Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz

About: Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz is a education organization based out in Bydgoszcz, Poland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Luminescence & Population. The organization has 1109 authors who have published 2923 publications receiving 19548 citations. The organization is also known as: Casimir the Great University & Uniwersytet Kazimierza Wielkiego w Bydgoszczy.

Experimental review of cobalt induced cardiomyopathy

Abstract: The heart is a target of injury for many chemical compounds, both medically prescribed and not. Pathophysiological mechanisms underlying development of chemical-induced cardiomyopathies vary depending on the inciting agent, and can include: direct toxic effects, neurohormonal activation, altered calcium homeostasis, and oxidative stress. The fact that drug-induced heart disease, and in particular cobalt-induced cardiomyopathy, does not occur more often, as would be expected from the diversity of various mechanisms, is perhaps surprising. In spite of this, cardiotoxicity remains a major problem of hundreds of pharmaceutical agents, industrial chemicals and naturally occurring products and is often a limiting factor in treatment of certain diseases. Hence, it must be taken in account in the process of clinical decision making and treatment as well as in the process of drug research and development. The primary morphological alteration is mitochondrial damage that possibly reflects an enzymatic block of oxidative decarboxylation at pyruvate and ketogluterate levels. Due to that myofibrils of the myocardial cells were affected highlighting that the main cause of myofibril reduction could be a lower oxygen intake in the perinuclear area. The reduction of the contractile support of myocardial cells can explain the possible myocardial dysfunction. Nuclear changes were consistent with sarcoplasmic alterations, our study showing deformed, twisted, hyperchromatic nuclei with heterogeneous chromatin and even disintegrating nuclei. Changes of the interstitial connective tissue were sometimes extensive and sometimes barely noticeable. The most common alteration of this structure was the onset and development of a mainly perivascular collagen fibrillogenetic process.

Extracellular Phytase Production by the Wine Yeast S. cerevisiae (Finarome Strain) during Submerged Fermentation.

Abstract: One of the key steps in the production of phytases of microbial origin is selection of culture parameters, followed by isolation of the enzyme and evaluation of its catalytic activity. It was found that conditions for S. cerevisiae yeast culture, strain Finarome, giving the reduction in phytic acid concentration of more than 98% within 24 h of incubation were as follows: pH 5.5, 32 °C, continuous stirring at 80 rpm, the use of mannose as a carbon source and aspartic acid as a source of nitrogen. The highest catalytic activity of the isolated phytase was observed at 37 °C, pH 4.0 and using phytate as substrate at concentration of 5.0 mM. The presence of ethanol in the medium at a concentration of 12% v/v reduces the catalytic activity to above 60%. Properties of phytase derived from S. cerevisiae yeast culture, strain Finarome, indicate the possibility of its application in the form of a cell’s free crude protein isolate for the hydrolysis of phytic acid to improve the efficiency of alcoholic fermentation processes. Our results also suggest a possibility to use the strain under study to obtain a fusant derived with specialized distillery strains, capable of carrying out a highly efficient fermentation process combined with the utilization of phytates.

Relationship between Total Homocysteine, Folic Acid, and Thyroid Hormones in Hypothyroid Dogs.

Abstract: Background Both elevated homocysteine and decreased folic acid concentrations are observed in human patients with hypothyroidism and can influence the development of numerous secondary disorders. Objectives The aim of the study was to assess total homocysteine concentration in serum and to examine its relationship with the concentration of folic acid and thyroid hormones (tT4 and fT4). Animals Ten healthy and 19 hypothyroid client-owned dogs. Methods Dogs with clinical signs of hypothyroidism had the diagnosis confirmed by additional tests. Total homocysteine, folic acid, total thyroxine, and free thyroxine concentrations in serum were evaluated. Results Hypothyroid dogs were diagnosed with increased homocysteine (median 22.20 μmol/L; range, 16.50–37.75) and decreased folic acid (median 20.62 nmol/L; range, 10.54–26.35) concentrations, as compared to healthy dogs (11.52 μmol/L; range, 10.00–16.65 and 30.68 nmol/L; range, 22.84–38.52, respectively). In sick dogs, total homocysteine was inversely correlated with folic acid (ρ = −0.47, P < 0.001), total thyroxine (ρ = −0.69, P = 0.0092), and free thyroxine (ρ = −0.56, P = 0.0302). Conclusions Hypothyroidism in dogs causes hyperhomocysteinemia. Concomitant mild folic acid decrease in hypothyroid dogs might be as a result of hyperhomocysteinemia.

Notes on bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Apiformes) of central Poland

Abstract: A list of 233 species of bees (Apiformes) in central Poland is presented. The lowland, largely deforested part of the study area (Łodź Hills), was dominated by Heriades truncorum (4.3% of total catch) and Hylaeus communis (2.7%), while the wooded Świetokrzyskie Mountains were dominated by bumblebees, particularly by Bombus lucorum (4.2%) with its cleptoparasite Psithyrus bohemicus (6.8%), as well as Bombus pascuorum (3.7%), Bombus lapidarius (2.4%) and Psithyrus campestris (2.4%).