Attenuation of allergic contact dermatitis through the endocannabinoid system

Allergic contact dermatitis affects about 5% of men and 11% of women in industrialized countries and is one of the leading causes for occupational diseases. In an animal model for cutaneous contact hypersensitivity, we show that mice lacking both known cannabinoid receptors display exacerbated allergic inflammation. In contrast, fatty acid amide hydrolase-deficient mice, which have increased levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide, displayed reduced allergic responses in the skin. Cannabinoid receptor antagonists exacerbated allergic inflammation, whereas receptor agonists attenuated inflammation. These results demonstrate a protective role of the endocannabinoid system in contact allergy in the skin and suggest a target for therapeutic intervention.     

Antioxidant Activity and Profile of Phenolic Compounds in Selected Herbal Plants

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Herbs are characterized by a high content of biologically active substances that positively affect human health. Phenolic compounds are one of the main bioactive...     

Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii exopolysaccharide and sunflower husk biochar as factors affecting immobilization of both tetracycline and Cd2+ ions on soil solid phase

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Industrialization and application of large amount of fertilizers together with animal wastes increased pollution of environment with antibiotics and heavy metals....     

Competitivity,selectivity, and heavy metals-induced alkaline cation displacement in soils

Abstract

The simultaneous incorporation of heavy metals into the soil is still a matter of great concern. Interaction (competitive sorption) between these metals and the soil solid phase may result in a deterioration of soil quality which relies basically on amounts of alkaline cations saturating soils sorptive complex. Results of this study indicate that Pb, Cu, C d, and Zn have induced solution pH decreases which were more intensive at highest metal loading rates. Partition parameters (Kd)-based sequences showed that Pb and Cu were more competitive than Cd and Zn and the overall selectivity sequence followed: Pb > Cu > Cd > Zn. Metal loadings and their competitive sorption have led to a strengthened displacement of alkaline cations (i.e. Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺), especially of Ca²⁺ as a factor “stabilizing” soil sorptive complex. Such metals impact jointly with soils acidification are of great environmental concern since tremendous amounts of alkaline cations (especially Ca²⁺) may be potentially leached out, irrespective of the degree of soil contamination, as evidenced in the current study. High and positive ΔG values implied that the studied soils were characterized by generally low concentrations of exchangeable potassium which required high energy to get displaced (desorbed). Further studies on heavy metal uncontaminated or contaminated areas should be undertaken to provide with data which should be used for predictions on changes related to soil buffering capacity as impacted by heavy metal inputs.     

Effects of different matrix representations and connectivity measures on habitat network assessments

Assessing landscape connectivity is important to understand the ecology of landscapes and to evaluate alternative conservation strategies. The question is though, how to quantify connectivity appropriately, especially when the information available about the suitability of the matrix surrounding habitat is limited. Our goal here was to investigate the effects of matrix representation on assessments of the connectivity among habitat patches and of the relative importance of individual patches for the connectivity within a habitat network. We evaluated a set of 50 × 50 km² test areas in the Carpathian Mountains and considered three different matrix representations (binary, categorical and continuous) using two types of connections among habitat patches (shortest lines and least-cost paths). We compared connections, and the importance of patches, based on (1) isolation, (2) incidence-functional, and (3) graph measures. Our results showed that matrix representation can greatly affect assessments of connections (i.e., connection length, effective distance, and spatial location), but not patch prioritization. Although patch importance was not much affected by matrix representation, it was influenced by the connectivity measure and its parameterization. We found the biggest differences in the case of the integral index of connectivity and equally weighted patches, but no consistent pattern in response to changing dispersal distance. Connectivity assessments in more fragmented landscapes were more sensitive to the selection of matrix representation. Although we recommend using continuous matrix representation whenever possible, our results indicated that simpler matrix representations can be also used as a proxy to delineate those patches that are important for overall connectivity, but not to identify connections among habitat patches.     

