Original article Savolainen, J; Jacobsen, L; Valovirta, E
Allergy,
10/2006, Letnik:
61, Številka:
10
Journal Article
Recenzirano
During subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), there is a local mucosal shift from Th2 to Th1 type cytokine predominance and downregulation of interleukin (IL)-5 and eosinophilia. According to recent ...studies IL-10- and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta -induced tolerance is another key phenomenon in SCIT. Few data to date is available on mechanisms and roles of these cytokines in sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). This study was undertaken to analyse the allergen-induced in vitro mRNA expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, TGF-beta and interferon (IFN)-gamma during SLIT in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of children with allergic rhinitis (AR). Ten patients with AR undergoing pollen SLIT with a weekly dose of 200 000 SQ-U, 10 with a weekly dose of 24 000 SQ-U of glycerinated mixture of Betula verrucosa , Corylus avellana and Alnus glutinosa and 10 with placebo were included in the study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples were collected and stimulated with pollen allergen extract prior to the treatment, after 1 and 2 years of the treatment. The cytokine mRNA expression was assessed using kinetic real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR; TaqMan(R)). The in vitro allergen-induced mRNA expression of IL-5 by PBMC in the placebo group at 1 (P = 0.0065) and 2 (P = 0.013) years of therapy were increased in comparison with the highest dose. The expression of IL-10 mRNA was increased in the highest dose group (P = 0.0016) and the lower dose group (P = 0.034) at 2 years of therapy when compared with placebo. The change in the expression of allergen-induced TGF-beta had an inversed correlation with the change of IL-5 (r = -0.38, P = 0.036) and positive correlation with the change of IL-10 (r = 0.58, P = 0.0019). Sublingual immunotherapy induced a dose-dependent systemic allergen-specific immunological response in children with AR. During high-dose SLIT, there was activation of regulatory cytokine IL-10 and an inhibitory effect on IL-5 expression increase that was associated with TGF-beta. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
Original article Valovirta, E; Jacobsen, L; Ljørring, C ...
Allergy,
10/2006, Letnik:
61, Številka:
10
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Subcutaneous immunotherapy has been the principal approach of immunotherapy in the treatment of allergic diseases. Several clinical studies with birch, alder or hazel pollen extract conducted as ...subcutaneous immunotherapy have been published suggesting a well-tolerated and clinically effective treatment. Only a few clinical studies of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with these allergens have been published. This study investigated the clinical efficacy, safety and dose-response relationship of SLIT in children suffering from rhinoconjunctivitis with/without asthma. Eighty-eight children (5-15 years) with a history of tree pollen-induced allergic rhinoconjunctivitis with/without seasonal asthma for >/= 2 years were included. Allergy to tree pollen was confirmed by positive skin-prick test, positive specific IgE and positive conjunctival provocation test. The extract used was a glycerinated mixture of Betula verrucosa , Corylus avellana and Alnus glutinosa 100 000 SQ-U/ml. Children were randomized into three groups receiving SLIT 5 days a week for up to 18 months; dose group 1: accumulated weekly dose of 24 000 SQ-U; dose group 2: accumulated weekly dose of 200 000 SQ-U; and placebo. In the birch pollen season, dose group 2 showed a significant reduction of symptom (P = 0.01) and medication scores (P = 0.04) compared with placebo. Dose group 1 showed a significant reduction of symptom scores (P = 0.03). There were no statistical differences between dose groups 1 and 2. All children tolerated the treatment well. SLIT with tree pollen extract provided dose-dependent benefits in tree pollen-allergic children in terms of significantly reduced symptoms and medication use. The treatment was well tolerated. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
To assess whether winter mowing in wetlands fulfils the aim of preventing succession towards drier communities, 34 permanent quadrats (15 m2) were surveyed annually from 1984-1985 to 2000 within ...large mown and unmown (control) areas (several ha) in a calcareous lake shore fen (W Switzerland). Three trends were noticed: decrease of aquatic species, spread of Cladium mariscus and establishment of woody species (especially Alnus glutinosa and Frangula alnus). None of these trends was prevented by mowing, but mowing did prevent the accumulation of C. mariscus litter and kept woody saplings small. Succession was generally slow and often occurred in the form of sudden, discrete changes. Plant species richness increased with mowing and remained constant without mowing. Soil disturbance by the mowing machine contributed more to the effects of management on species composition than the periodic removal of biomass. It is concluded that mowing every three years in winter is insufficient to preserve semi-aquatic communities against succession but sufficient to maintain the plant species richness of a low productive, regularly flooded fen. Nomenclature:.
