Ivy leaves extract based – lipid nanocarriers and their bioefficacy on antioxidant and antitumor activities

Two issues were addressed in the paper: (1) the use of medicinal herbs as functional ingredients entrapped into lipid-based nanocarriers; (2) the efficacy of phytochemical-based nanocarriers with promising antioxidant and antitumor benefits.

Interferometric phase detection at x-ray energies via Fano resonance control

Modern x-ray light sources promise access to structure and dynamics of matter in largely unexplored spectral regions. However, the desired information is encoded in the light intensity and phase, whereas detectors register only the intensity. This phase problem is ubiquitous in crystallography and imaging and impedes the exploration of quantum effects at x-ray energies. Here, we demonstrate phase-sensitive measurements characterizing the quantum state of a nuclear two-level system at hard x-ray energies. The nuclei are initially prepared in a superposition state. Subsequently, the relative phase of this superposition is interferometrically reconstructed from the emitted x rays. Our results form a first step towards x-ray quantum state tomography and provide new avenues for structure determination and precision metrology via x-ray Fano interference.

Protein oxidation and proteolytic signalling in aging

A number of studies reported a relation between longevity, oxidative stress and age-related diseases. Every aerobic organism is inevitably exposed to a permanent flux of free radicals and oxidants. Due to the limited activity of antioxidant and repair mechanisms, levels of reactive oxygen species can increase during aging. Protein damage caused by elevated levels of free radicals or oxidants has an important influence on cellular viability and leads to malfunction of proteins in aged cells. In addition, modified and impaired proteins can cross-link and form the bases of many senescence-associated alterations and also of neurodegenerative diseases. To ensure the maintenance of normal cellular functions, eukaryotic cells exert proteolysis through two systems: the proteasomal system and the lysosomal system, which is degrading cellular components after autophagy. During cellular differentiation and aging, both systems are subject to extensive changes that significantly affect their proteolytic activity. It has been suggested that highly modified proteins and undegradable protein aggregates also affect the intracellular proteolytic systems. Therefore, it is essential to understand the relationship between protein oxidation, intracellular proteolytic systems and cellular defence mechanisms.

Posttranslational protein modifications by reactive nitrogen and chlorine species and strategies for their prevention and elimination

Proteins are subject to various posttranslational modifications, some of them being undesired from the point of view of metabolic efficiency. Prevention of such modifications is expected to provide new means of therapy of diseases and decelerate the process of aging. In this review, modifications of proteins by reactive nitrogen species and reactive halogen species, is briefly presented and means of prevention of these modifications and their sequelae are discussed, including the denitrase activity and inhibitors of myeloperoxidase.

Circadian rhythm and day to day variability of serum potassium concentration: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Hyperkalemia is a common and life-threatening complication frequently seen in patients with acute kidney injury, end-stage renal disease and chronic heart failure. Cardiac arrest and ventricular fibrillation are possible consequences. Biosensors are currently being developed to measure serum potassium under ambulatory conditions and trigger an alarm if the potassium concentration exceeds normal limits. Only few studies exist on the circadian rhythm of potassium; and its dependence on age and kidney function is less clear.

METHODS

Our observational monocentric exploratory study included 30 subjects of which 15 had impaired renal function (RF) (GFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)). Subjects were further categorized into three age groups: 18-39 years (N normal RF = 5, N impaired RF = 4), 40-59 years (N normal RF = 5, N impaired RF = 6), 60-80 years (N normal RF = 5, N impaired RF = 5). Serum potassium levels were measured every 2 h during a 24 h period and repeated once after 2, 4, or 6 days.

RESULTS

In the 15 subjects with normal RF, the lowest mean potassium level (3.96 ± 0.14 mmol/l) was observed at 9 p.m. and the greatest (4.23 ± 0.23 mmol/l) at 1 p.m. In patients with impaired RF the lowest mean potassium level (4.20 ± 0.32 mmol/l) was observed at 9 p.m. and the highest (4.57 ± 0.46 mmol/l) at 3 p.m. The range between the mean of minimum and maximum was greater in patients with impaired RF (0.71 ± 0.45 mmol/l) than in subjects with normal RF (0.53 ± 0.14 mmol/l) [p < 0.001]. No difference in the circadian rhythm was found between the first and second examination.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that patients with normal and impaired RF have comparable circadian patterns of serum potassium concentrations, but higher fluctuations in patients with impaired RF. These results have clinical relevance for developing an automatic biosensor to measure the potassium concentration in blood under ambulatory conditions in patients at high risk for potassium fluctuations.

