Eleutherococcus divaricatus Fruits Decrease Hyaluronidase Activity in Blood Serum and Protect from Antioxidative Damages in In Vitro Model.

Fruits are very important dietary components and a source of biologically active compounds used in nutritional pharmacology. Particularly due to the presence of polyphenolic compounds, fruits play an important role in the prevention of diseases of civilization. Therefore, it is important to study the phytochemicals and biological activity of fruits, especially those with a long-standing use in ethnomedicine. In this study, we determined the chemical profile and biological activity of a methanolic extract of the Eleutherococcus divaricatus fruits. Amongst nine polyphenols studied, only chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid, and eleutheroside E have been detected. The extract showed a weak anti-hyaluronidase activity from bovine testicular in a range of 9.06-37.70% and quite high for human serum hyaluronidase from children diagnosed with acute leukemia in a range of 76-86%. A weak anti-tyrosinase activity was obtained in a range of 2.94-12.46%. Moreover, the extract showed antioxidant properties against DPPH radical, ABTS radical, and O2•-. In addition, the antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated by FRAP assay and Fe2+ ion chelation assay. These preliminary studies partially justify the traditional use of the plant in inflammatory- and immune-related diseases, in which hyaluronidase and free radicals can participate. A difference in human serum hyaluronidase inhibition may result from the inter-patient variability. Regardless of that, the results mean that polyphenolic compounds may stimulate activity of hyaluronidase, as well as to protect cells from the oxidative damages. However, further studies in ex vivo and in vivo models are needed, including blood isolated from a larger number of patients.

Factor VII Activating Protease (FSAP) and Its Importance in Hemostasis-Part I: FSAP Structure, Synthesis and Activity Regulation: A Narrative Review.

Factor VII activating protease (FSAP) was first isolated from human plasma less than 30 years ago. Since then, many research groups have described the biological properties of this protease and its role in hemostasis and other processes in humans and other animals. With the progress of knowledge about the structure of FSAP, several of its relationships with other proteins or chemical compounds that may modulate its activity have been explained. These mutual axes are described in the present narrative review. The first part of our series of manuscripts on FSAP describes the structure of this protein and the processes leading to the enhancement and inhibition of its activities. The following parts, II and III, concern the role of FSAP in hemostasis and in the pathophysiology of human diseases, with particular emphasis on cardiovascular diseases.

Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant and Anti-Enzymatic Activities of Selected Adaptogenic Plants from South America, Asia, and Africa.

Despite the fact that there are many studies related to the adaptogenic and pro-healthy activities of plant-based compounds, there are some adaptogenic plants whose activities are not fully known, especially those coming from the wild regions of Asia, Africa, and South America. The aim of these studies was to examine the contents of non-nutritional compounds, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids in ten adaptogenic species (Astragalus membranaceus (AM), Uncaria rhynchophylla (UR), Polygonum multiflorum (PM), Angelica sinensis (AS), Andrographis paniculatea (AP), Tinospora cordifolia (TC), Uncaria tomentosa (UT), Pfaffia paniculate (PP), Sutherlandia frutescens (SF), and Rhaponticum carthamoides (RC)). Considering biological activity, their antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and ferrous-ion-chelating ability assays), anti-acetylcholinesterase, anti-hyaluronidase, and anti-tyrosinase activities were evaluated. The richest in polyphenols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids was UR (327.78 mg GAE/g, 230.13 mg QE/g, and 81.03 mg CA/g, respectively). The highest inhibitions of acetylcholinesterase, hyaluronidase, and tyrosinase were observed for TC, UR, and PM, respectively. In the case of antioxidant properties, extract from PM appeared to most strongly reduce DPPH, extract from UR inhibited ABTS, and extract from SF showed the best chelating properties. It should be noted that a particularly interesting plant was Ulcaria rhynchophylla. The results mean that there were compounds in UR with broad biological activities, and this species should be explored in more detail. Additionally, our results justify the traditional use of these species in the nutripharmacological or ethnopharmacological care systems of different regions.

