Agnieszka Rombel-Bryzek

Introduction: Contamination with herbicides is a frequent environmental issue. The aim of the study was to evaluate haematological and blood biochemical parameters, and the microstructure of selected organs in control and herbicide-exposed fish. Material and Methods: In this study, 108 common carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) were exposed to a commercial herbicide with nicosulfuron as its active substance. Three groups of fish were established: control, TAM1 (nicosulfuron at 1 mg/L), and TAM2 (nicosulfuron at 5 mg/L). Treatment lasted 1, 3 or 10 days. Functional (pathophysiological) and structural (histopathological) alterations in control and herbicide-exposed fish were evaluated. Results: Various haematological changes and some biochemical alterations were detected. The pathophysiological changes suggested erythrocyte damage, compensatory response (as indicated by an increase in red blood cell count and erythroblast percentage), stress response (as evidenced by an increase in glucose concentration) and possible lipid metabolism disorders (as indicated by a decrease in cholesterol concentration). More differences in pathophysiological parameters were detected between TAM2 fish and control fish than between TAM1 fish and control fish. Histopathological analysis revealed renal tubule necrosis, of which the severity depended on herbicide concentration and exposure duration. Conclusion: The exposure of common carp to the tested nicosulfuron-based herbicide formulation led to pathophysiological and histopathological alterations, indicating the need for systematic detection and quantification of nicosulfuron in aquatic environments.

Background: Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are a group of rare inherited lysosomal storage disorders caused by a deficiency or absence of specific lysosomal enzymes responsible for degrading glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). The accumulation of GAGs in cells and tissues leads to progressive multi-organ dysfunction, significantly impacting patients’ quality of life and lifespan. Due to the initially asymptomatic presentation and the rarity of the disease, diagnosis is often significantly delayed.Aim of the study: This review aims to summarize and evaluate current and emerging diagnostic methods for MPS, with particular emphasis on their potential to enable early detection and timely therapeutic intervention.Material and methods: A literature review was conducted based on scientific publications from the last two decades. The analysis focused on traditional diagnostic methods—such as urinary GAG analysis, enzymatic assays, and molecular genetic testing—as well as novel screening tools and biomarkers, including tandem mass spectrometry and next-generation sequencing.Results: Traditional methods remain the gold standard for confirming MPS diagnosis but are often preceded by a long diagnostic delay. Recent advances, such as newborn screening protocols using dried blood spot tests and expanded genetic panels, promise much earlier detection of MPS. These newer methods demonstrate higher sensitivity and specificity and, when implemented in screening programs, may significantly shorten the so-called “diagnostic odyssey.”Conclusions: Early and accurate diagnosis of MPS is essential for initiating effective treatments such as enzyme replacement therapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. New diagnostic technologies offer hope for earlier detection and better clinical outcomes and may facilitate access to experimental therapies, including gene therapy. Widespread implementation of these techniques could transform the diagnostic landscape for MPS and improve patient prognosis.

The SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding motif is crucial for viral entry via interaction with the human ACE2 receptor. Mutations N501Y and E484K, found in several variants of concern, impact viral transmissibility and immune escape, but experimental data on their binding effects remain inconsistent. Using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we analyzed the thermodynamic and structural effects of these mutations. ITC confirmed that N501Y increases ACE2 affinity by 2.2-fold, while E484K enhances binding by 5.8-fold. The Beta/Gamma variant (carrying both mutations) showed the strongest affinity, with a 15-fold increase. E484K was enthalpy-driven, while N501Y introduced entropy-driven effects, suggesting hydrophobic interactions and conformational changes. MD simulations revealed distinct binding poses, with Beta/Gamma peptides interacting with a secondary ACE2 site. A strong correlation was found between entropy contributions and hydrophobic contacts. Additionally, a convolutional neural network was used to estimate the free binding energy of these complexes. Our findings confirm that N501Y and E484K enhance ACE2 binding, with the greatest effect when combined, providing insights into SARS-CoV-2 variant evolution and potential therapeutic strategies.

The management of composting home bio-waste at the place of their formation leads to several benefits. Among them are: minimising the amount of waste sent to landfills, decreasing the costs associated with transporting them to disposal sites, and reducing the need for new facilities dedicated to this purpose. A further advantage of home composting is the better segregation of waste compared to industrial composting, there is less accidental contamination by plastic, glass, or metal waste, which is a key requirement for a proper biodegradation process. However, despite to many benefits of home composting, the method is still controversial. The first part of the paper briefly characterises the key parameters for an effective home composting process, i.e.: temperature, air porosity, oxygenation, and moisture content. It is also widely considered and discussed the problem of reasons why home composters do not reach the temperature values considered necessary for the sterilisation of waste. Potential needs to reach the same high temperatures in home composting as in industrial composting are also discussed. The next part of the paper presents some technical solutions currently used in home composters to improve the process of biodegradation of waste and to make them easier to use. The final section addresses the quality of home compost and the issues around correctly assessing its maturity and stability.

