Electrochemical Sensors and Biosensors for Identification of Viruses: A Critical Review.

Due to their life cycle, viruses can disrupt the metabolism of their hosts, causing diseases. If we want to disrupt their life cycle, it is necessary to identify their presence. For this purpose, it is possible to use several molecular-biological and bioanalytical methods. The reference selection was performed based on electronic databases (2020-2023). This review focused on electrochemical methods with high sensitivity and selectivity (53% voltammetry/amperometry, 33% impedance, and 12% other methods) which showed their great potential for detecting various viruses. Moreover, the aforementioned electrochemical methods have considerable potential to be applicable for care-point use as they are portable due to their miniaturizability and fast speed analysis (minutes to hours), and are relatively easy to interpret. A total of 2011 articles were found, of which 86 original papers were subsequently evaluated (the majority of which are focused on human pathogens, whereas articles dealing with plant pathogens are in the minority). Thirty-two species of viruses were included in the evaluation. It was found that most of the examined research studies (77%) used nanotechnological modifications. Other ones performed immunological (52%) or genetic analyses (43%) for virus detection. 5% of the reports used peptides to increase the method's sensitivity. When evaluable, 65% of the research studies had LOD values in the order of ng or nM. The vast majority (79%) of the studies represent proof of concept and possibilities with low application potential and a high need of further research experimental work.

The Role of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Polymorphisms in the Risk of Development and Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is responsible for the production of angiotensin II, and increased production of angiotensin II is observed in diabetes. What is more, ACE polymorphisms may play a role in the development of diabetic nephropathy. The aim of this study was to assess the role of selected ACE polymorphisms (rs4343 and rs4646994) in the risk of development of diabetic nephropathy and in the likelihood of renal replacement therapy. METHODS: ACE polymorphisms were analyzed in a group of 225 patients who were divided into three subgroups. The rs4343 polymorphism was determined using the PCR-RFLP, and the rs4646994 polymorphism was determined using the PCR. Molecular docking between domains of ACE and its ligands was performed by using AutoDock Vina. RESULTS: The G/G genotype of rs4343 polymorphism is associated with increased odds of developing diabetic nephropathy. The G allele is also associated with a higher risk of this disease. Similar results were obtained in patients who had already had a kidney transplant as a result of diabetic nephropathy. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of G/G and G/A genotypes, and the G allele increases the likelihood of developing diabetic nephropathy. This may also be a risk factor for renal replacement therapy.

The Concentrations of Interleukin-6, Insulin, and Glucagon in the Context of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in IL6 and INS Genes.

Obesity and diabetes are a problem of modern medicine. Although the environmental factors contributing to the development of these diseases are widely known, research into genetic factors is still ongoing. At the same time, the role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of obesity and diabetes is increasingly emphasized. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of two selected polymorphisms (rs1800795 and rs3842729) on the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes. In this study, 118 participants were examined, including a control group (nonobese and nondiabetic group), an obese group, and a diabetic group. Genotype analysis was performed using the PCR-RFLP method. It has been shown that in patients with the G/G genotype within the rs1800795 polymorphism (IL6), the chance of developing type 2 diabetes is several times lower compared to patients with the G/C and C/C genotypes. However, the rs3842729 polymorphism (INS) does not directly affect the risk of obesity or type 2 diabetes (T2D), although elevated insulin concentrations have been observed in obese and diabetic patients. These results confirm the impact of the rs1800795 polymorphism on the development of diabetes; however, this relationship is more complex and requires further research on other factors.

Eating habits and nutritional knowledge among amateur ultrarunners.

