Selenium Supplementation in Autoimmune Thyroiditis Female Patient—Effects on Thyroid and Ovarian Functions (Case Study)

Recently published biochemical data suggest the significant role of selenium compounds as the adjuvants combined with L: -thyroxine therapy, which can reduce antithyroid peroxidase antibodies' (TPOAb) levels in patients with Hashimoto disease. The study was undertaken to document in a more detailed way the changes in parameters expressing the thyroid and ovarian function brought about by selenium supplementation (50-100 microg/day) in a woman undergoing autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) therapy. This prospective observational case study lasted for 14 months plus additional 5 months as a follow-up period. Parameters reflecting selenium status, thyroid metabolism, and sex hormones secretion were determined at the onset and end of the study period, as well as in some of its middle points. During the supplementation trial, serum selenium (Se) increased by 45% and plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPX3) by 21%. TPOAb decreased by 76%. All other parameters also fluctuated during the supplementation period, but all results were always within normal physiological ranges. After withdrawal of the supplementation, the sharp fall of Se and GPX3 promptly occurred, and this phenomenon was accompanied with a marked increase in TPOAb. This report stresses the importance of selenium supplementation in AIT treatment. However, the efficiency and durability of the effect of Se supplementation on the TPOAb titer remain an open question. The clarification of mechanism(s) underlying Se interaction with autoimmune processes should throw new light on this issue.     

Fhit proteins can also recognize substrates other than dinucleoside polyphosphates

We show here that Fhit proteins, in addition to their function as dinucleoside triphosphate hydrolases, act similarly to adenylylsulfatases and nucleoside phosphoramidases, liberating nucleoside 5'-monophosphates from such natural metabolites as adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate and adenosine 5'-phosphoramidate. Moreover, Fhits recognize synthetic nucleotides, such as adenosine 5'-O-phosphorofluoridate and adenosine 5'-O-(gamma-fluorotriphosphate), and release AMP from them. With respect to the former, Fhits behave like a phosphodiesterase I concomitant with cleavage of the P-F bond. Some kinetic parameters and implications of the novel reactions catalyzed by the human and plant (Arabidopsis thaliana) Fhit proteins are presented.     

Gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric investigation of metabolites from the needles and roots of pine seedlings at early stages of pathogenic fungi <Emphasis Type="Italic">Armillaria ostoyae</Emphasis> attack

An investigation was carried out of the composition of metabolites in pine seedlings tissues at the initial stages of the infectious process caused by pathogenic fungi Armillaria ostoyae, which causes a root rot of trees and degradation of forest resources. With the help of successive extraction with organic solvents of different polarity, more than 190 metabolites were extracted from the needles and roots of the seedlings and then identified by GC–MS method. The composition of the extracts from control plants and those inoculated with Armillaria ostoyae were compared. It was established that part of secondary metabolites (glucosamines and free amino acids, carbohydrates raffinose and trehalose) were present only in the tissues of inoculated plants. Possible roles of some of these compounds appearing in the roots of seedlings infected with the fungus are also discussed in the paper.     

Individual stereoisomers of phosphinic dipeptide inhibitor of leucine aminopeptidase

Individual stereoisomers of the phosphinic pseudodipeptide hPhepsi[P(O)(OH)CH(2)]Phe were obtained by stereoselective liquid chromatographic separation as N- and C-terminally protected derivative on quinidine carbamate modified silica stationary phase. The stereoisomeric purity, exceeding 95% for each fraction, was determined before and after deprotection using two independent methods. The absolute configuration was rationally assigned by application of enantiomerically pure phosphinic acid substrates in the synthetic procedure and correlation with biological activity of the products. Substantial differences in inhibition of leucine aminopeptidase by the individual isomers revealed novel insights into potency of the recently developed and remarkably effective compound.     