Does ASTRAL score at hospital admission predict symptomatic haemorrhagic transformation in acute ischaemic stroke after revascularisation? A pilot single-centre study.

INTRODUCTION: Accurately predicting outcomes after acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) is a major clinical goal. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the prognostic validity and accuracy of the Acute Stroke Registry and Analysis of Lausanne (ASTRAL) score in predicting symptomatic haemorrhagic transformation (sHT) in patients with AIS who have undergone revascularisation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Consecutive patients hospitalised for AIS who underwent treatment with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and/or mechanical thrombectomy (MT) were identified, and their ASTRAL scores at hospital admission were estimated. The study endpoint was sHT within 24 hours of stroke onset. The predictive performance of the ASTRAL score was investigated through logistic regression analysis and discrimination and calibration tests. RESULTS: Sixty-eight AIS patients, with a median age of 69 (58-79) years, were included. sHT occurred in 20 (29.4%) of the 68 patients. The ASTRAL score was significantly higher in patients who developed sHT compared to non-sHT patients [36 (34-38) versus 24 (17-32); p<0.001]. The ASTRAL score was an independent predictor of sHT, and showed good discriminative power (area under the curve 0.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.789-0.965). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: ASTRAL score is an independent predictor of sHT and shows high predictive accuracy in patients with AIS. Future studies are warranted to confirm these results.

Immunological and Hematological Response in COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has recently and rapidly emerged and developed into a global pandemic. Through the renin-angiotensin system, the virus may impact the lung circulation, but the expression on endothelium may conduct to its activation and further systemic damage. While precise mechanisms underlying these phenomena remain to be further clarified, the understanding of the disease, its clinical course, as well as its immunological and hematological implications is of paramount importance in this phase of the pandemic. METHODS: This review summarizes the evidence gathered until 12 June; electronic databases were screened for pertinent reports on coronavirus and inflammatory and hematological changes. Search was conducted by two independent investigators; keywords used were "SARS-CoV-2," "COVID-19," "inflammation," "immunological," and "therapy." RESULTS: The viral infection is able to trigger an excessive immune response in predisposed individuals, which can result in a "cytokine storm" that presents an hyperinflammation state able to determine tissue damage and vascular damage. An explosive production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α IL-1ß and others occurs, greatly exaggerating the generation of molecule-damaging reactive oxygen species. These changes are often followed by alterations in hematological parameters. Elucidating those changes in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients could help to understand the pathophysiology of disease and may provide early clues to diagnosis. Several studies have shown that hematological parameters are markers of disease severity and suggest that they mediate disease progression. According to the available literature, the primary hematological symptoms-associated COVID-19, and which distinguish patients with severe disease from patients with nonsevere disease, are lymphocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, and a significant increase in D-dimer levels. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers a complex response altering inflammatory, hematological, and coagulation parameters. Measuring these alterations at certain time points may help identify patients at high risk of disease progression and monitor the disease severity.

