Current Research on the Safety of Pyrethroids Used as Insecticides.

Pyrethroids are synthetic derivatives of natural pyrethrins extracted from Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium. They are 2250 times more toxic to insects than to vertebrates due to insects' smaller size, lower body temperature and more sensitive sodium channels. In particular, three pyrethroid compounds, namely deltamethrin, permethrin, and alpha-cypermethrin, are commonly used as insecticides and are recommended for in-home insect control because they are considered to be relatively non-toxic to humans in all stages of life. However, recent data show that they are not completely harmless to human health as they may enter the body through skin contact, by inhalation and food or water, and absorption level depending on the type of food. Permethrin seems to have an adverse effect on fertility, the immune system, cardiovascular and hepatic metabolism as well as enzymatic activity. Deltamethrin induces inflammation, nephro- and hepatotoxicity and influences the activity of antioxidant enzymes in tissues. Alpha-cypermethrin may impair immunity and act to increase glucose and lipid levels in blood. The aim of the review is to provide comprehensive information on potential hazards associated to human exposure to deltamethrin, permethrin and alpha-cypermethrin. The results of presented studies prove that the insecticides must be used with great caution.

Investigation of oxidative stress in patients with alopecia areata by measuring the levels of malondialdehyde and ceruloplasmin in the blood.

INTRODUCTION: Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic, inflammatory and autoimmune disease, presenting with non-scarring hair loss. Although the precise etiopathogenesis of AA remains unknown, oxidative stress is thought to play a role. AIM: To investigate the role of oxidative stress in AA by measuring the levels of plasma and erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) and the ceruloplasmin (CER) in serum. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 24 AA patients and a control group consisting of 24 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. The levels of MDA and CER were measured and compared between groups. RESULTS: Plasma MDA levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in patients with AA compared with controls. No significant difference was observed in MDA erythrocyte levels (p = 0.990) between the study group and the control group. Ceruloplasmin level was higher in the AA group, but this increase was not statistically significant (p = 0.156). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AA displayed significant plasma MDA levels, which could lead to damage in erythrocytes exposed to high concentrations of free radicals. These results demonstrate the presence of an imbalance in the oxidant-antioxidant system and support the concept of a possible role of oxidative stress in AA etiopathogenesis.

[S100A4 , MACC - 1 , REG - 4 - promising biomarkers of metastasis in cancers].

Metastasis is one of the key steps in cancer, which is exposed to a large group of patients diagnosed with malignancy. Initiating the process of metastasis is to move the epithelial - mesenchymal cells wherein the cancer cells by blood and lymph vessels, penetrate to distant sites of the body to form secondary foci. Cancer biomarkers are group of molecules (typically proteins) secreted mainly by tumor cells themselves having use in diagnosis of cancer, determining the length of survival in patients or in the assessment of the body's response to treatment. Studies on the search for new cancer biomarkers are conducted nowadays more intensively. Examples of such molecules include S100A4, MACC1 or REG4, proteins, where elevated level in the body is associated primarily with the process of metastasis. Article briefly characterized above particles, presenting the most important functions performed by them in the body, thus drawing attention to the potential therapeutic use of these proteins.

Nickel ions influence the transepithelial sodium transport in the trachea, intestine and skin.

Measurements of transepithelial potential and resistance in tissue and organ model systems enable the evaluation of the Ni2+ effect on the epithelial sodium channels, aquaporin 3, and the sodium-potassium pump in the epithelial cells. The aim of the presented study was to assess the immediate and prolonged effect of nickel ions on the transport of sodium ions in tissues exposed to direct contact with nickel, including airways, digestive tract and the skin. The influence of 0.1 mM nickel solution was performed on the trachea (n = 34), intestine (n = 44), and skin (n = 51) samples descended from 16 New Zealand albino rabbits. The electrophysiological parameters were measured in a modified Ussing chamber in stationary conditions and during a 15-s mechanical-chemical stimulation. A statistically significant decrease in the electric resistance values and the smallest range of the measured potential were observed for the Ni-treated trachea specimens. The use of nickel solution did not affect the sodium transport in the intestine epithelium. The skin fragments showed altered sodium ion transport, as demonstrated by the lower range and intensity of the measured potential. The gastrointestinal tract seems to be an organ best adapted to contact with nickel ions. In airways, nickel ions most likely enter epithelial cells and the space between them, modifying proteins and the airway surface liquid. The skin turned out to be the most sensitive tissue to the intensification of sodium ion transport through nickel ions.

Effect of Low High-Density Lipoprotein Level on Endothelial Activation and Prothrombotic Processes in Coronary Artery Disease-A Pilot Study.

High-density lipoproteins (HDL) play an important role in the prevention of atherosclerosis. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between serum HDL-C concentration and proinflammatory/prothrombic activation in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. The study group included 27 acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and 30 stable angina pectoris (SA) patients. The control group consisted of 23 people without cardiac symptoms. In the AMI and SA groups, a lower HDL-C and a higher LDL-C/HDL-C index were observed. The SA patients had lower total cholesterol, LDL-C, sE-selectin ligand, as well as higher triglycerides and CD40 concentration in comparison with both the control and AMI groups. A higher von Willebrand Factor and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 were found in both study groups. Low HDL-C concentration in the CAD patients may intensify pro-inflammatory endothelial activation and prothrombotic processes. A low concentration of HDL-C and a high value of the LDL-C/HDL-C index seem to be better indices of atherogenic processes than the LDL-C concentration alone.

Evaluation of Selected Parameters of Lipid Peroxidation and Paraoxonase Activity in Blood of Patients with Joint Osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress constitutes an important risk factor for tissue/cell damage and is involved in the occurrence and progression of Osteoarthritis (OA). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of Malondialdehyde (MDA) in Synovial Fluid (SF) and blood as well as the activity of serum and SF paraoxonase (PON1) of patients with OA. Our study aimed to assess local and systemic responses to oxidative stress. METHODS: The study included 43 subjects with OA qualified to total joint replacement. The control group consisted of 58 subjects with no musculoskeletal disorders. The malondialdehyde level were measured in venous blood plasma, erythrocytes (MDAe) and Synovial Fluid (SF) while PON1 activities were estimated in serum and SF. RESULTS: No differences in MDA concentrations in erythrocytes and blood plasma between healthy subjects and OA patients were observed. The significant higher level of MDA in SF compared with blood serum was seen in both genders (in woman about 46.2%, in men - 75.0%) and in both assessed joints (in hip about 53.8%, in knee - 115.9%). Total protein concentration and PON1 activity in serum were significantly higher in OA patients (about 14.6% and 87.9% respectively). The systemic response to osteoarthritis (serum PON1 activity) was higher about 33.6% in men than women and not dependent on affected joint. CONCLUSION: The changes observed in osteoarthritic SF show that the process of antioxidant enzymatic defence is intensified locally, not systemically. The lipid hydroperoxides elimination may lead to restore joints homeostasis.