Detection of Pionium with DIRAC

The aim of the DIRAC experiment at CERN is to provide an accurate determination of S-wave pion-pion scattering lengths from the measurement of the lifetime of the pi+ pi- atom. The measurement will be done with precision comparable to the level of accuracy of theoretical predictions, formulated in the context of Chiral Perturbation Theory. Therefore, the understanding of chiral symmetry breaking of QCD will be submitted to a stringent test

Toxic Effects of Nickel Nanoparticles in a Subacute Oral Administration to Rats

The toxic effects of nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) in their 92-day oral administration to male Wistar rats at doses of 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/kg body weight were evaluated. An increase in glycemia, triglyceride, LDL, total protein, and its globulin fraction levels were noticed in NiNPs exposed rats. NiNPs caused a decrease in reserves of liver glutathione and excretion of selenium in the urine, and an increase in serum levels of cytokines IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12p70, TNF-α, and INF-γ, with a simultaneous decrease in IL-17A as well as increased fibrosis-marking gene and Tp53 expression

Effects of Tyrosine and Tryptophan in Rats with Diet-Induced Obesity

Amino acids tyrosine (Tyr) and tryptophan (Trp) play a significant role in the regulation of energy metabolism, locomotor activity, and eating behavior. We studied the possibility of modulating these processes in obesity by increasing the pool of Tyr and Trp in the experimental diet. As a model of obesity, we used Wistar rats fed a diet with an excess specific energy value (HFCD) for 64 days. Trp led to a normalization of the rats’ body weight almost to the control level, but increased anxiety-like behavior and decreased long-term memory. The consumption of amino acids resulted in increased grip strength and impairment of short-term memory. The locomotor activity of animals decreased with age as a result of Tyr consumption, while Trp, on the contrary, prevented this. The Tyr supplementation led to the normalization of triglycerides and LDL. In the spleen cell lysates, amino acids suppressed the production of proinflammatory cytokines. The liver tissue morphology showed that the consumption of Tyr noticeably weakened the signs of fatty degeneration. The addition of Trp, on the contrary, led to an unfavorable effect, consisting of the appearance of a high number of large rounded fatty vacuoles. The data obtained indicate a more pronounced anti-inflammatory effect of Tyr as compared to Trp