First Report of Root Rot of Pedunculate Oak and Other Forest Tree Species Caused by Phytophthora plurivora in the Czech Republic.

From 2006 to 2008, several similar Phytophthora isolates were obtained from roots of mature Quercus robur and other tree species (Acer platanoides, Fraxinus excelsior, Q. rubra, and Tilia cordata) in forests and parks in several areas in the Czech Republic. The trees were characterized by chlorotic and reduced foliage, crown dieback, and reduced root hairs. Several isolates of Phytophthora were obtained from necrotic roots of these trees and identified as Phytophthora plurivora Jung & Burgess (1). Isolated colonies grown on V8A medium were radiate to slightly chrysanthemum shaped with limited aerial mycelium in the center. Optimum growth was at 25°C, minimum at 5°C and maximum at 32°C. Radial growth of colonies averaged 6.4 mm/day at 20°C. The isolates were homothallic and produced abundant smooth-walled, spherical oogonia (23.3 to 29.1 µm in diameter), oospores were nearly plerotic or plerotic (21.8 to 26.9 µm in diameter), and the oospore wall was 1.2 to 1.4 µm thick. Antheridia were usually paragynous and measured 8.4 to 12 × 6.5 to 8 µm, but amphigynous antheridia were occasionally observed. Noncaducous, semipapillate sporangia formed on simple or sympodial sporangiophores, were obpyriform, ovoid, ellipsoid or irregular in shape, and occasionally distorted with more than one apex. Sporangia dimensions were 33 to 65 × 24 to 33 µm; L/B ratio 1.2 to 1.6 (-2.1). Comparison of DNA sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of isolates (representative strain GenBank Accession No. FJ952382) confirmed the 100% identity of P. plurivora (1). The soil infestation test was conducted using a P. plurivora isolate acquired from roots of Q. robur and 20 3-year-old plants of Q. robur. Sterilized millet seeds colonized by pathogen with the method as described (2) were used as inoculation medium and added into sterilized peat substrate at the rate of 0.5% (vol/vol). The plants were cultivated in 5.8-liter pots in a greenhouse (20°C, 16-h/8-h photoperiod). After 4 months, the roots of all plants were washed, dried, and weighed. The root biomass of 20 infected plants was significantly reduced by approximately 25% on average compared with the control 20 plants (P < 0.05, t-test, Statistica 7.1). The pathogen was consistently reisolated from the roots of infected plants but not from control plants. Stem inoculation tests were conducted with 20 replicates in each group of 2-year-old plants of oak, maple, ash, and lime and isolates acquired from the hosts. On each seedling, a 5-mm-diameter bark plug was removed 5 cm above the collar. The inoculum (5-mm-diameter V8A agar plug with actively growing mycelium) was applied to the exposed substrate. The wounds were sealed with Parafilm. Stem necrosis developed in all cases after 1 to 2 weeks, whereas control plants remained healthy. The pathogen was successfully reisolated from necrotic stem tissues. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. plurivora causing root rot on oak, maple, ash, and lime in the Czech Republic. On the basis of the host range and distribution of P. plurivora in the Czech Republic, it can be assumed that, as elsewhere in Europe (1), this pathogen is widespread and is a common cause of decline of many tree species. References: (1) T. Jung and T. I. Burgess. Persoonia 22:95, 2009. (2) C. Robin et al. Plant Pathol. 50:708, 2001.

First Report of Phoma exigua var. populi Causing Canker of Twigs and Shoots of Poplar in the Czech Republic.

