Synthesis and Characterization of Antibacterial Chitosan Films with Ciprofloxacin in Acidic Conditions

This work presents the results of research on obtaining chitosan (CS) films containing on their surface ciprofloxacin (CIP). A unique structure was obtained that not only gives new properties to the films, but also changes the way of coverage and structure of the surface. The spectroscopic test showed that in the process of application of CIP on the surface of CS film, CIP was converted from its crystalline form to an amorphic one, hence improving its bioavailability. This improved its scope of microbiological effect. The research was carried out on the reduction of CIP concentration during the process of CIP adhesion to the surface of chitosan films. The antibacterial activity of the CS films with and without the drug was evaluated in relation to Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as Candida albicans and Penicillium expansum. Changes in the morphology and roughness of membrane surfaces after the antibacterial molecule adhesion process were tested with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Structural analysis of CS and its modifications were confirmed with Fourier-transform spectroscopy in the infrared by an attenuated total reflectance of IR radiation (FTIR-ATR) and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).

Effect of pregnancy length on the early development of Bengal kittens

In cat breeding, an important step is reproduction and obtaining healthy offspring. The main factor determining the survival of newborn kittens is the normal course and length of pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of gestation length on the early development of kittens. It was shown that kittens (premature kittens) later double their body weight (p<0.01), have lower daily gains (p<0.01) and higher body weight during eye opening (p<0.01), which occurs later than in kittens born on time.In addition, due to a shorter period of prenatal development, they require more time until the day of eye opening, which, together with the length of pregnancy, was defined as development age (DA).

Physicochemical Study of the Self-Disintegration of Calcium Orthosilicate (β→γ) in the Presence of the C12A7 Aluminate Phase

The β-γ polymorphic transition of calcium orthosilicate (C₂S) is a key phenomenon in cement chemistry. During this transition, the compound expands due to structural changes and a significant reduction in its density is observed, leading to its disintegration into a powder with a very high specific surface area. Owing to this tendency of the C₂S material to “self-disintegrate”, its production is energy-efficient and thus environmentally friendly. A physicochemical study of the self-disintegration process was conducted with the aim of determining how the amount of dodecacalcium hepta-aluminate (C₁₂A₇) in calcium orthosilicate (C₂S) affects the temperature at which the polymorphic transi-tions from α’L-C₂S to β-C₂S and from β-C₂S to γ-C₂S undergo stabilization. The applied techniques included differential thermal analysis (DTA), calorimetry and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and they made it possible to determine what C₂S/C₁₂A₇ phase ratio in the samples and what cooling rate constitute the optimal conditions of the self-disintegration process. The optimal cooling rate for C₂S materials with a C₁₂A₇ content of up to 60 wt% was determined to be 5 K·min⁻¹. The optimal mass ratio of C₂S/C₁₂A₇ was found to be 70/30, which ensures both efficient self-disintegration and desirable grain size distribution.

„Image 3D” zur Unterschenkelvolumenbestimmung im Vergleich mit der Wasserplethysmographie

Einleitung: Messverfahren zur Bestimmung von Beinvolumina objektivieren im klinischen Alltag Therapieverläufe und werden häufig im Rahmen klinischer Studien benötigt. Als Gold-standard bei der Volumenmessung gilt derzeit die Wasserplethysmographie. Sie ist bei vielen klinischen Studien Mittel der Wahl.

Ziel der Studie war es, ein berührungsloses optisches Messverfahren „Venotrain Image 3D” mit dem Goldstandard, der Wasserplethysmographie, zur Beurteilung von Beinvolumina bzw. der Volumenveränderung im zeitlichen Verlauf zu vergleichen. Wir untersuch-ten, ob sich „Venotrain Image 3D“ als Instrument der Volumenmessung im untersuchten Kollektiv eignet.