Bark of ten woody species, known to be rejected as a food source by the pine weevil,
Hylobius abietis
, were sequentially extracted by a Soxhlet apparatus with pentane followed by methanol. Species ...were alder (
Alnus glutinosa
), aspen (
Populus tremula
), beech (
Fagus sylvatica
), guelder rose (
Viburnum opulus
), holly (
Ilex aquifolium
), horse chestnut (
Aesculus hippocastanum
), lilac (
Syringa vulgaris
), spindle tree (
Evonymus europaeus
), walnut (
Juglans regia
), and yew (
Taxus baccata
). Bark of each species was collected in southern Scandinavia during the summer. Resulting extracts were tested for antifeedant activity against the pine weevil by a micro-feeding choice assay. At a dose corresponding to that in the bark, methanol extracts from
Aesculus
,
Taxus
,
Ilex,
and P
opulus
were antifeedant active, while pentane extracts of
Aesculus
,
Fagus
,
Syringa
, and
Viburnum
were stimulatory. Four known antifeedants against
H. abietis
, the straight-chained carboxylic acids, hexanoic and nonanoic acid (C6 and C9), carvone, and carvacrol were identified by gas chromatography (GC)–mass spectrometry (MS) in several extracts. The major constituents were identified and tested for feeding deterrence. The aromatic compounds benzyl alcohol and 2-phenylethanol are new non-host plant-derived feeding deterrents for the pine weevil. Additionally, two feeding stimulants, β-sitosterol and 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furaldehyde, were identified. One active methanol extract of
Aesculus
bark was sequentially fractionated by liquid chromatography, and major compounds were tentatively identified as branched alcohols and esters of hexanoic acid. Five commercially available hexanoate esters and two commercially available branched alcohols were identified as new active antifeedants. Both stimulatory and inhibiting compounds were found in the same extracts and co-eluted in the same or adjacent fractions. The mix of semiochemicals of opposite activity in each extract or fraction could explain the stimulatory-, inhibitory-, or sometimes neutral activity. Generally, such co-occurrence confounds the isolation of antifeedants.
Amongst the existing forest types in Europe, the specific biological function of water is nowhere more distinctive than in the lowland forest ecosystems. Consequently, no existing forest types are ...more shaped by historic hydrologic conditions, altered by manmade deviations from the natural water regime and vulnerable to consequences of global warming. The lowermost parts of the lowland forests, the wetlands, present the transitional zones between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems i.e. ponds, lakes, streams and rivers. Nowadays, due to excessive urbanization and the spread of agriculture, the total area of lowland forests and wetlands has been significantly reduced. One of the largest complexes of alluvial floodplain wetlands and lowland forests in Europe are situated in the South-East Europe, in the Sava and Drava River basins, tributaries to the Danube River. The Sava River is a unique example of a river where the floodplains are still intact, supporting both flood alleviation and biodiversity. Continental lowland forests in Croatia cover an area of more than 200.000 ha with a significant role in forestry production, flood reduction, recharging groundwater reserves, as well as filtering pollutants. The natural forest vegetation consists of mainly hardwood tree species such as the common oak (Quercus robur L.), field ash (Fraxinus excelsior Vahl.), common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) and softwood species such as black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Geartn.), poplars (Populus sp.) and willows (Salix sp.). For the biological diversity of lowland forests and attached wetlands is strongly important specific combination of hydrology and soils. The development of these forests in history was determined by regular seasonal alternations of groundwater tables (hydro period) and periodic flooding. This paper presents the possibilities for the re-establishment of the water regime of lowland forests as one option to reduce the impact of climate change in the future. To reduce negative impacts of anthropogenic alternations in the groundwater regime from the past and to attenuate slow down future very