Karolina Wielgus - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Karolina Wielgus

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC)

The purpose of the study was to evaluate Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub genotypes for prelimi... more The purpose of the study was to evaluate Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub genotypes for preliminary selection and further breeding programs aimed at obtaining a suitable industrial form for the pharmaceutical applications. Clonally propagated plants representing 10 genotypes of Ch. angustifolium were regenerated under in vitro conditions, hardened and planted in the field. Studies included an evaluation of shoot proliferation, phytochemical assessment of in vitro and ex vitro plants as well as investigations of intraspecies variability regarding four phenological stages: vegetative, beginning of blooming, full blooming, and green fruit phases. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of bioactive compounds were performed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector and tandem mass spectrometer (HPLC–DAD–MS/MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods. The efficiency of shoot multiplication varied between genotypes from 8.12 to 21.48 ...

Pharmaceuticals

The current health requirements set the direction in pharmacological research, especially as rega... more The current health requirements set the direction in pharmacological research, especially as regards diseases that require improvement of existing therapeutic regimens. Such diseases include preeclampsia, which is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy during which there occurs progressive increasing activation of the immune system through elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and antiangiogenic factors, which is dangerous for the mother and fetus. A promising field of research for new drugs to treat this disease is the study of natural phenolic compounds of plant origin and herbal extracts, which are complex matrices of chemical compounds with broad biological activities. Many plant substances with anti‑inflammatory and anti‑hypertensive properties are known, but studies in animal models of preeclampsia and clinical trials concerning this disease constitute a new and developing research trend of significant medical importance. The aim of our research review was to identify and anal...

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

As the major nonpsychotropic constituent of Cannabis sativa, cannabidiol (CBD) is regarded as one... more As the major nonpsychotropic constituent of Cannabis sativa, cannabidiol (CBD) is regarded as one of the most promising therapeutic agents due to its proven effectiveness in clinical trials for many human diseases. Due to the urgent need for more efficient pharmacological treatments for several chronic diseases, in this review, we discuss the potential beneficial effects of CBD for Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and neurological cancers. Due to its wide range of pharmacological activities (e.g., antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties), CBD is considered a multimodal drug for the treatment of a range of neurodegenerative disorders, and various cancer types, including neoplasms of the neural system. The different mechanisms of action of CBD are here disclosed, together with recent progress in the use of this cannabis-derived constituent as a new therapeutic approach.

Herba Polonica

Summary Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L.) is a well-known medicinal plant traditionally used ... more Summary Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L.) is a well-known medicinal plant traditionally used in the treatment of urogenital diseases, stomach and liver disorders, skin problems, etc. E. angustifolium extracts show anti-androgenic, antiproliferative, cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial activities. The unique combination of biological properties demonstrated by the results of some studies indicates that fireweed has a positive effect in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and potentially in the prostate cancer chemoprevention. However, the efficacy of E. angustifolium phytotherapy is still poorly tested in clinical trials, while numerous beneficial effects of extracts have been documented in the in vitro and in vivo tests. Fireweed is rich in polyphenolic compounds, particularly ellagitannins. Currently, polyphenols are considered to be modulators of beneficial gut microbiota. The literature data support the use of ellagitannins in the pro...

Journal of Natural Fibers

Journal of Natural Fibers

Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica - Drug Research

A stability-indicating ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) with DAD detector was... more A stability-indicating ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) with DAD detector was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of ∆ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), ∆ 9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THC-COOH) and cannabidiolic acid (CBD-COOH) in extracts of Cannabis sativa L. The separation was achieved on a Kinetex, C18, 100 x 2.1 mm, 2.6 µm. The gradient separation was started with a mixture of methanol and 12 mM ammonium acetate in ratio 75 : 25 (%/%). The methanol was increased to 100% from 0.0 min to 10.0 min, then maintained 100% for the next 1.0 min, then decreased to 75% from 11.0 min to 15.0 min and held at 75% from 15.0 min to 20.0 min. The injection volume was 5.0 µL and the wavelength of detection was controlled at 228 nm.

