Ambiguous Faces of Water-Based Inclusion Compounds: L4(4)8(8) Intercalato-Clathrate Hydrate of Pt(II) Complex.

Clathrate hydrates are among the most intensively studied H-bond inclusion compounds. Despite the broad definition for this class of compounds, their meaning commonly refers to closed polyhedral nanocages that encapsulate small guest molecules. On the other hand, larger solutes enforce another type of encapsulation because of the solute size effect. Herein, we report a series of structures containing various molecules encapsulated by intercalated water layers constructed of polycyclic moieties of L4(4)8(8) topology. We parametrized the corrugation of individual layers and characterized interactions governing their formation. We suggested that these could be categorized as two-dimensional clathrates based on the character of intra-layer interactions and the effects observed between entrapped molecules and water-based intercalators.

The influence of erdosteine administration on lead-induced oxidative stress in rat muscle.

Lead-exposure is known to disrupt the redox balance of tissues leading to oxidative stress. Due to the fact that a mucolytic drug, erdosteine, exerts also antioxidant properties, we decided to perform a pilot study on rats to evaluate its therapeutic potency in lead poisoning. Male Wistar rats were divided randomly into the following seven groups having 10 animals in each. Group I served as the control group. During 8-week period, rats in groups II-IV, except standard alimentation, received: erdosteine in a dose 350 mg/kg (collateral control group), 1200 ppm of lead acetate in drinking water and placebo, as well as the same doses of lead and erdosteine, respectively. Rats in group V-VII received 1200 ppm of lead acetate in drinking water for the initial 6-week period and then administered: placebo, erdosteine and EDTA for 2 weeks, respectively. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly higher in groups III and V compared to the control group. The activities of catalase (CAT) were significantly higher in groups IV, V, and VI compared to the control group. The activities of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were significantly lower in group II and significantly higher in groups VI and VII compared to the control group, while the activities of glutathione reductase (GR) were significantly lower in group III and significantly higher in group VI. Erdosteine has an effect of protection against lead-induced oxidative stress which is not worse than that of EDTA.

Chemotherapy and plasma adipokines level in patients with colorectal cancer.

Adipokines are molecules produced and secreted by adipose tissue and are linked to multiple malignancies. Adipokines can suppress or promote particular cell behaviors in different types of cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of chemotherapy on select adipokines in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Blood samples were collected from 42 patients with pathologically documented advanced CRC, who required palliative chemotherapy. Leptin, adiponectin, resistin and visfatin levels were measured by ELISA before and 3 months after the administration of chemotherapy. Among the 42 patients evaluated, 18 achieved a partial response (PR), 16 achieved stable disease (SD) and 8 patients experienced disease progression (PD). We found that 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy regimens significantly increased plasma levels of leptin and adiponectin and decreased plasma levels of resistin and visfatin in PR and SD patients, whereas the plasma levels of these molecules were not affected in PD patients. Furthermore, the mean plasma levels of leptin were significantly lower, and the mean plasma levels of resistin and visfatin were significantly greater in patients with PD compared with PR and SD both before and after chemotherapy treatment. We conclude that palliative chemotherapy in CRC patients, in addition to providing clinical benefits, positively affects cytokine production and secretion in PR and SD patients. Specifically, we found that palliative chemotherapy increased plasma levels of the anti-inflammatory adipokine adiponectin and decreased the plasma levels of visfatin and resistin, molecules known to promote angiogenesis and cancer cell proliferation in PR and SD patients. Moreover, the baseline values of leptin, visfatin and resistin might serve as prognostic indicators of a poor response to chemotherapy.

Perinatal Treatments with the Dopamine D2-Receptor Agonist Quinpirole Produces Permanent D2-Receptor Supersensitization: a Model of Schizophrenia.

