Neurological and neuromuscular manifestations in patients with West Nile neuroinvasive disease, Belgrade area, Serbia, season 2022.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to describe neurological manifestations and functional outcome at discharge in patients with West Nile neuroinvasive disease. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled inpatients treated in the University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases in Belgrade, Serbia, from 1 June until 31 October 2022. Functional outcome at discharge was assessed using modified Rankin scale. RESULTS: Among the 135 analyzed patients, encephalitis, meningitis and acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) were present in 114 (84.6%), 20 (14.8%), and 21 (15.6%), respectively. Quadriparesis/quadriplegia and monoparesis were the most frequent forms of AFP, present in 9 (6.7%) and 6 (4.4%) patients, respectively. Fourty-five (33.3%) patients had cerebellitis, 80 (59.3%) had rhombencephalitis, and 5 (3.7%) exhibited Parkinsonism. Ataxia and wide-based gait were present in 79 (58.5%) patients each. Fifty-one (37.8%) patients had tremor (41 (30.3%) had postural and/or kinetic tremor, 10 (7.4%) had resting tremor). Glasgow coma score (GCS) ≤ 8 and respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation developed in 39 (28.9%), and 33 (24.4%) patients, respectively. Quadriparesis was a risk factor for prolonged ventilator support (29.5 ± 16.8 vs. 12.4 ± 8.7 days, p = 0.001). At discharge, one patient with monoparesis recovered full muscle strength, whereas 8 patients with AFP were functionally dependent. Twenty-nine (21.5%) patients died. All of the succumbed had encephalitis, and 7 had quadriparesis. Ataxia, tremor and cognitive deficit persisted in 18 (16.9%), 15 (14.2%), and 22 (16.3%) patients at discharge, respectively. Age, malignancy, coronary disease, quadriparesis, mechanical ventilation, GCS ≤ 8 and healthcare-associated infections were risk factors for death (p = 0.001; p = 0.019; p = 0.004; p = 0.001; p < 0.001; p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively).

Prevalence of Carcinogenic Genotypes of HPV-Infected Women in a Ten-Year Period (2014-2023) in Vojvodina, Serbia.

Background and Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and its etiological role in the development of cervical cancer are well established. The cervical cancer mortality rate in Serbia is one of the highest among European countries, and this cancer is the second-leading cause of death in Serbian women aged from 15 to 44. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina. A total of 10,062 cervical specimens from Serbian women were collected and HPV tested in ten years. The study patients were divided into five age groups. HPV genotype testing was performed using a commercial kit to detect 14 high-risk (HR) HPV genotypes. Additionally, cervix cytology data have been available for patients tested in 2022 and 2023. Results: An overall positive rate was found in 43.3% of patients (4356/10,062). A single HPV infection (62.1%) was the main infection pattern. The most frequent HR HPV genotypes were HPV 16, 31, 52, 56, 39, and 51, comprising 62.3% of the detected genotypes, including multiple infections. A significant difference was noted in the HPV prevalence across the different age groups, with a bimodal distribution of HPV infection. The highest prevalence was recorded in the age group ≤ 30 and those after 61 years. Women diagnosed with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) were significantly older compared to others. HR HPV is the most prevalent in patients with HSIL cytological findings (76.5%). The most common type, according to age-specific distribution and cytological findings, was HR HPV 16. Conclusions: This study provides comprehensive data on HR HPV distribution among Serbian women, which can serve as a basis for subsequent monitoring of genotypic distribution. It is particularly significant considering they are missing in the updated ICO/IARC Report for Serbia, and the cervical cancer mortality rate in Serbia is one of the highest among European countries.

HCV and HCC Tango-Deciphering the Intricate Dance of Disease: A Review Article.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounting for around one-third of all HCC cases. Prolonged inflammation in chronic hepatitis C (CHC), maintained through a variety of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators, is one of the aspects of carcinogenesis, followed by mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Immune response dysfunction including the innate and adaptive immunity also plays a role in the development, as well as in the recurrence of HCC after treatment. Some of the tumor suppressor genes inhibited by the HCV proteins are p53, p73, and retinoblastoma 1. Mutations in the telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter and the oncogene catenin beta 1 are two more important carcinogenic signaling pathways in HCC associated with HCV. Furthermore, in HCV-related HCC, numerous tumor suppressor and seven oncogenic genes are dysregulated by epigenetic changes. Epigenetic regulation of gene expression is considered as a lasting "epigenetic memory", suggesting that HCV-induced changes persist and are associated with liver carcinogenesis even after cure. Epigenetic changes and immune response dysfunction are recognized targets for potential therapy of HCC.

