partitions close to the ground and a relative air humidity of above 70%, which was connected to ineffective moisture insulation. The influence of temperature was smaller, as it mostly affected the quantitative composition of the microorganisms and the qualitative composition of the algae. Also the impact of light was not very strong, but it was conducive to algae growth

In vitro characteristics of Lactobacillus spp. strains isolated from the chicken digestive tract and their role in the inhibition of Campylobacter colonization

Campylobacter jejuni/coli infections are the leading cause of bacterial diarrheal illnesses in humans. Many epidemiological studies indicate that improperly prepared meat from chickens that carry a high load of Campylobacter in their intestinal tracts is the key source of human infections. LAB, mainly members of the Lactococcus and Lactobacillus genera, increasingly have been tested as vehicles for the delivery of heterologous bacterial or viral antigens to animal mucosal immune systems. Thus, the objective of this study was to isolate, identify, and characterize Lactobacillus spp. strains isolated from chickens bred in Poland. Their ability to decrease the level of bird gut colonization by C. jejuni strain was also analyzed. First, the influence of the different chicken rearing systems was evaluated, especially the effect of diets on the Lactobacillus species that colonize the gut of chickens. Next, selected strains were analyzed in terms of their anti-Campylobacter activity in vitro; potential probiotic traits such as adhesion properties, bile and low pH tolerance; and their ability to grow on a defined carbon source. Given that improperly prepared chicken meat is the main source of human infection by Campylobacter, the selected strains were also assessed for their ability to inhibit Campylobacter colonization in the bird's intestine. These experiments revealed enormous physiological diversity among the Lactobacillus genus strains. Altogether, our results showed that L. plantarum strains isolated from the digestive tracts of chickens bred in Poland displayed some probiotic attributes in vitro and were able to decrease the level of bird gut colonization by C. jejuni strain. This suggests that they can be employed as vectors to deliver Campylobacter immunodominant proteins to the bird's immune system to strengthen the efficacy of in ovo vaccination

Oak pollen in the air of Poland in 2017

The aim of the study was to compare the pollen season of oak in the cities of Bialystok, Bydgoszcz, Cracow, Katowice, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Lublin, Olsztyn, Opole, Szczecin, Warsaw, Wroclaw and Zielona Gora in 2017. Measurements were performed by the volumetric method (Hirst type pollen sampler). Seasonal Pollen Index (SPI) was estimated as the sum of daily average pollen concentrations in the given season. Pollen season was defined as the period in which 98% of the annual total catch occurred. The pollen season of oak started first in Szczecin, on the 1st April, and lasted till the end of May. At the latest pollen season ended in Olsztyn on the 1st June. However, in the most of other cities the season lasted till the end of May. The differences of pollen seasons duration were considerables from 28 to 56 days. The highest, record airborne concentration of 342 pollen grains/m3 was noted in Warsaw on the 17th May. The maximum values of seasonal pollen count occurred between of 11th and 20th May. The highest oak pollen allergen hazard occurred in 2017 in Piotrkow Trybunalski, Lublin and Warsaw

Maple pollen season in selected cities of Poland in 2018

The study compares the maple pollen seasons in Bialystok, Bydgoszcz, Cracow, Drawsko Pomorskie, Sosnowiec, Lublin, Olsztyn, Opole, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Szczecin, Warsaw and Zielona Gora in 2018. The investigations were conducted using the volumetric method. The maple season started in all sites in the first decade of April, with the exception of Sosnowiec, where the season began already on March 16th. The peak values of seasonal pollen count occurred between 12th–20th April in all cities. The highest daily pollen count was recorded in Sosnowiec and in Lublin on the same day (12th April) in both cities. The greatest risk of allergies caused by the presence of airborne maple pollen was observed in Sosnowiec, Lublin and Opole

Hornbeam pollen in the air of Poland in 2018

The study compares the hornbeam pollen seasons in Bialystok, Bydgoszcz, Drawsko Pomorskie, Zielona Gora, Opole, Sosnowiec, Cracow, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Warsaw, Lublin, Olsztyn and Szczecin in 2018. The investigations were carried out using the volumetric method (Hirst type pollen sampler). Seasonal Pollen Index was estimated as the sum of daily average pollen concentrations in the given season. Pollen season was defined as the period in which 98% of the annual total catch occurred. The pollen season of hornbeam started first in Bialystok, on the April 3rd. At the latest, a pollen season ended in Lublin and Sosnowiec at the beginning of May. However, in most other cities the season lasted till the end of April. The differences of pollen seasons duration were considerable, from 16 to 36 days. The highest airborne concentration of 168 pollen grains/m3 was noted in Lublin on the April 14th. The maximum values of seasonal pollen count occurred between April 12th and 16th. The highest hornbeam pollen allergen hazard occurred in 2018 in Lublin, Warsaw and Piotrkow Trybunalski

