Upośledzenie wchłaniania fruktozy: rola w zaburzeniach czynnościowych przewodu pokarmowego u dzieci

Upośledzenie wchłaniania fruktozy może być jednym z czynników odpowiedzialnych za występowanie wielu dolegliwości w przebiegu czynnościowych zaburzeń przewodu pokarmowego. Nieprawidłowość ta może być przyczyną kolek u niemowląt, bólów brzucha u dzieci starszych, a także objawów zespołu jelita drażliwego u osób dorosłych. Zmiany w nawykach żywieniowych, a w szczególności powszechne stosowanie fruktozy i niewchłanialnych fruktanów jako środków słodzących, zwiększyły ryzyko występowania wzmożonej fermentacji w jelicie grubym. Na podstawie przeglądu piśmiennictwa w pracy omówiono mechanizmy regulujące wchłanianie fruktozy w jelicie oraz przedstawiono dane ułatwiające rozpoznanie i racjonalne planowanie żywienia w przypadku nietolerancji fruktozy wynikającej z zaburzenia jej wchłaniania. Forum Medycyny Rodzinnej 2010, tom 4, nr 2, 117-12

Influence of vitamin D3 analogues in combination with budesonid R on proliferation of nasal polyp fibroblasts

Vitamin D (VD) and its different analogues, besides their classic role as regulators of calcium and phosphor homeostasis, have emerged as a large family of antiproliferative agents. Such properties suggested VD potential as a therapy for chronic inflammatory diseases, including nasal polyposis (NP). NP growth involves both an inflammatory process and the proliferation of fibroblast as an important factor inducing aberrations in the phenotype of the epithelium. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible influence of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol) and 1α,24(R)-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (tacalcitol) in monotherapy and in combination with budesonid R (BR) on NP fibroblast proliferation. Material and methods: The study involved 26 samples of NP. NP cells were cultured on 96-well plates beginning with a concentration of 5 × 103 cells per well with RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with antibiotics and 10% foetal bovine serum. After the fourth to sixth passage the medium was replaced with a nutrient medium with calcitriol or tacalcitol in a defined concentration (from 10-9 M to 10-3 M) alone or in combination with BR in 1:1, 1:3 or 3:1 ratios, each at concentrations from 10-5 M to 10-3 M. Results: Growth inhibition of nasal fibroblasts exposed to calcitriol or tacalcitol was noted. Significant antiproliferating activity was observed at calcitriol concentrations of 10-4 M and 10-3 M after 48 h, and at a concentration of 10-3 M after 72 h with the percentage of proliferating cells reduced to 30% compared to the control samples (P < 0.05). In cells treated with tacalcitol the maximal effect was seen at 10-4 M after 48 h and at 10-3M after 72 h with a 60% inhibition with respect to the control (P < 0.05). The inhibition of fibroblast proliferation reached the maximal level when they were exposed to calcitriol: BR (1 : 1) or tacalcitol: BR (1 : 1), each at a concentration of 10-4 M, after 72 h (82% and 69%, respectively). Conclusions: The antiproliferative activity of calcitriol and tacalcitol in NP cultures was confirmed. Because of its lower toxicity and higher activity tacalcitol seems to be the more promising agent in NP therapy, both as a single medication and in treatment protocols with BR

Synthesis of Phosphonated Carbon Nanotubes: New Insight into Carbon Nanotubes Functionalization

Carbon nanotubes were successfully functionalized for the first time in a free radical phosphonylation reaction. Three synthetic protocols were proposed. Carbon nanotubes and diethylphosphite reacted in the presence of known radical initiator, such as azobisisobutyronitrile, single electron oxidant—Mn(OAc)3, or under UV radiation. The functionalized material was fully characterized by means of spectroscopic methods, together with microscopic, surface area and thermogravimetric analyses. UV-illumination was found to be the most effective approach for introducing phosphonates onto carbon nanotubes. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed 6% phosphorus in this sample. Moreover, the method was performed at room temperature for only one hour, using diethylphosphite as a reactant and as a solvent. The functionalized carbon nanotubes showed an improved thermal stability, with a decomposition onset temperature increase of more than 130 °C. This makes it very promising material for flame retarding applications

Impact of Lactic Acid and Genipin Concentration on Physicochemical and Mechanical Properties of Chitosan Membranes

