The subchronic effects of 3,4-methylendioxymethamphetamine on oxidative stress in rat brain

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the subchronic effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine on several oxidative stress markers: index of lipid peroxidation (ILP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, superoxide radical (O2.-) levels, and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in the frontal cortex, striatum and hippocampus of the rat. The study included 64 male Wistar rats (200-250 g). The animals were treated per os with of 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) every day for 15 days. The subchronic administration of MDMA resulted in an increase in ILP, SOD and O2.-, and a decrease in GSH, from which we conclude that oxidative stress was induced in rat brain

Detection of enzymes produced by lactic acid bacteria isolated from traditionally made Serbian cheese and their role in the formation of its specific flavor

Nine species (sixteen isolates) of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from traditionally made Serbian cheese were evaluated for their enzymatic activities in order to select indigenous strains of technical interest for the manufacture of cheese. These strains were selected based on their previously determined biochemical and physiological characteristics, as well as their antimicrobial activity, and were identified as Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis (one isolate), Lc. lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis (five isolates), Lactobacillus fermentum (two isolates), Lb. plantarum (one isolate), Lb. brevis (one isolate), Enterococcus faecalis (three isolates), E. faecium (one isolate), E. durans (one isolate) and E. hirae (one isolate). The enzymatic activities (acid and alkaline invertases, alkaline phosphatase, alkaline protease, a-amylase) were measured by using the spectrophotometric method. The results indicated that all Lactobacillus isolates showed protease, amylase, and alkaline phosphatase activities, while the activities of acid and alkaline invertases were not observed. The Lactococcus isolates showed protease, acid invertase and alkaline phosphatase activities, except the KGPMF50 isolate, which showed no alkaline phosphatase activity. The tested Enterococcus isolates showed weakly and strain-specific enzymatic activity. The results indicated that the enzymes produced by the investigated strains have a role in the formation of the specific flavor of cheese and that these isolates, especially Lactobacillus isolates, showed the potential for use in the dairy industry or applied biotechnology.Publishe

Broth depending production of extracellular enzymes by enterobacteria isolated from dairy food (Serbian cheese)

In this paper, we investigated, for the first time, the enzyme activity of enterobacteria from cheese from Southeastern Serbia (Sokobanja), which was produced in a traditional way. The tested bacteria were selected from the spring, summer, and autumn collections and grown in two different broths. The enzyme activity was investigated in the two broths and measured using spectrophotometry method. It was concluded that there were differences in the amount of extracellular enzymes depending on the broths. A statistically significant rise in the amount of enzymes was demonstrated in Tripton soy broth. Bacteria in cheese do not possess the ability to produce extracellular enzymes in large amounts. Therefore, they do not change the organoleptic characteristics of the cheese. There is a possibility that if they are found outside their natural environment (cheese), without interactions with antagonists, they may exhibit stronger enzyme activity.Publishe

The subchronic effects of 3,4-methylendioxymethamphetamine on oxidative stress in rat brain

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the subchronic effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine on several oxidative stress markers: index of lipid peroxidation (ILP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, superoxide radical (O2.-) levels, and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in the frontal cortex, striatum and hippocampus of the rat. The study included 64 male Wistar rats (200-250 g). The animals were treated per os with of 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) every day for 15 days. The subchronic administration of MDMA resulted in an increase in ILP, SOD and O2.-, and a decrease in GSH, from which we conclude that oxidative stress was induced in rat brain

Znaczenie stężenia NT-proBNP w określaniu rokowania i ocenie diagnostycznej u chorych z ostrymi zespołami wieńcowymi