The goosefoot in the air of selected Polish cities in 2018

This paper presents the course of goosefoot pollination in selected cities of Poland in 2018. The measurements were performed in Bialystok, Bydgoszcz, Cracow, Drawsko Pomorskie, Lublin, Olsztyn, Opole, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Sosnowiec, Szczecin, Warsaw, Wroclaw, and Zielona Gora. Volumetric method with the use of Volumetric Spore Trap (Burkard, Lanzoni) was implemented. In the studied cities in 2018, pollen season of goosefoot started in the third decade of May and ended in the third decade of September. Goosefoot pollen stayed in the air for more than 100 days – 142 days in Sosnowiec and 109 days in Bialystok. Maximum daily concentration (26 P/m3) was noticed in Bialystok, although the lowest – in Cracow (7 P/m3). In the majority of the measuring points the highest moment of pollen season was in August. The highest number of pollen grains in 2018 was found in Lublin (478 grains), the lowest – in Cracow (149 grains). The concentration above 10 P/m3 was very rare, only in Lublin it was this high for 12 days and in Warsaw for 8 days

Analysis of the grass pollen season in selected Polish cities in 2018

The paper presents the course of the grass (Poaceae) pollen season in Bialystok, Bydgoszcz, Cracow, Sosnowiec, Lublin, Olsztyn, Szczecin, Drawsko Pomorskie, Warsaw, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Opole, Wroclaw and Zielona Gora in 2018. The pollen of grass is the primary trigger of pollen allergies during the summer months. It causes some of the most severe and difficult-to-treat symptoms. Measurements were performed by the volumetric method (Burkard and Lanzoni pollen samplers). The pollen season of Poaceae started first in Sosnowiec, Lublin and Opole in the third decade of April. The highest, record airborne concentration of 243 pollen grains/m3 was noted in Lublin on June 19th. The maximum values of seasonal pollen count occurred between of May 27th and June 4th in all cities. The highest grass pollen allergen hazard occurred in 2018 in Warsaw, Lublin and Zielona Gora

The oak pollen concentration in the air of selected cities in Poland in 2018

This paper contains an analysis of oak pollen seasons in selected cities of Poland in 2018. Sampling sites were located in the following cities: Bialystok, Bydgoszcz, Cracow, Drawsko Pomorskie, Lublin, Olsztyn, Opole, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Sosnowiec, Szczecin, Warsaw, Wroclaw and Zielona Gora. The volumetric method was applied using the Burkard or Lanzoni trap. The pollen season was determined by the 98% method. The season started earliest in Sosnowiec (April 14th). The mean duration of the pollen season was 33 days. The highest pollen concentration (713 P/m3) was observed in Wroclaw (April 19th). The peak values were recorded between April 19th and May 1st in the different cities

The analysis of mugwort pollen count in selected Polish cities in 2014

Celem pracy było porównanie sezonu pyłkowego bylicy w 2014 r. w Bydgoszczy, Krakowie, Lublinie, Piotrkowie Trybunalskim, Poznaniu, Sosnowcu, Szczecinie i Warszawie. Pomiary stężenia pyłku prowadzono metodą objętościową z zastosowaniem aparatów Burkard oraz Lanzoni. Sezon pyłkowy wyznaczono jako okres, w którym w powietrzu występuje 98% rocznej sumy ziaren pyłku. Indeks SPI obliczono jako sumę średnich dobowych stężeń pyłku w danym sezonie. Sezon pyłkowy bylicy najwcześniej (13 czerwca) rozpoczął się w Szczecinie, a najpóźniej (15 lipca) – w Lublinie i Warszawie. Zanotowano znaczne różnice w czasie trwania sezonu. Najwyższe wartości stężeń zaobserwowano w Poznaniu, maksymalne stężenie wynoszące 172 z/m3 zarejestrowano 19 sierpnia. Maksymalne wartości sezonowe koncentracji pyłku we wszystkich miastach wystąpiły między 27 lipca a 19 sierpnia.The aim of the study was to compare the pollen season of mugwort in the cities of Bydgoszcz, Cracow, Lublin, Piotrków Trybunalski, Poznań, Sosnowiec, Szczecin and Warsaw in 2014. Measurements were performed by the volumetric method (Burkard and Lanzoni pollen sampler). Pollen season was defined as the period in which 98% of the annual total catch occurred. Seasonal Pollen Index (SPI) was estimated as the annual sum of daily average pollen concentrations. The pollen season of mugwort started first in Szczecin, on the 13th of June, and at the latest – on the 15th of July – in Lublin and Warsaw. The differences of pollen seasons duration were considerables. The highest record airborne concentration of 172 pollen grains/m3 was noted in Poznań on the 19th of August. The maximum values of seasonal pollen count occurred between 27th of July and 19th of August in all cities