Behavior and the Response of Cancer Cells on Anticancer Drug Treatment Monitored with Microelectrode Array

AbstractA cell-based impedance biosensor using microelectrode array has been developed for monitoring cellular activities of MCF-7 breast cancer cells and evaluating drug-induced apoptosis. Using this device, different activities of cells such as cell attachment, adhesion, and spreading are monitored by measuring impedance spectra and interpreting the data using an electrical equivalent circuit. In order to demonstrate pharmaceutical relevance, the cells were treated with 25μM of anti-cancer drug Cisplatin. It was found that cell spreading caused a significant increase of impedance magnitude in the frequency range between 10kHz and 100kHz during 23h of incubation, which is reversed after 24h treatment with Cisplatin. This reversal is attributed to cell apoptosis, which is confirmed by microscopic observation of the cells

Plasmapheresis leading to remission of refractory nephrotic syndrome due to fibrillary glomerulonephritis: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Fibrillary glomerulonephritis (FibGN) is characterized by extracellular deposition of Congo red-negative microfibrils within the glomerular mesangium and leads to gross proteinuria or nephrotic syndrome. After diagnosis of FibGN, end-stage renal disease occurs within four years in 50% of patients.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 36-year-old Caucasian woman with proteinuria and intermittent nephrotic syndrome due to FibGN intermittently received immunosuppressive therapies, including glucocorticoids, mycophenolate mofetil, and rituximab, for 10 years. However, disease remission was not achieved and progressive kidney injury developed. Ultimately, in stage IV of chronic kidney disease (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes), three cycles of plasmapheresis of five to seven sessions each were performed every three to four months, reducing steady-state proteinuria from 7 to less than 1 g/day. Here, plasmapheresis led to a remission of nephrotic syndrome associated with FibGN.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Plasmapheresis therapy is proposed as a further option for immunosuppressant-refractory FibGN.</p

Calciphylaxis in chronic, non-dialysis-dependent renal disease

BACKGROUND: Calciphylaxis cutis is characterized by media calcification of arteries and, most prominently, of cutaneous and subcutaneous arterioles occurring in renal insufficiency patients. CASE REPORT: A 53-year-old woman with chronic cardiac and renal failure complained of painful crural, non-varicosis ulcers. She was hospitalized in an immobilized condition due to both the crural ulcerations and the existing heart-failure state (NYHA III-IV) having pleural and pericardial effusions, atrial fibrillation and weight loss of 30 kg over the past year. Despite normalization of calcium-phosphorus balance and improvement of renal function, the clinical course of crural ulcerations deteriorated during the following 3 months. After failure of surgical debridements, multiple courses of sterile-maggot therapy were introduced at a late stage to stabilize the wounds. The patient died of recurrent wound infections and sepsis paralleled by exacerbations of renal malfunction. CONCLUSIONS: The role of renal disease in vascular complications is discussed. Sterile-maggot debridement may constitute a therapy for the ulcerated calciphylaxis at an earlier stage, i.e. when first ulcerations appear

Cholesterol-crystal embolism presenting with delayed graft function and impaired long-term function in renal transplant recipients: two case reports

Introduction Impaired renal function and/or pre-existing atherosclerosis in the deceased donor increase the risk of delayed graft function and impaired long-term renal function in kidney transplant recipients. Case presentation We report delayed graft function occurring simultaneously in two kidney transplant recipients, aged 57-years-old and 39-years-old, who received renal allografts from the same deceased donor. The 62-year-old donor died of cardiac arrest during an asthmatic state. Renal-allograft biopsies performed in both kidney recipients because of delayed graft function revealed cholesterol-crystal embolism. An empiric statin therapy in addition to low-dose acetylsalicylic acid was initiated. After 10 and 6 hemodialysis sessions every 48 hours, respectively, both renal allografts started to function. Glomerular filtration rates at discharge were 26 ml/min/1.73 m2 and 23.9 ml/min/1.73 m2, and remained stable in follow-up examinations. Possible donor and surgical procedure-dependent causes for cholesterol-crystal embolism are discussed. Conclusion Cholesterol-crystal embolism should be considered as a cause for delayed graft function and long-term impaired renal allograft function, especially in the older donor population

Влияние водных суспензий промышленных наночастиц на биометрические свойства проростков пшеницы

