Polyphenols from berries of Aronia melanocarpa reduce the plasma lipid peroxidation induced by

Background. Oxidative stress in schizophrenia may be caused partially by the treatment of patients with antipsychotics. The aim of the study was to establish the effects of polyphenol compounds derived from berries of Aronia melanocarpa (Aronox) on the plasma lipid peroxidation induced by ziprasidone in vitro. Methods. Lipid peroxidation was measured by the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS). The samples of plasma from healthy subjects were incubated with ziprasidone (40 ng/ml; 139 ng/ml; and 250 ng/ml) alone and with Aronox (5 ug/ml; 50 ug/ml). Results. We observed a statistically significant increase of TBARS level after incubation of plasma with ziprasidone (40 ng/ml; 139 ng/ml; and 250 ng/ml) (after 24 h incubation: = 7.0× 10 −4 , = 1.6× 10 −3 , and = 2.7× 10 −3 , resp.) and Aronox lipid peroxidation caused by ziprasidone was significantly reduced. After 24-hour incubation of plasma with ziprasidone (40 ng/ml; 139 ng/ml; and 250 ng/ml) in the presence of 50 ug/ml Aronox, the level of TBARS was significantly decreased: = 6.5× 10 −8 , = 7.0× 10 −6 , and = 3.0× 10 −5 , respectively. Conclusion. Aronox causes a distinct reduction of lipid peroxidation induced by ziprasidone

Commitment – an important value for the student and future employee

Publikacja przynosi różne spojrzenia na zjawisko zaangażowania (się) / angażowania (się) w dydaktyce. Znajdziemy tu teksty ujmujące ów proces z teoretycznej bądź historycznej perspektywy, a także takie, których autorzy ukazują realne – wypływające z ich dydak¬tycznych doświadczeń – efekty stosowania twórczych rozwiązań edukacyjnych w motywowaniu studentów. Jakie to metody? Stoliki negocjacyjne, audiodeskrypcja, personalizacja zadań, realizacja projektu – to niektóre z propozycji. Autorzy piszą nie tylko o konieczności angażowania studentów w proces edukacyjny. Zwracają też uwagę na konieczność rozbudzania i podtrzymywania pasji dydaktycznej i badawczej zarówno u nauczycieli, jak i u studentów.Education in a higher school is based on gradually obtaining knowledge, skills and competency by a student, who is granted a diploma on graduation, confirming the read¬iness to undertake an independent work. The level of student`s engagement in learning process is essential. A lot depends on the personality of the student, which consists of: motivation, interests, attitudes and emotions adopted. The article presents the engagement as an important value in the study for the students and staff of the future of the company. The aim of the article is to systematize the knowledge of the issue the definitions and the level of employee engagement in various organizations and values that were considered as well as felt. There is a presentation of components and related types of workers involvement according to the model of Meyer and Allen, as well as chosen mechanisms of pro-community stimulation of this involvement. In this paper an attempt has been made to describe motivation. Motivation is an important factor for employee involvement in the implementation of the objectives of the company. There is no doubt that in the situation when innovation, efficiency and competitiveness have a decisive effect on the success of an organization, companies are looking for creative, dedicated to their work, full of energy and enthusiasm, and constantly developing employees. As a result, taking care of mutual relationships and building employee commitment is becoming not only an element of looking after the corporate image, but also a decisive influence on the overall performance of a company

Activities of acid and alkaline phosphatase in Drosophila melanogaster after a long-term action of dichlorvos

The effects of a long-term action of organophosphate compound - dichlorvos (DDVP) on the acid and alkaline phosphatase activities in Drosophila melanogaster was studied. DDVP is among the most widely used chemicals in agriculture in the world. Examined enzymes: alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase were extracted from several generations of DDVP-treated strains of Drosophila melanogaster. The increased activities of tested enzymes (alkaline and acid phosphatase) in fruit flay is positively correlated with the resistance to phosphorus insecticide - DDVP. It was found that the stimulating effects of DDVP on the activities of both enzymes was time- and dose-dependent. The most visible changes in the activities of tested enzymes (increased activities of acid and alkaline phosphatase) were found in the XV and XX generations of Drosophila melanogaster.Zadanie pt. „Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki” nr 885/P-DUN/2014 dofinansowane zostało ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej naukę

The effects of therapeutic concentrations of ziprasidone on free thiols and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances levels in human plasma – in vitro studies

