Effect of Vitamin B Complex Treatment on Macrophages to Schwann Cells Association during Neuroinflammation after Peripheral Nerve Injury

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) triggers a complex multi-cellular response involving the injured neurons, Schwann cells (SCs), and immune cells, often resulting in poor functional recovery. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the treatment with vitamin B (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and B12) complex on the interaction between macrophages and SCs during the recovery period after PNI. Transection of the motor branch of the femoral nerve followed by reconstruction by termino-terminal anastomosis was used as an experimental model. Isolated nerves from the sham (S), operated (O), and operated groups treated with the B vitamins (OT group) were used for immunofluorescence analysis. The obtained data indicated that PNI modulates interactions between macrophages and SCs in a time-dependent manner. The treatment with B vitamins complex promoted the M1-to M2-macrophage polarization and accelerated the transition from the non-myelin to myelin-forming SCs, an indicative of SCs maturation. The effect of B vitamins complex on both cell types was accompanied with an increase in macrophage/SC interactions, all of which correlated with the regeneration of the injured nerve. Clearly, the capacity of B vitamins to modulate macrophages-SCs interaction may be promising for the treatment of PNI

Copper(II) complexes with different diamines as inhibitors of bacterial quorum sensing activity

Three copper(II) complexes, trans-[Cu(1,3-pd)(2)Cl-2]center dot H2O (Cu1; 1,3-pd is 1,3-propanediamine), trans-[Cu(2,2-diMe-1,3-pd)(2)Cl-2] (Cu2; 2,2-diMe-1,3-pd is 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine) and trans-[Cu(1,3-pnd)(2)Cl-2]center dot H2O (Cu3; 1,3-pnd is (+/-)-1,3-pentanediamine), were synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental microanalyses, IR, electronic absorption and reflectance spectroscopy and molar conductivity measurements. The antimicrobial efficiency of the complexes against four clinically relevant microorganisms and their antiproliferative effect on the normal human lung fibroblast cell line MRC-5 were evaluated. Since in many bacteria, pathogenicity is regulated by an intercellular communication process called quorum sensing (QS), the effect of the copper(II) complexes Cu1-3 on bacterial QS was examined. The obtained results showed that these complexes inhibited violacein production in Chromobacterium violaceum CV026, indicating their anti-QS activity via the homoserine lactone (HSL) pathway. Two biosensor strains were used to determine which pathway, C4-HSL (N-butanoylhomoserine lactone) or 3OC12-HSL (N-(3-oxododecanoyl) homoserine lactone), was affected by the copper(II) complexes. The biological activities of the copper(II) complexes were compared with those for the nickel(II) complexes of the general formula trans-[Ni(L)(2)(H2O)(2)]Cl-2 (L = 1,3-pd, 2,2-diMe-1,3-pd and 1,3-pnd)

Therapeutic Monitoring of Cyclosporine by Determination of C 2 and AUC 0-4 Levels in the First Two Years after the Kidney Transplantation

Abstract Background. Therapeutic monitoring (TM) of cyclosporine (CyA), by measuring drug concentrations (conc.) in the blood two hours after the administration (C2), and according to the calculated value of the area under the concentration -time curve in the first four hours after the application (AUC0-4), shows a good correlation with the clinical manifestations in the transplanted patients (pts). The aim of this study was to investigate possibilities of reaching target C2 and AUC0-4 levels in the early phase after kidney transplantation (Tx), to analyze the administered doses and conc. of CyA in the first two years after Tx and to determine, as well, which of the individual concs. in the early phase after the drug administration shows the best correlation with the AUC0-4. Methods. In 25 pts (living donor kidney recipients treated by immunosuppressive therapy including Pred, MMF, CyA), the doses of CyA were adjusted after the Tx according to target levels of C2 and AUC0-4. Results. The average daily doses of CyA in the first 14 days ranged from 9,6 to 10,1 mg/kg (the largest dose was given on the sixth day). The target C2/AUC0-4 was reached on the sixth day in 36,3% of pts, on the 9 th day in 62,5% of pts. and, on the 14 th day in 76% of pts. In each monitored time interval, the target AUC0-4 in relation to C2, was reached by most of the pts. The maximum CyA concs were the highest 2 hours after the administration (C2), as compared with the concs after the first and the third hour (C1 and C3). In comparison with C1 and C3, C2 showed the best correlation with AUC0-4. 68% of pts displayed the signs of acute CyA nephrotoxicity in the first year and, in 28% of pts the administration of the drug was interrupted in the first two years. A stable graft function was maintained in the first two years after the transplantation. Conclusion. The highest CyA concentrations in our pts were determined 2 hours after the drug administration, whereas C2 showed the best correlation with AUC0-4. A considerable number of pts displayed the signs of nephrotoxicity

