Siderophore-producing bacteria from Spitsbergen soils-novel agents assisted in bioremediation of the metal-polluted soils.

Siderophores are molecules that exhibit a high specificity for iron (Fe), and their synthesis is induced by a deficiency of bioavailable Fe. Complexes of Fe-siderophore are formed extracellularly and diffuse through porins across membranes into bacterial cells. Siderophores can bind heavy metals facilitating their influx into cells via the same mechanism. The aim of the studies was to determine the ability of siderophore-producing bacteria isolated from soils in the north-west part of Wedel Jarlsberg Land (Spitsbergen) to chelate non-Fe metals (Al, Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Mn, Sn, and Zn). Specially modified blue agar plates were used, where Fe was substituted by Al, Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Mn, Sn, or Zn in metal-chrome azurol S (CAS) complex, which retained the blue color. It has been proven that 31 out of 33 strains were capable of producing siderophores that bind to Fe, as well as other metals. Siderophores from Pantoea sp. 24 bound only Fe and Zn, and O. anthropi 55 did not produce any siderophores in pure culture. The average efficiency of Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Sn, and Zn chelation was either comparable or higher than that of Fe, while Al and Hg showed significantly lower efficiency. Siderophores produced by S. maltophilia 54, P. luteola 27, P. luteola 46, and P. putida 49 exhibited the highest non-Fe metal chelation activity. It can be concluded that the siderophores of these bacteria may constitute an integral part of the metal bioleaching preparation, and this fact will be the subject of further research.

Synthesis of Indoleacetic Acid, Gibberellic Acid and ACC-Deaminase by Mortierella Strains Promote Winter Wheat Seedlings Growth under Different Conditions.

The endogenous pool of phytoregulators in plant tissues supplied with microbial secondary metabolites may be crucial for the development of winter wheat seedlings during cool springs. The phytohormones may be synthesized by psychrotrophic microorganisms in lower temperatures occurring in a temperate climate. Two fungal isolates from the Spitzbergen soils after the microscopic observations and "the internal transcribed spacer" (ITS) region molecular characterization were identified as Mortierella antarctica (MA DEM7) and Mortierella verticillata (MV DEM32). In order to study the synthesis of indoleacetic acid (IAA) and gibberellic acid (GA), Mortierella strains were grown on media supplemented with precursor of phytohormones tryptophan at 9, 15 °C, and 20 °C for nine days. The highest amount of IAA synthesis was identified in MV DEM32 nine-day-culture at 15 °C with 1.5 mM of tryptophan. At the same temperature (15 °C), the significant promoting effect (about 40% root and shoot fresh weight) of this strain on seedlings was observed. However, only MA DEM-7 had the ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate) deaminase activity with the highest efficiency at 9 °C and synthesized IAA without tryptophan. Moreover, at the same conditions, the strain was confirmed to possess the strong promoting effect (about 40% root and 24% shoot fresh weight) on seedlings. Both strains synthesized GA in all tested terms and temperatures. The studied Mortierella strains had some important traits that led them to be considered as microbial biofertilizers components, improving plant growth in difficult temperate climates.

Assessment of levels of the tumor markers HE4 and CA125 considering staging, grading and histological types of endometrial cancer.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Aim of the study was to assess statistical differences of serum levels of HE4 and CA125 between certain endometrial cancer stages, grading and histological types. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 52 patients admitted to our clinic for a surgical operation because of endometrial cancer was performed. HE4 and CA125 were measured for each patient. The staging was done according to FIGO. The statistical difference of serum levels of tumor markers was analyzed considering different stages, grading and histological types. RESULTS: Most of the patients (92.31%) were post-menopausal. Serum levels of tumor markers were significantly higher among patients with stage IB-IIIC than stage IA, among patients with stages II-III than stage I and among patients with stage IIIC than stage IA-IIIB. Only HE4 was significantly higher among patients with stage IB than stage IA and among patients with grading G2 and G3 than those with G1. Only CA125 was significantly higher among patients with stage IIIA and IIIB than those with stages I and II. There was no statistically significant difference in level of either tumor marker in differentiation of endometrioid from other histological endometrial cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Both tumor markers HE4 and CA125 can be useful additional tools for pre-surgical differentiation between different stages of endometrial cancer. HE4 can predict advanced histological grades. Neither HE4 nor CA125 can differentiate endometrioid from other histological types of endometrial cancer.

Levels of Organic Compounds, Number of Microorganisms and Cadmium Accumulation in Festuca ovina Hydroponic Culture.

