Hypercoagulation detected by routine and global laboratory hemostasis assays in patients with infective endocarditis

Background Coagulation system is heavily involved into the process of infective endocarditis (IE) vegetation formation and can facilitate further embolization. In this study we aimed to assess the coagulation and platelet state in IE implementing a wide range of standard and global laboratory assays. We also aim to determine whether prothrombotic genetic polymorphisms play any role in embolization and mortality in IE patients. Methods 37 patients with IE were enrolled into the study. Coagulation was assessed using standard coagulation assays (activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin, fibrinogen, D-dimer concentrations) and integral assays (thromboelastography (TEG) and thrombodynamics (TD)). Platelet functional activity was estimated by flow cytometry. Single nuclear polymorphisms of coagulation system genes were studied. Results Fibrinogen concentration and fibrinogen-dependent parameters of TEG and TD were increased in patients indicating systemic inflammation. In majority of patients clot growth rate in thrombodynamics was significantly shifted towards hypercoagulation in consistency with D-dimers elevation. However, in some patients prothrombin, thromboelastography and thrombodynamics were shifted towards hypocoagulation. Resting platelets were characterized by glycoprotein IIb-IIIa activation and degranulation. In patients with fatal IE, we observed a significant decrease in fibrinogen and thrombodynamics. In patients with embolism, we observed a significant decrease in the TEG R parameter. No association of embolism or mortality with genetic polymorphisms was found in our cohort. Conclusions Our findings suggest that coagulation in patients with infective endocarditis is characterized by general hypercoagulability and platelet pre-activation. Some patients, however, have hypocoagulant coagulation profile, which presumably can indicate progressing of hypercoagulation into consumption coagulopathy.

Moneses uniflora (L.) A. Gray on industrial dumps of the Middle Urals

The article presents the results of studying the coenopopulations of Moneses uniflora (L.) A. Gray (familyEricaceae Juss.) found during the monitoring of vegetation formation on the dumps of the mining and processing industryof the Sverdlovsk region (Middle Urals, southern taiga subzone). Studies have shown that the M. uniflora (family EricaceaeJuss.) coenopopulations in plant communities formed on industrial dumps and in natural phytocenosis are normal, fullfledged, young. The morphological parameters of generative individuals are significantly influenced by coenotic andedaphic factors. Arbutoid mycorrhiza was found in the thin roots of M. uniflora in all the studied habitats.

Coleopterans (Hexapoda, Coleoptera) associated with canopies of Callisthene fasciculata (Spr.) Mart. (Vochysiaceae) in the Brazilian Pantanal

The study of coleopteran assemblages associated with the canopies of tropical forests can help to expand the knowledge about species diversity and the ecological patterns related to the distribution of this diversity in tropical environments, including wetlands such as the Brazilian Pantanal. In this scenario, the present study examined the effect of temporal variation on the abundance, richness and distribution of the Coleoptera assemblage associated with canopies of Callisthene fasciculata (Spr.) Mart. (Vochysiaceae) throughout the dry and high-water seasonal periods in the Northern Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Twelve specimens of C. fasciculata were sampled between 2010 and 2011, six per seasonal period, by thermal fogging with insecticide. A total of 1,663 coleopterans were collected, consisting of 1,572 adults and 91 larvae. The adults are distributed into 38 families and 251 species or morphospecies. Chrysomelidae, Curculionidae, Nitidulidae and Tenebrionidae predominated in terms of abundance and richness. Family distribution, abundance, species richness and trophic guilds varied between the dry and high-water periods, demonstrating a relationship with the phenological conditions of C. fasciculata in addition to seasonality effect. In conclusion, the seasonality imposed by the hydrological regime and its influence on the phenology of C. fasciculata affect the structure of the coleopteran assemblage associated with the canopy of this monodominant vegetation formation in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso.

Strip clay application accelerates for 15–20 years the vegetation formation in ash dump (Middle Urals, Russia)

As a result of a generalization of 45-year monitoring observations at on the ash dump of the Verkhniy Tagil Power Station, the absolute time scale was made, stabilization rates during succession of different plant communities characteristics were assessed in two areas: recultivated and non-recultivated. Recultivation consisted of clay strips applying (5–8 m wide, 10–15 cm thick) on ash surface. All characteristics of plant communities (total projective cover by plants, total number of species in plant community) are formed 15–20 years faster in recultivated area. So, a simple technical recultivation, (clay strips applying), significantly accelerates the formation of plant communities main characteristics on ash surface in subzone of the southern taiga in Middle Urals.