Herba Polonica

Summary Introduction:. It is well documented that many species from Passifloraceae family can pro... more Summary Introduction:. It is well documented that many species from Passifloraceae family can provide edible and nutritious fruits while the leaves of cultivated plants are renewable and waste material. This biomass may be further used in various sectors, especially as a bioactive food additive and as source of innovative pharmaceuticals, cosmetics or feed additives. The biomaterials and green chemistry are new sectors bioeconomy according to the high-level horizontal strategies and bio-based industries in Europe. In recent years, attention has been paid to the biological activity and phytochemical profiles of extracts from different species of Passiflora. However, there is little comparative studies using the same procedures and techniques in the same laboratory conditions for study of plant material obtained from the similar greenhouse conditions. Objective: This study was focused on the examination of antioxidative activities of low concentrations of crude extracts from leaves of...

Herba Polonica

Summary Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L., Onagraceae) is one of important medicinal plants us... more Summary Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L., Onagraceae) is one of important medicinal plants used especially in the treatment of urogenital disorders, including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis. The therapeutic effects of E. angustifolium extracts comprise antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and also antimicrobial activities. The aim of the present review was to provide the information on the botany, phytochemistry and traditional uses of E. angustifolium. This plant is a widespread circumboreal species of North America and Eurasia, tolerant in terms of habitat conditions, and often occupying man-made open habitats. Phytochemical studies on E. angustifolium resulted in the identification of about 250 different metabolites, including about 170 substances found for the first time in this plant in the last six years (2014–2019). Fireweed has an abundance of polyphenolic compounds, particularly ellagitannins. Oenothein B and quercetin...

Herba Polonica

Summary Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) attracts increasing interest of growers, in relation... more Summary Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) attracts increasing interest of growers, in relation to both industrial and medical purposes. Construction is the most promising area of the economy for hemp, and specifically, the fast-growing production of insulation and bio-composite materials. The most significant factors affecting the final yield of hemp seeds and biomass include: climatic factors, i.e. influence of weather conditions that determines the content of cannabinoids in plants; genetic predisposition of the variety used as well as agrotechnical factors. The article provides information on the botanical characteristics of fiber hemp, hemp cultivation area, Polish monoecious varieties of industrial hemp, hemp's agricultural requirements, including: the demand for macroelements (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium); choice of soil, pioneer crop, and field preparation; sowing timing and density; harvest time; water conditions; heat and light requirements for hemp. The...

Herba Polonica

Summary Flavonoids and their conjugates are the most important group of natural chemical compound... more Summary Flavonoids and their conjugates are the most important group of natural chemical compounds in drug discovery and development. The search for pharmacological activity and new mechanisms of activity of these chemical compounds, which may inhibit mediators of inflammation and influence the structure and function of endothelial cells, can be an interesting pharmacological strategy for the prevention and adjunctive treatments of hypertension, especially induced by pregnancy. Because cardiovascular diseases have multi-factorial pathogenesis these natural chemical compounds with wide spectrum of biological activities are the most interesting source of new drugs. Extracts from one of the most popular plant used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi could be a very interesting source of flavonoids because of its exact content in quercetin, apigenin, chrysin and scutellarin as well as in baicalin. These flavonoids exert vasoprotective properties and many acti...

In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant

Sorghum bicolor is a recalcitrant species for tissue culture regeneration and genetic transformat... more Sorghum bicolor is a recalcitrant species for tissue culture regeneration and genetic transformation. Browning of explants is one of the factors limiting organ and tissue cultures. To overcome this, callus tissue was initiated from the shoot tips of in vitro germinating seeds (S. bicolor cv. Róna 1), and then cultured on modified MS media (Murashige and Skoog in Physiol Plant 15:473-497, 1962). In the first experiment, we tested callus induction on several media supplemented with casein hydrolysate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, honey, and sucrose. The best callus induction was recorded for the medium with honey and sucrose (80.0%) and for control medium (79.8%). Shoot regeneration was tested on the MS medium with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) supplemented with honey and sucrose at a 1:1 ratio (by weight) or with sucrose only. The highest percentage of calluses regenerating shoots was noted for those induced on the medium with sucrose and honey-approx. four times higher when compared to the control. Rooted plantlets were acclimatized with a 92% survival rate. In the second experiment, we analyzed culture responses to various ways of honey application to the induction media: honey (autoclaved or filtered) in presence or absence of sucrose. Supplementation of the medium with fructose, glucose, and maltose at a proportion typical for honey was also investigated. The explant and callus survival rates were similar to those of the honey-sucrose combination in the first experiment. Only presence of both sucrose and honey in the induction medium improved the total regeneration rate to 37.9% over the control (18.8%). Sucrose and honey appear to act synergistically for shoot regeneration in callus cultures of sorghum.