During 2007 and the spring of 2008, a disease of poplars (Populus spp.) resembling the Dothichiza canker was found in plantations of fast-growing trees in central Bohemia and in southern Moravia where it was more abundant. The yellowish brown-to-brown, round or elongated cankers occurred on damaged shoots and twigs. Tissues directly under the bark were discolored and turned black. As the cankers enlarged, infected shoots and twigs died after several months. Small, black, gregarious pycnidia were observed under the bark or in lenticels after several weeks. The disease occurred on Populus nigra, P. × euroamericana cvs. Regenerata, Robusta, Brabantica, Spreewald, CZ-425/58, Blanc du Poitou, and Flaschlanden, and other Populus spp. Isolates of a species of Phoma were acquired by culturing damaged tissues on agar plates containing 3% oatmeal agar (OA) and 2% malt agar. Initial identification of the isolates was done by cultural and morphological characteristics (1). Colonies were floccose, aerial mycelium was olivaceous gray to gray, reverse olivaceous gray sometimes with darker tones at the margins or in the colony center, and NaOH reaction was negative. The growth rate was 42 to 56 in diameter after 7 days at 20°C on OA (optimum temperature for growth was 22°C with a minimum of 1°C and a maximum of 28 to 29°C). Pycnidia in culture scattered, were globose or subglobose, obviously with one nonpapillate ostiolum, olivaceous black or black, 120 to 370 µm in diameter, and conidial exudate was whitish. Phialides were globose to ampulliform and 3 to 7 × 3 to 6 µm. Conidia were hyaline, ellipsoidal, often guttulate, 3.1 to 7.8 × 1.9 to 3.1 µm, and L/B ratio 1.4:3.1. Septate conidia occurred only on natural substrate up to 10.6 × 3.9 µm. Morphological and cultural characteristics resembled those of P. exiqua var. populi Gruyter & P. Scheer (1). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence (GenBank Accession No EU562206) for the representative isolate (CCF No 3759) confirmed 100% identity to P. exigua. Pathogenicity was confirmed with 1-year-old P. nigra plants during a 2-month greenhouse experiment at 15 to 20°C. Fifteen replicate plants were wounded (5-mm diameter), inoculated with 5-mm OA plugs from actively growing colonies (isolate CCF No 3759), and sealed by Parafilming. An additional 15 control plants following wounding were inoculated with a sterile agar plug. After 3 to 4 weeks, yellowish or brownish necrotic lesions ranging from 1 to 1.5 cm long developed on all inoculated plants. The pathogen was successfully reisolated from lesions and the control plants were asymptomatic. P. exigua var. populi is considered an opportunistic poplar and willow pathogen (2) that becomes more important in winter (1). The pathogen potentially invades host tissues damaged by frost, sun scald, or weakened by excessive transpiration during sunny winter days. To our knowledge, this is the first record of the pathogen on poplars in the Czech Republic, which may have an economic impact on short-rotation coppice plantations. References: (1) J. de Gruyter and P. Scheer. J. Phytopathol. 146:411, 1998. (2) H. A. van der Aa et al. Persoonia 17:435, 2000.

[Cardiovascular diseases and gene polymorphisms]. / Onemocnení kardiovaskulárního systému a genové polymorfizmy.

Cardiovascular diseases rank among the most important mortality causes in the Czech population. Although the unhealthy living style plays a key role in their development and progression, impacts of the hereditary predisposition can not be denied. This article characterizes the gene polymorphisms and results of mutations in general. An overview of the most important findings presented in papers published in the Czech Republic and worldwide follows. Issues of concrete gene polymorphism associations with such pathological conditions as acute or chronic heart failure, essential hypertension or heart rhythm disorders are discussed. Attention is paid to genes that participate on beta-adrenergic signalling, to genes for angiotensin, to ACE-gene and to angiotensin II receptor gene. A table summarizing the most important data is attached to the article.

[Prophylactic administration of homoisoflavonoid in ischemic-reperfusion damage of the renal tissue in the laboratory rat]. / Profylaktické podávání homoizoflavonoidu u ischemicko- reperfuzního poskození ledvinné tkáne laboratorního potkana.