The Role of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

This review emphasizes the importance of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in patients diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). In contrast to standard exercise testing and stress echoes, which are limited due to the ECG changes and wall motion abnormalities that characterize this condition, CPET allows for the assessment of the complex pathophysiology and severity of the disease, its mechanisms of functional limitation, and its risk stratification. It is useful tool to evaluate the risk for sudden cardiac death and select patients for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), cardiac transplantation, or mechanical circulatory support, especially when symptomatology and functional status are uncertain. It may help in differentiating HCM from other forms of cardiac hypertrophy, such as athletes' heart. Finally, it is used to guide and monitor therapy as well as for exercise prescription. It may be considered every 2 years in clinically stable patients or every year in patients with worsening symptoms. Although performed only in specialized centers, CPET combined with echocardiography (i.e., CPET imaging) and invasive CPET are more informative and provide a better assessment of cardiac functional status, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and diastolic dysfunction during exercise in patients with HCM.

A structurally engineered fatty acid, icosabutate, suppresses liver inflammation and fibrosis in NASH.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Although long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (LCn-3FAs) regulate inflammatory pathways of relevance to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), their susceptibility to peroxidation may limit their therapeutic potential. We compared the metabolism of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) with an engineered EPA derivative (icosabutate) in human hepatocytes in vitro and their effects on hepatic glutathione metabolism, oxidised lipids, inflammation, and fibrosis in a dietary mouse model of NASH, and in patients prone to fatty liver disease. METHODS: Oxidation rates and cellular partitioning of EPA and icosabutate were compared in primary human hepatocytes. Comparative effects of delayed treatment with either low- (56 mg/kg) or high-dose (112 mg/kg) icosabutate were compared with EPA (91 mg/kg) or a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist in a choline-deficient (CD), L-amino acid-defined NASH mouse model. To assess the translational potential of these findings, effects on elevated liver enzymes and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score were assessed in overweight, hyperlipidaemic patients at an increased risk of NASH. RESULTS: In contrast to EPA, icosabutate resisted oxidation and incorporation into hepatocytes. Icosabutate also reduced inflammation and fibrosis in conjunction with a reversal of CD diet-induced changes in the hepatic lipidome. EPA had minimal effect on any parameter and even worsened fibrosis in association with depletion of hepatic glutathione. In dyslipidaemic patients at risk of NASH, icosabutate rapidly normalised elevated plasma ALT, GGT and AST and reduced FIB-4 in patients with elevated ALT and/or AST. CONCLUSION: Icosabutate does not accumulate in hepatocytes and confers beneficial effects on hepatic oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis in mice. In conjunction with reductions in markers of liver injury in hyperlipidaemic patients, these findings suggest that structural engineering of LCn-3FAs offers a novel approach for the treatment of NASH. LAY SUMMARY: Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids are involved in multiple pathways regulating hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, but their susceptibility to peroxidation and use as an energy source may limit their clinical efficacy. Herein, we show that a structurally modified omega-3 fatty acid, icosabutate, overcame these challenges and had markedly improved antifibrotic efficacy in a mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. A hepatoprotective effect of icosabutate was also observed in patients with elevated circulating lipids, in whom it led to rapid reductions in markers of liver injury.

Should I GROW or should I SLOW: A meta-analysis of fast-growing tree-species grown in cadmium perturbed environment.

Variations in soil chemical composition may lead to disturbances in plant growth and survival. Which strategies of biomass allocation fast-growing species acquire to overcome the disturbances in the rhizosphere remains an open research challenge. We conducted a series of greenhouse pot experiments to collect enough experimental evidence to elucidate the answer. A tiered analytical approach was applied to collected data to fingerprint both the intraspecies and interspecies differences. We investigated the biomass allocation patterns in Robinia pseudoacacia L., Populus × euramericana, Populus deltoides, Salix alba, Salix matsudana Koidz., and Salix viminalis L. (18 fast-growing genotypes in total) under cadmium-free and cadmium-perturbed soil conditions. Further, we explored the intraspecific and interspecific differences between tested plants and looked for different strategies employed under perturbed conditions. We show that fast-growing species tend to strengthen their roots toward the Cd triggered perturbances in the rhizosphere and allocate more biomass to that plant organ/part. Intraspecies analyses pointed to differences in resource use efficiency and acquisition strategy based on specific leaf area, pointing toward P. deltoides genotypes PE19/66 and PD3, and S. alba B44 as strong, fast-growing oriented genotypes. Others exhibited more or less a conservative resource use and acquisition strategy under perturbed conditions. Our study highlights the intraspecies and interspecies specificity of fast-growing species to Cd occurrence in the rhizosphere. Association of growth traits and Cd-related traits tested with structural equation model highlighted the shoots bioconcentration index as a proxy-trait which directly interplay with the functional traits performance and modify the biomass shift.

