Toxic cyanobacteria represent a serious health and ecological problem in drinking and recreational waters worldwide. Some previous toxicological studies investigated effects of isolated microcystins ...on laboratory rodents including mice and rats. However, much less attention has been paid to more realistic exposure situations such as the effects of MCs accumulated in food. The objectives of the present study were to provide a simple model simulation of the food chain in order to evaluate impacts of microcystins (MCs) on rat immune and haematologicalparameters. Impacts of feeding experimental rats with a diet containing fish meat with and without microcystins and complex toxic biomass have been studied during a 28 day exposure. Red blood cell parameters (RBC counts, haematocrit values, MCH, MCV and MCHC) showed significant differences in experimental groups (p ≤ 0.05, p ≤ 0.01) in comparison with the control group. We also detected an immunomodulatory effect in the experimental groups. NK cells and γδ+ T lymphocytes were significantly increased in peripheral blood in the group exposed to isolated microcystin in the food. Significant change in the ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ cells (increase of CD4+ and a drop in CD8+) was found in the group with added cyanobacterial biomass with low concentration of MCs. The greatest changes in lymphoid organs were observed in the same groups. There was an increase of spleen subpopulations of γδ+ T lymphocytes as well as of IgM+ lymphocytes (B lymphocytes) and CD8+ T lymphocytes. Indeed, the modulation of CD4+ and CD8+ of peripheral lymphocytes was associated with similar changes in thymic lymphocytic subpopulations. In summary, food containing fish meat with considerable doses of microcystins (or toxic cyanobacterial biomass) induces significant changes in RBC parameters and influence preferably innate part of the immune system represented by NK cells and by gamma-delta T cells, which are known to play role as a bridge between adaptive and innate immune response.
•We modelled realistic exposure situations – accumulation of microcystins in food chain.•We detected an immunomodulatory effects in rats exposed to cyanobacterial biomass.•Immunomodulations have been recorded in peripheral blood and spleen.•Microcystins influence preferably innate part of the immune and red blood cells.
Asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA), an inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, is a marker of endothelial dysfunction. Elevated circulating ADMA concentrations have been associated with ...systemic and carotid atherosclerosis, an elevated risk of developing stroke, and magnetic resonance imaging white-matter hyperintensities (WMHs). The relation of plasma ADMA to subclinical vascular brain injury has not been previously studied in a middle-aged, community-based sample.
In 2013 stroke-free Framingham offspring (mean+/-SD age, 58+/-9.5 years; 53% women), we related baseline plasma ADMA levels (1995-1998) to subsequent brain magnetic resonance imaging measures (1999-2004) of subclinical vascular injury: presence of silent brain infarcts (SBIs) and large white-matter hyperintensity volumes (LWMHs; defined as >1 SD above the age-specific mean).
Prevalences of SBIs and LWMHs were 10.7% and 12.6%, respectively. In multivariable analyses adjusting for age, sex and traditional stroke risk factors, higher ADMA levels were associated with an increased risk of prevalent SBIs (odds ratio OR per 1-SD increase in ADMA=1.16; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.33; P=0.04). We observed that participants in the upper 3 age-specific quartiles (Qs) of plasma ADMA values had an increased prevalence of SBIs (OR for Q2-Q4 vs Q1=1.43; 95% CI, 1.00 to 2.04; P<0.05). The prevalence of SBIs in Q1and Q2-Q4 was 8.3% and 11.6%, respectively. The prevalence of LWMHs did not differ according to ADMA concentrations.
Higher plasma ADMA values were associated with an increased prevalence of SBIs, after adjustment for traditional stroke risk factors. Thus, ADMA may be a potentially useful new biomarker of subclinical vascular brain injury, which is an important correlate of vascular cognitive impairment and risk of stroke.
