Hepatoprotective effect of curcumin in lipopolysaccharide/-galactosamine model of liver injury in rats: relationship to HO-1/CO antioxidant system

This work studied a relationship between HO-1/CO system and lipid peroxidation with consequent effects on liver functions and NOS-2. We focused on curcumin pretreatment in rat toxic model of d-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide. Hepatocyte viability, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant status, ALT and AST were evaluated. HO-1 and NOS-2 expressions and respective enzyme activity were determined. Curcumin caused decreases in ALT and AST levels as well as in lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, curcumin pretreatment increased liver HO-1 (2.4-fold, p = 0.001), but reduced NOS-2 (4.1-fold, p = 0.01) expressions. In conclusion, the tuning of CO/NO pathways is important in shedding light on curcumin's cytoprotective effects in this model.     

Further degradation product of hyperforin from Hypericum perforatum (St John's Wort)

Repeated examination of the aerial parts of Hypericum perforatum yielded a new degradation product of hyperforin (1) namely deoxyfurohyperforin A (2), together with the previously identified furohyperforin (3), furoadhyperforin (4), furohyperforin A (5a and 5b), pyrano[7,28-b]hyperforin (6) and 3-methyl-4,6-di(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-2-(2-methyl-1-oxopropyl)-3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-cyclohexanone (7). The antimicrobial activity of the compounds 3, 5a and 5b, 6 and 7 was tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli.     

Allelic polymorphism and inheritance of MdACS1 and MdACO1 genes in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.)

The allelic polymorphism and inheritance of MdACS1 and MdACO1 genes were analysed in 28 apple cultivars, which were derived from reciprocal crosses of the following parental pairs: ‘Golden Delicious’ × ‘James Grieve’, ‘Golden Delicious’ × ‘Jonathan’, ‘Cox's Orange Pippin’ × ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Cox's Orange Pippin’ × ‘Jonathan’. Polymorphisms were detected by PCR and the use of two restriction enzymes (BamH1 and RsaI). In addition, new primers were designed for the further discrimination of MdACO1 alleles. Two alleles of MdACS1 gene (MdACS1‐1 and MdACS1‐2) and three alleles of MdACO1 gene (a, b and c) were detected. Cloning and sequencing of MdACO1 alleles confirmed a high conservation and some differences within the coding regions and helped to reconcile between different numbering systems. Observed segregations confirmed that alleles a, b and c belonged to the MdACO1 gene. It is apparent that polymorphisms within the MdACS1 and MdACO1 genes could aid cultivar genotyping and identification and, furthermore, that the MdACS1‐2/2 genotype is correlated with a long apple storage life.     

Production and characterization of amphihaploid hybrids between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nicotiana wuttkei</Emphasis> Clarkson et Symon and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N. tabacum</Emphasis> L

Nicotiana wuttkei Clarkson and Symon discovered in the 1990s in Australia may be of potential interest to breeders as it carries resistance to Peronospora hyoscyami de Bary. The crossability between N. wuttkei (2n = 4x = 32) and three N. tabacum (2n = 4x = 48) cultivars (‘Puławski 66’, ‘Wiślica’ and ‘TN 90’) and the morphology and cytology of their amphihaploid hybrids (2n = 4x = 40) were studied. Seeds were produced only when N. wuttkei was used as the maternal parent, but under normal germination all seedlings died. Viable F₁ hybrids of N. wuttkei × N. tabacum cv. ‘Puławski’ and N. wuttkei × N. tabacum cv. ‘Wiślica’ were obtained only by in vitro cotyledon culture. The amphihaploid plants were intermediate between the parents for most morphological traits. In 46.4% of the PMC’s, only univalents were present. The remainder of the cells had 1–5 bivalents and 1–2 trivalents. In spite of a detectable frequency of monads (2.6%), dyads (2.6%) and triads (4.5%), the hybrids were self and cross sterile.     