Health assessment of medicinal herbs, celery and parsley related to cadmium soil pollution-potentially toxic elements (PTEs) accumulation, tolerance capacity and antioxidative response.

Celery and parsley are recognized as medicinal herbs and nutraceutical vegetables due to their valuable pharmacological properties and numerous health benefits. However, in recent years, soil loadings with various PTEs have become a serious concern across the world, leading to plants pollution, which can consequently diminish their quality and safety for human consumption. Therefore, we attempted to quantify quality and safety of celery and parsley grown in Cd polluted soil. We examined the presence of PTEs: As, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu and Cd in soil and selected herbs, as well as their physiological responses to different Cd exposures (control-without Cd addition, 3 and 6 µg/g Cd of dry soil). Following elevation of Cd in plants, both species showed increasing trend of As, Pb and Cu in plants, which overcome safe limits, with exception for Cu. Further, celery showed strong phytoextraction ability (99.9 µg/g Cd of dry weight) with high potential to tolerate Cd due to the efficient antioxidative machinery. Besides that herbs pollution was evident on the basis of target hazard quotients (HQ), hazard index (HI) and cancerogenic risk (CR), revealing that chronic consumption of contaminated herbs can consequently endanger human health. HI was greater than 1, while CR exceeded safe limits in treated plants, with exception for As. In the point of view of toxicology and food safety, growing of medicinal plants should be strictly regulated and distinguished based on the purpose of growing, and further herbs usage.

Citric acid as soil amendment in cadmium removal by Salix viminalis L., alterations on biometric attributes and photosynthesis.

During the past decade, the target in cleaning polluted sites is an application of chelating agents, such as citric acid (CA), which is proposed as a good candidate in the promotion of phytoremediation. Among heavy metals, cadmium (Cd) is one of the most common and dangerous elements, which strongly disturbs morphophysiological properties in plants. A pot experiment was assessed to evaluate the influence of CA in Cd phytoremediation in alkaline soil by Salix viminalis (clone SV068). The effects of CA on Cd bioavailability, mobility, and distribution in plants, various morphometric measurements, and physiological performances as photosynthesis, transpiration, water use efficiency, and pigment content were tested. The highest Cd accumulation was evident after 60 days of growing, in plants subjected to combined treatment of CA with a higher dose of Cd. Application of CA showed a beneficial effect in maintaining the photosynthetic rate as well as gas exchange capacity in willows grown in Cd-contaminated soil. Furthermore, CA slightly increased plant growth and biomass production, depending on applied Cd dose and harvest period. A chelating agent like CA showed strong influence in plant response to combat Cd toxicity.

Prevalence of oncogenic Human papillomavirus and genetic diversity in the L1 gene of HPV16 HPV 18 HPV31 and HPV33 found in women from Vojvodina Province Serbia.

The main purpose of this paper is to estimate the pre-vaccination prevalence of 12 hrHPV types among 564 women from Vojvodina province (Serbia). The corrected contingency coefficient (Ccorr) was used to estimate the importance of association of examined HPV types and cytological diagnosis. The highest association with the abnormal cytology was observed for HPV 16 (Ccorr = 0.493) in all age groups of participants. The effect of HPV 16 was especially clear within the group of women older than 35 years (Ccorr = 0.691), compared with women younger than 35 (Ccorr = 0.333). The molecular characterization at the level of L1 gene of HPV 16, 18, 31 and 33 variants was for the first time assessed in our region. Nearly all HPV 16 isolates cluster with variant lineage A (96.4%) the remaining isolates clustering with variant lineage D. All of HPV 18 and HPV 33 isolates are clustering within the lineage A while isolates of HPV 31 group with lineages A and C. This contributes to understanding of intrinsic geographical and biological differences of examined HPV types and could be useful for development of cervical cancer screening strategies in Vojvodina (Serbia) and diagnosis of HPV related cervical cancer in general.

