The development of political science in Central and Eastern Europe : bibliometric perspective, 1996–2013

This research aims to develop a deeper insight into the development of political science from the bibliometric perspective by analysing peer-reviewed journal articles (n = 1117) indexed in the Scopus database and published by authors from fifteen Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries in the period 1996–2013. Results indicate that the majority of articles (84%) by CEE authors have been published in international journals and in the English language. The visibility of these articles in international journals, measured by the mean number of citations, is 5.2 per paper, while the same indicator for CEE journal articles amounts to 0.2. Authorship analysis indicates a gradual but continuous increase in co-authorships. Additionally, there are significant differences in citations between single-authored and co-authored articles, both in international and CEE journals. Co-authorship among CEE authors is present in only 1% of the analysed articles, confirming weak collaboration between political scientists in CEE countries

Antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in endometrium of patients with polyps, myoma, hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Oxidative stress and impaired antioxidant system have been proposed as a potential factors involved in the pathophysiology of diverse disease states, including carcinogenesis. In this study, we explored the lipid peroxidation levels and antioxidant enzyme activities in women diagnosed with different forms of gynecological diseases in order to evaluate the antioxidant status in endometrium of such patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Endometrial tissues of gynecological patients with different diagnoses were collected and subjected to assays for superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and lipid hydroperoxides.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Superoxide dismutase activity was significantly decreased (50% in average) in hyperplastic and adenocarcinoma patients. Activities of both glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were increased 60% and 100% on average, in hyperplastic patients, while in adenocarcinoma patients only glutathione reductase activity was elevated 100%. Catalase activity was significantly decreased in adenocarcinoma patients (47%). Lipid hydroperoxides level was negatively correlated to superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, and positively correlated to glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study provided the first comparison of antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation in endometrial tissues of patients with polyps, myoma, hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma. The results showed that patients with premalignant (hyperplastic) and malignant (adenocarcinoma) lesions had enhanced lipid peroxidation and altered uterine antioxidant enzyme activities than patients with benign uterine diseases, polyps and myoma, although the extent of disturbance varied with the diagnosis. Further investigation is needed to clarify the mechanisms responsible for the observed alterations and whether lipid hydroperoxide levels and antioxidant enzyme activities in uterus of gynecological patients might be used as additional parameter in clinical evaluation of gynecological disorders.</p

Glutathione redox cycle in small intestinal mucosa and peripheral blood of pediatric celiac disease patients

The celiac disease is an autoimmune gastrointestinal disorder caused by gluten from wheat, rye or barley. In genetically predisposed persons, gluten induces the immune-mediated inflammation of small intestinal mucosa. Histological lesions include intraepithelial lymphocytosis, crypt hypertrophy and villous atrophy, resulting in malabsorption of micro- and macronutrients. The only treatment for celiac patients is a permanent gluten-free diet (GFD). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress are strongly associated with the celiac disease. Glutathione (GSH) is a main detoxifier of endogenous and exogenous ROS in the intestine. In order to explain the role of glutathione redox cycle in celiac patients, we examined the activities of GSH-related antioxidant (AO) enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR), as well as the concentration of GSH in small intestinal biopsies and peripheral blood of children affected by the celiac disease. The concentration of lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) as markers of oxidative damage was measured in the same samples. The results clearly demonstrate a significant malfunction of GSH redox cycle with a concomitant decrease in the capacity to regenerate GSH and detoxify LOOH in celiac patients, even after several years of GFD. The oral administration of GSH and a diet rich in natural antioxidants, as well as appropriate dietary supplements, could be of great benefit to the patients.A doença celíaca é uma desordem gastrointestinal causada pelo glúten proveniente do trigo, centeio ou cevada. Em pessoas geneticamente predispostas, o glúten induz uma inflamação imune da mucosa do intestino delgado. As lesões histológicas incluem linfocitose intraepitelial, hipertrofia de criptas e atrofia vilosa, resultando em malabsorção de micro- e macronutrientes. O único tratamento para os pacientes celíacos é a restrição permanente de glúten na dieta (GFD).Espécies reativas de oxigênio (ROS) e o estresse oxidativo estão fortemente associados à doença celíaca. O glutatião (GSH) é o principal detoxificante de ROS endógeno ou exógeno no intestino. Para explicar o papel do ciclo redox do glutatião nos pacientes celíacos, nós examinamos as atividades das enzimas GSH-relacionadas e anti-oxidantes (AO) glutatião peroxidase (GPx) e glutatião redutase (GR), assim como a concentração de GHS em biópsias do intestino delgado e sangue periférico de crianças afetadas pela doença celíaca. A concentração dos hidroperóxidos lipídicos (LOOH) como marcadores do dano oxidativo foi medida em várias amostras. Os resultados mostram claramente a mal função significante do ciclo redox do GSH com uma diminuição concomitante da capacidade de regenerar GSH e detoxificar LOOH nos pacientes celíacos, mesmo após vários anos de GFD. A administração oral de GSH e uma dieta rica em anti-oxidantes naturais, assim como de suplementos apropriados na dieta, poderiam ser de grande benefício aos pacientes

