Diversity of foliar endophytes in wind-fallen Picea abies trees

The unmanaged Norway spruce montane forests in the Bohemian Forest National Park (Czech Republic) suffered from repeated large-scale bark beetle outbreaks in last decade. In this study, the diversity of culturable foliar endophyte microfungi in needles originating from eleven recently wind-fallen trees in this area was surveyed. Our aims were to describe their diversity and to determine the relative host and organ specificities of isolated endophyte species to estimate the species pool and abundance of foliar endophytes before the forest degradation. Microfungi were isolated from surface-sterilized needles, and the outgrowing strains were identified based on morphological and molecular characteristics (analyses of ITS1, ITS2 and partial 28S rDNA). Fungal communities in the needles were diverse, with ascomycetes (mostly anamorphs of Helotiales) dominating basidiomycetes. The most frequent species (Phacidiopycnis sp., Cistella acuum, Sirococcus sp. and two species of Chalara) did not correspond with those recorded in previous studies of Picea spp. For example, the widely distributed Lophodermium piceae was rarely recorded in this study. This pattern may be caused by different methods of sterilization and cultivation or by physiological characteristics of the needles, or it may reflect the species distribution in the studied area. Members of the Helotiales, along with sequences from GenBank, showed substantial overlap in host affinities, most prominently between Pinus and Picea, and also among species from distant plant lineages.     

Prognostic significance of ischemia modified albumin after percutaneous coronary intervention

Ischemia modified albumin (IMA) is a new biochemical marker of ischemia. IMA levels rise in patients who develop ischemia during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). It is unclear whether IMA elevations correlate with PCI variables. The possible prognostic value of post-PCI IMA elevation has not yet to be studied. METHODS: We studied 60 patients (mean age 61 years; 51 male) who underwent successful elective single-vessel PCI for the management of stable angina pectoris. IMA levels were measured and compared with PCI variables and target lesion revascularization rate. The median post-PCI follow up is 46 months (CI 44.6 to 47.7). RESULTS: We found that the only variable related to post-PCI IMA levels was periprocedural dissection of target vessel (147.6 vs. 141.1 kU/l, p=0.035). No correlation between high and low balloon inflation pressure (143.6 vs. 141.6 kU/l, p=0.64), short and long inflation pressure (141.5 vs. 143.6 kU/l, p=0.17), with and without stent placement (143.7 vs. 141.3 kU/l, p=0.93) was found. IMA level more then 130 kU/l was associated with higher frequency of target lesion revascularization at nearly 4-years follow-up (p=0.026). CONCLUSION: Post-PCI IMA elevation is associated with higher target lesion revascularization.     

Antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of sodium selenite in human colon cancer cells

Sodium selenite has been reported to interfere with cell growth and proliferation and to induce cell death. Despite of our current knowledge, details about its effects on growth and behavior of colonocytes with differing p53 status remain unknown. In our study, we evaluated the antiproliferative, cell cycle specific and proapoptotic potential of sodium selenite in HCT-116 colorectal cells with wild type p53 and its isogenic control HCT-116-p53KO cell line. Cell proliferation in selenite-treated cells was followed by computer-enhanced time-lapse videomicroscopy, by measuring protein content (Coomassie Brilliant Blue assay), metabolic activity (WST-1) and DNA synthesis (BrdU). Changes in cell cycle were determined by flow cytometry and Western blotting. Cell death was measured with the nuclear fragmentation assay and caspase-3 immunostaining. We show that sodium selenite inhibits the growth and proliferation of colon cancer cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner, with HCT-116 cells being more sensitive than HCT-116-p53KO cells. Moreover, upon sodium selenite treatment, there was a tendency for cells to accumulate at G2 phase which was accompanied by the increasing expression of cyclin B1, Cdc2 p34, p21 and the sub G1 fraction of the cell cycle. In addition, PARP and nuclear fragmentation and activation of caspase-3 were more profound in HCT-116 cells versus HCT-116-p53KO cells, thus indicating important role of p53 and dependent signaling in selenite-induced toxicity.     

Comparison of salivary cortisol and calculated free plasma cortisol during low-dose ACTH test in healthy subjects

ObjectivesTo compare free plasma cortisol (FPC) with salivary and calculated cortisol.Design and methodsFPC, salivary cortisol, free cortisol index (FCI), albumin-derived free cortisol index (FCIalb), Coolen's and Dorin's cortisol were assayed during repeated low-dose ACTH test in healthy women.ResultsFPC significantly correlated with its surrogates, the most with FCIalb and salivary cortisol. FPC and salivary cortisol showed the highest method agreement.ConclusionsFCIalb and salivary cortisol are preferred surrogates of FPC.     

GSTM1-null and GSTT1-active genotypes as risk determinants of primary open angle glaucoma among smokers

AIM: To evaluate glutathione transferase theta 1 and mu 1 (GSTT1 and GSTM1) polymorphisms as determinants of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) risk, independently or in combination with cigarette smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. METHODS: A case-control study with 102 POAG patients and 202 age and gender-matched controls was carried out. Multiplex-polymerase chain reaction method was used for the analysis of GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms. The differences between two groups were tested by the t-test or χ2 test. Logistic regression analysis was used for assessing the risk for disease development. RESULTS: The presence of GSTM1-null genotype did not contribute independently towards the risk of POAG. However, individuals with GSTT1-active genotype were at almost two-fold increased risk to develop glaucoma (P=0.044) which increased up to 4.36 when combined with GSTM1-null carriers (P=0.024). When glutathione transferase (GST) genotypes were analyzed in association with cigarette smoking, hypertension and diabetes, only carriers of GSTT1-active genotype had significantly increased risk of POAG development in comparison with GSTT1-null genotype individuals with no history of smoking, hypertension and diabetes, respectively (OR=3.52, P=0.003; OR=10.02, P<0.001; OR=4.53, P=0.002). CONCLUSION: The results obtained indicate that both GSTM1-null and GSTT1-active genotypes are associated with increased POAG risk among smokers, suggesting potential gene-environment interaction in glaucoma development.     

Comparison of Plantar Pressure Distribution During Walking After Two Different Surgical Treatments for Calcaneal Fracture

The aim of our study was to compare gait in terms of foot loading and temporal variables after 2 different operative approaches (the extended lateral approach [ELA] and sinus tarsi approach). Twenty-two patients who sustained an intra-articular calcaneal fracture underwent plantar pressure distribution measurements 6 months after surgery. Measurements were performed while patients walked on the pedobarography platform. The values of dynamic variables were significantly lower on the operated limb in the ELA. In the sinus tarsi approach, no differences were observed between the operated and uninjured limbs (UIN) at peak pressure and at maximal vertical force. The values of temporal variables (contact time of the foot and of the heel) between the operated and UIN differed in the ELA. The hypothesis that differences in foot load between operated and UIN will be more significant in the ELA was confirmed. Our results showed that the differences in loading and temporal variables between the operated and the UIN persisted 6 months after surgery in both methods. The operated limb was less loaded, with the tendency to shift the load toward the midfoot and forefoot. After the less invasive sinus tarsi approach, the dynamic and temporal variables on the operated limb were nearly the same as those on the healthy one. The sinus tarsi surgical approach can be recommended for treatment of displaced calcaneal fractures.