Growth, physiology, and phytoextraction potential of poplar and willow established in soils amended with heavy-metal contaminated, dredged river sediments.

Phytotechnologies have been used worldwide to remediate and restore damaged ecosystems, especially those caused by industrial byproducts leaching into rivers and other waterways. The objective of this study was to test the growth, physiology, and phytoextraction potential of poplar and willow established in soils amended with heavy-metal contaminated, dredged river sediments from the Great Backa Canal near Vrbas City, Serbia. The sediments were applied to greenhouse-grown trees of Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh. clone 'Bora' and Salix viminalis L. clone 'SV068'. Individual pots with trees previously grown for two months were amended with 0, 0.5 and 1.0 kg of sediment containing 400 mg Cr kg-1, 295 mg Cu kg-1, 465 mg Zn kg-1, 124 mg Ni kg-1, 1.87 mg Cd kg-1, and 61 mg Pb kg-1. Following amendment, trees were grown for two seasons (i.e., 2014, 2015), with coppicing after the first season. In addition to growth parameters, physiological traits related to the photosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism were assessed during both growing seasons. At the end of the study, trees were harvested for biomass analysis and accumulation of heavy metals in tree tissues and soils. Application of sediment decreased aboveground biomass by 37.3% in 2014, but increased height (16.4%) and leaf area (19.2%) in 2015. Sediment application negatively impacted the content of pigments and nitrate reductase activity, causing them to decrease over time. Generally, the effect of treatments on growth was more pronounced in poplars, while willows had more pronounced physiological activity. Accumulation patterns were similar to previously-published results. In particular, Zn and Cd were mostly accumulated in leaves of both poplar and willow, which indicated successful phytoextraction. In contrast, other metals (e.g., Cr, Ni, Pb, Cu) were mostly phytostabilized in the roots. Differences in metal allocation between poplar and willow were recorded only for Cu, while other metals followed similar distribution patterns in both genera. Results of this study indicated that the composition of heavy metals in the sediments determined the mechanisms of the applied phytoremediation technique.

Correction to: Antifungal activity of Myrtus communis against Malassezia sp. isolated from the skin of patients with pityriasis versicolor.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained two mistakes in authors' names.

Antifungal activity of Myrtus communis against Malassezia sp. isolated from the skin of patients with pityriasis versicolor.

The increasing incidence of fungal infections and antifungal resistance has prompted the search for novel antifungal drugs and alternative agents. We explored the antifungal activity of Myrtus communis essential oil (EO) against Malassezia sp. isolated from the skin of patients with pityriasis versicolor. These broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities of M. communis EO and its potent inhibiting activity on Malassezia growth deserve further research with aim to considerate this EO as candidate for topical use in treatment of skin diseases.

Left ventricular remodeling after the first myocardial infarction in association with LGALS-3 neighbouring variants rs2274273 and rs17128183 and its relative mRNA expression: a prospective study.

Post-infarct left ventricular remodeling (LVR) process increases the risk of heart failure (HF). Circulating galectin-3 has been associated with fibrosis, inflammation and cardiac dysfunction during the remodeling process after myocardial infarction (MI). The aims of this prospective case study were to investigate the association of potentially functional variants in the vicinity of LGALS-3 locus, rs2274273 and rs17128183 with maladaptive LVR and whether these variants could affect LGALS-3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients 6 months after the first MI. This study encompassed 167 patients with acute MI that were followed up for 6 months. Evidence of LVR was obtained by repeated 2D Doppler echocardiography. Rs2274273, rs17128183 and LGALS-3 mRNA expression were detected by TaqMan® technology. Rs2274273 and rs17128183 rare allele bearing genotypes, according to the dominant model (CT+TT vs. CC and AG+GG vs. AA, respectively), were significantly and independently associated with maladaptive LVR (adjusted OR = 3.02, P = 0.016; adjusted OR = 3.14, P = 0.019, respectively) and higher LGALS-3 mRNA expression (fold induction 1.203, P = 0.03 and 1.214, P = 0.03, respectively). Our exploratory results suggest that rs2274273 and rs17128183 variants affect LGALS-3 mRNA and bear the risk for maladaptive LVR post-MI remodeling. Further replication and validation in a larger group of patients is inevitable.