International audienc

Solvent-Free Synthesis of Phosphonic Graphene Derivative and Its Application in Mercury Ions Adsorption

Functionalized graphene was efficiently prepared through ball-milling of graphite in the presence of dry ice. In this way, oxygen functional groups were introduced into material. The material was further chemically functionalized to produce graphene derivative with phosphonic groups. The obtained materials were characterized by spectroscopic and microscopic methods, along with thermogravimetric analysis. The newly developed material was used as an efficient mercury adsorbent, showing high adsorption efficiency. The adsorption isotherms were fitted using Freundlich and Langmuir models. The adsorption kinetics were fitted with pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order models. Adsorption selectivity was determined in the presence of cadmium ions and nickel ions. The presence of mentioned bivalent ions in the solution did not affect mercury adsorption efficiency

Properties of New Composite Materials Based on Hydroxyapatite Ceramic and Cross-Linked Gelatin for Biomedical Applications

The main aim of the research was to develop a new biocompatible and injectable composite with the potential for application as a bone-to-implant bonding material or as a bone substitute. A composite based on hydroxyapatite, gelatin, and two various types of commercially available transglutaminase (TgBDF/TgSNF), as a cross-linking agent, was proposed. To evaluate the impacts of composite content and processing parameters on various properties of the material, the following research was performed: the morphology was examined by SEM microscopy, the chemical structure by FTIR spectroscopy, the degradation behavior was examined in simulated body fluid, the injectability test was performed using an automatic syringe pump, the mechanical properties using a nanoindentation technique, the surface wettability was examined by an optical tensiometer, and the cell viability was assayed by MTT and LDH. In all cases, a composite paste was successfully obtained. Injectability varied between 8 and 15 min. The type of transglutaminase did not significantly affect the surface topography or chemical composition. All samples demonstrated proper nanomechanical properties with Young’s modulus and the hardness close to the values of natural bone. BDF demonstrated better hydrophilic properties and structural stability over 7 days in comparison with SNF. In all cases, the transglutaminase did not lead to cell necrosis, but cellular proliferation was significantly inhibited, especially for the BDF agent

Tailoring properties of reduced graphene oxide by oxygen plasma treatment

We report an easily controllable, eco-friendly method for tailoring the properties of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) by means of oxygen plasma. The effect of oxygen plasma treatment time (1, 5 and 10 min) on the surface properties of rGO was evaluated. Physicochemical characterization using microscopic, spectroscopic and thermal techniques was performed. The results revealed that different oxygen-containing groups (e.g. carboxyl, hydroxyl) were introduced on the rGO surface enhancing its wettability. Furthermore, upon longer treatment time, other functionalities were created (e.g. quinones, lactones). Moreover, external surface of rGO was partially etched resulting in an increase of the material surface area and porosity. Finally, the oxygen plasma-treated rGO electrodes with bilirubin oxidase were tested for oxygen reduction reaction. The study showed that rGO treated for 10 min exhibited twofold higher current density than untreated rGO. The oxygen plasma treatment may improve the enzyme adsorption on rGO electrodes by introduction of oxygen moieties and increasing the porosity

Microstructural Design of Ba0.5La0.5Co0.5Fe0.5O3 Perovskite Ceramics

Ba0.5La0.5Co0.5Fe0.5O3−δ was synthesized in the solid-state reaction route. The influence of ball milling parameters (such as milling media size, angular velocity, and time), pelletizing pressure, and annealing parameters on the microstructure was studied. The grain size distribution and density or specific surface area changes were investigated in each approach while the individual parameters were changed. The evaluation of BLCF synthesis parameters enables tailoring the microstructure to various applications. It was observed that with lowering the size of milling balls and increasing the angular velocity the material will be porous and thus more appropriate as electrode material in proton ceramic fuel cell or electrolyzer. An increase of time, balls diameter, and/or angular velocity of milling enables one to densify the material in case of membrane application in, e.g., as a gas sensor. The significant influence on densification has also annealing temperature increase. Applying 1200 °C during annealing leads to dense material, while at 1100 °C shows visible porosity of the product. In this work, we present the results of the BLCF synthesis parameters change allowing the selection of appropriate parameter values depending on the further application as PCCs