Mammalian sex hormones in plants

The occurrence of mammalian sex hormones and their physiological role in plants is reviewed. These hormones, such as 17β-estradiol, androsterone, testosterone or progesterone, were present in 60-80% of the plant species investigated. Enzymes responsible for their biosynthesis and conversion were also found in plants. Treatment of the plants with sex hormones or their precursors influenced plant development: cell divisions, root and shoot growth, embryo growth, flowering, pollen tube growth and callus proliferation. The regulatory abilities of mammalian sex hormones in plants makes possible their use in practice, especially in plant in vitro cultur

Mammalian sex hormones in plants

The occurrence of mammalian sex hormones and their physiological role in plants is reviewed. These hormones, such as 17β-estradiol, androsterone, testosterone or progesterone, were present in 60-80% of the plant species investigated. Enzymes responsible for their biosynthesis and conversion were also found in plants. Treatment of the plants with sex hormones or their precursors influenced plant development: cell divisions, root and shoot growth, embryo growth, flowering, pollen tube growth and callus proliferation. The regulatory abilities of mammalian sex hormones in plants makes possible their use in practice, especially in plant <i>in vitro</i> cultur

Current pharmacotherapy and diagnostic methods of Pompe Disease in Poland

Pompe disease is estimated to happen in 1 out of 40 000 borns. It is rare metabolic disease connected to autosomal recessive genetic mutation. Disease is characterised by deficit of α-glucosidase (GAA) which is lysosomal glycogen hydrolizing enzyme acid. Decreased activity of enzyme leads to glycogen storage in lysosomes which appears as disfunction of tissues, especially cardiac muscle and skeletal muscles. In Poland, we have two common and very simple methods to diagnose Pompe disease. First test is dried blood spot (DBS), second is full peripheral blood test. Currently, in Poland, drug containing alglucosidase alpha is refunded. Drug is available as powder for infusion. Periodic assessment of therapy effectiveness is performed at least every 6 months based on rating the patient's clinical condition and assessment of the effectiveness of the therapy used

Toxic relationship and drug addicted? – a case series of teenagers with behavioural disorders

Poland is among the infamous leaders among countries when it comes to the percentage of suicide attempts among young people. Methadone is a long-acting opioid agonist, which is mainly used as substitution treatment for heroin and morphine addiction. There is a typical triad for methadone overdose consisting of respiratory failure, myopic pupils and central nervous system depression. It may also lead to QT prolongation with following torsade de pointes. We present two teenager patients, who were poisoned with methadone. They were both under the influence of their boyfriend who was drug addicted. What is more, the girls both were in toxic relationship with the same man, who had similar influence on them. First patient was 18 years old. She was admitted to Department of Toxicology and Cardiology because of intravenous methadone overdose. The treatment used improved the general condition. No abnormalities were seen in the clinical examination. Teenager was examined by psychiatrist and psychologist. Second patient, 16 years old, was hospitalized twice. Teenager admitted that she got methadone from her boyfriend who is being treated for drug addiction. At the time of admission, the patient was emotionally disturbed, tearful, and periodically aroused. After two days of hospitalization girl was discharged home under mother’s protection. Three months later, 16 years old patient was admitted to the hospital again, because of intoxication with psychoactive substances and self-injuries. After three days of hospitalization, she was transferred to psychiatric hospital for further therapy. We can indicate methadone use not only as methadone’s level in urine, but also as EDDP, methadone’s metabolite concentration in urine. Every person with symptoms of behavioural disorder should be as fast as possible be examined by psychiatrist and psychologist, to avoid suicide attempts

Patient with depression poisoned with psychopharmaceutics and ethanol – case report

In Poland in 2016, there were almost 10,000 suicide attempts, in which about 55% ended up with death. Suicidal attempts are more often taken by women, but they are more effective in the case of men. Most of these people are afflicted with mental illness such as depression. A 49 year old man was admitted to Cardiology and Toxicology Department, because of poisoning with antipsychotic drugs and ethanol. It was his second suicide attempt. The day he was admitted to the hospital he was in serious condition. Patient was monitored, symptomatic treatment and pharmacotherapy were initiated. The patient required intubation and the use of respiratory therapy because of breathing problems. In the clinical study and imaging examinations massive pneumonia, was confirmed. His pharmacotherapy was modified and the antibiotics were given because of inflammation of a lungs. For patients poisoned by various substances, respiratory failure often has a complex medium. It may result from the depression itself of the xenobiotics on the respiratory system, the influence of the indirect mechanism of breathing or the result of aspiration and development of pneumonia. In therapy the most important is the monitoring of the patient's condition, electrolyte imbalance and symptomatic treatment. In a few cases and only for some drugs, we can use a specific antidote

