GSH Protects the Escherichia coli Cells from High Concentrations of Thymoquinone.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential protective effect of glutathione (GSH) on Escherichia coli cells grown in a high concentration of thymoquinone (TQ). This quinone, as the main active compound of Nigella sativa seed oil, exhibits a wide range of biological activities. At low concentrations, it acts as an antioxidant, and at high concentrations, an antimicrobial agent. Therefore, any interactions between thymoquinone and glutathione are crucial for cellular defense against oxidative stress. In this study, we found that GSH can conjugate with thymoquinone and its derivatives in vitro, and only fivefold excess of GSH was sufficient to completely deplete TQ and its derivatives. We also carried out studies on cultures of GSH-deficient Escherichia coli strains grown on a minimal medium in the presence of different concentrations of TQ. The strains harboring mutations in gene ΔgshA and ΔgshB were about two- and fourfold more sensitive (256 and 128 µg/mL, respectively) than the wild type. It was also revealed that TQ concentration has an influence on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in E. coli strains-at the same thymoquinone concentration, the level of ROS was higher in GSH-deficient E. coli strains than in wild type.

Influence of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction Conditions on Extraction Yield and Composition of Nigella sativa L. Seed Oil-Modelling, Optimization and Extraction Kinetics regarding Fatty Acid and Thymoquinone Content.

Nigella sativa L. is cultivated in many regions and its seeds have found use in variety of foods, but also in traditional medicine due to high content of biologically active essential oils. In this work optimization of supercritical carbon dioxide extraction from N. sativa seeds was performed using response surface methodology to describe the influence of extraction conditions on oil yield. Kinetics of oil and thymoquinone extraction were analyzed as well. It was demonstrated that in order to collect thymoquinone-rich N. sativa oil fraction, appropriate for health-related applications, the extraction should be carried out at 40 °C and 10-15 MPa. Following application of higher pressure of 35 MPa enables effective extraction of remaining oil rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids suitable for use in food industry. Thymoquinone-dependent antibacterial activity of the N. sativa seed oil was observed against bacterial pathogens: Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli.

Vitamin D status of severe COPD patients with chronic respiratory failure.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to measure the concentrations of vitamin D in serum of COPD patients with chronic respiratory failure in comparison to healthy control group. The correlation between the levels of vitamin D in serum and the selected clinical, spirometric and blood gas parameters was the additional aim of the study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 61 patients with diagnosed COPD in stadium of chronic respiratory failure (45 men and 16 women) and 37 healthy controls (19 men and 18 women). The following procedure were performed in all studied subjects: detailed history (especially: daily activity, diet, tobacco and alcohol use), post-bronchodilator spirometry, assessment of 25(OH)D in serum and for COPD group only blood gas analysis. Recruitment for the study was conducted from November to April. Statistical analysis was performed using the following statistical methods: t-Student test, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman correlation test and Chi-kwadrat test. RESULTS: There was no significant differences between COPD and control group for the levels of 25(OH)D in serum. Median and lower; upper quartile were respectively following: 24,75 nmol/l (16,9; 36,4) vs. 24,06 nmol/l (16,3; 37,2), p=0,69. Vitamin D deficiency was present in 60 COPD patients (98,3% of all patients) and in 36 control group subject (97,3% of all healthy volunteers). The difference was not statistically significant. The levels of vitamin D in serum did not significantly correlated with any of studied parameters (spirometry, blood gas, age, the level of activity, BMI, tobacco smoke exposure and others). However, the level of activity in COPD group correlated positively with spirometry values and negatively with age and number of exacerbations. CONCLUSION: The results of the study showed that in autumn-winter time in Poland there are very frequent deficiency of vitamin D in serum not only in COPD patients in respiratory failure stage but also in elderly healthy persons. However, in contrary to expectations the deficiency of vitamin D in COPD patients with respiratory failure were similar to that seen in healthy persons.

Talc slurry pleurodesis via chest tube in department of pulmonology--a 24-case study.

INTRODUCTION: Chemical pleurodesis is an accepted palliative therapy for patients with recurrent and symptomatic pleural effusion. The aim of the study is to present our own experiences with a less invasive variant of this procedure performed with talc slurry administered via a chest tube under local anaesthesia. Available medical literature in Polish does not contain information about this type of pleurodesis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During 2005-2011 in the Pulmonology and Respiratory Rehabilitation Department we hospitalized and diagnosed 162 patients with pleural fluid. Pleurodesis was performed in 24 patients (14.8%) with persistent pleural fluid. In this article we present retrospective analysis of safety, efficacy of treatment and patients' survival time. We also provide detailed information about this type of pleurodesis: clinical theory, indications, contraindications, patient's preparation, description of procedure with our modifications and use of chest X-ray and transthoracic ultrasound. RESULTS: The procedure was effective in 20 cases, partially effective in 3 cases and ineffective in one case. In-hospital mortality was 4.2% (one case). We frequently observed mild fever and local pain. Median hospitalization was 9 days. Median survival time was 32 days, whereas in the group of still living patients it was 96 days. CONCLUSIONS: Talc slurry pleurodesis with adequate patient preselection is a relatively effective and safe procedure. The procedure can be performed in a non-surgical pulmonology unit.

[Cancers of nasopharynx in the material of ENT Department of Hospital in Kalisz]. / Nowotwory nosogardla w materiale Oddzialu ORL Szpitala Zespolonego im. L. Perzyny w Kaliszu.

In the nasopharynx we can find malignant and non-malignant tumors. Authors present diagnostic difficulties on the base on literature and seven own cases. CT and NMR is needed to describe infiltration. Besides new methods radiotherapy and chemotherapy prognosis is poor. We have good results in early surgery in non-malignant tumors.