Physiological, Biochemical, and Epigenetic Reaction of Maize (Zea mays L.) to Cultivation in Conditions of Varying Soil Salinity and Foliar Application of Silicon.

Soil salinity is one of the basic factors causing physiological, biochemical and epigenetic changes in plants. The negative effects of salt in the soil environment can be reduced by foliar application of silicon (Si). The study showed some positive effects of Si on maize plants (Zea mays L.) grown in various salinity conditions. At high soil salinity (300 and 400 mM NaCl), higher CCI content was demonstrated following the application of 0.2 and 0.3% Si. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (PI, FV/F0, Fv/Fm and RC/ABS) were higher after spraying at 0.3 and 0.4% Si, and plant gas exchange (Ci, PN, gs, E) was higher after spraying from 0.1 to 0.4% Si. Soil salinity determined by the level of chlorophyll a and b, and carotenoid pigments caused the accumulation of free proline in plant leaves. To detect changes in DNA methylation under salt stress and in combination with Si treatment of maize plants, the methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) technique was used. The overall DNA methylation level within the 3'CCGG 5' sequence varied among groups of plants differentially treated. Results obtained indicated alterations of DNA methylation in plants as a response to salt stress, and the effects of NaCl + Si were dose-dependent. These changes may suggest mechanisms for plant adaptation under salt stress.

Comprehensive Analysis of Highbush Blueberry Plants Propagated In Vitro and Conventionally.

In vitro culture allows the production of numerous plants with both desirable and undesirable traits. To investigate the impact of the propagation method on highbush blueberry plants, an analysis was performed on four groups of differentially propagated plants: in vitro with axillary (TC-Ax) or adventitious shoots (TC-Ad), conventionally (SC) and using a mixed method (TC/SC). The analysis included plant features (shoot length and branching, chlorophyll and fluorescence and DNA methylation) and fruit properties (antioxidant compounds). The data obtained indicated significant differences between plants propagated conventionally and in vitro, as well as variations among plants derived from in vitro cultures with different types of explants. SC plants generally exhibited the lowest values of morphological and physiological parameters but produced fruits richest in antioxidant compounds. TC/SC plants were dominant in length, branching and fluorescence. Conversely, TC-Ax plants produced fruits with the lowest levels of antioxidant compounds. The methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) technique was employed to detect molecular differences. TC-Ad plants showed the highest methylation level, whereas SC plants had the lowest. The overall methylation level varied among differentially propagated plants. It can be speculated that the differences among the analysed plants may be attributed to variations in DNA methylation.

Physiological and Epigenetic Reaction of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to the Foliar Application of Silicon under Soil Salinity Conditions.

Soil salinity is an important environmental factor affecting physiological processes in plants. It is possible to limit the negative effects of salt through the exogenous application of microelements. Silicon (Si) is widely recognized as an element improving plant resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. The aim of the research was to determine the impact of foliar application of Si on the photosynthetic apparatus, gas exchange and DNA methylation of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grown under salt stress. Plants grown under controlled pot experiment were exposed to sodium chloride (NaCl) in the soil at a concentration of 200 mM, and two foliar applications of Si were made at three concentrations (0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2%). Measurements were made of relative chlorophyll content in leaves (CCl), gas exchange parameters (Ci, E, gs, and PN), and selected chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (Fv/Fm, Fv/F0, PI and RC/ABS). Additionally, DNA methylation level based on cytosine methylation within the 3'CCGG 5' sequence was analyzed. Salinity had a negative effect on the values of the parameters examined. Exogenous application of Si by spraying leaves increased the values of the measured parameters in plants. Plants treated with NaCl in combination with the moderate (0.1%) and highest (0.2%) dose of Si indicated the lowest methylation level. Decrease of methylation implicated with activation of gene expression resulted in better physiological parameters observed in this group of barley plants.

Embolization of renal angiomyolipoma in pregnancy: case report.

BACKGROUND: Renal angiomyolipoma is a rare benign tumour composed of adipose tissue, blood vessels and smooth muscles. However it can locally grow to a great size and its numerous blood vessels may cause major bleeding requiring immediate intervention. CASE: At 20th week of pregnancy a previously healthy 26-year old pregnant woman with an episode of sudden and severe pain in the left flank followed by fainting was diagnosed with a bleeding tumour of the left kidney. The diagnosis was based on ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Diagnostic angiography was followed by selective embolization of the tumour blood vessels. At 38th week of pregnancy elective caesarean section was performed and after the puerperium the tumour was resected. CONCLUSION: Embolization of renal angiomyolipoma bleeding vessels during pregnancy can be an effective therapeutic approach protecting against further bleeding and haemorrhagic shock thereby obviating the need to perform urgent surgery and allowing the woman to carry her pregnancy to term safely in outpatient setting.

[Comparative efficacy and tolerability of drotaverine 80 mg and ibuprofen 400 mg in patients with primary dysmenorrhoea--protocol DOROTA]. / Porównanie skutecznosci i tolerancji 80 mg drotaweryny i 400 mg ibuprofenu u pacjentek z pierwotnym bolesnym miesiaczkowaniem--badanie DOROTA.

OBJECTIVE: To compare efficacy and tolerability of drotaverine 80 mg and ibuprofen 400 mg in patients with primary dysmenorrhoea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine-month, multicenter (11 study centers in Poland), randomised, double-blind, phase III study, conducted in two parallel group, included 345 women between the ages of 18 and 35, suffering from primary dysmenorrhoea with presence of moderate to severe pain in each of the last 3 cycles. Patients had regular menstrual cycles and used an adequate barrier contraception method with a negative pregnancy test before randomization. Patients were given 80 mg drotaverine or 400 mg ibuprofen and asked to assess the pain intensity rated on a 4 point categorical scale (0--none, 1--mild, 2--moderate, 3--severe) at baseline and 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 hours after the first intake and evaluate the efficacy (excellent, good, fair, poor) at the end of the treatment period. They were also asked to asses the tolerance of the medication (excellent, good, fair, poor). RESULTS: The weighted sum of pain intensity differences over the 6-hour observation period (SPID-6) was calculated. The pain intensity before the first intake was comparable in the two groups. At the time-points, the decrease of pain was always greater in the ibuprofen 400 mg group, than in the drotaverine 80 mg group and was maximum at the 4th hour in the drotaverine 80 mg group (-1.2+/-1.18) and at the 3rd hour in the ibuprofen 400 mg group (-1.7+/-0.99). 41.8% patients treated with drotaverine and 68.6% patients treated with ibuprofen assessed drug efficacy as excellent or good. Although the patients' global assessment of tolerability was significantly better (p=0.02) with ibuprofen 400 mg (excellent or good: 86.8%), than with drotaverine 80 mg (excellent or good: 78.4%), no relevant difference between the both groups was observed for frequency, nature intensity and causality of the reported adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: After analizing the data statistically and clinically, significant differences in favour of ibuprofen 400 mg were evidenced for efficacy criteria. Ibuprofen was more efficient and the effect was faster, than drotaverine in relieving pain in dysmenorrhoea. Both drugs were well tolerated. The reported adverse events were typical drug reactions or expected events in patients suffering from dysmenorrhoea.