Inverse relationship between serum bilirubin and atherosclerosis in men: a meta-analysis of published studies

Bilirubin, a major intravascular product of heme catabolism, is a potent antioxidant compound. Numerous studies have been published showing the relationship between serum bilirubin levels and atherosclerosis. In the present investigation all the epidemiological studies available on the effect of serum bilirubin levels and atherosclerotic disease were analyzed. Studies on the epidemiology of atherosclerotic diseases in relation to serum bilirubin levels were searched in the MEDLINE database. Selected studies were subdivided according to serum bilirubin levels and severity of atherosclerotic disease. Because of the limited number of females involved in the studies, only males were included into meta-analysis. Associations for ordered categorical variables (bilirubin and natural history of graded atherosclerosis) were assessed to find correlation and linear trend between analyzed variables. A stratified analysis was conducted to compare risks of clinical outcomes. Eleven relevant studies were used for analysis. A close negative relationship was found between serum bilirubin levels and severity of atherosclerosis (Spearman rank coefficient r = -0.31,P < 0.0001). The linear trend was confirmed in analysis of proportions with x(2) values for both disease conditions to be very significant (P < 0.0001). Unambiguous inverse relationship between serum bilirubin levels and atherosclerosis was demonstrated in this preliminary meta-analytic study. These results indicate the importance of hem oxygenase-related products in the prevention of oxidative stress-mediated diseases.     

Activities of ligninolytic enzymes in some white-rot basidiomycete strains after recovering from cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen

Fourteen strains of white-rot basidiomycetes belonging to eight species of two genera (Inonotus and Pholiota) were tested for their ability to maintain the production of laccase, peroxidase and manganese-dependent peroxidase (enzymes involved in lignin biodegradation) after a short-time preservation in liquid nitrogen with different cryoprotectives (glycerol, dimethyl sulfoxide). No negative effect of cryopreservation or the used cryoprotective on production of the ligninolytic enzymes was found in the fungi tested.     

Anthriscetum trichospermae im Gebirge Malé Karpaty (Slowakei)

Die synmorphologische, syntaxonomische, synökologische, symphänologische und synchorologisch Charakteristik der AssoziationAnthriscetum trichospermae Hejný etKrippelová inHejný et al. 1979 ist angeführt. Es handelt sich um eine wärmeliebende, nitrophile Therophyten-Gesellschaft auf lehmigen bis lehmig-sandigen Ruderalböden, die warme, lichte oder mässig beschattete Orte, steile Feldraine und Lese-Steinhaufen in Weingärten im südlichen Teil des Gebirges Malé Karpaty (Westslowakei) besiedelt. Das Vorkommen dieser Assoziation ist auch von Ungarn angegeben.     

Die Ruderalvegetation des nördlichen Teils der Donau-Tiefebene 1.Onopordion acanthii-Verband

In der vorgelegten Studie wurden nach der Methode der Zürich-Montpellierschen Schule 6 Gesellschaften desOnopordion acanthii-Verbandes im nordwestlichen Teil der Donau-Tiefebene bearbeitet (Onopordetum acanthii, Potentillo argenteae-Artemisietum absinthii, Cirsietum eriopyori, Lappulo echinatae-Cynoglossetum, Stachyo-Carduetum acanthoidis undSalvio-Marrubietum peregrini)- Synmorphologische, symphänologische, synökologische, syntaxonomische, syndynamische und synchorologische Charakteristiken der Gesellschaften wurden durch Beobachtungen von Dauerflächen und Bodenanalysen ergänzt. Neubeschriebene Syntaxa sindPotentillo-Artemisietum absinthii typicum undSalvio-Marrubietum peregrini. Die Arbeit enthält eine kurze Charakteristik desOnopordion acanthii-Verbandes, der OrdnungOnopordetalia acanthii und der KlasseArtemisietea vulgaris im Hinblick auf das Untersuchungsgebiet.     