Repeated daily treatments of perinatal rats with the dopamine D2-receptor (D2-R) agonist quinpirole for a week or more produces the phenomenon of 'priming'-gradual but long-term sensitization of D2-R. In fact a daily dose of quinpirole as low as 50 µg/kg/day is adequate for sensitizing D2-R. Primed rats as neonates and in adolescence, when acutely treated with quinpirole display enhanced eating/gnawing/nursing on dams, also horizontal locomotor activity. Between 3 and 5 weeks of age, acute quinpirole treatment of primed rats produces profound vertical jumping with paw treading-a behavior that is not observed in control rats. At later ages acute quinpirole treatment is associated with enhanced yawning, a D2-R-associated behavior. This long-term D2-R supersensitivity is believed to be life-long, despite the relatively brief period of D2-R priming near the time of birth. D2-R supersensitivity is not associated with an increase in the number or affinity of D2-R, as assessed in the striatum of rats; nor is it induced with the D3-R agonist 7-OH-DPAT. However, quinpirole-induced D2-R supersensitivity is associated with cognitive deficits, also a deficit in pre-pulse inhibition and in neurotrophic factors, and low levels of the transcript regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) RGS9 in brain; and acute reversal of these alterations by the antipsychotic agent olanzapine. In sum, rats ontogenetically D2-R supersensitized have face validity, construct validity and predictive ability for schizophrenia.

Evaluation of the analgesic effect of morphine on models of acute nociceptive pain in rats with a central noradrenergic system lesion.

OBJECTIVES: Stimulation of some noradrenergic system receptors demonstrates a synergistic anti-nociceptive effect with the opioid system at the level of peripheral tissues, spinal cord, and supraspinal structures. Furthermore, opioids stimulate the noradrenergic descending pathways originating from the substantia nigra by presynaptic inhibition of the GABA neuron ends. It is thus important to determine whether a disruption to the adrenergic transmission obtained via DPS-4 administration to neonatal rats impacts the perception of noxious stimuli mediated by 5-HT3-serotonin receptors at the level of spinal cords or higher tiers of the central nervous system. DESIGN & SETTING: The studies were conducted with neonatal and adult rats, males of the Wistar strain in which a central noradrenergic system lesion was induced with DSP-4 on days 1 and 3 of life. Next, the evaluation of the analgesic effect of morphine was performed on 8- to 10-week-old animals using the following models of acute nociceptive pain: the hot plate test and the tail immersion test as models of acute nociceptive pain induced by a thermal stimulus, and the paw withdrawal test as a model of nociceptive pain caused by a mechanical stimulus. RESULTS: Morphine was found to produce a longer-lasting analgesic effect in the tail immersion test in the control group than in rats. Similarly, in the paw withdrawal test, this substance generated a strong analgesic effect (with over 200% of analgesia) in the control group, whereas its action in the rats with DSP-4 lesions was statistically significant. Morphine induced analgesia at about 13-14% in the control rats when examined with the hot plate test. CONCLUSIONS: The disruption to the central noradrenergic system in an early stage of development resulted in a reduction of the analgesic effect of morphine in the models of acute pain in which the mechanisms of supraspinal perception are involved.

Effects of Propofol on Oxidative Stress Parameters in Selected Parts of the Brain in a Rat Model of Parkinson Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Propofol is an intravenous sedative-hypnotic agent that is commonly used to induce and maintain general anaesthesia. This drug has antioxidant properties, which are partly caused by a phenolic structure similar to α-tocopherol. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of propofol on the level of oxidative stress biomarkers in the frontal cortex, striatum, thalamus, hippocampus and cerebellum in rats with experimental Parkinson's disease (PD). MATERIAL/METHODS: The experiment was performed on 24 male Wistar rats assigned to the following groups: 1 - control; 2 - PD; 3 - PD with propofol. The dopaminergic systems were damaged with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) administered to each lateral ventricle (2x15 µg/5 µl). 60 mg/kg of propofol was later given to the 8-week-old rats intraperitoneally. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and its enzymes Cu/ZnSOD and MnSOD, together with the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, total oxidative status (TOS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), were measured. RESULTS: In the 2nd group, a significant increase in MDA concentration in the striatum, hippocampus and thalamus, and an increase of TOS in the striatum, thalamus and cerebellum were noted, along with a TAC decrease in the cortex, striatum and thalamus. Propofol caused a significant decrease in MDA levels in the cortex, striatum, hippocampus and thalamus, and a decrease in TOS levels in the cortex, striatum and cerebellum, with increased TAC in all evaluated structures. CONCLUSIONS: A shortage of natural antioxidants is observed in PD, along with an increase in pro-oxidants in many brain areas. Propofol inhibits oxidative stress in the brain, which shows its neuroprotective properties against oxidative damage.

[Comparison of exposure to stress and analysis of ways of coping with stress among freight transport and public transport drivers]. / Porównanie narazenia na stres i analiza sposobów radzenia sobie z nim wsród kierowców samochodów dostawczych i kierowców komunikacji miejskiej.