The study aimed to examine the antioxidizing effect of homoisoflavonoid in prophylactic administration under the conditions of renal ischemia-reperfusion in the laboratory rat. The pathological model for the in vivo experiment was unilateral renal ischemia-reperfusion of the laboratory rat. The animals were randomized into 5 groups. Homoisoflavonoid was administered to treated groups orally in doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg once a day in 0.5% Avicel solution. The placebo group received Avicel only, and the intact group was without medication and intervention. On day 15 of the experiment, renal tissue ischemia/reperfusion (60/10 mins) was induced in the treated and placebo groups. Then the animals were exsanguinated, biochemical parameters in the blood (superoxidismutase, glutathionperoxidase, total antioxidizing capacity and malondialdehyde) were assayed, and renal samples were withdrawn for histopathological examination. A biochemical examination demonstrated a dependence of the effect of homoisoflavonoid on the dose administered. An obvious effect was demonstrated in the values of GSHPx, AOC, and MDA. On the other hand, a negative dependence was found between the dose of administered homoisoflavonoid and SOD and GSHPx values. The results of biochemical examination correlate with the histopathological pictures of the renal tissue and support the assumption about a protective effect of homoisoflavonoid under the conditions of artificially induced pathological state--renal tissue ischemia-reperfusion.

Response of saprotrophic microfungi degrading the fulvic fraction of soil organic matter to different N fertilization intensities, different plant species cover and elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration.

The response of the cenosis composition of soil saprotrophic microfungi able to utilize the fulvic fraction of soil organic matter to increased concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide, plant species cover quality and different levels of nitrogen fertilization was determined under field conditions in a free-air carbon dioxide enrichment experiment. Twenty-nine species of microfungi were isolated from the tested soil. The effects of CO2 enrichment and plant species cover were not significant. Nitrogen fertilization was identified as the only significant factor inducing changes in the abundance of soil microorganisms. This was reflected in a relatively low value of quantitative Sørensen similarity index on comparing fertilized and unfertilized treatments and in 2-way ANOVA of total CFU counts. Some differences were observed in species diversity between the two variants of all treatments. No association between microfungi and the factors under study was found by using the Monte Carlo Permutation test in redundancy analysis.

[Monitoring cardiotoxicity of anthracyclines in children and possibilities of its prevention]. / Sledování kardiotoxicity antracyklinu u detí a moznosti prevence.

UNLABELLED: Chemotherapy is the basic therapeutic method in pediatric oncology. Encouraging results of treatment of tumours in children may be adversely influenced by late side effects of cytostatics. Most serious is the late cardiotoxicity of anthracyclines. The authors analyzed and evaluated in a retrospective study clinical and laboratory findings in patients treated during childhood on account of malignity by chemotherapy containing anthracyclines, and focused their attention on late toxicity and evaluation of the effect of cardioprotection of dexrazoxane (ICRF-187, Cardioxane). The investigation comprised 73 patients aged 15 +/- 4.7 years who were given a cumulative dose of anthracycline (doxorubicin or daunorubicin) 244 +/- 13 mg/m2 and were in long-term remission of the disease. The mean follow up period after terminated chemotherapy was 6.7 +/- 3.4 years. Cardioprotection was administered to 42%, to 58% it was not administered. The authors did not find a significant difference in the results of anthropometric, haematological and biochemical examinations in the two sub-groups. A decrease of the left ventricular ejection fraction below 50% was diagnosed in 4 patients (5% of the group) whereby two developed cardiomyopathies with the clinical picture of heart failure and one patient died due to progressive heart failure. Cardiotoxicity was diagnosed only in the sub-group without cardioprotection (9.5% of the sub-group). In patients without cardiotoxicity in the investigated sub-groups no significant difference was found in the left ventricular ejection fraction at rest or after a stress (in dynamic stress echocardiography), in the tolerance of a stress and circulatory indicators. A significant and relatively close negative relationship was found between the administered cumulative dose of anthracyclines and the left ventricular ejection fraction at rest (r = -0.62, p < 0.001) and after a stress (r = -0.64, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The finding of a 5% incidence of cardiac damage of the myocardium in the whole group after a relatively short period after termination of chemotherapy is sufficient reason for long-term cardiological and in particular echocardiographic follow up of patients treated in childhood on account of a malignity with anthracyclines and for a rational approach to the administration of cardioprotection.

[Effect of Consupren, Carvedilol and BL-443 on the composition of lactate dehydrogenase in tissues of rats with cyclosporin nephropathy]. / Ucinky preparátu Consuprenu, carvedilolu a BL-443 na tkánové slození laktátdehydrogenasy u potkanu s cyklosporinovou nefropatií.

