The increasing threat to European forests from the invasive foliar pine pathogen, Lecanosticta acicola.

European forests are threatened by increasing numbers of invasive pests and pathogens. Over the past century, Lecanosticta acicola, a foliar pathogen predominantly of Pinus spp., has expanded its range globally, and is increasing in impact. Lecanosticta acicola causes brown spot needle blight, resulting in premature defoliation, reduced growth, and mortality in some hosts. Originating from southern regions of North American, it devastated forests in the USA's southern states in the early twentieth century, and in 1942 was discovered in Spain. Derived from Euphresco project 'Brownspotrisk,' this study aimed to establish the current distribution of Lecanosticta species, and assess the risks of L. acicola to European forests. Pathogen reports from the literature, and new/ unpublished survey data were combined into an open-access geo-database (http://www.portalofforestpathology.com), and used to visualise the pathogen's range, infer its climatic tolerance, and update its host range. Lecanosticta species have now been recorded in 44 countries, mostly in the northern hemisphere. The type species, L. acicola, has increased its range in recent years, and is present in 24 out of the 26 European countries where data were available. Other species of Lecanosticta are largely restricted to Mexico and Central America, and recently Colombia. The geo-database records demonstrate that L. acicola tolerates a wide range of climates across the northern hemisphere, and indicate its potential to colonise Pinus spp. forests across large swathes of the Europe. Preliminary analyses suggest L. acicola could affect 62% of global Pinus species area by the end of this century, under climate change predictions. Although its host range appears slightly narrower than the similar Dothistroma species, Lecanosticta species were recorded on 70 host taxa, mostly Pinus spp., but including, Cedrus and Picea spp. Twenty-three, including species of critical ecological, environmental and economic significance in Europe, are highly susceptible to L. acicola, suffering heavy defoliation and sometimes mortality. Variation in apparent susceptibility between reports could reflect variation between regions in the hosts' genetic make-up, but could also reflect the significant variation in L. acicola populations and lineages found across Europe. This study served to highlight significant gaps in our understanding of the pathogen's behaviour. Lecanosticta acicola has recently been downgraded from an A1 quarantine pest to a regulated non quarantine pathogen, and is now widely distributed across Europe. With a need to consider disease management, this study also explored global BSNB strategies, and used Case Studies to summarise the tactics employed to date in Europe.

A contribution to characterisation of genetic variation in some natural Polish populations of Elymus repens (L.) Gould and Elymus hispidus (Opiz) Melderis (Poaceae) as revealed by RAPD markers.

To determine the relative importance of clonal growth and sexual reproduction, the Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method was used to study genetic diversity and clonal structure of six populations of Elymus repens and four populations of Elymus hispidus from Poland. These outbreeding species are virtually self-sterile and form widely spreading and long-lived rhizomes. Using 12 primers, a total of 150 unambiguous RAPD fragments were amplified and scored. Results of AMOVA showed no significant genetic distinction between morphologically distinguished varieties of E. repens and E. hispidus. E. repens had slightly higher intra-specific genetic polymorphism than E. hispidus; the percentage of polymorphic bands per population ranged from 38 to 49 and from 19 to 38 respectively. Clonal diversity measured using the Simpson diversity index (D) indicated different contributions of clonal reproduction in particular populations of E. repens (D: 0.20-0.72). Populations of E. hispidus were dominated by one or a few clones, which were generally restricted to a single population (D: 0.00-0.22). RAPD revealed that most genetic diversity resided within populations of the two studied species, suggesting that, despite their clonal character, propagation by seeds contributes considerably to reproduction of E. repens and E. hispidus.

[Plasmapheresis and amino acid mixtures of "Aminosteril-Hepa" type preparations in treating hepatic encephalopathy]. / Plazmafereza i mieszanki aminokwasów typu preparatu "Aminosteril-Hepa" w leczeniu encefalopatii watrobowej.

An effect of Aminosteril-Hepa intravenous infusions or plasmapheresis on selected amino acids, ammonia, alpha-aminonitrogen serum levels and serum GGTP activity was analysed in 28 patients with liver cirrhosis with and without hepatic encephalopathy. The patients were given protein controlled dietary treatment. It was found, that plasmapheresis exerted more potent effect on previously elevated ammonia and serum alpha-aminonitrogen levels as well as serum GGTP activity than intravenous infusions of Aminosteril-Hepa. It was clearly seen in patients with liver cirrhosis without hepatic encephalopathy. Aminosteril-Hepa intravenous infusions decreased serum glutamine levels to higher degree than plasmapheresis. Both types of therapy have had no significant effect on serum phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan levels in all patients.

[Alcohol and the liver]. / Alkohol a watroba.

A biologic role of ethyl alcohol is analysed. The function of the liver in alcohol metabolism (90% of the total intake) in three oxidizing systems with the use of alcohol dehydrogenase, microsomal ethanol oxidizing system, and H2O2 catalase is described. Epidemiological data are given, clinical course of the alcohol-produced lesions to the liver starting from fatty degeneration, through the acute and chronic hepatitis, alcohol-produced cirrhosis up to the primary cancer of the liver are also presented in the light of authors experience.