BACKGROUND: Fast progress in a lot of economic sectors has greatly contributed to a growing role of road transportation systems, including freight transport and passenger transport. The job of professional drivers is regarded as extremely hard and dangerous, it is associated with high risk of health loss and even life loss. This profession is also associated with mental burden, the main cause of the absence at work and alarming number of road accidents. The aim of study was to compare exposure to stress, check the level of stress and ways to cope with stress in 2 groups of drivers (N = 187). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out among public transport drivers and freight transport drivers. The authors' own questionnaire and 2 psychological tests: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory and Inventory to Measure Coping Strategies with Stress (Mini-COPE) were used as the study tools. RESULTS: The level of stress is high in both groups, mostly due to a similar type of work. Both groups practice similar ways to cope with stress, but active ways predominate. CONCLUSIONS: The work of a professional driver is considered as extremely stressful. The level of stress among professional drivers should be under continuous control. Employers should introduce preventive programs and educate employees about some professional ways to cope with stress. Med Pr 2016;67(4):455-466.

Influence of propofol on oxidative-antioxidative system parameters in peripheral organs of rats with Parkinson disease.

Propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) is a popular anaesthetic agent with antioxidant properties. The aim of the study was to assess the oxidant-antioxidant system parameters of particular organs (liver, kidney, heart, and lungs) in response to propofol administered to rats with Parkinson's disease and to healthy ones. The experiment was performed using 32 Wistar rats divided into four groups (8 rats each). The groups were as follows: 1 control, 2 Parkinson's disease, 3 control with propofol, 4 Parkinson's disease with propofol. Propofol was administered at a dose of 60 mg/kg body weight/IP, 60 minutes before decapitation. Animals were sacrificed and livers, kidneys, hearts and lungs were obtained for further biochemical analyses. The concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione reductase (GR) activity, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and catalase (CAT) activity were determined. In group 4 compared to group 2 there was observed a significant decrease in the MDA level in liver (71%), kidneys (51%) and heart (12%), increased GR activity in lungs (48%) and heart (34%), and increased CAT activity in liver (104%). In group 3 compared to group 1 there was a significant decrease in MDA level in kidneys (67%) and lungs (14%) and increased GR activity in heart (31%), liver (29%) and lungs (21%). Propofol can prevent or reduce damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) by stimulating activity of antioxidative enzymes and inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Additionally, the response of tissues to administered propofol is different in Parkinson's disease and in healthy individuals.

8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in colorectal adenocarcinoma--is it a result of oxidative stress?

BACKGROUND: 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is one of the most abundant oxidatively modified lesions in DNA and is a marker of the oxidative stress. 8-OHdG is a mutagenic lesion and it can mispair with adenine, causing G:C→T: A transversion. Our task was to determine the 8-OHdG level in patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma directly in tumor tissues and corresponding normal mucosa. MATERIAL/METHODS: Samples of tumor tissues and corresponding normal mucosa of 47 patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer were analyzed. DNA was isolated from both tumor and normal tissues. Then, DNA was hydrolyzed to nucleotides using nuclease P1 and alkaline phosphatase. The 8-OHdG and 2'-dG (2'-deoxyguanosine) were determined in hydrolysates by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical (EC) and UV detector. RESULTS: The levels of 8-OHdG in colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues were higher than in corresponding normal mucosa. No significant differences were shown in 8-OHdG levels in the cancerous and cancer-free tissues between age and sex and stages A/B and C/D of Duke's classification. CONCLUSIONS: 8-OHdG reflects the local oxidative stress in colon adenocarcinoma tissue together with ageing processes, but not the intensity of tumorigenesis itself. Because of many factors that could influence the oxidative modification of DNA bases, its role as a diagnostic and/or prognostic factor in colon adenocarcinoma seems to be limited.

Characterization and Classification of Direct and Commercial Strawberry Beverages Using Absorbance-Transmission and Fluorescence Excitation-Emission Matrix Technique.

