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PubMed2001

The comparison of uncoupling activity of constituently synthesised and stress-induced forms of winter rye stress uncoupling protein CSP 310.

A difference between the uncoupling action of constituently synthesised and stress-induced forms of winter rye stress uncoupling protein CSP 310 on winter wheat mitochondria in vitro was found from the initiation of incubation. The uncoupling activity of CSP 310 depended on its concentration in the incubation media. The addition of anti-CSP 310 antiserum to isolated mitochondria from stressed winter rye shoots caused coupling of oxidation and phosphorylation. Western-blot analysis did not locate dehydrins K-segment in CSP 310 subunits.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Winter swimming: healthy or hazardous?. Evidence and hypotheses.

Swimming in cold water during the winter season is an extreme sport, with fans all over the world. However, its effects on health have been debated. This article examines the hypothesis that the effects of winter swimming may depend on previous exposure to cold stimuli. Immersion in cold water in unaccustomed persons may lead to detrimental consequences, while, in regular winter swimmers, adaptive physiologic mechanisms increase tolerance to cold. Furthermore, these mechanisms may prevent the occurrence of a wide variety of diseases. Prospective studies and epidemiological data are needed to test this hypothesis.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed1999

Increased winter mortality from acute myocardial infarction and stroke: the effect of age.

OBJECTIVES: We examined seasonal variations in mortality from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke by age using 300,000 deaths in the Canadian Mortality Database for the years 1980 to 1982 and 1990 to 1992. BACKGROUND: The effect of age on environmental determinants of AMI and stroke is not well understood. METHODS: Seasonal variations were analyzed by month and for the four seasons (winter beginning in December). A chi-square test was used to test for homogeneity at p < 0.01, and relative risk ratios (RRs) for high and low periods were determined in relation to the overall mean. For each of four age subgroups, the magnitude of the seasonal variation was reported as the difference in mortality between the highest and lowest frequency seasons. RESULTS: By month, AMI deaths were highest in January (RR = 1.090) and lowest in September (RR = 0.904), a relative risk difference of 18.6%. The seasonal mortality variation in AMI deaths (winter vs. summer) increased with increasing age: 5.8% for <65, 8.3% for 65 to 74, 13.4% for 75 to 84 and 15.8% for >85 years (p < 0.005 for trend). Stroke mortality peaked in January (RR = 1.113) and had a trough in September (RR = 0.914), a relative risk difference of 19.9%. The seasonal variation in stroke mortality also increased with age. Seasonal variations were not seen in those aged <65 years, compared with 11.6% for 65 to 74, 15.2% for 75 to 84 and 19.3% for >85 years (p < 0.005 for trend). CONCLUSIONS: The elderly demonstrate a greater winter increase in AMI and stroke mortality than younger individuals. An understanding of these seasonal patterns may provide novel avenues for research in cardiovascular disease prevention.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2000

Winter birth and biological family history in adopted schizophrenics.

To investigate relationships between birth season and biological family history in schizophrenia, this study used a sample of schizophrenics that had the advantages of (a) particularly thorough diagnostic assessments of schizophrenics' relatives, including information from direct interviews as well as chart reviews, and (b) schizophrenic probands who were adopted at early age, mitigating the usual confounding of genetic and postnatal environmental influences of the family. Adopted schizophrenics with no biological family history of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders were significantly more likely to be born in winter months than were either (a) their own biological relatives, including their sibs and half-sibs, (b) schizophrenics with a positive family history for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, or (c) people in the general population. Family-history-positive schizophrenics and their schizophrenic relatives were, in turn, significantly less likely than their own non-schizophrenic biological relatives to be born in the winter; schizophrenics in these families tended to be born in the milder-weather seasons, particularly the spring and fall. Results suggest that environmental factors associated with winter birth may be etiologically important in schizophrenia, particularly for cases in which familial liability factors are weak. By contrast, a familial, probably genetic, liability factor may be especially important in schizophrenics born in mild weather.

Adoption↗
PubMed1999

Myoglobin content in skeletal muscles of hibernating ground squirrels rises in autumn and winter.

The content of myoglobin (Mb) in skeletal muscles of Arctic Yakutian ground squirrel (Citellus undulatus Pallas) was measured in the active euthermic summer and prehibernating autumn animals as well as in hibernating and awake animals in winter. The myoglobin content in winter, irrespective of the state of the animal, was found to be about three times higher than in summer. The content of myoglobin in autumn was also two-fold increased compared to summer, suggesting that high myoglobin level is necessary for hibernation. Analysis of biochemical data available suggests that the increase in myoglobin content in winter is probably related to a high oxygen demand of muscles at the first stage of arousal (non-shivering thermogenesis) when rectal temperature rises from 0 to 10-12 degrees C. At this stage, the oxygen-dependent processes in muscles proceed under the conditions when peripheral blood flow is blocked and anaerobic glycolysis is switched off.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Management of low-flow priapism using the Winter procedure: a case report.