[Selected indices of immunoreactivity dependent on HBV infection in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis]. / Wybrane wskazniki odczynowosci immunologicznej zalezne od zakaenia wirusem hepatitis B u chorych z poalkoholowa marskoscia watroby.

The study involved 85 patients with alcohol-produced liver cirrhosis divided into two groups depending on the presence or absence of HBV infection serological markers (HBV+-51; HBV-34). The study was aimed at comparing selected indices of both humoral and cell-mediated reactions in the blood of patients with alcohol-produced liver cirrhosis depending on immuno-serologically confirmed infection with HBV. Statistically significant differences between both groups concerned percentage of OKT4 (HBV+-67.7%; HBV--58.4%), and complement component C4 (0.32 and 0.48 g/L, respectively). Moreover, a significant decrease in percentage of T-cell and significant increase in IgG, IgA, IgM, and immunological complexes levels were noted when comparing with normal values. Results indicate, that the immunopathological reactions resulting from action of the two most frequent, harmful, hepatotropic, factors, i.e. alcohol and HBV, are different.

[Incidence of so-called hepatic failure syndrome in relation to infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) in epidemiological and environmental studies of the rural population in the Suwalki and Bialystok regions 1978-1990]. / Dynamika wystepowania t.z.w. zespolu niedomogi watroby (ZNW) w relacji z zakazeniem wirusem hepatitis B (HBV) w badaniach epidemiologiczno-srodowiskowych populacji rolniczej regionu Suwalszczyzny i Bialostocczyzny w latach 1978-1990.

In years 1979-1991 has been analysed the selected health epidemiological indices is related with liver pathology and viral hepatitis B infections in rural population of Bialystok region. In 11,086 analysed persons of an agricultural sector the frequency of antigenemia HBs (0.25-2.5%) was higher that in control groups of urban populations (0.3-0.6%). In 12 years time period observation of chronic hepatopathy syndrome, demonstrated the increased tendency with parallel pathologic increased values of serum A1AT activity and with increased tendency of HBs antigenemia.

[Risk of development of hepatitis B virus infection among alcoholics]. / Zagrozenia populacji osób naduzywajacych alkoholu zakazeniem wirusem hepatitis B (HBV).

The frequency of incidence of positive serological markers of hepatitis B virus infection among a population of alcoholics in the region of Bialystok has been analysed. It was demonstrated that the highest frequency of detection of hepatitis B virus infection appears in a group of patients with post-alcoholic liver cirrhosis (60 percent). Acute virus hepatitis of the B type in alcoholics is characterised by a tendency towards retarded seroconversion of HBe antigen to HBe antibody with a subsequent development of chronic infection and liver cirrhosis.

[Epidemiology of intra-marital infections with hepatitis B virus (HBV) among the patients hospitalized in the infectious disease clinics in the Bialystok region 1988-1990]. / Epidemiologia zakazen wewnatrzmalzenskich wirusem hepatitis B (HBV) w populacji chorych hospitalizowanych w oddzialach obserwacyjno-zakaznych Bialostocczyzny w latach 1988-1990.

Viral hepatitis B infection is worldwide epidemiological and clinical problem with same prophylactic difficulties concerned first of all married patients. The infection routes could be parenteral or homo/heterosexual contact. During 1988-1990 from hospitalized viral hepatitis B all patients (394), married patients was found 9% (34) persons with epidemiological documented viral hepatitis B infection, from his/her sexual married partner.

[Immune modulating effect of isoprinosine in patients with post-alcoholic liver cirrhosis]. / Immunmodulatorische Wirkung von Isoprinosine bei Patienten mit postalkoholischer Leberzirrhose.

Immunomodulating effect of isoprinosine was estimated in group of 10 patients with postalcoholic liver cirrhosis and compared with another group of 10 patients with postinflammatory liver cirrhosis with infection of hepatitis B virus. Disturbances of immunologic reactivity in the patients with postalcoholic liver cirrhosis mainly concerned increased immunoglobulin G, A concentrations in the blood serum, decreased percentage values of lymphocytes T and their subpopulations (lymphocytes T4 and T8) and increased percentage of lymphocytes B. Disturbances of the examined indices of the immunologic reactivity in the group of patient with postinflammatory liver cirrhosis concerned increased concentrations of circulating immunologic complexes, immunoglobulins A and M in the blood serum and decreased percentage of lymphocytes T and their subpopulation. Treatment with isoprinosine resulted in different immunologic effect in the examined patients concerning mainly increased concentrations of circulating immunologic complexes in the blood serum and increased percentage values of lymphocytes T, T4, T8, B in the course of postalcoholic liver cirrhosis. Patients with postinflammatory liver cirrhosis treated with isoprinosine mainly showed decreased concentrations of circulating immunologic complexes, immunoglobulins A, M the blood serum, increased percentage values of lymphocytes T4 and T8.

[Effect of differentiated diet therapy on the clinical results and biochemical indicators in chronic hepatic encephalopathy]. / Wplyw zróznicowanego leczenia dietetycznego na efekty kliniczne i wskazniki biochemiczne w przewleklej encefalopatii watrobowej.