L-Lactate dehydrogenase pattern in tissues was determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis adjusted to be more sensitive to LD1 and LD2. Three groups of rats (Wistar) were treated for 18 days with single oral daily doses of 45 mg consuprene/kg body weight to induce cyclosporine nephropathy. Two treated groups were further medicated either with carvedilol or BL-443 in single daily doses of 10 mg/kg b.w., unmedicated rats were given single i.p. daily doses of 1 ml saline. No significant difference in the LD(1-4) isoenzyme pattern in the liver between intact rats, rats with cyclosporine nephropathy, and rats with cyclosporine nephropathy medicated with carvedilol or BL-443 was found by F-test and t-test (p < 0.05). However, a significant difference in the LD(1-4) isoenzyme pattern in the myocardium between rats with cyclosporine nephropathy and intact rats was found. The present study reports the preliminary results of the effects of consupren on the LD(1-4) pattern in the muscle, spleen, and lung, as well as the effects of carvedilol and BL-443 in the tissues under the conditions of experimental cyclosporine nephropathy. The tissues with an increased risk of affection can be identified by evaluation of LD patterns that may become an additional tool to microscopic examination of the sample.

Dairy cattle as a bioindicator of exposure to genotoxic substances in a heavily polluted area in northern Bohemia.

The exposure of dairy cattle to genotoxic agents in two districts with different levels of environmental pollution was estimated using cytogenetic analysis of bovine peripheral lymphocytes. The Teplice district represented an industrialized area where the air pollution rate is extremely high mainly in the winter, and the Prachatice district--an agricultural area with a relatively low level of pollution. The Ames test was used to examine feed samples for the content of mutagenic substances. Cows in the Teplice district showed a significantly higher count of aberrant cells (4.83 +/- 2.36) than cows in the Prachatice district (3.63 +/- 2.12). The sum of revertants induced by rinsings or extracts of feeds in both of the two test strains (Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100) was significantly higher in the district of Teplice than in the district of Prachatice. The percentages of findings with mutagenic responses were 56.3 and 34.8% for the districts of Teplice and Prachatice, respectively. No mutagenic activity was found in milk samples collected in any of the districts. Apparently, the cows kept in the Teplice district were more exposed to genotoxic substances than the cows in the Prachatice district. The major source of this exposure was probably fresh fodder contaminated by industrial emissions.

Mutagenicity of feeds and bovine milk in districts with different levels of environmental pollution.

Mutagenic activities of feedstuffs and bovine milk were investigated by the Ames test in two districts of the Czech Republic (Teplice and Prachatice), differing in the levels of industrial pollution. Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98 and TA 100 with or without metabolic activation were used in the tests. Samples of currently fed feedstuffs and milk were collected in both districts in the spring 1992, autumn 1992, spring 1993, and autumn 1993. The Teplice and Prachatice sets included 12 and 11 representative samples, respectively. The samples were rinsed and extracted with acetone and methanol. Thus each sample was divided into four separate samples. The total number of revertants obtained in the industrial district Teplice was significantly higher than the corresponding value for the Prachatice district. Some between-the-seasons differences were also found within each of the two districts. The strain TA 98 proved to be more sensitive in the mutagenicity tests than the strain TA 100. Thirty-eight and thirty-one milk samples were collected in the districts Teplice and Prachatice, respectively. The overall evaluation demonstrated a significant between-the-districts difference in the total number of revertants induced by the milk samples in the strains TA 98 and TA 100.

Mutagenicity of stable dust and drinking water on swine and cattle farms.

