181 taxa of lichenized <i>Ascomycotina</i> (including four species of lichcnicolous fungi) occurring in the Bełchatów Industrial Region (BIR) are described. They present the original state of lichen taxonomic diversity and their resources. before the strip brown coal mine and electric power station of BIR were put into operation.

Old-growth forests arę natural biocoenoses, which developed and function without apparent impacts of human activity, which are adjusted to their habitats and remain in perfect biocoenotic equilibrium. In a forest environment there occurs a high diversity of seminal and cryptogamic plants and fungi, including lichenized fungi (lichens). The disappearance of old-growth forests affected by human activity or their strong fragmentation and isolation are the greatest danger for numerous typically forest lichens. On the basis of selected lichens - indicators of old-growth forests we undertook an attempt at detecting well-preserved lowland areas, which are at present biocentres of typically forest species. The most important features of indicatory species were considered the following: they are native species growing exclusively in forest communities; they are permanent components of forest biocoenoses, while their biological-ecological properties are adjusted to the phytoclimate and biotopes of forest environment; they inhabit specific forest habitats; they are typical epiphytes and epixylites inhabiting old live trees and dead wood of various stages of decomposition; they do not grow in managed forests. A total of 71 species that will serve the function of obligatory indicators (IND) of old-growth forests were selected for Poland's natural lowland forests (see Table 1). 53 of these species are presently strongly threatened, possessing the status of the Red List Categories (CR, EN and VU). The following 10 forest areas were evaluated: Białowieża National Park (58 IND), the reserves of Budzisk (34 IND), and Starożyn (29 IND) in North-Eastern Poland, reserves of Borki (29 IND), Las Warmiński (17 IND) and Krutynia (18 IND) in Northern Poland, and the reserves of Spała (15 IND), Zagożdżon (13 IND), Białe Ługi (10 IND) and Żyznów (4 IND) in Central Poland (Table 2). The highest number of old-growth forests occur in the Białowieża National Park (84%). This value indicates that the Białowieża Ntional Park may now be considered a model comparitive object, the biocentre of epiphytic and epixylic forest species of old-growth forests representing the total ecological amplitude of biodiversity and occupied habitats. In all the 10 biocentres there occur 66 indicatory species of old-growth forests, the highest number of which, ca 88%, occur in the Białowieża National Park, while 51.5% in the Budzisk reserve in the Knyszyńska Forest.

IntroductionVarious forms of vitamin D and factors involved in their metabolism can play a role in the etiopathogenesis of metabolic disorders. This paper aims to define the relationship between concentration of the hydroxylated form of vitamin D (25(OH)D), the fraction of free and bioavailable vitamin D, and of vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) levels on the one hand and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome components on the other.Material and methodsThe studies were conducted on 79 people, including 52 with metabolic syndrome (MetS+) and 27 without it (MetS–). Biochemical measurements (lipid profile, glycemia, 25(OH)D, VDBP, albumin, calcium, parathyroid hormone) were performed, concentration of free and bioavailable vitamin D was mathematically calculated, and anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were taken.ResultsThe mean ± SD concentration of 25(OH)D among MetS+ individuals (41.90 ±13.12 nmol/l) was lower (p < 0.0001) than among the MetS– group (66.09 ±18.02 nmol/l). Differences between groups were observed in relation to medians/means of concentrations of free and bioavailable vitamin D (p < 0.0001) but not in the case of VDBP. In the entire study population, 25(OH)D correlated with all metabolic syndrome components, whereas its free and bioavailable fraction correlated with particular components of the syndrome. In the MetS+ group, VDBP concentration negatively correlated with body mass index (p = 0.037) and levels of diastolic pressure (p = 0.022). In the case of the MetS– group, the free fraction of vitamin D negatively correlated with triglyceridemia (p = 0.049).ConclusionsThe evaluation of various forms of vitamin D and VDBP in different population groups seems to have significant clinical value in evaluating the prevalence of metabolic disorders.

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