Effects of differentiated diet with reduced proteins or diet without proteins with simultaneous use of lactulose or the preparation enriched with aliphatic amino acids with aminosteril-hepa chain on the clinical results and the ammonia, phenols, alpha-amino nitrogen, tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan++ concentrations in the serum have been studied. It has been demonstrated that limitations of proteins in the diet or diet without proteins with the use of lactulose or amino acids mixtures above does not influence significantly the clinical amelioration or biochemical indices of encephalopathy or coma during the liver cirrhosis course. Homogenates of the liver and brain of patients who died due to encephalopathy and liver cirrhosis showed high contents of ammonia, tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan++.

[Morphological studies of the effects of protein-free diet and branched-chain amino acids (aminosteril-hepa (Frasenius)) on experimental thioacetamide-induced liver damage]. / Badania morfologiczne nad wplywem diety bezbialkowej i stosowania aminokwasów wielorozgalezionych (preparat Aminosteril-Hepa firmy Frasenius) na watrobe doswiadczalnie uszkodzona tioacetamidem.

The studies were performed in two groups of rats in which experimental hepatic encephalopathy was induced with tioacetamide++. One group of rats on protein-free diet was given intraperitoneally a mixture of amino-acids (Aminosteril-Hepa), the other one was given proteins in the diet in a dose 1 g per kg of body weight. Histological and histochemical studies revealed that free-protein diet with a mixture of aliphatic polybranched amino-acids (Aminosteril-Hepa) inhibited hepatotoxic thioacetamide+ action on the rat liver.

[Primary liver cell carcinoma among the population of Bialystok in 1975-1988 in relation to hepatitis B virus infection]. / Pierwotny rak watrobowokomórkowy w populacji Bialegostoku w latach 1975-1988, w relacji z zakazeniem wirusem hepatitis B.

In presented study, retrospective epidemiological analysis was performed in 84 patients dead due primary hepatocellular carcinoma, selected from among 17,973 persons dead in Bialystok hospitals from 1975 till 1988. In the part from among these patients was estimated prevalence of serological markers of Hepatitis B virus infection, as a potential oncogenic factor. Analysis of this carcinoma diagnosis frequency in particular years showed rising tendency: from 1975 till 1979 number of PHC diagnosis was from 0 to 5 a year, whereas in 1988 it was 13. Percentage of necropsy diagnosed PHC was similar and increased to over 1% of all necropsies in 1988. Mean age of patients dead due PHC was 65, and 71.4% were men. Serological markers of HBV infection were observed in 50% and HBsAg in 34.6% from among PHC-dead patients. These percentage values were significantly higher, than observed in control group of Bialystok population, which indicate possibility of association between HBV infection and PHC development.

[Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and AIDS]. / Pneumocystis carinii--pneumonia i AIDS.

An infection with Pneumocystis carinii with clinical symptoms of pneumonia is particularly frequent in patients with AIDS. The authors discuss current knowledge on Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, including clinical course, possibility of diagnosis, and chemotherapy in patients with AIDS.

[Studies of the effect of a protein-free diet and branched-chain amino acids (preparation Aminosteril-Hepa) on selected biochemical indicators in chronic experimental hepatic encephalopathy]. / Badania nad wplywem diety bezbialkowej i stosowania aminokwasów wielorozgalezionych (preparat Aminosteril-Hepa) na wybrane wskazniki biochemiczne w przewleklej doswiadczalnej encefalopatii watrobowej.

The latest observations suggest that a decreased level of serum branched-chain amino acids plays a role in the pathogenesis of liver encephalopathy. In this study we analysed the behaviour of the serum concentrations of: ammonia, phenols, alpha-amino nitrogen, tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan in rats with thioacetamide-induced liver encephalopathy. The first group of rats was on protein-free diet and Aminosteril-Hepa (Fresenius FRG)--an amino acids solution with predominance of branched-chain amino acids. The second group of rats received a diet with 1 g/kg b.w. of protein daily. The levels of biochemical indices were analysed 0, 3, 5 and 7 days after liver encephalopathy development. The results of our study indicate a favourable influence of infusion a branched-chain amino acids solution (Aminosteril-Hepa) on the biochemical indices, particularly phenols and alpha-amino nitrogen in experimental liver encephalopathy.

[Some indices of organism reactivity in chronic trichinellosis]. / Niektóre wskazniki odczynowosci ustroju w przewleklej wlosnicy.

Sixty four patients who had passed the acute phase of trichinellosis 3, 4, 5 and 8 months and 1, 2 and 4 years earlier, have been examined with respect to their clinical condition, persistence of possible subjective complaints which could be associated with the acute phase passed, leucocytosis, absolute number of acidophilic granulocytes in blood, indices of immunological response, both humoral (IgG, IgA and IgM) and cellular (percentage of T and B lymphocytes in blood), serotonin level in blood, monoamino-oxidase activity in blood serum and passive hemagglutination reaction with trichinellosis antigen. It has been found that the frequency of occurrence and intensity of subjective complaints decreases with time. Changes in humoral and cellular reactivity, and long-lasting persistence of antibodies against the trichinellosis antigen, determined with passive hemagglutination method, have been also observed in particular patients.