Current Awareness in Biological Sciences

The aim of this work is to study the effects of a wildfire on water-extractable elements in ash from a Pinus pinaster forest located in Portugal. The pH, electrical conductivity (EC), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), sodium and potassium adsorption ratio (SPAR), aluminium (Al3+), manganese (Mn2+), iron (Fe2+), zinc (Zn2+), sulphur (S), silica (Si) and phosphorous (P) were analysed in ash sampled from a sloped area burned in a wildfire and from litter from a contiguous unburned area, with similar morphological conditions. The results showed that ash leachates had higher pH and EC, and were significantly richer in water-extractable Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, SPAR, S and Si and significantly poorer in water-extractable Al3+, Fe2+, Mn2+ and Zn2+ than litter solutions. No significant differences were observed in water-extractable P. The fire changed the ash solute chemistry compared with the unburned litter and increased the sample variability of nutrient distribution with potential implications for plant recovery.

Background Alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is an under-diagnosed condition in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The objective of the present screening was to estimate the AAT gene frequency and prevalence and to identify AAT deficiency cases in a large cohort of Lithuanian patients with COPD. Methods A nationwide program of AAT deficiency was conducted in 1167 COPD patients, defined according to the GOLD criteria. Patients were collected from outpatient clinics in five different Lithuanian regions (Kaunas, Vilnius, Siauliai, Klaipeda and Alytus). AAT serum concentrations were measured by nephelometry; PI-phenotypes characterized by isoelectric-focusing. Results Mean age and FEV1 were 62.0 (10.3) and 54.7% (10.9), respectively. Ninety-one AAT deficiency genotypes (40 MZ, 39 MS, 1 SS, 3 SZ and 8 ZZ) were identified. Calculated PIS and PIZ frequencies, expressed in per 1000, were 18.8 (95% CI: 13.9–25) and 25.3 (95% CI: 19.4–32.7), respectively. The calculated AAT gene prevalence (Hardy–Weinberg principle) was: 1/1.09 for MM, 1/28 for MS, 1/2814 for SS, 1/20 for MZ, 1/1049 for SZ and 1/1565 for ZZ. Calculated Odds ratio (OR) for PIZ in COPD vs. Lithuanian healthy people was of 1.87 (P=0.004). Conclusion The OR for each genotypic class demonstrated a significant increase of MZ, SZ and ZZ genotypes in COPD patients. The results of the present study, with a significant number of ZZ individuals detected, support the general concept of targeted screening for AAT deficiency in countries like Lithuania, with a large population of COPD patients and low awareness among care-givers about this genetic condition.