Effects of ionizing radiation on Capsicum baccatum var. pendulum (Solanaceae).

Cytogenetic and somatic effects of various x-ray treatments were evaluated in pepper, Capsicum baccatum var. pendulum cv. "Cayenne", with the aim to assess optimal conditions for obtaining viable lines. The cytogenetic effects were quantified by counting chromosome aberrations. The level of DNA fragmentation was estimated with TUNEL test (terminal transferase mediated dUTP-fluorescein nick end labeling). Irradiation to 20 Gy with 16-h presoaking can be a suitable treatment of the selected pepper cultivar for a mutagenesis program.

An assessment of the genotoxic effects of landfill leachates using bacterial and plant tests.

Two bacterial tests (the Ames test and the umu-test) and the Allium test were used to assess the genotoxicity of aqueous leachates from municipal solid waste landfill sites in Southern Poland. A comparison of the sensitivity of the applied tests was performed. None of the tested samples revealed genotoxic activity in the umu-test and thus did not appear to be sensitive enough for evaluations of leachates. Two out of 22 leachates were described as genotoxic in the Ames test and 3 out of 6 leachates in the Allium test. All of the analyzed leachates samples affected cell divisions. Two of the tests applied, the Allium and Ames test, revealed the high genotoxicity of leachate 4. Among the bioassays used in these studies, the Allium test proved to be more sensitive than bacterial tests for the investigation of leachate toxicity. The results suggest that the Allium cytogenetic bioassay is efficient and simple for genotoxicity studies of leachates. The potential correlations between the chemical characteristics and genotoxic effects is discussed. The biological effects of selected appeared to be related to chemical parameters. Leachates have a genotoxic potential and pose a risk to human health and the environment. A combination of biotests and chemical analyses is the best approach for the assessment of the risk or impact of leachates.

[The capability of deamination of aminoacids by selected strains of fungi]. / Zdolnosc dezaminacji aminokwasów przez wybrane gatunki grzybów.

We have studied the capability of dissociation of 22 L-form aminoacids by 27 strains of fungi belonging to species: Candida, Cryptococcus, Geotrichum, Rhodotorula, Saccharomyces, Trichosporon. Fungal strains were cultured on agar medium with phenyl red and studied aminoacid. Disamination of an aminoacid by a fungus resulted in alkalisation of the medium and change of its colour from yellow to pink. Strains from genus Trichosporon and Geotrichum decomposed the most aminoacids (15-16), while fungi from genus Candida decomposed less aminoacid (1-8). Strains form species Candida famata, C. kefyr, C. lambica. C. rugosa, C. neoformans, R. mucilaginosa and S. cerevisiae did not show any ability to desaminate any of the 22 aminoacids used in the study. Aminoacids most frequently disaminated, by the studied strains of fungi included acidic aliphatic aminoacids and their amides: L-aspartic acid, L-asparagine, L-glutaminic acid, L-glutamine and neutral aliphatic aminoacids: L-glycin, L-alanine, L-serine. Aromatic and sulphur aminoacids (L-cysteine, L-cystine) were not decomposed by the studied fungal strains.

[Algorithm of diagnostic procedure in candidosis of male genital organs]. / Algorytm postepowania diagnostycznego w kandydozie narzadów plciowych u mezczyzn.

The results of earlier own studies performed in male patients with symptomatic candidosis of genital organs enabled to work out an algorithm of diagnostic procedure to determine of the fungal reservoir in a male patient. The study comprised 50 persons: 25 males and 25 female partners with clinical signs of recurrent genital organs candidosis. To mycological examination 6 specimens from males and 5 from females were collected. A total number of 275 cultures was examined. In the 45% of patients fungi were detected in all foci of infection. In the some cases (20%) fungal strains were isolated in males only from ejaculate but from their sexual partners from all examined specimens. Clinical and mycological cure often required more than one administration of oral antifungal agents.

[Utilization of a system with application of a new media for detecting dermatophytes]. / Wykorzystanie systemu z uzyciem nowych podlozy dla zwiekszenia wykrywalnosci dermatofitów.

Previously proposed system with application of new media was applied for differential diagnostics of dermatophytes. Evaluation concerned: 1. Direct preparations (KOH with glycerol, fluid with lactic acid and cotton blue), 2. Cultures on Sabouraud medium with CCG, Littman agar, agar supplemented with casein hydrolysate, erythritol and albumin, Christensen medium and 2% glucose agar, 3. Results of hair enticement test, 4. Clinical changes in Wood lamp. It was found that percentage of positive results (35.2 +/- 7.95%) was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than in culture when compared with results obtained from direct preparations. On erythritol medium strains from Trichophyton genus were isolated which was not the case on the Sabouraud medium. Christensen medium and agar containing 2% of glucose are most reliable in differentiating T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum.

[Antitrichomonal properties of derivatives of ethers containing amine and halogenarylalkyl groups]. / Wlasciwosci przeciwrzesistkowe pochodnych eterów zawierajacych reszty aminowe i chlorowcoaryloalkilowe.

The trichomonacidal activity in vitro of 6 new derivatives of theirs containing amine and halogenaryloalkyl groups in comparison with metronidazole, ornidazole and tinidazole has been examined. For all the examined compounds curves of action were obtained after 30 min, and lethal concentrations for 50% population (CL50) of three strains of T. vaginalis used for experiments were calculated. The trichomonacidal action of the following compounds was specially strong: 2-/1-methylpiperazine++-4-yl/ethyl-4-chlorbenzhydryl ether dihydrochloride and 2-/1-benzylperhydro-1,4-diazepine++-4-yl/ethyl 2,4-dichlorbenzyl ether dihydrochloride. The trichomonacidal action of these compounds was several times stronger than that of metronidazole and tinidazole.

[Evaluation of the effect of a new polyfungin derivative in chronic infection of albino mice with P-32 labeled Candida albicans]. / Próba oceny dzialania nowej pochodnej polifunginy w przewleklym zarazeniu bialej myszy Candida albicans znakowanej 32P.

White mice, Balb/c, were infected intraperitoneally with Candida albicans strains: standard ATCC 1023 and 910 strain isolated from vaginal excretions of patient suffering from genital mycosis. One group of animals was given new Polish polyene antibiotic N-methylglucamine salt of N-glucosylpolyfungin (N-MGP). It was possible to follow a course of infection using our own experimental model of candidiasis with 32P-Candida albicans cell suspension by measuring a degree of radioactivity of organs taken from treated and untreated animals. Statistically significant lower radioactivity values (P less than 0.01) were found in organs of animals treated with N-MGP salt for 20 days in daily dose of 20 mg/kg of body weight. Therapeutic efficacy of N-MGP salt was confirmed in separate experiments where mice were infected intraperitoneally with unlabelled Candida albicans cells. Negative results of mycological examinations were found when several organs homogenates of treated mice were tested. Activity of new polifungin derivative in chronic candidiasis of mice was found using two different ways of evaluation of this new preparation.