BACKGROUND: Karrikins (KARs) are plant growth regulators that promote seed germination and the subsequent growth and development of seedlings of many plant species. In nature they are generated and released by combustion of plant material and promote the restoration of burned ecosystems. Smoke water can be artificially prepared as a saturated extract of all substances in smoke produced by burning plants, and it has various horticultural and agricultural applications. RESULTS: We have developed, validated and applied the first fast, specific and sensitive method, based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, for quantifying KARs in smoke water. To assist these efforts and further analyses, standards of the main KARs (which are not commercially available) were synthesized. Due to the complex matrix of smoke waters, two quantification approaches (standard dilution with a structural KAR analogue and standard addition) were compared. The standard addition method allowed absolute quantification of KARs in six of eight smoke water samples of diverse origins and ages. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal differences in both total and relative levels of KARs in smoke water, and indicate that differences in its KAR composition may be linked to variations in its bioactivity.

• Klíčová slova
• Karrikins, Smoke water, Standard addition method, Standard dilution method, Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC),
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Plant-derived smoke stimulates seed germination in numerous plant species. Smoke also has a positive stimulatory effect on pollen germination and pollen tube growth. The range of plant families affected my smoke still needs to be established since the initial study was restricted to only three species from the Amaryllidaceae. The effects of smoke-water (SW) and the smoke-derived compounds, karrikinolide (KAR1 ) and trimethylbutenolide (TMB) on pollen growth characteristics were evaluated in seven different plant families. Smoke-water (1:1000 and 1:2000 v:v) combined with either Brewbaker and Kwack's (BWK) medium or sucrose and boric acid (SB) medium significantly improved pollen germination and pollen tube growth in Aloe maculata All., Kniphofia uvaria Oken, Lachenalia aloides (L.f.) Engl. var. aloides and Tulbaghia simmleri P. Beauv. Karrikinolide (10(-6) and 10(-7) m) treatment significantly improved pollen tube growth in A. maculata, K. uvaria, L. aloides and Nematanthus crassifolius (Schott) Wiehle compared to the controls. BWK or SB medium containing TMB (10(-3) m) produced significantly longer pollen tubes in A. maculata, K. uvaria and N. crassifolius. These results indicate that plant-derived smoke and the smoke-isolated compounds may stimulate pollen growth in a wide range of plant species.

• Klíčová slova
• Karrikinolide, pollen germination, pollen tube growth, smoke-water, trimethylbutenolide,
• MeSH
• furany farmakologie   MeSH
• gama-butyrolakton analogy a deriváty   farmakologie   MeSH
• kouř MeSH
• kultivační média MeSH
• liliovité účinky léků   MeSH
• pyl účinky léků   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• pylová láčka účinky léků   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• pyrany farmakologie   MeSH
• voda MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• butenolide MeSH Prohlížeč
• furany MeSH
• gama-butyrolakton MeSH
• karrikinolide MeSH Prohlížeč
• kouř MeSH
• kultivační média MeSH
• pyrany MeSH
• voda MeSH

Plant-derived smoke and smoke-isolated compounds stimulate germination in seeds from over 80 genera. It has also been reported that smoke affects overall plant vigour and has a stimulatory effect on pollen growth. The effect of smoke on orchid seeds, however, has not been assessed. In South Africa, orchid seeds from several genera may be exposed to smoke when they are released from their seedpods. It is therefore possible that smoke may affect their germination and growth. Therefore, the effects of smoke [applied as smoke-water (SW)] and two smoke-derived compounds, karrikinolide (KAR1 ) and trimethylbutenolide (TMB), were investigated on the germination and growth of orchid seeds in vitro. The effect of SW, KAR1 and TMB were investigated on the endangered epiphytic orchid, Ansellia africana, which is indigenous to tropical areas of Africa. Smoke-water, KAR1 and TMB were infused in half-strength MS medium. The number of germinated seeds and number of seeds and protocorm bodies to reach predetermined developmental stages were recorded on a weekly basis using a dissecting microscope for a 13-week period. Infusing SW 1:250 (v:v) into half-strength MS medium significantly increased the germination rate index (GRI) and the development rate index (DRI) of the A. africana seeds. All the SW treatments significantly increased the number of large protocorm bodies at the final stage of development. Infusing KAR1 into the growing medium had no significant effect on germination or development of the seeds. The TMB treatment, however, significantly reduced the GRI and DRI of A. africana seeds.

