Opposite effects of two zinc(II) dithiocarbamates on NF-kB pathway

Inhibiting nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kB) activation in anticancer and antiinflammatory therapy is of topical interest. Current research in molecular biology has dramatically advanced in the understanding of the cellular events involved in NF-kB induction. Dithiocarbamates, in particular diethyldithiocarbamate and pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate, have been known and widely used as strong inhibitors of NF-kB signaling pathway for more than ten years. Their activity is frequently thought to be due to chelating of zinc or copper present in serum supplemented in the culture medium. Zinc(II) diethyldithiocarbamate (Et2Zn) and zinc(II) dibenzyldithiocarbamate (Bz2Zn) were prepared by direct synthesis in aqueous millieu. They were structurally characterized by X-ray analysis (solid phase) and mass spectrometry (aqueous conditions). Et2Zn and Bz2Zn both in 20 micromolar concentration were applied to HeLa cells. The status of NF-kB signaling was assessed as nuclear translocation of p65 subunit. Surprisingly, Et2Zn activated NF-kB pathway, while TNF-dependent activation of NF-kB was inhibited by Bz2Zn. Our results are preliminary

Treatment of Tibial Bone Defect with Rotational Vascular Periosteal Graft in Rabbits

It is well known that the periosteum is capable of bone formation. In the present study, the value of the vascularized periosteal graft in healing the long-bone defect filled with the allogenous bone graft was studied. The aim of the study was to verify the efficiency of the rotational vascularized periosteal graft as a optional surgical method as well as to prove its advantages in comparison with the nonvascularized periosteal graft. The study was undertaken on 40 rabbits. Four rabbits served as allogenous bone graft donors, while the remaining 36 were divided into two equal groups. In the control group, the experimentally created bone defect on the junction of the tibial proximal and median thirds was filled with allogenous bone graft and then covered with avascular periosteal graft. In the experimental group, the allogenous bone graft filled defect was covered with the rotational vascular periosteal graft. Groups of 6 rabbits from each group were sacrificed after 2, 5 and 12 weeks following surgery. The results were evaluated with radiographical, histological and morphometric methods. The results obtained 2 and 5 weeks after surgery demonstrated better tibial bone defect healing in the experimental group. The defect was bridged in both analysed groups after 5 weeks and was completed after 12 weeks with no difference between the control and the experimental groups. The obtained results have confirmed the efficiency of the method using the rotational vascularized periosteal graft in the treatment of tibial bone defect in rabbits. The advantage of the vascularized periosteal graft as compared to the avascular one has been proved by better quality of bone healing in the early stage

Instrumentality of knowledge: instrumentalism in philosophy of scienc

Richard Rorty's main thesis in his work Philosphy and the Mirror of Nature centers on a critique of representationalism in a fundamentally relativistic way. The aim of this disseration is to grasp Rorty's ideas in broader sense as a critique of inadequate interpretation of knowing- that and shift the attention to knowing-how as a key to new understanding the success of natural sciences. The fact that something is reproducibly possible for us to make in the surrounding world is not relative, and it is precisely in this way that technology (knowing- how) spreads so successfully even at multi-cultural level. In contrast, the explanatory function (knowing-that) of the natural sciences is relative, making sense only in the context of what is already known and accepted. Natural sciences are so successful because their experiments and only then take agreement of hypothesis with experimental practice (knowing-how) as the criterion of its acceptability. This dissertation offers, as a way out of Rortian relativism, the concept of "open authority" and proposes a new development in philosophic pragmatism based on it

Rozhovor Britských listů 603. Kapitalismus musí být regulován, aby vedl k všeobecné prosperitě [Britské listy Interview 603. Capitalism must be regulated if it is to lead to general prosperity]

Is the economic policy of the current Czech government coalition stabilising or destabilising for democracy? And why is it that post-communist countries are still failing to create a civilised democracy? Jan Čulík discusses these issues with Boris Cvek, a specialist from the University of Olomouc in the Czech Republi

Rozhovor Britských listů 588. O lidových blábolech ve společnosti [Britské listy Interview 588. How people spread nonsense through society]

Looking at the reactions from the public. They are often very strange, and Boris Cvek, a contributor to Britské listy, an academic and a scientist, often tries, patiently and rationally, to set them straight. Is this ever successful? This is what Jan Čulík talks to Boris Cvek in this Britské listy interview. It was broadcast on the Czech cable TV station Náš Region from Tuesday 11 April 2023

Rozhovor Britských listů 565: Kdyby republika byla v situaci jako lidé v Karlovarském kraji, tak tady bude fašismus [Britské listy Interview 565: If the whole Czech republic were in a situation like the people in the Karlovy Vary region, fascism would rule here]

The situation before the second round of the presidential election in the Czech Republic is analyzed by Jan Čulík and Britské listy commentator Boris Cvek. What is the source of conflict in Czech society? And was a second round of the presidential election necessary at all? And the fact that it will be held, and that it created a space of fourteen days for deceitful pre-election manipulation of the voters whose fault is that? This Britské listy interview was broadcast on on the Czech cable TV station Regionalnitelevize.cz from Friday 20 January 2023

Rozhovor Britských listů 445. „Nevadí, že zemřeme na covid, těšme se na posmrtný život!“ [Britské listy Interview 445. "It does not matter that we will die of covid, let us look forward to our lives after death!"]

This is what one catholic reader wrote to Britské listy commentator Dr. Boris Cvek. Jan Čulík talks to Boris Cvek about the differences in the approach to the pandemic in the former communist and in the non-communist countries. For instance, the difference between Greece and Bulgaria, although these are both "Balkan" countries, is remarkable. What will happen next? This interview was broadcast by the Czech cable TV station Regionalnitelevize.cz from 26th November 2021