Patienten und Methoden: Untersucht wurden 21 schwangere Frauen im Alter von 27 bis 42 Jahren (MW 33,4 ± 4,4 Jahre). Bei Einschluss in die Studie befanden sich die Studienteilnehmerinnen in der 12. bis 28. Schwangerschaftswoche. Sie wurden prospektiv über 16 Wochen untersucht. Bis zur Entbindung wur-den die Patientinnen in 4-wöchigen Abstän-den sowie 3 Monate postpartum bezüglich der Beinvolumina mittels „Venotrain Image 3D” und zur Unterschenkelvolumenbestim-mung mittels Wasserplethysmographie untersucht. Dabei werden folgende Kompartimente erfasst: Wasserplethysmographie: Fuß- und Unterschenkelverdrängung bis zu einer Höhe von 28 cm oberhalb der Fußsohle; „Image 3D“: automatische Auffindung Unterschenkel, Beginn: Extremalstelle cB bis Patellaspalt; Oberschenkel: Beginn: Patellaspalt bis Extremalstelle cG

Ergebnisse: Da unterschiedliche Kompartimente vermessen wurden, eignen sich die gemessenen Absolutvolumina nur bedingt als Parameter zum Methodenvergleich. Die Korrelation der Messergebnisse beider Methoden betrug bei Betrachtung der Volumenveränderung im zeitlichen Verlauf r=0,78, p<0,001. In der Bland-and-Altman-Darstellung zeigen bei der Betrachtung der Volumenveränderung im zeitlichen Verlauf keine systematischen Abweichungen. Bei der Betrachtung der Einflussgröße Unterschenkellänge zeigt sich eine starke Korrelation zur Differenz beider Messverfahren.

Schlussfolgerung: Die „Image 3D“-Methode zur Bestimmung der Beinvolumina korreliert sehr eng mit den Ergebnissen der Wasserplethysmographie hinsichtlich relativer und absoluter Unterschenkelvolumina. Bei den Absolutvolumina kommt es jedoch zur systematischen Abweichung bei großen Unterschenkelvolumina. Dabei stellt die Unterschenkellänge die entscheidende Einflussgröße dar. Beide Methoden messen dabei unterschiedliche Kompartimente des Unterschenkels, sodass je nach Fragestel-lung die eine der anderen Methode überlegen zu sein scheint.

p38 but not p53 is responsible for UVA-induced MCPIP1 expression

MCPIP1 (Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1 Induced Protein) is an important regulator of inflammation and cell apoptosis, but its role in UVA-induced stress response in the epidermis has never been studied. We have found that moderate apoptosis-inducing dose of UVA (27J/cm²) increases the level of MCPIP1 expression in HaCaT cells and normal human keratinocytes (NHEK) within 6-9h after the treatment. MCPIP1 upregulation was dependent on the induction of p38, but not p53, as demonstrated by using p38 inhibitor SB203580 and p53 inducer RG7388, respectively. This increase was also blocked by antioxidants (α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid), suggesting the involvement of MCPIP1 in UVA-induced oxidative stress response. Si-RNA-mediated down-regulation of MCPIP1 expression in HaCaT cells resulted in increased sensitivity to UVA-induced DNA damage and apoptosis. This was accompanied by decreased phosphorylation of p53 and p38 in MCPIP1-silenced cells following UVA irradiation. The activation of p38 in response to low doses of ultraviolet radiation was postulated to be protective for p53-inactive cells. Therefore, MCPIP1 may favor the survival of p53-defective HaCaT cells by sustaining the activation of p38. This creates a loop of mutual positive regulation between p38 and MCPIP1 protein in HaCaT cells, providing the protection against the consequences of UVA irradiation.