Advances in Medical Sciences

The main scope of this study was to evaluate the importance of selected DNA variants for developi... more The main scope of this study was to evaluate the importance of selected DNA variants for developing inflammation of gastric mucosa and carcinogenesis in gastrointestinal diseases in patients infected with Helicobacter pylori. Patients subjected to analysis constituted a group of 131 consecutive cases, with control groups consisting of 100 healthy volunteers and 13 dyspeptic patients. Molecular analysis included the following genes: TP53 (c.743 G > A, c.746 G > A, c.749C > T), MSH2 (c.942 + 3A > T), MLH1 (c.2041 G > A), NOD2/CARD15 (c.3016_3017insC, c.802C > T), IL1A (c.-949C > T) and IL1B (c.315C > T). DNA variants were detected using PCR-RFLP, pyrosequencing and sequencing. Mutations of the analyzed genes were observed more frequently in patients with a higher degree of mucosal lesions (50.9%) than in patients with milder mucosal changes (27.6%). Single mutations and polymorphisms did not affect the course of the disease. Our analysis confirms the influence of the NOD2/CARD15 c.802C > T polymorphism on the development of mucosal changes. A correlation of the frequency of the CT genotype of the NOD2/CARD15 c.802C > T polymorphism with the NOD2/CARD15 c.3016_3017insC mutation was observed. The TT genotype frequency in the c.315C > T IL1B gene polymorphism was statistically significantly higher in patients with mucosa changes. Accumulation of molecular abnormalities may increase the susceptibility to inflammatory response of the gastric mucosa in H. pylori-infected patients and play an important role in the development of chronic active gastritis, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia and the intestinal type of gastric cancer. The severity of gastric mucosal damage correlates with the presence of mutations in the gastric mucosa and the age of patients.

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Since improving maternal and child health is a public health priority worldwide, the main aim of ... more Since improving maternal and child health is a public health priority worldwide, the main aim of treatment of hypertension in pregnant women is to prevent complications during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. In consequence, much attention is paid to the use of antihypertensive drugs that can be used safely during pregnancy. Several side effects of methyldopa, which is currently the most commonly used antihypertensive drug in pregnant women, mean that the search for an effective and safe alternative still continues. Flavonoid compounds present in medicinal plants, vegetables, and fruits may be a promising source of new drugs. In this aspect, quercetin, a well-known flavonoid due to its antihypertensive action, may be considered a prototype for safe antihypertensive drugs. This review focuses on the selective activity of quercetin. Based on recent studies, a few problems were discussed, including (1) pathology of pregnancy-induced hypertension; (2) search for new pharmacological tre...

Herba Polonica

SummaryWillow herb (This work presents preliminary results of the first implementation ofSterile ... more SummaryWillow herb (This work presents preliminary results of the first implementation ofSterile seedlings were donors of explants, which were used for induction of multi-shoots culture according to a modified protocol described by Turker and co-workers. Statistical analysis was used for assessment of significance of differences among variables.Six different genotypes (lines) originating from root explants were chosen for clonal propagation. Efficiency of the elaborated method was 16–20 shoots per explant. Finally, over 3000 acclimatized plants were obtained and used for field crops.The use of

Transgenesis and Secondary Metabolism, 2016

Twin Research and Human Genetics, 2016

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of intrauterine environment on the magnitude o... more The aim of this study was to determine the effects of intrauterine environment on the magnitude of intrapair differences in six somatic traits of monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins (1,263 pairs; 424 MZ twins and 839 DZ twins). Differences in intrauterine environments of MZ twins enforced division of the research material into four groups: (1) MZ-MC-TTTS — MZ twins from monochorionic (MC) pregnancies with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), (2) MZ-MC (without TTTS)—MZ twins from MC pregnancies without TTTS, (3) MZ-DC—MZ twins from dichorionic (DC) pregnancies, and (4) DZ—DZ twins. The intrapair differences in all analyzed somatic traits, especially body weight and circumference of the chest, were the largest in the case of MZ twins from MC pregnancies with TTTS. DZ twins were the group presenting with the second largest intrapair differences in the analyzed traits. At the end of pregnancy, that is, in lunar months 9 and 10, the magnitude of intrapair differences in all t...