Thermodynamics and structural features of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae external invertase isoforms in guanidinium-chloride solutions

Recently, four external invertase isoforms (EINV1, EINV2, EINV3, and EINV4) have been isolated from S. cerevisiae. However, there is nothing known about their structural features and thermodynamics of unfolding. Since this information is essential for understanding their functioning at the molecular level as well as applicable in the food industry, we investigated guanidinium-chloride induced structural changes of the isoforms by CD and fluorescence spectroscopy. The resulting unfolding curves measured for each isoform at different temperatures were described simultaneously by a reversible two-state model to obtain the corresponding thermodynamic parameters. Here, we show that they are different for different isoforms and demonstrate that they correlate with the surface charge density of the native isoforms which follows the order EINV1 < EINV2 < EINV3 < EINV4. It appears that at physiological temperatures the thermodynamic stability of the isoforms follows the same order, while above 55 °C, the order is the opposite EINV1 > EINV2 > EINV3 ≈ EINV4. This suggests that increasing the efficiency of the food industry processes involving invertase would require the application of EINV3 and/or EINV4 at physiological temperatures and EINV1 at elevated temperatures.     

The influence of selected chemical compounds used in winter road maintenance on the active capillarity of soils

Purpose

Winter road maintenance involves the use of various chemical compounds which affect the active capillarity of soils. The main goal of the study was to determine a model to predict changes in the active capillarity of soils using distilled water and water solutions of chemical compounds which are used in winter road maintenance. The purpose of the first part of the experiment was to determine a model to predict changes in the height of capillarity rise and the rate of capillary rise with time. The second part of the experiment investigated how water solutions of selected chemical compounds altered the soils’ active capillarity as determined using distilled water.

Materials and methods

The research was carried out on three soils from deposits in west-central Poland, and their separated fractions. Active capillarity was investigated with the use of distilled water and 5 and 10 % solutions of ten chemical compounds used in winter road maintenance. The rate and height of capillary rise were measured in transparent vertical tubes, placed vertically in a glass tank into which the distilled water or solutions of chemical compounds were poured.

Results and discussion

The rate of capillary rise was decreasing as a function of time. After the first part of the experiment had been completed, an analysis was made of the statistical fit between the experimental data for capillary rise of distilled water in the studied soils and soil fractions, and the model described by the formula $ h(t) = {h_1} + {v_1} \times ln(t) $ , where h ₁ denoted the height of capillary rise in the first second, v ₁ denoted the rate of capillary rise, and t denoted time. High determination coefficients indicated a good fit of the model to the experimental data. In the second part of the study, it was found that solutions of chemical compounds caused a reduction in the active capillarity of the studied soils relative to the capillarity determined using distilled water. It was possible to determine a capillarity coefficient w _k so as to compare the capillary rises in soil of distilled water and of the various chemical compounds in 5 and 10 % solution. Analysis of the results showed that the capillarity coefficient w _k is a characteristic feature which depends on the type and concentration of the chemical subject to capillary action and on the type and fraction of soil.

Conclusions

The active capillarity of soil depends on the type and concentration of the capillary fluid such as distilled water or water solutions of chemical compounds used in winter road maintenance and other factors. The relation between the height of capillary rise h and time t can be described using the formula $ h(t) = {h_1} + {v_1} \times \ln (t) $ . The water solutions of chemical compounds used in winter road maintenance caused a reduction in the active capillarity of the studied soils relative to the capillarity determined using distilled water. It was found that the susceptibility of soil to capillary rise can be determined based on the capillarity coefficient w _k . This coefficient depends on the type and concentration of the chemical compound in the soil and on the soil type and fraction. The effect of these factors can be accounted for using the formula $ h(t) = {w_k} \times {h_1} + {w_k} \times {v_1} \times ln(t) $ .     

