State of threatened segetal species in the surrounding area of the Roztocze National Park

Wydano przy pomocy finansowej Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego oraz Komitetu Badań NaukowychIn this paper we analysed 409 phytosociological releves made under different soil circumstances in the surrounding area of the Roztocze National Park. This was a basis for determining a list of threatened segetal plant species in the area.Zadanie pt. „Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki” nr 885/P-DUN/2014 zostało dofinansowane ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej naukę

Plant communities in arable fields of the Skierbieszów Landscape Park

Floristic research on segetal communities was carried out in 2000 on arable fields in the Skierbieszów Landscape Park and its protected zone. Three communities of segetal weeds in cereal crops, and two communities of segetal weeds in root crops were separated in the arable fields of the Skierbieszów Landscape Park. The community Vicietum tetraspermae typicum commonly occurred in cereal crops on brown soils developed from loess soils. The community Echinochloo-Setarietum, which belongs to root crops, was noted in the same habitat. The greatest richness of species was found in Consolido-Brometum and Lamio Veronicetum politae, with the average of 25 species in one record. Both communities were abundant in rare segetal species which are considered to be endangered in our country: Adonis aestivalis, Euphorbia exigua, Lathyrus tuberosus, Muscari comosum, Thlaspi perfoliatum, Veronica polita, Agrostemma githago

Retrospective analysis of ocular disorders and frequency of cesarean sections for ocular indications in 2000-2008 – our own experience

Summary 1. Evaluation of frequency of cesarean sections for ocular indications. 2. Analysis of ophthalmological disorders as indications for cesarean section. Material and methods: 4895 cesarean sections were performed (100 due to ocular indications) in the Department of Obstetrics, Female Pathology and Oncological Gynecology, between 2000 and 2008. Medical documentation was analyzed. Results: Among 4895 patients undergoing cesarean sections, 100 (2.04%) presented a written certification from an ophthalmologist suggesting this way of delivery. The frequency of c-sections due to ocular indications continued to increase between 2000-2005 and has been in decline since 2006. The most common ophthalmological disorders included myopia (57%), retinopathy (20%), glaucoma (5%), imminent retinal detachment (4%) and past retinal detachment (3%). In 45% of patients an eye pathology was the only reason for a cesarean section. Conclusion: 1. The frequency of cesarean sections due to ocular reasons in our material was 0.7%- 3.44%, average 2.04%. 2. Since 2006 the number of ocular indications for cesarean section has been decreasing. Nevertheless, it remains to be twice as high as in 2000. 3. The most common eye disorders leading to cesarean section were myopia and retinopathy. 4. In almost half of the patients the decision to conduct a cesarean section was based solely on ophthalmological indications

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits - the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants - determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits - almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Flora in abandoned fields and adjacent crop fields on rendzina soils in the Zamość region

A floristic inventory of segetal flora was carried out in abandoned fields and adjacent crop fields on rendzina soils in the Zamość region in the year 2010. This study found a total of 130 weed species belonging to 30 botanical families. The following families were represented most frequently: Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, Lamiaceae, Scrophulariaceae, and Brassicaceae. In the segetal flora, apophytes are dominant (55% of the total flora), with the highest number of meadow and xerothermic grassland species among them. Archeophytes (38%) predominate in the group of anthropophytes. The species characterized by the highest constancy classes and reaching the highest cover indices posed the greatest threat to crops in the study area. The following weeds are most frequently found in fallow fields: Consolida regalis, Cichorium intybus, and Sinapis arvensis, while Papaver rhoeas is the greatest threat to cereal crops grown on rendzina soils

Floristic diversity and agricultural value of Phalaridetum arundinaceae (Koch 1926 n.n.) Lib. 1931 in the selected river valleys of the Zamość region

The study presents the results of a floristic survey conducted using the Braun-Blanquet method (50 phytosociological relevés) in permanent grasslands in three river valleys of the Zamość region (Por, Huczwa, Wieprz). The goal of the survey was to determine the floristic diversity and fodder value of the Phalaridetum arundinaceae association (Koch 1926 n.n.) Lib. 1931.  A total of 93 plant species from 25 botanical families were identified in the areas under study. The species richness of the Phalaridetum arundinaceae differed among river valleys. It was observed that these are often transitional forms similar to the association of the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class, Molinietalia order. Predominance of hemicryptophytes and a relatively large share of geophytes was recorded. Based on the fodder value score calculated for the dry matter of the association, the community under study can be classified as having a medium or poor nutritional value

Vitamin K-Dependent Carboxylation of Osteocalcin in Bone—Ally or Adversary of Bone Mineral Status in Rats with Experimental Chronic Kidney Disease?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) commonly occurs with vitamin K (VK) deficiency and impaired bone mineralization. However, there are no data explaining the metabolism of endogenous VK and its role in bone mineralization in CKD. In this study, we measured serum levels of phylloquinone (VK1), menaquinone 4 and 7 (MK4, MK7), and VK-dependent proteins: osteocalcin, undercarboxylated osteocalcin (Glu-OC), and undercarboxylated matrix Gla protein (ucMGP). The carboxylated osteocalcin (Gla-OC), Glu-OC, and the expression of genes involved in VK cycle were determined in bone. The obtained results were juxtaposed with the bone mineral status of rats with CKD. The obtained results suggest that the reduced VK1 level observed in CKD rats may be caused by the accelerated conversion of VK1 to the form of menaquinones. The bone tissue possesses all enzymes, enabling the conversion of VK1 to menaquinones and VK recycling. However, in the course of CKD with hyperparathyroidism, the intensified osteoblastogenesis causes the generation of immature osteoblasts with impaired mineralization. The particular clinical significance seems to have a finding that serum osteocalcin and Glu-OC, commonly used biomarkers of VK deficiency, could be inappropriate in CKD conditions, whereas Gla-OC synthesized in bone appears to have an adverse impact on bone mineral status in this model

