Influence of Undergarments on the Comfort Level of Scoliosis Brace Wearers.

Bracing has proven to be an effective method for the conventional treatment of scoliosis in young people. A brace, a therapeutic device, covers the upper body and promotes healing by applying pressure to specific areas. However, wearing a scoliosis brace negatively affects the user's thermo-physiological well-being and often leads to discomfort. In this study, we investigated the influence of T-shirts as an undergarment on the thermo-physiological well-being of the brace wearer. For this purpose, we performed a comparative analysis of six T-shirts made from different special knitted fabrics. We carried out wearing tests in a computer-controlled climate chamber according to a predetermined protocol. The test subject wore the orthopedic brace over the different T-shirts at three different temperatures. The results indicate that the knitted fabrics of undergarments and environmental conditions considerably impact the wearer's thermo-physiological comfort. In the tests, the T-shirts made from the selected functional fabrics performed very well. The T-shirt made from the classic cotton fabric containing elastane yarn also performed well and was the most environmentally friendly. Currently, due to its lower price and easier availability, this cotton T-shirt can be recommended for wearing under a scoliosis brace.

Cell-Free DNA in the Pathogenesis and Therapy of Non-Infectious Inflammations and Tumors.

The basic function of the immune system is the protection of the host against infections, along with the preservation of the individual antigenic identity. The process of self-tolerance covers the discrimination between self and foreign antigens, including proteins, nucleic acids, and larger molecules. Consequently, a broken immunological self-tolerance results in the development of autoimmune or autoinflammatory disorders. Immunocompetent cells express pattern-recognition receptors on their cell membrane and cytoplasm. The majority of endogenous DNA is located intracellularly within nuclei and mitochondria. However, extracellular, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) can also be detected in a variety of diseases, such as autoimmune disorders and malignancies, which has sparked interest in using cfDNA as a possible biomarker. In recent years, the widespread use of liquid biopsies and the increasing demand for screening, as well as monitoring disease activity and therapy response, have enabled the revival of cfDNA research. The majority of studies have mainly focused on the function of cfDNA as a biomarker. However, research regarding the immunological consequences of cfDNA, such as its potential immunomodulatory or therapeutic benefits, is still in its infancy. This article discusses the involvement of various DNA-sensing receptors (e.g., absent in melanoma-2; Toll-like receptor 9; cyclic GMP-AMP synthase/activator of interferon genes) in identifying host cfDNA as a potent danger-associated molecular pattern. Furthermore, we aim to summarize the results of the experimental studies that we recently performed and highlight the immunomodulatory capacity of cfDNA, and thus, the potential for possible therapeutic consideration.

Investigation of the inflammatory and oxidative stress-inducing effects of deoxynivalenol and T-2 toxin exposure in non-tumorigenic human intestinal cell model.

Fungi in the Fusarium genus produce trichothecene mycotoxins including deoxynivalenol (DON) and T-2 toxin which may elicit their damaging effects on the gastrointestinal tract following the consumption of contaminated cereal-based foods. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of these commonly occurring fusarotoxins alone and in combination using the human, non-cancerous intestinal epithelial cell line HIEC-6. Based on our experimental data, 24 h after treatment with fusarotoxins, hydrogen peroxide levels, intracellular oxidative stress and the amounts of inflammatory interleukins IL-6 and IL-8 significantly increased. Cell membrane localization of the tight junction protein claudin-1 decreased, whereas distribution of occludin remained unchanged. Taken together, the HIEC-6 cell line appears to be a suitable experimental model for monitoring the combined effects of mycotoxins at the cellular level including changes in the redox states of cells.

