ALBERT

Beschreibung: Research Highlights: Thermophilous oak forests are among the most species-rich forest ecosystems in Central Europe. In the temperate zone, they evolved from mixed deciduous forests due to centuries-long livestock grazing. The abandonment of traditional forms of landscape use resulted in a constant decline in the number of patches of these communities, their area and species richness, which has been ongoing for decades and calls for their urgent conservation. The commonly used approaches to the conservation of this community are the reestablishment of grazing or mechanical removal of undergrowth. However, there are a limited number of works comparing their effects on the forest herb layer separately and in combination. Background and Objectives: The purpose of our research was to evaluate the effectiveness of grazing, mechanical brush removal and their combination for the conservation of the oak forest herb layer. Materials and Methods: Our work was based on a fully crossed experimental design set in a 60-year-old oak forest. The individual and combined influences of sheep grazing and brush cutting on forest floor vegetation were compared to control plots. We surveyed plant species twice—before the application of treatments and one year later on 600 one-square-meter subplots selected randomly in the limits of twelve fenced 20 m × 20 m treated and untreated study plots. Results: Both grazing by sheep and mechanical removal served well for total plant species richness and their cover, if applied separately. But these effects were not additive—plant species richness and plant cover on plots with combined treatment did not differ from plots, where just a single treatment was applied. Application of both treatments (but separately) had positive influence on species cover of the target group of plants typical to xerothermic oak forests and non-target species of mixed deciduous forests. Mechanical removal allowed also for successful control of woody species. Active conservation measures resulted also in negative effects—we observed increase in the species richness and cover of ruderal species on grazed plots. Conclusions: Both tested methods can be used for active conservation of open oak forest understorey vegetation. The method of active conservation should be chosen depending on the goal and the species composition of the forest floor and undergrowth found at the beginning of the restoration process, however, combining of these treatments does not bring any extra advantage. In our opinion a monitoring of the reaction of vegetation on treatments is of paramount importance.

Beschreibung: The aim of the presented research is to perform a comprehensive analysis of wood density variability on the longitudinal and transverse cross-section of log trees at the age of 70 to 72 years of Betula pendula Roth. and the creation of density distribution maps. Furthermore, the determination proportion of juvenile and mature wood was done. Wood density was determined with a non-destructive method using an isotopic densimeter. It was found that the wood location, both in cross-section and longitudinal section of the trunk, had a statistically significant effect on the average density of birch wood. The average density of whole logs was significantly higher than the average density at the breast height. On the cross-section, the distribution of average densities determined at the breast height, as well as on ¼ of the log height, properly depicted the distribution of average densities on the cross-section determined for the whole logs. The geographical direction (north–south) did not have a statistically significant effect on the distribution of average densities on the cross-section of the tested birch logs.

Beschreibung: Excess body weight is a serious public health problem, which affects both adults and children. Unfortunately, the prevalence of excess body weight in children in Poland is not subject to any regular screening. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 6–7-year-old children in the municipality of Gdańsk in the years 2008–2016. The anthropometric parameters of 12,330 children (49.55% girls and 50.45% boys) with a mean age of 6.53 ± 0.38 years were analyzed. The prevalence of overweight was 7.49% (7.91% girls and 7.07% boys) and obesity 4.24% (4.47% girls and 3.99% of boys). There was no difference in the prevalence of neither overweight nor obesity between boys and girls (p = 0.076). However, the prevalence of overweight and obesity combined is higher in girls (12.38% vs. 11.06%, p = 0.023). There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of overweight and obesity neither in the group of girls nor in the group of boys in children aged 6–7 years in yearly cohorts examined between 2008 and 2016. The prevalence of excess body weight in this population is at a stable level.

Beschreibung: This is the first study to evaluate vitamin K status in relation to dietary intake and phenylalanine dietary compliance in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU). The dietary and PKU formula intake of vitamin K was calculated in 34 PKU patients, with vitamin K status determined by the measurement of prothrombin induced by vitamin K absence (PIVKA-II). Blood phenylalanine concentrations in the preceding 12 months were considered. There were significantly more phenylalanine results exceeding 6 mg/dL in patients with normal PIVKA-II concentrations than in those with abnormal PIVKA-II levels (p = 0.035). Similarly, a higher total intake of vitamin K and dietary vitamin intake expressed as μg/day (p = 0.033 for both) and %RDA (p = 0.0002 and p = 0.003, respectively) was observed in patients with normal PIVKA-II levels. Abnormal PIVKA-II concentrations were associated with a lower OR (0.1607; 95%CI: 0.0273–0.9445, p = 0.043) of having a median phenylalanine concentration higher than 6 mg/dL. In conclusion, vitamin K deficiency is not uncommon in phenylketonuria and may also occur in patients with adequate vitamin K intake. PKU patients with better dietary compliance have a higher risk of vitamin K deficiency. The present findings highlight the need for further studies to re-evaluate dietary recommendations regarding vitamin K intake, both concerning formula-based and dietary consumption of natural products.

Beschreibung: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a well-known hormone produced by the trophoblast during pregnancy as well as by both trophoblastic and non-trophoblastic tumors. hCG is built from two subunits: α (hCGα) and β (hCGβ). The hormone-specific β subunit is encoded by six allelic genes: CGB3, CGB5, CGB6, CGB7, CGB8, and CGB9, mapped to the 19q13.32 locus. This gene cluster also encompasses the CGB1 and CGB2 genes, which were originally considered to be pseudogenes, but as documented by several studies are transcriptionally active. Even though the protein products of these genes have not yet been identified, based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database analysis we showed that the mutual presence of CGB1 and CGB2 transcripts is a characteristic feature of cancers of different origin, including bladder urothelial carcinoma, cervical squamous cell carcinoma, esophageal carcinoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma, lung squamous cell carcinoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, rectum adenocacinoma, testis germ cell tumors, thymoma, uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma and uterine carcinosarcoma.

