Study on chromium-binding capacity of Callitriche cophocarpa in an aquatic environment

The aim of the present study was to investigate the binding strength of chromium (Cr) ions to aquatic macrophyte Callitriche cophocarpa. Shoots of the plants were incubated in a natural water solution containing Cr(III) or Cr(VI) at a concentration ranging from 0.5 to 4 mM under laboratory conditions. We found that C. cophocarpa has an extremely high capacity to bind Cr. The average level of accumulation reached 28,385 or 7,315 mg kg(−1) dry weight for plants incubated with Cr(III) or Cr(VI), respectively. Shoots incubated in a 0.5 mM concentration of Cr(III) for 5 days removed almost 100 % of the metal from solution. The major pool of the bound Cr(III) ions follows the strongest mechanism of metal-binding to an organic matter. In contrast, we found that only 25 % of Cr(VI) ions are bound into the metallo-organic compounds and 57 % of Cr(VI) exists in an easily remobilizable form. Activity of a photosynthetic electron transport (as F(V)/F(M)) was evaluated with respect to the Cr-binding mechanism. Our results contribute to the development of knowledge on processes controlling bioremediation of heavy-metallic compounds in aquatic systems

Potential for chromium (VI) bioremediation by the aquatic carnivorous plant Utricularia gibba L. (Lentibulariaceae)

The aquatic carnivorous plant Utricularia gibba has one of the smallest known genomes among flowering plants, and therefore, it is an excellent model organism for physiological and developmental studies. The main aim of our work was to check whether the ubiquitous U. gibba might be useful for the phytoremediation of the highly toxic and mobile hexavalent chromium in waters. Plants were incubated for 1 week in a 50 μM (2.6 mg dm−3) Cr(VI) solution in laboratory conditions. Our results revealed that the plant exhibits a very high accumulation capacity for Cr. The accumulation level was higher than 780 mg kg−1 and a bioconcentration factor >300. On the other hand, the plants showed a low tolerance to the elevated Cr concentration, which was expressed in a significant decrease of the photosystem II activity. However, the most pronounced negative influence of chromate was found on the morphology and activity of the traps. Due to its high accumulation capacity, we suggest that U. gibba may be efficient in the removal of chromate over a short time scale. It can also provide a new molecular resource for studying the mechanisms of Cr(VI) detoxification

AgNOR, Ki-67 and PCNA expression in fibroepithelial tumours of the breast in correlation with morphological features

The authors retrospectively reviewed the cytological slides of 44 histopathologically confirmed fibroepithelial lesions of the breast, of which 11 were fibroadenoma (FA), 19 benign phyllodes tumours (PTLGM), 8 borderline (PTBM) and 6 malignant (PTHGM). The 2 FA misdiagnosed as PTLGM in cytological smears were both of cellular type. NORS were quantified in a series of the above cases using the silver-colloid method. Expression of Ki-67 and PCNA were evaluated by immunohistochemistry on sections from the corresponding paraffin blocks. The results were compared with morphological parameters. In phyllodes tumours (PT), the AgNOR scores showed a tendency to increase with degrees of malignancy. There was significant correlation between Ag- NOR counts and proliferation rates as determined by Ki-67 and PCNA immunostaining. Ki-67 and PCNA expression correlated with mitotic count, stromal overgrowth, cellularity and atypia in PT. Determination of the AgNOR number per cell revealed an overlap between FA and PTLGM. The proliferating activity determined by immunohistochemistry with Ki-67 and PCNA antibodies did not reveal any significant difference between FA and PTLGM. In summary, Ki-67 and PCNA expression is suggested as a marker of stromal element proliferation. The results obtained confirm the diagnostic difficulties in distinguishing PTLGM from FA of the cellular type using fine needle aspiration cytology

Chromium distribution in shoots of macrophyte Callitriche cophocarpa Sendtn.

The aim of the study was the analysis of Cr distribution in shoots of the macrophyte Callitriche cophocarpa by means of two X-ray-based techniques: micro X-ray fluorescence (mu XRF) and electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPXMA). Plants were treated with 100 mu M (5.2 mg l(-1)) chromium solutions for 7 days. Cr was introduced independently at two speciations as Cr(III) and Cr(VI), known for their diverse physicochemical properties and different influence on living organisms. A comparative analysis of Cr(III)-treated plants by EPXMA and mu XRF demonstrated high deposition of Cr in epidermal glands/hairs localized on leaves and stems of the plant shoots. Cr in Cr(III)-treated plants was recorded solely in glands/hairs, and the element was not present in any other structures. On the other hand, Cr in Cr(VI)-treated group of plants was rather found in vascular bundles. Moreover, the concentration of Cr in Cr(VI)-treated plants was significantly lower than in plants incubated in Cr(III) solution. The results obtained in this work suggest differences in chromium uptake, transport and accumulation dependent on the oxidative state of the element