• Klíčová slova
• Ansellia africana, developmental rate index, germination rate index, karrikinolide, leopard orchid, smoke-water, trimethylbutenolide,
• MeSH
• klíčení * MeSH
• kouř * MeSH
• květy fyziologie   MeSH
• Orchidaceae růst a vývoj   MeSH
• semena rostlinná růst a vývoj   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• kouř * MeSH

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has been shown to have many untoward healh effects, however no study directly evaluated the effect of ETS on diarrheal diseases. In this case control study we aimed to define the risk factors including ETS for diarrheal diseases in 6-18 months old infants who live in the capital of Turkey. All of them have access to pipe water and toilets. Infants who were admitted to Hacettepe University Ihsan Dogramaci Children's Hospital Diarrheal Diseases Training and Treatment Unit with the complaint of acute diarrhea (less than 14 days) between April-May 2005 constituted the cases. Controls were age matched infants who were admitted to Well Baby Unit during the same period and never had a diarrheal episode. A total of 206 children were included in the study (104 were diarrheal cases and 102 control cases). The only statistically significant parameters were found to be maternal education (OR: 2.7 95% CI 1.2-5.9, p = 0.014), maternal cigarette smoking (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.2-6.9, p = 0.015) and infant's weight for height being below 10 percentile (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.1-4.5, p = 0.045). ETS should be evaluated as a risk factor for diarrhea in further studies.

• MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• průjem kojenců epidemiologie   etiologie   MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• studie případů a kontrol MeSH
• znečištění tabákovým kouřem škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• Check Tag
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Turecko epidemiologie   MeSH
• Názvy látek
• znečištění tabákovým kouřem MeSH

Smoke-water (SW) and Karrikinolide1 (KAR1) release dormancy and improve seed germination in many plant species. Therefore, we tested SW (1:2500 v/v) and KAR1 (10-7 M) to break the morphological dormancy of celery cultivar (Apium graveolens L.). In the first trial, seeds were subjected to a 21-day incubation period at 20 °C with SW and KAR1 applied as single treatments. KAR1 showed significantly improved germination (30.7%) as compared to SW (17.2%) and a water control (14.7%). In seed soaking experiments, SW, KAR1, and gibberellic acid (GA3) treatments showed higher germination percentages than the water control after 3 and 6 h of soaking. However, prolonged soaking (12 h) reduced germination percentages for all treatments, indicating a detrimental effect. Analysis of KAR1 content dynamics in 7-day- and 21-day-old celery seeds indicated its prolonged effects on germination and dormancy alleviation. Phytohormones, including auxins in 7-day-old and cytokinins in 7-day- and 21-day-old celery seedlings, along with their precursors and metabolites, were analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) after treatment with KAR1 and SW. The analysis of auxin levels in 7-day-old seeds revealed a negative correlation between seed germination and auxin (indole-3-acetic acid, IAA) content. Notably, it was found that KAR1-treated seeds significantly reduced IAA levels in all treatments. SW and KAR1 did not significantly affect cytokinin levels during celery germination except for N6-Isopentenyladenine. Hence, further research is needed to understand their precise role in celery seed germination. This work will improve our understanding of the role of bioactive compounds from plant-derived smoke and how they regulate hormonal responses and improve germination efficiency in celery.

• Klíčová slova
• Karrikinolide, biostimulants, celery, phytohormones, smoke-water,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Bioactive compounds such as karrikinolide (KAR1 from smoke) and eckol (from the seaweed Ecklonia maxima) show promising effects on several important crop plants. These plant growth-stimulating organic biomolecules, along with crude extracts (smoke-water and Kelpak® product prepared from Ecklonia maxima), were tested on spinach plants. Eckol sprayed at 10-6 M significantly increased all the growth and biochemical parameters examined compared to control spinach plants. All tested plant growth biostimulants significantly increased total chlorophyll, carotenoids and protein content of spinach leaves. The cytokinin profile of spinach plants was also determined. Cis-zeatin, dihydrozeatin and isopentenyladenine types of cytokinins were promoted by both smoke- and seaweed-based biostimulants. In comparison to the control plants, the level of free sinapic acid was greater in all spinach plants treated with these biostimulants. The application of these biostimulants can help spinach crop by improving growth, yield and nutritional quality; moreover, they are organic and cost-effective.

