Content of Phenolic Compounds in Meadow Vegetation and Soil Depending on the Isolation Method.

The aim of this paper was to determine the effect of the hydrolysis method on the amounts of phenolic compounds in the plant material in soil and, as a consequence, on the parameters to determine the degree of lignins transformation in soils. The study included the plant material (hay, sward, and roots) and soil-Albic Brunic Arenosol (horizon A, AE, and Bsv) samples. Phenolic compounds were isolated at two stages by applying acid hydrolysis followed by alkaline re-hydrolysis. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of phenolic compounds was performed with high-performance liquid chromatography with a DAD. The content of phenolic compounds in the extracts depended on the hydrolysis method and it was determined by the type of the research material. The amounts of phenolic compounds contained in the alkaline hydrolysates accounted for 55.7% (soil, horizon Bsv)-454% (roots) of their content in acid hydrolysates. In the extracts from acid hydrolysates, chlorogenic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids were dominant. In the alkaline extracts from the plant material, the highest content was recorded for p-coumaric and ferulic acids, and in the extracts from soil, ferulic and chlorogenic acids. A combination of acid and alkaline hydrolysis ensures the best extraction efficiency of insoluble-bound forms of polyphenols from plant and soil material.

Transformations of phenolic compounds in meadow soils.

The aim of the research has been to determine the role of phenolic compounds in the processes of transformations of organic matter in meadow soils, leading to the formation of humic substances. The research has been performed based on the plant material and soil sampled from Europe's unique complex of permanent grasslands irrigated continuously for 150 years applying the slope-and-flooding system, the Czerskie Meadows. Phenolic compounds were isolated from the plant material samples (hay, sward and roots) and soils (horizon A, AE and Bsv) and from the fraction of humic and fulvic acids. It was found that the contents of phenolic compounds decrease in the following order: hay > sward > roots > A horizon soil > AE horizon soil > Bsv horizon soil > A horizon fulvic acids > AE horizon fulvic acids > Bsv horizon fulvic acids > A horizon fulvic acids > AE horizon fulvic acids > Bsv horizon fulvic acids. A significantly higher share of cinnamyl than vanillyl and syringyl compounds in the extracts of fulvic acids and slightly higher in the hydrolysates of humic acids confirms the effect of the chemical composition of the plant material undergoing decomposition on the properties of the emerging humic substances.

Life-threatening hypophosphataemia secondary to zoledronic acid implementation in a middle-age patient who presented with advanced osteolysis in the course of multiple myeloma.

Not required for Clinical Vignette.

The 100th anniversary of the death of Julian Ochorowicz (1850-1917).

This article talks about the life of Julian Ochorowicz. It encompasses his life as a scientist, psychologist, his works, reputation and other events. In conclusion, this article denotes the relevancy of Ochorowicz's life. (PsycINFO Database Record

[Expert's opinion on recommendations for water and other beverages consumption in elderly?]. / Stanowisko Grupy Ekspertów w sprawie zalecen dotyczacych spozycia wody i innych napojów przez osoby w wieku podeszlym.

The article encloses definition of water role and its body requirement, review of water balance and management in older persons regarding characteristic of this age group and concomitant disorders. Based on current literature and expert's opinion the recommendations for water consumption were expressed with estimation of insufficient apply and oversupply, evaluation of hydration state, domestic water sources in diet with accent on influence of proper hydration on comfort and good health.

Activation of human peritoneal immune cells in early stages of gastric and colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: The immune reaction of the peritoneum to growing gastrointestinal neoplasms remains unclear. We investigated mobilization of immune cells in peritoneal fluid of gastric and colon cancer, phenotypes and level of activation of recruited cells, and concentration of cellular and peritoneal fluid cytokines. METHODS: Peritoneal cells (PCs) were obtained intraoperatively by peritoneal lavage from 18 patients with adenocarcinoma of the stomach and 32 patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon (all were stage T2N0M0) and 52 patients who underwent elective cholecystectomy as control subjects. RESULTS: The number of PCs harvested from cancer patients was 25 times greater than from control patients (P < .001). In the patients with colon cancer, the percentage of CD68+ macrophages was 1.2 times, of CD14+ monocytes was 2.3 times, and of CD15+ granulocytes was 3 times greater than in control patients (all P < .05). The percentage of HLA DR+ cells exceeded the control values by a factor of 2; and within this population, the percentage of CD3+ HLA DR+ cells exceeded control patients by a factor of 3 (P < .05). The percentage of cytokine-producing cells was greater than in control patients, with values 2 times higher for interleukin (IL)-1, 2.5-times for IL-6, and 6-times for IL-8 (P < .05). The concentration of IL-1 in peritoneal fluid exceeded control values by a factor of 2.2, of IL-6 by a factor of 5.0, of IL-8 by a factor of 3, and of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 by a factor of 2.0 (P < .05). In the patients with gastric cancer, the values for mobilized PC granulocytes were 1.5 times greater than in control patients (P < .05). The frequency rate of cytokine-producing cells remained close to control values. The concentration of peritoneal cytokines did not exceed normal values for IL-1 but was 4 times higher for IL-6 and 2 times higher for IL-8 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (all P < .05). When the cancer groups were compared, there was evidently more activated myeloid- and cytokine-producing PC in the patients with colon cancer than in patients with gastric cancer. There was no correlation between the blood and PC phenotype frequency. CONCLUSION: Patients with T2N0M0 colon cancer and to lesser extent gastric cancer evoke a slight but measurable mobilization and activation of PCs.

[Physical development and health status of young men in relation to birth weight]. / Rozwój fizyczny i stan zdrowia mlodych mezczyzn w zaleznosci od masy urodzeniowej po 20 latach obserwacji.

The aim of the study was to examine the influence of low birth weight (LBW) on the health characteristics of men of post-pubertal age compared with their normal-birth-weight (NBW) peers. To this end, 1090 conscripts, out of 1376 eligible male neonates examined in 6 Warsaw obstetric wards in 1970-1974 in search of low birth weight (682 LBW vs. 408 NBW), were examined in 1998 at the entry to the military service. It was found that LBW conscripts were shorter and lighter than their NBW peers. They also had more overall recorded health problems, more hearing defects, and more neurological disorders than their counterparts with normal birth weight two decades earlier.

[Assessment of medical students' intake of antioxidants and vitamins essential for homocysteine metabolism]. / Analiza spozycia witamin antyoksydacyjnych i witamin wplywajacych na metabolizm homocysteiny przez studentów medycyny.

The main death cause in Western countries, as well as in Poland, is cardiovascular diseases based on atherosclerosis. Epidemiological studies have shown that low intake of some vitamins might be associated with cardiovascular disease. The most important are antioxidant vitamins (A, E, C) and vitamins essential in homocysteine metabolism (B6, B12 and folate). The objective was to assess the vitamin dietary intake of the fourth year Warsaw Medical University students and compare it to the Warsaw population data from the Pol-Monica Bis study. A random sample of 182 medical students (125 women and 57 men) was analysed using a computer programme FOOD 3.0 and the photo album of the food products and dishes. It was observed that the vitamin daily intake of medical students was lower than recommended vitamin's values: folic acid--women 67%, men 68%, vitamin C--women 41%, men 56%, vitamin E--women 34%, men 63%, vitamin B6--women 36%, men 39%, vitamin A--women 21%, men 28%, vitamin B12--women 14%, men 9%. The intake of mentioned vitamins was also lower in comparison with the intake in the Warsaw population. In conclusion, the medical students' intake of antioxidants and essential in homocysteine metabolism vitamins is below recommended values, so the education as for as human nutrition and prevention of cardiovascular diseases are concerned are strongly advised.