The main role in air/fuel mixture formation at the IC diesel engines has the energy introduced by fuel into the IC engine that is the characteristics of spraying fuel into the combustion chamber. The ...characteristic can be defined by the spray length, the spray cone angle, the physical and the chemical structure of fuel spray by different sections. Having in mind very complex experimental setups for researching in this field, the mentioned characteristics are mostly analyzed by calculations. There are two methods in the literature, the first based on use of the semi-empirical expressions (correlations) and the second, the calculations of spray characteristics by use of very complex mathematical methods. The second method is dominant in the modern literature. The main disadvantage of the calculation methods is a correct definition of real state at the end of the nozzle orifice (real boundary conditions). The majority of the researchers in this field use most frequently the coefficient of total losses inside the injector. This coefficient depends on injector design, as well as depends on the level of fuel energy and fuel energy transformation along the injector. Having in mind the importance of the real boundary conditions, the complex methods for calculation of the fuel spray characteristics should have the calculation of fuel flows inside the injector and the calculation of spray characteristics together. This approach is a very complex numerical problem and there are no existing computer programs with satisfactory calculation results. Analysis of spray characteristics by use of the semi-empirical expressions (correlations) is presented in this paper. The special attention is dedicated to the analysis of the constant in the semi-empirical expressions and influence parameters on this constant. Also, the method for definition of realistic boundary condition at the end of the nozzle orifice is presented in the paper. By use of this method completely avoid a use of the coefficient of total losses inside the injector. At the same time, semi-empirical expressions have the universal constant that does not depend on the injector design.
Using live trapping devices we performed surveillance of small vertebrates in the game bird farm in Jinačovice in 2005 to 2006. The study was aimed at determining the species composition and numbers ...within individual technologies of rearing as well as finding possible reservoirs or sources of infectious agents. Five study areas were examined in 2005 and other three located within buildings were added in 2006. A line of 10 traps approximately 2 metres apart was employed on each study area. Small mammals trapped were sampled for parasitology and serology.Until the present, a total of 92 common species were captured – i.e., yellow-necked fieldmouse (Apodemus flavicollis), house mouse (Mus musculus), common vole (Microtus arvalis) and bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus). Considering endoparasites, we found nematodes such as Aspicularis tetraptera and Syphacia obvelata, Catenotaenia spp. and undetermined members of the order Eucoccidiida. Ectoparasites included members of the order Siphonaptera – Ctenophthalmus solutus, Ctenophthalmus agyrtes, Megabothris (Gebiella) turbidus and Ctenophthalmus (Euct.) assimilis and order Acarina – Ixodes ricinus and Laelaps hilaris. Serology revealed antibodies against Leptospira grippotyphosa and L. sejroe.
MicroRNAs are small non-coding molecules playing a significant regulatory role in several allergic diseases. However their role in tolerance induction remains unclear. The aim of this study was to ...determine the expression of selected microRNAs during the first three months of wasp venom immunotherapy (VIT). 5 adult patients with a history of severe systemic reactions after stinging by wasps and confirmed sensitization were included. Venous blood samples were collected before VIT, 24 hours after completing its initial phase and after 3 months of the maintenance therapy. A control group was comprised of 5 healthy individuals with no history of allergy. In the blood samples expression of 96 microRNAs was determined with the use of microfluidic cards. In a statistical analysis the expression was compared between the study groups as well as between the pre- and post-VIT samples. Significant differences were found between the patients with wasp venom allergy and the healthy controls in the expression of miR-601 and miR-1201 upregulated in allergic patients at every time point (p = 0.04; p = 0.015, respectively). During VIT profile of microRNA was changing with lower expression of 6 microRNAs (including miR-182, miR-342, miR-375) and higher of 11 microRNAs (including let-7d, miR-34b, miR-143). To conclude, VIT has led to some changes in the expression of microRNA associated with Th2-type inflammation and tolerance induction.
Trace concentrations of the platinum group elements (PGE; Pt, Pd and Rh) are nowadays an irreplaceable part of environmental analysis and assessment. These rare elements are used as effective ...substances in automotive catalysts to reduce pollution by emissions originating from fuel combustion. Due to their harmful potential, it is necessary to monitor their content and behaviour in different samples. Effect assessment using ecotoxicological bioassays with organisms at different trophic levels can provide valuable pieces of information on the risk of chemical substances in the ecosystem.
