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The aim of this research was to study the processes of biotransformation of selenium in plants such as garlic, radish sprouts and sunflower sprouts via identification of selenium-containing compounds as metabolites of inorganic selenium using mass spectrometry. Speciation analysis of selenium in extracts from plant samples was performed with the use of hyphenated high performance liquid chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) method. Matching the retention times of sample compounds with standards allowed identification of Se-methyl-selenocysteine, selenomethionine, γ-glutamyl-Se-methylselenocysteine and inorganic SeO32 −. However, registered chromatograms included additional 82Se signals which couldn't be identified due to the lack of standards. Qualitative analysis of unknown compounds was achieved using high-resolution mass spectrometer equipped with mass analyzer Orbitrap coupled to high performance liquid chromatography. Since selenium has six stable isotopes of different abundance in nature, mass spectra of have a very characteristic isotopic pattern. In order to elucidate the structure of unknown Se compounds, selected ions were subjected to the fragmentation. Following selenocompounds were identified an inorganic selenium metabolites in garlic, sunflower sprouts and/or radish sprouts: selenohomolanthionine, Se-methyl-selenocysteine, selenomethionine, selenomethionine oxide, deaminohydroxy-selenohomolanthionine, N-acetylcysteine-selenomethionine, γ-glutamyl-Se-methyl-selenocysteine, methylseleno-Se-pentose-hexose, Se-methyl-selenoglutathione, 2,3-dihydroxy-propionyl-selenocysteine-cysteine, methyltio-selenoglutathione, 2,3-dihydroxypropionyl-selenolanthionine and two Se-containing compounds with proposed molecular formula C10H18N2O6Se and C10H13N5O3Se. Moreover, the structure was proposed for one selenocompound found in sunflower sprouts which has not been reported so far.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a family of zinc-containing endopeptidases involved in the degradation of the extracellular matrix, make a major contribution to the progression of a vast number of diseases, such cancer or epilepsy. Although several MMP inhibitors (MMPi) have been developed to date for the treatment of cancer, they have all failed in clinical trials due to lack of efficacy and, most importantly, the presence of severe side effects. The latter can be explained by their lack of selectivity of these inhibitors. In this regard, MMPs' family members have a high structural homology, which challenge the development of selective inhibitors for a specific MMP. Here, we have used in silico calculations and in vitro data to design MMPi that selectively target gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and have the capacity to cross the blood-brain barrier. Following this approach, we obtained compound 40 that shows high proteolytic stability and low cytotoxicity. This compound may be of particular interest for the treatment of central nervous diseases such epilepsy or Alzheimer's disease, where gelatinase activity is increased. Our data show the specificity of compound 40 for recombinant MMP-9 and MMP-2 and endogenous MMP-9 from rat hippocampal cell cultures, and reveals its permeability across the blood-brain barrier in vivo.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a regulator of vascular formation in physiological and pathological conditions. The aim of our study was to evaluate the value of VEGF as a surrogate marker of myocardial injury in acute ischemic conditions.In 104 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with and without ST segment elevation (STEMI and NSTEMI) the plasma and serum human VEGF (hVEGF) concentration was measured two times i.e. immediately after admission due to ACS and 24h later. According to ECG findings and coronary angiography results, patients were divided into three groups. Group A represented major myocardial injury due to ST-segment elevation in precordial leads and/or in I and aVL leads and with left anterior descending (LAD) artery responsible for STEMI symptoms or additionally with significant atherosclerotic lesions (lumen vessel narrowed50%) in other than LAD coronary arteries. Group B (medium myocardial injury) consisted of patients with ST-segment elevation in II, III and aVF leads and/or ST-segment depression in V2-V3 leads with one-vessel disease and the culprit artery was not LAD. Group C included patients with changes in ECG other than ST-segment elevation independently of the site of atherosclerotic lesions in coronary arteries.In all 104 patients with ACS the highest values of serum hVEGF were observed in second measurement (357.9 ± 346 pg/ml, p0.01). Although in the first measurement, plasma and serum hVEGF concentration did not differentiate groups, the difference between deltas for serum hVEGF was observed (p0.05). Increased number of neutrophils in the first measurement increased the OR of the high serum hVEGF concentration in the first measurement (OR=1.155; 95%CI: 1.011; 1.32) (p0.05). The number of neutrophils in the second measurement also revealed significant relationship with high serum hVEGF in the first assessment (OR=1.318, 95%CI: 1.097; 1.583) (p0.01). Increased values of triglycerides (exceeding the upper limit) were connected with decreased OR of high serum hVEGF concentrations in the first measurement (OR=0.152, 95%CI: 0.033; 0.695, p0.05).In acute coronary syndrome, serum VEGF concentrations are elevated and can serve as a surrogate marker of myocardial injury. The elevated number of neutrophils increases odds ratio of high VEGF concentrations in ACS. In patients with high concentrations of triglycerides, odds ratio of low level of hVEGF is expected.

Objective Although the addictive potential of benzodiazepine drugs has been known for a long time, new cases of benzodiazepine addictions keep emerging in clinical practice. The etiology of benzodiazepine addiction seems to be multifactorial. The objective of this study was to investigate and measure psychological and situational factors differentiating benzodiazepine addicts from not addicted users. Methods A psychological profile and situational factors of patients with the diagnosis of benzodiazepine addiction and a carefully matched control group of not addicted former benzodiazepine users were defined and investigated. Results The investigated benzodiazepine addicts differed significantly from the control group in particular psychological dimensions, such as higher neuroticism and introversion, prevalence of emotional rather than task based coping mechanisms. There were also significant correlations between the addiction and situational factors such as BZD — treatment circumstances and adverse life events previous to the treatment. Conclusions The results show psychological and situational factors which differentiate benzodiazepine addicts from not addicted benzodiazepine users. This data suggest that benzodiazepine addiction might be associated with higher neuroticism, introversion and less effective coping mechanisms as well as with previous accumulation of adverse life events and/or inadequate BZD treatment. The psychological and situational factors mentioned above might be considered as potential risk factors for benzodiazepine addiction.