Nutritive quality and energy yield of high oil,opaque-2 and waxy maize hybrids compared to normal maize hybrids

Grain yield, chemical composition, protein quality and digestible energy were measured for 18 maize varieties (opaque-2, high oil, waxy hybrids, normal hybrids) cultivated in Yugoslavia. Protein quality assessment was based on amino acid composition, and true protein digestibility, biological value, net protein utilization and utilizable protein as determined in nitrogen balance experiments with rats. The protein concentration in dry matter varied from 8.63–18.81% while the fat concentration varied from 4.45–16.13%. There were only minor differences in ash and crude fibre, while starch and sugar varied inversely to fat and protein concentration. Lysine levels were approximately 30% higher for the opaque-2 varieties compared with normal maize, while leucine levels were about 30% lower. Yields were extremely high for all varieties with the highest value being 10.3 tonnes/ha. Due to the high yields, protein production/ha was high in range of 822–977 kg. This resulted in high yields of amino acids/ha. Protein utilization was very high in the opaque-2 varieties, which had the highest lysine contents. The biological values were close to 80 in these varieties, whereas they were only 60–65 in the normal maize varieties.     

First report of invasive brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) in Croatia

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), has been spreading over Europe since the first documented records from Liechtenstein in 2004 and Switzerland in 2007. It is considered to be a pest in many agricultural crops and a household nuisance. In 2017 the species was observed in Croatia for the first time, in the city of Rijeka on the north Adriatic coast. Halyomorpha halys has already been recorded in three nearby countries (Italy, Hungary and Serbia), and therefore the arrival of this species had been expected from neighbouring populations or from distant sources via trading goods. To identify the pathway of entry, the haplotypes of H. halys (Stål, 1855) individuals were analysed by comparing a part of the mitochondrial COI gene with other haplotypes present in the GenBank database. Individual specimens shared the most common haplotype with nearby Italian and Hungarian populations.     

Effect on neonatal oestrogen and hCG treatment on the genital organs of adult female rats

The ovaries and the uterine as well as vaginal mucous membranes of 80-, 180- and 365-day-old intact female rats and females neonatally treated with a single dose of oestrogen and repeated doses of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were studied. Numerous follicles, interstitial cells and corpora lutea (CL) were present on the ovary of intact females from 80 up to 365 days of age. The number of primary and secondary follicles decreased in the intact female rats between Day 180 and Day 365 of life. On the ovaries of 180- and 365-day-old female rats neonatally treated with oestrogen, interstitial glandular cells and cystic follicles predominated. No CL were present on these ovaries. The height of epithelial cells of the uterine and vaginal mucous membranes increased in intact female rats from 80 to 365 days of age, whereas in oestrogen-treated females the height of epithelium decreased. From 80 up to 365 days of age, the height of epithelial cells of uterine and vaginal mucous membranes of rats neonatally treated with repeated doses of hCG was similar to that in the corresponding control animals.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Clostridium perfringens isolates of bovine, chicken, porcine, and turkey origin from Ontario

Antimicrobial susceptibilities and toxin types were determined for 275 Clostridium perfringens isolates collected in Ontario in the spring of 2005. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of C. perfringens isolates for 12 antimicrobials used in therapy, prophylaxis, and/or growth promotion of cattle (n = 40), swine (n = 75), turkeys (n = 50), and chickens (n = 100) were determined using the microbroth dilution method. Statistical analyses and MIC distributions showed reduced susceptibility to bacitracin, clindamycin, erythromycin, florfenicol, and tetracycline for some isolates. Reduced susceptibility to bacitracin was identified in chicken (64%) and turkey (60%) isolates. Swine isolates had predominantly reduced susceptibility to clindamycin (28%) and erythromycin (31%), whereas bovine isolates had reduced susceptibility to clindamycin (10%) and florfenicol (10%). Reduced susceptibility to tetracycline was spread across all species. No clear reduced susceptibility, but elevated MIC(50) for virginiamycin was found in chicken isolates in comparison with isolates from other species. Toxin typing revealed that C. perfringens type A is the dominant toxin type isolated in this study across all 4 host species.