Quercetin and histamine effects on free radical reactions in rat erythrocytes

The effects of quercetin and histamine separately or in combination on the free radical state of rat erythrocytes were estimated in vitro. Quercetin (0.1; 0.5; 3.0; 5.0 mM) or histamine (0.01; 10.0 μM) were added to whole blood separately or in combination. The content of hydroperoxides, TBA-active products and carbonyl groups of proteins in erythrocytes after hemolysis was determined. The greatest influence of quercetin and histamine on erythrocytes state indicators was revealed under their combined action, when the level of TBA-active products and the content of carbonyl groups of proteins were found to be increased substantially

Liposomes in Biology and Medicine

Drug delivery systems (DDS) have become important tools for the specific delivery of a large number of drug molecules. Since their discovery in the 1960s liposomes were recognized as models to study biological membranes and as versatile DDS of both hydrophilic and lipophilic molecules. Liposomes--nanosized unilamellar phospholipid bilayer vesicles--undoubtedly represent the most extensively studied and advanced drug delivery vehicles. After a long period of research and development efforts, liposome-formulated drugs have now entered the clinics to treat cancer and systemic or local fungal infections, mainly because they are biologically inert and biocompatible and practically do not cause unwanted toxic or antigenic reactions. A novel, up-coming and promising therapy approach for the treatment of solid tumors is the depletion of macrophages, particularly tumor associated macrophages with bisphosphonate-containing liposomes. In the advent of the use of genetic material as therapeutic molecules the development of delivery systems to target such novel drug molecules to cells or to target organs becomes increasingly important. Liposomes, in particular lipid-DNA complexes termed lipoplexes, compete successfully with viral gene transfection systems in this field of application. Future DDS will mostly be based on protein, peptide and DNA therapeutics and their next generation analogs and derivatives. Due to their versatility and vast body of known properties liposome-based formulations will continue to occupy a leading role among the large selection of emerging DDS

Antioxidant defense system state in blood plasma and heart muscle of rats under the influence of histamine and sodium hypoclorite

There is a wide spectrum of antihistamine drugs in the pharmaceutical market, however all these chemical preparations cause side effects. Therefore, new alternative ways for histamine detoxication are to be found. For this aim in our experiment sodium hypochlorite was used because its solution possesses strong oxidizing properties. The influence of histamine and sodium hypochlorite on the antioxidant defence system state of blood plasma and cardiac muscle in rats has been researched. It was shown, that the investigated factors result in the disruption of the antioxidant system. It was found that histamine injection in concentration of 1 and 8 μg/kg in plasma leads to the increase of superoxi­de dismutase activity during all the experiment. When studying enzymes, that catalyze hydroperoxides and Н2О2 decomposition it was shown that under the influence of histamine in a dose 1 μg/kg, the glutathione peroxidase activity increased on the 1st day of the experiment. However, on the 7th day of the experiment the increase of both glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity was fixed. The deviation in superoxide dismutase function in rats plasma under the action of sodium hypochlorite has been established. The activity of enzymes that decompose Н2О2 and hydroperoxides were inhibi­ted. Under the influence of histamine in the heart tissues we have stated the disturbance of superoxide dismutase work and increase of catalase activity and decrease of glutathione peroxidase activity. The influence of sodium hypochlorite on the myocardium of intact animals as well as joint influence of sodium hypochlorite and histamine result in the increase of superoxide dismutase and catalase activity and lead to the conside­rable decline of activity of glutathione peroxidase