Association between the SMN2 gene copy number and clinical characteristics of patients with spinal muscular atrophy with homozygous deletion of exon 7 of the SMN1 gene

Background/Aim. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by degeneration of alpha motor neurons in the spinal cord and the medulla oblongata, causing progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. The aim of this study was to determine association between the SMN2 gene copy number and disease phenotype in Serbian patients with SMA with homozygous deletion of exon 7 of the SMN1 gene. Methods. The patients were identified using regional Serbian hospital databases. Investigated clinical characteristics of the disease were: patients' gender, age at disease onset, achieved and current developmental milestones, disease duration, current age, and the presence of the spinal deformities and joint contractures. The number of SMN1 and SMN2 gene copies was determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results. Among 43 identified patients, 37 (86.0\%) showed homozygous deletion of SMN1 exon 7. One (2.7\%) of 37 patients had SMA type I with 3 SMN2 copies, 11(29.7\%) patients had SMA type II with 3.1 +/- 0.7 copies, 17 (45.9\%) patients had SM\_A type III with 3.7 +/- 0.9 copies, while 8 (21.6\%) patients had SMA type IV with 4.2 +/- 0.9 copies. There was a progressive increase in the SMN2 gene copy number from type II towards type IV (p < 0.05). A higher SMN2 gene copy number was associated with better current motor performance (p < 0.05). Conclusion. In the Serbian patients with SMA, a higher SMN2 gene copy number correlated with less severe disease phenotype. A possible effect of other phenotype modifiers should not be neglected.Hungary-Serbia IPA Cross-Border Co-Operation Program: Research Cooperation to Improve Symptoms in Neurological Disorders, and Quality of Life of Patients {[}HU-SRB/0901/214/052

Dietary amino acid and vitamin complex protects honey bee from immunosuppression caused by <i>Nosema ceranae</i>

<div><p>Microsporidium <i>Nosema ceranae</i> is well known for exerting a negative impact on honey bee health, including down-regulation of immunoregulatory genes. Protein nutrition has been proven to have beneficial effects on bee immunity and other aspects of bee health. Bearing this in mind, the aim of our study was to evaluate the potential of a dietary amino acid and vitamin complex “BEEWELL AminoPlus” to protect honey bees from immunosuppression induced by <i>N</i>. <i>ceranae</i>. In a laboratory experiment bees were infected with <i>N</i>. <i>ceranae</i> and treated with supplement on first, third, sixth and ninth day after emergence. The expression of genes for immune-related peptides (abaecin, apidaecin, hymenoptaecin, defensin and vitellogenin) was compared between groups. The results revealed significantly lower (p<0.01 or p<0.001) numbers of <i>Nosema</i> spores in supplemented groups than in the control especially on day 12 post infection. With the exception of abacein, the expression levels of immune-related peptides were significantly suppressed (p<0.01 or p<0.001) in control group on the 12^th day post infection, compared to bees that received the supplement. It was supposed that <i>N</i>. <i>ceranae</i> had a negative impact on bee immunity and that the tested amino acid and vitamin complex modified the expression of immune-related genes in honey bees compromised by infection, suggesting immune-stimulation that reflects in the increase in resistance to diseases and reduced bee mortality. The supplement exerted best efficacy when applied simultaneously with <i>Nosema</i> infection, which can help us to assume the most suitable period for its application in the hive.</p></div

The modification of a laboratory cage: A plastic jar with small holes made for aeration and a plastic mesh sink strainer inserted into the lid allowing bees to take the food from a small petri dish placed below.

<p>The modification of a laboratory cage: A plastic jar with small holes made for aeration and a plastic mesh sink strainer inserted into the lid allowing bees to take the food from a small petri dish placed below.</p

Expression levels of genes for abaecin, apidaecin and vitellogenin in control (I) and IBW-1 group on different sampling days.

<p>IBW-1 group was infected with <i>N</i>. <i>ceranae</i> spores on 3^rd and treated with “BEEWELL AminoPlus” from 1^st day after emerging, while the control (I) was infected with <i>N</i>. <i>ceranae</i> but not treated. Bees were sampled for analyses on 3^rd, 6^th and 12^th day after the infection with <i>N</i>. <i>ceranae</i>. Different letters denote significant differences between groups.</p