The subject of this study was to characterize the absorption and fluorescence spectra of various types of strawberry beverages and to test the possibility of distinguishing between direct juices and pasteurized commercial products on the basis of their spectral properties. An absorbance and transmission excitation-emission matrix (A-TEEMTM) technique was used for the acquisition of spectra. The obtained spectra were analyzed using chemometric methods. The principal component analysis (PCA) revealed differences in both the absorption spectra and excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) of two groups of juices. The parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) enabled the extraction and characterization of excitation and emission profiles and the relative contribution of four fluorescent components of juices, which were related to various groups of polyphenols and nonenzymatic browning products. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) models enabled 100% correct class assignment using the absorption spectra in the visible region, unfolded EEMs, and set of emission spectra with excitation at wavelengths of 275, 305, and 365 nm. The analysis of variable importance in projection (VIP) suggested that the polyphenols and nonenzymatic browning products may contribute significantly to the differentiation of commercial and direct juices. The results of the research may contribute to the development of fast methods to test the quality and authenticity of direct and processed strawberry juices.

Type D Personality and Health Behaviors in People Living with Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Considering that health behaviors and personality traits play an important role in the formation of health attitudes, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the relations that occur between type D personality and health behaviors in a group of obese patients. METHODS: 443 adult patients with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, who had been hospitalized in selected hospital facilities in the Silesian Voivodeship (Poland), participated in the study. Respondents completed three standardized questionnaires-the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale, version A (MHLC-A), the Inventory of Health Behaviors (IZZ), and the Type D Scale (DS-14). RESULTS: Patients with type D personality were characterized by the least effective mental attitudes and preventive behaviors, and differed significantly from the other personality types (intermediate and non-type D). Type D personality increased the risk of initiating improper health behaviors by more than five times. Regarding the sense of health control, patients with type D personality had significantly lower scores for the Internal Dimension subscale (21.3 ± 3.1) and higher for the Powerful Others Dimension subscale (24.0 ± 2.6), compared to patients with intermediate and non-type D personality. Proper health behaviors correlated with an internal sense of health control; the strongest correlation, defined as a medium, was with Preventive Behaviors (R = 0.42; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Type D personality was associated with poorer attitudes towards health. Among obese respondents with a type D personality, there was a significantly higher prevalence of those who believed that their health status was a consequence of chance events.

Separability of stimulus parameter encoding by on-off directionally selective rabbit retinal ganglion cells.

The ganglion cell output of the retina constitutes a bottleneck in sensory processing in that ganglion cells must encode multiple stimulus parameters in their responses. Here we investigate encoding strategies of On-Off directionally selective retinal ganglion cells (On-Off DS RGCs) in rabbits, a class of cells dedicated to representing motion. The exquisite axial discrimination of these cells to preferred vs. null direction motion is well documented: it is invariant with respect to speed, contrast, spatial configuration, spatial frequency, and motion extent. However, these cells have broad direction tuning curves and their responses also vary as a function of other parameters such as speed and contrast. In this study, we examined whether the variation in responses across multiple stimulus parameters is systematic, that is the same for all cells, and separable, such that the response to a stimulus is a product of the effects of each stimulus parameter alone. We extracellularly recorded single On-Off DS RGCs in a superfused eyecup preparation while stimulating them with moving bars. We found that spike count responses of these cells scaled as independent functions of direction, speed, and luminance. Moreover, the speed and luminance functions were common across the whole sample of cells. Based on these findings, we developed a model that accurately predicted responses of On-Off DS RGCs as products of separable functions of direction, speed, and luminance (r = 0.98; P < 0.0001). Such a multiplicatively separable encoding strategy may simplify the decoding of these cells' outputs by the higher visual centers.

Lesion of the cerebellar noradrenergic innervation enhances the harmaline-induced tremor in rats.

Abnormal synchronous activation of the glutamatergic olivo-cerebellar pathway has been suggested to be crucial for the harmaline-induced tremor. The cerebellum receives two catecholaminergic pathways: the dopaminergic pathway arising from the ventral tegmental area/substantia nigra pars compacta, and the noradrenergic one from the locus coeruleus. The aim of the present study was to examine a contribution of the cerebellar catecholaminergic innervations to the harmaline-induced tremor in rats. Rats were injected bilaterally into the cerebellar vermis with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA; 8 µg/0.5 µl) either alone or this treatment was preceded (30 min earlier) by desipramine (15 mg/kg ip). Harmaline was administered to animals in doses of 7.5 or 15 mg/kg ip. Tremor of forelimbs was measured as a number of episodes during a 90-min observation. Rats were killed by decapitation 30 or 120 min after harmaline treatment. The levels of dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin, and their metabolites were measured by HPLC in the cerebellum, substantia nigra, caudate-putamen, and frontal cortex. 6-OHDA injected alone enhanced the harmaline-induced tremor. Furthermore, it decreased the noradrenaline level by ca. 40-80% in the cerebellum and increased the levels of serotonin and 5-HIAA in the caudate-putamen and frontal cortex in untreated and/or harmaline-treated animals. When 6-OHDA treatment was preceded by desipramine, it decreased dopaminergic transmission in some regions of the cerebellum while inducing its compensatory activation in others. The latter lesion did not markedly influence the tremor induced by harmaline. The present study indicates that noradrenergic innervation of the cerebellum interacts with cerebral serotonergic systems and plays an inhibitory role in the harmaline-induced tremor.