Die Ruderalvegetation des nördlichen Teils der Donau-Tiefebene 2. Gesellschaften des Dauco-Melilotion-Verbandes auf ruderalen Standorten

Die vorliegende Darstellung knüpft thematisch und inhaltlich an die Schilderung der Gesellschaften des Onopordion acanthii-Verbandes im nördlichen Teil der Donau-Tiefebene (Mucina 1981) an. Sie enthält die Bearbeitung subthermophiler Gesellschaften des Dauco-Melilotion-Verbandes auf ruderalen Standorten, wie: Melilotetum albae-officinalis, Berteroëtum incanae, Dauco-Picridetum, Dauco-Crepidetum rhoeadifoliae und der Erigeron annuus-Gesellschaft. Als neu wurden folgende Syntaxa beschrieben: Berteroëtum incanae typicum typische Variante und die Variante mit Salvia nemorosa, Dauco-Picridetum typicum typische Variante und die Variante mit Atriplex acuminata und Dauco-Picridetum crepidetosum biennidis. Die untersuchte Gesellschaften-Gruppe entspricht standörtlich der Gruppe der gleichfalls in den Rahmen des Dauco-Melilotion-Verbandes eingeordneten Gesellschaften-Gruppe natürlicher Standorte.     

Localization of the PsbH subunit in photosystem II from the Synechocystis 6803 using the His-tagged Ni-NTA Nanogold labeling

The PsbH protein belongs to a group of small protein subunits of photosystem II (PSII) complex. This protein is predicted to have a single transmembrane helix and it is important for the assembly of the PSII complex as well as for the proper function at the acceptor side of PSII. To identify the location of the PsbH subunit, the PSII complex with His-tagged PsbH protein was isolated from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and labeled by Ni(2+)-nitrilo triacetic acid Nanogold. Electron microscopy followed by single particle image analysis identified the location of the labeled His-tagged PsbH protein at the periphery of the dimeric PSII complex. These results indicate that the N terminus of the PsbH protein is located at the stromal surface of the PSII complex and close to the CP47 protein.     

Insect feeding deterrent activity of bisabolangelone and of some sesquiterpenes of eremophilane type

The insect feeding deterrent activity of some sesquiterpenes of furanoeremophilane type and of the related eremophilanolide type were tested towards three selected storage pests: Sitophilus granarius, Tribolium confusum and Trogoderma granarium. The results were compared with the biogenetically related compound of bakkenolide type, known as a potent antifeedant. Bisabolangelone, tested on the same insects, exhibited the strongest activity, and may be included in the class of very good insect feeding deterrents. The antifeeding activity of bisabolangelone and bakkenolide A towards larvae of Leptinotarsa decemlineata was also observed.     

An Alternative Standard for Trolox‐Equivalent Antioxidant‐Capacity Estimation Based on Thiol Antioxidants. Comparative 2,2′‐Azinobis[3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic Acid] Decolorization and Rotational Viscometry Study Regarding Hyaluronan Degradation

Comparison of the effectiveness of antioxidant activity of three thiol compounds, D ‐penicillamine, reduced L ‐glutathione, and 1,4‐dithioerythritol, expressed as a radical‐scavenging capacity based on the two independent methods, namely a decolorization 2,2′‐azinobis[3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid] assay and a rotational viscometry, is reported. Particular concern was focused on the testing of potential free‐radical scavenging effects of thiols against hyaluronan degradation, induced by hydroxyl radicals. A promising, solvent‐independent, antioxidative function of 1,4‐dithioerythritol, comparable to that of a standard compound, Trolox^®, was confirmed by the 2,2′‐azinobis[3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid] assay. The new potential antioxidant 1,4‐dithioerythritol exhibited very good solubility in a variety of solvents (e.g., H₂O, EtOH, and DMSO) and could be widely accepted and used as an effective antioxidant standard instead of a routinely used Trolox^® on 2,2′‐azinobis[3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid] assay.