Introduction: Many studies concerning the diet of physically active people refer to individuals who run; however, the importance of nutrition in professional and amateur sports plays a different role. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional behavior and knowledge of amateur ultrarunners. This study involved a group of 308 respondents (89 women and 219 men) aged 18 -65. It investigated the influence of the level of knowledge about nutrition, gender, education, and smoking on dietary food habits and eating frequency. Methods: The KomPAN questionnaire was used to determine the dietary habits, diet quality, lifestyle, and nutrition knowledge of ultramarathon runners. The nutrition knowledge influenced the eating habits and frequency of specific meals expressed as the Healthy Diet Index-10 (HDI-10) and Unhealthy Diet Index-14 (UDI-14). Results: In women with sufficient knowledge about nutrition, lower HDI-10 scores were observed compared to those with a good level of knowledge, while men did not show a similar relationship. However, the effect of smoking on the frequency of food intake in men was noted. Interestingly, male smokers had a lower UDI-14 score than non-smokers. Depending on the level of knowledge, female and male ultrarunners more often or less frequently used selected food products. In turn, no effect of education on the frequency of consumption of specific foods was observed. Discussion: Such different results are most likely caused by the specificity of the study group, which consisted of amateur runners. Additionally, the study looked at general eating habits, not those employed when preparing for marathons. In the future, more respondents should be surveyed, also taking into account nutrition during training.

Polyphenol Profile of Cistus × incanus L. and Its Relevance to Antioxidant Effect and α-Glucosidase Inhibition.

The European Food Safety Authority recommends C. incanus as a natural source of antioxidants. Its activity is essentially determined by polyphenols, although specific compounds are not finally indicated. The available plant material comes from different subspecies and locations, which can lead to differences in chemical composition and potency. For this reason, we conducted a detailed analysis of the polyphenol content and antioxidant activity of 52 different C. incanus teas from Turkey, Albania, Greece, and unspecified regions. We focused special attention on ellagitannins, which have not been properly determined so far. Besides oxidative stress, hyperglycemia is an essential component of cardiometabolic diseases. Therefore, in subsequent experiments, we evaluated the ability of C. incanus extracts and individual polyphenols to inhibit α-glucosidase. Using statistical methods, we analyzed how differences in chemical composition affect activity. The results showed that C. incanus is a rich source of ellagitannins (2.5-19%), which dominate among polyphenols (5.5-23%). Turkish-origin products had higher ellagitannin content and a greater antioxidant effect (FRAP, ABTS) than Albanian and Greek products. In contrast, the flavonoid and phenolic acid contents and DPPH values were at similar levels in all products. An in-depth analysis of their composition indicated that all groups of polyphenols are involved in the antioxidant effect, but a significant contribution can be attributed to ellagitannins and flavonoids. C. incanus extracts showed a high capacity to inhibit α-glucosidase activity (IC50 125-145 µg/mL). Ellagitannins were the most effective inhibitors (IC50 0.7-1.1 µM), with a potency exceeding acarbose (3.3 mM). In conclusion, C. incanus, due to the presence of ellagitannins and flavonoids, exhibits powerful antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory effects.

Modulatory Effect of Lifestyle-Related, Environmental and Genetic Factors on Paraoxonase-1 Activity: A Review.

Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is a calcium-dependent, HDL-bound serum hydrolase active toward a wide variety of substrates. PON1 displays three types of activities, among which lactonase, paraoxonase, arylesterase and phosphotriesterase can be distinguished. Not only is this enzyme a major organophosphate compound detoxifier, but it is also an important constituent of the cellular antioxidant system and has anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic functions. The concentration and activity of PON1 is highly variable among individuals, and these differences can be both of genetic origin and be a subject of epigenetic regulation. Owing to the fact that, in recent decades, the exposure of humans to an increasing number of different xenobiotics has been continuously rising, the issues concerning the role and activity of PON1 shall be reconsidered with particular attention to growing pharmaceuticals intake, dietary habits and environmental awareness. In the following manuscript, the current state of knowledge concerning the influence of certain modifiable and unmodifiable factors, including smoking, alcohol intake, gender, age and genotype variation on PON1 activity, along with pathways through which these could interfere with the enzyme's protective functions, is presented and discussed. Since exposure to certain xenobiotics plays a key role in PON1 activity, the influence of organophosphates, heavy metals and several pharmaceutical agents is also specified.

