Spirulina maxima and its effect on antioxidant activity in fructose induced oxidative stress with histopathological observations

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterised by hyperglycemia and oxidative stress. The aim of the present study is to explore the antioxidant effect of Spirulina maxima in rat model along with the histopathological observations. Diabetes was induced by feeding 10% fructose solution orally to Wistar rats (n = 6) for 30 days, analysed for plasma blood glucose and the markers of the oxidative stress [catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)]. These biochemical studies were associated with histopathological examination of liver and kidney sections. The microalga Spirulina maxima being rich in proteins and other essential nutrients is widely used as a food supplement. S. maxima at a dose of 5 and 10% per kg and the metformin (500 mg/kg) as reference drug were given orally for 30 days to the diabetic rats. Diabetic rats showed significant (p < 0.001) elevations in plasma blood glucose, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and significant reduction in catalase, superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione activity. Oral administration of 5 and 10% aqueous extract of S. maxima for 30 days restored not only of blood glucose levels but also markers of oxidative stress. Histopathological observations of tissues manifested that the S. maxima administration had the protective and therapeutic effects against fructose-induced abnormalities in diabetic rats. It is concluded that S. maxima is effective in reinstating the antioxidant activity in addition to its antidiabetic effect in type 2 diabetic rats.

Phenylcarbamic acid derivatives with integrated n-phenylpiperazine moiety in the structure – kinetics of alkaline hydrolysis study / Deriváty kyseliny fenylkarbámovej s integrovanou n-fenylpiperazínovou zložkou v štruktúre – štúdium kinetiky alkalickej hydrolýzy

In present work, we have studied kinetics of alkaline hydrolysis of 14 compounds, which are phenylcarbamic acid derivatives with integrated N-phenylpiperazine moiety in the structure. The compounds possessed moderate antiarrhythmic and antimycobacterial activity. Their hydrolysis was carried out in an aqueous medium ethanol sodium hydroxide solution. The course of the hydrolysis was observed spectrophotometrically in visible as well as in ultraviolet regions. The pseudo-first order rate constants were calculated at several temperatures. The values of the activation energy EAwere determined by the Arrhenius equation. The rate of hydrolysis of the compounds under the study increase with the increase in temperature and it has been differentiated according to the substitution of N-phenylpiperazine as well as to the alkoxy substitution on phenyl ring.

An adjustment of vancomycin dosing regimen for a young patient with augmented renal clearance: A case report / Úprava dávkového režimu vankomycínu pre mladého pacienta so zvýšeným renálnym klírensom: Kazuistika

Augmented renal clearance (ARC) is a recently reported condition in pathophysiology of critically ill patients in the intensive care unit. ARC refers to the enhanced renal elimination of circulating solutes. These patients are either young or previously healthy people who have undergone surgery or multiple trauma.This case report describes an adjustment of dosing regime of vancomycin to a young patient, who demonstrated ARC with severe polytrauma, overcome crush syndrome and sepsis. This 16-year old male patient was crushed by a tractor, which caused severe tissue damaged in the right lower limb. He gradually developed a serious crush syndrome. When kidneys resumed their function, creatinine clearance reached the value that indicated ARC (339.81 mL/min/1.73 m2). Vancomycin was included in the patient’s treatment regime by administering conventional dose of 1 g per 12 hours. The residual measured levels were very low. The dose of vancomycin had to be adjusted to double and then to triple the conventional dose. Without the therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and subsequent interpretation of the results by the clinical pharmacists, such high doses would not have been considered for administration.ARC responds strongly to sub-therapeutic serum vancomycin levels. Our case report confirms the significance of TDM and the consecutive interpretation of the results in critically ill patients.

Sjögren’s syndrome

Sjögren’s syndrome is a slowly progressive, inflammatory autoimmune disease primarily affecting exocrine glands. Lymphocytic infiltrates replace functional epithelium and lead to decreased exocrine secretion of salivary and lacrimal glands - xerocrinopathy. Glands of intestinal system and pulmonary tract, skin and vaginal mucosa may also be affected. The most common extraglandular manifestations of primary Sjögren’s syndrome include skin vasculitis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, functional renal abnormalities, neuropathy and arthritis symptoms. This disorder may appear separately as a primary Sjögren’s syndrome or in connection with other inflammatory rheumatic diseases as secondary Sjögren’s syndrome. Treatment of the disease is based on topical ocular and oral therapy, extraglandular manifestations need to be treated with hydroxychloroquine and severe cases even with corticosteroid or immunosuppressive drugs.

A current view of the diagnostics and treatment of phenylketonuria in Slovakia

An overview of the diagnostics and treatment of phenylketonuria in Slovakia is presented in this paper. The nature of diseases, incidence and prevalence in Slovakia, its genetic characteristics, current laboratory diagnostics and treatment options are defined. A new method of phenylketonuria screening in Slovakia, which has brought substantial improvement in early detection of the disease and shortening time for definitive diagnosis since 1995 as well as the importance of a tandem MS/MS (mass spectrometry) introduced in the diagnosis of inherited metabolic disorders, is presented. The current state of phenylketonuria treatment focusing on low-protein dietary treatment and supplementation of amino acid mixtures is analysed. The use of sapropterin, enzyme replacement therapy, large neutral amino acids supplementation and gene therapy are also discussed.