Background: Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are a group of rare genetic diseases with a metabolic background. Currently, there are no effective methods of treating MPS, and new ways of treating patients are constantly being sought.Aim of the study: The purpose of this article is to review the available literature on clinical trials of new treatments for mucopolysaccharidoses.Material and methods: The review of research literature published between 1999 and 2023 was conducted, with a specific focus on the last ten years. The literature for this article was selected from publications available online in databases such as Google Scholar or PubMed. Research was based on keywords like: mucopolysaccharidoses, clinical trials, gene therapy, MPS. Results: A total of 104 publications were considered in the study, including 95 scientific articles and 9 clinical trial reports (consisting of 1 FDA approval). Out of those 104 articles, 82 discussed potential future therapies for patients with MPS. Among them, as many as 51 focused on gene therapy.Conclusions: The only currently approved treatments for mucopolysaccharidoses are enzyme replacement therapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, which are not suitable for all types of MPS and have their limitations. In addition, there is no single therapy for all types of MPS, as they are the result of mutations in different genes and result from the deficiency of different enzymes. Numerous preclinical and clinical studies are being conducted on therapies for mucopolysaccharidoses. These include therapies that allow manipulation of cellular pathways, substrate reduction, or gene therapy, which is the most promising form of treatment. Some of the studies have successfully passed the first and second research phases.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) pandemic, cognitive impairment of varying degrees of severity began to be observed in a significant percentage of patients. The present study discussed the impact of immunological processes on structural and functional changes in the central nervous system and the related cognitive disorders. The purpose of the present review was to analyse and discuss available information from the scientific literature considering the possible relationship between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) viral infection and cognitive impairment, including NeuroCOVID, frontal syndrome and cytokine storm. A systematic literature review was conducted using: Google Scholar, Elsevier and the PubMed database. When searching for materials, the following keywords were used: ‘cognitive dysfunctions’, ‘SARS‑CoV‑2’, ‘COVID‑19’, ‘Neuro‑SARS2’, ‘NeuroCOVID’, ‘frontal syndrome’, ‘cytokine storm’, ‘Long COVID‑19’. A total of 96 articles were included in the study. The analysis focused on the characteristics of each study's materials, methods, results and conclusions. SARS‑CoV‑2 infection may induce or influence existing cognitive disorders of various nature and severity. The influence of immunological factors related to the response against SARS‑CoV‑2 on the disturbance of cerebral perfusion, the functioning of nerve cells and the neuroprotective effect has been demonstrated. Particular importance is attached to the cytokine storm and the related difference between pro‑ and anti‑inflammatory effects, oxidative stress, disturbances in the regulation of the hypothalamic‑pituitary‑adrenal axis and the stress response of the body.

Blood analysis is used to evaluate the effects of various environmental factors on fishes and to assess fish health and welfare. Fish blood is routinely sampled from the caudal vein or the heart. The aim of the present study was to determine the differences between venous and cardiac crucian carp ( Carassius carassius (L.)) blood parameters. Additionally, the influence of sex was tested. The fish were divided into two groups: group I consisted of 10 males and 9 females, group II consisted of 8 males and 8 females. The fish from group I had blood sampled first from the caudal vein and then from the heart. The fish from group II had the procedures in the opposite order. The hematological parameters determined in the present study depended on the blood collection site and the sex of the individuals. Blood biochemical indices depended on the sex of the fish but not on the blood sampling site. The effect of sampling order was observed in the case of both hematological and biochemical parameters. The results of the current study indicated that the blood collection site, the sex of fish, and sampling order should be taken into consideration in hematological experiments.

As a heavy metal, cadmium has strongly toxic effects on plants and can induce oxidative stress. It is absorbed by the roots and transported to the stems and leaves. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of various concentrations of cadmium on the metabolic activity of Beta vulgaris and assess the dependence of these processes on the content of metal in the plants. To demonstrate the effect of cadmium on metabolism, protein and photosynthetic pigment content, lipid peroxidation, and the activity of enzymes specific for oxidative stress in roots and shoots were measured. Seeds of B. vulgaris were treated with different concentrations of Cd supplied via a CdCl₂ solution: 0 (control), 200, 300 and 400 mg/dm³. Results of the present study revealed increased GPOX activity as cadmium concentration rose, while SOD activity was stimulated by a low Cd concentration (200 mg/dm³) and reduced by high levels of Cd. Based on the present findings, it can be concluded that GPOX in B. vulgaris played a more important role in ROS scavenging than SOD did and was able to reduce the level of lipid peroxidation in plants. Cadmium, in the concentration range used, did not show any significant effect on protein or photosynthetic pigment content.