Abscisic acid and stress induced by salt: Effect on the phenylpropanoid, L-ascorbic acid and abscisic acid metabolism of strawberry fruits.

Strawberry is one of the most popular fruits because of its sensorial and functional properties. However, strawberry crop is sensitive to salt stress conditions. Despite plants have plasticity, high salt concentrations induce molecular, biochemical, and physiological responses in plants. There is evidence that the abscisic acid (ABA) hormone acts as a signaling molecule under stress conditions; however, the molecular mechanisms involved in the synthesis and homeostasis of ABA and in the induction of phytochemical antioxidant compounds under stress conditions remain unclear. In this study, the effect of stress induced by NaCl (salt stress - SS), with or without the simultaneous application of ABA, on the ABA, phenylpropanoids and L-ascorbic acid (AsA) metabolisms were evaluated. The physiological aspects (Na, Cl and proline concentration, photosynthetic variables) were also studied. The results showed that salt stress increases the Na and Cl content in the leaves, affects photosynthetic variables and triggers the production of proline, pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside, total phenolic compounds and AsA content, alongside the upregulation of several genes from the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid pathways. These effects were accompanied by the induction of compounds and transcripts related to ABA biosynthesis, conjugation and catabolism. Otherwise, the exogenous application of ABA in salt stressed plants promotes a shift in gene expression and metabolism to mitigate the stress. Therefore, salt stress affects the metabolism of ABA, phenylpropanoids and AsA in strawberry increasing phytochemical composition which is strongly associated with an ABA-dependent mechanism.

Antioxidative activity of rosemary extract in lipid fraction of minced meat balls during storage in a freezer.

The influence of ethanol rosemary extract on lipid fraction of minced meat balls during storage in the freezer was studied. The quality of stored products was evaluated sensorically by the scale method and profiling of taste and aroma. Oxidative changes were investigated on the base of the changes in malonaldehyde content. It was observed that the addition of rosemary extract delayed the oxidation of lipid fraction of products. The antioxidative effect was related to the concentration of this extract in the product. The sensory changes and their intensity in products during storage depended on the amount of the extract added and the time of storage. The addition of the extract delayed the appearance of rancid taste in products.

[Diagnostic value of the latex test (Pyloriset) for detection of Helicobacter pylori antibodies in adult patients with upper digestive tract diseases]. / Wartosc diagnostyczna testu lateksowego (Pyloriset) do wykrywania przeciwcial dla Helicobacter pylori u doroslych pacjentów z chorobami górnego odcinka przewodu pokarmowego.

The biopsy specimens and sera from 269 adult patients referred for gastroscopy were examined for Helicobacter pylori infections. The bacteriologic studies included: Gram smears, urease test and culture methods of biopsy specimens, biochemical tests for identification of isolates and their sensitivity testing to 17 chemotherapeutics. The biopsy specimens were examined histopathologically also. For demonstration of specific antibodies the latex test (Pyloriset, Orion Diagnostica, Finland) was used. Biopsy--cultures were positive for H. pylori in 171 (63.6%) cases, biopsy--urease test in 149 (55.4%) and Gram smears in 163 (62.8%). A total of 193 (71.7%) positive sera with latex were found. The sensitivity and specificity of the latex test as compared with the culture method, biopsy--urease test and Gram smears was 80.7% and 43.9%, 80.5% and 39.2% or 79.8% and 40.6% respectively. All three direct diagnostic methods were positive in 122 (45.4%) patients, 101 (82.8%) of them were positive with the latex test. Only in 33 (19.3%) patients with positive biopsy--culture for H. pylori anti-H. pylori antibodies were not observed. On the other hand, among 75 patients with negative all direct methods for H. pylori infections 39 (52.0%) of them were positive with the latex test. The latex test was also positive in 56 (54.9%) sera among 102 blood donor tested by us but this value was lower, in trems of statistical significance than in patient sera. In conclusion, the latex test may be useful as a screening serological test for the diagnosis of patients with H. pylori infections and for epidemiological studies.

[Comparison of the methods of wound closure after implantation of intraocular lenses in our modification]. / Porównanie metod zamkniecia rany operacyjnej po wszczepieniu sztucznej soczewki wewnatrzgalkowej z uwzglednieniem wlasnej modyfikacji.

The author applied several methods of closing the operative wound using an incision at the limbus, corneal incision, an incision with a conjunctival or scleral flap and using various stitches. Recently he executes a modified scleral incision cutting off the conjunctiva from the corneal limbus; he considers it convenient and safe. The methods were compared on the basis of 76 cases.

[Effectiveness of the methods of surgical treatment of retinal detachment during the years 1983-1987]. / Skutecznosc metod operacyjnego leczenia odwarstwienia siatkówki w latch 1983-1987.