Priapism is a prolonged penile erection that is unrelated to sexual stimulation. Low-flow priapism has been associated with sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies, neoplastic syndrome, anticoagulant therapy, psychotropic medication, and idiopathic causes. We report the successful treatment of idiopathic low-flow priapism using the Winter procedure. Initial treatment consisted of aspiration and intracavernous irrigation with iced saline and a vasoconstrictive agent, but in vain. We then performed the Winter procedure, in which fistulas between the corpora cavernosa and the glans penis were created. This resulted in the simultaneous detumescence of the penis, without complication. The erectile function of the penis was normal 1 year after the procedure. This case shows that idiopathic low-flow priapism can be successfully treated using the Winter procedure when conservative treatment fails.

Humans↗
PubMed1981

Seroepidemiology of H1N1 influenza: the infection and re-infection rate in winter 1978-79.

It was observed that small children and pregnant women were affected to only a small extent by the H1N1 influenza outbreak of winter 1978-79. This supports earlier findings from the epidemic season of 1977-78 and demonstrates that the evolutionary changes in the epidemic virus were not reflected in any appreciable way in this curious phenomenon. The frequency of elderly subjects possessing antibodies against the epidemic H1N1 virus was low, and virtually equal in the pre-epidemic and post-epidemic sampling. This low attack rate contrasts with observations on young military servicemen, in whom the re-infection rate was high, thus indicating that the infection with the winter 1977-78 virus had conferred only modest protection against the closely related virus which caused the winter 1978-79 outbreak.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Prevention of winter seasonal affective disorder by bright-light treatment.

In patients with winter seasonal affective disorder (SAD) the onset of a depressive episode is probably associated with the decreasing amount of light during the autumn. A highly predictable onset of a recurrent depressive episode with seasonal pattern provides a rationale for testing the efficacy of bright-light treatment as a preventive measure. Twelve out-patients with winter SAD were assigned to start bright light treatment either when they were well, or not to start it until the first symptoms of depression had already emerged. The severity of depressive symptoms was prospectively rated for a parallel randomized comparison. Bright light given well in advance of the emerging symptoms prevented a depressive episode. Clinical remission was significantly more frequent in the former subgroup of the patients in January and in March. To sum up, bright light can be successfully administered as prophylactic treatment for the prevention of winter SAD.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Winter-time climatic control on dissolved organic carbon export and surface water chemistry in an Adirondack forested watershed.

Although most of forested watersheds in temperate and boreal regions are snow-covered for a substantial portion of the year, responses of biogeochemical processes under the snow pack to climatic fluctuations are poorly understood. We investigated responses of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and surface water chemistry in stream and lake discharge waters draining the Arbutus Lake Watershed in the Adirondacks of New York State to climatic fluctuations during the snow-covered months from December through April. Interannual variability in stream discharge corresponded to changes in air temperature and snow pack depth across the winter months. Concentrations of DOC in stream water draining a subcatchment showed immediate positive responses to rising temperatures and subsequent increases in runoff during most snowmelt events. Increases in DOC concentrations usually coincided with decreases in pH and increases in total aluminum (Al) concentrations, while the correlations between concentrations of DOC and SO4(2-) or base cations were negative. Although changes in air temperature, snow pack depth, and runoff were all significantly correlated with stream water concentrations of major solutes, stepwise linear regression found that runoff was the best predictor of solute concentrations. Results of stepwise linear regression with long-term monthly monitoring data collected at the lake outlet showed weaker but still consistent climatic effects on interannual variations in concentrations of DOC and other solutes. Over the 17 winter periods from December 1983 through April 2000, changes in seasonal average concentrations of DOC, H+, and Al in lake discharge generally corresponded to interannual variations in temperature, precipitation, and runoff, while SO4(2-) and base cations displayed an opposite trend. The results suggest that snowmelt-mediated DOC responses to temperature fluctuations during the winter months might offset increases in the surface water pH caused by decreasing acidic deposition and pose a potential hazard of Al toxicity in surface waters.

Air↗
PubMed2004

Spelt (Triticum spelta L.) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) wholemeals have similar sterol profiles, as determined by quantitative liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis.

