Common weeds as heavy metal bioindicators: a new approach in biomonitoring.

Environmental pollution by heavy metals affects both urban and non-urban areas of Europe and the world. The use of bioindicator plants for the detection of these pollutants is a common practice. An important property of potential bioindicators is their easy availability and wide distribution range, which means that they can be practically used over a wide area. Therefore, common and widely distributed weeds: Trifolium pratense L., Rumex acetosa L., Amaranthus retroflexus L., Plantago lanceolata L., ornamental species Alcea rosea L., and Lolium multiflorum L. var. Ponto were selected as a potential bioindicators of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn). Plants were exposed in the same soil conditions in three sample sites in the Poznan city. It was found that all species had heavy metal accumulation potential, especially A. rosea, P. lanceolata and L. multiflorum for Zn (BCF = 6.62; 5.17; 4.70) and A. rosea, P. lanceolata for Cd (BCF = 8.51; 6.94). Translocation of Cu and Zn was the most effective in T. pratense (TFCu = 2.55; TFZn = 2.67) and in A. retroflexus (TFCu = 1.50; TFZn = 2.23). Cd translocation was the most efficient in T. pratense (TFCd = 1.97), but PB was the most effective translocated in A. retroflexus (TFPb = 3.09).. Based on physiological response to stress, it was detected an increasing level of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in roots and leaves of all samples, with the highest in all organs of A. rosea. Enzymatic activity levels of CAT, APOX, and also the marker of polyunsaturated fatty acid peroxidation MDA, were higher after 6 weeks of exposure in comparison to control samples and varied in time of exposure and between species and exposure. After the experiment, in almost all samples we detected a reduction of chlorophyll content and relative water content, but in efficiency of photosynthesis parameters: net photosynthesis rate, intercellular CO2 concentration and stomatal conductance, we noted increased values, which proved the relatively good condition of the plants. The examined weeds are good bioindicators of heavy metal contamination, and their combined use makes it possible to comprehensively detection of environmental threats.

Estimation of BDNF gene polymorphism and predisposition to dependence development for selected psychoactive compounds: genetic aspects of addiction with the selected drugs, amphetamine, tetrahydrocannabinol and opiates.

The etiology of drug addiction, a central nervous system (CNS) disease, is not fully known. This complex problem is believed to be connected with concurrently affecting genetic, psychological and environmental factors. The development of addiction is connected with CNS reinforcement system and dopaminergic neurotransmission. Molecular processes are postulated to be of universal character and allow to presume a similar mechanism of dependence for both ethanol and other substances. Therefore, elements of dopaminergic transmission become excellent candidates for the examination of genetic influence on the development of addiction. A relationship between alcoholic disease and the presence of TaqIA1 and DRD2 alleles permits to initiate another investigation of gene-coding DRD2 dopamine receptor. The latest results indicate the importance of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the regulation of dopaminergic route. The purpose of this research was to reveal the relationship between the Val66Met BDNF gene polymorphism and dependence of psychoactive agent. The examinations were performed with the Local Research Ethics Committee approval and patient's consent. The study group consisted of 100 patients (88 men and 12 women) aged 18-52 years, qualified for research program according to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) requirements, medical examination and detailed questionnaire.

Chlorpropamide toxicity with survival despite 27-day hypoglycemia.

CASE REPORT: In the past 5 years at our institution, 12 cases involving the ingestion of chlorpropamide 3-15 g were fatal. We report a 23-year-old woman with an estimated ingestion of chlorpropamide 5-10 g. Initial cardiovascular collapse, attributed to the blockade of potassium channel transport, responded to intensive support including 3 days of cardiac pacing. Urinary excretion of chlorpropamide and hypoglycemia persisted until day 27. The toxic mechanisms and high risk of chlorpropamide are summarized. A fatal therapeutic dose ratio as low as 4:1 has made this antidiabetic agent obsolete.

Psilocybin mushroom (Psilocybe semilanceata) intoxication with myocardial infarction.

CASE REPORT: Intentional intoxication with natural hallucinogenic substances such as hallucinogenic mushrooms continues to be a major problem in the US and Europe, particularly in the harbor complex of northwest Poland (Pomerania). A case is described of Psilocybe intoxication in an 18-year-old man resulting in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, arrhythmia, and myocardial infarction. The indole concentrations of hallucinogenic mushrooms may predict the risk for adverse central nervous system and cardiac toxicity.