COVID-19 and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

INTRODUCTION: Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has recently and rapidly emerged and developed into a global pandemic. In SARS-CoV-2 patients with refractory respiratory failure, there may be a role for veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) as a life-saving rescue intervention. METHODS: This review summarizes the evidence gathered until June 12, 2020; electronic databases were screened for pertinent reports on coronavirus and V-V ECMO. Search was conducted by two independent investigators; keywords used were SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, ECMO, and extracorporeal life support (ECLS). RESULTS: Many patients with COVID-19 experience moderate symptoms and a relatively quick recovery, but others must be admitted into the intensive care unit due to severe respiratory failure and often must be mechanically ventilated. Further deterioration may require institution of extracorporeal oxygenation. Infection mechanisms may trigger "cytokine storm," an inflammatory disorder notable for multi-organ system failure; together with other metabolic and hematological changes, these amplify the changes pertinent to ECMO therapy, often exaggerating blood coagulation disorders. Thirty-two studies were found describing experiences with ECMO in the treatment of COVID-19. Of 4,912 COVID-19 patients, 2,119 (43%) developed ARDS and 2,086 (42%) were transferred to the ICU; 1,015 patients (21%) were treated with ECMO. While in an overall cohort, observed mortality was 640 (13%), the mortality within ECMO subgroups reached up to 34.6% (range 0-100%). CONCLUSION: The efficacy of ECMO treatment for COVID-19 is largely dependent on the expertise of the center in ECLS due to the interplay between the changes in hematological and inflammatory modulators associated with both COVID-19 and ECMO. In order to support gas exchange during early infection with SARS-CoV-2, ECMO has a strong rationale for the treatment of the most critically ill patients. Due to the limited resources during a global pandemic, ECMO should be reserved for only the most severe cases of COVID-19.

Synergistic effects of extracellular vesicle phenotyping and AFP in hepatobiliary cancer differentiation.

BACKGROUND: Biliary cancer, comprising cholangio- and gallbladder carcinomas, is associated with high mortality due to asymptomatic disease onset and resulting late diagnosis. Currently, no robust diagnostic biomarker is clinically available. Therefore, we explored the feasibility of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as a liquid biopsy tool for biliary cancer screening and hepatobiliary cancer differentiation. METHODS: Serum EVs of biliary cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer and non-small cell lung cancer patients, as well as from healthy individuals, were isolated by sequential two-step centrifugation and presence of indicated EVs was evaluated by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. RESULTS: Two directly tumour-related antigen combinations (AnnV+ CD44v6+ and AnnV+ CD44v6+ CD133+ ) and two combinations related to progenitor cells from the tumour microenvironment (AnnV+ CD133+ gp38+ and AnnV+ EpCAM+ CD133+ gp38+ ) were associated with good diagnostic performances that could potentially be used for clinical assessment of biliary cancer and differentiation from other cancer entities. With 91% sensitivity and 69% specificity AnnV+ CD44v6+ EVs showed the most promising results for differentiating biliary cancers from HCC. Moreover using a combined approach of EV levels of the four populations with serum AFP values, we obtained a perfect separation of biliary cancer and HCC with sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value all reaching 100% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: EV phenotyping, especially if combined with serum AFP, represents a minimally invasive, accurate liquid biopsy tool that could improve cancer screening and differential diagnosis of hepatobiliary malignancies.

COVID-19 and ECMO: the interplay between coagulation and inflammation-a narrative review.

Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has presently become a rapidly spreading and devastating global pandemic. Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) may serve as life-saving rescue therapy for refractory respiratory failure in the setting of acute respiratory compromise such as that induced by SARS-CoV-2. While still little is known on the true efficacy of ECMO in this setting, the natural resemblance of seasonal influenza's characteristics with respect to acute onset, initial symptoms, and some complications prompt to ECMO implantation in most severe, pulmonary decompensated patients. The present review summarizes the evidence on ECMO management of severe ARDS in light of recent COVID-19 pandemic, at the same time focusing on differences and similarities between SARS-CoV-2 and ECMO in terms of hematological and inflammatory interplay when these two settings merge.

Association of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio with Treatment Modalities of Acute Ischaemic Stroke: A Pilot Study.