Heavy metal accumulation in vegetable species and health risk assessment in Serbia.

Continuous monitoring of heavy metal content in vegetables is of high priority for population nutrition control, as well as risk assessment for human health. The chemical composition of plants is a reliable indicator of their contamination by hazardous substances accumulated in the environment as a consequence of inadequately applied agro-technology. The main goal of this study was to examine the quality of vegetables that reach consumer markets as a function of growth location. Samples of 11 of the most common vegetable species used in the human diet were collected during a 4-year survey. Vegetables originated from local farm producers who cultivated them at different locations in Vojvodina Province, Serbia. Many vegetable samples contained disturbingly high levels of the investigated metals: cadmium, lead, nickel, and chromium. The plant species with the highest Cd accumulation was spinach, where Cd leaves exceeded the maximum permissible concentrations (MPCs) in more than half of the analyzed samples from different localities (54%). Pb concentrations in spinach were also higher than MPC values (according to Serbian law 3.0 µg/g) in 46% of all analyzed samples. Results showed that Cr levels in all tested vegetable species were below MPC values recommended by the FAO/WHO organization. The largest chromium accumulator was spinach, with average values of 2.3 µg/g, followed by beetroot and parsnips with an average concentration of 1.4 µg/g. The highest average content of Ni in all analyzed vegetable species was also recorded in spinach leaves, with an average value of 2.2 µg/g, followed by broccoli (1.7 µg/g) and tomatoes (1.5 µg/g).

Evolution of body weight parameters up to 3 years after solid organ transplantation: The prospective Swiss Transplant Cohort Study.

Obesity and weight gain are serious concerns after solid organ transplantation (Tx); however, no unbiased comparison regarding body weight parameter evolution across organ groups has yet been performed. Using data from the prospective nationwide Swiss Transplant Cohort Study, we compared the evolution of weight parameters up to 3 years post-Tx in 1359 adult kidney (58.3%), liver (21.7%), lung (11.6%), and heart (8.4%) recipients transplanted between May 2008 and May 2012. Changes in mean weight and body mass index (BMI) category were compared to reference values from 6 months post-Tx. At 3 years post-Tx, compared to other organ groups, liver Tx recipients showed the greatest weight gain (mean 4.8±10.4 kg), 57.4% gained >5% body weight, and they had the highest incidence of obesity (38.1%). After 3 years, based on their BMI categories at 6 months, normal weight and obese liver Tx patients, as well as underweight kidney, lung and heart Tx patients had the highest weight gains. Judged against international Tx patient data, the majority of our Swiss Tx recipients' experienced lower post-Tx weight gain. However, our findings show weight gain pattern differences, both within and across organ Tx groups that call for preventive measures.

Androgen status in non-diabetic elderly men with heart failure.

PURPOSE: We aimed at evaluating androgen status (serum testosterone [TT] and estimated free testosterone [eFT]) and its determinants in non-diabetic elderly men with heart failure (HF). Additionally, we investigated its associations with body composition and long-term survival. METHODS: Seventy three non-diabetic men with HF and 20 healthy men aged over 55 years were studied. Echocardiography, 6-min walk test, grip strength, body composition measurement by DEXA method were performed. TT, sex hormone binding globulin, NT-proBNP, and adipokines (adiponectin and leptin) were measured. All-cause mortality was evaluated at six years of follow-up. RESULTS: Androgen status (TT, eFT) was similar in elderly men with HF compared to healthy controls (4.79 ± 1.65 vs. 4.45 ± 1.68 ng/ml and 0.409 ± 0.277 vs. 0.350 ± 0.204 nmol/l, respectively). In HF patients, TT was positively associated with NT-proBNP (r= 0.371, p = 0.001) and adiponectin levels (r = 0.349, p = 0.002), while inverse association was noted with fat mass (r = -0.413, p < 0.001). TT and eFT were independently determined by age, total fat mass and adiponectin levels in elderly men with HF (p < 0.05 for all). Androgen status was not predictor for all-cause mortality at six years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In non-diabetic men with HF, androgen status is not altered and is not predictive of long-term outcome.

