Response of Pea Plants (Pisum sativum cv. Ran 1) to NaCl Treatment in Regard to Membrane Stability and Photosynthetic Activity

Salinity is one of the most extreme abiotic stress factors that negatively affect the development and productivity of plants. The salt-induced injuries depend on the salt tolerance of the plant species, salt concentration, time of exposure and developmental stage. Here, we report on the response of pea plants (Pisum sativum L. cv Ran 1) to exposure to increasing salt concentrations (100, 150 and 200 mM NaCl) for a short time period (5 days) and the ability of the plants to recover after the removal of salt. The water content, membrane integrity, lipid peroxidation, pigment content and net photosynthetic rate were determined for the pea leaves of the control, treated and recovered plants. Salt-induced alterations in the primary photosynthetic reactions and energy transfer between the main pigment-protein complexes in isolated thylakoid membranes were evaluated. The pea plants were able to recover from the treatment with 100 mM NaCl, while at higher concentrations, concentration-dependent water loss, the disturbance of the membrane integrity, lipid peroxidation and an increase in the pigment content were detected. The net photosynthetic rate, electron transport through the reaction centers of PSII and PSII, activity of PSIIα centers and energy transfer between the pigment-protein complexes were negatively affected and were not restored after the removal of NaCl.

Efficacy of an aerosol-resistant pepsin powder used in artificial digestion for the detection of Trichinella larvae in meat

Trichinellosis is an important worldwide foodborne zoonosis. The gold standard test to detect Trichinella spp. larvae in muscle samples of animals intended for human consumption is the artificial digestion method. Handling and dispensing of conventional pepsin powder present significant safety risks for analysts. The use of pepsin powder that is resistant to aerosolization should alleviate these safety concerns. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of an aerosol-resistant pepsin powder to conventional pepsin powder in the artificial digestion method. Proficiency samples of pork diaphragm containing specific numbers of viable Trichinella spiralis larvae were tested in two laboratories. The results revealed that aerosol-resistant pepsin was simple, effective and convenient to use, and showed good solubility and larval recovery that met the requirements of the European Union regulation EU 2015/1375. Overall, the efficacy of the aerosol-resistant pepsin was comparable to the conventional pepsin and safer for analysts.

P1271 Systolic dysfunction in obese and extreme obese patients and preliminary results after bariatric surgery

Background

Obesity is known to be associated with left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction, heart failure and some risk factors for early atherosclerosis: diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertention, dyslipidemia. Very few studies investigate extremely obese patients and how this condition impairs LV systolic function.

The aim of the study is to explore the effect of obesity and extreme obesity on LV systolic function in patients without diabetes mellitus and the effect of bariatric surgery on that function.

Methods

We prospectively investigated 55 patients with obesity class 1 and 2 and 23 patients with extreme obesity who underwent bariatric surgery. The participants were grouped according to body mass index (obesity class 1 and 2 BMI ≥ 30 ≤ 40 kg/m2 and extreme obesity ≥ 40 kg/m2). Systolic function was assessed by ejection fraction by Simpson and Teicholz, global longitudinal strain, Tei index.

Results

In the studied groups statistical analysis proved the relation between all investigated echographic parameters and BMI. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction and GLS values were 55% (±10%) vs. − 17.3% (±3.3%) for obese and 51% (±8%) vs. − 16.5% (2.3%) for extreme obese (p < 0.05).

Patiets with extreme obesity, who underwent bariatric surgery increased LV ejection fraction faster and more than patients who underwent only diatry and medical treatment. 5.0 (9.0) % vs. 3.0 (10.0) % (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Obesity and extreme obesity impair all studied parameters for LV systolic function. Bariatric surgery is treatment option for extreme obesity patients and a possibility for significant and fast improvement of LV systolic parameters.

Eight years of quality control in Bulgaria: impact on mammography practice

The requirements for quality control (QC) in diagnostic radiology were introduced in Bulgarian legislation in 2005. Hospital medical physicists and several private medical physics groups provide QC services to radiology departments. The aim of this study was to analyse data from QC tests in mammography and to investigate the impact of QC introduction on mammography practice in the country. The study was coordinated by the National Centre of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection. All medical physics services were requested to fill in standardised forms with information about most important parameters routinely measured during QC. All QC service providers responded. Results demonstrated significant improvement of practice since the introduction of QC, with reduction of established deviations from 65 % during the first year to 7 % in the last year. The systems that do not meet the acceptability criteria were suspended from use. Performance of automatic exposure control and digital detectors are not regularly tested because of the absence of requirements in the legislation. The need of updated guidance and training of medical physicists to reflect the change in technology was demonstrated.