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC)

The purpose of the study was to evaluate Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub genotypes for prelimi... more The purpose of the study was to evaluate Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub genotypes for preliminary selection and further breeding programs aimed at obtaining a suitable industrial form for the pharmaceutical applications. Clonally propagated plants representing 10 genotypes of Ch. angustifolium were regenerated under in vitro conditions, hardened and planted in the field. Studies included an evaluation of shoot proliferation, phytochemical assessment of in vitro and ex vitro plants as well as investigations of intraspecies variability regarding four phenological stages: vegetative, beginning of blooming, full blooming, and green fruit phases. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of bioactive compounds were performed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector and tandem mass spectrometer (HPLC–DAD–MS/MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods. The efficiency of shoot multiplication varied between genotypes from 8.12 to 21.48 ...

Pharmaceuticals

The current health requirements set the direction in pharmacological research, especially as rega... more The current health requirements set the direction in pharmacological research, especially as regards diseases that require improvement of existing therapeutic regimens. Such diseases include preeclampsia, which is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy during which there occurs progressive increasing activation of the immune system through elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and antiangiogenic factors, which is dangerous for the mother and fetus. A promising field of research for new drugs to treat this disease is the study of natural phenolic compounds of plant origin and herbal extracts, which are complex matrices of chemical compounds with broad biological activities. Many plant substances with anti‑inflammatory and anti‑hypertensive properties are known, but studies in animal models of preeclampsia and clinical trials concerning this disease constitute a new and developing research trend of significant medical importance. The aim of our research review was to identify and anal...

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

As the major nonpsychotropic constituent of Cannabis sativa, cannabidiol (CBD) is regarded as one... more As the major nonpsychotropic constituent of Cannabis sativa, cannabidiol (CBD) is regarded as one of the most promising therapeutic agents due to its proven effectiveness in clinical trials for many human diseases. Due to the urgent need for more efficient pharmacological treatments for several chronic diseases, in this review, we discuss the potential beneficial effects of CBD for Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and neurological cancers. Due to its wide range of pharmacological activities (e.g., antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties), CBD is considered a multimodal drug for the treatment of a range of neurodegenerative disorders, and various cancer types, including neoplasms of the neural system. The different mechanisms of action of CBD are here disclosed, together with recent progress in the use of this cannabis-derived constituent as a new therapeutic approach.

Herba Polonica

Summary Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L.) is a well-known medicinal plant traditionally used ... more Summary Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L.) is a well-known medicinal plant traditionally used in the treatment of urogenital diseases, stomach and liver disorders, skin problems, etc. E. angustifolium extracts show anti-androgenic, antiproliferative, cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial activities. The unique combination of biological properties demonstrated by the results of some studies indicates that fireweed has a positive effect in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and potentially in the prostate cancer chemoprevention. However, the efficacy of E. angustifolium phytotherapy is still poorly tested in clinical trials, while numerous beneficial effects of extracts have been documented in the in vitro and in vivo tests. Fireweed is rich in polyphenolic compounds, particularly ellagitannins. Currently, polyphenols are considered to be modulators of beneficial gut microbiota. The literature data support the use of ellagitannins in the pro...

Journal of Natural Fibers

Journal of Natural Fibers

Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica - Drug Research

A stability-indicating ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) with DAD detector was... more A stability-indicating ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) with DAD detector was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of ∆ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), ∆ 9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THC-COOH) and cannabidiolic acid (CBD-COOH) in extracts of Cannabis sativa L. The separation was achieved on a Kinetex, C18, 100 x 2.1 mm, 2.6 µm. The gradient separation was started with a mixture of methanol and 12 mM ammonium acetate in ratio 75 : 25 (%/%). The methanol was increased to 100% from 0.0 min to 10.0 min, then maintained 100% for the next 1.0 min, then decreased to 75% from 11.0 min to 15.0 min and held at 75% from 15.0 min to 20.0 min. The injection volume was 5.0 µL and the wavelength of detection was controlled at 228 nm.