Effect of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles on Bacterial Biofilm Changes in S. aureus and E. coli.

One approach for solving the problem of antibiotic resistance and bacterial persistence in biofilms is treatment with metals, including silver in the form of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Green synthesis is an environmentally friendly method to synthesize nanoparticles with a broad spectrum of unique properties that depend on the plant extracts used. AgNPs with antibacterial and antibiofilm effects were obtained using green synthesis from plant extracts of Lagerstroemia indica (AgNPs_LI), Alstonia scholaris (AgNPs_AS), and Aglaonema multifolium (AgNPs_AM). Nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis. The ability to quench free radicals and total phenolic content in solution were also evaluated. The antibacterial activity of AgNPs was studied by growth curves as well as using a diffusion test on agar medium plates to determine minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The effect of AgNPs on bacterial biofilms was evaluated by crystal violet (CV) staining. Average minimum inhibitory concentrations of AgNPs_LI, AgNPs_AS, AgNPs_AM were 15 ± 5, 20 + 5, 20 + 5 µg/mL and 20 ± 5, 15 + 5, 15 + 5 µg/mL against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria, respectively. The E. coli strain formed biofilms in the presence of AgNPs, a less dense biofilm than the S. aureus strain. The highest inhibitory and destructive effect on biofilms was exhibited by AgNPs prepared using an extract from L. indica.

Structural changes in selected human proteins induced by exposure to quantum dots, their biological relevance and possible biomedical applications.

Quantum dots (QDs) are semi-conductor luminescent nanocrystals usually of 2-10 nm diameter, attracting the significant attention in biomedical studies since emerged. Due to their unique optical and electronic properties, i.e. wide absorption spectra, narrow tunable emission bands or stable, bright photoluminescence, QDs seem to be ideally suited for multi-colour, simultaneous bioimaging and cellular labeling at the molecular level as new-generation probes. A highly reactive surface of QDs allows for conjugating them to biomolecules, what enables their direct binding to areas of interest inside or outside the cell for biosensing or targeted delivery. Particularly protein-QDs conjugates are current subjects of research, as features of QDs can be combined with protein specific functionalities and therefore used as a complex in variety of biomedical applications. It is known that QDs are able to interact with cells, organelles and macromolecules of the human body after administration. QDs are reported to cause changes at proteins level, including unfolding and three-dimensional structure alterations which might hamper proteins from performing their physiological functions and thereby limit the use of QD-protein conjugates in vivo. Moreover, these changes may trigger unwanted cellular outcomes as the effect of different signaling pathways activation. In this review, characteristics of QDs interactions with certain human proteins are presented and discussed. Besides that, the following manuscript provides an overview on structural changes of specific proteins exposed to QDs and their biological and biomedical relevance.

Association of Genetic Variants in IL6 Gene (rs1800795) with the Concentration of Inflammatory Markers (IL-6, hs-CRP) and Superoxide Dismutase in the Blood of Patients with Acute Pancreatitis-Preliminary Findings.

In the course of acute pancreatitis, interleukin-6 plays an important role as a mediator in the inflammatory response. The course of inflammatory disease is associated with intensive oxidative stress, which may activate transcription factors leading to gene-expression changes. Isoenzymes of superoxide dismutase are involved in the defense against free radicals. This study aimed to evaluate changes in IL-6 concentration and the concentration/activity of superoxide dismutase isoenzymes (SOD1, SOD2, and SOD3) in the blood of patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) in terms of rs1800795 polymorphism in the IL6 gene. In the smoking AP patients group with the GC and GG genotypes, the plasma SOD1 concentration was significantly higher (p = 0.0146 and p = 0.0250, respectively) than in patients with CC genotype for SNP rs1800795 in the IL6 gene. An increase in SOD1 concentration in erythrocytes of AP patients with GC genotypes was also demonstrated compared to the individuals from the group with GG genotype (p = 0.0408). Furthermore, a positive correlation between IL-6 and SOD1 concentrations in the plasma of AP patients with GC genotype for SNP rs1800795 was shown. These results indicate that SOD1 may play a protective role against oxidative damage induced by inflammation in the group of AP patients with GC genotype.