Perceived Health-Related Quality of Life in Women With Vulvar Neoplasia: A Cross Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of women with surgically treated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) and vulvar cancer (VC) during the first week after hospital discharge. Further objectives were to investigate differences between women with VIN and VC as well as to examine whether correlations exist between women's symptom experience and HRQoL. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 8 hospitals in Germany and Switzerland. Women with VIN and VC rated HRQoL with the validated German Short-Form 36. Differences between HRQoL in women with VIN and VC were tested with Wilcoxon rank-sum score. The WOMen with vulvAr Neoplasia (WOMAN) - Patient reported Outcome (PRO) self-report instrument was used to measure women's symptom experience. Correlations between symptoms and HRQoL were calculated using Spearman correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Women with VIN and VC (n = 65) reported lower HRQoL in physical aspects (Physical Component Summary [PCS], 34.9) than that in mental aspects (Mental Component Summary, 40.5). Women with VC had lower HRQoL than women with VIN, as manifested by significant differences concerning the dimensions of "physical functioning" and "role-physical." "Difficulties in daily life" as a distressing symptom correlated with MCS and PCS. Wound-related symptoms correlated with PCS and psychosocial symptoms/issues with MCS. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis showed that women with vulvar neoplasia reported lower HRQoL in the physical and mental dimensions 1 week after discharge than comparable studies referring to months or years after surgery. Health-related quality of life is influenced by physical impairment because physical symptoms are prevalent 1 week after discharge. Patient education should focus on symptom management in an early postsurgical phase to enhance women's HRQoL.

Hydroponic screening of black locust families for heavy metal tolerance and accumulation.

Present work examines phytoextraction potential of four black locust families (half-sibs 54, 56, 115, and 135) grown hydroponically. Plants were treated with 6 ppm of cadmium (Cd), 100 ppm of nickel (Ni), and 40 ppm of lead (Pb) added in Hoagland nutrient solution, accompanying with simultaneously applied all three metals. Responses to metals exposure among families were different, ranging from severe to slight reduction of root and shoot biomass production of treated plants. Calculated tolerance indices are indicating tested families as highly tolerant (Ti > 60). Family 135 had the lowest tolerance index, pointing that it was highly susceptible to applied metals. Comparing photosynthetic activities of tested families it has been noticed that they were highly sensitive to stress induced by heavy metals. Net photosynthetic rate of nickel treated plants was the most affected by applied concentration. Cadmium and nickel concentrations in stems and leaves of black locust families exceeded 100 mg Cd kg(-1) and 1000 mg Ni kg(-1), in both single and multipollution context. On the contrary, accumulation of lead in above ground biomass was highly affected by multipollution treatment. Tf and BCF significantly varied between investigated treatments and families of black locust. Concerning obtained results of heavy metals accumulation and tolerance of black locust families can be concluded that tested families might be a promising tool for phytoextraction purposes, but it takes to be further confirmed in field trials.

Myotubes from lean and severely obese subjects with and without type 2 diabetes respond differently to an in vitro model of exercise.

Exercise improves insulin sensitivity and oxidative capacity in skeletal muscles. However, the effect of exercise on substrate oxidation is less clear in obese and type 2 diabetic subjects than in lean subjects. We investigated glucose and lipid metabolism and gene expression after 48 h with low-frequency electrical pulse stimulation (EPS), as an in vitro model of exercise, in cultured myotubes established from lean nondiabetic subjects and severely obese subjects (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m(2)) with and without type 2 diabetes. EPS induced an increase in insulin sensitivity but did not improve lipid oxidation in myotubes from severely obese subjects. Thus, EPS-induced increases in insulin sensitivity and lipid oxidation were positively and negatively correlated to BMI of the subjects, respectively. EPS enhanced oxidative capacity of glucose in myotubes from all subjects. Furthermore, EPS reduced mRNA expression of slow fiber-type marker (MYH7) in myotubes from diabetic subjects; however, the protein expression of this marker was not significantly affected by EPS in either of the donor groups. On the contrary, mRNA levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 were unaffected by EPS in myotubes from diabetic subjects, while IL-6 mRNA expression was increased in myotubes from nondiabetic subjects. EPS-stimulated mRNA expression levels of MYH7, IL-6, and IL-8 correlated negatively with subjects' HbA1c and/or fasting plasma glucose, suggesting an effect linked to the diabetic phenotype. Taken together, these data show that myotubes from different donor groups respond differently to EPS, suggesting that this effect may reflect the in vivo characteristics of the donor groups.