Response of red clover (Trifolium pratense) to seed treatment with cold plasma and electromagnetic field: effects on germination, plant development and phytoestrogen content

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L) is used as a dietary supplement for alleviation of menopausal symptoms or treatment of prostatic diseases. Commercial extracts of red clover contain estrogenic isoflavones, with formononetin (F) and biochanin А (ВЛ) found in the largest amounts. The aim of study was _to estimate the effects of pre-sowing seed treatment, using radio-frequency electromagnetic field (EMF, 10 and 15 min) and cold plasma (CP, 5 and 7 min), on germination, growth and biochemical traits of seedlings of two cultivars of red clover - "Vyčiai' and 'Sadūnai'. The impact of treatments on morphological traits, and concentration of isoflavones F and BA (detected by H PLC analysis) was estimated in leaves of plants grown in the experimental plots for 5 months. The germination tests in vitro revealed that CP treatments increased germination rate, and this effect was more pronounced for 'Vyčiai' (germination rate increased up to 24%). EMF treatments did not affect germination indices, only EMF (15 min) reduced germination percentage of 'Sadūnai' by 12%. The induced changes in plant morphometric parameters were dependent on cultivar of red clovcr. The average number of stems per one plant for 'Vyčiai' was increased from 26 to 40% in all treated groups, in comparison to control, but the number of stems of'Sadūnai' cultivar was not affected by seed treatments. Dry weight of'Vyčiai' plants in CP (5 min) and EMF (15 min) groups was by 37 and 43% larger, dry weight of stems was by 36 and 42%, dry weight of leaves -by 49 and 34% larger in comparison to control, respectively. Positive morphometric changes induced by seed treatments in morphometric traits of 'Sadūnai' were less pronounced in comparison to 'Vyčiai' cultivar.[...]Biochemijos katedraBotanikos sodasGamtos mokslų fakultetasLietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslo centrasLietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslų centrasVilniaus universitetasVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Seed treatment with cold plasma and electromagnetic field improves germination, plant growth and increases the amount of phytoestrogens in the leaves of Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L) is widely used as a fodder plant as well as a dietary supplement marketed for use in alleviation of menopausal symptoms or treatment of prostatic diseases. Commercial extracts of red clover contain estrogenic isoflavones, with formononetin (F) and biochanin A (BA) found in the largest amounts. We studied the effects of pre-sowing seed treatment, using radio-frequency electromagnetic field (EMF, 10 and 15 min) and cold plasma (CP, 5 and 7 min), on germination, growth and biochemical traits of seedlings of two cultivars of red clover – ‘Vyčiai’ and ‘Sadūnai’. The impact of treatments on morphological traits, nutritive value (crude protein content, digestibility, etc. measured by near-infrared spectroscopy) and concentration of isoflavones F and BA (by HPLC analysis) was estimated in leaves of plants grown in the experimental plots for 5 months. The germination tests in vitro revealed that CP treatments increased germination rate, and this effect was more pronounced for ‘Vyčiai’ (germination rate increased up to 24%). EMF treatments did not affect germination indices, only EMF (15 min) reduced germination percentage of ‘Sadūnai’ by 12%. Treatments induced changes in plant morphometric parameters were dependent on cultivar of red clover. The average number of stems per one plant for ‘Vyčiai’ was increased from 26 to 40% in all treated groups, in comparison to control, whereas the number of stems of ‘Sadūnai’ cultivar was not affected by seed treatments. Dry weight of ‘Vyčiai’ plants in CP (5 min) and EMF (15 min) groups was by 37 and 43% larger, dry weight of stems was by 36 and 42%, dry weight of leaves – by 49 and 34% larger in comparison to control, respectively. Treatment induced positive morphometric changes for ‘Sadūnai’ were less pronounced and EMF (10 min) induced decrease in dry weight (-20%) of plants and weight of leaves (-14%).[...]Biochemijos katedraBotanikos sodasGamtos mokslų fakultetasLietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslo centrasLietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslų centrasVilniaus universitetasVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Induction of CD73 prevents death after emergency open aortic surgery for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Mortality remains high after emergency open surgery for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA). The aim of the present study was to assess, if intravenous (IV) Interferon (IFN) beta-1a improve survival after surgery by up-regulating Cluster of differentiation (CD73). This is a multi-center phase II double-blind, 2:1 randomized, parallel group comparison of the efficacy and safety of IV IFN beta-1a vs. placebo for the prevention of death after open surgery for an infra-renal RAAA. All study patients presented a confirmed infra-renal RAAA, survived the primary emergency surgery and were treated with IFN beta-1a (10 μg) or matching placebo for 6 days after surgery. Major exclusion criteria included fatal hemorrhagic shock, chronic renal replacement therapy, diagnosed liver cirrhosis, severe congestive heart failure, advanced malignant disease, primary attempt of endovascular aortic repair (EVAR), and per-operative suprarenal clamping over 30 min. Main outcome measure was all-cause mortality at day 30 (D30) from initial emergency aortic reconstruction. The study was pre-maturely stopped due to a reported drug-drug interaction and was left under-powered. Out of 40 randomized patients 38 were included in the outcome analyses (27 IFN beta-1a and 11 placebo). There was no statistically significant difference between treatment groups at baseline except more open-abdomen and intestinal ischemia was present in the IFN beta-1a arm. D30 all-cause mortality was 22.2% (6/27) in the IFN beta-1a arm and 18.2% (2/11) in the placebo arm (OR 1.30; 95% CI 0.21–8.19). The most common adverse event relating to the IFN beta-1a was pyrexia (20.7% in the IFN beta-1a arm vs. 9.1% in the placebo arm). Patients with high level of serum CD73 associated with survival (P = 0.001) whereas the use of glucocorticoids and the presence of IFN beta-1a neutralizing antibodies associated with a poor CD73 response and survival. The initial aim of the trial, if postoperative INF beta-1a treatment results on better RAAA survival, could not be demonstrated. Nonetheless the anticipated target mechanism up-regulation of CD73 was associated with 100% survival. According to present results the INF beta-1a induced up-regulation of serum CD73 was blocked with both use of glucocorticoids and serum IFN beta-1a neutralizing antibodies. The study was pre-maturely stopped due to interim analysis after a study concerning the use if IV IFN beta-1a in ARDS suggested that the concomitant use of glucocorticoids and IFN beta-1a block the CD73 induction. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03119701. Registered 19/04/2017 (retrospectively registered)