Characteristic Sizes of Life in the Oceans, from Bacteria to Whales.

The size of an individual organism is a key trait to characterize its physiology and feeding ecology. Size-based scaling laws may have a limited size range of validity or undergo a transition from one scaling exponent to another at some characteristic size. We collate and review data on size-based scaling laws for resource acquisition, mobility, sensory range, and progeny size for all pelagic marine life, from bacteria to whales. Further, we review and develop simple theoretical arguments for observed scaling laws and the characteristic sizes of a change or breakdown of power laws. We divide life in the ocean into seven major realms based on trophic strategy, physiology, and life history strategy. Such a categorization represents a move away from a taxonomically oriented description toward a trait-based description of life in the oceans. Finally, we discuss life forms that transgress the simple size-based rules and identify unanswered questions.

Cytotoxic reaction mediators: granzymes A and B in women with ovarian cancer.

The purpose of this work was the assessment of cytotoxic reaction mediators - granzymes A and B in the serum of women with ovarian tumors. The study included 120 women with proven ovarian tumors. The control group consisted of 60 healthy women in whom no pathological changes within the reproductive system were detected. Concentrations of granzymes A and B were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay. The highest concentrations of the studied parameters were observed in serum of women with ovarian cancer. Moreover, the concentrations of granzymes A and B in patients with ovarian cancer were substantially increased in comparison to concentrations in patients with ovarian cystadenomas (P < 0.0001) or ovarian teratomas (P < 0.0001).

Soluble Fas receptor and soluble Fas ligand in the serum of women with uterine tumors.

It is commonly accepted that apoptosis plays an important role in the death of normal and neoplastic cells. Related proteins and their receptors on cell surfaces regulate apoptosis. One of the best-characterized systems is the Fas-Fas ligand system. The aim of the study was to examine the concentrations of soluble Fas receptor (sFas) and the soluble ligand for the Fas receptor (sFasL) in serum of women with uterine tumors. The study included 42 women with uterine tumors. As a normal control, sera were obtained from 20 healthy female volunteers. The concentrations of sFas and sFasL in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ELISA. Significant increases of the mean value of sFas and sFasL were found in the serum of women with uterine tumor compared to the control group (p < 0.0001). The mean levels of these parameters increased in consecutive stages of the clinical extent of the uterine cancer (I-III). The lowest concentration was observed in women with stage I and the highest in women with stage III of clinical extent according to FIGO. Apoptosis that appears to occur in the cancerous cells of malignant uterine tumors is associated with high levels of sFas and sFasL in serum.

[Electrophysiologic tests for diagnosis of congenital night blindness]. / Badania elektrofizjologiczne w diagnostyce wrodzonej slepoty nocnej.

UNLABELLED: Electrophysiological study in diagnosis of congenital stationary night blindness. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The goal of this study was to describe a family with X-linked congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) in which 3 brothers had similar symptoms: night blindness, reduced visual acuity and "negative" type of Flash ERG. RESULTS: Electrophysiological study permitted to differentiate CSNB from generalized progressive retinal degeneration, what has a prognostic value for these patients.

[Efficiency of laser trabeculotomy in open-angle glaucoma]. / Skutecznosc trabekulopunkcji laserowej w jaskrze otwartego kata.

Results of Nd: YAG laser trabeculotomy performed in 71 eyes of 48 patients with open-angle glaucoma are presented. There were 25 females and 23 males, aged 15-86 years (mean age 67 years). The follow-up was 0.5-1.5 years. Normalization of the intraocular pressure was achieved in 90% of cases and outflow facility was improved in 87.3%. Deterioration of visual acuity was observed in 2.8% of eyes. In 4.2% the procedure was complicated by anterior chamber haemorrhages. The authors discuss principles, indications and techniques of Nd:YAG laser trabeculotomy and compare their results with those of others.

[Laser capsulotomy in cases of posterior capsule opacity in pseudophakia, aphakia and traumatic cataracts]. / Kapsulotomia laserowa w przypadkach zmetnienia tylnej torebki soczewki w pseudofakii, afakii oraz w zacmach pourazowych.

The results of Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy performed in 94 eyes of 90 patients (48 males and 42 females) are presented. Visual acuity 0.5 and better was achieved in 58.4% of cases. The authors discussed the techniques of the operations and some possible complications.

[Remarks on iris complications caused by intraocular lens implantation based on our own experiences]. / Uwagi na temat powiklan teczówkowych wywolanych wszczepieniem sztucznej soczewki na podstawie doswiadczen wlasnych.

Of 346 cataract extractions with IOLs implantation (184 anterior and 162 posterior chamber) in 98 eyes iris complications were observed. They were: pigment dispersion syndrome and iris-tuck-syndrome, the latter caused by the pressure of the haptic part of the lens. In our material these complications were observed more often after posterior chamber IOLs than in anterior ones. However, the consequences of the complications were more serious and had worse prognosis in anterior chamber IOLs. The authors compared their results with literature.

[Implantation of intraocular lens in anterior and posterior chamber from our clinical material]. / Wszczepy sztucznych soczewek przednioi tylnokomorowych w materiale wlasnym.

The authors presented results of 346 cataract extraction with IOL implantation--in 184 eyes anterior and in 162 posterior chamber. The follow-up ranged from 3 months to 6 years (mean 1.6 year). In 80.6% of cases, visual acuity after surgery was 0.6-1.0. Corneal astigmatismus 2.5-5.0 D was found in 31.2% of the eyes. The authors analysed early and late complications, taking into account the differences between anterior and posterior chamber IOLs implantation.

Adenine Nucleotide Changes during Cold Acclimation of Winter Rape Plants.

During the first stage of hardening of winter rape plants (Brassica napus L. var. oleifera L., cv. Górczanski), marked increase of ATP content in leaves was observed. Lowering the temperature from 5 to 0 C (the second stage of hardening) had no further effect on ATP content. In roots, not capable of hardening, pronounced decrease of ATP content was noted after prolonged exposure to cold. It was found that increased ATP content and higher energy charge in cold-treated leaves were due to light and dark processes.