Treatment of cerebral palsy using stem cells

Cerebral palsy is a wide group of diseases whose common feature are motor disorders. Patients affected by this condition show abnormalities of movement and posture. Various possible causes of damage were identified. Hypoxia, ischemia, infection, injury and congenital defects are one of the conditions that increase the risk of the disease. The first signs of cerebral palsy noted by parents are: incorrect head and torso stabilization, inability to sit and walk at the right age. There are currently no treatments available that would indicate good efficacy. . In recent years, stem cell therapies have enjoyed considerable interest. The encouraging results of many preclinical studies have indicated that stem cell therapy may have benefits in neonatal diseases. Despite many encouraging reports, data on the effectiveness of stem cell therapy in cerebral palsy are still insufficient. Scientists should continue to research the success of the therapy

HSP Transcript and Protein Accumulation in Brassinosteroid Barley Mutants Acclimated to Low and High Temperatures

In temperature stress, the main role of heat-shock proteins (HSP) is to act as molecular chaperones for other cellular proteins. However, knowledge about the hormonal regulation of the production of the HSP is quite limited. Specifically, little is known about the role of the plant steroid hormones—brassinosteroids (BR)—in regulating the HSP expression. The aim of our study was to answer the question of how a BR deficit or disturbances in its signaling affect the accumulation of the HSP90, HSP70, HSP18, and HSP17 transcripts and protein in barley growing at 20C (control) and during the acclimation of plants at 5 C and 27 C. In barley, the temperature of plant growth modified the expression of HSPs. Furthermore, the BR-deficient mutants (mutations in the HvDWARF or HvCPD genes) and BR-signaling mutants (mutation in the HvBRI1 gene) were characterized by altered levels of the transcripts and proteins of the HSP group compared to the wild type. The BR-signaling mutant was characterized by a decreased level of the HSP transcripts and heat-shock proteins. In the BR-deficient mutants, there were temperature-dependent cases when the decreased accumulation of the HSP70 and HSP90 transcripts was connected to an increased accumulation of these HSP. The significance of changes in the accumulation of HSPs during acclimation at 27 C and 5 C is discussed in the context of the altered tolerance to more extreme temperatures of the studied mutants (i.e., heat stress and frost, respectively)

Perioperative pain management of orthopaedic patients based on new guidelines and literature review

The pain management is an important issue of orthopedics and traumatology. The choice of therapy should be based on proper assessment of pain, monitoring and appropriate selection of analgesics. The necessary knowledge about the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile of the drugs allows to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks associated with the use of painkillers and The proper pain management affects the time between surgical intervention and rehabilitation. In spite the of new analgesics and broadening knowledge about the mechanisms of pain, the results of treatment are unsatisfactory. Growing addiction to opioids is a major concern. A multimodal approach to pain management can provide better pain control and reduced opioid consumption. The purpose of this article was to review of the latest literature and recommendation to provide a summary of effective perioperative analgesic methods

The Impact of Mutations in the HvCPD and HvBRI1 Genes on the Physicochemical Properties of the Membranes from Barley Acclimated to Low/High Temperatures

1) Background: The study characterized barley mutants with brassinosteroid (BR) biosynthesis and signaling disturbances in terms of the physicochemical/structural properties of membranes to enrich the knowledge about the role of brassinosteroids for lipid metabolism and membrane functioning. (2) Methods: The Langmuir method was used to investigate the properties of the physicochemical membranes. Langmuir monolayers were formed from the lipid fractions isolated from the plants growing at 20 C and then acclimated at 5 C or 27 C. The fatty acid composition of the lipids was estimated using gas chromatography. (3) Results: The BR-biosynthesis and BR-signaling mutants of barley were characterized by a temperature-dependent altered molar percentage of fatty acids (from 14:0 to 20:1) in their galactolipid and phospholipid fractions in comparison to wild-type (WT). For example, the mutants had a lower molar percentage of 18:3 in the phospholipid (PL) fraction. The same regularity was observed at 5 C. It resulted in altered physicochemical parameters of the membranes (Alim, coll, Cs1). (4) Conclusions: BR may be involved in regulating fatty acid biosynthesis or their transport/incorporation into the cell membranes. Mutants had altered physicochemical parameters of their membranes, compared to the WT, which suggests that BR may have a multidirectional impact on the membrane-dependent physiological processes