possible prolongation of droughts and water scarcity in the lowlands, various forest managerial and engineering practices could be considered. Basically, there are potentially two main contrasted measures of soil water balance manipulation: drainage of soils (through drainage ditches and channels) which contribute to decreasing the groundwater tables and forest management i.e. (tendering and thinning) which contribute to increased soil water content and increase in the groundwater level. Through these water table management practices, the amount of soil water required for the survival of lowland forests could be maintained to some degree to attenuate the negative hydrologic trends and natural hazards such as droughts. The comprehensive methodological review of activities that must precede such reconstruction activities are presented. As the initial segment all the major components of floodplain ecosystems - the morphology of the terrain, hydrography, soils stratigraphy, vegetation and anthropogenic influences - should be assessed. As a next step methodological options towards how to obtain the knowledge of the natural water regime prior anthropogenic hydrotechnical activities which caused the creation of the ecosystem in its current form are presented. For this purpose the morphology of hydromorphic soils i.e. relict indicators of natural water regime in lowland habitats are assessed. The next step includes the spatial determination of critical areas or hot spots, threatened by excessive falls in the groundwater level on which specific measures can be applied to return to natural water regime conditions (i.e. water retention in dry riverbeds).Original Abstract: U radu su prikazane mogucnosti obnove vodnog rezima nizinskih suma kao jedne od mogucnosti smanjenja ucinka klimatskih promjena u buducnosti. Pritom je dan cjelovit metodoloski prikaz aktivnosti koje trebaju prethoditi takvoj rekonstrukciji. Kao pocetni segment potrebno je analizirati sve vazne komponente nizinskih ekosustava: morfologiju terena, hidrograflju, stratigrafiju tala, vegetaciju te antropogene utjecaje. Kao sljedeci korak opisan je nacin pridobivanja spoznaja o vodnom rezimu u prirodnim nenarusenim uvjetima, koje su uvjetovale stvaranje ekosustava u danasnjem obliku. U tu svrhu prikazane su mogucnosti rekonstrukcije nekadasnjih uvjeta pomocu reliktnih indikatora, kao sto je morfologija hidromorfnih tala nizinskih stanista. Sljedeci korak obuhvaca analizu kriticnih predjela ugrozenih padom ili prekomjernim porastom razina podzemne vode, te u konacnici mjere rekonstrukcije vodnog rezima, odnosno mogucnosti povratka prirodnih uvjeta.
Microbial nitrogen (N) turnover was compared among 12 forest stands with a natural vegetation composition. They comprised six typical forest types in the eastern part of Austria, including oak and ...beech forests, spruce–fir–beech forests, floodplain and pine forests. The aim was to provide a reference basis for measurements in managed, especially disturbed or damaged forest ecosystems. We measured total C- and N-concentrations in soil, extractable NO
3
− and NH
4
+ concentrations, microbial biomass N, nitrogen mineralisation potential and potential N
2O production in soil. As indicators of NH
4
+ availability and NO
3
− translocation into deeper soil horizons, accumulation of NH
4
+ and NO
3
− on resin bags was evaluated. Differences between the forest stands in potential N turnover were related to the size of the total N stores in soil and to vegetation composition. N mineralisation potential and microbial biomass were generally higher in the spruce–fir–beech, floodplain and pine forests with large N pools than in the oak and beech forests with lower N pools. Fastest N turnover was found in soils of a virgin spruce–fir–beech forest situated on nutrient-rich bedrock. Mineralisation potentials in these soils doubled averages in the other soils. N
2O production rates measured by an intact soil core-incubation method varied widely among the forest stands and were highest (up to 170
μg
N
2O-N
m
−2
h
−1) in soils of an oak–hornbeam and a woodruff–beech forest situated close to the city of Vienna, probably as a result of high atmospheric N input. Within the study sites, the soil moisture content was the factor mainly responsible for seasonal and microscale variability in N
2O production rates.