The Impact of Fullerenes as Doxorubicin Nano-Transporters on Metallothionein and Superoxide Dismutase Status in MCF-10A Cells.

This study aimed to synthesise C60-DOX complexes followed by the analysis of their effect on the concentration of metallothionein (MT) as a non-enzymatic antioxidant and on the concentration and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) as an antioxidant enzyme in healthy human mammary MCF-10A cells. Dynamic light scattering and electrophoretic light scattering were used to establish the size and zeta potential of the complexes. The MT and SOD concentrations were determined using the ELISA method; SOD activity was determined by tetrazolium salt reduction inhibition. Lower MT concentration following exposure of cells to both DOX and C60 fullerene compared to the control sample was found. However, the concentration of this protein increased as a consequence of the C60-DOX complexes action on MCF-10A cells compared to the control. C60 used alone did not affect the concentration and activity of SOD in MCF-10A cells. Application of free DOX did not activate cellular antioxidant defence in the form of an increase in SOD concentration or its activity. In contrast treatment of cells with the C60-DOX complex resulted in a decrease in SOD1 concentration and a significant increase in SOD activity compared to cells treated with free DOX, C60 and control. Thus, it was found that C60-DOX complexes showed potential for protective effects against DOX-induced toxicity to MCF-10A cells.

The Summarized Assessment of Endothelin A Receptor Expression in Renal Transplant Compartments Associated with Antibody-Mediated Rejection.

The occurrence of anti-endothelin A receptor antibodies may be useful in diagnosis of transplant damage. We noticed that the presence of the endothelin A receptor (ETA receptor) in biopsy compartments is yet to be defined. We decided therefore to analysed the presence and relevance of the ETA receptor in biopsy to define the cause. Our study aims to evaluate the expression of ETA receptors in renal recipients after a biopsy due to the worsening of transplant function. METHODS: The expression of ETA receptors was analyzed in renal transplant biopsies using the immunohistochemical method. The evaluation of ETA receptors was performed on paraffin sections. ETA receptor expression was analyzed in four compartments of renal transplant biopsies: glomeruli; vessels; tubular epithelium; and interstitium. The assessment was presented using a three-step scale (0: lack of expression; 1: mild to moderate immunoreactivity; 2: high expression). The results of each compartment from a single biopsy were summarized and assessed in the context of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). RESULTS: We analyzed 156 patients who had a renal allograft biopsy after renal transplantation. For each patient, we created a summarized ETA receptor expression score. The summarized ETA receptor expression score analysis showed statistically significant differences in patients with and without AMR. In addition, we noticed that patients with AMR had a significantly higher mean summarized expression of ETA receptor score of 3.28 ± 1.56 compared to patients who had a biopsy for other reasons with a mean summarized ETA receptor expression score of 1.47 ± 1.35 (p < 0.000001). ROC analysis of the ETA receptor expression score for detecting AMR status showed that the most appropriate cut-off for the test of the chosen binary classifier is between 2 and 3 of the summarized ETA receptor expression score. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of endothelin A receptors in renal transplant compartments may be associated with antibody-mediated rejection. The positive ETA receptor staining might be a vital feature in the diagnosis of damage in AMR. The summarized ETA receptor expression score seems to be an exciting diagnostic tool in transplant injury assessment.

Activity of CdTe Quantum-Dot-Tagged Superoxide Dismutase and Its Analysis in Capillary Electrophoresis.