Salivary Cortisol Concentration in Exercised Thoroughbred Horses

Both physical activity and stress result in an increase in plasma cortisol level. The measurement of cortisol in plasma requires taking blood samples, which is stressful itself. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the use of saliva sampling for the determination of cortisol concentrations, indicating the intensity of exercise in horses during race training. Twelve Thoroughbred horses aged 2-3 years were examined during their speed training sessions. The horses galloped on the 1,200-m sand track at a speed of 14.4-15.3 m/s. Three saliva samples and three blood samples were collected from each horse. Both types of samples were taken when the horse was at rest, immediately after returning from the track and 30 minutes after the end of exercise. Blood lactic acid (LA) concentration was determined using the enzymatic cuvette test. The concentrations of cortisol in saliva and plasma samples were measured by enzyme immunoassay methods. Statistically significant correlations were found between salivary cortisol level determined 30 minutes after the end of exercise and blood LA concentration obtained immediately after exercise (P = .003) and between salivary and plasma cortisol levels measured 30 minutes after the end of training session (P = .015). The measurement of cortisol concentration in saliva samples taken from race horses 30 minutes after the end of exercise can be recommended for use in practice under field conditions to estimate the level of relative intensity of exercise in race horses.     

Ileal absorption of L-carnitine from diets used in reproductive polar fox (Alopex lagopus L.) nutrition

Abstract

Five mature ileorectal anastomosed blue foxes (6.18±0.15 kg) were used in digestibility experiments to evaluate the L-carnitine apparent ileal absorption from diets used in reproductive polar fox nutrition over the year-long farm-feeding period on two domestic farms (A and B) differing in reproduction results. The concentration of L-carnitine was higher in diets from farm B (136.1–241.7 mg kg^?1 DM) than in the diets from farm A (88.5–135.2 mg kg^?1 DM). The coefficients of ileal apparent absorption of L-carnitine ranged from 60.23 to 75.57% for diets A (farm A) composed mainly of fish and poultry offals. The coefficients of ileal apparent digestibility of L-carnitine were higher for diets B (farm B) (83.75–94.78%; P<0.05) based on beef offals. These data indicate high concentration and efficient ileal apparent absorption of L-carnitine from diets used in reproductive polar fox nutrition on both farms examined.     

Dynamics of ammonia excretion in juvenile common tench, Tinca tinca (L.), during intensive rearing under controlled conditions

This paper presents the first data on ammonia excretion by fed and starved juvenile common tench. The aim of the study was to determine the amount of ammonia excretion by juvenile common tench Tinca tinca (L.), fed with a commercial feed under intensive rearing conditions. Rearing was conducted for a period of 4 weeks at a water temperature of 27 °C. On the test day, the amounts of ammonia excreted by starved fish (over 12 h: control group) and fish fed with a morning feed dose (3 % of biomass: experimental group) were determined at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 h after feeding. Ammonia excretion measurements were taken in 7-day intervals. Despite the increased growth rate in successive weeks of experiment, the amount of ammonia excreted by the fish was always at a similar level within the control (maximum 0.26 mg g^?1) and the experimental group (maximum 0.39 mg g^?1). This paper presents for the first time reliable amount of ammonia excreted by fed and starved juvenile common tench. The obtained results may also increase the effectiveness of intensive rearing procedures (taking into account stocking density and feeding regime) and allow to design the most effective biofiltration capacity of recirculating aquaculture systems for the commercial production of this species.     

The parameters of energetic status of the wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) spermatozoa

The energetic status of fresh sperm of wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) was presented in selected males (n=10) with motility rate ≥80%. Purine and pyridine nucleotides: adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP), guanosine triphosphate, guanosine diphosphate, guanosine monophosphate, inosine monophosphate, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate; nucleosides: adenosine, guanosine and inosine; bases: hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid were determined using the high‐performance liquid chromatography method. The average value of adenylate energy charge in the group was 0.77 ± 0.10, and the mean total adenine nucleotide content (TAN) was 65.1 ± 18.3 pmol × 10^?6 spermatozoa. The mean concentrations of ATP, ADP and AMP were 43.5, 11.8 and 9.9 pmol × 10^?6 spermatozoa respectively. The concentrations of the other energetic nucleotides studied were lower. In all males studied (n=23) with a motility rate from 0% to 95%, no statistically significant correlation between the per cent of motile sperm and ATP concentration was found (R_s=0.35), whereas the correlation between the per cent of motile sperm and ADP was statistically significant (R_s=0.60). A negative correlation was found between hypoxanthine and the per cent of motile spermatozoa (R_s=?0.44). Our results suggest that hypoxanthine is the final product of salmon spermatozoa of adenine nucleotide catabolism.