Genetics of alkaptonuria – an overview

Alkaptonuria (AKU) is the first described inborn error of metabolism and a classical example of rare autosomal recessive disease. AKU patients carry homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations of the gene coding for enzyme homogentisate dioxygenase (HGD) involved in metabolism of tyrosine. The metabolic block in AKU causes accumulation of homogentisic acid (HGA) that, with advancing age of the patient, leads to severe and painful ochronotic arthropathy. HGD gene was mapped to chromosome 3q13.3 and is composed of 14 exons. In about 400 patients, 142 pathogenic variants were reported that are listed in HGD mutations database (http://hgddatabase.cvtisr.sk/). In this review, we summarise different aspects of AKU genetics and impact of the HGD variants on enzyme function.

Guidelines for complex genetic analysis of hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome in slovak population

Genetic diagnostics of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) has been performed in Slovakia in many different forms before the year 2000. Complex HBOC genetic analysis consists of many steps, including the initial genetic consultation, laboratory testing of genes associated with HBOC, interpretation and report of DNA analysis results, secondary explanatory genetic consultation and recommendation of clinical management for pathological mutation carriers. Many clinicians are participating on this workflow, such as clinical geneticists, laboratory diagnosticians as well as gynaecologists, oncologists or radio-diagnosticians. Currently, genetic testing is still technically and financially demanding and aimed only at selected families or patients who fulfil the defined clinical indication criteria.Positive result of DNA analysis, that is, detection of pathological mutation in genes associated with HBOC syndrome means that the risk of breast/ovarian cancer onset in mutation carriers is amplified. This predisposition markedly affects the clinical management and treatment of patient and other members of the family, thus creating the demand to establish widely accepted specific recommendations for genetic diagnostics of HBOC. In the past, the analysis of HBOC in Slovakia followed various technical approaches and indication criteria depending on the workflow of specific laboratory. The guidelines reported below adhere to the current trends in DNA analysis and clinical healthcare, define the criteria for diagnostic laboratories, conditions for genetic testing and determine indications for selection of HBOC families and further clinical management of mutation carriers.

Clinical significance of anti-C1q antibodies in SLE

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a severe and frequent complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Untreated cases very often lead to patients’ death; therefore, it is important to use markers sensitive and specific enough for the diagnosis and subsequent monitoring of nephritis. Autoantibodies against double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) are believed to play a major role in SLE in general and so their significance in prediction and monitoring of glomerular inflammation is low. For prediction of renal flares and effective, well-timed therapy, it is required to have an appropriate marker available. In our study, we have tested sera of 85 SLE patients with or without LN. The criterion for LN determination was the degree of proteinuria (persistent proteinuria > 0.5 g/day, according to ACR criteria for LN). Disease activity was described by SLE disease index (SLEDAI) score, renal functions were stated according to British Isles Lupus Assessment Group score. There were anti-C1q, total anti-dsDNA and high-avidity anti-dsDNA detected in the patients’ sera. We did not find any significant difference in average SLEDAI value between patients with renal and non-renal organ complications. Positivity of anti-C1q was more frequent in patients with nephritis than in those without any history of renal disease (58.3 vs. 39.1%). Higher prevalence of these antibodies was evident in patients with clinically active LN than in those without renal improvement (73.1 vs. 39.1%). When comparing anti-C1q with antibodies against structures of DNA, significant differences were found in case of high avidity anti-dsDNA. Our results have confirmed the studies showing that anti-C1q antibodies could serve as a reliable serological marker of LN activity along with other laboratory tests. Detection of anti-C1q together with high avidity anti-dsDNA antibodies seems to be a good algorithm for the prediction of possible renal flares in SLE patients.

Increased expression and secretion of recombinant hIFNγ through amino acid starvation-induced selective pressure on the adjacent HIS4 gene in Pichia pastoris

Transcriptional co-regulation of adjacent genes has been observed for prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, alike. High levels of gene adjacency were also found in a wide variety of yeast species with a high frequency of co-regulated gene sets. The aim of this research was to study how selective pressure on the Histidinol dehydrogenase gene (HIS4), using amino acid starvation, affects the level of expression and secretion of the adjacent human interferon gamma gene (hIFNγ) in the recombinant Pichia pastoris GS115 strain, a histidine-deficient mutant. hIFNγ was cloned into the pPIC9 vector adjacent to the HIS4 gene, a gene essential for histidine biosynthesis, which was then transformed into P. pastoris. The transformed P. pastoris was cultured under continuous amino acid starvation in amino acid-free minimal medium for ten days, with five inoculations into unspent medium every second day. Under these conditions, only successfully transformed cells (hIFNγ -HIS4+) are able to synthesise histidine and therefore thrive. As shown by ELISA, amino acid starvation-induced selective pressure on HIS4 improved expression and secretion of the adjacent hIFNγ by 55% compared to unchallenged cells. RT-qPCR showed that there was also a positive correlation between duration of amino acid starvation and increased levels of the hIFNγ RNA transcripts. According to these results, it is suggested that these adjacent genes (hIFNγ and HIS4) in the transformed P. pastoris are transcriptionally co-regulated and their expression is synchronised. To the best of the knowledge of the authors; this is the first study demonstrating that amino acid starvationinduced selective pressure on HIS4 can alter the regulation pattern of adjacent genes in P. pastoris.