Herba Polonica

Summary Introduction:. It is well documented that many species from Passifloraceae family can pro... more Summary Introduction:. It is well documented that many species from Passifloraceae family can provide edible and nutritious fruits while the leaves of cultivated plants are renewable and waste material. This biomass may be further used in various sectors, especially as a bioactive food additive and as source of innovative pharmaceuticals, cosmetics or feed additives. The biomaterials and green chemistry are new sectors bioeconomy according to the high-level horizontal strategies and bio-based industries in Europe. In recent years, attention has been paid to the biological activity and phytochemical profiles of extracts from different species of Passiflora. However, there is little comparative studies using the same procedures and techniques in the same laboratory conditions for study of plant material obtained from the similar greenhouse conditions. Objective: This study was focused on the examination of antioxidative activities of low concentrations of crude extracts from leaves of...

Herba Polonica

Summary Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L., Onagraceae) is one of important medicinal plants us... more Summary Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L., Onagraceae) is one of important medicinal plants used especially in the treatment of urogenital disorders, including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis. The therapeutic effects of E. angustifolium extracts comprise antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and also antimicrobial activities. The aim of the present review was to provide the information on the botany, phytochemistry and traditional uses of E. angustifolium. This plant is a widespread circumboreal species of North America and Eurasia, tolerant in terms of habitat conditions, and often occupying man-made open habitats. Phytochemical studies on E. angustifolium resulted in the identification of about 250 different metabolites, including about 170 substances found for the first time in this plant in the last six years (2014–2019). Fireweed has an abundance of polyphenolic compounds, particularly ellagitannins. Oenothein B and quercetin...

Herba Polonica

Summary Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) attracts increasing interest of growers, in relation... more Summary Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) attracts increasing interest of growers, in relation to both industrial and medical purposes. Construction is the most promising area of the economy for hemp, and specifically, the fast-growing production of insulation and bio-composite materials. The most significant factors affecting the final yield of hemp seeds and biomass include: climatic factors, i.e. influence of weather conditions that determines the content of cannabinoids in plants; genetic predisposition of the variety used as well as agrotechnical factors. The article provides information on the botanical characteristics of fiber hemp, hemp cultivation area, Polish monoecious varieties of industrial hemp, hemp's agricultural requirements, including: the demand for macroelements (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium); choice of soil, pioneer crop, and field preparation; sowing timing and density; harvest time; water conditions; heat and light requirements for hemp. The...

Herba Polonica

Summary Flavonoids and their conjugates are the most important group of natural chemical compound... more Summary Flavonoids and their conjugates are the most important group of natural chemical compounds in drug discovery and development. The search for pharmacological activity and new mechanisms of activity of these chemical compounds, which may inhibit mediators of inflammation and influence the structure and function of endothelial cells, can be an interesting pharmacological strategy for the prevention and adjunctive treatments of hypertension, especially induced by pregnancy. Because cardiovascular diseases have multi-factorial pathogenesis these natural chemical compounds with wide spectrum of biological activities are the most interesting source of new drugs. Extracts from one of the most popular plant used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi could be a very interesting source of flavonoids because of its exact content in quercetin, apigenin, chrysin and scutellarin as well as in baicalin. These flavonoids exert vasoprotective properties and many acti...

In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant

Sorghum bicolor is a recalcitrant species for tissue culture regeneration and genetic transformat... more Sorghum bicolor is a recalcitrant species for tissue culture regeneration and genetic transformation. Browning of explants is one of the factors limiting organ and tissue cultures. To overcome this, callus tissue was initiated from the shoot tips of in vitro germinating seeds (S. bicolor cv. Róna 1), and then cultured on modified MS media (Murashige and Skoog in Physiol Plant 15:473-497, 1962). In the first experiment, we tested callus induction on several media supplemented with casein hydrolysate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, honey, and sucrose. The best callus induction was recorded for the medium with honey and sucrose (80.0%) and for control medium (79.8%). Shoot regeneration was tested on the MS medium with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) supplemented with honey and sucrose at a 1:1 ratio (by weight) or with sucrose only. The highest percentage of calluses regenerating shoots was noted for those induced on the medium with sucrose and honey-approx. four times higher when compared to the control. Rooted plantlets were acclimatized with a 92% survival rate. In the second experiment, we analyzed culture responses to various ways of honey application to the induction media: honey (autoclaved or filtered) in presence or absence of sucrose. Supplementation of the medium with fructose, glucose, and maltose at a proportion typical for honey was also investigated. The explant and callus survival rates were similar to those of the honey-sucrose combination in the first experiment. Only presence of both sucrose and honey in the induction medium improved the total regeneration rate to 37.9% over the control (18.8%). Sucrose and honey appear to act synergistically for shoot regeneration in callus cultures of sorghum.