The authors made an analysis of the surgical methods in 94 cases of retinal detachment. In 36 cases it was a cerclage, in 44 an episcleral implant. In 8 patients invagination of the sclera was performed, in 3 photocoagulation as a separate intervention and in 3--cerclage with a simultaneous episcleral implant. Reattachment of the retina was achieved in 69.1% of cases.

[Effect of selected bacteria on mycelial transformation of cells of Candida albicans]. / Wplyw wybranych bakterii na mycelialna przemiane komórek Candida albicans.

Influence of selected bacteria representing typical physiological flora of mucous membranes of man on transformation of Candida albicans from yeast phase to mycelial phase was evaluated, E. coli, S. viridans and S. faecalis inhibited to different degree mycelial transformation of fungal cells. A degree of inhibition in the case of E. coli was proportional to the period of preliminary culture of strains in medium containing serum while streptococci inhibited mycelial transformation mainly after 4 and 24 hr of preliminary culture. Production of factor(s) inhibiting mycelial transformation of C. albicans by E. coli was induced by direct contact with fungal cells and by low molecular weight substances produced by C. albicans. Streptococci produced inhibiting factors even when fungal cells or their metabolites were absent in the medium.

[Isolation and identification of the products of Streptococcus faecalis inhibiting mycelial transformation of Candida albicans]. / Próba izolacji identyfikacji produktów Streptococcus faecalis hamujacych mycelialna transformacje Candida albicans.

An attempt was made to isolate and identify Streptococcus faecalis products responsible for the inhibition of mycelial transformation of Candida albicans. Five of streptococcal strains which 48 h broth culture supernatants run at 37 degrees C inhibited the most transformation of Candida albicans from yeast phase to mycelial phage. The strains were cultivated for 48 h in Tryptic Soy Broth at 37 degrees C, centrifuged and culture supernatants sterilised by means of filtration on millipore membranes of 0.4 micron diameter. After multistep purification of supernatants filtration on Diaflo PM 10 ultrafiltration membranes, Sephadex G 25, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) a homogenous, active fraction was obtained containing peptides of molecular weight around 6,000 Da. The peptides lost ability to induce mycelial transformation of C. albicans after heating at 100 degrees C for 10 min. Significant inhibition of morphological transformation of fungal cells was seen at the preparation concentration of 0.12 microgram/ml.

[Isolation of macrophage-activating phospholipid from Listeria monocytogenes]. / Izolacja fosfolipidu Listeria monocytogenes aktywujacego makrofagi.

The aim of this study was isolate a factor, contained in phospholipid fraction of Listeria monocytogenes, responsible for macrophage activation. Lipids extracted from L. monocytogenes cells were subjected consecutively to fractionation on colons with silicic acid, Florisil and Sephadex LH-20. Separated fractions were assayed for their ability to activate macrophages as well as for their homogeneity by thin layer chromatography. Multistep fractionation procedure allowed to obtain the pure preparation of glycerophospholipid with a high ability for macrophage activation and capable to increase significantly anti-infections immunity in mice.

[Usefulness of the diagnostic kit Enteroplast for identification of Enterobacteriaceae]. / Ocena przydatnosci zestawu diagnostycznego Enteroplast do identyfikacji paleczek jelitowych.

Comparative evaluation of biochemical properties determined by ENTEROPLAST kit (P.P.Z. Plastomed) and biochemical set of tests (conventional method) of 140 strains representing 12 genera of Enterobacteriaceae family was undertaken. Consistent results positive or negative (in 12 biochemical tests) were obtained in 93%. The highest percentage of inconsistent results of biochemical reactions (positive in conventional method and negative in ENTEROPLAST kit) were observed in following tests: growth on Simmons medium--17.8%, MR--7.8%, fermentation of raffinose--7.2%. Significantly lower percentage of inconsistent results was found in the case of false positive reactions (negative in conventional method and positive in ENTEROPLAST kit). In summary, it seems that Enteroplast kit can be used for routine diagnostic examinations for identification of rods of Enterobacteriaceae family, basing on their biochemical properties.

Antifungal peptides with novel specific inhibitors of glucosamine 6-phosphate synthase.

N3-4-Methoxyfumaroyl-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid (FMDP) has been found to be a strong and selective inhibitor of glucosamine 6-phosphate synthase from Candida albicans. Incorporation of FMDP into a dipeptide structure has produced effective antifungal agents (portage transport). A number of dipeptides containing FMDP have been synthesized, with Nva-FMDP showing the highest in vitro activity against different fungi, including Candida albicans (MIC90 = 2.2 micrograms/ml for 50 clinical strains), Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus spp. This compound, when tested in a general candidiosis model infection in mice, gave PD50/10 and CD50/10 values of 5.0 and 1.63 mg/kg, respectively. Meanwhile, the LD50 value after i.v. administration was higher than 300 mg/kg.