Background and Objectives: Ischaemic stroke (IS) is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. All stages of cerebral ischaemia, but especially acute phase, are associated with inflammatory response. Recent studies showed that neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) may be used to assess inflammation in IS. To test whether there is a relationship between these parameters and type of stroke treatment, we analysed NLR and LMR in IS patients treated with three different modalities. Materials and Methods: The study included 58 adults with acute IS. A total of 28 patients received intravenous thrombolysis. In another 10 patients, the thrombolytic therapy was followed by thrombectomy and 20 patients did not undergo causal treatment. Blood samples were obtained within 24 h of the stroke diagnosis to calculate NLR and LMR. Next, NLR and LMR of the study subgroups were compared. Results: Our study revealed that NLR was significantly higher in patients treated with thrombectomy following thrombolysis, compared to no causal treatment. Statistical analysis demonstrated that patients with high National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores presented higher NLR than in those with low NIHSS scores. Additionally, patients with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) ≥ 3 mg/L presented with significantly higher NLR and significantly lower LMR than the group of patients with lower hs-CRP (<3 mg/L). Conclusions: The main finding of this pilot study was that NLR in IS patients treated using thrombectomy following thrombolysis was markedly higher than that in other treatment groups, which was associated with increased severity of the disease in these patients. Therefore, patients with higher NLR may be expected to have more severe stroke. The link between stroke severity and NLR deserves further study.

Female Volleyball Players Are More Prone to Cortisol Anticipatory Stress Response than Sedentary Women.

Background and Objectives: Top-level sports performance places heavy physical and psychological demands on elite-level athletes, which can be a source of increased levels of stress. Therefore, high-level volleyball players may present altered cardiovascular and endocrinological stress response during stressful events. Although many previous studies have examined the response to stress on athletes, most of them regarded only males, while the impact of the female menstrual cycle has rarely been taken into account. We aimed to study psychophysiological response to anticipatory stressor through analysis of heart rate, self-reported anxiety level, and salivary cortisol in healthy young female athletes by minimalizing the effect of confounders. Materials and Methods: A total of 55 females (25 members of the best league for female volleyball players in Poland and 30 sedentary-lifestyle control subjects) in the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle were exposed to mental arithmetic tasks as an experimental imitation of the stressor. Volleyball players were significantly taller than sedentary individuals (177.1 ± 3.4 cm vs. 173.3 ± 3.4 cm, respectively, p = 0.034), but did not differ in weight (73.6 ± 5.2 kg vs. 70 ± 4.23 kg, respectively, p = 0.081), body mass index (BMI) (23.5 ± 1.13 vs. 24.1 ± 1.45, respectively, p = 0.060), and age (22 ± 1.11 vs. 23 ± 1.14 years, respectively, p = 0.2). Their stress responses were assessed through self-reported anxiety levels and physiological measurements of salivary cortisol concentrations and heart rate (HR). Results: For HR, significant effects of time (F(2,120) = 21.34, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.26) were found, but not for training status (F(1,60) = 2.69, p = 0.106, η2 = 0.04). For cortisol levels, the analysis showed the main effects of time (F(3,180) = 11.73, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.16) and training status (F(1,60) = 4.69, p = 0.034, η2 = 0.07) and a significant interaction between training status and time (F(3,180) = 3.07, p = 0.029, η2 = 0.05). Post-hoc analyses showed higher cortisol concentrations among volleyball players following the math task (all p < 0.001), as well as higher cortisol concentrations in S2, S3, and S4 compared to S1 in volleyball players (all p < 0.001). We observed also a significant increase in state anxiety in both groups (all p < 0.001), but no differences in state anxiety levels between groups. Conclusion: Female volleyball players may not differ in subjective graduation of stressors; however, exposure to training-based stressors seems to promote cortisol response to the anticipated stressor.

Bone morphogenetic protein 6-a possible new player in pathophysiology of heart failure.

Derangement of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signalling was observed in cardiovascular disorders. The present study assesses the diagnostic and prognostic value of BMP6 plasma concentration in chronic heart failure (CHF). 130 CHF patients and 32 controls participated in the study. BMP6 plasma level was measured at baseline. During 12-month follow-up death and hospitalisation with CHF exacerbation were recorded. BMP6 was significantly increased in CHF patients with highest concentration in most advanced disease. Individuals with pulmonary congestion or peripheral oedema had higher levels of BMP6 than isovolemic patients. BMP6 was not a predictor of all-cause mortality or CHF hospitalisation. BMP6 may be involved in pathophysiology of systolic CHF. BMP6 plasma level is related to the disease severity and signs of exacerbation.