Molecular Antioxidant Properties and In Vitro Cell Toxicity of the p-Aminobenzoic Acid (PABA) Functionalized Peptide Dendrimers §

Background: Exposure to ozone level and ultraviolet (UV) radiation is one of the major concerns in the context of public health. Numerous studies confirmed that abundant free radicals initiate undesired processes, e.g. carcinogenesis, cells degeneration, etc. Therefore, the design of redox-active molecules with novel structures, containing radical quenchers molecules with novel structures, and understanding their chemistry and biology, might be one of the prospective solutions. Methods: We designed a group of peptide dendrimers carrying multiple copies of p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and evaluated their molecular antioxidant properties in 1,1′-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) tests. Cytotoxicity against human melanoma and fibroblast cells as well as against primary cerebral granule cells (CGC) alone and challenged by neurotoxic sodium glutamate and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in presence of dendrimers were measured. Results: PABA-terminated dendrimers express enhanced radical and radical cation scavenging properties in relation to PABA alone. In cellular tests, the dendrimers at 100 μM fully suppress and between 20–100 μM reduce proliferation of the human melanoma cell line. In concentration 20 μM dendrimers generate small amount of the reactive oxygen species (<25%) but even in their presence human fibroblast and mouse cerebellar granule cells remain intact Moreover, dendrimers at 0.2–20 µM concentration (except one) increased the percentage of viable fibroblasts and CGC cells treated with 100 μM glutamate. Conclusions: Designed PABA-functionalized peptide dendrimers might be a potential source of new antioxidants with cationic and neutral radicals scavenging potency and/or new compounds with marked selectivity against human melanoma cell or glutamate-stressed CGC neurons. The scavenging level of dendrimers depends strongly on the chemical structure of dendrimer and the presence of other groups that may be prompted into radical form. The present studies found different biological properties for dendrimers constructed from the same chemical fragments but the differing structure of the dendrimer tree provides once again evidence that the structure of dendrimer can have a significant impact on drug–target interactions

Peptide Dendrimers with Non-Symmetric Bola Structure Exert Long Term Effect on Glioblastoma and Neuroblastoma Cell Lines

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant tumor of the central nervous system (CNS). Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the most common cancers of childhood derived from the neural crest cells. The survival rate for patients with GBM and high-risk NB is poor; therefore, novel therapeutic approaches are needed. Increasing evidence suggests a dual role of redox-active compounds in both tumorigenesis and cancer treatment. Therefore, in this study, polyfunctional peptide-based dendrimeric molecules of the bola structure carrying residues with antiproliferative potential on one side and the antioxidant residues on the other side were designed. Methods: We synthesized non-symmetric bola dendrimers and assessed their radical scavenging potency as well as redox capability. The influence of dendrimers on viability of rat primary cerebellar neurons (CGC) and normal human astrocytes (NHA) was determined by propidium iodide staining and cell counting. Cytotoxicity against human GBM cell lines, T98G and LN229, and NB cell line SH-SY5Y was assessed by cell counting and colony forming assay. Results: Testing of CGC and NHA viability allowed to establish a range of optimal dendrimers structure and concentration for further evaluation of their impact on two human GBM and one human NB cell lines. According to ABTS, DPPH, FRAP, and CUPRAC antioxidant tests, the most toxic for normal cells were dendrimers with high charge and an excess of antioxidant residues (Trp and PABA) on both sides of the bola structure. At 5 μM concentration, most of the tested dendrimers neither reduced rat CGC viability below 50–40%, nor harmed human neurons (NHA). The same dose of compounds 16 or 22, after 30 min treatment decreased the number of SH-SY5Y and LN229 cells, but did not affect the number of T98G cells 48 h post treatment. However, either compound significantly reduced the number of colonies formed by SH-SY5Y, LN229, and T98G cells measured 14 days after treatment. Conclusions: Peptide dendrimers with non-symmetric bola structure are excellent scaffolds for design of molecules with pro/antioxidant functionality. Design of molecules with an excess of positive charges and antioxidant residues rendered molecules with high neurotoxicity. Single, 30 min exposition of the GBM and NB cell lines to the selected bola dendrimers significantly suppressed their clonogenic potentia

The Possible Effect of β-Blocker Use on the Circulating MMP-2/TIMP-2 System in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease on Conservative Treatment

Background: The purpose of the study was to determine whether the use of β-adrenoceptor antagonists (β-blockers) can affect metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and its tissue inhibitor (TIMP-2) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on conservative treatment. Methods: The circulating MMP-2/TIMP-2 system, proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the marker of oxidative stress—Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD)—were measured in 23 CKD patients treated with β-blockers [β-blockers (+)] and in 27 CKD patients not receiving the above medication [β-blockers (−)]. Results: The levels of MMP-2, TIMP-2, and IL-6 were significantly lower in the β-blockers (+) than in the β-blockers (−) group, whereas Cu/Zn SOD concentrations were not affected by β-blocker use. There was a strong, independent association between MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in both analyzed patient groups. In the β-blockers (+) group, MMP-2 levels were indirectly related to the signs of inflammation, whereas in the β-blockers (−) group, the alterations in the MMP-2/TIMP-2 system were associated with the oxidative stress marker and CKD etiology. Conclusions: This study is the first to suggest that the use of β-blockers was associated with the reduction in IL-6 and the MMP-2/TIMP-2 system in CKD, providing a pharmacological rationale for the use of β-blockers to reduce inflammation and abnormal vascular remodeling in CKD