Auf dem Weg zu flugbrandresistenten Gerstensorten für den Ökolandbau

This paper represents a part of the continuing breeding program for resistance to true loose smut in barley in Bulgaria. It is also a continuation of the paper presented on the 8th European Symposium on organic farming in Kassel 2005. Research on seed-borne diseases started in Bulgaria on barley in the 1960´s at the Institute for barley Re-search in Karnobat. Breeding research especially for a later use in organic farming in Bulgaria started 1998 with the present international project managed by Dr. Todorova. 56 dihaploid lines were derived from F1-hybrids of two barley crosses between resis-tant and susceptible Bulgarian and foreign cultivars bearing the resistant genes Run12 and Run13. The DH progenies were tested in 5 generations for loose smut resistance on the field and in the lab with the embryotest. 10 resistant DH-progenies with gene Run12 and 16 resistant DH-progenies with Run13 were selected. In the last years agronomically characterisation of the future cultivars is going on. 7 dihaploid lines with appropriate agronomic traits are selected for future cultivar developing with true loose smut resistance for organic farming

Long term changes and recent state of macrozoobenthic communities along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast

The analysis of macrozoobenthic samples collected from 34 stations along the Bulgarian Black Sea shelf at depths ranging from 12 to 83 m yielded 103 taxonomic units. The average abundance established in the present study was over 5000 ind/m2 with nearly 70% dominance of the polychaetes. The number of species, Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H') and Pielou's evenness (J) were the lowest in Varna and Burgas bays, indicating that they are the most ecologically threatened areas along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. The quantitative and qualitative data were compared to published data from the pristine period 1954-1957 and from the period 1982-1985 with intensive anthropogenic pressure. The comparison revealed an increase of the share of molluscan species and a decrease of the contribution of crustacean species in the total number of species. A 7-fold increase of the total average abundance was established compared to the pristine period 1954-1957. During the recent period the polychaetes are the most dominant group in the benthic abundance, while during the pristine period 1954-1957 the most abundant were the molluscs with nearly 61% of the total abundance. These changes in the benthic communities are attributed to the process of eutrophication. While in the pelagic environment signs of recovery have been observed, we deem that up to 1997 no such signs are valid for the benthic communities

Neugezüchtete flugbrandresistente Gerste aus Bulgarien

Our study presents a part of the long-term program for resistance breeding to smuts in barley in Bulgaria. 56 dihaploid lines were derived from F1-hybrids of two barley crosses between resistant and susceptible Bulgarian and foreign cultivars bearing the resistant genes Run12 and Run13. The DH progenies were tested in 3 generations for loose smut resistance on the field and in the lab with the embryotest. 10 resistant DH-progenies with gene Run12 and 16 resistant DH-progenies with Run13 were selected and agronomically characterised for new cultivar development

CLINICAL TESTING OF «ALBUFAN» AND «GLUCOFAN» - INDICATOR PAPERS FOR PROTEIN AND SUGAR DEMONSTRATION IN THE URINE

No abstract

Vitamin B12: Could It Be a Promising Immunotherapy?

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin and an important micronutrient with critical role in DNA, protein, and lipid synthesis. It is responsible for one-carbon metabolism and cell division of nervous and hematopoietic cells. Among its various functions, the role as immunomodulator in cellular immunity, especially in elevating the number of CD8+ cells and NK cells, attracts scientific interest. Many alternative anticancer and anti-inflammatory treatments involve the use of B12 together with other vitamins and nutrients, but still the scientific information is too obscure and insufficient. Controversial data link tumorigenesis with either increased or decreased B12 blood levels in different types of cancer. Dietary intake and additional supplement with the vitamin do not protect against cancer risk, but the dominant opinion is to integrate B12 as part of rational and healthy nutrition to ensure proper function of the immune system. This chapter will review in brief the most important facts for vitamin B12 functions and properties. We will try also to present in concise way the human immune system and the exact role of B12 in immune activity with emphasis on the questionable participation of vitamin B12 in the process of carcinogenesis and its significance as anticancer immunotherapy

A QUANTITATIVE METHOD FOR COPPER DETERMINATION IN THE BLOOD SERUM

No abstract

Tuberculosis and HIV — Doubling the Fatality

Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS infection are one of the most ubiquitous and deadliest communicable diseases in the world. They cause millions of deaths each year and are recognized as major threats for public health worldwide. The corresponding pathogens (Mycobacterium tuberculosis and HIV) share overlapping epidemiology—they affect low-income countries and place an immense burden on their feeble health care systems. Over the last decades, the natural history of both diseases has changed; in addition to devastating single HIV and TB infections, the coinfection with both pathogens has emerged and has spread in pandemic scale. When present as dual infection in an individual, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and HIV potentiate each other and kill in cooperation the host. TB is the leading cause of death in HIV-positive patients and in turn HIV infection is the strongest risk factor for the development of new or reactivation of dormant TB disease. Both pathogens (as single or dual infection) provoke a robust immune response in the infected host but the immune system does not achieve to eliminate the infectious agent(s). The failure of immune defense results in vulnerable immune balance between the micro- and the macroorganism and often ends up in a fatal outcome