[Activity of choline esterases in blood cells and serum and cobalt activated acylase in toxic and non-toxic liver damage]. / Atkywnosc esterazy cholinowej krwinkowej i surowiczej oraz acylazy aktywowanej kobaltem w toksycznym i pozatoksycznym uszkodzeniu watroby.

Organic insecticides used in agriculture and drugs often taken without medical control remain an important source of intoxication. The significance of the problem has been discussed in American medical literature, where toxic and posttoxic damage to the liver is rated second (25%), just after viral damage (40%), like in other highly developed countries. It can be assumed that the leading position of viral damage is the result of difficulties in ascertaining the diagnosis in each case of the disease. Clinical diagnosis of liver damage, in spite of many laboratory methods described and in use, leaves a margin of uncertainty and error. The diagnosis relies heavily on the activity of enzymes characteristic for morphologic and functional status of the liver. The determination of enzyme activities in plasma is also one of the basic diagnostic tools in the toxicology clinic in all cases of intoxication by hepatotoxic compounds. Toxicological recognition of acute intoxications relies on a wide range of biochemical tests and enzyme indices to evaluate the extent of damage by xenobiotics to organs. Usually the tests are selected in a clinical setting when the cause of intoxication is known. The present data were supplemented with activities of AspAT and AlAT determined during hospitalization of the patients. This choice acknowledged the wide-spread use of these tests and their organ specificity. All parameters in the control group were within normal limits described in the literature. For patients with phosphoroorganic or carbaminate intoxications (Ia) the activity of AECh and ECh proved to be a specific and sensitive parameter. In these cases both activities showed large, significant drops, confirming earlier reports advocating the use of these tests in insecticide intoxications. (Tab. 1-3). Among clinical symptoms frequently accompanying intoxication by ethylene glycol (Ib) one would mention metabolic acidosis, kidney damage and narcotic action of the glycol on the CNS. Little attention has been devoted to the hepatotoxic action of this compound. In the present study activities of the aminotransferases deviated slightly from normal. The DeRitis index was also within normal limits. However, the activity of AACo in this group of patients differed significantly from the control values. In the group of patients with Amanita phalloides poisoning (Id) the most sensitive indicator of liver damage proved to be AACo. The activity of this enzyme was significantly higher than in the remaining groups. The rise of activity of this enzyme was significantly higher than in the remaining groups. The rise of activity preceded by a few hours the appearance of increased aminotransferase activity which was observed near the end of the second day after intoxication. In the group of patients with chronic active hepatitis (II) the only parameter within normal limits was ECh. This finding supports earlier reports as to the relatively late decrease in the rate of synthesis of this enzyme in liver diseases. The use of toxogonine in vitro to discriminate between ECh and AECh in intoxications and liver diseases was decided upon basing on numerous reviews describing the clinical applications of this agent. The results of agent in the toxogonine test are in line with the disruptive action to toxogonine on the enzyme-insecticide complex in vitro, probably similar to the situation in the living organism. The observed elevation in AECh activity after the enzyme was inhibited by the phosphoro-organic pesticide, observed 30 minutes since the addition of toxogonin, averaged 86% +/- 25%. In the case of carbaminate insecticides the addition of toxogonine was followed by a further decrease in esterase activity and only a few samples showed an increase, but not exceeding 25%. No effect of toxogonine was seen in the case of serum cholinesterase and after 30 minutes the activity continued to fall.

[Certain enzymatic markers of liver damage in poisoning with Amanita phalloides]. / Niektóre enzymatyczne wskazniki uszkodzenia watroby w zatruciu muchomorem sromotnikowym.

The activity of selected enzymes was studied in 12 persons on the first day of poisoning with Amanita phalloides. It was found that the most sensitive marker of liver damage was significant increase of activity of cobalt-activated acylase, observed in all studied cases.

Chronic cadmium intoxication caused by a dental prosthesis.

We present a case of chronic cadmium intoxication caused by a gold dental prosthesis. The first symptoms of the disease appeared 2 years after insertion and gradually intensified over the next 3 years. Analysis of blood and urine samples, as well as parts of the prosthesis, revealed an excessive concentration of cadmium. The prosthesis was removed and the concentration of cadmium gradually returned to normal, with an amelioration of symptoms. This case illustrates the importance of investigating the possibility of intoxication with a heavy metal when symptoms of chronic illness accompany the presence of a prosthesis.