• Klíčová slova
• Biostimulants, Growth, Leafy vegetables, Phytohormones, Seaweed, Smoke,
• MeSH
• cytokininy metabolismus   MeSH
• dioxiny izolace a purifikace   farmakologie   MeSH
• furany izolace a purifikace   farmakologie   MeSH
• hydroxybenzoáty metabolismus   MeSH
• kouř analýza   MeSH
• mořské řasy chemie   MeSH
• Phaeophyceae chemie   MeSH
• pyrany izolace a purifikace   farmakologie   MeSH
• regulátory růstu rostlin izolace a purifikace   farmakologie   MeSH
• Spinacia oleracea účinky léků   růst a vývoj   metabolismus   MeSH
• zemědělské plodiny účinky léků   růst a vývoj   metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• cytokininy MeSH
• dioxiny MeSH
• eckol MeSH Prohlížeč
• furany MeSH
• hydroxybenzoáty MeSH
• karrikinolide MeSH Prohlížeč
• kouř MeSH
• phenolic acid MeSH Prohlížeč
• pyrany MeSH
• regulátory růstu rostlin MeSH

The current evidence of regulatory effect of smoke-water (SW) and karrikinolide (KAR(1)) on the concentrations of endogenous cytokinins in plants partly explain the basis for their growth stimulatory activity. Karrikinolide (KAR1) which is derived from smoke-water (SW) is involved in some physiological aspects in the life-cycle of plants. This suggests a potential influence on the endogenous pool (quantity and quality) of phytohormones such as cytokinins (CKs). In the current study, the effect of SW (1:500; 1:1000; 1:1500 v/v dilutions) and KAR1 (10(-7); 10(-8); 10(-9) M) applied during micropropagation of Eucomis autumnalis subspecies autumnalis on the ex vitro growth and CKs after 4 months post-flask duration was evaluated. The interactions of SW and KAR(1) with benzyladenine (BA), α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or BA+NAA were also assessed. Plants treated with SW (1:500) and KAR1 (10(-8) M) demonstrated superior growth in terms of the rooting, leaf and bulb sizes and fresh biomass than the control and plants treated with BA and BA+NAA. However, plant growth was generally inhibited with either SW (1:500) or KAR1 (10(-8) M) and BA when compared to BA (alone) treatment. Relative to NAA treatment, the presence of KAR(1) (10(-7) M) with NAA significantly increased the leaf area and fresh biomass. Both SW and KAR1-treated plants accumulated more total CKs, mainly isoprenoid-type than the control and NAA-treated plants. The highest CK content was also accumulated in SW (1:500) with BA+NAA treatments. Similar stimulatory effects were observed with increasing concentrations of KAR(1) and BA. The current findings establish that SW and KAR1 exert significant influence on the endogenous CK pools. However, the better growth of plants treated with SW and KAR1 treatments was not exclusively related to the endogenous CKs.

• Klíčová slova
• Acclimatization, Asparagaceae, Conservation, Medicinal plants, Plant growth regulators, UHPLC,
• MeSH
• aklimatizace * MeSH
• Asparagaceae účinky léků   růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• biomasa MeSH
• cytokininy analýza   metabolismus   MeSH
• furany farmakologie   MeSH
• kořeny rostlin účinky léků   růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• kouř MeSH
• kyseliny naftalenoctové metabolismus   MeSH
• léčivé rostliny MeSH
• lipnicovité MeSH
• listy rostlin účinky léků   růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• pyrany farmakologie   MeSH
• regulátory růstu rostlin analýza   metabolismus   MeSH
• voda chemie   MeSH
• výhonky rostlin účinky léků   růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 1-naphthaleneacetic acid MeSH Prohlížeč
• cytokininy MeSH
• furany MeSH
• karrikinolide MeSH Prohlížeč
• kouř MeSH
• kyseliny naftalenoctové MeSH
• pyrany MeSH
• regulátory růstu rostlin MeSH
• voda MeSH

OBJECTIVES: Smoking of water pipe (WP) and cigarettes has recently turned into a major global health burden. The present study aimed at assessing WP and cigarette smoking among Zahedan University of Medical Sciences (ZUMS) students in Iran. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 500 students in ZUMS (182 males, 318 females). The subjects were selected through randomized cluster sampling. Morgan's chart was applied to calculate the sample size; 96.6% of the attendees completed a questionnaire designed to address the aims of the study. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 21.2 ± 2.4 years. WP and cigarette smoker rates were at 31.2% and 15.2%, respectively. The age of smoking initiation ranged between 15 and 20 years. Friends played crucial roles in triggering the smoking in both groups of WP and cigarette smokers (78% and 54%, respectively). The main reasons for WP and cigarette smoking were entertainment followed by curiosity. Furthermore, males used more cigarette (26.5 vs. 8.7%) and WP (50.6 vs. 20.4%) than females. Among father and mother smokers, respectively, 54.2% and 60% of children were also WP smokers (p = 0.001). Also, 21.9% and 60% of children smoking cigarettes had father and mother smokers, respectively (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Tobacco use, especially for WP seems to be at alarming rates among medical students in Iran. It is highly recommended to control the progressive prevalence of WP smoking by governmental/academic preventive measures as educational and smoking cessation activities.

• Klíčová slova
• cigarette, smoking, student, university, water pipe,
• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• kouření cigaret * MeSH
• kouření vodní dýmky * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• studenti lékařství * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• randomizované kontrolované studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Írán epidemiologie   MeSH

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of tobacco dependence among adolescents in the Czech Republic in 2010, their willingness to quit and knowledge about quitting options. METHODS: Primary, intermediate and secondary school students completed an anonymous questionnaire on tobacco use during a smoking prevention class, with a response rate of 100%. RESULTS: Of 1420 anonymous questionnaires analysed, 66.8% (n = 949) of respondents had ever tried smoking. More were from smoking (50.4%) than non-smoking (49.6%) families; there were no differences in sex. Most student smokers had experimented with cigarettes (94.6%), cigars (8%), marihuana cigarettes (4.6%) and water pipes (1.9%). At the time of the survey, 52.9% (520/949) of those who had ever tried smoking were current smokers, 30.3% smoked daily, 18.3% weekly and 4.2% less frequently. Only 20.5% of smokers had not considered quitting, and 66.9% had tried unsuccessfully to quit. Withdrawal symptoms were experienced by 24.5% (123/502) of the current smokers, indicating a high level of nicotine dependence in this age group. The majority (346/467, 74.1%) of the current smokers said they would stop smoking immediately on their own. Only a few would seek help at a pharmacy (4.9%), 3.4% would ask their doctor and 1.7% their parents. CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco dependence is prevalent among Czech adolescents. The majority of smokers wanted to stop, but knowledge about smoking cessation and quitting assistance offered to smokers was low.

• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• kouření marihuany epidemiologie   MeSH
• kouření epidemiologie   psychologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• odvykání kouření metody   MeSH
• poruchy vyvolané užíváním tabáku rehabilitace   MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• tabákové výrobky MeSH
• zdraví - znalosti, postoje, praxe MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH

The biologically active molecules karrikinolide (KAR1) and trimethylbutenolide (TMB) present in wildfire smoke play a key role in regulating seed germination of many plant species. To elucidate the physiological mechanism by which smoke-water (SW), KAR1, and TMB regulate seed germination in photosensitive 'Grand Rapids' lettuce (Lactuca sativa), we investigated levels of the dormancy-inducing hormone abscisic acid (ABA), three auxin catabolites, and cytokinins (26 isoprenoid and four aromatic) in response to these compounds. Activity of the hydrolytic enzymes α-amylase and lipase along with stored food reserves (lipids, carbohydrate, starch, and protein) were also assessed. The smoke compounds precisely regulated ABA and hydrolytic enzymes under all light conditions. ABA levels under red (R) light were not significantly different in seeds treated with TMB or water. However, TMB-treated seeds showed significantly inhibited germination (33%) compared with water controls (100%). KAR1 significantly enhanced total isoprenoid cytokinins under dark conditions in comparison with other treatments; however, there was no significant effect under R light. Enhanced levels of indole-3-aspartic acid (an indicator of high indole-3-acetic acid accumulation, which inhibits lettuce seed germination) and absence of trans-zeatin and trans-zeatin riboside (the most active cytokinins) in TMB-treated seeds might be responsible for reduced germination under R light. Our results demonstrate that SW and KAR1 significantly promote lettuce seed germination by reducing levels of ABA and enhancing the activity of hydrolytic enzymes, which aids in mobilizing stored reserves. However, TMB inhibits germination by enhancing ABA levels and reducing the activity of hydrolytic enzymes.

• MeSH
• furany farmakologie   MeSH
• fytochrom metabolismus   MeSH
• gama-butyrolakton analogy a deriváty   farmakologie   MeSH
• klíčení účinky léků   MeSH
• kouř * MeSH
• lékové interakce MeSH
• pyrany farmakologie   MeSH
• regulátory růstu rostlin metabolismus   MeSH
• salát (hlávkový) účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• furany MeSH
• fytochrom MeSH
• gama-butyrolakton MeSH
• karrikinolide MeSH Prohlížeč
• kouř * MeSH
• pyrany MeSH
• regulátory růstu rostlin MeSH
• trimethylbutenolide MeSH Prohlížeč