Beschreibung: In the present study, the early stage of bacteria biofilm formation has been studied as a function of different nutrients. Infrared spectra of Pseudomonas fluorescens (PF) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (SE), on germanium ATR crystal, were collected under deionized water H2O, phosphate buffered solution (PBS) and PBS with glucose (PBS-G). In H2O, protein bands of PF increased while, no difference in PBS and PBS-G were observed until 135 min. SE strain showed a low sensitivity to PBS composition starting to expose proteins on surfaces after 120 min. SE shows a low polysaccharides increase in H2O while, in bare and enriched PBS their intensity increases after 120 and 75 min. in PBS and PBS-G respectively. PF exhibits a peculiar behavior in H2O where the saccharide bands increased strongly after 100 min, while under all the other conditions, the intensity of polysaccharide bands increased up to the plateau probably because the layer of the biofilm exceeded the penetration capability of FTIR technique. All data suggest that, under lack of nutrients, both the bacteria tend to firmly anchor themselves to the support using proteins.

Beschreibung: This study aimed to evaluate the association of genetic variants in lactoferrin (LTF) metabolism-related genes with the prevalence of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUHO). In total, 161 MHO and 291 MUHO subjects were recruited to the study. The following polymorphisms were genotyped: low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) 2 rs2544390, LRP1 rs4759277, LRP1 rs1799986, LTF rs1126477, LTF rs2239692 and LTF rs1126478. We found significant differences in the genotype frequencies of LTF rs2239692 between MHO and MUHO subjects, with the CT variant associated with lower odds of developing metabolic syndrome than the TT variant. In the total population, significant differences in body weight and waist circumference (WC) were identified between LTF rs1126477 gene variants. A similar association with WC was observed in MUHO subjects, while significant differences in body mass index and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were discovered between LTF rs1126477 gene variants in MHO subjects. Besides, there were significant differences in diastolic blood pressure between LRP1 rs1799986 gene variants in MUHO subjects, as well as in WC and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels between LRP1 rs4759277 gene variants in MHO subjects. In conclusion, selected lactoferrin and lactoferrin receptor-related gene variants may be associated with the prevalence of metabolically healthy or metabolically unhealthy obesity.

Beschreibung: The proteasome is a pivotal element of controlled proteolysis, responsible for the catabolic arm of proteostasis. By inducing apoptosis, small molecule inhibitors of proteasome peptidolytic activities are successfully utilized in treatment of blood cancers. However, the clinical potential of proteasome activation remains relatively unexplored. In this work, we introduce short TAT peptides derived from HIV-1 Tat protein and modified with synthetic turn-stabilizing residues as proteasome agonists. Molecular docking and biochemical studies point to the α1/α2 pocket of the core proteasome α ring as the binding site of TAT peptides. We postulate that the TATs’ pharmacophore consists of an N-terminal basic pocket-docking “activation anchor” connected via a β turn inducer to a C-terminal “specificity clamp” that binds on the proteasome α surface. By allosteric effects—including destabilization of the proteasomal gate—the compounds substantially augment activity of the core proteasome in vitro. Significantly, this activation is preserved in the lysates of cultured cells treated with the compounds. We propose that the proteasome-stimulating TAT pharmacophore provides an attractive lead for future clinical use.

Beschreibung: Background: Vitamin D was studied in regards to its possible impact on body mass reduction and metabolic changes in adults and children with obesity yet there were no studies assessing the impact of vitamin D supplementation during a weight management program in children and adolescence. The aim of our study was to assess the influence of 26 weeks of vitamin D supplementation in overweight and obese children undergoing an integrated 12–months’ long weight loss program on body mass reduction, body composition and bone mineral density. Methods: A double–blind randomized placebo–controlled trial. Vitamin D deficient patients (

Beschreibung: Human colostrum (HC) is a rich source of immune mediators that play a role in immune defences of a newly born infant. The mediators include transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) which exists in three isoforms that regulate cellular homeostasis and inflammation, can induce or suppress immune responses, limit T helper 1 cells (Th1) reactions and stimulate secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) production. Human milk TGF-β also decreases apoptosis of intestinal cells and suppresses macrophage cytokine expression. The aim of the study was to determine the concentration of TGF-β2 in HC obtained from the mothers who delivered vaginally (VD) or by caesarean section (CS), and to compare the concentrations in HC from mothers who delivered at term (TB) or preterm (PB). In this study, 56% of preterm pregnancies were delivered via CS. The concentrations of TGF-β2 were measured in HC from 299 women who delivered in the 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Warsaw: 192 (VD), 107 (CS), 251 (TB), and 48 (PB). The colostrum samples were collected within 5 days post-partum. TGF-β2 levels in HC were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test with the Quantikine ELISA Kit-Human TGF-β2 (cat.no. SB250). Statistical significance between groups was calculated by the Student t-test using StatSoft Statistica 13 software. The mean TGF-β2 concentration in patients who delivered at term or preterm were comparable. The levels of TGF-β2 in HC were higher after preterm than term being 4648 vs. 3899 ng/mL (p = 0.1244). The delivery via CS was associated with higher HC concentrations of TGF-β2. The levels of TGF-β2 were significantly higher in HC after CS than VD (7429 vs. 5240 ng/mL; p = 0.0017). The data from this study suggest: caesarean section was associated with increased levels of TGF-β2 in HC. The increased levels of TGF-β2 in HC of women who delivered prematurely require further research. Early and exclusive breast-feeding by mothers after caesarean section and premature births with colostrum containing high TGF-β2 levels may prevent the negative impact of pathogens which often colonize the gastrointestinal tract and may reduce the risk of chronic diseases in this group of patients.