Relationship between plasma volume reduction and plasma electrolyte changes after prolonged bicycle exercise, passive heating and diuretic dehydration

Plasma volume was decreased by prolonged bicycle exercise, by passive heating in warm water, by sauna dehydration, and by diuretically induced dehydration in eleven well trained subjects. Blood samples from an arm vein were taken before and after this pre-treatment, as well as after a subsequent standard exercise test (SET) on a bicycle ergometer (50%, 70% and 105% of max VO2; the SET with no pre-treatment was used as a control condition. The changes in plasma concentration of Na+, K+ and Cl- were not proportional to the calculated plasma volume changes. The Na+ and Cl- concentrations always increased in the plasma, while plasma potassium concentration was increased after prolonged exercise, but decreased after the other types of dehydrations. The standard exercise test produced a pronounced fall in total calculated plasma potassium and in K+ concentration measured 3-5 min after exercise in all types of experiments. In the standard exercise test the calculated water loss from the plasma volume was relatively large. It amounted to about 2/3 of the total water loss in the standard exercise test and was independent of the pre-treatments.     

Accumulation of cesium and radiocesium in forest litter in selected regions of poland and its influence on litter-to-mushroom transfer factor

The aim of this work was to check whether the stable cesium content in forest litter affects the value of radiocesium from litter-to-mushroom transfer factorTf or not. Total cesium in litter, measured by AAS, varied from 0.1–2.7 μg/g. These data, combined with earlier results for mushrooms, showed no simple correlation forTf. More complex relationships provided very high correlation coefficients, but their validity needs further investigation.     

Rapid reorganization of microtubular cytoskeleton accompanies early changes in nuclear ploidy and chromatin structure in postmitotic cells of barley leaves infected with powdery mildew

Summary Post-mitotic epidermal cells of barley leaves were found to contain, in addition to cortical microtubules (CMTs), distinct arrays of endoplasmic microtubules (EMTs). These encircle nuclei and continuously merge into the CMT arrays that underly the plasmalemma. Detailed three-dimensional reconstruction of both types of MTs during fungal infection showed that profound and very rapid MT rearrangements occurred especially in the case of incompatible (resistant) barley-powdery mildew genotype combination. The most early MT responses, followed by their subsequent complete disintegration, were recorded around nuclei. These events might be relevant for the induction of such nuclear processes as onset of DNA synthesis and nuclear chromatin condensation. Observed pattern of early infection events, as well as less prominent responses in the case of compatible (susceptible) barley-powdery mildew genotype combination, both findings suggest that rapid reorganization of the MT cytoskeleton could be involved in recognition of the fungus by host cells and in the initiation of resistance responses in barley leaves. We hypothesize that the integrity and dynamics of the MT cytoskeleton, especially of its perinuclear part, might participate in control mechanisms involved in activation of resistance genes.Abbreviations CMTs cortical microtubules - EMTs endoplasmic microtubules - MT microtubules - PI propidium iodide - SC sensitive combination - RC resistant combination     

Herbicidal activity of phosphonic,phosphinic, and phosphonous acid analogues of phenylglycine and phenylalanine

A series of phosphonic, phosphinic, and phosphonous acid analogues of phenylglycine and phenylalanine was synthesized and tested as herbicides against Lepidium sativum and Cucumis sativus. Aminobenzylphosphonic acids exhibited notable herbicidal activity and thus represent a group of the most active herbicides found among aminophosphonic acids.     

Adenosylhomocysteinase and adenosine nucleosidase activities in Lupinus luteus cotyledons during seed formation and germination

The activities of adenosylhomocysteinase (EC 3.3.1.1) and adenosine nucleosidase (EC 3.2.2.7) were assayed in extracts from yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus L.) cotyledons at different stages of seed formation and seedling development. Adenosylhomocysteinase activity was demonstrated in all the cotyledon extracts examined. Its lowest level was found in the dry seeds and the highest, in 4-day-old seedling cotyledons. Extracts from the cotyledons of maturating seeds, dry seeds, and seedlings up to the second day of growth exhibited no adenosine nucleosidase activity. Adenosine nucleosidase activity appeared in the cotyledons of 2-day-old seedlings and its highest level was reached in 4-to 5-day-old seedlings. There is no inhibitor of adenosine nucleosidase in the maturating and dry yellow lupin seeds. No activator of a possible zymogen form of adenosine nucleosidase from maturating or dry seeds occurs in the growing seedlings.     

Biodiversity of yeasts isolated during spontaneous fermentation of cool climate grape musts

Archives of Microbiology - Biodiversity of native yeasts, especially in winemaking, has hidden potential. In order to use the value of non-Saccharomyces strains in wine production and to minimise...     

Inhibitory Effect of Eugenol and trans-Anethole Alone and in Combination with Antifungal Medicines on Candida albicans Clinical Isolates

One of the most common pathogens among yeasts is Candida albicans, which presents a serious health threat. The study aimed to check the antifungal properties of trans-anethole and eugenol with selected antifungal medicines (AMs) against C. albicans clinical isolates. The checkerboard method was used to tests of interactions between these compounds. Achieved results indicated that eugenol showed synergistic and additive activities with miconazole and econazole against investigated clinical isolates, respectively. Moreover, the combination – trans-anethole – miconazole also showed an additive effect against two clinical isolate. We tried to relate the results to changes in C. albicans cell sheaths under the influence of essential oils compounds (EOCs) performing the Fourier transform infrared spectra analysis to confirm the presence of particular chemical moieties in C. albicans cells. Nevertheless, no strong relationships was observed between synergistic and additive actions of used EOC-AMs combinations and chemical moieties in C. albicans cells.