Lenalidomide abrogates the survival effect of bone marrow stromal cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

In the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) the microenvironment plays an important role, as it produces survival signals and mediates drug resistance. Lenalidomide, which has immunomodulatory effect, can enhance the activation of T-, NK-cells and endothelial cells, however there are no data available whether it can modulate bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). In our study, we investigated the effects of lenalidomide on BMSCs and CLL cells. CLL cells were cultured alone or with BMSCs and were treated with lenalidomide. Apoptosis, immunophenotype, and cytokine secretion of BMSCs and CLL cells were determined by flow cytometry. Lenalidomide slightly increased the apoptosis of CLL cells and abrogated the anti-apoptotic effect of BMSCs on CLL cells. Lenalidomide treatment decreased the expression of antigens on CLL cells, which mediate the interactions with the microenvironment. Interestingly, lenalidomide enhanced the expression of IRF4 and the co-stimulatory molecule CD86. The secretion of several cytokines was not changed significantly by lenalidomide. CD49d-negative CLL cases were more sensitive to lenalidomide treatment. Our results suggest that lenalidomide has a limited effect on BMSCs, but it renders CLL cells more immunogenic and unresponsive to survival signals provided by BMSCs.

Study on the Compression Effect of Clothing on the Physiological Response of the Athlete.

The study aimed to analyze whether the high compression of unique, tight-fitting sportswear influences the clothing physiology comfort of the athlete. Three specific sportswear with different compression were tested on four subjects while they were running on a treadmill with increasing intensity. The compression effect of the sportswear on the body of the test persons, the temperature distribution of the subjects, and the intensity of their perspiration during running were determined. The results indicate that the compression effect exerted by the garments significantly influences the clothing physiology comfort of the athlete; a higher compression load leads to more intense sweating and higher skin temperature.

The Effect of CD86 Expression on the Proliferation and the Survival of CLL Cells.

Micro-environment plays important role in the pathogenesis of CLL by providing protective niche for CLL cells. Several molecules play important role in communication between CLL cells and immune cells like CD86.Some of the data suggest that CLL patients with high CD86 level need earlier treatments and cells with higher CD86 expression has higher proliferation rate but the role of CD86 in the survival and proliferation of CLL cells is unclear. We investigated the effect of CD86 expression to CLL cells in 50 peripheral blood and 15 lymph node biopsy samples from CLL patients. Our results showed that the expressions of CD86 increased significantly after 7 day culturing in medium, or in the presence of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). We found positive correlation between CD86 and CD23 expression (p < 0.05), but no correlation with other markers. Furthermore, no correlation were found between the CD86 expression and the proliferation of CLL cells. Analysis of clinical data showed that cases with high CD86 expression had lower level of serum lymphocyte count (p < 0.04) at the time of the diagnosis. CD86 shows multiple appearances in the lymph nodes containing pseudofollicules, but no correlation was found between CD86 positivity, and Ki67 positivity. Our results suggest that the use of CD86 molecule as a proliferation marker for CLL is highly questionable. However, the CD86 molecule may interfere with the immune system of patients with CLL by activating and depleting immune functions. That can be the reason why CD86 positivity may mean worse prognosis.

Ciprofloxacin Promoted qnrD Expression and Phylogenetic Analysis of qnrD Harboring Plasmids.

Morganella morganii SE10MM harboring quinolone resistance determinant qnrD was investigated in our study. An entirely sequenced novel 2,662 bp qnrD-plasmid pSE10MM was identified and deposited at GenBank under accession number KU160530. Nucleic acid sequence of pSE10MM showed 94-97% similarity to previously detected qnrD-plasmids of Proteus mirabilis strains. Phylogenetic analysis by Geneious 9.0.5 showed clusters of plasmids with possible common origin. Initial expression of qnrD gene was found 12.5 normalized to rpoB housekeeping gene. Subsequently, a sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (1 mg/L) ciprofloxacin exposure resulted in a fold change of 30.06 at 24 hours. In contrast, qnrD-plasmid pSE10MM copy number increased in time from 1.1 to 6.63. Chromosomal mutations of gyrA with S83I, gyrB with S463A, and parC with S80I amino acid substitutions were detected, but no other mutations have occurred as a consequence of ciprofloxacin exposure. Elevated expression of qnrD correlated with that of recA in M. morganii during ciprofloxacin exposure, which indicates SOS-dependent regulation of qnrD. Protective effect of QnrD plays a role in fluoroquinolone-resistant strain even in the presence of chromosomal mutations in gyrase and topoisomerase IV.