Institution of the health care agent in Polish legislation: position of the Polish Working Group on End-of-Life Ethics

INTRODUCTION In numerous countries legislation has been put in place allowing citizens to appoint persons authorized to make medical decisions on their behalf, should the principal lose such decision‑making capacity. OBJECTIVES The paper aimed to prepare a draft proposal of legal regulations introducing into Polish legislation the institution of the health care agent. PATIENTS AND METHODS The draft proposal has been grounded in 6 expertise workshops, in conjunction with several online debates. RESULTS The right to appoint a health care agent should apply to all persons of full legal capacity, and to minors over 16 years of age. Every non-legally incapacitated adult person would be eligible to be appointed a health care agent. Appointment of substitute agents should also be legally provided for. The prerogatives of health care agents would come into effect upon the principals' loss of their decisionmaking capacity, or upon the principals' waiving their right to be provided with pertinent information on their health status. The health care agents would make decisions in all matters pertaining to medical treatment, while remaining under no obligation to perform any hands-on caring duties for their principals. The term of medical power-of-attorney should be discretionary, while its revocation or resignation should be possible at any time. In the event of health care agents' inactivity, or in the event that their actions should appear contrary to the principals' best interests, an attending physician should notify a pertinent court of law whose prerogatives would facilitate revocation of a medical power-of-attorney.  CONCLUSIONS Statutory appointment of a health care agent allows every citizen to appoint in this capacity a person who, to the best of his or her knowledge, would best represent his or her interests in the event that the principal should ultimately lose the capacity to make medical decisions on his or her own behalf.

Monitoring of radioactive contamination in Polish surface waters in 2012-2013

The 90Sr and 137Cs contamination in Polish surface waters has been monitoring since 1994. Surface water samples from six lakes and the Vistula and Oder Rivers were collected in spring and autumn 2012 and 2013. The mean 90Sr and 137Cs concentrations were 3.92 ± 0.40 and 4.49 ± 2.00 mBq L-1, respectively. Correlations were identified between the radionuclide concentrations and meteorological conditions and the original fallout distribution from the Chernobyl disaster. The annual average radionuclide concentrations were not significantly different from the concentrations found between 1994 and 2011. The 137Cs and 90Sr concentrations have been decreasing only slowly.

Fumaderm® in daily practice for psoriasis: dosing, efficacy and quality of life

BACKGROUND

Patients with psoriasis suffer from chronic skin disease and impaired quality of life. With a prevalence of 1-3% of the population, psoriasis is one of the most common chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases. Fumaric acid esters (Fumaderm(®)) are approved for the treatment of psoriasis in Germany, but regular Fumaderm therapy with six tablets per day is often limited due to adverse events.

OBJECTIVES

This observational study recorded data on quality of life, treatment efficacy and drug dosing in patients suffering from psoriasis treated with Fumaderm under conditions of daily practice in 78 dermatological centres.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this prospective, multicentre, noninterventional trial we included adult patients with severe plaque psoriasis under outpatient conditions receiving Fumaderm according to the current summary of product characteristics for systemic treatment of psoriasis. At baseline and after 3, 6 and 12 months the dosing regimen under daily conditions, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and clinical efficacy with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) were documented.

RESULTS

A total of 249 patients were included. The mean DLQI score at study entry was 9·95; the mean PASI was 16·8. The average treatment dose of Fumaderm was 2·8 tablets daily. More than 70% of patients were treated with one to three tablets daily and < 30% were treated with a dose ranging from four to six tablets daily. DLQI and PASI improved in the entire study population by 67·2% and 66·6%, respectively. Specifically, when analysing patients who started Fumaderm within 4 weeks before baseline the mean DLQI score decreased from 11·8 to 2·9 (75% reduction) and the mean PASI score from 19·84 to 7·35 after 12 months (63% improvement).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first field study analysing the use of Fumaderm and the improvement of quality of life in patients with psoriasis under daily outpatient conditions. The improvement of DLQI obtained with Fumaderm was comparable with the improvement observed in patients with psoriasis treated with modern biologics. Importantly, in most patients with good clinical response, the treatment dose was one to three tablets daily.