Glutation-S-transferase activity of loach embryos during embryogenesis under the action of sodium hypochlorite

he effect of sodium hypochlorite obtained at electrolysis of isotonic solution of sodium chloride that is a source of active oxygen on activity of glutation-s-transferase in loach embryos was studied. It was shown that sodium hypochlorite in concentrations 0,5, 1, 2,5, 5, 7,5, 10, 12,5 µg/l caused an increase of glutation-s-transferase activity on the stages of development loach embryos 2, 16, 64, 256, 1024 blastodmeres. On the stage of embryonic development at 64 blastomeres, that corresponds to the sixth dividing of zygote the activity of glutation-s-transferase is maximal and rises, comparative to control, approximatevely on 136% at the action of sodium hypochlorite in all investigated concentrations. While in control samples, the activity of this enzyme is the lowest, comparatively with the stages of development of 2, 16, 256 and 1024 blastomeres. Probably, on this stage of division of embryos, the sodium hypochlorite causes a formation of harmful compounds (for example organic peroxides), that can be inactivated by the glutation-s-transferase. It is found that during incubation of bioblasts in the medium with sodium hypochlorite on the stage of 10th division, the enzymatic activity increased in a dose–dependent maner. Two-factor analysis of variance show that glutation-s-transferase activity depends on the time of development of loach embryos and sodium hypochlorite

“This Is a Look Into My Life”: Enhancing Qualitative Inquiry Into Communication Through Arts-Based Research Methods

As researchers in communication sciences and related disciplines continue to embrace qualitative research methodologies, there will be a corresponding need for innovative methods and strategies for data collection and generation, reflexivity and knowledge translation to make qualitative research methods more inclusive. Historically, those who communicate differently from the status quo have been excluded from or spoken for in qualitative research. The resulting omission of these perspectives in the literature constitutes a critical research-to-practice gap as clinicians seek to deliver client-focused communication care. Arts-Based Research (ABR) offers researchers a means of augmenting potentially linguistically and cognitively demanding verbal interviews while inviting participants to share a window into their daily lives with researchers and knowledge users. Additionally, ABR offers participants alternative forms of expression and creates avenues for researcher reflexivity and participant-researcher reflexive dialogue. To illustrate how ABR can enhance communication research, we present reflections on a study that incorporated multi-media artistic materials in a reflexive arts-based collective case study design. Working with young people experiencing post-concussion communication changes, we used arts-based materials collected and created by participants to support and enhance data collection. These materials were analyzed as part of each case, across cases, and played a central role in sharing our findings. Additionally, arts-based materials facilitated participant-researcher reflexive dialogue and researcher reflexivity. The goals of this paper are to: 1) provide a brief overview of ABR as a method for researchers interested in communication; 2) discuss four ways to incorporate ABR in the research process; 3) provide a case example illustrating different types of creative works to illustrate the four ways ABR can enhance communication research; and 4) discuss benefits, considerations and implications of using ABR to support inclusive research design

Activity of key enzymes of antioxidant system in rat blood plasma under the effect of histamine and sodium hypochlorite

The effects of histamine in 1 mg/kg and 8 mg/kg doses that correspond to the doses causing pathological effects at experimental conditions and of sodium hypochlorite in 5 mg/l dose – the lowest concentration of sodium hypochlorite that affects a body by oral administration, on the key enzymes of blood plasma antioxidant system were studied. It was found that histamine used in both concentrations intensified superoxide dismutase activity for 14 days. The simultaneous injections of histamine and sodium hypochlorite caused significant activation of superoxide dismutase in rats. Sodium hypochlorite received by rats with drinking solution caused the same effect. The catalase activity of blood plasma was not significantly affected by histamine, and its activity was significantly increased only under the influence of biogenic amine in 1 mg/kg dose on the 7th day of the experiment. Sodium hypochlorite caused a decline in catalase activity both in intact animals and in animals that received histamine injections subcutaneously. The injection of histamine in 1 mg/kg dose caused an increase in glutathione peroxidase activity on the 1st and 7th day of the experiment. Histamine in 8 mg/kg dose caused the intensification of glutathione peroxidase activity only on the 1st day, followed by the inhibition on the 14th day of the experiment. Sodium hypochlorite received by rats with drin­king solution led to general lowering of glutathione peroxydase activity in blood plasma