Contribution of OqxAB Efflux Pump in Selection of Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.

The role of OqxAB efflux pump in Klebsiella pneumoniae was investigated in correlation with ciprofloxacin exposure. K. pneumoniae SE23 and K. pneumoniae SE191 were isolated from urinary tract infections and were analyzed in this study. Each carried oqxAB resistance determinant and exhibited ciprofloxacin MIC of 0.06 and 0.5 mg/L, respectively. Tested strains were initially exposed to their ciprofloxacin MIC values for 24 hours. Later on, the ciprofloxacin exposition has been increased to a daily 1, 2, 4, and to a final 8 mg/L. Total cellular RNA was extracted at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes of initial exposure and after every 24 hours. Quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR was performed from each RNA sample. Mutation in gyrA and parC genes was analyzed in each strain and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was performed. Ciprofloxacin exposure selected resistant strain from K. pneumoniae SE191; by contrast, K. pneumoniae SE23 was not adjustable to the increasing ciprofloxacin concentrations. During initial exposure, both oqxA and oqxB expression remained low (2-ΔCt = 1-2.03). However, increasing ciprofloxacin promoted oqxB expression as it reached fold increase of 15.8-22.8, while oqxA expression was maintained (2-ΔCt = 2-2.15). An amino acid substitution Ser83Tyr in gyrA was detected in K. pneumoniae SE191, but no additional mutations occurred as consequence to ciprofloxacin exposure. MLST identified K. pneumoniae SE191 as ST274, while K. pneumoniae SE23 belonged to the novel ST2567. Ciprofloxacin concentration-dependent upregulation of oqxAB efflux pump in K. pneumoniae is clonally related and contributes to selection for higher level of fluoroquinolone resistance.

Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants in Enterobacteriaceae from urine clinical samples.

Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) determinants including, qnrA, qnrB, qnrC, qnrD, qnrS, aac(6')-Ib-cr, oqxAB, and qepA, were investigated in 214 Enterobacteriaceae strains from urine clinical samples. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing for ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, and imipenem was performed by broth microdilution method. All strains were screened for PMQR genes by PCR. Virulence determinants, namely afa, pap, pil, sfa/foc, and kpsMT of eight Escherichia coli strains proven positive for at least one qnr gene, were investigated by PCR. All of the eight investigated strains carried the pil gene, showing that P fimbria is a common virulence determinant among qnr positive E. coli. Out of 214 tested strains, 38 yielded any PMQR determinant, altogether 45 genes were detected namely, 6 qnrA, 1 qnrB, 2 qnrD and 8 qnrS, 9 aac(6')-Ib-cr, and 19 oqxAB; however, neither qepA nor qnrC were detected. Notably, 18 Klebsiella spp., harbored oqxAB, nine E. coli were positive for qnrS and two Morganella morganii yielded qnrD resistance determinant. In this study, we demonstrated 17.7% prevalence of PMQR-positive Enterobacteriaceae and first reported qnrD-resistance determinant in Hungary. Altogether, 25 PMQR-positive strains were susceptible or low-level resistant to ciprofloxacin with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) between 0.06 and 1 mg/L, suggesting that prevalence of PMQR determinants is underestimated and screening among clinical isolates exhibiting reduced susceptibility is necessary. Fluoroquinolone resistance breakpoints of Enterobacteriaceae were revised in 2017 by European Committee of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing indicating ciprofloxacin susceptibility only until 0.25 mg/L MIC value.

