Oxidative stress markers in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder

Recent study data support the role of oxidative stress in diverse psychiatric disorders. Oxidative stress results from an oxidant/antioxidant imbalance, an excess of oxidants and/or a depletion of antioxidants. There are numerous studies that indicate that free radicals (FRs) damage neurons, and then play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and depression. Active oxygen can cause considerable damage and disrupt the important physiological functions of proteins, lipids, enzymes and DNA. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible differences in the concentration of tromboxane B2, 8-OHdG and protein carbonyls, as significant markers of oxidative damage, and urate, albumin and total protein concentrations as antioxidative molecules in PTSD patients in comparison to the healthy control group. The study included 74 male participants who were active soldiers in the Croatian armed forces from 1991 to 1995. 46 subjects with chronic and current PTSD were recruited from the Department of Psychiatry of Dubrava University Hospital during 2010, 28 healthy subjects were recruited in the same period during the regular medical examination at the Dubrava University Hospital. Study results have shown that there is no statistically significant difference in urinary concentrations of 8-OHdG, serum thromboxane B2, and serum urates between two studied groups. Statistically significant difference of the protein carbonyl concentrations was examined. Concentrations were significantly lower in the PTSD group than in the control group. The clinical significance of these results was examined using ROC analysis. The obtained ROC curves did not separate the groups in a satisfactory manner.     

Personal experiences of the psoriasis and its relation to the stressful life events

Psoriasis is a disease with a profound impact on the psychological and social aspects of the patient, particularly because of its visibility. Quality of life is impaired and different mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, alcoholism, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are found among persons suffering from psoriasis. Studies have shown the influence of stressful life events on onset, exacerbation and relapse of psoriasis. Rare studies explored prevalence of psoriasis during war times and relations between psoriasis and war provoked PTSD. Psoriasis is a disease with multiple possible causes and additional caution is necessary among medical professional to recognize all contributing factors. This report describes a case of a person whose first episode of psoriasis appeared six months after engaging in combat activities. He is diagnosed with psoriasis vulgaris, psoriatic arthritis and permanent personality changes after the traumatic experiences caused by war participation. His occupational history is burdened with additional causational factors; work with heavy metals and metal dusts. Cumulative effects of different aetiological factors can contribute to psoriasis with intensive trauma induced stressors serving as a trigger. His medical history indicates cognitive difficulties typical for early dementia which makes this case even more interesting. Research results suggesting common aetiology of psoriasis, autoimmune diseases and neurodegenerative diseases, indicate a need, as in the case of our patient, for multidisciplinary approach to studying aetiology of psoriasis.     

Invasive alga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caulerpa racemosa</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">cylindracea</Emphasis> makes a strong impact on the Mediterranean sponge <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sarcotragus spinosulus</Emphasis>

Here we present the first observation of the impact of the invasive Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea on native photophilic sponge species in the Adriatic Sea, with special focus on Sarcotragus spinosulus. Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea is able to completely overgrow the sponge, developing an exceptionally thick canopy with a maximum measured density of 1,887 m of stolons m⁻² and 40,561 fronds m⁻². Necrosis of the sponge surface was significantly correlated with the algal dry biomass, frond number and stolon length. Dense algal canopy, penetration of the algal stolon and rhizoids into the sponge oscula and covering of the ostiae probably diminishes the seawater circulation through the sponge and consequently results in its smothering and even death. We suggest that chemotropism is the reason why C. racemosa penetrates the sponge oscula and establishes such dense canopy on the sponge.     

Characterisation of antioxidants in photosynthetic and non‐photosynthetic leaf tissues of variegated Pelargonium zonale plants

Hydrogen peroxide is an important signalling molecule, involved in regulation of numerous metabolic processes in plants. The most important sources of H₂O₂ in photosynthetically active cells are chloroplasts and peroxisomes. Here we employed variegated Pelargonium zonale to characterise and compare enzymatic and non‐enzymatic components of the antioxidative system in autotrophic and heterotrophic leaf tissues at (sub)cellular level under optimal growth conditions. The results revealed that both leaf tissues had specific strategies to regulate H₂O₂ levels. In photosynthetic cells, the redox regulatory system was based on ascorbate, and on the activities of thylakoid‐bound ascorbate peroxidase (tAPX) and catalase. In this leaf tissue, ascorbate was predominantly localised in the nucleus, peroxisomes, plastids and mitochondria. On the other hand, non‐photosynthetic cells contained higher glutathione content, mostly located in mitochondria. The enzymatic antioxidative system in non‐photosynthetic cells relied on the ascorbate–glutathione cycle and both Mn and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase. Interestingly, higher content of ascorbate and glutathione, and higher activities of APX in the cytosol of non‐photosynthetic leaf cells compared to the photosynthetic ones, suggest the importance of this compartment in H₂O₂ regulation. Together, these results imply different regulation of processes linked with H₂O₂ signalling at subcellular level. Thus, we propose green‐white variegated leaves as an excellent system for examination of redox signal transduction and redox communication between two cell types, autotrophic and heterotrophic, within the same organ.     

Zur Morphologie und Systematik desTrebouxia-Phycobionten im Thallus vonUsnea longissima (Lecanorales)

In the lichen genusUsnea different species ofTrebouxia-phycobionts as well as different haustorial types are known. The isolated and cultivated phycobiont ofUsnea longissima Ach. was studied by light- and electron microscopy and resembles in cytomorphological details the type ofTrebouxia impressa Ahmad. In addition to simple wall-to-wall contacts between the symbiotic components also intraparietal (=intrawall-)haustoria could be observed as the normal interaction type.

Frau Prof. Dr.Elisabeth Tschermak-Woess zu ihrem 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Effect of hyperbaric air on endotoxin from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacteroides fragilis</Emphasis> strains

The aim of the project was to determine any effect of hyperbaric air on Bacteroides fragilis strains cultivated under hyperbaric conditions. Previously, it was hypothesized that there was a correlation between the presence of Bacteroides bacteria in patients preferring a meaty diet and cancer of the small intestine, and particularly of the large intestine and rectum. With respect to the fact that Bacteroides fragilis (BAFR) group are important producers of endotoxins, measurement and statistical evaluation of endotoxin production by individual strains of isolated Bacteroides species were used to compare bacteria isolated from various clinical samples from patients with colon and rectum cancer in comparison with strains isolated from other non-cancer diagnoses. Endotoxin production was proven by quantitative detection using the limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) test in EU/mL. Production of endotoxins in these bacteria cultured under hyperbaric air conditions was higher than those strains cultured under normobaric anaerobic conditions. But these differences in endotoxin production were not statistically significant (t test with log-transformed data, p value = 0.0910). Based on a two-tier t test for lognormal data, it is possible to cautiously conclude that a statistically significant difference was found between endotoxin production by Bacteroides fragilis strains isolated from non-carcinoma diagnoses (strains (1–6) and strains isolated from colorectal carcinoma diagnoses (strains 7–8; Wilcoxon non-parametric test p = 0.0132; t test = 0.1110; t test with log-transformed data, p value = 0.0294).     

Progress since the first international symposium: ‘Genetic aspects of plant mineral nutrition’, Beograd, 1982, and perspectives of future research

Summary The paper discusses the problems of genetic aspects of plant mineral nutrition in the light of the results presented at the First and Second Symposia on ‘Genetic Aspects of Plant Mineral Nutrition’ organized in Beograd in 1982 and Madison in 1985, respectively. On the basis of the results, future directions of research are discussed. The papers deal with the concentration and content of mineral nutrients in different genotypes, physiological and biochemical aspects of the genetic specificity of plant mineral nutrition, relations between plant genotypes and nitrogen fixing micro-organism strains, as well as with some related problems which have been investigated to a lesser extent. Particular attention is paid to papers and problems referring to genetic and breeding research work linked with genetic aspects of plant mineral nutrition as well as the possibilities of developing new cultivars requiring certain soil and mineral nutrition conditions for their cultivation.     

Impact of Progerbalin LG® on the apple fruit physical attributes

During two consecutive years (2010 and 2011) we evaluated the impact of Progerbalin LG^® (mixture of gibberellins (GA₄₊₇) and N ⁶-benzyladenine) on fruit weight, fruit dimensions, elongation, geometric mean diameter or fruit size, aspect ratio, surface area and fruit volume of five apple cultivars belonging to ‘Red Delicious’ group (‘Hapke’ grafted on M.9 and M.26, ‘Hi Red’, ‘Starking’ and ‘Top Red’ on M.9, and ‘Red Chief Camspur’ on MM.106 rootstock). Trees were sprayed twice with 30, 50 or 100 ml L^?1 i.e. between 80 % of open flowers and the following petal fall (first treatment), and 10 days after first application (second treatment); control trees were not sprayed. Results showed that the lowest dose increased fruit weight in all cultivars, except ‘Top Red’ and ‘Red Chief Camspur’; this dose promoted fruit dimensions, fruit size and elongation in ‘Hapke’ on both rootstocks, and also fruit dimensions, surface area and fruit volume in ‘Hi Red’. Regarding ‘Starking’, different doses of Progerbalin LG^® did not affect other properties evaluated, but season played an important role in these cases. In contrast, the highest dose of this hormone improved all physical attributes in ‘Top Red’ and ‘Red Chief Camspur’, except elongation and/or aspect ratio. In some cases, good values were found in control treatment.     

Durch Seitenwurzelbildung induzierte und spontane Mitosen in den Dauergeweben der Wurzel

Ohne ZusammenfassungDie wesentlichen Untersuchungsergebnisse wurden im Rahmen einer Doktorarbeit am Botanischen Institut der Universität Wien gewonnen. Für Anregung und förderliche Kritik danken wir Herrn Prof. Dr. L.Geitler bestens.     

Electric organ polyamines and their effects on the acetylcholine receptor

1. The electric organ of Torpedo nobiliana contained putrescine (PUT), spermidine (SPD), spermine (SPM), and cadaverine (CAD). Traces of acetylated SPD and SPM were occasionaly seen. 2. Upon fractionation of the tissue by differential centrifugation, the polyamines (PA) were found predominantly in the soluble fraction. The postsynaptic membrane fraction, containing a high concentration of acetylcholine receptor (AChR), was proportionally enriched in SPM. The molar ratio of SPM to AChR was approximately two in these membranes. 3. The effect of exogeneous PA on AChR function was studied by two methods: carbamoylcholine (CCh)-dependent 86Rb+ influx into receptor-rich membrane vesicles and [alpha-125I]bungarotoxin (Bgt) binding to the AChR. 4. SPM inhibited both ion influx and the rate of Bgt binding at concentrations above 1 mM, and therefore it appears to act as a competitive antagonist of the AChR. 5. At submicromolar concentrations, and only after preincubation with the receptor-rich membrane, SPM and PUT increased the ion influx by about 20% over control values. 6. Preincubation with 100 nM SPM did not affect the equilibrium binding of iodinated toxin or the rate of toxin binding, and therefore SPM was not uncovering new receptors. 7. By measuring the initial rate of toxin binding after different periods of preincubation with 1 microM CCh, the rate of the slow phase of receptor desensitization was determined. This rate was not changed by 100 nM SPM. 8. Although these results suggest that at low concentrations SPM is a positive modulator of the AChR, the precise mechanism of action is not determined yet.