The dirhodium-method in the determination of absolute configurations of phospholene chalcogenides

The 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR signals of six chiral phospholene chalcogenides (X = O, S, Se) are duplicated in the presence of one mole equivalent of the chiral auxiliary Rh2[(R)-MTPA]4 (diastereomeric dispersion Deltanu; in Hz). The samples were investigated as nonracemic mixtures of enantiomers with known absolute configurations so that signs can be attributed to the Deltanu-values and each signal set can be assigned to the respective enantiomer. The signs are uniform--in particular those of 1H nuclei--and nearly independent of the nature of the chalcogen atom. Thus, if the absolute configuration of one compound is known, it is possible to derive absolute configurations in the whole series (correlation method).     

Continuous positive airway pressure treatment in sleep apnea: patient compliance and impact on the right heart

Sleep and Biological Rhythms - Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is considered to be an important predisposing factor for cardiovascular diseases. The main objective of this study was to...     

The Effect of Different Types of Musculoskeletal Injuries on Blood Concentration of Serum Amyloid A in Thoroughbred Racehorses

BackgroundTraining-induced muscle, skeletal and joint trauma may result in acute phase response reflected by the changes in the blood concentration of serum amyloid A (SAA) in racehorses. It remains yet unclear if such systemic reaction could be triggered by sport injuries and what is the impact of different types of musculoskeletal trauma on SAA concentrations in racehorses. This study aimed to determine changes in the SAA blood concentration in racehorses with different types of injuries of musculoskeletal system.ResultsMean SAA concentration within the first 4 days of the injury of muscle and tendon was significantly higher than in bone fractures, dorsal metacarpal disease, joint trauma or in the healthy horses (p<0,001). There were no significant differences between the other groups.ConclusionsStrain injuries of muscle and tendons can cause a moderate increase in SAA blood concentration in racehorses, reflecting the occurrence of the acute phase response. Similar reaction is not observed in the stress-related bone injuries.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">SDF1-3</Emphasis>′ G801A polymorphisms in Polish patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

It has been reported that stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF1), currently also designated CXCL12, plays a significant role in the development of nephritis and death in the lupus mice model. Using restriction length fragment polymorphism (RFLP) analysis we assessed the frequencies of SDF1-3′ G801A (rs 1801157) polymorphic variants between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients (n = 150) and controls (n = 300). There were no significant differences in the prevalence of SDF1-3′ G801A polymorphic variants in SLE patients and healthy individuals. However, we observed that the SDF1-3′ A/A and G/A genotypes (recessive model) contributed to renal manifestations of SLE OR = 3.042 (95% CI = 1.527–6.058, P = 0.002), and the p value stayed statistically significant after Bonferroni correction (p _corr = 0.032) in SLE patients. We also found an association of the SDF1-3′ A/A and G/A genotypes (recessive model) with dermal manifestations of SLE OR = 2.510 (95% CI = 1.247–5.052, P = 0.0122), (p _corr = 0.1952) but this did not remain statistically significant after Bonferroni correction. Our observations suggest that the SDF1-3′ G801A genotype may be associated with some clinical manifestations in patients with SLE.     

Fructanolytic and saccharolytic enzymes of Treponema zioleckii strain kT

Enzymes in the newly described rumen bacterium, Treponema zioleckii strain kT, capable of digesting Timothy grass fructan, inulin, and sucrose were identified and characterized. Two specific endolevanases and one non-specific β-fructofuranosidase were found in a cell-free extract. The molecular weight of the endolevanases were estimated to be 60 and 36 kDa, whereas that of β-fructofuranosidase, 87 kDa. The former of the specific enzymes was associated with the outer membrane, while the latter and the non-specific β-fructofuranosidase, with the periplasm or cytosol. The K_m and V_max for Timothy grass fructan degradation by endolevanase were 0.27% and 15.75 μM fructose equivalents × mg protein^?1 × min^?1, those for sucrose and inulin digestion by β-fructofuranosidase were 1.35 × 10^?3 M and 1.73 μM hexoses × mg protein^?1 × min^?1 and 1.77% and 1.83 μM hexoses × mg protein^?1 × min^?1, respectively.     

Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) decline after the expansion of American mink (Neovison vison) in Poland

Field survey data in Central Poland revealed that the proportion of sites inhabited by muskrats decreased from 44% to 7% over one decade. This corresponded to the decline in hunting bags of muskrat over the whole of Poland. The largest hunting harvest of muskrat was recorded in 1987/1988 (66,416 individuals), the smallest in 2007/2008 (4,567 individuals). The decline in hunting bags occurred in all regions analysed; however, it was most rapid in the north and north-east. Before the expansion of mink, which started in northern Poland at the beginning of the 1980s, muskrat densities in particular regions depended on the availability of aquatic habitats. A comparison of hunting bags of muskrat and American mink in years 2002–2008 indicated a significant negative correlation between the numbers of these two species harvested in seven regions of Poland. The negative correlation between numbers of muskrat and mink suggests that mink predation is one of the most important factors in the decline of the muskrat population in Poland.     

Are linear‐leaved Potamogeton hybrids really so rare? Molecular evidence for multiple hybridizations between P. acutifolius and P. compressus in central Europe

Due to insufficient morphological differentiation, hybridization among linear‐leaved species of Potamogeton is rarely observed and recognized. Here, we applied molecular tools (sequencing of nrITS and rpl32‐trnL cpDNA intergenic spacer) to study several natural, central European populations of morphologically intermediate forms between two closely related species, P. acutifolius and P. compressus, to examine their taxonomical status and test whether they represented the variation range of the species or are results of interspecific hybridization. Both DNA regions provided distinguishing characters between putative parental species. The ITS sequences from all the morphologically intermediate specimens displayed an additive pattern combining the variation of both parental species, providing evidence for the hybrid origin of all these plants. This case study suggests that hybrids of linear‐leaved Potamogeton species are more common than usually believed, but have been difficult to identify without molecular tools.