From a nutritional point of view, cereal lipids include valuable molecules, such as essential fatty acids, phytosterols, and fat-soluble vitamins. Spelt (Triticum spelta L.) is an alternative hulled bread cereal mostly grown in Belgium, where it is mainly intended for animal feed but should increasingly be used for human consumption. The present research focused on phytosterol quantification by LC/APCI-MS2 in saponified wholemeal extracts of 16 dehulled spelt and 5 winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties grown in Belgium during 2001-2002 at the same location. Glycosylated sterols and free and formerly esterified sterols could be determined in saponified extracts. Results show that the mean phytosterol content is comparable in both cereals (whereas other lipids, such as oleic and linoleic acids, are increased in spelt wholemeal): spelt extract has, on average, 527.7 microg of free and esterified sterols g(-1) of wholemeal and 123.8 microg of glycosylated sterols g(-1) of wholemeal versus 528.5 and 112.6 microg x g(-1) in winter wheat (values not corrected for recoveries). This is the first report on the application and validation of an LC/MS2 method for the quantification of phytosterols in spelt and winter wheat.

Belgium↗
PubMed2006

Effects of genotype and environment on the antioxidant properties of hard winter wheat bran.

Recent consumer interest in controlling and preventing chronic diseases through improved diet has promoted research on the bioactive components of agricultural products. Wheat is an important agricultural and dietary commodity worldwide with known antioxidant properties concentrated mostly in the bran fraction. The objective of this study was to determine the relative contributions of genotype (G) and growing environment (E) to hard winter wheat bran antioxidant properties, as well as correlations of these properties to growing conditions. Bran samples of 20 hard winter wheat varieties grown in two locations were examined for their free radical scavenging capacities against DPPH, ABTS cation, peroxyl (ORAC), and superoxide anion radicals and chelating properties, as well as their total phenolics and phenolic acid compositions. Results showed significant differences for all antioxidant properties tested and multiple significant correlations between these properties. A factorial designed analysis of variance for these data and pooled previously published data showed similar results for four of the six antioxidant properties, indicating that G effects were considerably larger than E effects for chelating capacity and DPPH radical scavenging properties, whereas E was much stronger than G for ABTS cation radical scavenging capacity and total phenolics, although small interaction effects (GxE) were significant for all antioxidant properties analyzed. Results also showed significant correlations between temperature stress or solar radiation and some antioxidant properties. These results indicate that each antioxidant property of hard winter wheat bran is influenced differently by genotype and growing conditions.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed2004

Winter cherry bugs feed on plant tropane alkaloids and de-epoxidize scopolamine to atropine.

The winter cherry bug colonizes the Duboisia leichhardtii tree, which is a rich source of scopolamine. It consumes the tropane alkaloids atropine and scopolamine. Quantitative analysis revealed that the ratio of scopolamine to atropine in the winter cherry bug (0.46) was far from that found in the leaves of the host plant (7.20). To elucidate whether the winter cherry bugs selectively excrete or decompose scopolamine, they were fed scopolamine and/or atropine together with sucrose. They took up scopolamine as well as atropine, and converted scopolamine into atropine.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed2002

Abscisic acid- and cold-induced thaumatin-like protein in winter wheat has an antifungal activity against snow mould, Microdochium nivale.

Cold acclimation of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings induces accumulation in the apoplast of taTLPs that are similar to thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs), which are pathogenesis-related proteins. We characterized a cDNA of WAS-3a encoding the major isoform of taTLPs from winter wheat cells and showed that WAS-3a transcripts were markedly increased by treatment with ABA and by treatment with elicitors (chitosan, beta-glucan and cell wall fractions of Fusarium oxysporum and Microdochium nivale) in wheat cells. To analyse the function of WAS-3a, a highly efficient expression system using wheat cells was established, and a large amount of recombinant WAS-3a protein (rWAS-3a) was obtained with near homogeneity. Antifungal assays using various fungi grown on agar plates revealed that rWAS-3a inhibits hyphal growth of pink snow mould, Microdochium nivale, at a low temperature. The results suggest that cold-induced taTLPs that accumulate in the apoplast contribute to snow mould resistance of winter wheat.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

Winter transport of Chernobyl radionuclides from a montane catchment to an ice-covered lake.

The amounts of 137Cs and 90Sr have been determined in the inflows and outflows of the Norwegian sub-alpine lake, Ovre Heimdalsvatn, in March/April during the period of ice-cover, when discharge is extremely stable. The lake is situated in an area contaminated by Chernobyl fallout. The transported course particulate plant material has been collected in traps; the particles and colloids have been removed from water samples by cross-flow ultrafiltration. On the basis of radionuclide inputs and outputs, lake budget calculations have been made for 137Cs and 90Sr during the period of ice-cover. Daily transport of radionuclides is considerably less than that observed during the spring snowmelt period when discharges are high. Size distribution patterns of Cs and Sr observed during winter are compared with previously published data from the same lake during the spring spate. The retention of 137Cs is similar in winter and spring, but retention of 90Sr is greater in winter.