Personality Type D, Level of Perceived Stress, Insomnia, and Depression Among High School Teachers in Poland.

Teaching is inherently connected with specific burdens that may imply stressful situations. The goal of this study was to explore the prevalence of type D (distressed) personality in teachers. This is known to cause depressive episodes and sleep disorders, which not only have direct physical health effects, but can also impact the wellbeing of individuals and hence adversely affect their job performance. The participants consisted of 412 high school teachers from the Silesian Province, located in the south of Poland. Using the following research tools: Type D Scale (DS14), Perceived Stress Scale, Athens Insomnia Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory, it was found that type D personality was observed in a large percentage of teachers (30.1%). It was reported that teachers with distressed personality suffered from insomnia and depression significantly more often. Findings from the current study indicate the need to implement preventive activities focused on reducing psychosocial risk factors in the work environment in order to reduce the frequency of depressive disorders among teachers.

Increased reactive oxygen species production in the brain after repeated low-dose pesticide paraquat exposure in rats. A comparison with peripheral tissues.

The pesticide paraquat (PQ) was found to be a suitable xenobiotic to model Parkinson's disease. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was suggested to be the main cause of PQ toxicity but very few evidences were found for its generation in the brain in vivo after ip administration. We compared the effects of PQ-induced ROS generation between the brain structures and the peripheral tissues using two different hydroxyl radical generation markers. Repeated but not single ip PQ administration increased the levels of ROS in the striatal homogenates but, when measured in the extracellular microdialysis filtrate, no change was observed. The increased dopamine release was detected in the striatum after the fourth PQ administration and its basal levels were decreased. A single treatment with the pesticide did not influence ROS production in the lungs or kidneys but repeated intoxication decreased its levels. These results suggest that repeated, systemic administration of a low dose of PQ triggers intracellular ROS formation in the brain and can cause slowly progressing degenerative processes, without the toxic effects in the peripheral tissues.

Effect of prenatal manganese intoxication on [(3)H]glucose uptake in the brain of rats lesioned as neonates with 6-hydroxydopamine.

In the present study we examined the effects of prenatal manganese (Mn) intoxication on [(3)H]glucose uptake in the brain of rats lesioned as neonates with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). MnCl(2) . 4H(2)O (10,000 ppm) was added to the drinking water of pregnant Wistar rats for the duration of pregnancy. On the day of parturition, Mn was discontinued as an additive to the drinking water. The control group consisted of rats that consumed water without Mn. Three days after birth, rats in both groups (control and Mn) were pretreated with desipramine hydrochloride (20 mg/kg) and pargyline hydrochloride (50 mg/kg) and injected bilaterally icv with one of three doses of 6-OHDA hydrobromide (15 mug, 30 mug or 67 mug base form in saline on each side) or with saline (control). 6-[(3)H]-D-glucose (500 muCi/kg, ip) was administered to male offspring in adulthood; after 15 min, brain specimens were taken (frontal cortex, hippocampus, striatum, thalamus with hypothalamus, pons and cerebellum) for determination of radioactivity in a liquid scintillation counter. Low dose 6-OHDA (15 mug icv) increased [(3)H]glucose uptake in all brain regions (p < 0.05) in both control and Mn-intoxicated animals. In rats lesioned with a moderate dose of 6-OHDA (30 mug icv), [(3)H]glucose uptake was unaltered in both control and Mn-exposed rats. High dose 6-OHDA (67 mug icv) reduced [(3)H]glucose uptake in all brain regions of Mn-exposed rats (except for cerebellum) compared with the saline group (all, p < 0.05). There was no change in regional brain uptake of [(3)H]glucose in control rats. In conclusion, this study shows that mild neuronal insult (15 mug icv 6-OHDA) increased glucose uptake in the brain while severe damage (concomitant 60 mug icv 6-OHDA and Mn treatment) significantly diminished this process.

