Search

In this work we developed a bi-functional Bacterial-Nano-Cellulose (BNC) carrier system for cell cultures of Chelidonium majus—a medicinal plant producing antimicrobial compounds. The porous BNC was biosynthesized for 3, 5 or 7 days by the non-pathogenic Komagataeibacter xylinus bacteria and used in three forms: (1) Without removal of K. xylinus cells, (2) partially cleaned up from the remaining K. xylinus cells using water washing and (3) fully purified with NaOH leaving no bacterial cells remains. The suspended C. majus cells were inoculated on the BNC pieces in liquid medium and the functionalized BNC was harvested and subjected to scanning electron microscopy observation and analyzed for the content of C. majus metabolites as well as to antimicrobial assays and tested for potential proinflammatory irritating activity in human neutrophils. The highest content and the most complex composition of pharmacologically active substances was found in 3-day-old, unpurified BNC, which was tested for its bioactivity. The assays based on the IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF-α secretion in an in vitro model showed an anti-inflammatory effect of this particular biomatrix. Moreover, 3-day-old-BNC displayed antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. The results of the research indicated a possible application of such modified composites, against microbial pathogens, especially in local surface infections, where plant metabolite-enriched BNC may be used as the occlusive dressing.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the major causes of mortality and mortality affecting the whole world. In the inflammatory process, lectin is elevated and consequently, Galectin-3 expression is increased. This relation has been revealed by studies on coronary diseases. However, studies on the association of Galectin-3 with COPD and even other pulmonary diseases have been limited, although it has been studied and described on cardiologic patients. For this reason, in this study Galectin-3 levels in different stages of COPD patients were investigated and whether Galectin-3 could be a guide clinically. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is an observational prospective study, approved by local ethic committee (30112015-12), which included three groups of patients, COPD exacerbation, COPD stable and control group, admitted to tertiary healthcare between 01.09.2016 and 01.09.2017. RESULTS: 137 subjects were included in the study. The mean age of patients in the study was 70.6. Galectin- 3 level in the group of COPD (exacerbation and stable) was significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.001). The Galectin-3 level was significantly lower in COPD exacerbation group than groups of stable COPD and control. And also, Galectin-3 level was significantly lower in stable COPD group than the control group (p values: 0.034, 0.001 and 0.013, respectively). The ROC analysis for the Galectin-3 levels between the COPD patients (exacerbation and stable) and the control group is shown in Figure 2 (AUC = 0.784). When the cut-off points of Galectin-3 is selected as 11.4; for this cut-off point, sensitivity is 83% and specificity is 71% for this cut-off point (AUC: 0.79 %95 GA: 0.70–0.86 p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: COPD is a disease with high mortality and morbidity and efforts are being made to identify its severity and exacerbations with various biomarkers. In this study, Galectin-3 levels were found to be lower in patients with stable COPD group according to the control group. In addition, galactin-3 levels were found to be lower in COPD exacerbation group according to both Stable COPD group and control group. Although a certain threshold value was found in this study, more studies are needed to determine this threshold value more precisely. However, it is clear that these data are promising.

Most of the muscle pathologies consist of traumas. The use of oral anticoagulants increases post-traumatic bleeding and haematoma risk. Ultrasonography has an important place in diagnostic examination of the soft tissue haematomas that appear in post-traumatic period. In this study a patient is presented who used warfarin and was admitted at the emergency department with hip pain and difficulty in walking, and who had gluteal haematoma on ultrasound after falling down. Hip pains in patients using warfarin must be alarming in terms of gluteal haematoma. Ultrasound offers fast and reliable results in preventing complications.

Background Treatment of the aortic arch pathologies is technically challenging. In this study we assess early and late outcomes of hybrid aortic arch repairs that comprise extra-anatomic surgical procedures completed by thoracic endovascular interventions [thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR)]. Methods Since 2007, 21 patients (8 women and 13 men) with a median age of 48 years have undergone hybrid procedures for aortic arch pathologies. All of them were treated without cardio-pulmonary bypass. All survivors were followed up regularly and imaging examination were performed. A technical success, procedural complications as well as the early and late mortality and morbidity rates were evaluated. Results All patients survived surgery and TEVAR was technically successful in all of them. However, 2 individuals died (in-hospital mortality rate 9.5%) during in-hospital stay, both due to multi-organ failure (MOF). Additionally, one patient developed symptoms of cerebral stroke, another one of spinal cord ischemia. During the follow-up that ranged from 6 to 118 months and was completed by 100% of the survivors, one patient died 3 years after procedure because of sepsis (aorto-oesophageal fistula prior to intervention) and late vascular graft occlusions were noted in three cases. Conclusions Hybrid procedures on the aortic arch that comprise surgical and endovascular interventions has become an attractive and safe therapeutic option with acceptable mortality and morbidity rate. They may be considered as a method of choice in treatment of the elderly and high-risk patients.

Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) are the novel class of the androgen receptors (AR), often called tissue-selective AR ligands. Discovery of SARMs will give a possibility to the alternative therapy for androgens therapy (osteoporosis, prostate cancer, muscle wasting). SARMs should have high specificity for the AR, tissue-selective pharmacokinetic activities, improved oral bioavailability and pharmacokinetic profile which allows once-a-day administration [1]. Example of SARMs is flutamide (flutamidum, Eulexin, imid 2-methyl-N-{4-nitro-(3-trifluoromethyl)-phenyl]- propionic acid), a synthetic nonsteroidal drug that is a competitive antagonist of the androgen receptor. SARMs were recognized as forbidden substances by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and since 2004 they are on the Prohibited List. To point on the Prohibited List 2019 “Substance and methods prohibited at all time (in- and out-of-competition)” SARMs belong to group S1. 2. Other Anabolic Agents , and to group S4. Hormone Antagonist and Modulators [2]. The main role of an anti-doping laboratory is to analyse and to determine whether a given substance should be prohibited in sport. The principal analyses of SARMs and Specific Steroid Substance are a different variant of chromatography (LC — liquid or GC — gas) with many detection techniques (MS — mainly mass spectrometer, MS/MS — tandem mass spectrometer).

BackgroundIncidence of difficult endotracheal intubation ranges between 3 and 10%. Bougies have been recommended as an airway adjunct for difficult intubation, but reported success rates are variable. A new generation flexible tip bougie appears promising but was not investigated so far. We therefore compared the new flexible tip with a standard bougie in simulated normal and difficult airway scenarios, and used by experienced anesthesiologists.MethodsWe conducted a observational, randomized, cross-over simulation study. Following standardized training, experienced anesthesiologists performed endotracheal intubation using a Macintosh blade and one of the bougies in six different airway scenarios in a randomized sequence: normal airway, tongue edema, pharyngeal obstruction, manual cervical inline stabilization, cervical collar stabilization, cervical collar stabilization and pharyngeal obstruction.Overall success rate with a maximum of 3 intubation attempts was the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints included number of intubation attempts, time to intubation and dental compression.ResultsThirty-two anesthesiologist participated in this study between January 2019 and May 2019. Overall success rate was similar for the flexible tip bougie and the standard bougie. The flexible tip bougie tended to need less intubation attempts in more difficult airway scenarios. Time to intubation was less if using the flexible tip bougie compared to the standard bougie. Reduced severity of dental compression was noted for the flexible tip bougie in difficult airway scenarios except cervical collar stabilization.ConclusionIn this simulation study of normal and difficult airways scenarios, overall success rate was similar for the flexible tip and standard bougie. Especially in more difficult airway scenarios, less intubation attempts, and less optimization maneuvers were needed if using the flexible tip bougie.Trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT03733158. 7th November 2018.

Introduction. Airway management is one of key elements of resuscitation. Endotracheal intubation is still considered the gold standard for airway management during resuscitation. Aim. The aim of the study was to compare success rates and intubation time of different endotracheal intubation methods during emergency intubation with difficult airways in the conditions of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a standardized manikin model. Methods. The study was designed as a prospective, randomized, cross-over simulation study. It involved 46 paramedics with at least 5 years of experience in Emergency Medical Service. The participants performed endotracheal intubation under difficult airway conditions during continuous chest compression, implemented with the LUCAS3 chest compression system. Three methods of tracheal intubation were applied: (1) standard Macintosh laryngoscope without a bougie stylet; (2) standard laryngoscope and a standard bougie stylet; (3) standard laryngoscope and a new bougie stylet. Results. The overall intubation success rate was 100% in the standard bougie and new bougie groups and lower (86.9%) when no bougie stylet was used (P=0.028). The intubation success rate with the 1st attempt equalled 91.3% for the new bougie group, 73.9% for standard bougie, and only 23.9% in the no-bougie group. The median intubation time was shortest in the new bougie group, where it amounted to 29 s (interquartile range [IQR]: 25–38); the time equalled 38s (IQR:31–44.5) in the standard bougie group and 47.5s (IQR:36–58) in the no-bougie group. The ease of use was lowest in the no-bougie group (85, IQR:63–88), average in the standard bougie group (44, IQR:30–51), and highest in the new bougie stylet group (32, IQR:19–41). Conclusion. In this manikin-based study, paramedics were able to perform endotracheal intubation with higher efficacy and in a shorter time using the new bougie stylet as compared with the standard bougie stylet.

This article is part of a series devoted to discussing strategies for the synthesis of ion-imprinted polymers and molecularly imprinted polymers, their chemical structure and great potential, which may be used in porous material design, analytical chemistry, environmental protection and other areas of science. The presented work constitutes a basis for a better understanding of what porous polymers are, how we can synthesise them and how to foresee their properties, which can be later used in studies of environmental pollution and analytical chemistry.