Superoxide dismutase activities in different tissues of female rats treated with olive oil

The activities of cytosol superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) were measured in subcellular fractions of homogenates prepared from the brain, thymus and liver of ovariectomized (OVX) female rats, non-treated or treated 24 h prior to sacrifice with a single s.c. dose of 0.1 mi olive oil. In the brain, neither MnSOD nor CuZnSOD were affected by olive oil, whereas in the thymus the olive oil injection elevated CuZnSOD and did not affect MnSOD activity. At the same time, the activity of CuZnSOD was reduced and that of MnSOD was elevated in the liver following oil treatment. These results suggest that olive oil has modulatory effects on the expression of CuZnSOD and MnSOD activity in the liver and of CuZnSOD in the thymus of female rats

Comparison of MANET Routing Protocols in Different Traffic and Mobility Models

Routing protocol election in MANET (Mobile Ad Hoc Network) is a great challenge, because of its frequent topology changes and routing overhead. This paper compares performances of three routing protocols: Destination Sequenced Distance Vector (DSDV), Ad Hoc Ondemand Distance Vector (AODV) and Dynamic Source Routing (DSR), based on results analysis obtained using simulations with different load and mobility scenarios performed with Network Simulator version 2 (NS-2). In low load and low mobility scenarios routing protocols perform in a similar manner. However, with mobility and load increasing DSR outperforms AODV and DSDV protocols

Superoxide dismutase activities in different tissues of female rats treated with olive oil

The activities of cytosol superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) were measured in subcellular fractions of homogenates prepared from the brain, thymus and liver of ovariectomized (OVX) female rats, non-treated or treated 24 h prior to sacrifice with a single s.c. dose of 0.1 mi olive oil. In the brain, neither MnSOD nor CuZnSOD were affected by olive oil, whereas in the thymus the olive oil injection elevated CuZnSOD and did not affect MnSOD activity. At the same time, the activity of CuZnSOD was reduced and that of MnSOD was elevated in the liver following oil treatment. These results suggest that olive oil has modulatory effects on the expression of CuZnSOD and MnSOD activity in the liver and of CuZnSOD in the thymus of female rats

Regional differences in antioxidative response of rat brain after cranial irradiation

In order to examine if differences in activity and inducibility of antioxidative enzymes in rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus are underlying their different sensitivity to radiation, we exposed four-day-old female Wistar rats to cranial radiation of 3 Gy of γ-rays. After isolation of hippocampus and cortex 1 h or 24 h following exposure, activities of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and catalase (CAT) were measured and compared to unirradiated controls. MnSOD protein levels were determined by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and Western blot analysis. Our results showed that CuZnSOD activity in hippocampus and cortex was significantly decreased 1 h and 24 h after irradiation with 3 Gy of γ-rays. MnSOD activity in both brain regions was also decreased 1 h after irradiation. 24 h following exposure, manganese SOD activity in hippocampus almost achieved control values, while in cortex it significantly exceeded the activity of the relevant controls. CAT activity in hippocampus and cortex remained stable 1 h, as well as 24 h after irradiation with 3 Gy of γ-rays. MnSOD protein level in hippocampus and cortex decreased 1 h after irradiation with 3 Gy of γ-rays. 24 h after exposure, MnSOD protein level in cortex was similar to control values, while in hippocampus it was still significantly decreased. We have concluded that regional differences in MnSOD radioinducibility are regulated at the level of protein synthesis, and that they represent one of the main reasons for region-specific radiosensitivity of the brain

Superoxide dismutase activity in various fractions of full bovine milk

Specific composition, protein profiles and total SOD activity were analysed in full milk samples obtained from five farms of the Milk Company IMPAZ. The effects of several laboratory treatments on milk proteins SDS-PAGE profiles and the respective SOD activity were also followed. The total SOD activity was detected in all full milk samples, and its values varied between 2 and 3 U mg-1 protein. The enzyme could be partially purified, up to »5 U mg-1 protein, by ethanol extraction. The recovered SOD activity in ethanol extract was proportional to the initial full milk SOD activity. The disruption of casein micelles by Ca2+ removal was followed by a significant decrease in SOD activity to 1.24-0.18 U mg-1 protein. The loss of enzyme activity was ascribed to the changes in milk milieu induced by dissociation of casein micelles