A Pilot Study of Tissue Factor-Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor Axis and Other Selected Coagulation Parameters in Broiler Chickens Administered in Ovo with Selected Prebiotics*.

The tissue factor (TF) - tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) axis plays a major role in hemostasis. Disorders of the coagulation system are commonly diagnosed with the help of screening tests such as prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and plasma fibrinogen concentration (PFC). However, the effect of prebiotics on the hemostasis system has not been characterized in poultry yet. This study was designed to determine the effect of in ovo administration ofprebiotics on blood coagulation parameters of broiler chickens depending on their age. The study was conducted with 180 broiler chick embryos, the air cells of which were injected on day 12 of incubation with prebiotics (experimental groups: Bi2tos, DiNovoo and RFO) or physiological saline solution (control group). At 1, 21 and 42 days of rearing, blood was sampled from 15 broiler chickens from each group. An enzyme immunoassay was performed to determine plasma TF and TFPI levels, and PT, aPTT and PFC were determined in the chicken blood. We demonstrated that: 1) total TF levels increased with age in the experimental groups, 2) prebiotics had no significant effect on TF levels between the groups at a particular age, 3) total TFPI levels differed between both the type of in ovo injected substance and the broiler chicken age, 4) in the control group, PT and aPTT were found to increase with age whilst fibrinogen concentration decreased. The main conclusion from this pilot study is that total TF and TFPI levels change with age, however no clear patterns regarding TFPI were detected yet. The levels of PT, aPTT and PFC varied with the prebiotics administered in ovo as well as with the age of broiler chickens.

Hepcidin Levels Are Increased in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke: Preliminary Report.

BACKGROUND: Our current understanding of iron balance in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is still limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate levels of iron homeostasis proteins-hepcidin (25-amino acid form) and soluble hemojuvelin (sHJV) together with hepcidin/sHJV ratio (Hepc/sHJV) and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) in patients with AIS. In addition, the effect of timing of blood collection, type of stroke treatment, and scores on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale were investigated. METHODS: Participants comprised 31 patients diagnosed with AIS and 20 matched healthy controls. Venous blood samples were drawn on the first day and on the seventh day after stroke onset. Individuals who had experienced a stroke were subdivided according to type of treatment (thrombolysis group, n = 12 versus nonthrombolysis group, n = 19). Plasma hepcidin, sHJV, and sTfR levels were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: We found that plasma hepcidin levels were significantly higher in ischemic stroke patients compared with the control group (median, 19.82 versus 12.62 ng/mL, P = .04). Furthermore, levels of hepcidin on the seventh day (1 week after diagnosis) were significantly higher in patients treated with thrombolysis than in patients not treated with thrombolysis (median, 22.16 versus 16.21 ng/mL, P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: The study provides evidence that AIS is associated with increased hepcidin levels. Stroke treatment may have an influence on hepcidin synthesis.

The Role of Hepcidin in Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS): A Systematic Review of Observational Studies.

Iron overload emerges as a serious complication in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), particularly associated with frequent transfusions during the course of the disease. The discovery and description of hepcidin's mechanisms of action have contributed to a deeper understanding of iron metabolism. The existing literature reports a potential role of hepcidin in MDS, yet these data are fragmented and presented in an unstructured, somewhat chaotic manner. Hence, to address the existing data, we performed a systematic review of observational studies examining hepcidin levels in MDS. An extensive review of three bibliographic databases (Pubmed, Web of Science, and Scopus) enabled us to identify 12 observational studies. These studies focused primarily on adult patients with low-risk MDS who underwent transfusions and chelation therapy. An in-depth analysis of these manuscripts led to four main conclusions: (1) although high serum hepcidin levels are associated with MDS, most studies generally have not found a significant difference in these levels between patients and healthy individuals; (2) serum hepcidin levels are specific to MDS type; (3) serum hepcidin levels in MDS are strongly associated with transfusions and the genetic status of patients; and (4) high-risk MDS is associated with high serum hepcidin levels. While we have furnished a comprehensive summary of the significance of hepcidin in MDS, there are still gaps that future research should address. This pertains primarily to the capacity of hepcidin in predicting adverse outcomes for MDS patients and evaluating the efficacy of chelation therapy or the need for transfusion.