Advances in Medical Sciences

The main scope of this study was to evaluate the importance of selected DNA variants for developi... more The main scope of this study was to evaluate the importance of selected DNA variants for developing inflammation of gastric mucosa and carcinogenesis in gastrointestinal diseases in patients infected with Helicobacter pylori. Patients subjected to analysis constituted a group of 131 consecutive cases, with control groups consisting of 100 healthy volunteers and 13 dyspeptic patients. Molecular analysis included the following genes: TP53 (c.743 G > A, c.746 G > A, c.749C > T), MSH2 (c.942 + 3A > T), MLH1 (c.2041 G > A), NOD2/CARD15 (c.3016_3017insC, c.802C > T), IL1A (c.-949C > T) and IL1B (c.315C > T). DNA variants were detected using PCR-RFLP, pyrosequencing and sequencing. Mutations of the analyzed genes were observed more frequently in patients with a higher degree of mucosal lesions (50.9%) than in patients with milder mucosal changes (27.6%). Single mutations and polymorphisms did not affect the course of the disease. Our analysis confirms the influence of the NOD2/CARD15 c.802C > T polymorphism on the development of mucosal changes. A correlation of the frequency of the CT genotype of the NOD2/CARD15 c.802C > T polymorphism with the NOD2/CARD15 c.3016_3017insC mutation was observed. The TT genotype frequency in the c.315C > T IL1B gene polymorphism was statistically significantly higher in patients with mucosa changes. Accumulation of molecular abnormalities may increase the susceptibility to inflammatory response of the gastric mucosa in H. pylori-infected patients and play an important role in the development of chronic active gastritis, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia and the intestinal type of gastric cancer. The severity of gastric mucosal damage correlates with the presence of mutations in the gastric mucosa and the age of patients.

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Since improving maternal and child health is a public health priority worldwide, the main aim of ... more Since improving maternal and child health is a public health priority worldwide, the main aim of treatment of hypertension in pregnant women is to prevent complications during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. In consequence, much attention is paid to the use of antihypertensive drugs that can be used safely during pregnancy. Several side effects of methyldopa, which is currently the most commonly used antihypertensive drug in pregnant women, mean that the search for an effective and safe alternative still continues. Flavonoid compounds present in medicinal plants, vegetables, and fruits may be a promising source of new drugs. In this aspect, quercetin, a well-known flavonoid due to its antihypertensive action, may be considered a prototype for safe antihypertensive drugs. This review focuses on the selective activity of quercetin. Based on recent studies, a few problems were discussed, including (1) pathology of pregnancy-induced hypertension; (2) search for new pharmacological tre...

Herba Polonica

SummaryWillow herb (This work presents preliminary results of the first implementation ofSterile ... more SummaryWillow herb (This work presents preliminary results of the first implementation ofSterile seedlings were donors of explants, which were used for induction of multi-shoots culture according to a modified protocol described by Turker and co-workers. Statistical analysis was used for assessment of significance of differences among variables.Six different genotypes (lines) originating from root explants were chosen for clonal propagation. Efficiency of the elaborated method was 16–20 shoots per explant. Finally, over 3000 acclimatized plants were obtained and used for field crops.The use of

Transgenesis and Secondary Metabolism, 2016

Twin Research and Human Genetics, 2016

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of intrauterine environment on the magnitude o... more The aim of this study was to determine the effects of intrauterine environment on the magnitude of intrapair differences in six somatic traits of monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins (1,263 pairs; 424 MZ twins and 839 DZ twins). Differences in intrauterine environments of MZ twins enforced division of the research material into four groups: (1) MZ-MC-TTTS — MZ twins from monochorionic (MC) pregnancies with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), (2) MZ-MC (without TTTS)—MZ twins from MC pregnancies without TTTS, (3) MZ-DC—MZ twins from dichorionic (DC) pregnancies, and (4) DZ—DZ twins. The intrapair differences in all analyzed somatic traits, especially body weight and circumference of the chest, were the largest in the case of MZ twins from MC pregnancies with TTTS. DZ twins were the group presenting with the second largest intrapair differences in the analyzed traits. At the end of pregnancy, that is, in lunar months 9 and 10, the magnitude of intrapair differences in all t...