Zu den phytozönologischen Problemen der AssoziationCaricetum gracilis Almquist 1929

Caricetum gracilis Almquist 1929 ist eine Assoziation mit ausgedehnter eurosibirischer Verbreitung, es bewahrt sich jedoch in seinem ganzen Areal eine mehr oder weniger konstante zönotische Zusammensetzung, die durch das Grundmerkmal—die Anwesenheit vonCarex gracilis als Dominante (Kondominante) und Ädifikator, bedingt ist. Als ausschlaggebonder Faktor für die Entstehung der Gesellschaft kommt der Wasserhaushalt mit charakteristischer Abwechslung der Überschwemmungen und Austrocknungen zur Geltung. Die geographischen, klimatischen und bodenökologischen Unterschiede der Standorte ermöglichen eine weitere Gliederung der Assoziation inCaricetum gracilis Subass.typicum mit grösstem Verbreitungsgebiet, die in drei Varianten zerfällt, weiter inCaricetum gracilis comaretosum, dessen Areal an nördliche Teile Mittel- und Osteuropas gebunden ist und das in zwei Varianten zerfällt, und schliesslich inCaricetum gracilis naumburgietosum, das vor allem an das Herzynische Gebiet und den Nordrand der Karpaten gebundon ist.     

Sequencing of 15 622 gene‐bearing BACs clarifies the gene‐dense regions of the barley genome

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) possesses a large and highly repetitive genome of 5.1 Gb that has hindered the development of a complete sequence. In 2012, the International Barley Sequencing Consortium released a resource integrating whole‐genome shotgun sequences with a physical and genetic framework. However, because only 6278 bacterial artificial chromosome (BACs) in the physical map were sequenced, fine structure was limited. To gain access to the gene‐containing portion of the barley genome at high resolution, we identified and sequenced 15 622 BACs representing the minimal tiling path of 72 052 physical‐mapped gene‐bearing BACs. This generated ~1.7 Gb of genomic sequence containing an estimated 2/3 of all Morex barley genes. Exploration of these sequenced BACs revealed that although distal ends of chromosomes contain most of the gene‐enriched BACs and are characterized by high recombination rates, there are also gene‐dense regions with suppressed recombination. We made use of published map‐anchored sequence data from Aegilops tauschii to develop a synteny viewer between barley and the ancestor of the wheat D‐genome. Except for some notable inversions, there is a high level of collinearity between the two species. The software HarvEST:Barley provides facile access to BAC sequences and their annotations, along with the barley–Ae. tauschii synteny viewer. These BAC sequences constitute a resource to improve the efficiency of marker development, map‐based cloning, and comparative genomics in barley and related crops. Additional knowledge about regions of the barley genome that are gene‐dense but low recombination is particularly relevant.     

Lipid peroxidation and biochemical parameters in maternal pre-delivery and post-delivery plasma

Lipid peroxidation (LPX) can play an important role in development of functional and pathological changes of maternal tissues in the course of pregnancy and delivery. LPX products were measured as thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS), using malondialdehyde as the standard solution. Actual TBARS determined in maternal post-delivery plasma (2.71 ± 0.602 nmol/mL) were not statistically different from those determined in pre-delivery plasma (3.45 ± 0.530 nmol/mL). TBARS production was measured in vitro in the both incubated plasma (30 min, 37°C) with and without the added LPX activator (125 μM L-ascorbate plus 5 μM FeSO₄). A difference in the TBARS formation was found only in the post-delivery plasma, as a result of approximately twice higher (marginally significant) TBARS formation in the incubated plasma without the added LPX activator comparing with the actual TBARS levels in this plasma. These results suggest that changes in maternal tissues in the process of labour could create suitable conditions for activation of LPX in maternal plasma. On the other hand, all other analysed biochemical parameters (iron, total iron-binding capacity, uric acid, proteins, magnesium, calcium, phosphate, glucose, potassium, sodium, chlorides, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyltransferase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, α-amylase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase in the post-delivery plasma were not different from those analysed in the pre-delivery plasma.     

Vegetation of vesicular lava cavities in Northern Iceland

Vesicular cavities in the lava fields of Northern Iceland communicate by small openings with the ground surface. Aeolian sediments, called the Icelandic Ioess, deposit over the bottom of these cavities, together with the reduced light intensity and equable microclimate, create specific biotopes occupied by sciophilous bryophytes andCystopteris fragilis. A new association within the allianceCtenidion Stefureac 1941—Cystopteri-Distichietum capillacei Bla?ková ass. nova— is described in the present paper.     

Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Human Spinal Cord Injury: The Effect on Individual Values of pNF-H,GFAP, S100 Proteins and Selected Growth Factors,Cytokines and Chemokines

At present, there is no effective way to treat the consequences of spinal cord injury (SCI). SCI leads to the death of neural and glial cells and widespread neuroinflammation with persisting for several weeks after the injury. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) therapy is one of the most promising approaches in the treatment of this injury. The aim of this study was to characterize the expression profile of multiple cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and so-called neuromarkers in the serum of an SCI patient treated with autologous bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs). SCI resulted in a significant increase in the levels of neuromarkers and proteins involved in the inflammatory process. BM-MSCs administration resulted in significant changes in the levels of neuromarkers (S100, GFAP, and pNF-H) as well as changes in the expression of proteins and growth factors involved in the inflammatory response following SCI in the serum of a patient with traumatic SCI. Our preliminary results encouraged that BM-MSCs with their neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects could affect the repair process after injury.     

The effect of C1 inhibitor on intestinal ischemia and reperfusion injury

Complement activation and neutrophil stimulation are two major components in events leading to ischemia and reperfusion (IR) injury. C1 inhibitor (C1INH) inhibits activation of each of the three pathways of complement activation and of the contact system. It is also endowed with anti-inflammatory properties that are independent of protease inhibition. The goal of these studies was to investigate the role and mechanism of C1INH in alleviating IR-induced intestinal injury. C57BL/6, C1INH-deficient (C1INH(-/-)), bradykinin type 2 receptor-deficient (Bk2R(-/-)), and C3-deficient mice (C3(-/-)) were randomized into three groups: sham operated control, IR, and IR + C1INH-treated groups. Ischemia was generated by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery followed by reperfusion. C1INH or reactive center-cleaved inactive C1INH (iC1INH) was injected intravenously before reperfusion. IR resulted in intestinal injury in C57BL/6, C1INH(-/-), Bk2R(-/-), and C3(-/-) mice with significantly increased neutrophil infiltration into intestinal tissue. In each mouse strain, C1INH treatment reduced intestinal tissue injury and attenuated leukocyte infiltration compared with the untreated IR group. C1INH inhibited leukocyte rolling in the mesenteric veins of both C57BL/6 and C3-deficient mice subjected to IR. C1INH treatment also improved the survival rate of C57BL/6 and C1INH(-/-) mice following IR. Similar findings were observed in the IR animals treated with iC1INH. These studies emphasize the therapeutic benefit of C1INH in preventing intestinal injury caused by IR. In addition to the protective activities mediated via inhibition of the complement system, these studies indicate that C1INH also plays a direct role in suppression of leukocyte transmigration into reperfused tissue.     

Composition and seasonal changes of mesostigmatic mites (Acari) and fleas fauna (Siphonaptera) in the nests of Mus spicilegus (Mammalia: Rodentia)

Together 22,119 individuals and 47 species of mesostigmatic mites, and 485 individuals of fleas belonging to 6 species were obtained from 16 winter nests of mound-building mouse, Mus spicilegus. The most abundant mite species were Laelaps algericus (38.2%), Androlaelaps fahrenholzi (20.9%), Proctolaelaps pygmaeus (16.9%) and Alliphis halleri (8.3%). Ctenophthalmus assimilis (87%) was the highly predominant flea, present in all the positive nests. On the basis of trophic and topic relations, mites were assorted into four ecological groups; parasites had the highest abundance (67% of all individuals). The density peak values of individual ecological mite groups differed the during season. The population peak of the predominant mite species L. algericus was in December, predominance of females was registered throughout the study period. The maximum abundance of fleas was reported in January and May.     

The role of probiotics and natural bioactive compounds in modulation of the common molecular pathways in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and cancer

Atherosclerosis and cancer are ranked among the most serious health problems in human medicine. Various predictive and etiological factors, biomarkers and molecular pathways of disease development and progression common to atherosclerosis and cancer suggest that the two most common diseases in worldwide dimension are far more closely aligned than previously believed. It is hypothesized that atherosclerosis and cancer are variants of a similar disease process. Shared disease progression in atherosclerosis and cancer is the emergence of similar novel approaches to therapy. On previous knowledge, it may be hypothesized that not only common approaches to therapy but also preventive strategies could be efficacious in both diseases. The results of in vitro and in vivo animal experiments, clinical and epidemiological studies and also the results of our experiments using animal experimental models of atherosclerosis and carcinogenesis indicate that probiotics, prebiotics, plants and their extracts and poly-unsaturated fatty acids could be effectively used in prevention of both atherosclerosis and colorectal cancer and decrease the disease risk. Future research should answer the question whether probiotic microorganisms and natural bioactive substances could effectively influence the molecular mechanisms in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and cancer.