The Usefulness of Factor XIII Concentration Assessment in Patients in the Acute Phase of Ischaemic Stroke Treated with Thrombolysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In recent years, there has been a growing interest in factor XIII in ischaemic stroke. The study's main aim was to assess the usefulness of factor XIII concentration determination in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) treated with thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). METHODS: The study was conducted in two groups of 84 patients with AIS: group I-with thrombolytic therapy and group II-without thrombolysis. A physical examination, neurological status (using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, NIHSS), daily patients' activities measured with the Barthel Index and Modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and blood parameters were conducted on day 1 and day 7. The following parameters were assessed: highly sensitive C-reaction protein (CRP), fibrinogen, D-dimers (DD), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR index), and the concentration of factor XIII-A. RESULTS: In group I, the concentration of XIII-A decreased significantly between day 1 and 7 (p < 0.001). In group I, the concentration of XIII-A on day 7 in Total Anterior Circulation Infarct (TACI) was significantly lower than in non-TACI stroke. XIII-A concentration in group I was significantly lower in patients < 31 points with Acute Stroke Registry and Analysis of Lausanne (ASTRAL). A greater decrease in XIII-A between the first sampling on day 1 and the second sampling on day 7 was associated with a worse patient neurological state in group I. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AIS treated with t-PA, factor XIII concentrations decrease in the acute phase of stroke, and the largest decrease occurs in the TACI stroke. Determination of factor XIII concentration in patients with AIS can be used in clinical practice as an additional parameter supporting the assessment of stroke severity and may play a role in the prognosis; lower factor XIII-A activity may be a predictor of a worse prognosis.

The Right Coronary Anatomy and Operative Topography of the Tricuspid Valve Annulus.

BACKGROUND: The region of the tricuspid valve is an important area for various cardiac interventions. In particular, the spatial relationships between the right coronary artery and the annulus of the tricuspid valve should be considered during surgical interventions. The aim of this study was to provide an accurate description of the clinical anatomy and topography of this region. METHODS: We analyzed 107 computed tomography scans (44% female, age 62.1 ± 9.4 years) of the tricuspid valve region. The circumference of the free wall of the tricuspid valve annulus was divided into 13 annular points and measurements were taken at each point. The prevalence of danger zones (distance between artery and annulus less than 2 mm) was also investigated. RESULTS: Danger zones were found in 20.56% of the cases studied. The highest prevalence of danger zones and the smallest distances were found at the annular points of the tricuspid valve located at the posterior insertion of the leaflets, without observed sex-specific differences. CONCLUSION: The highest risk of iatrogenic damage to the right coronary artery is in the posterior part of the tricuspid valve annulus.