The effect of tyrphostins AG494 and AG1478 on the autocrine growth regulation of A549 and DU145 cells

We employed two selective EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors: AG494 (reversible) and AG1478 (irreversible) for growth regulation of human lung (A549) and prostate (DU145) cancer cell lines, cultured in chemically defined DMEM/F12 medium. Both tested tyrphostins significantly inhibited autocrine growth of the investigated cell lines. The action of AG494 was dose dependent, and at highest concentrations led to complete inhibition of growth. AG1478 seemed to be more effective at lower concentrations, but was unable to completely inhibit growth of A549 cells. Inhibition of EGFR kinase activity by AG494 in contrast to AG1478 had no effect on the activity of ERK in both cell lines. Both EGFR's inhibitors induced apoptosis of the investigated lung and prostate cancer cell lines, but the proapoptotic effect of the investigated tyrphostins was greater in A549 than in DU145 cells. The tyrphostins arrested cell growth of DU145 and A549 cells in the G1 phase, similarly to other known inhibitors of EGFR. The influence of AG494 and AG1478 on the activity of two signaling proteins (AKT and ERK) was dependent upon the kind of investigated cells. In the case of DU145 cells, there was an evident decline in enzymatic activity of both kinases (stronger for AG1478), while in A549, only AG1478 effectively inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt. Tyrphostins AG494 and AG1478 are ATP-competitors and are supposed to have a similar mechanism of action, but our results suggest that this is not quite true.

The FTIR studies of gels and thin films of Al2O3-TiO2 and Al2O3-TiO2-SiO2 systems

In this work, samples in form of bulk ones and thin films were obtained using the sol-gel method. The bulk samples were heated at different temperatures (500 °C, 850 °C and 1100 °C) corresponding to the annealing process of coatings, deposited on different substrates by dipping and pulling out samples from the proper sol with the stable speed. Thin films of both Al2O3-TiO2 and Al2O3-TiO2-SiO2 systems were deposited on carbon, steel and titanium substrates in two different ways: as single layers obtained from Al2O3 sol, TiO2 sol and Al2O3 sol or deposited as mixed coatings from Al2O3-TiO2 sol as well as Al2O3-TiO2-SiO2 one. All bulk samples were studied by the FTIR spectroscopy and the X-ray diffractometry while thin films were also investigated by the electron microscopy. In the IR spectra of Al2O3-TiO2 samples, as well as gels and coatings, bands due to the vibrations of AlO bonds of the octahedrally and tetrahedrally coordinated aluminum were observed. The IR spectra of samples of Al2O3-TiO2-SiO2 system differ from that of Al2O3-TiO2 ones in presence of bands assigned to the SiO bond vibrations and in positions of bands due to AlO bond vibrations. In all spectra of bulk samples and coatings, the positions of TiO bond vibrations were ascribed basing on the IR spectra of the pure anatase and rutile.

Vanadium compounds affect growth and morphology of human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cells were incubated with four vanadium compounds: cations BMOV and vanadyl sulphate, and anions ortho- and metavanadate. Growth inhibition of RMS cells in the culture was determined by two staining methods: with N-hexamethylpararosaniline (crystal violet = CV) or bromide 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT). After 48 h incubation with 10-40 μM for NaVO3 or 20-40 μM for the other three vanadium salts, the results were statistically significantly lower (0.001 < p < 0.01) as compared to the controls (without vanadium in the medium). A vanadium concentration higher than 40 μM resulted in cell destruction or death in all cells. A comparison with our previously obtained results showed the greatest sensitivity of rat hepatoma H 35-19 cells in comparison to four human cancer cell lines (A549, DU145, HTB, RMS). Investigations of human cancer cells demonstrated that the highest resistance to orthovanadate was characteristic of RMS (c.40 μM) and HTB (c. 20 μM). Electron microscopic examination showed pleomorphic nuclei with visible amounts of heterochromatin and large nucleoli, characteristic of RMS cells. Cells at various stages of differentiation were observed.