The Differential Killing of Genes by Inversions in Prokaryotic Genomes

We have elaborated a method which has allowed us to estimate the direction of translocation of orthologs which have changed, during the phylogeny, their positions on chromosome in respect to the leading or lagging role of DNA strands. We have shown that the relative number of translocations which have switched positions of genes from the leading to the lagging DNA strand is lower than the number of translocations which have transferred genes from the lagging strand to the leading strand of prokaryotic genomes. This paradox could be explained by assuming that the stronger mutation pressure and selection after inversion preferentially eliminate genes transferred from the leading to the lagging DNA strand. Received: 12 December 2000 / Accepted: 20 April 2001     

Optimal allocation to vegetative and sexual reproduction in plants: the effect of ramet density

Vegetative reproduction is a very common alternative by which plants can contribute to the next generations. There are many considerations predicting which mode of reproduction, vegetative or sexual, should be favored and numerous experimental studies to verify them. However, the results are inconsistent especially when the effect of plant density is considered. I apply here a dynamic optimization model to predict the rate of vegetative and sexual reproduction in plants as a response to changes in the local plant density. The population is assumed to occupy a heterogeneous environment consisting of patches in which growth and reproduction of plants are possible and unfavorable space between them. As the environment is globally stable, the seeds, which can disperse without restriction, exhibit a constant recruitment rate. The ramets are assumed to settle only within the patch of the mother plant. The rate of ramet production effects local density, which in turn determines ramet recruitment. The optimal strategy maximizes the expected lifetime genetic contribution, realized via both vegetative and sexual reproduction. The solutions obtained under these assumptions are dualistic. The model predicts that different approaches applied in studying the effect of ramet density should give opposite outcomes. When the comparison is between patches in natural populations, a positive relationship between relative ramet allocation and density is expected. When the density is experimentally manipulated or its effect is analyzed across different successional stages, a negative relationship should be found. The results seem to be confirmed by empirical studies.     

Methodological Aspects of the Potential Use of Dendrochronological Techniques When Analyzing the Long-Term Impact of Tourism on Protected Areas

Intensification of pedestrian tourism causes damage to trees near tourist tracks, and likewise changes the soil structure. As a result, one may expect that annual amount of trees growing near tracks is significantly lower than deeper in the forest. However, during the study of the long-term impact of tourism on the environment (determined from tree increment dynamics), some methodological problems may occur. It is particularly important in protected areas where law and administrative regulations related to nature conservation force research to be conducted using small samples. In this paper we have analyzed the data collected in the Polish part of the Tatra National Park in the two study plots divided into two zones each: the area directly under the influence of the tourist''s trampling and the control group. The aim of such analyses was to present the potential effects of the factors which may affect the results of dendrochronological analysis: (i) small size of samples that affects their representativeness, (ii) spatial differences in the rates of the process, as a result of spatial variability of environmental factors and (iii) temporal differences in the rates of the process. This study confirms that the factors mentioned above could significantly influence the results and should be taken into consideration during the analysis.     

Isozymes delta of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C.

Phospholipase C (PLC, EC 3.1.4.11) is the major starting point in the phosphatidylinositol pathway, which generates intracellular signals that regulate protein kinase C and intracellular calcium concentration. To date, three major types of phosphoinositide-specific PLC species named beta, gamma and delta, have been characterized. This article reviews recent studies on isozymes delta of PLC. Four such isozymes have been cloned and termed delta1-4. Their structural organization, regulation of activity and the interaction with membrane lipid are considered. The intracellular localization of delta isozymes and distribution in various tissues are presented. Attention is given to the pathological conditions in which an abnormal protein level of PLC delta or its activity have been observed.     

Energy balance of hibernating mouse-eared batMyotis myotis: a study with a TOBEC instrument

We used a non-invasive TOBEC method (Total Body Electric Conductivity) to estimate lean body mass and fat content in mouse-eared batsMyotis myotis (Borkhausen, 1797) hibernating in Poznañ Forts (W Poland) and in a semi-natural cave-mine Miedzianka (SE Poland). In December, fat content averaged 5.5 g in females (body mass = 29.4 g) and 5.3 g in males (body mass = 28.4 g). At the end of hibernation (April), fat content averaged 2.2 g in females (body mass = 25.6 g) and 1.4 g in males (body mass = 23.7 g). Fat content did not differ between the localities either in December or in April, but the pattern of changes of fat content was different. We calculated the rate of energy expenditure in hibernating bats using two methods, based on independent samples (fat content in first-time captured individuals) and based on paired observations (changes of fat content in re-captured individuals), and discussed problems associated with the two approaches. Both methods show that the bats need about 4.9 g of fat (191 kJ) to sustain a 165-day hibernation. However, the rate of fat usage varied considerably between the sites and hibernation phase. Although the average amount of fat remaining in April would be sufficient to support at least six more weeks of hibernation, the level of reserves was close to zero in some individuals.