Understanding the microbiological, biochemical and physiological aspects of phytoremediation of soil and water environments polluted to different degrees with heavy metals has very important theoretical and practical implications. In this study, a comparison was made between total cadmium concentration in root and shoot tissues as well as concentrations of particular fractions of Cd immobilized by roots of Festuca ovina (Sheep's fescue) hydroponically cultivated in nutrient solutions supplemented with 1 µg Cd ml-1 and those cultivated at 10 µg Cd ml-1. After three weeks of F. ovina cultivation, the number of bacterial CFU and the amounts of organic chelators, siderophores, proteins and reducing sugars in the growth medium and on the root surface were higher at 10 than at 1 µg Cd ml-1. The grass also reacted to the high Cd concentration by a decrease in plant growth and dehydrogenase activity in root tissues. The concentration of Cd determined in fractions bound with different strength in roots was significantly dependent on Cd concentration in the growth medium. When the plants were grown at 1 µg Cd ml-1, 9% of the immobilized cadmium was loosely bound to the root surface, 20% was exchangeable adsorbed, and 28% was bound by chelation; at 10 µg Cd ml-1, the respective values were 12%, 25%, and 20%. About 43% of the immobilized cadmium remained in roots after sequential extraction, and bioaccumulation factors in shoots had the same values independently of Cd concentra-tion. At both Cd concentrations, the cadmium translocation index for F. ovina was low (< 1), which is why this grass can be recommended for phytostabilization of the metal under study.

The role of HE4 and CA125 in differentiation between malignant and non-malignant endometrial pathologies.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess the role of HE4 and CA125 in differentiation between malignant and non-malignant endometrial pathologies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 87 patients with endometrial pathologies was conducted. Tumor markers were assessed two weeks before surgical intervention in each subject. The final diagnosis was established on the basis of the histopathological examination of the endometrium. RESULTS: Serum HE4 levels were significantly higher in patients with endometrial cancer (EC) as compared to non-malignant endometrial pathologies (p < 0.001), patients with stage I EC as compared to non-malignant endometrial pathologies (p < 0.001), and patients with stage Ia EC as compared to non-malignant endometrial pathologies (p = 0.003). Serum CA125 levels were not significantly different as far as these groups of patients were concerned. Both tumor markers were significantly higher in patients with stage II-III as compared to stage I EC and non-malignant endometrial pathologies (p < 0.001 for both markers). Sensitivity and specificity of HE4 at the cut-off level of 70 pmol/L for detecting endometrial malignancies were 73.08% and 85.71%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of CA125 at the cut-off level of 35 U/mL were 29.41% and 94.29%, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) for HE4 was 0.875, suggesting that this marker reliably differentiates malignant from non-malignant endometrial pathologies (p < 0.001). AUC for CA125 was 0.552, suggesting that this marker does not reliably differentiate between malignant and non-malignant endometrial pathologies (p = 0.414). CONCLUSION: HE4, in contrast to CA125, might be a useful tool for detecting malignant endometrial pathologies.

Levels of Organic Compounds, Number of Microorganisms and Cadmium Accumulation in Festuca ovina Hydroponic Culture.

Understanding the microbiological, biochemical and physiological aspects of phytoremediation of soil and water environments polluted to different degrees with heavy metals has very important theoretical and practical implications. In this study, a comparison was made between total cadmium concentration in root and shoot tissues as well as concentrations of particular fractions of Cd immobilized by roots of Festuca ovina (Sheep's fescue) hydroponically cultivated in nutrient solutions supplemented with 1 µg Cd ml(­1) and those cultivated at 10 µg Cd ml(­1). After three weeks of F. ovina cultivation, the number of bacterial CFU and the amounts of organic chelators, siderophores, proteins and reducing sugars in the growth medium and on the root surface were higher at 10 than at 1 µg Cd ml(­1). The grass also reacted to the high Cd concentration by a decrease in plant growth and dehydrogenase activity in root tissues. The concentration of Cd determined in fractions bound with different strength in roots was significantly dependent on Cd concentration in the growth medium. When the plants were grown at 1 µg Cd ml(­1), 9% of the immobilized cadmium was loosely bound to the root surface, 20% was exchangeable adsorbed, and 28% was bound by chelation; at 10 µg Cd ml(­1), the respective values were 12%, 25%, and 20%. About 43% of the immobilized cadmium remained in roots after sequential extraction, and bioaccumulation factors in shoots had the same values independently of Cd concentration. At both Cd concentrations, the cadmium translocation index for F. ovina was low (< 1), which is why this grass can be recommended for phytostabilization of the metal under study.