A screen of SLC1A1 for OCD-related alleles

SLC1A1, which encodes the neuronal and epithelial glutamate transporter, is a promising candidate gene for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In this study, we conducted capillary electrophoresis single-strand conformation polymorphism (CE-SSCP) screen for all 12 identified exons, including all coding regions and approximately 50 bp of flanking introns of the human SLC1A1 in 378 OCD-affected individuals. Full sequencing was completed on samples that showed an aberrant SSCP tracing for identification of the underlying sequence variants. Our aim was to determine if there are differences in the frequencies of relatively common alleles, or rare functional alleles, in 378 OCD cases and 281 ethnically matched controls. We identified one nonsynonymous coding SNP (c.490A > G, T164A) and three synonymous coding SNP (c.81G > C, A27A; c.414A > G, T138T; c.1110T > C, T370T) in case samples. We found no statistical differences in genotype and allele frequencies of common cSNPs in SLC1A1 between the OCD cases and controls. The rare variant T164A was found only in one family. Further investigation of this variant is necessary to determine whether and how it is related to OCD. There was no other evidence of significant accumulation of deleterious coding mutations in SLC1A1 in the OCD cases.

Mechanisms of Dipolar Ortho/Para-H2O Conversion in Ice

In this paper a possible explanation for an unexpected ortho/para-water ratio in the gas clouds of comets is given. The description is based on the quantum-mechanical density matrix formalism and the spin temperature concept. Only the nuclear spin system is treated quantum-mechanically. Employing the model of a four spin system, created by two nearest neighbour water molecules, spin eigenstates and their dynamics under the influence of their mutual dipolar interactions are studied. It is shown that a fast conversion between ortho- and para-states occurs on a msec time scale, caused by the intermolecular homonuclear magnetic dipolar interaction. Moreover the spin eigenstates of water in an ice crystal are determined by magnetic dipolar interactions and are not given by normal ortho- and para-H2O states of gaseous water. As a result of this the spin temperature of gaseous water evaporated from ice depends strongly on its evaporation history and the ortho/para-ratio of water molecules are only an indirect measure of the temperature of ice crystals from where they descend. This result could explain the unexpected experimentally observed ortho/para-ratios in the clouds of comets.

2H solid-state NMR of ruthenium complexes

The (2)H solid-state NMR spectra of the transition metal complexes Tp*RuD(THT)(2) (1a), Tp*RuD(D(2))(THT) (1b), Tp*RuD(D(2))(2) (1c), Cp*RuD(3)(PPh(3)) (2) and RuD(2)(eta(2)-D(2))(2)(PCy(3))(2) (3) have been measured in a wide temperature range. These compounds were chosen as potential model systems for hydrogen surface species in Ru-nanoparticles. The deuterium quadrupolar coupling constants Q(cc) and asymmetry parameters were extracted by (2)H NMR line-shape analysis. The Q(cc) values of the deuterons bound to the metal vary between 13 kHz and 76 kHz. In addition all spectra show that some of the deuterium is incorporated into carbon positions exhibiting quadrupolar coupling constants in the range of 134 kHz to 192 kHz. The room temperature spectra contain an additional weak very narrow line which was assigned to deuterons exhibiting a high mobility. These deuterons are attributed to crystallographic impurity and partially to D(2) molecules which lost by the complexes. The temperature where their motion is quenched and the types of these motions depend on the chemical structure. We propose to use the values of the quadrupolar coupling constants measured in order to characterize different hydrogen species on the surface of Ru-nanoparticles.

2H-solid-state-NMR study of hydrogen adsorbed on catalytically active ruthenium coated mesoporous silica materials

(2)H solid-state NMR measurements were performed on three samples of ruthenium nanoparticles synthesized inside two different kinds of mesoporous silica, namely SBA-3 silica materials and SBA-15 functionalized with -COOH groups and loaded with deuterium gas. The line-shape analyses of the spectra reveal the different deuteron species. In all samples a strong -OD signal is found, which shows the catalytic activity of the metal, which activates the D-D bond and deuterates the -SiOH groups through the gas phase, corroborating their usability as catalysts for hydrogenation reactions. At room temperature the mobility of the -Si-OD groups depends on the sample preparation. In addition to the -Si-OD deuterons, the presence of different types of deuterons bound to the metal is revealed. The singly coordinated -Ru-D species exhibit several different quadrupolar couplings, which indicate the presence of several non-equivalent binding sites with differing binding strength. In addition to the dissociated hydrogen species there is also a dihydrogen species -Ru-D(2), which is attributed to defect sites on the surface. It exhibits a fast rotational dynamics at all temperatures. Finally there are also indications of three-fold coordinated surface deuterons and octahedrally coordinated deuterons inside the metal.

