Physiological and cell ultrastructure disturbances in wheat seedlings generated by Chenopodium murale hairy root exudate.

Chenopodium murale L. is an invasive weed species significantly interfering with wheat crop. However, the complete nature of its allelopathic influence on crops is not yet fully understood. In the present study, the focus is made on establishing the relation between plant morphophysiological changes and oxidative stress, induced by allelopathic extract. Phytotoxic medium of C. murale hairy root clone R5 reduced the germination rate (24% less than control value) of wheat cv. Nataša seeds, as well as seedling growth, diminishing shoot and root length significantly, decreased total chlorophyll content, and induced abnormal root gravitropism. The R5 treatment caused cellular structural abnormalities, reflecting on the root and leaf cell shape and organization. These abnormalities mostly included the increased number of mitochondria and reorganization of the vacuolar compartment, changes in nucleus shape, and chloroplast organization and distribution. The most significant structural changes were observed in cell wall in the form of amoeboid protrusions and folds leading to its irregular shape. These structural alterations were accompanied by an oxidative stress in tissues of treated wheat seedlings, reflected as increased level of H2O2 and other ROS molecules, an increase of radical scavenging capacity and total phenolic content. Accordingly, the retardation of wheat seedling growth by C. murale allelochemicals may represent a consequence of complex activity involving both cell structure alteration and physiological processes.This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Protoplasma. The final authenticated version is available online at: [http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00709-018-1250-0

POSEBNE DOKAZNE RADNJE U BALTIČKIM ZEMLJAMA

The authors in this paper deal with special investigative actions in Baltic countries. Special investigative measures today represent one of the most important measures in the fight against serious criminal offences, but its improper use endangers fundamental human rights, especially the right to privacy and the right to a fair trial. The article is divided into three main parts. After the introductory remarks, the authors elaborate the Lithuanian criminal procedure legislation, which influenced development of the European Court of Human Rights’s jurisprudence in the field of the undercover investigator. Latvian solutions are explained in the next part and its main characteristic are numerous special investigative measures. Finally, the authors explain Estonian legislation. The authors specifically consider and analyse the positions of the European Court of Human Rights through judgments rendered in this field. A wide range of special investigative actions indicates their diversity, but mostly the solutions of all three legal frameworks are in line with the standards of the European Court of Human Rights.U radu autori se bave posebnim dokaznim radnjama u baltičkim zemljama. Posebne dokazne radnje danas predstavljaju jednu od nezaobilaznih dokaznih mera u istragama teških krivičnih dela. Istovremeno, posebne dokazne radnje znatno više zadiru u ljudska prava u poređenju sa drugim, redovnim dokaznim radnjama. Njihova nepravilna upotreba ugrožava ljudska prava, a naročito pravo na privatnost i pravo na pravično suđenje. Rad je podeljen na tri dela. Nakon uvodnih razmatranja autori objašnjavaju litvansko zakonodavstvo, koje je u značajnoj meri uticalo na razvoj judikature Evropskog suda za ljudska prava u području prikrivenog islednika. Letonsko zakonodavstvo je obrađeno u drugom delu, a karakteriše ga veći broj posebnih dokaznih radnji. Na kraju, autori razrađuju zakonodavstvo Estonije u pogledu posebnih dokaznih radnji i daju zaključna razmatranja. Autori naročito ističu stavove Evropskog suda za ljudska prava koji su na ovom polju doneti protiv baltičkih zemalja. Širok dijapazon posebnih dokaznih radnji ukazuje na njihovu različitost, ali se može izvesti zaključak da su zakonski tekstovi pretežno u skladu sa standardima Evropskog suda za ljudska prava

Osteogenic effect of inflammatory macrophages loaded onto mineral bone substitute in subcutaneous implants

We analyzed the influence of inflammatory macrophages on the osteogenic process in subcutaneous implants composed of mineral bone substitute. Thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages (TEPMs) were characterized as inflammatory. This was confirmed microscopically by the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test and the production of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). The implants (M-type) were made of mineral bone substitute (Bio-Oss®) mixed with TEPMs and blood clot. Implants without macrophages served as the control (C-type). Subcutaneous implantation in the interscapular area was performed on BALB/c mice. Implants were extracted after 2 and 8 weeks. In M-type implants, phagocytosis and angiogenesis were more pronounced, and osteoblast-like cells aligned onto granules of implanted material and osteoid structures can be seen. The observed higher osteocalcin and lower osteopontin immunoexpression in M-type implants when compared to the control after 8 weeks suggest a more advanced osteogenic process. Our results indicate that the presence of inflammatory macrophages in the composition of an implant may have a beneficial effect on the osteogenic process. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III41017