The first and second generation antipsychotics may induce opposing effects on redox. Establishing the effects of antipsychotics on oxidative stress biomarkers is very important in clinical respect, because these drugs are used for the treatment of mental disorders in which oxidative stress occurs. Effects of ziprasidone on redox processes are not sufficiently known as yet. The study was aimed at establishing the effects of ziprasidone in doses recommended for mechatreatment of acute episode of schizophrenia on human plasma free thiols and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in in vitro model. Material and methods: Blood for the study was collected from 10 healthy male volunteers (aged 24-26 years) for ACD solution. Active substance of ziprasidone was dissolved in 0.01% dimethyl sulfoxide to the final concentrations (139 ng/ml and 250 ng/ml) and incubated with plasma for 24 hours at 37°C. Control samples were performed for each experiment (without the drug). The free thiols level was measured using the Ellman method, whereas the levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances by spectrophotometric method (acc. to Rice-Evans, 1991). The results were analysed using the paired Student t-test (StatSoft Inc., Statistica v. 6.0). Results: In relation to control samples, ziprasidone in concentrations 139 ng/ml and 250 ng/ml after 24 hours’ incubation with plasma caused a statistically insignificant increase in the free thiols level in plasma (p>0.05), whereas in concentration 250 ng/ml – an increase in TBARS concentration by 27.6% (p=3.9×10-4). Conclusions: Ziprasidone in concentrations corresponding to doses used for treatment of acute episode of schizophrenia does not induce any significant increase in the free thiols level in plasma, simultaneously significantly increasing plasma lipid peroxidation

Hippophae rhamnoides L. Fruits Reduce the Oxidative Stress in Human Blood Platelets and Plasma

Effects of the phenolic fraction from Hippophae rhamnoides fruits on the production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS, a marker of lipid peroxidation) and the generation of superoxide anion (O2-∙) in human blood platelets (resting platelets and platelets stimulated by a strong physiological agonist, thrombin) were studied in vitro. We also examined antioxidant properties of this fraction against human plasma lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation induced by a strong biological oxidant, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or H2O2/Fe (a donor of hydroxyl radicals). The tested fraction of H. rhamnoides (0.5– 50 µg/mL; the incubation time: 15 and 60 min) inhibited lipid peroxidation induced by H2O2 or H2O2/Fe. The H. rhamnoides phenolic fraction inhibited not only plasma lipid peroxidation, but also plasma protein carbonylation stimulated by H2O2 or H2O2/Fe. Moreover, the level of O2-∙ in platelets significantly decreased. In comparative experiments, the H. rhamnoides fraction was a more effective antioxidant than aronia extract or grape seed extract (at the highest tested concentration, 50 µg/mL). The obtained results suggest that H. rhamnoides fruits may be a new, promising source of natural compounds with antioxidant and antiplatelet activity beneficial not only for healthy people, but also for those with oxidative stress-associated diseases

Wpływ stosowania doustnej hormonalnej terapii na kinetykę procesów: tworzenia skrzepu i fibrynolizy kobiet w wieku okołomenopauzalnym

Objectives: Hormone therapy (HT) is more and more universally applied in treatment of menopausal agecomplaints. Thrombotic-embolic diseases are among the most dangerous and undesirable complications of HT.Hormones can lead to pro-thrombotic changes and the risk of thrombosis and its complications may be even3-fold increased. Hormone therapy influences the metabolism of proteins participating in processes of clottingand lysis. The purpose of the research was to determine the long-term influence of HT on the kinetics of plasmafibrin polymerization and lysis in postmenopausal women. Material and methods: The material was fresh frozen plasma from 64 menopausal women either takingHT for 12 months (study group, n = 32) or with no treatment (controls, n = 32). For experiments thrombin wasapplied at the final concentration of 0.5 U/ml and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) at the final concentrationof 60 ng/ml. Changes of turbidity were registered with a kinetic program for 55 minutes at λ = 415 nm. Themaximum velocity of polymerization and half time of fibrin lysis were calculated. Results: Long-term HT treatment caused changes of fibrin plasma polymerization and fibrin lysis. The parametersof coagulation were increased and significant inhibition of lysis was noted in the women taking HT. Conclusions: 12 months of oral hormone therapy resulted in increased initial velocity of clot formation andinhibition of fibrinolysis. The increased level of fibrinogen and its higher polymerization may partly explain theincrease in venous thrombosis and cardiovascular events reported after the use of combined hormone therapy

The effect ofquetiapine on the invitro serum concentration of free thiols and thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances

Quetiapine, a second generation antipsychotic, has no significant effect on the occurrence of tardive dyskinesia or other motoric disorders whose aetiology may be related to a pro- and antioxidative imbalance. The mechanism of quetiapine effect on the oxidative stress biomarkers remains unknown. The aim of the study was to establish the effect of quetiapine, administered in doses recommended in the treatment of acute phase of schizophrenia, on lipid peroxidation measured by levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and on free thiols in human plasma in vitro. Material and methods: Blood samples were obtained from 10 healthy volunteers – males and females aged 24–26 (mean 25, SD = 0.6) and placed in the ACD solution. Quetiapine was dissolved in a 0.01% solution of dimethylsulfoxide to reach the final concentration of 400 ng/ml and incubated with plasma for 24 h at 37°C. For each experiment a control test (without drug) has been done. Thiol levels were evaluated by the Ellmann method and the TBARS concentrations by the spectrophotometric Rice-Evans method. For statistical analysis we used the t-test (Statistica 6.0, StatSoft, Inc.). Results: Quetiapine at 400 ng/ml shows antioxidative properties caus‑ ing an increase of plasma free thiol level and decrease of plasma lipid peroxidation

Evaluation of hemostasis parameters and the role of the oxidative damage to plasma proteins in the modulation of hemostasis in patients with nephrolithiasis before and after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

<div><p>Purpose</p><p>Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a commonly-used method in urology, which may modulate hemostasis and may induce lipid peroxidation in patients with nephrolithiasis. However, previous studies only examine changes occurring in patients 30–240 min after ESWL. The main aim of the present study was to determine whether oxidative stress may modulate the hemostatic activity of plasma in patients with nephrolithiasis before ESWL and the day after treatment ESWL. This will be performed by measuring selected parameters of hemostasis in these patients, both before ESWL and the following day, and assessing the level of oxidative damage to plasma proteins in these patients by measuring two biomarkers.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Twelve patients with nephrolithiasis and 10 healthy participants were included. The following parameters of hemostasis were measured: the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), and thrombin time (TT) of plasma, the level of fibrinogen, the level of D-dimer and blood platelet count. In addition, two selected biomarkers of oxidative stress were measured: protein carbonylation level and the number of protein thiol groups.</p><p>Results</p><p>No difference was observed between patients with nephrolithiasis before and after ESWL and healthy controls with regard to PT, TT or APTT. Fibrinogen concentration and blood platelet count were lower in the nephrolithiasis patients in the period after ESWL than before ESWL. The nephrolithiasis patients demonstrated elevated D-dimer concentration after ESWL. However, although oxidative damage was observed in the plasma proteins in the nephrolithiasis patients, this was not influenced by ESWL.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Oxidative stress may induce changes of hemostasis in patients with nephrolithiasis, both before and after ESWL. In addition, changes of hemostasis parameters such as fibrinogen, blood platelet count and D-dimer level can be observed in these patients, especially after ESWL, and this may suggest that ESWL modulates hemostasis. By having a better understanding of the influence of ESWL on hemostasis, this could lead to modifying patient care for those patients at increased risk of bleeding.</p></div

Anti-Platelet Properties of Phenolic Extracts from the Leaves and Twigs of Elaeagnus rhamnoides (L.) A. Nelson

Sea buckthorn (Elaeagnus rhamnoides (L.) A. Nelson) is a small tree or bush. It belongs to the Elaeagnaceae family, and has been used for many years in traditional medicine in both Europe and Asia. However, there is no data on the effect of sea buckthorn leaves and twigs on the properties of blood platelets. The aim of the study was to analyze the biological activity of phenolic extracts from leaves and twigs of sea buckthorn in blood platelets in vitro. Two sets of extracts were used: (1) phenolic compounds from twigs and (2) phenolic compounds from leaves. Their biological effects on human blood platelets were studied by blood platelet adhesion, platelet aggregation, arachidonic acid metabolism and the generation of superoxide anion. Cytotoxicity was also evaluated against platelets. The action of extracts from sea buckthorn twigs and leaves was compared to activities of the phenolic extract (a commercial product from the berries of Aronia melanocarpa (Aronox&reg;) with antioxidative and antiplatelet properties. This study is the first to demonstrate that extracts from sea buckthorn leaves and twigs are a source of bioactive compounds which may be used for the prophylaxis and treatment of cardiovascular pathologies associated with blood platelet hyperactivity. Both leaf and twig extracts were found to display anti-platelet activity in vitro. Moreover, the twig extract (rich in proanthocyanidins) displayed better anti-platelet potential than the leaf extract or aronia extract