Structural and dynamical properties of guest molecules confined in mesoporous silica materials revealed by NMR

In the last fifteen years several novel porous silica materials, which are periodically structured on the mesoscopic length scale, have been synthesized. They are of broad interest for fundamental studies of surface-substrate interactions, for studies of the dynamics of guest molecules in confinement and for studies of the effect of confinement on the structural and thermophysical properties of fluids. Examples of such confinement effects include the change of the freezing and melting points or glass transitions of the confined liquids. These effects are studied by combinations of several NMR techniques, such as (15)N- and (2)H-solid-state NMR line shape analysis, MAS NMR and NMR diffusometry with physico-chemical characterization techniques such as nitrogen adsorption and small angle diffraction of neutrons or X-rays. This combination does not require crystalline samples or special clean and well defined surfaces such as conventional surface science techniques, but can work with typical ill-defined real world systems. The review discusses, after a short introduction, the salient features of these materials and the applied NMR experiments to give the reader a basic knowledge of the systems and the experiments. The rest of the review then focuses on the structural and dynamical properties of guest molecules confined in the mesoporous silica. It is shown that the confinement into the pores leads to fascinating new features of the guests, which are often not known for their bulk phases. These features depend strongly on the interplay of the their interactions with the silica surface and their mutual interactions.

Age and bromodeoxyuridine labelling index as prognostic factors in high-grade gliomas treated with surgery and radiotherapy

AIMS

To determine the prognostic value of proliferative potential and DNA ploidy in 72 brain tumours (36 grade III and 36 grade IV astrocytomas) using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) incorporation and flow cytometry.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

All 72 patients underwent excision, mostly incomplete of the tumour. After surgery, eight patients received conventionally fractionated radiotherapy, 11 patients received accelerated radiotherapy, and 53 patients received hypofractionated radiotherapy. Tumour samples taken during surgery from each patient were incubated in vitro for 1 h at 37 degrees C with BrdUrd using the high pressure oxygen method. The percentage of BrdUrd-labelled cells (BrdUrd labelling index [BrdUrd LI]), and the total DNA content were evaluated:

RESULTS

The tumours showed variability in the BrdUrd LI values, which ranged from 0.3 to 19.1%. No difference was observed in mean BrdUrd LI between grade III and grade IV sub-groups. A significantly higher percentage of DNA aneuploidy was observed in grade III gliomas (69.4%) than in grade IV gliomas (52.8%). Univariate analysis showed that younger patients (< or = 51 years) (P = 0.021) with grade III gliomas (P = 0.030) and low tumour proliferation rate (BrdUrd LI < or = 2.7%, P = 0.028) had significantly higher 5-year survival rates. Tumour ploidy had no influence on patients' survival (P = 0.591). However, Cox multi-variate analysis showed that only age over 51 years, and high tumour proliferation rate (BrdUrd LI > 2.7%), were significant unfavourable prognostic factors in patient survival.

CONCLUSION

In this study, independent prognostic factors for patients with high-grade gliomas treated with surgery and post-operative radiotherapy are age and tumour proliferation rate assessed according to the BrdUrd LI.

