Radiation-induced oxidative DNA base damage and its repair in nuclear matrix-associated DNA and in bulk DNA in hepatic chromatin of rat upon whole-body gamma-irradiation.

In the present work, we examined the formation and repair of DNA base damages induced by gamma-irradiation in different fractions of rat hepatic chromatin. Animals were exposed to radiation with the dose of 10 Gy. Nuclear matrix DNA and whole chromatin were isolated from the liver of rats killed before and in different time after irradiation. In those samples the pyrimidine-derived and the purine-derived modified DNA bases were identified and quantitated by gas chromatography/isotope-dilution mass spectrometry with selected-ion monitoring. We found elevated levels of modified DNA bases over control values after whole body irradiation in both matrix DNA and bulk chromatin samples. Our results suggest that modified bases are preferentially removed from matrix DNA then bulk chromatin.

Radiation induced oxidative DNA base damage and its repair in liver chromatin DNA of rats upon whole body gamma-irradiation.

The amount of all bases, except for 5,6-dihydroxyuracil were significantly increased in rat DNA upon cobalt-60 gamma-irradiation. Control values were recovered 12 h after irradiation. The extent of DNA damage and repair was different for particular bases.

Comparison of the septal lesion effects on visual and spatial discriminations in rats.

Postoperative performance in acquisition and reversal learning of septal rats was investigated and compared with control rats in three experiments. Experiment I involved a simultaneous black-white discrimination task. The number of errors in normal and septal rats was similar in acquisition and reversal learning. Both septal and normal rats manifested directional response sets. Experiment II examined a position habit discrimination. Acquisition was similar in septal and normal rats, while reversal learning was impaired in septal rats. Experiment III, which investigated a position habit discrimination with available irrelevant visual stimuli indicated that both acquisition and reversal learning were impaired in operated animals. Results suggested that septal rats utilize response produced cues to control their behavior, but the enhanced orienting response to the visual stimuli interferes with the proprioceptive stimuli.

[Effect of marked obesity on the emotional status of children]. / Wplyw otylosci znacznego stopnia na stan emocjonalny dziecka.

Fifty children with overweight exceeding 50% of the expected weight were studied for establishing the occurrence of emotional disturbances caused by lack of acceptance by peers. Obese children were found to suffer often from discrimination by their schoolmates which was, in some degree, connected with their low fitness. This may lead to various emotional disturbances requiring even psychotherapeutic measures.

[Campylobacter in surface waters for communal purposes in Bydgoszcz region]. / Wystepowanie bakterii z rodzaju Campylobacter w wodach powierzchniowych, wykorzystywanych na potrzeby komunalne na terenie województwa bydgoskiego.

The aim of our work was to determine the frequency of Campylobacter occurrence in surface water taken from lakes and rivers. For this purpose the membrane filters technique in microaerophylic conditions and Columbia Agar with the antibiotics addition as the culture medium were used. The genera of Campylobacter were determined. At the same time the purity of water's samples was estimated. The total number of bacteria as well as the number of Coli spp. were determined. The results indicate that 33% of water samples were contaminated with Campylobacter (predominated C. coli and C. jejuni). The percentage increased with the degree of contamination with Coli.

Reflex respiratory responses to progressive hyperoxic hypercapnia and normocapnic hypoxia in normocapnic and hypercapnic obstructive sleep apnea patients.

Ventilatory responses to progressive hypercapnia were analyzed in the normocapnic and hypercapnic obstructive sleep apnea patients (OSA). The rebreathing hypercapnic and hypoxic tests were performed using the computerized equipment (Lungtest, MES), according to Read's method. The ventilatory response to hypoxia was impaired in all OSA patients. Concerning the hypercapnic ventilatory response, there were no differences between the OSA patients with normal end-tidal PCO(2) and controls. Nine moderately hypercapnic OSA patients showed a right shift with a normal slope of the regression curve describing the relationship between the end-tidal PCO(2) and minute ventilation. In contrast, three severely hypercapnic OSA patients showed a right shift with a decreased slope of this regression curve. We conclude that awake OSA patients who developed hypercapnic ventilatory insufficiency showed an impaired hypercapnic defense reaction.

Evaluation of the cardiovascular system in children with simple obesity. Part I. Clinical, electrocardiographic and functional studies.

In 45 children with simple obesity (overweight 70 +/- 16%) clinical, electrocardiographic and functional assessment of the cardiovascular system was carried out. The results were compared with those in a control group of 20 healthy children without overweight. Raised arterial blood pressure was found in 14 children (31%) in the studied group. In the control group the blood pressure was normal. Resting electrocardiogram was abnormal in 5 obese (11%) and 2 thin (10%) children. Exercise tolerance was similar in both groups, while the values of systolic pressure and double product were higher in obese children. The value of the tolerated exercise was not correlated with the degree of overweight.

Evaluation of the cardiovascular system in children with simple obesity. Part II. Echocardiographic assessment.

In a group of 45 children with simple obesity (overweight 70 +/- 16%) echocardiographs evaluation of the morphology and function of the left cardiac ventricle was carried out comparing the obtained results with those in a control group (20 children). The mass of the left ventricle was greater in obese children, and the degree of hypertrophy was not correlated with the degree of overweight. The tested parameters of left ventricle systolic activity were within normal limits and were non-significantly lower than in the control group.