23-Year-Old Female with an Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumour of the Breast: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature

Purpose: Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours (IMT) are a subcategory of inflammatory pseudotumours (IPT). They arise most commonly in the abdominopelvic region, lung and retroperitoneum, but virtually any anatomical site may be involved. Predominantly children and adolescents are affected and there is a tendency for local recurrence. In the literature up to the present, 20 patients have been reported with an IPT/IMT of the breast. We would like to present another patient with this unusual tumour entity of the breast and discuss the literature. Patient and Examinations: A 23-year-old woman presented with a painless lump in her left breast. There was no history of breast cancer in her family. Sonography showed a hypoechoic heterogeneous solid mass with irregular margins. A core needle biopsy revealed a tumour of high cellularity and a densely collagenous background. Immunohistochemically, the spindle-shaped cells were immunoreactive to smooth muscle actin and ALK-1 protein. Additional FISH analysis proved ALK rearrangements on chromosome 2p23 leading to the diagnosis of an IMT. Wide surgical excision was performed with no evidence of local recurrence after 12 months. Conclusion: Three of the above mentioned 20 patients with IMT/IPT of the breast developed a recurrent tumour, none presented with distant metastasis. A significant recurrence rate of 15 % leads to a clinically and sonographically close follow-up in these patients.

Role of advanced glycation end products in cellular signaling

Improvements in health care and lifestyle have led to an elevated lifespan and increased focus on age-associated diseases, such as neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, frailty and arteriosclerosis. In all these chronic diseases protein, lipid or nucleic acid modifications are involved, including cross-linked and non-degradable aggregates, such as advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Formation of endogenous or uptake of dietary AGEs can lead to further protein modifications and activation of several inflammatory signaling pathways. This review will give an overview of the most prominent AGE-mediated signaling cascades, AGE receptor interactions, prevention of AGE formation and the impact of AGEs during pathophysiological processes.

Interobserver agreement in mr enterography for diagnostic assessment in patients with Crohn's disease

PURPOSE

To evaluate the extent to which MRE can be used as an observer-independent, objective imaging method for the diagnosis and evaluation of CD with respect to the detection of inflammatory changes of the small bowel and lymphadenopathy as diagnostic criterion and bowel distension as a quality criterion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MRE scans of 84 patients (42 female, median age 37 years) were evaluated independently by 4 experienced radiologists. Analysis of inflammatory changes of the bowel wall, lymphadenopathy and adequate bowel distension was conducted separately for the jejunum, ileum and terminal ileum. The Kendall's W-test was used for the statistical comparison of concordance.

RESULTS

In a total of 55 patients, inflammatory activity of the bowel wall was detected and MRE was found to have a high interobserver reproducibility concerning inflammatory changes of the intestinal wall (Kendall's W 0.527 – 0.823). Concerning lymphadenopathy (31 cases, 36.9 %), a low to moderate consensus could be shown with a Kendall's W value of 0.402 – 0.505. For the assessment of adequate bowel distension, a moderate concordance between the operators could be found (Kendall's W 0.497 – 0.581).

CONCLUSION

MRE has proven high interobserver agreement with respect to the diagnosis of inflammatory disease activity of the bowel as a diagnostic criterion in patients with CD. Concerning adequate bowel distension as a quality criterion of the examination itself and lymphadenopathy as a diagnostic criterion, moderate interobserver agreement could be found. This is thought to have a rather small effect on the diagnostic significance and conclusiveness of the method in the daily routine.

[MR enterography sequence evaluation for patients with Crohn's disease]

PURPOSE

To evaluate a routine MR enterography (MRE) protocol for patients with Crohn's disease (CD) in order to assess and rank the subjectively most important sequences regarding diagnostic decisions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We prospectively examined 84 patients (42 male) with known CD using a coronal T2 / T1-weighted balanced SSFP (TrueFISP), axial T2-weighted single shot TSE (HASTE) as well as an axial T1-weighted gradient-echo sequence (2D-FLASH) before intravenous contrast application and a 2D-FLASH sequence with axial and coronal orientation after intravenous contrast application. 4 experienced radiologists subjectively evaluated the sequences independently using a scale between 1 and 5 (1 = excellent; 5 = non-diagnostic) regarding their diagnostic significance for a final radiologic decision. The ranking of the different sequences was statistically tested by the Friedman analysis.

RESULTS

The following ranking was found: HASTE sequences were ranked prior to contrast-enhanced axial gradient-echo (2D-FLASH). The third to fifth ranking was TrueFISP, the axial contrast-enhanced 2D-FLASH and the 2D-FLASH without contrast, respectively. Differences between the first and second rank were significant (p < 0.05), and all other differences were highly significant (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The stable and fast T2-weighted MR sequences without intravenous contrast represented by axial HASTE and coronal TrueFISP were ranked as number 1 and 3. The examination protocol should be completed by a coronal T1-weighted gradient-echo-sequence after contrast injection, which can be supplemented by an axial acquisition. The T1-weighted gradient-echo sequence without contrast could be omitted.