Analiza częstości izolacji i profil lekooporności drobnoustrojów izolowanych z dróg oddechowych dorosłych chorych na mukowiscydozę leczonych w Instytucie Gruźlicy i Chorób Płuc w latach 2008–2011

  INTRODUCTION: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common genetic autosomal recessive genetic disease. The most serious symptoms are observed in the lungs. Recurrent respiratory infections are the main causes of the hospitalizations and deaths of cystic fibrosis patients. Pathogens that commonly infect the airways of adult CF patients include Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The aim of this study was to analyse the microorganisms cultured from the airways of adult CF patients and to test the antimicrobial resistance of the most frequently isolated bacteria.MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, 1422 isolates of 89 CF patients were collected during a 4-year period. The microorganisms were cultured and identified according to standard microbiological procedures. Identification and drug susceptibility were performed in an automatic system Phoenix (BD), Vitek2Compact (bioMérieux), and disk-diffusion method by Kirby-Bauer.RESULTS: Among the 1422 strains the most frequent pathogens were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (55.6%) and Staphylococcus aureus (37.8%). A total of 482 (61.0%) strains of 790 isolates of P. aeruginosa, were identified as P. aeruginosa mucoid phenotype. The isolates with mucoid phenotypes were more susceptible to antibiotics than non-mucoid. Eighty-six strains of S. aureus showed resistance to methicillin (MRSA), which accounted for 16.0% of all strains of S. aureus.CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of microbiological materials from adult CF patients treated in IGiChP allowed the determination of the prevalence of potentially pathogenic microorganisms. The data obtained are consistent with the literature.  WSTĘP: Mukowiscydoza (CF) jest najczęściej występującą chorobą genetyczną dziedziczoną w sposób autosomalny recesywny. Jest to choroba wielonarządowa, w której o jakości i długości życia chorych decyduje przede wszystkim stopień zaawansowania zmian w układzie oddechowym. Nawracające infekcje bakteryjne układu oddechowego są częstą przyczyną hospitalizacji i zgonów chorych na mukowiscydozę. Drobnoustrojami głównie zakażającymi drogi oddechowe dorosłych chorych na mukowiscydozę są Staphylococcus aureus i Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Celem badania była analiza mikroorganizmówizolowanych z dróg oddechowych dorosłych chorych na mukowiscydozę i określenie lekooporności najczęściej izolowanych patogenów.MATERIAŁ I METODY: Materiał do badań stanowiły 1422 szczepy izolowane od 89 chorych w okresie 4 lat. Do izolacji i identyfikacji szczepów stosowano standardowe procedury bakteriologiczne. Oznaczenie lekowrażliwości szczepów przeprowadzono w automatycznym systemie Phoenix (BD) i Vitek2Compact (bioMérieux) oraz metodą dyfuzyjno-krążkową wg Kirby-Bauera.WYNIKI: W naszym badaniu, wśród 1422 szczepów najczęściej izolowanymi patogenami były Pseudomonas aeruginosa (55,6%) i Staphylococcus aureus (37,8%). 482 (61,0%) z 790 szczepów P. aeruginosa zidentyfikowano, jako fenotyp śluzowy. W badaniu wykazano, że szczepy P. aeruginosa o fenotypie śluzowym cechowała większa wrażliwość na antybiotyki niż szczepy nieśluzowe. Osiemdziesiąt sześć szczepów S. aureus wykazywało oporność na metycylinę (MRSA), co stanowiło 16,0% wszystkich wyizolowanych od chorych szczepów S. aureus.WNIOSKI: Przeprowadzona analiza mikrobiologiczna materiałów pochodzących od dorosłych chorych na mukowiscydozę leczonych w IGiChP pozwoliła na ustalenie częstości występowania u nich drobnoustrojów potencjalnie patogennych. Uzyskane dane są zgodne z danymi literaturowymi.