Neonatal co-lesion by DSP-4 and 5,7-DHT produces adulthood behavioral sensitization to dopamine D(2) receptor agonists.

To assess the possible modulatory effects of noradrenergic and serotoninergic neurons on dopaminergic neuronal activity, the noradrenergic and serotoninergic neurotoxins DSP-4 N-(2-chlorethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine (50.0 mg/kg, sc) and 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) (37.5 microg icv, half in each lateral ventricle), respectively, were administered toWistar rats on the first and third days of postnatal ontogeny, and dopamine (DA) agonist-induced behaviors were assessed in adulthood. At eight weeks, using an HPLC/ED technique, DSP-4 treatment was associated with a reduction in NE content of the corpus striatum (> 60%), hippocampus (95%), and frontal cortex (> 85%), while 5,7-DHT was associated with an 80-90% serotonin reduction in the same brain regions. DA content was unaltered in the striatum and the cortex. In the group lesioned with both DSP-4 and 5,7-DHT, quinpirole-induced (DA D(2) agonist) yawning, 7-hydroxy-DPAT-induced (DA D(3) agonist) yawning, and apomorphine-induced (non-selective DA agonist) stereotypies were enhanced. However, SKF 38393-induced (DA D(1) agonist) oral activity was reduced in the DSP-4 + 5,7-DHT group. These findings demonstrate that DA D(2)- and D(3)-agonist-induced behaviors are enhanced while DA D(1)-agonist-induced behaviors are suppressed in adult rats in which brain noradrenergic and serotoninergic innervation of the brain has largely been destroyed. This study indicates that noradrenergic and serotoninergic neurons have a great impact on the development of DA receptor reactivity (sensitivity).

The role of adiponectin and leptin in the treatment of ovarian cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION: Ovarian cancer is most frequently detected in the advanced stage. Although its pathogenesis is not fully elucidated, it is assumed that body susceptibility and hormonal disorders are responsible. The role of some cytokines as predictors in the treatment process is still investigated. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship of adiponectin and leptin with the disease severity and response to chemotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-three ovarian cancer patients were treated by systemic treatment. Patients received 5-7 cycles of chemotherapy - paclitaxel/carboplatin with or without bevacizumab. Using standard ELISA kits before and after chemotherapy, adiponectin and leptin concentrations were determined in the blood serum. RESULTS: The average adiponectin concentration before chemotherapy was found to be 8.83 ± 3.19 µg/ml, as compared to 10.37 ± 4.18 µg/ml (increase by 17.44%, p < 0.001) after treatment. Mean pre-treatment leptin concentration was 16.89 ± 15.54 ng/ml, and 21.77 ± 14.69 ng/ml after chemotherapy (increase by 28.89%, p < 0.01). A positive correlation was found between leptin concentration and age and BMI. There was no relationship of the disease severity with the response to treatment and the concentration of the adipokines. The leptin/adiponectin ratio (L/A) before treatment correlated with better response to chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Adiponectin and leptin did not correlate with the stage of ovarian cancer and response to chemotherapy. The L/A ratio may be considered a predictor of clinical response to treatment.

A Neuromorphic Prosthesis to Restore Communication in Neuronal Networks.

Recent advances in bioelectronics and neural engineering allowed the development of brain machine interfaces and neuroprostheses, capable of facilitating or recovering functionality in people with neurological disability. To realize energy-efficient and real-time capable devices, neuromorphic computing systems are envisaged as the core of next-generation systems for brain repair. We demonstrate here a real-time hardware neuromorphic prosthesis to restore bidirectional interactions between two neuronal populations, even when one is damaged or missing. We used in vitro modular cell cultures to mimic the mutual interaction between neuronal assemblies and created a focal lesion to functionally disconnect the two populations. Then, we employed our neuromorphic prosthesis for bidirectional bridging to artificially reconnect two disconnected neuronal modules and for hybrid bidirectional bridging to replace the activity of one module with a real-time hardware neuromorphic Spiking Neural Network. Our neuroprosthetic system opens avenues for the exploitation of neuromorphic-based devices in bioelectrical therapeutics for health care.