Single pilot examinations of mutagenicity of stable dust and drinking water were made on three swine farms (D., M., T.) and one cattle farm (N.) in the district of Hodonín in summer 1994. The mutagenicity was examined by the Ames test using the indicator strains Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100 with (+S9) or without (-S9) metabolic activation. At the same time the contents of selected pesticides (PES) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in stable dust and drinking water and that of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in stable dust were determined. Increased mutagenicity was demonstrated in drinking water (strain TA 98 with metabolic activation; index Rt/Rk 3.6-7.7) and stable dust (strain TA 100 with metabolic activation; index Rt/Rk 2.2) collected on the swine farm M. High contents of PAH (8.246 mg/kg) and PCB (0.263 mg/kg) were also found in the dust samples collected on this farm. Only drinking water showed mutagenic activity (strain TA 98 without metabolic activation; index Rt/Rk 2.6) on the swine farm D. On both the farms, the number of revertants was dose-dependent. Increased content of PAH (2.553 mg/kg) was also demonstrated on the dust samples collected on the farm D. No significant increase (twofold or higher when compared with negative controls) of mutagenic activity of stable dust or drinking water was demonstrable on the swine farm T. and the cattle farm N. Substances responsible for the mutagenicity of drinking water on the farms D. and M. have not yet been identified. Anyway, the increase of mutagenicity of stable dust and drinking water should be taken as a warning that mutagens that can jeopardise animal and human health have penetrated into the stable environment.

[Creatine phosphate as a drug in acute myocardial infarct]. / Kreatinfosfát jako lék u akutního infarktu myokardu.

The reserves of endogenous creatine phosphate are very rapidly exhausted in ischaemia. This leads at first to reversible and later to irreversible cell damage. Creatine phosphate can be administered in the preparation Neoton. It serves not only as a source of energy after arrest of oxidative phosphorylation; its main effect is stabilization of sarcolemma and protection against its disintegration. Several publications provide evidence of its favourable effect on the protection of the heart muscle during operations on the open heart, on a reduced incidence of ventricular arrhythmias in acute myocardial infarction and improvement in chronic cardiac insufficiencies. In Czechoslovakia multicentre clinical studies are under way testing Neoton in cardiological indications.

Role of monoaminergic neurotransmitter systems in MDP-induced adjuvant effect.

The changes in delayed hypersensitivity in guinea pigs stimulated by muramyl dipeptide (MDP) after administration of agonists or antagonists of neurotransmitter systems were studied. Muramyl dipeptide was given in Freund's incomplete adjuvant three weeks before administration of drugs and antigen. Pretreatment with methiotepine, haloperidol and clonidine increased, while lisuride, apomorphine and yohimbine decreased the reaction of delayed hypersensitivity. These results suggest that serotonergic, dopaminergic as well as presynaptic alpha-receptors might have an inhibitory effect on cell-mediated immunity.

Intracisternal administration of Mycobacterium tuberculosis potentiates the delayed type hypersensitivity in guinea-pigs.

The delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) was studied in guinea-pigs using the skin test. The mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tbc)--was applied by various routes. The control group received ovalbumin in Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA) into the footpad. The first experimental group received ovalbumin in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) into the footpad. The other experimental groups always received, in addition to ovalbumin plus FIA into the footpad, the M. tbc. 1. intracisternally, 2. intramuscularly, 3. intraperitoneally, 4. orally. On the day of administration of the sensibilizing substance, the body temperature was monitored. The skin test was measured after 14 and 21 days. It was established that, for the study of the DTH, the 21-day interval was more significant than the 14-day interval. A 100 times smaller dose of M. tbc. given intracisternally had the same immunostimulating effect as the injection of ovalbumin with M. tbc into the footpad (p less than 0.01). The size of the skin reaction was not only significantly influenced by the intramuscular and oral administration of M. tbc. On the other hand, the intraperitoneal administration inhibited the DTH (p less than 0.01). The increase of body temperature after the administration of M. tbc. correlated with the influence on the DTH except for the intraperitoneal administration. The route of the M. tbc. administration was crucial for the development of the DTH.

Long-term follow-up EEG studies in patients with traumatic apallic syndrome.

The report deals with the changes of brain functions in the course of traumatic apallic syndrome (TAS) by means of the EEG examination, in the classical way, and by computer analysis as well. The development of EEG changes during individual stages of the TAS is studied. The EEG examination was performed repeatedly in 35 patients from the first days up to several years after injury. As for EEG findings as a possible prognostic index, the authors find that a gradual increase of frequency from delta to theta and alpha zones can be considered a favourable prognostic.