В работе показано влияние размера (9, 83 и 143 нм) и концентрации (3…1000 мг/л) наночастиц и ионов никеля на морфометрические (длину 2-суточного корня, энергию прорастания, суммарную длину 9-суточных побегов и корней) и физиологические (содержание в тканях ионов K+ и NO3- и электропроводность) свойства проростков пшеницы сорта "Ирень", выращенных с добавлением наночастиц в среду прорастания (раствор Хьюитта). Установлено, что угнетение корнеобразования развивается при увеличении концентрации наночастиц, при переходе от наноразмерной формы к ионной и с уменьшением размера частиц в суспензиях с концентрацией более 30 мг/л.The paper shows the influence of the size (9, 83 and 143 nm) and concentration (3...1000 mg/L) of nanoparticles and nickel ions on morphometric (length of a 2-day root, germination energy, total length of 9-day-old shoots and roots) and physiological (content of K+ and NO3- ions in tissues and electrical conductivity) properties of wheat seedlings of the "Iren" variety grown with the addition of nanoparticles to the germination medium (Hewitt's solution). It was found that the inhibition of root formation develops with an increase in the concentration of nanoparticles, with the transition from the nanosized form to the ionic form, and with a decrease in the particle size in suspensions with a concentration of more than 30 mg/L

Atorvastatin Therapy during the Peri-Infarct Period Attenuates Left Ventricular Dysfunction and Remodeling after Myocardial Infarction

Although statins impart a number of cardiovascular benefits, whether statin therapy during the peri-infarct period improves subsequent myocardial structure and function remains unclear. Thus, we evaluated the effects of atorvastatin on cardiac function, remodeling, fibrosis, and apoptosis after myocardial infarction (MI). Two groups of rats were subjected to permanent coronary occlusion. Group II (n = 14) received oral atorvastatin (10 mg/kg/d) daily for 3 wk before and 4 wk after MI, while group I (n = 12) received equivalent doses of vehicle. Infarct size (Masson's trichrome-stained sections) was similar in both groups. Compared with group I, echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and fractional area change (FAC) were higher while LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and LV end-systolic and end-diastolic diameters (LVESD and LVEDD) were lower in treated rats. Hemodynamically, atorvastatin-treated rats exhibited significantly higher dP/dtmax, end-systolic elastance (Ees), and preload recruitable stroke work (PRSW) and lower LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). Morphometrically, infarct wall thickness was greater in treated rats. The improvement of LV function by atorvastatin was associated with a decrease in hydroxyproline content and in the number of apoptotic cardiomyocyte nuclei. We conclude that atorvastatin therapy during the peri-infarct period significantly improves LV function and limits adverse LV remodeling following MI independent of a reduction in infarct size. These salubrious effects may be due in part to a decrease in myocardial fibrosis and apoptosis

The "Statinth" wonder of the world: a panacea for all illnesses or a bubble about to burst

After the introduction of statins in the market as effective lipid lowering agents, they were shown to have effects other than lipid lowering. These actions were collectively referred to as 'pleiotropic actions of statins.' Pleiotropism of statins formed the basis for evaluating statins for several indications other than lipid lowering. Evidence both in favour and against is available for several of these indications. The current review attempts to critically summarise the available data for each of these indications

Inclusive J/ψ production at forward and backward rapidity in p-Pb collisions at √sNN=8.16 TeV

Inclusive J/psi production is studied in p-Pb interactions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon-nucleon collision sqrt(s_NN) = 8.16TeV, using the ALICE detector at the CERN LHC. The J/psi meson is reconstructed, via its decay to a muon pair, in the centre-of-mass rapidity intervals 2.03 < ycms < 3.53 and -4.46 < ycms < -2.96, where positive and negative ycms refer to the p-going and Pb-going direction, respectively. The transverse momentum coverage is pT < 20 GeV/c. In this paper, ycms- and pT-differential cross sections for inclusive J/psi production are presented, and the corresponding nuclear modification factors RpPb are shown. Forward results show a suppression of the J/psi yield with respect to pp collisions, concentrated in the region pT < 5 GeV/c. At backward rapidity no significant suppression is observed. The results are compared to previous measurements by ALICE in p-Pb collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 5.02TeV and to theoretical calculations. Finally, the ratios RFB between forward- and backward-ycms RpPb values are shown and discussed