High Fat, High Sugar Diet and DJOS Bariatric Surgery Influence Plasma Levels of Fetuin-B, Growth Differentiation Factor-15, and Pentraxin 3 in Diet- Induced Obese Sprague-Dawley Rats

The liver plays a central role in glucose and fatty acid metabolism and acts as an endocrine organ that secretes hepatokines with diverse systemic effects. The study aimed to examine the influence of duodenojejunal omega switch (DJOS) bariatric surgery in combination with different diets on glucose administration parameters and hepatokines levels. After 8 weeks on high fat, high sugar diet (HFS) or control diets (CD), Sprague–Dawley rats underwent DJOS or SHAM (control) surgery. For the next 8 weeks after the surgery, half of DJOS and SHAM-operated animals were kept on the same diet as before, and half had a diet change. The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed three times: 8 weeks before and 4 and 8 weeks after surgery. Fetuin-B, growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), pentraxin 3 (PTX3) plasma levels were analyzed. DJOS surgery had a beneficial effect on oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results and the area under the curve (AUCOGTT). The OGTT results depended on the time elapsed after the surgery, the type of diet used, the surgery performed, and the interaction between these factors. DJOS bariatric surgery reduced fetuin-B and GDF15 plasma levels. Interaction between the type of surgery performed and diet used influenced the fetuin-B and PTX-3 plasma levels. A dietary regime is essential to achieve therapeutic and clinical goals after bariatric surgery

DFT studies of COOH tip-functionalized zigzag and armchair single wall carbon nanotubes

Structure and energy calculations of pristine and COOH-modified model single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) of different length were performed at B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory. From 1 to 9 COOH groups were added at the end of the nanotube. The differences in structure and energetics of partially and fully functionalized SWCNTs at one end of the nanotube are observed. Up to nine COOH groups could be added at one end of (9,0) zigzag SWCNT in case of full functionalization. However, for (5,5) armchair SWCNT, the full functionalization was impossible due to steric crowding and rim deformation. The dependence of substituent attachment energy on the number of substituents at the carbon nanotube rim was observed

OH-functionalized open-ended armchair single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) studied by density functional theory

The structures of ideal armchair (5,5) single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) of different lengths (3.7, 8.8, and 16.0 Å for C40H20, C80H20, and C140H20) and with 1–10 hydroxyl groups at the end of the nanotube were fully optimized at the B3LYP/3-21G level, and in some cases at the B3LYP/6-31G* level, and the energy associated with the attachment of the OH substituent was determined. The OH-group attachment energy was compared with the OH functionalization of phenanthrene and picene models and with previous results for zigzag (9.0) SWCNT systems. In comparison to zigzag SWCNTs, the armchair form is more (by about 5 to 10 kcal mol−1) reactive toward hydroxylation

Pośmiertna detekcja etanolu w zwłokach poddanych balsamacji – badania wstępne

Nowadays, embalming has become more popular as it is often performed due to sanitary, hygienic, or psychological reasons. In special circumstances, like transporting a corpse from abroad, embalming is an administrative requirement. Embalming is performed using chemical substances that inhibit enzymes, bacteriological activity, and therefore cease decomposition processes. The study shows the toxicological analyses of sampled materials collected during post mortem examinations performed on six corpses subjected to the embalming process. It also presents the concentration of used preservatives in the tissues and body fluids. Analysis performed using gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) revealed that in five cases, the deceased were intoxicated with ethanol during the time of death, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) excluded the presence of psychoactive substances in all six cases. The results showed that in cases of toxicological analyses of embalmed corpses, it is crucial to secure isolated body fluids, such as cerebrospinal fluid, vitreous humor, and a wide range of reference material.Balsamacja zwłok staje się coraz bardziej popularna ze względów sanitarnych, higienicznych lub psychologicznych. W szczególnych okolicznościach, jak transport zwłok z zagranicy, balsamowanie jest wymogiem administracyjnym. Balsamacja odbywa się za pomocą substancji chemicznych, które hamują aktywność enzymatyczną i bakteriologiczną, wstrzymując tym samym procesy rozkładu. Prezentowana praca przedstawia analizy toksykologiczne materiałów po-branych podczas sekcji sześciu zwłok poddanych procesom balsamowania oraz wyniki pomiarów stężenia użytych konserwantów w tkankach i płynach ustrojowych badanych zwłok. Analiza przeprowadzona za pomocą chromatografii gazowej z detektorem płomieniowo-jonizacyjnym (gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector – GC-FID) udowodniła obecność etanolu w pięciu przypadkach. Chromatografia cieczowa połączona ze spektrometrią mas (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry – LC-MS) wykluczyła obecność substancji psychoaktywnych we wszystkich sze-ściu przypadkach. Wyniki wykazały, że w przypadku analiz toksykologicznych zabalsamowanych zwłok kluczowe znaczenie ma zabezpieczenie izolowanych płynów ustrojowych, takich jak płyn mózgowo-rdzeniowy, płyn gałki ocznej, oraz wielu materiałów referencyjnych

Molecular modeling as a stage of searching for new substances with potential therapeutic significance