Mechanism of nuclear spin initiated para-H2 to ortho-H2 conversion

In this paper a quantitative explanation for a diamagnetic ortho/para H2 conversion is given. The description is based on the quantum-mechanical density matrix formalism originally developed by Alexander and Binsch for studies of exchange processes in NMR spectra. Only the nuclear spin system is treated quantum-mechanically. Employing the model of a three spin system, the reactions of the hydrogen gas with the catalysts are treated as a phenomenological rate process, described by a rate constant. Numerical calculations reveal that for nearly all possible geometrical arrangements of the three spin system an efficient spin conversion is obtained. Only in the chemically improbable case of a linear group H-X-H no spin conversion is obtained. The efficiency of the spin conversion depends strongly on the lifetime of the H-X-H complex and on the presence of exchange interactions between the two hydrogens. Even moderate exchange couplings cause a quench of the spin conversion. Thus a sufficiently strong binding of the dihydrogen to the S spin is necessary to render the quenching by the exchange interaction ineffective.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 is a novel nuclear target for cholinergic receptor signaling in the hippocampus

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is a nuclear enzyme involved in DNA repair and transcription regulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of PARP-1 in muscarinic cholinergic receptor signaling. Our data indicate that activation of muscarinic cholinergic receptors by carbachol (1mM) in the presence of GTP gamma S evoked a significant enhancement of PARP activity in the adult rat hippocampus. Moreover, TMB-8 (10 microM), an antagonist of inositol 1, 4, 5 trisphosphate (IP(3)) receptor prevented the activation of PARP-1, which indicates that IP(3) /Ca(2+) signaling is involved in this pathway. The diacylglycerol (DAG)-regulated protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor (GF109203X) (1 microM) only slightly enhanced PARP activity in hippocampal nuclear fractions, which suggests that DAG/ PKC is not involved in PARP activation.

Expression of alpha-synuclein in different brain parts of adult and aged rats

The synucleins are a family of presynaptic proteins that are abundant in neurons and include alpha-, beta, and gamma-synuclein. Alpha-synuclein (ASN) is involved in several neurodegenerative age-related disorders but its relevance in physiological aging is unknown. In the present study we investigated the expression of ASN mRNA and protein in the different brain parts of the adult (4-month-old) and aged (24-month-old) rats by using RT-PCR technique and Western blot, respectively. Our results indicated that mRNA expression and immunoreactivity of ASN is similar in brain cortex, hippocampus and striatum but markedly lower in cerebellum comparing to the other brain parts. Aging lowers ASN mRNA expression in striatum and cerebellum by about 40%. The immunoreactivity of ASN in synaptic plasma membranes (SPM) from aged brain cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum is significantly lower comparing to adult by 39%, 24% and 65%, respectively. Beta-synuclein (BSN) was not changed in aged brain comparing to adult. Age-related alteration of ASN may affect the nerve terminals structure and function.

Non A beta component of Alzheimer's disease amyloid and amyloid beta peptides evoked poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-dependent release of apoptosis-inducing factor from rat brain mitochondria

Amyloid beta peptide (A beta) and non-A beta component of Alzheimer's disease amyloid (NAC) are involved in pathomechanism of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and are deposited in the AD brain in the form of senile plaques. However, the mechanism of their neurotoxicity is not fully understood. In this study the sequence of events involved in NAC and A beta peptides evoked toxicity was investigated in brain slices, synaptosomes and in subcellular fractions. Radio-, immunochemical, spectrophotometrical methods and DNA electrophoresis were used in this study. Our data indicated that A beta 1-40 (25 microM) and NAC (10 microM) peptides induced liberation of free radicals and massive DNA damage that lead to activation of DNA bound enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1). In consequence of these processes apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was released from mitochondria and was translocated to nucleus. The inhibitor of PARP, 3-aminobenzamide significantly decreased AIF release from mitochondria and its translocation. Both peptides under the investigational conditions had no effect on caspase-3 activity. Our data indicated that A beta and NAC peptides stimulate AIF-dependent apoptotic pathway that seems to be caspase independent process. The inhibition of PARP-1 may protect the brain against A beta and NAC toxicity.

Thyroid volume and hormone response in the early kidney transplants

BACKGROUND

Thyroid hormones could affect renal function, and conversely renal function disturbances may affect thyroid function. Disturbances of the thyroid hormone concentration are often connected with thyroid gland enlargement. The aim of study was to estimate the function and morphology of the thyroid and kidney graft after kidney transplantation. As the indicator of thyroid and renal function we have used thyroid gland volume, plasma concentration of T3, reverse rT3, creatinine concentration, and renal arteries RI.

