Oxysterols Increase Inflammation, Lipid Marker Levels and Reflect Accelerated Endothelial Dysfunction in Experimental Animals

Objective. Oxidized cholesterol derivatives are thought to exert atherogenic effect thus adversely affecting vascular endothelium. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of 5α,6α-epoxycholesterol on experimentally induced hypercholesterolemia in rabbits, and the levels of homocysteine (HCY), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), and inflammatory parameters (IL-6, TNF-α, CRP). Material and methods. The rabbits were divided into 3 groups, 8 animals each, and fed with basic fodder (C), basic fodder plus cholesterol (Ch) or basic fodder plus 5α,6α-epoxycholesterol, and unoxidized cholesterol (ECh). Serum concentrations of studied parameters were determined at 45-day intervals. The study was continued for six months. Results. We demonstrated that adding 5α,6α-epoxycholesterol to basic fodder significantly affected lipid status of the experimental animals, increasing total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels, as well as HCY and ADMA levels, whilst leaving the PON-1 activity unaffected. Additionally, the ECh group presented with significantly higher concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP). In the Ch group, lower yet significant (as compared to the C group) changes of levels of studied parameters were observed. Conclusion. Exposure of animals with experimentally induced hypercholesterolemia to 5α,6α-epoxycholesterol increases dyslipidaemia, endothelial dysfunction, and inflammatory response

Oxysterols Increase Inflammation, Lipid Marker Levels and Reflect Accelerated Endothelial Dysfunction in Experimental Animals

Objective. Oxidized cholesterol derivatives are thought to exert atherogenic effect thus adversely affecting vascular endothelium. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of 5α,6α-epoxycholesterol on experimentally induced hypercholesterolemia in rabbits, and the levels of homocysteine (HCY), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), and inflammatory parameters (IL-6, TNF-α, CRP). Material and methods. The rabbits were divided into 3 groups, 8 animals each, and fed with basic fodder (C), basic fodder plus cholesterol (Ch) or basic fodder plus 5α,6α-epoxycholesterol, and unoxidized cholesterol (ECh). Serum concentrations of studied parameters were determined at 45-day intervals. The study was continued for six months. Results. We demonstrated that adding 5α,6α-epoxycholesterol to basic fodder significantly affected lipid status of the experimental animals, increasing total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels, as well as HCY and ADMA levels, whilst leaving the PON-1 activity unaffected. Additionally, the ECh group presented with significantly higher concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP). In the Ch group, lower yet significant (as compared to the C group) changes of levels of studied parameters were observed. Conclusion. Exposure of animals with experimentally induced hypercholesterolemia to 5α,6α-epoxycholesterol increases dyslipidaemia, endothelial dysfunction, and inflammatory response

Development of The Experimental Stand With Centrally Located Specimen For The Investigation of Heat and Moisture Phenomena in Porous Building Materials

The paper presents development of an experimental stand with centrally located specimen for the investigation of heating and drying processes in porous building materials. Additionally, the paper contains preliminary results of measurements which test and verify the assumed operation conditions of the stand. In order to control parameters of air which was used to heat and dry the specimen, the stand was operating in a closed loop and was equipped with several elements, i.e., the cooler (humidity condenser), fan with variable rotation speed, humidifier and heater. Moreover, the stand consisted of two square and parallel ducts with air streams which had identical parameters. This allowed for two measurements at the same time

Development of The Experimental Stand With Centrally Located Specimen For The Investigation of Heat and Moisture Phenomena in Porous Building Materials

The paper presents development of an experimental stand with centrally located specimen for the investigation of heating and drying processes in porous building materials. Additionally, the paper contains preliminary results of measurements which test and verify the assumed operation conditions of the stand. In order to control parameters of air which was used to heat and dry the specimen, the stand was operating in a closed loop and was equipped with several elements, i.e., the cooler (humidity condenser), fan with variable rotation speed, humidifier and heater. Moreover, the stand consisted of two square and parallel ducts with air streams which had identical parameters. This allowed for two measurements at the same time.W artykule przedstawiono prace nad stanowiskiem doświadczalnym z centralnie umieszczoną próbką do badań procesu grzania i suszenia porowatych materiałów budowlanych. Dodatkowo w artykule zawarto wstępne wyniki pomiarów, które weryfikują zakładane warunki pracy stanowiska. W celu kontroli parametrów powietrza wykorzystywanego do podgrzewania i suszenia próbki, stanowisko pracowało w pętli zamkniętej i było wyposażone w kilka elementów, tj. chłodnicę (jednocześnie osuszacz powietrza), wentylator o zmiennej prędkości obrotowej, nawilżacz i nagrzewnicę. Aby uzyskać dwa strumienie powietrza o identycznych parametrach, pozwalające na wykonanie dwóch pomiarów w tym samym czasie i weryfikację powtarzalności proponowanej metody badawczej, układ składał się z dwóch kwadratowych i równoległych kanałów pomiarowych. Próbka została umieszczona w środku każdego kanału, co pozwoliło na wielowymiarowy transport ciepła i wilgoci wewnątrz próbki. W trakcie pomiarów zmierzono wilgotność w różnych położeniach i całkowitą wilgotność próbki, stosując odpowiednio system mierników rezystancji i siłomierza. Zmienność temperatury próbki mierzono kilkoma termoparami typu K i termografią w podczerwieni. Pomiary eksperymentalne przeprowadzono dla następujących zakresów prędkości powietrza, temperatury i wilgotności względnej: 0,1-10 m/s, 15o-60o i 10-90%. Podczas pomiarów rejestrowano i analizowano czasowe zmiany temperatury i wilgotności w kilku punktach próbki oraz zmiany całkowitej ilości wilgoci w próbce