Caractéristique structurale des zones marécageuses de la forêt de la Tanoé-Ehy (Sud-Est de la Côte d’Ivoire)

Cette étude vise à dégager les différents états de dégradation de la végétation au sein de la forêt marécageuse de la Tanoe-Ehy, à travers 4 relevés linéaires de 100 mètres de long. L’analyse de ces relevés a montré qu’au niveau des types biologiques, l’espèce Combretum racemosum P. Beauv. (Combretaceae) représente l’essentielle des espèces lianescentes. Dans cette forêt, parmi les espèces qui contribuent fortement à la formation de la végétation, il y a la présence des espèces vulnérables de l’UICN. Concernant les recouvrements, les strates basses sont faiblement occupées. Cependant, la végétation est dense dans les strates moyennes. Ces recouvrements ont montré que la dégradation de la structure des milieux est une conséquence de l’exploitation villageoise. Par ailleurs, cette forêt marécageuse présente des recouvrements particuliers qui n’ont jamais été observés en forêt dense humide de Côte d’Ivoire.Mots clés : Structure, végétation, forêt, marécageuse, types biologiques, recouvrements. Englsih Title: Structural Characteristic of the marshy areas of the Tanoé-Ehy forest (Southeastern Côte d'Ivoire) This study aims to identify the different state of vegetation degradation within the Tanoe-Ehy swamp forest, through 4 linear surveys 100 meters long. Analysis of these surveys showed that at the level of biological types, the species Combretum racemosum P. Beauv. (Combretaceae) is the essential of lianescent species. In this forest, among the species that contribute heavily to vegetation formation, there is the presence of vulnerable IUCN species. For overlays, the lower strata are poorly occupied. However, vegetation is dense in the middle strata. These recoveries have shown that the degradation of the structure of the environments is a consequence of village exploitation. In addition, this swamp forest has special overlays that have never been seen in the dense rainforest of Côte d'Ivoire. Keywords: Structure, vegetation, forest, swampy, biological types, recoveries.

EXPERIENCE IN RECULTIVATION OF VARIOUS TYPES OF DEGRADED LAND

The paper touches upon the analysis of disturbed lands various methods of reclamation on linear and site objects that make possible to minimise spending for recultivation work carrying out to achieve a desirable effect. It is noted the inexpediency of plank roads and wooden covering dismantling followed by the former road recultivation. It is suggested to use these roads as antifire ones; it will play a positive role in forest antifire protection. It is underlined the necessity of the highest possible potential possibilities utilisation of some disturbed lands for self-healing. The latter refers, in particular to seismic profiles, sites for wastes of saw-mills and woodworking as well as sand and clay extracting pits when their area is rat her small and when there exists no reliable source of their seed producing. Sometimes for the process of grass vegetation formation speeding and fertile soil layer formation, it is recommended grass sowing, leguminous plants in particular. The surface of the disturbed lands covering with a layer of sewage deposit is an effective method of recultivation as well. The latter is not only promoted fertile layer formation on the surfaces of dumps and some other types of disturbed lands but improves conditions of plants water nutrition playing the role of mulch. As the primary trend of reclamation in the Ural region, it is recommended to consider forestry main during the biological stage of ordinary pine forest plantations.

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Enhance Staphylococcus Aureus Vegetation Formation through Interaction with Platelets in Infective Endocarditis

The mechanisms or host factors involved in septic thrombus or vegetation formation in Staphylococcus aureus-induced infective endocarditis (IE) are unclear. Using an experimental endocarditis rat model, here we demonstrated that S. aureus HG001-induced vegetation was composed of bacterial floes encased in aggregated platelets and surrounded by neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). In vitro data demonstrated that platelets contribute to both biofilm and NET formation. Prophylactic administration of DNase I significantly reduced the size of vegetation induced by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) strains, even though MRSA and MSSA isolates express different biofilm phenotypes and NET-induction abilities in the presence of platelets. Moreover, delivery of both DNase I and daptomycin prophylactically and therapeutically produced synergistic effects by reducing vegetation size and bacterial numbers on damaged valve tissues in MRSA-induced IE. Together, these data suggest that NETs contribute to vegetation formation in S. aureus endocarditis and DNase I has the potential to control S. aureus-induced IE in the clinic.