Changes in particulate and dissolved organic matter in nutrient-enriched enclosures from an area influenced by mucilage: the northern Adriatic Sea

This study examined the partitioning of organic matter intoparticulate organic carbon (POC) and dissolved organic carbon(DOC) pools in nutrient-enriched enclosures containing naturalplankton from the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic), an areaaffected by mucilage. The strategy of nutrient additions wasto introduce a pulse of new nutrients in concentrations thatmimic natural inputs and to survey community structure and organicmatter fluxes long enough so that plankton became nutrient-limited.Maximal bacterial biomass attained roughly double the initialvalue, while autotrophic carbon increased by nearly an orderof magnitude. The microflagellate-dominated community releasedmore DOC per unit biomass (5.5 ± 7.2 to 50.6 ±28.0 µg C µg Chl a^-1 day^-1 versus 3.4 ± 3.4to 10.8 ± 4.6 µg C µg Chl a^-1 day^-1 for diatom-dominatedphytoplankton), POC increase was modest (~300 µg C l^-1)and there was little change in DOC. Organic carbon partitioningduring two experiments in which diatoms prevailed was dominatedby POC (>800 µg C l^-1) in the exponential growth phasewith an increasing contribution of particulate carbohydratesthat paralleled gradual nutrient depletion. Transition to thestationary phase and the decay of autotrophic communities wereaccompanied by the net accumulation of a carbohydrate-rich DOC.     

Emergence of uropathogenic extended-spectrum beta lactamases-producing Escherichia coli strains in the community

The aim of this study was to determine the virulence characteristics and resistance pattern of the extended-spectrum/lactamases (ESBLs)-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from urine of outpatients in the Zagreb region during a five-month period, and to compare them with the non ESBLs-producing E. coli strains isolated in the same period. Out of 2451 E. coli strains isolated from urine of nonhospitalized patients with significant bacteriuria, a total of 39 ESBLs-producing strains (1.59%) were detected by a double-disk diffusion technique and by the broth-dilution minimal inhibitory concentration reduction method. The 45 non ESBLs-producing strains were randomly chosen, and phenotype of the two groups of strains was characterized and compared. Serogroup O4, hemolysin production, expression of P- and type 1 fimbriae as well as resistance to gentamicin and amikacin were significantly more prevalent characteristics among the ESBLs-producing strains than among non ESBLs-producing strains (p < 0.01), while higher prevalence of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resistance among ESBLs-producing strains was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Chromosomal DNA analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis exhibited a great genomic similarity among ESBLs-producing strains and revealed that those highly virulent and resistant E. coli strains isolated from urine of outpatients in the Zagreb region had a clonal propagation.     

A new modification of anti-tubercular active molecules

The connection of two active molecules across an easily released bridge as a new type of potentially active molecule has been studied. The synthesis is based on derivatives that originate from isonicotinoyl hydrazide, pyrazinamide, p-aminosalicylic acid (PAS), ethambutol, and ciprofloxacin. The lipophilicity, hydrolysis (stability of the compounds), and antituberculotic activity as well as the structure-lipophilicity and structure-activity relationships are discussed.     

Genetic differentiation of the Western Capercaillie highlights the importance of South-eastern Europe for understanding the species phylogeography

The Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus L.) is a grouse species of open boreal or high altitude forests of Eurasia. It is endangered throughout most mountain range habitat areas in Europe. Two major genetically identifiable lineages of Western Capercaillie have been described to date: the southern lineage at the species' southernmost range of distribution in Europe, and the boreal lineage. We address the question of genetic differentiation of capercaillie populations from the Rhodope and Rila Mountains in Bulgaria, across the Dinaric Mountains to the Slovenian Alps. The two lineages' contact zone and resulting conservation strategies in this so-far understudied area of distribution have not been previously determined. The results of analysis of mitochondrial DNA control region sequences of 319 samples from the studied populations show that Alpine populations were composed exclusively of boreal lineage; Dinaric populations of both, but predominantly (96%) of boreal lineage; and Rhodope-Rila populations predominantly (>90%) of southern lineage individuals. The Bulgarian mountains were identified as the core area of the southern lineage, and the Dinaric Mountains as the western contact zone between both lineages in the Balkans. Bulgarian populations appeared genetically distinct from Alpine and Dinaric populations and exhibited characteristics of a long-term stationary population, suggesting that they should be considered as a glacial relict and probably a distinct subspecies. Although all of the studied populations suffered a decline in the past, the significantly lower level of genetic diversity when compared with the neighbouring Alpine and Bulgarian populations suggests that the isolated Dinaric capercaillie is particularly vulnerable to continuing population decline. The results are discussed in the context of conservation of the species in the Balkans, its principal threats and legal protection status. Potential conservation strategies should consider the existence of the two lineages and their vulnerable Dinaric contact zone and support the specificities of the populations.     