Antioxidative-related enzyme activity in Alyssum markgrafii shoot cultures as affected by nickel level

Shoot cultures of rare Balkan hyperaccumulating species Alyssum markgrafii were subjected to high nickel concentrations of 1, 3, 5, and 8 mM. The effects of graded nickel concentrations on toxicity, pigments, and several components of plant antioxidative defense system were characterized. Toxic effects of excess nickel were observed through slower growth and biomass decrease, together with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and lipid peroxidation. Nickel exposure decreased chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll as well as carotenoid concentration. Addition of sodium benzoate, potent ROS scavenger, showed concentration-dependent disturbing effect on nickel hyperaccumulation, lowering the content of accumulated nickel in A. markgrafii shoots. General reducing power represented by low molecular weight antioxidants and phenols was inversely correlated with nickel concentration. Among the investigated antioxidative enzymes, POD seems to play important role in ROS level regulation upon excessive nickel in medium.Ministry of Education and Science of Republic of Serbia [173005, 173015

Antioxidative-related enzyme activity in Alyssum markgrafii shoot cultures as affected by nickel level

Shoot cultures of rare Balkan hyperaccumulating species Alyssum markgrafii were subjected to high nickel concentrations of 1, 3, 5, and 8 mM. The effects of graded nickel concentrations on toxicity, pigments, and several components of plant antioxidative defense system were characterized. Toxic effects of excess nickel were observed through slower growth and biomass decrease, together with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and lipid peroxidation. Nickel exposure decreased chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll as well as carotenoid concentration. Addition of sodium benzoate, potent ROS scavenger, showed concentration-dependent disturbing effect on nickel hyperaccumulation, lowering the content of accumulated nickel in A. markgrafii shoots. General reducing power represented by low molecular weight antioxidants and phenols was inversely correlated with nickel concentration. Among the investigated antioxidative enzymes, POD seems to play important role in ROS level regulation upon excessive nickel in medium.Ministry of Education and Science of Republic of Serbia [173005, 173015

Post-anaesthesia pulmonary complications after use of muscle relaxants (POPULAR): a multicentre, prospective observational study

Background Results from retrospective studies suggest that use of neuromuscular blocking agents during general anaesthesia might be linked to postoperative pulmonary complications. We therefore aimed to assess whether the use of neuromuscular blocking agents is associated with postoperative pulmonary complications. Methods We did a multicentre, prospective observational cohort study. Patients were recruited from 211 hospitals in 28 European countries. We included patients (aged ≥18 years) who received general anaesthesia for any in-hospital procedure except cardiac surgery. Patient characteristics, surgical and anaesthetic details, and chart review at discharge were prospectively collected over 2 weeks. Additionally, each patient underwent postoperative physical examination within 3 days of surgery to check for adverse pulmonary events. The study outcome was the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications from the end of surgery up to postoperative day 28. Logistic regression analyses were adjusted for surgical factors and patients’ preoperative physical status, providing adjusted odds ratios (ORadj) and adjusted absolute risk reduction (ARRadj). This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01865513. Findings Between June 16, 2014, and April 29, 2015, data from 22803 patients were collected. The use of neuromuscular blocking agents was associated with an increased incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications in patients who had undergone general anaesthesia (1658 [7·6%] of 21694); ORadj 1·86, 95% CI 1·53–2·26; ARRadj –4·4%, 95% CI –5·5 to –3·2). Only 2·3% of high-risk surgical patients and those with adverse respiratory profiles were anaesthetised without neuromuscular blocking agents. The use of neuromuscular monitoring (ORadj 1·31, 95% CI 1·15–1·49; ARRadj –2·6%, 95% CI –3·9 to –1·4) and the administration of reversal agents (1·23, 1·07–1·41; –1·9%, –3·2 to –0·7) were not associated with a decreased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Neither the choice of sugammadex instead of neostigmine for reversal (ORadj 1·03, 95% CI 0·85–1·25; ARRadj –0·3%, 95% CI –2·4 to 1·5) nor extubation at a train-of-four ratio of 0·9 or more (1·03, 0·82–1·31; –0·4%, –3·5 to 2·2) was associated with better pulmonary outcomes. Interpretation We showed that the use of neuromuscular blocking drugs in general anaesthesia is associated with an increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Anaesthetists must balance the potential benefits of neuromuscular blockade against the increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications