The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of dandelion [Taraxacum officinale (Weber) ex Wigg.] and sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides Rousi) leaves grown in Poland (53°20′35″N, 14°58′10″E). Both the leaves of sea buckthorn and common dandelion were found to be a very good source of essential nutrients and elements. The dandelion leaves contained significantly more protein, fat, and crude fibre than those from sea buckthorn. Dandelion leaves also contained more phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, and zinc. Although the dandelion leaves were a good source of biologically active substances, sea buckthorn leaves exhibited a significantly higher level of antioxidant activity as measured by ABTS. Dandelion leaves were richer in tocopherols, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin while the sea buckthorn leaves contained higher levels of L-ascorbic acid.

Herpes zoster, defined as the reactivation of a latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection, used to be a serious disease in immunocompromised children until recently. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical presentation of herpes zoster in hospitalized immunocompromised children compared with hospitalized immunocompetent counterparts. We reviewed the hospital charts of 72 children aged 6 months to 18 years diagnosed with herpes zoster and treated with acyclovir in our department covering a 19-year period. Forty-six of the children were immunocompromised which was mainly due to hematologic diseases. There were no differences in the age at which herpes zoster occurred, length of hospitalization, and the location or extent of the skin eruption. General symptoms were observed more frequently in the hospitalized immunocompetent patients compared with the hospitalized immunocompromised children (80% vs. 56%). The average age at which primary VZV infection occurred was higher among the immunocompromised children than the immunocompetent children with the latter group suffering from significantly more primary VZV infections during infancy. The presentation of herpes zoster in immunocompromised children is similar to that of herpes zoster in hospitalized immunocompetent children.

The chemical composition of 4 spring wheat species was analyzed: einkorn (Triticum monococcum) (local cv.), emmer (Triticum dicoccon) (Lamella cv.), spelt (Triticum spelta) (Wirtas cv.), and common wheat (Triticum aestivum) (Rospuda cv.). Mean emmer and einkorn yield was significantly lower than that of common wheat. The analyses of the wheat grain included the content of total protein, crude ash, crude fat, crude fibre, carbohydrates, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc. The grains of the tested ancient wheats were richer in protein, lipids, crude fibre, and crude ash than the common wheat grains. The significantly highest levels of crude protein, ether extract, and crude ash were found in einkorn. As the protein concentration in the grain increased, the calcium, magnesium, and potassium levels increased, and the zinc and manganese levels decreased. Genotypic differences between the studied wheats were reflected in the concentrations of the minerals and nutrients, an observation which can be useful in further cross-linkage studies. Dough made from common wheat and spelt flour showed better performance quality classifying it to be used for bread production. In turn, flour from emmer and einkorn wheat may be intended for pastry products, due to short dough development time and constancy as well as high softening.

The addition of lime and gypsum to wood ash and straw ash were used in the studies. The subject of the study was estimation of the fertilization effect of biomass, ash, gypsum and lime on the content of macro- and microelements in soil and grain of spring wheat. The experiment was carried out in 2016 in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. The study compared three factors: wood ash of deciduous and coniferous trees and cereal straw ash (I. factor), two types of ash additions: lime or gypsum (mixture composition: 60% ash and 40% lime or gypsum) (II. factor), three doses of ash with lime or gypsum mixture: 2, 4, 6 Mg·ha−1 and control (III. factor). The analysis of the microelements contents (copper, chromium, nickel and lead) in the soil shows that the application of fertilizer in a form of wood or straw ash as well as PROFITKALK lime or SulfoPROFIT gypsum did not exceed the threshold values for the soil from the first group of land specified in Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of September 1, 2016 on the manner of assessing the pollution of the earth’s surface. After application of biomass ashes (wood or straw) an increase of some macroelements (potassium, phosphorus and calcium) in the soil was observed. The experiment did not reveal any influence of applied fertilization in the form of wood or straw ash nor PROFITKALK lime nor SulfoPROFIT gypsum on changes in iron, manganese and zinc abundance in grains of spring wheat.

Cereal monoculture causes a series of unfavorable changes in field habitat, for example a decrease in technological quality and yield. This system can lead to a shortage of microelements in the diet of poor communities. Moreover, breeding of highly productive plants caused a significant "dilution effect" of the necessary nutrients, such as Zn and Fe. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of two strategies: crop rotation (after rapeseed and many years of monoculture of Galega orientalis Lam.) and foliar fertilization with microelements on the yield, yield elements, physical quality, and farinograph characteristics of winter wheat grain and flour. Results showed that pre-crop preparation and cultivation year have the highest effect on yield, yield components, and qualitative and farinographic characteristics of winter wheat. Foliar additional feeding favorably affected the yield and its components, although the particular fertilization treatment did not significantly increase the yield. Grain quality, its physical characteristics and the rheological parameters of flour were strongly modified by habitat conditions, including weather conditions. Dough obtained from wheat grown after galega showed significantly higher water absorption and prolonged consistency.Zn content. Its consumption in rural areas will probably increase to over 70%, which could lead to an increase in the micronutrient shortage in communities with poor resources [10]. Cereals provide up to 52% of the daily requirement for Zn. Biofortification is a process of plant growth that generates high microelement content through traditional breeding or modern biotechnology. It has been stated that Zn concentration in intensively cultivated soils oscillates between 20 and 35 mg kg −1 , and may be significantly below that level when wheat is grown in soils poor in zinc [11,12]. In the case of wheat grain, Zn bioavailability reaches about 25% of that amount, which is related to the presence of anti-nutritional factors, such as phitynians and the lack of promoter substances in the grain [13].Approximately 30% of the population in developing countries, and about 10% of Americans and Canadians, suffer from Zn shortages [14]. It is estimated that 17.3% of the entire world population is at risk of inadequate Zn consumption, and Zn shortage leads to an estimated annual death rate of 433,000 children under the age of 5 [15]. It was recently found that in Great Britain, Zn consumption in about a quarter of teenagers is lower than the Lower Reference Nutrient Intake (LRNI).There are numerous strategies for improving the intake of micronutrients with plant-based diets and bolstering the condition of plant nourishment in order for microelements to reach food, such as rice diversification, mineral supplementation, enrichment after harvest and bio-diversification [16]. Plant breeding (for example genetic biofortification) and Zn fertilizer application (for example agronomic biofortification) are two important agricultural tools for improving Zn concentration in ...