Effect of weak, interrupted sinusoidal low frequency magnetic field on neural regeneration in rats: functional evaluation

A study of the effect of weak, interrupted sinusoidal low frequency magnetic field (ISMF) stimulation on regeneration of the rat sciatic nerve was carried out. In the experiment, 60 Wistar rats were used: 24 rats underwent unilateral sciatic nerve transection injury and immediate surgical nerve repair, 24 rats underwent unilateral sciatic nerve crush injury, and the remaining 12 rats underwent a sham surgery. Half of the animals (n = 12) with either sciatic nerve lesion were randomly chosen and exposed between a pair of Helmholtz coils for 3 weeks post-injury, 4 h/day, to an interrupted (active period to pause ratio = 1.4 s/0.8 s) sinusoidal 50 Hz magnetic field of 0.5 mT. The other half of the animals (n = 12) and six rats with sham surgery were used for two separate controls. Functional recovery was followed for 6 weeks for the crush injuries and 7(1/2) months for the transection injuries by video assisted footprint analysis in static conditions and quantified using a recently revised static sciatic index (SSI) formula. We ascertained that the magnetic field influence was weak, but certainly detectable in both injury models. The accuracy of ISMF influence detection, determined by the one-way repeated measures ANOVA test, was better for the crush injury model: F(1, 198) = 9.0144, P = .003, than for the transection injury model: F(1, 198) = 6.4826, P = .012. The Student-Newman-Keuls range test for each response day yielded significant differences (P < .05) between the exposed and control groups early in the beginning of functional recovery and later on from the points adjacent to the beginning of the plateau, or 95% of functional recovery, and the end of observation. These differences probably reflect the ISMF systemic effect on the neuron cell bodies and increased and more efficient reinnervation of the periphery.     

Stichorchis subtriquetrus in European beaver from Croatia: first report

Since 1996, European beavers (Castor fiber) have been reintroduced from Germany to Croatia. However, little is known about the health status of the established population. Necropsy of a 2-year-old female European beaver, which died from a car accident, revealed 28 adult trematodes in the preserved fragments of the colon and in the peritoneal cavity. All of them were identified as Stichorchis subtriquetrus. The typical location of these parasites is the large intestine, and the finding of several specimens in the peritoneal cavity can be explained by the severe trauma. We assume that the trematode was introduced to Croatia along with the beavers. Furthermore, it is very probable that the life cycle can be completed as the intermediate hosts are part of the local fauna. This is the first record of S. subtriquetrus in Croatia.     

Effects of bovine spermatozoa preparation on embryonic development in vitro

The aim of our research was to examine the ability of density gradient preparation BoviPure^? and swim up method on bull sperm separation and in vitro embryo production (IVP) systems. Frozen/thawed semen from six Simmental bulls was pooled and treated using both methods. The sperm motility, concentration, membrane activity, membrane integrity and acrosomal status were evaluated and compared before and after sperm processing using BoviPure^? and swim up methods. We also evaluated and compared cleavage rates, embryo yield and quality between the methods. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) between the sperm characteristics before and after BoviPure^?, but not after swim up method. However, there were significant differences for sperm results among those two mentioned methods. A total of 641 oocytes were matured and fertilized in vitro and cultured in SOFaaBSA. The percentage of cleavage (Day 2) and the percentage of hatched embryos (Day 9) were similar for both methods. However, embryo production rate (Day 7) was significantly higher using BoviPure^? method (P < 0.05). Also, total cell number and embryo differential staining (inner cell mass and trophectoderm cells) of Day 7 morulas and blastocysts showed that BoviPure^? treated sperm displayed higher quality embryos compared to swim up method (P < 0.05). Our results indicate that BoviPure^? method has an enhanced capacity in sperm selection for in vitro embryo production when compared with swim up method. So, we concluded that BoviPure^? could be considered as a better alternative to swim up method for separating bull spermatozoa from frozen/thawed semen for IVP of bovine embryos.     