The paper is a review of the literature on molecular modeling, with particular emphasis on the use of modern in silico methods in the early stages of designing new medical substances. Its purpose is to discuss the significance and justification of using computer software in the process of creating new drugs. Therefore, the stages through which a compound must pass so that it can be considered as a good drug candidate were presented, and the subsequent stages in the proces of searching for substances using molecular modeling methods were discussed. It has been demonstrated that molecular modeling can be a useful tool in the process of designing medicinal substances, as well as an important factor reducing the costs and shortening the time spent researching a new drug. Due to the considerable effectiveness of computer methods, work should be carried out in their further development.Praca stanowi przegląd literatury dotyczącej modelowania molekularnego, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem użycia nowoczesnych metod in silico we wczesnych etapach projektowania nowych substancji leczniczych. Jej celem jest omówienie znaczenia oraz uzasadnienie słuszności zastosowania oprogramowania komputerowego w procesie tworzenia nowych leków. Przedstawiono etapy, przez które przechodzi związek, aby mógł być uznany za dobrego kandydata na lek, oraz omówiono kolejne fazy postępowania podczas poszukiwania substancji metodami modelowania molekularnego. Wykazano, że modelowanie molekularne może być narzędziem przydatnym w procesie projektowania substancji leczniczych; jest to również istotny czynnik redukujący koszty oraz skracający czas poświęcony na badania nad nowym lekiem. W związku ze znaczną efektywnością metod komputerowych powinno się prowadzić prace w zakresie ich dalszego rozwoju

Assessment of Anti-Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-Antibody-Dependent Humoral Response in Patients before and after Lung Transplantation

Background and Objectives: Testing for anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies both before and after transplantation is of fundamental significance for the success of lung transplantation. The aim of this study was the evaluation of anti-HLA immunization of patients before and after lung transplant who were subjected to qualification and transplantation. Materials and Methods: Prior to the transplantation, patients were examined for the presence of IgG class anti-HLA antibodies (anti-human leukocyte antigen), the so-called panel-reactive antibodies (PRA), using the flow cytometry method. After the transplantation, the class and specificity of anti-HLA antibodies (also IgG) were determined using Luminex. Results: In the group examined, the PRA results ranged from 0.1% to 66.4%. Low (30%) and average (30–80%) immunization was found in only 9.7% of the group examined. Presence of class I anti-HLA antibodies with MFI (mean fluorescence intensity) greater than 1000 was found in 42.7% of the patients examined, while class II anti-HLA antibodies were found in 38.4%. Immunization levels before and after the transplantation were compared. In 10.87% of patients, DSA antibodies (donor-specific antibodies) with MFI of over 1000 were found. Conclusions: It seems that it is possible to confirm the correlation between pre- and post-transplantation immunization with the use of the two presented methods of determining IgG class anti-HLA antibodies by increasing the size of the group studied and conducting a long-term observation thereof

Epiglottis Cartilage, Costal Cartilage, and Intervertebral Disc Cartilage as Alternative Materials in the Postmortem Diagnosis of Methanol Poisoning

Alternative materials for postmortem diagnosis in the case of fatal poisonings are much needed when standard materials, such as blood and urine, are unavailable. The study presents a case of fatal mass methanol intoxication resulting from industrial alcohol consumption. The study aimed to determine methanol and formic acid concentrations in epiglottis cartilage, costal cartilage, and intervertebral disc cartilage and to analyze the correlation between their concentrations in cartilage tissues and the femoral blood. Methanol and formic acid concentrations in samples collected from 17 individuals (n = 17) were estimated using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Methanol concentration in the costal cartilage correlated with its concentration in the femoral blood (r = 0.871). Similar correlations were found for epiglottis cartilage (r = 0.822) and intervertebral disc cartilage (r = 0.892). Formic acid concentration in the blood correlated only with its concentration in urine (r = 0.784) and the epiglottis (r = 0.538). Cartilage tissue could serve as an alternative material for methanol analyses in postmortem studies. Formic acid, a methanol metabolite, does not meet the requirements for its presence determination in cartilage tissues

How to Achieve Near-Normal Visual Acuity with Bevacizumab in Diabetic Macular Edema Patients

Patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME) are inherently interested in achieving normal or near-normal visual acuity. The study aimed to investigate factors influencing the visual acuity achieved by DME patients after bevacizumab (IVB) treatment. 98 patients (98 eyes) diagnosed with DR and DME underwent IVB treatment (9 injections/12 months). Patients were diagnosed and monitored using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT), ultra-wide-field fluorescein angiography (UWFFA) and Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart testing. We assessed macular central subfield thickness (CST), non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) indicators and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). After the treatment, patients were divided into BCVA≤75 and BCVA>75 groups. The IVB therapy increased the number of ETDRS letters read by about 9 and 8 in the BCVA≤75 and the BCVA>75 group, respectively. Before and after treatment, the BCVA>75 group had lower CST than the BCVA≤75 group. The treatment reduced macular CST by 177 μm in the BCVA≤75 group and only by 93 μm in the BCVA>75 group. Total non-perfusion area (NPA) decreased in both BCVA score groups after IVB therapy. Normal or near-normal vision can be achieved with IVB treatment, provided it starts when visual acuity is not significantly reduced yet. The ophthalmic screening of DR patients should also target those with relatively high visual acuity