Immune response of juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) exposed to a mixture of sewage chemicals.

Pharmaceuticals and household chemicals are important components of municipal sewage. Many of them are biologically active, disrupting not only hormonal regulation of aquatic animals but also, indirectly, disturbing their immunological protection. In the environment, chemicals rarely act as individual substances, but as elements of mixtures. Therefore, the aim of this study was to check whether the acute laboratory exposure of common carp juveniles to a mixture of ibuprofen, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and 17 α-ethynylestradiol in increasing concentrations, modifies the levels of innate immunity (lysozyme, C-reactive protein) as well as general stress (metallothioneins, heat shock proteins HSP70) markers in brain, liver, gills, spleen and mucus. The levels of the markers were measured by an immunodetection technique. Not only do the pharmaceuticals and household chemicals impair immunological reactions of young carp in various tissues but also do that in a concentration-dependent manner in the liver, gills, spleen and mucus. This has a very important implication, since it may result in higher sensitivity of young fish to pathogens due to energy allocation to defence processes. The comparisons of the pattern of stress reactions in the studied organ samples indicated that mucus appeared to be a good, non-invasive material for monitoring of environmental state and fish conditions.

DNA damage in grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus (Orthoptera) hatchlings following paraquat exposure.

Comet assay was applied to study genotoxic damage induced by paraquat (PQ) in brain cells of Chorthippus brunneus (Insecta: Orthoptera) hatchlings. Percentage of the comet fluorescence in the tail (TDNA), length of the comet tail (TL) and Olive tail moment (OTM) were used for quantitative assessment of the DNA damage. Multiple regression analysis supplemented standard statistical elaboration of the results. Increasing PQ concentrations applied either directly to the brain cells suspension (10, 50, and 250 µM PQ final concentration--in vitro protocol) or indirectly (50, 250, and 1250 µM PQ final concentration--in vivo protocol) provoked significant increase of oxidative damage to DNA (higher median TDNA and OTM values). The damage increased with time of exposure (0, 5, 15, and 30 min) following in vitro application, but decreased in longer interval (3 vs 24 h) after in vivo administration of paraquat. On contrary, median TL values did not correlate with paraquat concentration irrespectively of the exposure protocol. Possible reason of this discrepancy in light of paraquat toxicity is discussed.

Results of a phase I study in patients suffering from secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis demonstrating the safety of the amino acid copolymer PI-2301 and a possible induction of an anti-inflammatory cytokine response.

PI-2301 is an immunomodulator that could be an alternative therapy for MS. A placebo-controlled, multiple-ascending dose, double-blind study was performed in patients with secondary-progressive MS. Treatment was given subcutaneously once weekly for 8 weeks, followed by a 4-week open-label treatment period with active drug. The most common adverse event was transient injection site reactions. Non-significant trend for increases in serum levels of IL-3, IL-13, and CCL22 over time were suggestive of a beneficial T(H)2 immune response in subjects dosed with PI-2301 at 3 and 10 mg. MRI data indicated a non-significant trend for a reduction of lesion numbers in subjects treated with 1 and 3 mg PI-2301.

Short-term effects of dimethoate on metabolic responses in Chrysolina pardalina (Chrysomelidae) feeding on Berkheya coddii (Asteraceae), a hyper-accumulator of nickel.

Berkheya coddii Roessler (Asteraceae) is a hyper-accumulator of nickel, which can be used in phytomining and phytoremediation. Chrysolina pardalina Fabricius (Chrysomelidae) is a phytophagous leaf beetle, which may be useful in controlling population levels of B. coddii after it has been introduced into a new habitat. The aim of this study was to investigate the response of C. pardalina to topical application of dimethoate. Data recorded included the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the concentration of glutathione (GSH), and the activity of selected enzymes connected with GSH metabolism. Assays were carried out several times during the first 24h after exposure to dimethoate. At the dosages used in this study, dimethoate was not as toxic as expected. AChE activity was significantly decreased 14 and 24h after application. GST activity was significantly decreased 24h after application. GSTPx activity was significantly decreased 2, 14 and 24h after application. GR activity was significantly increased 4h after application. GSH concentration was significantly increased 24h after application. Long-term exposure to high levels of nickel may have caused adaptive changes in the enzymes that enable C. pardalina to deal with other stressors, including organophosphate pesticides.

[Merkel cell carcinoma of the auricle]. / Rak z komórek Merkela malzowiny usznej.

A case of a 80-year-old woman suffering from Merkel cell carcinoma of the auricle with regional cervical lymph nodes metastases has been described. Surgical treatment (tumour and regional lymph nodes dissection) was applied at first. Metastasis to one lymph node was established in postoperative histological examination. Chemotherapy (farmorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine) in 3 cycles was applied within 2 months. In spite of the above, 4 months after tumour excision, metastatic lymph node manifested in the neck. Combined treatment, radical neck dissection and radiotherapy was applied then.

[Cavernous sinus thrombosis--complication of nasal septum abscess in a child]. / Zakrzep zatok jamistych--powiklanie ropnia przegrody nosa u dziecka.

The authors present a case of nasal septum abscess, complicated with cavernous sinus thrombophlebitis in a four-year-old child. The importance is stressed of adequate treatment both local and systemic. Even the slightest complications of nasal cavity and nasal sinuses infections should be treated in hospital.

[Effect of sudden decompression on tissue pressure in the brain and the cerebrospinal fluid pressure]. / Wpllyw nagllej dekompresji na cisnienie tkankowe mózgu i cisnienie plynu mózgowo-rdzeniowego.

Extracranial hypertension was produced in cats by means of epidural compression with a baloon. After 2 hours of compression sudden decompression was performed and tissue pressure was compared at symmetrical sites of cerebral hemispheres with cerebrospinal fluid pressure measured in the cisterna magna. It was found that symmetrical tissue pystem, which was due probably to early oedema developing in the compressed area.

A method of evoking fast baroreceptor responses for the measurement of the baroreflex latency.

A method for measurement of latency in the baroreflex is described. Standardised square pressure pulse was applied to the isolated carotid sinus and simultaneous recordings of the carotid sinus nerve or sympathetic fibers were performed. Relatively short time of the increase of the pressure makes possible more exact measurements of latency in the baroreflex than other known methods used for this purpose.

The effect of hypercapnia on the vagal component of the baroreflex.

An infulence of asphyxia and central hypercapnia was studied. It was shown that the vagal cardiac baroreflexes are enhanced in these conditions. Central hypercapnia exerts some influence on the investigated reflex independly on the peripheral baroreceptors. Modulation of the reflex during respiratory cycle became lower under conditions of asphyxia despite the marked increase in the respiratory drive. The last fenomen was interpreted on the basis of Zielinski -- Btocki model of the neuron.