Bidirectional macrocyclization of peptides by double multicomponent reactions

Peptide macrocyclization by multicomponent reactions.

[A case of invasive cervical carcinoma associated with pregnancy]

The cervical cancer is the most usual neoplastic disease, which takes place during the pregnancy. The prognosis for the women depends mostly of the clinical stage and the presence of nodal metastasis. The principes of the treatment do not differ from the standard oncologic therapy in nonpregnant women. Differencies exist in the way and the time of the terminanation of the pregnancy. The authors present y case of pregnancy and invasive cervical adenocarcinoma diagnosticated in m. 1.X. immeadiately after cesarean section an extended hysterectomy y modo Piver 111 with pelvic nodal dissection is done.

[Hemodynamic changes and nitric oxide production in an experimental model of sepsis]

Nitric [correction of Nitrous] oxide is most likely a queer "end mediator" giving rise to vasoplegia in septic shock patients. The study is aimed at comparative assessment of kinetic changes in the synthesis of nitric [correction of nitrous] oxide in experimentally induced sepsis model with the corresponding hemodynamic parameters. The laboratory animals--pigs--are divided up in two groups, and exposed to general narcosis induction, orotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation under controlled regimen. The hemodynamic parameters studied include: MAP, CO and SVR. Additional endotoxin (1 mg/50 ml) in the form of infusion is given to the animals in the sepsis group. Nitrate production mirrors NO synthesis, insofar as there are no other relevant mechanisms of nitrate synthesis. The kinetic parameters of nitrate production are estimated using stable nitrate isotopes--N15. The theory of compartment models and appropriate computerized simulation are used to calculate the respective constants. In the endotoxin treated group (n = 5) a significantly higher level of synthesis of induced NO production is documented--26 +/- 9 mumol/h, as compared to production in the control group--6 +/- 7 mumol/h, as well as a significant increase in cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance reduction. The good correlation between enhanced NO production and hemodynamic response (increase in cardiac output and decrease in systemic vascular resistance) corroborates the validity of the method.

[The use of Diprivan as an anticonvulsant in the early postoperative period of an otogenic brain abscess]

This is a report on a female patient with otogenic cerebellar abscess and symptomatic generalized convulsions, irresponsive to conventional diazepam and phenobarbital therapy. Fractionated propofol administration yields good effect without noteworthy changes in respiration and circulation.

[The use of ketamine in an experimental model of generalized cerebral ischemia]

Thus far, a sufficiently effective cerebroprotective substances has not been discovered. Glutamate overproduction plays a key role in ischemic brain lesion. Ketamine is assigned to the group of commonly used clinical anesthetics, being also familiar as NMDA antagonist. Sodium fluoride-induced cerebral ischemia in mice is used as a model of circulatory ischemic lesion. As shown by the experimental data, simultaneous administration of NaF + ketamine has no effect whatsoever on the survivorship of animals, as compared to that in the control group treated with NaF alone. Beforehand treatment of mice with 150 mg/kg ketamine brings about considerable prolongation of the survival term (15 per cent of the animals survive for more than 2 hours). The inference is reached that ketamine is endowed with cerebroprotective activity largely attributable to glutamate antagonism at the level of ischemia involved neurons.

[The potentials of computed axial tomography (CAT) in the diagnosis of carcinoma of the cervix uteri]

14 women with diagnosis Ca colli uteri Ib stage were investigated. CAT (computer axial tomography) was carried out before and after surgery (Wertheim). CAT gave a picture of the tumor lesion as well as of the regional lymph nodes. This method proved fast, efficient and non invasive for the correct diagnosis of Ca colli uteri and surgery effect.

[A case of generalized convulsion during induction with Diprivan]

The case report concerns a male patient presenting oligophrenia and epilepsy of long duration, adequately prepared for anesthesia with anticonvulsants, sustaining generalized convulsion during anesthesia induction with Diprivan. On deepening Diprivan anesthesia, the convulsion subsides. The patient runs an uneventful postoperative course, free of convulsions. The issue of small doses Diprivan giving rise to convulsions is comprehensively discussed.

[Demographic background, present, and future of Kenya]

"The development of the population in Kenya marks some demographic records whose exploration and explanation may contribute considerably to...demographic theory and practice: a record-breaking birth rate, fertility rate and natural population growth, a high percentage of 'dependent' population, homogenicity of fertility of the different social groups, a relatively high [level of] desired number of children, a relatively low index of general and infant mortality and other demographic peculiarities. Such demographic characterization offers material for a theoretical analysis and generalization of a historically long social experiment." (summary in ENG, RUS)