MATERIAL/METHODS

Studied group included 17 individuals after kidney transplantation, with stabile graft function. The control group included 18 individuals after various surgical procedures. The estimated parameters were: thyroid volume, renal arteries resistive index, concentrations of creatinine,T3 and rT3.The parameters were controlled before transplantation (surgery), the day after, and at 3rd, 6th and 10th day after surgery.

RESULTS

All patients, before and after surgical procedure, were clinically euthyroid. Mean creatinine concentration showed tendency to diminish. Statistical analysis revealed positive correlation between Delta concentration of creatinine and Delta volume of thyroid (R Spearman=0.46, p=0.05). Till the 6th day after transplantation T3 concentration diminished, and at the 10th day presented tendency to rise. We found negative correlation between T3 concentration and renal arteries RI. The rT3 concentration during 10 days after transplantation was above the reference level.

CONCLUSIONS

The FT3 level and thyroid volume correlates with kidney transplant function. The supplementary thyroid hormones administration should be considered before and after renal transplantation.

Are stromal fibroblasts from cervical tumors suitable to predict normal tissue radiation reaction?

We examined the effect of gamma-irradiation (4 Gy) alone or combined with estrogen (17beta-estradiol 15 microM) treatment on the radiation response of stromal fibroblasts from cervical tumors. The fibroblasts were derived from tumors of 9 younger (<50 years) and 9 older (>50 years) cervical cancer patients. A normal fibroblast GSH+/+ cell strain was used as a reference cell. The end-points examined 2 days after irradiation were cell cycle distribution and apoptosis as measured of the cellular response to gamma-radiation. The response of examined fibroblast groups to gamma-rays alone was comparable but apoptotic death was more marked in fibroblasts derived from the younger patients with TNM 1+2 tumors than from the older ones. There was a considerable estrogen effect on the response to gamma-rays that differed between stromal fibroblasts from the examined age groups and was dependent on the tumor stage. In particular, we found a marked decrease in the number of apoptotic cells and debris after estrogen + irradiation, as compared to irradiation alone, only in younger patients and TNM 1+2 tumors. These results indicate that the response of stromal fibroblasts to gamma-rays to a considerable extent depends on donors age and tumor stage. Since stromal fibroblasts have been used for prediction of normal tissue late effects in patients treated with radiotherapy, we conclude that they may not be an adequate model for this purpose.

Prognostic significance of DNA ploidy and proliferation rate in human astrocytic gliomas

DNA ploidy and the proliferative potential in 75 gliomas were investigated using bromodeoxyuridine labelling index (BrdUrd LI), S-phase fraction (SPF) and argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR) technique. There were 53 highly malignant (AIII-AIV), and 22 low-grade (AI-AII) gliomas. One fragment of the tumour was fixed in Carnoy's solution for AgNOR test, while the other fragments were used for flow cytometric determination of the labelling index, SPF and DNA ploidy. For the BrdUrdLI, tumour samples from each patient were incubated in vitro for one hour at 37 degrees C with BrdUrd using the high pressure oxygen method. The tumours showed variability in the BrdUrdLI values, SPF and AgNOR counts/cell nucleus. The same percentage of DNA aneuploidy (55%) was found in high-grade as well as in low-grade gliomas. Univariate analysis showed that patients with grade I & II gliomas had significantly higher 3-year survival rate (p = 0.0193) than those with grade III and grade IV gliomas. Also patients with lower proliferation rate of tumours (BrdUrdLI < or =2.3% and AgNOR counts < or =2.6%/cell) had higher 3-year survival rate (p<0.03), which can be helpful in prognosis. Tumour ploidy or SPF had no influence on patients' survival (p = 0.7908). Cox multivariate analysis showed that only patients' age > 45 years and high tumour grade (III and IV) were significant unfavourable prognostic factors in terms of patients' survival.