Recommendations for the management of tuberculosis in children — KOMPASS TB. Part 1: Tuberculosis prevention

Since the second half of the 20th century the incidence of tuberculosis has been declining in Poland. Despite this, current epidemiological data still support the need for the continued mass BCG vaccination in Poland in the near future. Apart from the protection against severe hematogenous forms of tuberculosis, vaccination lowers the risk of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Primary and acquired immunodeficiency, including immunity disorders associated with an ongoing treatment, are contraindications to BCG vaccination. The most common adverse effects following BCG vaccination are reactions at the site of injection and in regional lymph nodes, which usually does not require treatment. Methods of tuberculosis prevention, particularly recommended in low-incidence countries, include: diagnostic investigations of patients who had contacts with pulmonary tuberculosis as well as an active detection and treatment of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Latent tuberculosis infection can be identified on the basis of positive results of the tuberculin skin test or interferon-gamma release assays after the active disease has been ruled out. This condition does require prophylactic treatment

Rekomendacje postępowania w gruźlicy u dzieci — KOMPAS TB. Część 1 — profilaktyka gruźlicy

Od drugiej połowy XX wieku obserwuje się w Polsce systematyczny spadek liczby zachorowań na gruźlicę. Mimo to aktualne wskaźniki epidemiologiczne uzasadniają kontynuację powszechnych szczepień BCG w naszym kraju w najbliższych latach. Poza ochroną przed ciężkimi, krwiopochodnymi postaciami gruźlicy, szczepienie to zmniejsza ryzyko zakażenia prątkiem gruźlicy. Przeciwwskazania do szczepienia BCG to między innymi pierwotne i nabyte niedobory odporności, w tym zaburzenia immunologiczne związane ze stosowanym leczeniem. Do najczęstszych niepożądanych odczynów po szczepieniu BCG należą zmiany w miejscu szczepienia i zmiany odczynowe w lokalnych węzłach chłonnych, zazwyczaj niewymagające leczenia. Metody zapobiegania gruźlicy, szczególnie zalecane w krajach o niskiej zapadalności na tę chorobę, to: diagnostyka osób stykających się z chorym na gruźlicę płuc oraz aktywne wykrywanie i leczenie utajonego zakażenia prątkiem gruźlicy. Utajone zakażenie prątkiem gruźlicy rozpoznaje się na podstawie dodatnich wyników odczynu tuberkulinowego (OT) lub testu wydzielania interferonu gamma, po wykluczeniu gruźlicy aktywnej. Stan ten wymaga leczenia profilaktycznego.Od drugiej połowy XX wieku obserwuje się w Polsce systematyczny spadek liczby zachorowań na gruźlicę. Mimo to aktualne wskaźniki epidemiologiczne uzasadniają kontynuację powszechnych szczepień BCG w naszym kraju w najbliższych latach. Poza ochroną przed ciężkimi, krwiopochodnymi postaciami gruźlicy, szczepienie to zmniejsza ryzyko zakażenia prątkiem gruźlicy. Przeciwwskazania do szczepienia BCG to między innymi pierwotne i nabyte niedobory odporności, w tym zaburzenia immunologiczne związane ze stosowanym leczeniem. Do najczęstszych niepożądanych odczynów po szczepieniu BCG należą zmiany w miejscu szczepienia i zmiany odczynowe w lokalnych węzłach chłonnych, zazwyczaj niewymagające leczenia. Metody zapobiegania gruźlicy, szczególnie zalecane w krajach o niskiej zapadalności na tę chorobę, to: diagnostyka osób stykających się z chorym na gruźlicę płuc oraz aktywne wykrywanie i leczenie utajonego zakażenia prątkiem gruźlicy. Utajone zakażenie prątkiem gruźlicy rozpoznaje się na podstawie dodatnich wyników odczynu tuberkulinowego (OT) lub testu wydzielania interferonu gamma, po wykluczeniu gruźlicy aktywnej. Stan ten wymaga leczenia profilaktycznego

Sourcing and Propagation of Pontechium maculatum for Horticulture and Species Restoration

Pontechium maculatum, a species of ornamental, apicultural, health and medicinal value, is threatened in some Central European countries including Poland. Its propagation using seeds or in vitro techniques is needed for multiple applications including conservation. Generative propagation efficacy of P. maculatum plants representing different genetic resources (received from botanical gardens in Germany and in Poland) propagated from seeds or in tissue culture was assessed. Moreover, an efficient technique of propagation of P. maculatum using in vitro shoot culture from seedlings was elaborated for the first time. The highest propagation efficacy was noted for German plants of seed origin. The ability of seeds to germinate was similar for all plants; however, seeds were in a state of dormancy, which was broken by GA3. After two years of storage, the seeds still retained the ability to germinate though seeds from propagated in vitro plants germinated more poorly than those from seed-originated plants. The ploidy assessment showed that some in vitro-origin plants had altered DNA content. The results indicate that efficacy of generative propagation of P. maculatum is resource dependent. Furthermore, results suggest that cultivation in vitro influenced some generative features of examined species, which makes this way of P. maculatum propagation a valuable source of genetic variation and a potential breeding tool