The experiments were carried out as described in the OECD Guideline 232 CSN ISO 11267 - Soil quality - Inhibition of reproduction of Collembola (Folsomia candida) by soil pollutants. The reproductive effects of palladium (PdCl2) and rhodium (RhCl3) were examined. Concentrations of PGE tested were as follows: 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 µmol.L-1. The EC50 (medium effective concentration) was determined after 28 days of exposure. Inhibition of reproduction of PGE-exposed collembolans was compared against controls.
Values of 28dEC50 of PdCl2 and RhCl3 amounted to 21.0 µmol.L-1 and 266.22 µmol.L-1, respectively. We can confirm that the relative order of toxicities is Pd (II) > Pt(IV) >> Rh(III).
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to use Folsomia candida as an indicator species to assess the risk of soil contamination by palladium and rhodium. However, more toxicity data for various species are needed to evaluate the environmental risks of PGEs in soils.
We provide a description of the enveloping semigroup of the affine unipotent transformation T:X→X of the form T(x)=Ax+α, where A is a lower triangular unipotent matrix, α is a constant vector, and X ...is a finite-dimensional torus. In particular, we show that in this case the enveloping semigroup is a nilpotent group whose nilpotency class is at most the dimension of the underlying torus.
A new approach for measurements of vertical profiles of temperature and particulate matter (PM) concentrations is developed and tested. Special purpose unmanned aerial vehicle with data acquisition ...system has been developed in-house. The temperature sensor is based on a fast response thermistor, while the PM sensor uses optical detection of particles. All sensors were tested in the laboratory and calibrated against reference instruments. Two urban locations were selected for field tests. This research produced a very useful asset that characterizes the relation between temperature inversion and air pollution. Keywords: temperature inversion; particulate matter; drone; boundary layer.
The Canadian Stroke Best Practice Consensus Statement: Secondary Stroke Prevention during Pregnancy, is the first of a two-part series devoted to stroke in pregnancy. This document focuses on unique ...aspects of secondary stroke prevention in a woman with a prior history of stroke or transient ischemic attack who is, or is planning to become, pregnant. Although stroke is relatively rare in this cohort, several aspects of pregnancy can increase stroke risk during or immediately after pregnancy. The rationale for the development of this consensus statement is based on the premise that stroke in this group requires a specifically-tailored management approach. No other broad-based, stroke-specific guidelines or consensus statements exist currently. Underpinning the development of this document was the concept that maternal health is vital for fetal wellbeing; therefore, management decisions should be based on the confluence of two clinical considerations: (a) decisions that would be made if the patient was not pregnant and (b) decisions that would be made if the patient had not had a stroke. While empirical research in this area is limited, this consensus document is based on the best available literature and guided by expert consensus. Issues addressed in this document include general management considerations for secondary stroke prevention, the use of antithrombotics, blood pressure management, lipid management, diabetes care, and management for specific ischemic stroke etiologies in pregnancy. The focus is on maternal and fetal health while minimizing risks of a recurrent stroke, through counseling, monitoring, and the safety of select pharmacotherapy. These statements are appropriate for health care professionals across all disciplines.
Peritoneal metastases (PM) of gastric cancer (GC) are characterized by a particularly poor prognosis, with median survival time of 6 months, and virtually no 5-year survival reported. Conversion ...therapy for GC is defined as a surgical treatment aiming at an R0 resection after systemic chemotherapy for tumours that were originally unresectable (or marginally resectable) for technical and/or oncological reasons. The aim of the present study was to evaluate early and late outcomes in GC patients with PM who underwent the cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) after neoadjuvant (conversion) chemotherapy. Thirty patients with stage IV GC underwent CRS plus HIPEC. Severe grade III/IV (Clavien-Dindo classification) complications occurred in 13 (43%) patients. The Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) ranged from 8.7 to 100 (median, 42.4). In the multivariate survival analysis, ypT2 and P3 (according to the Japanese classification of the PM severity) were favourable and adverse prognostic factors p = 0.031 and o = 0.035, respectively. Estimated 1- and 3-year survival was 73.9% and 36.6%, respectively. The median survival was 19.3 months. Conclusion: Conversion surgery, including extended gastrectomy and multi-organ resections followed by HIPEC performed after systemic chemotherapy therapy for GC with PM is justified in downstaged patients with ypT2 and limited (less than P3) PM.
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