Analysis of serum level of HE4 and CA125 considering selected risk factors among patients with endometrioid endometrial cancer.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY: To assess the difference of serum level of HE4 and CA125 among patients with endometrioid endometrial cancer, considering the presence or absence of selected risk factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 46 patients, whose serum level of HE4 and CA125 level was documented, admitted to our Clinic because of endometrioid endometrial cancer. The statistical difference of both markers was analyzed considering certain risk factors. RESULTS: In the examined group of patients there was no significant statistical difference of HE4 and CA125 levels among patients with and without the following risk factors: older age, menopausal status, overweight and obesity, hypertension, diabetes, early menarche, and family history of certain cancers. Similar results were obtained within the subgroup of patients with stage I endometrial cancer. Both HE4 and CA125 were significantly higher in premenopausal patients than in those after menopause in the more advanced stages of the disease. The same results were obtained within group of patients with advanced histological grading G2 and G3. In this group, higher levels of CA125 were observed among patients without hypertension. Among patients with histological grade G1 the serum level of HE4 was higher in the group of patients older than 60 years than it was in younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: In the examined group of patients serum levels of tumour markers may not be affected by the selected risk factors. Higher HE4 and CA125 levels among premenopausal patients may be an alarming sign of advanced stages and classes of histological grading.

Spontaneous rupture of the pregnant uterus following salpingectomy: a literature review.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous rupture of the uterus is a life-threatening obstetric complication in rare cases associated with previously performed salpingectomy. AIM: This paper presents an analysis of uterine rupture cases during pregnancy in patients after surgical removal of the fallopian tubes. METHODS: The English and Polish language literature was reviewed for studies published between January 1, 1980 and September 30, 2014 to identify articles that described rupture of the uterus in women with a previous history of salpingectomy. RESULTS: Thirteen case reports and case series studies in 18 women were identified. 33% of cases of uterine rupture following salpingectomy occurred during intrauterine pregnancy, whereas the rest was associated with interstitial ectopic pregnancy. Laparoscopic salpingectomy more often resulted in rupture of the uterus during non-ectopic pregnancy as compared to laparotomy (4 vs. 2 cases, respectively). When interstitial pregnancies were excluded, uterine rupture was a cause of fetal death in 67% of reported gestations. There were no cases of maternal mortality. Conservative treatment was the preferred management option, and total hysterectomy was performed in only 2 patients. CONCLUSION: Particular attention should be paid to patients with a previous history of salpingectomy due to the risk of uterine rupture throughout the entire pregnancy.

Activities of cell wall degrading enzymes in autolyzing cultures of three Fusarium culmorum isolates: growth-promoting, deleterious and pathogenic to rye (Secale cereale).

Release of cell wall degrading enzymes, CWDE, (glucanases, chitinases, xylanases, endocellulases, exocellulases, pectinases and polygalacturonases) was compared for three Fusarium culmorum isolates, two nonpathogenic rhizosphere isolates (a plant growth promoting [PGPF] and a deleterious [DRMO]) and one root pathogen, grown on media supplemented with one of these C sources: glucose, chitin, plant (rye root) and fungal (Fusarium) cell wall. The degree of autolysis determined after 42 d in the medium containing glucose was 15% for PGPF and DRMO and 20% for pathogenic isolate. The organic compounds added to the growth medium differentially affected the activity of the individual enzymes released by the particular isolates. The activities of xylanases and endocellulases released to the plant cell wall-amended medium by the PGPF isolate were significantly lower than the activities of these enzymes released by the DRMO and the pathogenic isolates. The activity of pectinases was repressed by glucose. The activities of acidic hydrolases were greater than those of alkaline hydrolases. Principal component analysis revealed that the activities of the CWDE found in the supernatants of the autolyzing F. culmorum cultures could be clustered into two distinct groups. One group included pectinase, exocellulase and polygalacturonase and all the remaining tested hydrolases in the other, suggesting that enzymes from either group might act in synergy during cell wall degradation. The differences in the activities of the individual CWDE released to the culture by the particular isolates are considered to be one of the key factors responsible for the observed types of plant-fungal interactions.

Catalase activity in arctic microfungi grown at different temperatures.

The total of 98 strains of moulds were isolated from soils collected in arctic tundra (Spitzbergen). Among these strains Penicillium cyclopium 1, the most effective for production of catalase, was selected by the method of test-tube microculture. The time course of growth and catalase production by this strain showed the intracellular activity of this enzyme to be about 3-fold higher than its extracellular level Some properties of crude catalase preparation, isolated from postculture liquids by lyophilization, were also examined. Catalase activity showed its maximum at 15 degrees C, indicating adaptation of the enzyme to lower temperatures of the arctic environment.