The microbial etiology and source of sepsis influence the inflammatory response. Therefore, the plasma levels of cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10), chemokines (CCL2/MCP-1, MIP-1β), heparin-binding protein (HBP), soluble CD14 (sCD14), and cortisol were analyzed in blood from septic patients obtained during the first 96 hours of intensive care unit hospitalization. The etiology was established in 56 out of a total of 62 patients enrolled in the study. Plasma concentrations of MCP-1, sCD14, IL-6, and IL-10 were significantly higher in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP; n = 10) and infective endocarditis (IE; n = 11) compared to those with bacterial meningitis (BM; n = 18). Next, cortisol levels were higher in IE patients than in those with BM and CAP, and at one time point, cortisol was also higher in patients with gram-negative sepsis when compared to those with gram-positive infections. Furthermore, cortisol and MCP-1 levels correlated positively with the daily measured SOFA score. In addition, HBP levels were significantly higher in patients with IE than in those with BM. Our findings suggest that MCP-1, sCD14, IL-6, IL-10, cortisol, and HBP are modulated by the source of sepsis and that elevated MCP-1 and cortisol plasma levels are associated with sepsis-induced organ dysfunction.

AbstractŠárka E., Kruliš Z., Kotek J., Růžek L., Korbářová A., Bubník Z., Růžková M. (2011): Application of wheat B-starch in biodegradable plastic materials. Czech J. Food Sci., 29: 232-242.Food application of wheat B-starch comprising small starch granules as a result of lower quality is problematic. Accordingly, B-starch or acetylated starch prepared from it, with the degree of substitution (DS) of 1.5-2.3, was used in biodegradable films after blending with poly-(ε-caprolactone) (PCL). The following mechanical characteristics of the produced films were derived from the stress-strain curves: Young modulus, yield stress, stress-at-break, and strainat-break. Water absorption of PCL/starch (60/40) films was determined according to European standard ISO 62. The measured data were compared with those of commercial A-starch. The films containing native starch degraded in compost totally during 2 months. Acetylation of starch molecules in the composites reduced the degradation rate. Optical microscopy, in combination with the image analysis system NIS-Elements vs. 2.10 completed with an Extended Depth of Focus (EDF) module, was used to study the surface morphology of PCL/starch films after 20-day and 42-day compost incubation. Chemical changes in the compost used for the film exposition were measured.

Cambisols, luvisols and Stagnosols are main soil taxonomical units covering 78% of the total area of the Czech republic. in the period 2001-2008 soil samples from 13 arable and 2 grassed localities were collected and tested. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) was determined using microwave irradiation method (MW), chloroform fumigation extraction method (FE) and re-hydration technique (rHD). Soil samples were moistened, according to the content of organic carbon (C org ), by deionized water addition (%C org × 0.19 ml/g DM -dry mass of soil) immediately before MBC determination. Microwave sterilization (800 J/g DM = 600 W, 2 × 67 s, 100 g DM (10 soil samples) and microwave soil extracts digestion (800 J/ml = 250 W, 77 s, 24 ml) give the lowest values of MBC (204 ± 67 mg/kg DM; 100%) in comparison with FE (236 ± 57 mg/kg DM; 116%) and rHD (478 ± 138 mg/kg DM; 235%), respectively. High significant correlation (r = 0.9713) was found between tC (total carbon; 1.36 ± 0.29%) and tn (total nitrogen; 0.15 ± 0.03%) determined by CnS analyzer. Furthermore, high significant correlations were found between MBC-MW and MBC-rHD (r = 0.8965) as well as MBC-FE and DHa (dehydrogenase activity; r = 0.8094), respectively. DHa in studied soils reached 147 ± 68 mg of triphenylformazan/kg DM/24 h. C org formed 96% of tC and total Kjeldahl nitrogen 97% of tn, respectively. according our results MW is fully acceptable for MBC determination.

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