The effect of microenvironmental factors on the development of myeloma cells.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal B-cell malignancy characterized by the accumulation of monoclonal plasma cells (PCs) in the bone marrow and other tissues. Although there are several new therapies, MM remains fatal. The interaction between MM cells and the bone marrow microenvironment promotes drug resistance and cancer cells survival. In our present work, we compared the antigen expression pattern of normal and pathological PCs and investigated the possible connections between various surface receptors, adhesion molecules, and recurrent genetic aberrations. We showed that the expression of CD29, CD27, and CD81 is lower in MM cells than in normal PCs. We found correlation of chromosome 11 hyperdiploidity and the decrease of CD27 expression. We demonstrated that MM cells with CD20 positivity also have CD28 expression. Multiple myeloma patients with active CD29 showed better response to treatment. Our results suggest that these changes may result in an alteration of the interaction between stromal cell and MM cell facilitating cell survival and the development of a more aggressive and resistant phenotype.

Some factors affecting efficiency of the ultrasound-aided enzymatic hydrolysis of cotton cellulose.

The efficiency of the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose with low frequency ultrasound (horn-type reactor) was investigated and characterized by the concentration of reducing sugars liberated. Small squares of bleached cotton fabric were used for comparing the efficiency of different agitation methods (i.e. magnetic stirring, horizontal and vertical mechanical agitation) and ultrasound. At the same enzyme dosage and substrate level, sonication at 40, 60 and 80% amplitudes (Idiss: 16.2, 32.2 and 43.4W/cm2, respectively) intensified the hydrolysis over the most efficient mechanical agitation (i.e. magnetic stirring) alone by 15%, 24% and 54%, respectively. For mapping the ultrasonicated field, fabric layers positioned perpendicularly to the ultrasonic probe at different distances were hydrolysed. The optimal operating conditions were reached at 60% amplitude and 9mm The yield depended mainly on important factors such as amplitude, the presence of a reflector, distance from horn and form of substrate.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction and characterization of hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes produced by solid state fermentation.

Ligninolytic and hydrolytic enzymes were produced with six selected fungi on flax substrate by solid state fermentation (SSF). The extracellular enzyme production of the organisms in two SSF media was evaluated by measuring the soluble protein concentration and the filter paper, endoxylanase, 1,4-ß-d-glucosidase, 1,4-ß-d-endoglucanase, polygalacturonase, lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase and laccase activities of the clear culture solutions produced by conventional extraction from the SSF materials. The SSF material of the best enzyme producer (Trichoderma virens TUB F-498) was further investigated to enhance the enzyme recovery by low frequency ultrasound treatment. Performance of both the original and ultrasound macerated crude enzyme mixtures was evaluated in degradation of the colored lignin-containing and waxy materials of raw linen fabric. Results proved that sonication (at 40%, 60% and 80% amplitudes, for 60min) did not result in reduction in the filter paper, lignin peroxidase and laccase activities of the crude enzyme solution, but has a significant positive effect on the efficiency of enzyme extraction from the SSF material. Depending on the parameters of sonication, the enzyme activities in the extracts obtained can be increased up to 129-413% of the original activities measured in the control extracts recovered by a common magnetic stirrer. Sonication also has an effect on both the enzymatic removal of the lignin-containing color materials and hydrophobic surface layer from the raw linen.

Mn(II)/Mn(III) and Fe(III) binding capability of two Aspergillus fumigatus siderophores, desferricrocin and N', N″, N‴-triacetylfusarinine C.

