Can Ceylon Leadwort (Plumbago zeylanica L.) Acclimate to Lead Toxicity?-Studies of Photosynthetic Apparatus Efficiency.

Ceylon leadwort (Plumbago zeylanica) is ornamental plant known for its pharmacological properties arising from the abundant production of various secondary metabolites. It often grows in lead polluted areas. The aim of presented study was to evaluate the survival strategy of P. zeylanica to lead toxicity via photosynthetic apparatus acclimatization. Shoots of P. zeylanica were cultivated on media with different Pb concentrations (0.0, 0.05, and 0.1 g Pb∙l-1). After a four-week culture, the efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus of plants was evaluated by Chl a fluorescence measurement, photosynthetic pigment, and Lhcb1, PsbA, PsbO, and RuBisCo protein accumulation, antioxidant enzymes activity, and chloroplast ultrastructure observation. Plants from lower Pb concentration revealed no changes in photosynthetic pigments content and light-harvesting complex (LHCII) size, as well as no limitation on the donor side of Photosystem II Reaction Centre (PSII RC). However, the activity and content of antioxidant enzymes indicated a high risk of limitation on the acceptor side of Photosystem I. In turn, plants from 0.1 g Pb∙l-1 showed a significant decrease in pigments content, LHCII size, the amount of active PSII RC, oxygen-evolving complex activity, and significant remodeling of chloroplast ultrastructure indicated limitation of PSII RC donor side. Obtained results indicate that P. zeylanica plants acclimate to lead toxicity by Pb accumulation in roots and, depending on Pb concentration, by adjusting their photosynthetic apparatus via the activation of alternative (cyclic and pseudocyclic) electron transport pathways.

[Carcinoembryonic antigen as a marker of proliferative diseases of the lymphatic system in patients with chronic renal failure--case report]. / Antygen rakowo-plodowy jako marker chorób rozrostowych ukladu chlonnego u pacjentów z przewlekla niewydolnoscia nerek--opis przypadku.

In patients with CKD, anaemia mainly develops due to a decreased renal synthesis of erythropoietin. The anaemia, both normochromic and normocytic, becomes more severe as the glomerular filtration rate progressively decreases. Tumor markers are used to detect or monitor proliferative diseases. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is usually produced in the gastrointestinal tract, but its production is terminated before birth. The main application of this indicator is to monitor the treatment and the presence of metastases of colorectal cancer. We present a case of 86-year-old woman who was diagnosed with renal anaemia in stage 4 of chronic kidney disease (CKD), treated by periodic blood transfusions. This paper presents the difficulties in diagnosis and treatment of anemia with complex and different than renal origin anemia in patients with CKD. Patients require the detailed haematological diagnosis. Pointed out the usefulness of CEA in the diagnosis of lymphoma with co-existing renal failure. The use of erythropoietin in doses of nephrology allowed to avoid further blood transfusion.

Effect of silver nanoparticles foliar application on the nutritional properties of potato tubers.

The aim of presented study was to test nutritional properties of potato tubers and silver ions accumulation pattern after foliar application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) during potato vegetation. Potato plants were sprayed with different concentration of Ag nanoparticles (0.1, 1.0 and 10 mg·dm-3) synthesized with incorporation with sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and sodium citrate as stabilizing agent. The lowest amounts of silver ions were transported to the tubers after spraying with AgNPs synthesized with SDS, rather than with citrate. Nevertheless silver ions accumulation in tubers was negligible. SDS method of synthesis was more favourable in terms of nutritional properties of potato tubers. The highest tested concentration of AgNPs_SDS had a favourable effect on a variety of macro- and micronutrients, ascorbic acid and soluble sugars. In turn, lower concentrations of AgNPs_SDS increased the content of phenolic compounds and free radical scavenging efficiency of tubers. These correlations were also confirmed by Principal Component Analysis.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on blood pressure control in patients with treated hypertension-results of the European Society of Hypertension Study (ESH ABPM COVID-19 Study).

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine the influence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on blood pressure (BP) control assessed by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). METHODS: Office BP and ABPM data from two visits conducted within a 9-15 months interval were collected from patients treated for hypertension. In the prepandemic group, both visits took place before, while in the pandemic group, Visit-1 was done before and Visit-2 during the pandemic period. RESULTS: Of 1811 collected patients 191 were excluded because they did not meet the required ABPM time frames. Thus, the study comprised 704 patients from the pandemic and 916 from the prepandemic group. Groups did not differ in sex, age, duration of hypertension, frequency of first line antihypertensive drug use and mean 24 h BP on Visit-1. The prevalence of sustained uncontrolled hypertension was similar in both groups. On Visit-2 mean 24 h BP, daytime and nighttime systolic BP and diastolic BP were higher in the pandemic compared to the prepandemic group ( P  < 0.034). The prevalence of sustained uncontrolled hypertension on Visit-2 was higher in the pandemic than in the prepandemic group [0.29 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.26-0.33) vs. 0.25 (95% CI: 0.22-0.28), P  < 0.037]. In multivariable adjusted analyses a significant difference in BP visit-to-visit change was observed, with a more profound decline in BP between visits in the prepandemic group. CONCLUSIONS: This study using ABPM indicates a negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on BP control. It emphasizes the need of developing strategies to maintain BP control during a pandemic such as the one induced by COVID-19.

Performance of the Photosynthetic Apparatus under Glass with a Luminophore Modifying Red-To-Far-Red-Light Ratio-A Case Study.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the modified light spectrum of glass containing red luminophore on the performance of the photosynthetic apparatus of two types of lettuce cultivated in soil in a greenhouse. Butterhead and iceberg lettuce were cultivated in two types of greenhouses: (1) covered with transparent glass (control) and (2) covered with glass containing red luminophore (red). After 4 weeks of culture, structural and functional changes in the photosynthetic apparatus were examined. The presented study indicated that the red luminophore used changed the sunlight spectrum, providing an adequate blue:red light ratio, while decreasing the red:far-red radiation ratio. In such light conditions, changes in the efficiency parameters of the photosynthetic apparatus, modifications in the chloroplast ultrastructure, and altered proportions of structural proteins forming the photosynthetic apparatus were observed. These changes led to a decrease of CO2 carboxylation efficiency in both examined lettuce types.

The Adjustment Strategy of Venus Flytrap Photosynthetic Apparatus to UV-A Radiation.

The objective of this study was to investigate the response of the photosynthetic apparatus of the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula J. Ellis) to UV-A radiation stress as well as the role of selected secondary metabolites in this process. Plants were subjected to 24 h UV-A treatment. Subsequently, chl a fluorescence and gas exchange were measured in living plants. On the collected material, analyses of the photosynthetic pigments and photosynthetic apparatus proteins content, as well as the contents and activity of selected antioxidants, were performed. Measurements and analyses were carried out immediately after the stress treatment (UV plants) and another 24 h after the termination of UV-A exposure (recovery plants). UV plants showed no changes in the structure and function of their photosynthetic apparatus and increased contents and activities of some antioxidants, which led to efficient CO2 carboxylation, while, in recovery plants, a disruption of electron flow was observed, resulting in lower photosynthesis efficiency. Our results revealed that D. muscipula plants underwent two phases of adjustment to UV-A radiation. The first was a regulatory phase related to the exploitation of available mechanisms to prevent the over-reduction of PSII RC. In addition, UV plants increased the accumulation of plumbagin as a potential component of a protective mechanism against the disruption of redox homeostasis. The second was an acclimatization phase initiated after the running down of the regulatory process and decrease in photosynthesis efficiency.