Quantum dots (QDs) have a broad range of applications in cell biolabeling, cancer treatment, metastasis imaging, and therapeutic drug monitoring. Despite their wide use, relatively little is known about their influence on other molecules. Interactions between QDs and proteins can influence the properties of both nanoparticles and proteins. The effect of mercaptosuccinic acid-capped CdTe QDs on intercellular copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1)-one of the main enzymatic antioxidants-was investigated. Incubation of SOD1 with QDs caused an increase in SOD1 activity, unlike in the case of CdCl2, which inhibited SOD1. Moreover, this effect on SOD1 increased with the size and potential of QDs, although the effect became clearly visible in higher concentrations of QDs. The intensity of QD-SOD1 fluorescence, analyzed with the use of capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection, was dependent on SOD1 concentration. In the case of green QDs, the fluorescence signal decreased with increasing SOD1 concentration. In contrast, the signal strength for Y-QD complexes was not dependent on SOD1 dilutions. The migration time of QDs and their complexes with SOD1 varied depending on the type of QD used. The migration time of G-QD complexes with SOD1 differed slightly. However, in the case of Y-QD complexes with SOD1, the differences in the migration time were not dependent on SOD concentration. This research shows that QDs interact with SOD1 and the influence of QDs on SOD activity is size-dependent. With this knowledge, one might be able to control the activation/inhibition of specific enzymes, such as SOD1.

Concentration/activity of superoxide dismutase isozymes and the pro-/antioxidative status, in context of type 2 diabetes and selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (genes: INS, SOD1, SOD2, SOD3) - Preliminary findings.

The alterations in concentration/activity of superoxide dismutase isozymes in the context of type 2 diabetes or obesity are well-described. Moreover, many hereditary factors, including single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of genes for coding insulin, insulin receptors, or insulin receptor substrates (INS, INSR, IRS1, IRS2) or superoxide dismutase isozymes (SOD1, SOD2, SOD3), have been linked with the incidence of obesity and diabetes. However, the underlying changes in the plasma concentration/activity of superoxide dismutase isozymes and their potential connection with the said hereditary factors remain unexplored. Previously, we have observed that the plasma concentration/activity of superoxide dismutase isozymes differs in the context of obesity and/or rs2234694 (SOD1) and rs4880 (SOD2) and that the concentrations of SOD1, SOD2, SOD3 are correlated with each other. Intersexual variability of SOD1 concentration was detected regardless of obesity. In this study, the variability of concentration/activity of superoxide dismutase isozymes in plasma is considered in the context of type 2 diabetes and/or SNPs: rs2234694 (SOD1), rs5746105 (SOD2), rs4880 (SOD2), rs927450 (SOD2), rs8192287 (SOD3). Genotypic variability of SNP rs3842729 (INS), previously studied in the context of insulin-dependent diabetes, is investigated in terms of selected clinical parameters associated with type 2 diabetes. This study revealed higher SOD1 concentration in diabetic men compared to women, and extremely high SOD1 concentration, higher total superoxide dismutase, and copper-zinc superoxide dismutase activity, and lower superoxide dismutase and copper-zinc superoxide dismutase activity (when adjusted for the concentration of SODs) in the diabetic group regardless of sex. Multiple logistic regression, applied to explore possible links between the studied SNPs and other factors with the odds of type 2 diabetes or obesity, revealed that the genotypic variability of rs4880 (SOD2) could affect these odds, supporting the findings of several other studies.

Donor-Derived Cell-Free DNA in Kidney Transplantation as a Potential Rejection Biomarker: A Systematic Literature Review.

Kidney transplantation (KTx) is the best treatment method for end-stage kidney disease. KTx improves the patient's quality of life and prolongs their survival time; however, not all patients benefit fully from the transplantation procedure. For some patients, a problem is the premature loss of graft function due to immunological or non-immunological factors. Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is degraded deoxyribonucleic acid fragments that are released into the blood and other body fluids. Donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) is cfDNA that is exogenous to the patient and comes from a transplanted organ. As opposed to an invasive biopsy, dd-cfDNA can be detected by a non-invasive analysis of a sample. The increase in dd-cfDNA concentration occurs even before the creatinine level starts rising, which may enable early diagnosis of transplant injury and adequate treatment to avoid premature graft loss. In this paper, we summarise the latest promising results related to cfDNA in transplant patients.