Background and aim: N terminal-proB-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is synthesised and secreted from the ventricularmyocardium. This marker is known to be elevated in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We evaluated NT-proBNP asa significant diagnostic marker and an important independent predictor of short-term mortality (one month) in patients with ACS.Methods: NT-proBNP and cardiac troponin I (cTI) were assessed in 134 consecutive patients (median age 66 years, 73% male)hospitalised for ACS in a cardiological university department. The patients were classified into ST-elevation ACS (STE-ACS, n = 74) and non-ST-elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS, n = 60) groups based on the ECG findings on admission. Patients with Killipclass ≥ II were excluded.Results: The serum level of NT-proBNP on admission was significantly higher (p < 0.0005), while there was no differencein cTI serum level in the NSTE-ACS patients compared to STE-ACS patients. There was a significant positive correlation betweenNT-proBNP and cTI in the NSTE-ACS (r = 0.338, p = 0.008) and STE-ACS (r = 0.441, p < 0.0005) patients. Therewas a significant difference in NT-proBNP (p < 0.0005) and cTI (p < 0.0005) serum level between ACS patients who diedwithin 30 days or who survived after one month. The increased NT-proBNP level is the strongest predictor of mortality in ACSpatients, also NT-proBNP cut-point level of 1,490 pg/mL is a significant independent predictor of mortality.Conclusions: We demonstrated the differences and the correlation in the secretion of NT-proBNP and cTI in patients withSTE-ACS vs. NSTE-ACS. Our results provide evidence that NT-proBNP is a significant diagnostic marker and an importantindependent predictor of short-term mortality in patients with ACS.Wstęp i cel: N-końcowy fragment propeptydu natriuretycznego typu B (NT-proBNP) jest syntetyzowany i wydzielany przezmiokardium komór serca. Wiadomo, że stężenie tego wskaźnika jest podwyższone u chorych z ostrymi zespołami wieńcowymi (ACS). Autorzy ocenili znaczenie stężenia NT-proBNP jako istotnego wskaźnika diagnostycznego i ważnego niezależnegoczynnika prognostycznego śmiertelności krótkoterminowej (w ciągu 1 miesiąca) u chorych z ACS.Metody: Oznaczono stężenia NT-proBNP i sercowej troponiny I (cTI) u 134 kolejnych chorych (mediana wieku 66 lat, 73%mężczyzn) hospitalizowanych z powodu ACS na oddziale kardiologicznym szpitala uniwersyteckiego. Pacjentów przydzielanodo grupy ACS z uniesieniem odcinka ST (STE-ACS, n = 74) lub do grupy ACS bez uniesienia odcinka ST (NSTE-ACS, n = 60)na podstawie EKG wykonanego przy przyjęciu. Chorych w klasie Killipa ≥ II wykluczono z badania.Wyniki: Stężenie NT-proBNP w surowicy przy przyjęciu do szpitala było istotnie wyższe (p < 0,0005) u pacjentów z NSTE--ACS niż u osób z STE-ACS, natomiast surowicze stężenia cTI były podobne w obu grupach. Stwierdzono istotną dodatniąkorelację między stężeniami NT-proBNP i cTI u chorych z NSTE-ACS (r = 0,338; p = 0,008) i u osób z STE-ACS (r = 0,441;p < 0,0005). Stężenia NT-proBNP (p < 0,0005) i cTI (p < 0,0005) w surowicy różniły się istotnie między chorymi z ACS,którzy zmarli w ciągu 30 dni, a pacjentami, którzy żyli dłużej niż miesiąc. Zwiększone stężenie NT-proBNP jest najsilniejszymczynnikiem prognostycznym zgonu u chorych z ACS. Ponadto stężenie NT-proBNP powyżej progowej wartości 1490 pg/mL jest istotnym niezależnym czynnikiem prognostycznym zgonu.Wnioski: Autorzy wykazali różnice w wydzielaniu NT-proBNP i cTI między chorymi ze STE-ACS i chorymi z NSTE-ACS orazkorelacje między tymi wskaźnikami. Uzyskane przez nich wyniki dowodzą, że NT-proBNP jest istotnym niezależnym wskaźnikiemdiagnostycznym i ważnym niezależnym czynnikiem prognostycznym śmiertelności krótkoterminowej u chorych z ACS