Accidents↗
PubMed1985

Isolation and partial characterization of an N-acetylgalactosamine-specific lectin from winter-aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) root tubers.

A lectin was isolated from root tubers of winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) by affinity chromatography on fetuin-agarose, and it was partially characterized with respect to its biochemical, physicochemical and carbohydrate-binding properties. The Eranthis hyemalis lectin is a dimeric protein (Mr 62000) composed of two different subunits of Mr 30000 and 32000, held together by disulphide bonds. It is especially rich in asparagine/aspartic acid, glutamine/glutamic acid and leucine, and contains 5% covalently bound carbohydrate. Hapten inhibition assays indicated that the winter-aconite lectin is specific for N-acetylgalactosamine. In addition, the lectin exhibits a pronounced specificity towards blood-group-O erythrocytes. The winter-aconite lectin is the first lectin to be isolated from a species belonging to the plant family Ranunculaceae. It appears to be different from all previously described plant lectins.

Acetylglucosamine↗
PubMed2000

The effects of a prolonged undernutrition on serum lipids and fatty acid composition of reindeer calves during winter and spring.

We examined the effects of undernutrition on lipid metabolism in reindeer (<1 year) during mid-winter and spring, with particular focus on the proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in major serum lipids. The reindeer (n=8) were fed their winter feed, lichen, ad libitum for 5 weeks, followed by 40% restriction of energy for 8 weeks and refeeding to normal for 6 weeks. The concentrations of major serum lipids, cholesterol and phospholipids decreased significantly during the ad libitum period (by 50 and 44%, respectively). The proportion of major PUFA, linoleic acid in serum cholesteryl esters, decreased from 48.2 to 38.4% during the ad libitum period (P < 0.01), and to 29.2% during the restriction period (P < 0.001). The proportion of linoleic acid in phospholipids decreased from 27.9 to 15.6% during the ad libitum period (P < 0. 001), and to 13.0% during the restriction (P < 0.01). Also alpha-linolenic acid in the major lipids decreased significantly during the ad libitum and restriction periods. The decreases in the major lipids and linoleic acid were reversed during the refeeding. The control group (n=8) which was fed high-quality concentrates ad libitum gained weight most of the spring but showed similar although slower decreases in the major serum lipids and PUFAs than the lichen group. Our results indicate that feeding reindeer on lichen during winter leads to the retardation of growth and reductions in major serum lipids and their principal C18-PUFA proportions. The decreased proportions of the principal PUFAs most probably reflect their low dietary intake but may have been modified also by seasonal factors.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Rate of development of Hydrotaea rostrata under summer and winter (cyclic and constant) temperature regimes.

The black carrion fly Hydrotaea rostrata Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Muscidae) is a muscid, which occurs on approximately one-third of decomposing human corpses involved in homicide cases in south-western Australia. Work to date on its development rates is scant with only one published source available. The current study measured the precise developmental rates of this species using high repetition and sampling rates. A comparison was made of the developmental rates between constant and cyclic temperatures in winter and summer temperature regimes in south-western Australia. Developmental times for 90% of first stage larvae to emerge as adult flies are: summer constant, 21.6days, summer cyclic, 23.5 days, winter constant 64.5days and winter cyclic, 48.3 days. These data will allow forensic entomologists to make more accurate determinations of post-mortem intervals in cases where H. rostrata life history stages are present.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

The marine fireworm Hermodice carunculata is a winter reservoir and spring-summer vector for the coral-bleaching pathogen Vibrio shiloi.

Vibrio shiloi, the causative agent of bleaching of the coral Oculina patagonica in the Mediterranean Sea, is present in all bleached O. patagonica corals in the summer (25-30 degrees C), but can be not detected in the coral during the winter (16-20 degrees C). Furthermore, the pathogen can not survive in O. patagonica at temperatures below 20 degrees C. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with a V. shiloi-specific oligonucleotide probe, we found that the marine fireworm Hermodice caranculata is a winter reservoir for V. shiloi. Worms taken directly from the sea during the winter contained approximately 10(8) V. shiloi per worm by FISH analysis. However, colony-forming units (cfu) revealed only 4.1-18.3 x 10(4) V. shiloi per worm, indicating that approximately 99.9% of them were in the viable-but-not-culturable (VBNC) state. When worms were infected with V. shiloi, most of the bacteria adhered to the worm within 24 h and then penetrated into epidermal cells. By 48 h, less than 10(-4) of the intact V. shiloi in the worm gave rise to colonies, suggesting that they differentiated inside the worm into the VBNC state. When worms infected with V. shiloi were placed in aquaria containing O. patagonica, all of the corals showed small patches of bleached tissue in 7-10 days and total bleaching in 17 days. This is the first report of a reservoir and vector for a coral disease.

Animals↗