The Eleutherococcus senticosus fruits' intractum affects changes in the transepithelial electric potential in the distal section of the rabbit's large intestine and inhibits hyaluronidase.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim. has been used in traditional Russian medicine due to its recognized immunostimulant and anti-inflammatory activities. Compounds present in the fruits have demonstrated the capability to modulate the activity of enzymes such as hyaluronidase, suggesting their potential value in the development of effective therapies for various conditions where anti-inflammatory properties are beneficial, such as gastrointestinal diseases and tumor growth. AIM OF THE STUDY: In order to support the use of the fruits in folk medicine, this study is aimed to evaluate, post-mortem, the impact of E. senticosus fruits intractum (40 % extract made from fresh fruits) on the transepithelial electrogenic transport of sodium ions in the colon. The objective of this study was also to examine the impact of the intractum on proinflammatory serum hyaluronidase in children diagnosed with acute leukemia. METHODS: The study employed the Ussing technique to examine electrophysiological characteristics of isolated epithelial tissue, using the distal colon wall isolated from 10 New Zealand white male rabbits. The effect of the intractum on the inhibition of human serum hyaluronidase was examined with turbidimetric screening methods, using the blood samples collected from patients diagnosed with acute leukemia. RESULTS: For the first time, we discovered that the intractum used in the stimulation fluid, caused hyperpolarization reactions in colon tissue. Statistical analysis showed that these reactions were significantly different in relation to the control. The intractum significantly inhibited hyaluronidase activity with the mean value by group of 60 %, and 40 % for aescin used as a control. CONCLUSION: The results support the traditional use of the fruits in inflammatory-related diseases. The use of intractum of E. senticosus on the distal colon wall demonstrates its protective effect on the wall integrity and in a relation to hyaluronidase inhibition may additionally indicate its anti-inflammatory property. Thus, the results mean that the intractum may be used in colon-related diseases.

Ability to determine the desferrioxamine-chelatable iron fractions of nontransferrin-bound iron using HPLC.

Iron is an essential element in human development. It is imperative for oxygen and electron transport and also for DNA and neurotransmitters synthesis. On the other hand, this metal is able to participate in Fenton's reaction that in turn leads to free radical damage. The most toxic fraction of iron - nontransferrin-bound iron and its part desferrioxamine-chelatable iron - can serve as an exquisite biomarker in the identification of iron imbalance. The goal of the present study was to devise a simple, repeatable, and inexpensive method for the determination of desferrioxamine-chelatable iron in serum blood samples. The assay procedure is based on desferrioxamine complex formation with iron ions followed to ferrioxamine and its quantitative measurement using RP-HPLC method. The desferrioxamine-chelatable iron was extracted from blood by centrifugation and SPE method. Chromatographic separation was performed at 40°C by step-form gradient elution using Cadenza CD-C18 column (150 × 4.6 mm id, particle size of 3.0 µm) connected with precolumn for contaminants removal. Gradient HPLC elution has been carried out with solvent A (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 5.5) and solvent B (ACN). The flow rate was 1.2 mL/min, and the total separation time was 5 min. The linear quantitation range was 2.5-500 µM (r = 0.9973), and the LOD and LOQ were 0.42 and 1.29 µM, respectively. Proposed HPLC method allowed for the determination of desferrioxamine-chelatable iron fraction's of nontransferrin-bound iron, both in the buffer and the serum supplemented with iron ions as well as in the patients' serum samples with good results of precision and recovery. The developed method found to be sufficiently precise and reproducible for established conditions and after validation and may be used for routine assay of desferrioxamine-chelatable iron in biological samples.

Morphology and Anatomical Classification of Pericardial Cavities: Oblique and Transverse Sinuses.

The pericardial sinuses are an important anatomical feature of the pericardial cavity, however, their clinical anatomy has not been thoroughly studied. In this study, we aim to provide the first classification of the oblique and transverse sinuses. We analyzed 121 computer tomography scans (46.3% female, age of 66 ± 12 years) of the pericardial cavity. The oblique sinuses were classified into four types: 1 (shallow with narrow entrance), 2 (shallow with wide entrance), 3 (deep with narrow entrance), and 4 (deep with wide entrance). The transverse sinuses were classified into four types: Concave, Wine-type, Straight, and Convex. The most common oblique sinus type was Type 1. The median oblique sinus volume was 8.4 (5.3) mL, the median entrance length was 33.0 (13.2) mm, and the depth was 38.2 (11.8) mm. The most common transverse sinus type was Concave. The median transverse sinus volume was 14.8 (6.5) mL, and the median length was 52.8 (17.7) mm. Our study provides an anatomical classification of the pericardial sinuses. The individual variability of the sinuses' morphology highlights the importance of understanding the clinical topography of the sinuses, particularly for minimally invasive thoracic ablation procedures.