Effect of food on development of the Melolonta hippocastani F. beetles (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae) Woreta, Danuta (Instytut Badawczy Leśnictwa, Zakład Ochrony Lasu, Sękocin Stary, ul. Braci Leśnej 3, 05-090 Raszyn); Sukovata, Lidia (Instytut Badawczy Leśnictwa, Zakład Ochrony Lasu, Sękocin Stary, ul. Braci Leśnej 3, 05-090 Raszyn)
Leśne prace badawcze,
6/2010, Letnik:
71, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
This paper presents the results of the studies of life duration, survival, weight and fecundity of the forest cockchafer Melolontha hippocastani beetles feeding on Quercus robur, Carpinus betulus, ...Betula pendula and Alnus glutinosa. Beetles were collected from soil in mid April 2009, before their emergence. Five males and five females per tree species in 6 replications were reared from 28 April through 4 May 2009. Ten females were taken out from each tree species on 5 May for individual rearing and fecundity estimation. Observations were conducted till 17 June. Average life duration of females was 23.6, 20, 19.3 and 11.1 days on oak, birch, hornbeam and alder leaves, respectively. Lifetime of males was shorter than of females on all tree species except oak. Survival of both males and females was the highest on oak, whereas the mortality on alder reached 100% after 10 days in males and after 15 days in females. Substantial changes in a weight was observed mainly during the first six days of rearing. An increase of female weight was 37.3, 20.7, 14.2 and 4.2% on oak, hornbeam, birch and alder leaves, respectively. The significant increase on oak was observed already after two days. Changes in weight on birch and alder were not significant. Female weight on oak was significantly higher than on birch and alder leaves. Females on the hornbeam grew slightly better than on the latter species and slightly worse than on oak. Contrary to expectations the male weight decreased with time, although significant changes were only on birch and alder leaves. Nine of 10 females feeding on oak leaves deposited 15-68 eggs/female (37.4 eggs/female on the average), whereas there was the only one female that laid eggs among those feeding on hornbeam leaves. Females on birch and alder did not deposit eggs at all. Oak leaves appeared to be the most favorable food for the forest cockchafer beetles in relation to life duration, survival, weight and fecundity, whereas alder was the least suitable. Obtained results will be useful in tree species selection for reforestation, particularly in regions highly infested by forest cockchafers.
Precommercial thinning studies were performed in eight hardwood stands in southern Sweden. Birch (Betula pendula Roth and B. pubescens Ehrh.) was the dominating tree species, but aspen (Populus ...tremula L.), black alder Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. and lime (Tilia cordata Mill.) were also present. Main stems were selected before thinning. Three treatments were applied in each stand: (1) no thinning (control), (2) standard thinning, and (3) strong thinning, i.e. leaving about two-thirds of the stem number of treatment 2. Each treatment was replicated three times on all sites. The development of the main stems were recorded during the five consecutive years. Breast height diameter and green crown size (length and width) developed significantly more slowly in the control treatment than in the thinned ones, whereas tree height development was little affected by treatment. Simulation of 10 years' future growth from the time of the end of the study indicated that future diameter growth will be lower in initially non-thinned stands than in immediately thinned ones. The study results stress the importance for future growth of proper early silviculture in young broadleaved stands (i.e. early and high intensity thinning), a topic that has not been fully evaluated before.
This study was carried out in the framework of an INTERREG IV-A “Greater Region” project (ECOLIRIMED). We initially optimised in vitro culture conditions for calli and plants. Calli were induced from ...stem internodes (black alder) or leaves (basket willow) of in vitro plants on MS medium supplemented with 1 µM 2,4-D and 1 µM BAP (alder) or with 1 µM 2,4-D only (willow). Plant cultures were established from shoot apices of in vitro plants. In the case of alder, plants were grown on WPM with either 1 µM BAP (shoot proliferation) or 2.5 µM IBA (shoot rooting). WPM enrichment with 300 µM Fe-EDDHA and the use of 3% glucose in aerated jars have proven beneficial for alder plant development. Regarding willow, both shoot proliferation and rooting occur in aerated jars on MS medium supplemented with 2% sucrose and 0.5 µM IBA. Once the culture conditions optimised, the effect of cadmium (Cd) (calli: 0-500 µM, plants: 0-200 µM) on growth and Cd accumulation pattern was investigated. At the callus level, growth decreased with increasing Cd concentration in the medium, the effect being significant at 100 µM in alder and at 400 µM in willow. At the whole plant level, however, growth inhibition was recorded at 150 µM Cd for both species. Among the plant parts, roots of alder and stems and leaves of willow were the most affected in the presence of Cd. In calli, Cd accumulated with increasing Cd concentration in the medium, the accumulation being larger in alder than in willow. In plants, Cd also accumulated with the extent of treatment in the different plant parts of the two species. In alder plants, Cd was mainly accumulated in roots (roots>stems>leaves). In willow plants, however, Cd was almost equally distributed among the different plant parts.
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