The factors that affect the value of parsley for consumption include its taste, flavour and dietary utility (vitamins C and E, β-carotene, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and iron, raw fibre, proteins) as well as the content of hazardous substances, especially nitrogen compounds. A study was carried out in 2013–2015 to determine the effect of the cultivation technology and storage on the safety of parsley intended for processing. The study material was taken from an experiment where the following fertilisers were applied to the ground: nitrogen (0, 40, 80, 120 kg N∙ha−1) and magnesium (0; 30 kg Mg∙ha−1). Parsley roots were stored for six months in a storage room at +1°C and RH 95%. The content of nitrates (V) and (III) was determined by the ion selective method immediately after the harvest and after storage in parsley roots. The highest levels of nitrates (V) and (III) were found in parsley roots in the cultivation option where nitrogen for fertilisation was applied at the greatest amount, i.e. 120 kg N ha−1 and magnesium at 30 kg Mg∙ha−1. Regardless of the measures applied during the vegetation period, prolonged storage of parsley resulted in a decreased content of nitrates (V) and (III) in its roots. The limit for nitrogen content and the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for nitrates (1.0%) and nitrites (4.5%) were not exceeded in the cultivar under study.

In Poland, in recent years, there has been a great interest in growing spelt wheat. This is dictated not only by an increasing demand for food with higher healthy properties and unique taste, but also by a possibility of attracting farmers’ attention to this cereal as an alternative crop, with smaller requirements regarding the use of fertilization, as compared with common wheat. The aim of this study was to carry out the assessment of value of some technological characters of grain and flour of spelt wheat depending on different fertilizations with nitrogen (I factor, n=3, 25 and 50 kg N∙ha−1 + control treatment) and foliar application of microelements (II factor, n=4, Mn, Cu, combined fertilization with Mn and Cu + control treatment). Based on the performed study, it was found that fertilization with nitrogen, microelements and their interaction had, on average for years, a significant effect on the values of technological characters. Introduction of 25 kg N·ha−1 caused an increase in the value of falling number, whereas total protein content, wet gluten content and sedimentation value increased as a result of increasing nitrogen rates up to a level of 50 kg·ha−1. Of the variants of fertilization with microelements, the highest values of the analysed baking indices were found in the effects of combined foliar application of copper and manganese.

Herein, we present a new test, dubbed AntiBioVol, to be used for the quantitative evaluation of antibiofilm activity of volatile compounds in vitro. AntiBioVol is performed in two 24-well plates using a basic microbiological laboratory equipment. To demonstrate AntiBioVol usability, we have scrutinized the activity of volatilized eucalyptus, tea tree, thyme essential oils, and ethanol (used for method suitability testing) against biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. We have also compared AntiBioVol with the standard disc volatilization method, placing a special stress on evaluating the impact of various technical parameters on the outcomes of the latter method. The obtained results indicate that AntiBioVol allows analyzing the antibiofilm activity of volatile compounds in a high number of repeats and provides semi-quantitative or quantitative results of high repeatability. In comparison to disc volatilization, AntiBioVol is a more space- and cost-effective method that allows analyzing various types of microbial aggregates. Moreover, we have indicated that the possible reasons for the discrepancies in the results obtained by means of the standard disc volatilization method may be related to various parameters of the testing dishes used (height, volume, diameter) and to various volumes of the agar medium applied. In turn, the application of a 24-well plate and a strictly defined AntiBioVol protocol provide a higher control of experimental conditions. Therefore, the application of AntiBioVol may enable an optimization of and introduction of volatile compounds to the fight against infective biofilms.

The contamination of commonly used supplements by unknown steroids as well as their metabolites (parent compounds) become a challenge for the analytical laboratories. Although the determination of steroids profile is not trivial because of the complex matrix and low concentration of single compound, one of the most difficult current problem is to distinguish, during analytical procedure, endogenous androgens such as testosterone, dehydrotestosterone or dehydroepiandrosterone from their synthetic equivalents. The aim of this work was to develop and validate an analytical procedure for determination of the steroid profile in human urine by gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS) toward distinguishing between endogenous and exogenous steroids. Beside the optimization of the experimental parameters for gas chromatography separation and mass spectrometry, attention was focused on urine sample preparation. Using an optimized sample preparation protocol it was possible to achieve better chromatographic resolutions and better sensitivity enabling the determination of 5 steroids, androsterone, etiocholanolone, testosterone, 5-androstandiol, 11-hydroxyandrdostane, pregnandiol, with the expanded uncertainty (k=2) below 1‰. This enable to evaluate the significant shift of the δ(13)C/(12)C [‰] values for each of examined steroids (excluding ERC). The analytical protocol described in this work was successfully used for the confirmation of positive founding urine by evaluation T/E ratio after GC/C/IRMS analysis.

Alfons Bukowski (1858-1921) is commonly regarded as the pioneer of anti-doping research. In 1910, he developed a method to detect alkaloids in horse saliva. One hundred years later, this is a good moment to remember Bukowski, an outstanding Polish pharmacist, often mistakenly represented in world literature as a Russian chemist. It is also an occasion to mention that the real driving forces in the history of doping were events related to horse rivalry.

The report presents the case of a sportswoman who accused her coach of having administered to her doping substances. During the judicial proceedings, biological samples of urine and hair were collected from this sportswoman. In the urine sample, a nandrolone metabolite was detected, but the result of hair analysis was negative. The paper presents possible reasons for the presence of 19-norandrosterone in urine, as well as the difficulties associated with interpretation of 19-norandrosterone detection during the doping control.