Manganese(II) and manganese(III) complexes of the exocyclic desferricrocin (H3DFCR) and endocyclic triacetylfusarinine C (H3TAF) in solution have been studied by using pH-potentiometry, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, relaxometry and cyclic voltammetry. A comparison between the present results and the corresponding ones for the open-chain analogues, desferrioxamine B (DFB) and desferricoprogen (DFC), shows (i) The dissociation processes of H3DFCR occur in the expected pH-range (pH7-10.5), but hydrogen bonding is assumed to be responsible for a quite low proton dissociation constant (pK=4.18) of H3TAF and also an unusually high one (10.59). (ii) Moderate stability complexes with 1:1 Mn(II) to ligand ratio are formed with all four siderophores. (iii) The coordination of the three hydroxamates of a siderophore takes place in stepwise processes, except the case of desferricrocin, with which, large-extent overlapping of the processes occurs. (iv) Out of the four tris-chelated [ML] type complexes, the complex of DFCR is the most compact, as it is indicated by the relaxivity values. (v) Following the stoichiometric oxidation of the Mn(II)-siderophore complexes at pH≥9, tris-chelated Mn(III) complexes are formed. To make a comparison between the stability of the Mn(III) and the corresponding Fe(III) complexes of DFCR and TAF, the determination of the stability of the Fe(III) complexes under our condition has also been performed, by using UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Comparable stability of the corresponding complexes was found. (vi) Correlation study of the stability constants resulted in estimation of the constant of the Mn(III) monohydroxo complex, for which there was no data in the literature under our conditions.

The effect of low-frequency ultrasound on the activity and efficiency of a commercial cellulase enzyme.

A commercial acidic cellulase enzyme complex was chosen in order to gain detailed information about the effect of low-frequency ultrasound (horn at 40 kHz) on the enzyme activity. The performance of the enzyme under sonication was also evaluated in a cellulose-cellulase model reaction. The filter paper activity of the enzyme and the yield of the enzyme catalysed hydrolysis were determined as a function of the parameters of the sonicated environment (treatment time, amplitude, with and without a reflector) and compared with the data measured in a non-sonicated bath. Depending on the parameters of the sonication, the enzyme is susceptible to ultrasound and its activity can significantly decrease. Despite the serious reduction of the enzyme activity, the outcome of the enzyme catalysed hydrolysis was always positive, implying that the advantageous effects of sonication impressed on the heterogeneous enzyme reaction always overcome the undesirable enzyme modifying effect of ultrasound.

Relaxometric determination of binding between Mn(II)-UDP and Mn(II)-UDP-glucose in aqueous solution.

The applicability of relaxometry for the determination of formation constants of Mn(II)-UDP (logK=3.78) and Mn(II)-UDP-glucose (logK=2.98) complexes is demonstrated. The obtained value indicates a well-defined interaction between Mn(II) and UDP-glucose in aqueous solution (pH=5.50) with ΔG = -4.07 kcal/mol.

The 3'UTR NFKBIA variant is associated with extensive colitis in Hungarian IBD patients.

PURPOSE: In previous studies the NFKBIA 3'UTR (untranslated region) AA genotype was associated with Crohn's disease (CD), while the NFKB1-94ins/delATTG mutation increased the risk for ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of our study was to investigate these two polymorphisms and patients' response to medical therapy and/or disease phenotype in Hungarian inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. METHODS: NFKBIA 3'UTR- and NFKB1-94ins/delATTG polymorphisms were investigated in 415 unrelated IBD patients (CD: 266 patients, mean age 35.2 +/- 12.1 years, duration 8.7 +/- 7.5 years; UC patients: 149, mean age 44.4 +/- 15.4 years, duration 10.7 +/- 8.9 years) and 149 controls by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Detailed clinical phenotypes were determined by reviewing the medical charts. RESULTS: The NFKBIA 3'UTR and NFKB1-94ins/delATTG genotypes and allele frequencies were not significantly different among IBD and controls. In patients with UC, the 3'UTR GG genotype was associated with extensive colitis (55.3 vs. 29.4%, odds ratio 2.97, 95% confidence interval 1.45-6.08). The presence of variant alleles did not predict response to steroids, infliximab, or need for surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The NFKBIA 3'UTR GG genotype was associated with an increased risk for extensive colitis in Hungarian patients. In contrast, variant alleles did not predict response to medical therapy or need for surgery.