Involvement of FGF and BMP family proteins and VEGF in early human kidney development

The spatial and temporal pattern of the appearance of the fibroblast growth factor proteins (FGF-8 and FGF-10), the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP-2/4 subfamily and BMP-7) and the vascular endothelial growth factor protein (VEGF) was investigated in the human mesonephros and metanephros of the 5-9 week-old conceptuses. In the mesonephros, both FGF's and BMP's were found in all structures and their expression slightly decreased in the early fetal period. VEGF positivity appeared in all mesonephric structures, and increased in the fetal period coincidently with formation of the mesonephric blood vessel network. In the metanephros, FGF-8 first appeared only in the metanephric mesenchyme, but from the 7th week on, its reactivity increased and spread to other metanephric structures. FGF-10 positive cells appeared in all metanephric structures already in the 5th week, and slightly intensified with progression of development. Cell survival and nephrogenesis in the permanent kidney might be associated with the appearance of both growth factors. Both BMP-2/4 and BMP-7 displayed a similar pattern of reactivity in all metanephric structures, and their reactivity intensified with advancing development. Alterations in their pattern of appearance might lead to the formation of small and dysplastic kidneys. Already in the earliest developmental stages, VEGF protein appeared in all metanephric structures. At later stages, VEGF showed more intense reaction in the collecting system than in the differentiating nephrons and interstitium. Due to VEGF involvement in vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, abnormal VEGF appearance might lead to impaired formation of the blood vessel network in the human permanent kidney.     

Transventricular and transpial absorption of cerebrospinal fluid into cerebral microvessels

It is generally accepted that volume of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is secreted in brain ventricles and flows to subarachnoid space to be absorbed into dural venous sinuses or/and into lymphatics via perineural sheats of cranial nerves. Since 99% of CSF volume is water, in experiments on cats 3H-water was slowly infused into lateral ventricle and found that it does not flow to subarachnoid space but that it is rapidly absorbed transventricularly into periventricular capillaries. When 3H-water was infused in cortical subarachnoid space, it was absorbed locally into cerebral capillaries via pia mater. On the contrary, when macromolecule 3H-inulin is applied in CSF it is very slowly eliminated in bloodstream, and, with time, is carried by systolic-diastolic pulsations and mixing of CSF bidirectionally along CSF system. Thus, CSF volume (water) is absorbed rapidly into adjacent cerebral capillaries while inulin is distributed bidirectionally due to its long residence time in CSF Previously, the macromolecules have been used to study CSF volume hydrodynamics and with this misconception of CSF physiology arose.     

Traumatic injury to the incisive bones and maxillary dentition in a male gray wolf (Canis lupus L.) from Slovakia

The paper presents the skull of a male gray wolf shot in the region of Snina, eastern Slovakia. Age at death of the wolf was estimated at 6 years. The skull was characterized by the almost-complete absence of the alveolar processes of the incisive bones and multiple dental abnormalities that were attributed to a severe trauma. All maxillary incisors and both maxillary first premolars were missing. In addition, both maxillary canines were fractured with only tooth fragments being left. The pulp exposure associated with the crown fractures of the maxillary canines had caused pulp necrosis and periapical lesions, as evidenced on radiographs. The right P², P³, and P⁴ were fractured, with only the remaining tooth structure of the second and third premolars being left. In the right P⁴ and the left M¹, periapical bone resorption was diagnosed radiologically. In the mandibular dentition, the right I₂ and left P₁ had been lost in life. The mandibular canines exhibited distinct wear facets that were caused by contact with the maxillary third incisors, which were subsequently lost. The fact that all fractured teeth showed signs of wear indicates that the trauma had occurred some time before the wolf was shot.