The Application of Nanoparticles in Diagnosis and Treatment of Kidney Diseases.

Nanomedicine is currently showing great promise for new methods of diagnosing and treating many diseases, particularly in kidney disease and transplantation. The unique properties of nanoparticles arise from the diversity of size effects, used to design targeted nanoparticles for specific cells or tissues, taking renal clearance and tubular secretion mechanisms into account. The design of surface particles on nanoparticles offers a wide range of possibilities, among which antibodies play an important role. Nanoparticles find applications in encapsulated drug delivery systems containing immunosuppressants and other drugs, in imaging, gene therapies and many other branches of medicine. They have the potential to revolutionize kidney transplantation by reducing and preventing ischemia-reperfusion injury, more efficiently delivering drugs to the graft site while avoiding systemic effects, accurately localizing and visualising the diseased site and enabling continuous monitoring of graft function. So far, there are known nanoparticles with no toxic effects on human tissue, although further studies are still needed to confirm their safety.

The Changes in Stress Coping, Alcohol Use, Cigarette Smoking and Physical Activity during COVID-19 Related Lockdown in Medical Students in Poland.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has significantly limited social contacts, thus contributing to deepening isolation. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 exerted on humanity not only a physical impact but also a psychological one, often increasing the feeling of stress. The long-term effects of such a state could include the management of depression, so our study aimed to analyze groups of medical students in different periods of the pandemic (at the beginning of the pandemic, after half a year of the pandemic, after one year of the pandemic) in order to assess the impact of this situation on coping with stress. The impact of the pandemic on the development of stress factors such as alcohol consumption and smoking was also studied. The level of physical activity in the context of coping with an uncertain situation was also assessed. The impact of the above-mentioned factors on the behavior of students, including the Mini-COPE questionnaire, AUDIT test, the Fagerström test and the IPAQ questionnaire was analyzed. It has been shown that as the pandemic and the lockdown progressed, patients consumed more often or larger amounts of alcohol, smoked more cigarettes, and levels of physical activity decreased. All these factors may have had some impact on the deterioration of coping with stress among the respondents, which would indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly contributed to an increase in the sense of stress among the students.

Human Nitric Oxide Synthase-Its Functions, Polymorphisms, and Inhibitors in the Context of Inflammation, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases.

In various diseases, there is an increased production of the free radicals needed to carry out certain physiological processes but their excessive amounts can cause oxidative stress and cell damage. Enzymes play a major role in the transformations associated with free radicals. One of them is nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which catalyzes the formation of nitric oxide (NO). This enzyme exists in three forms (NOS1, NOS2, NOS3), each encoded by a different gene. The following work presents the most important information on the NOS isoforms and their role in the human body, including NO synthesis in various tissues and cells, intercellular signaling and activities supporting the immune system and regulating blood vessel functions. The role of NOS in pathological conditions such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease is considered. Attention is also paid to the influence of the polymorphisms of these genes, encoding particular isoforms, on the development of these pathologies and the role of NOS inhibitors in the treatment of patients.

The Function of Transthyretin Complexes with Metallothionein in Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most frequently diagnosed types of dementia in the elderly. An important pathological feature in AD is the aggregation and deposition of the ß-amyloid (Aß) in extracellular plaques. Transthyretin (TTR) can cleave Aß, resulting in the formation of short peptides with less activity of amyloid plaques formation, as well as being able to degrade Aß peptides that have already been aggregated. In the presence of TTR, Aß aggregation decreases and toxicity of Aß is abolished. This may prevent amyloidosis but the malfunction of this process leads to the development of AD. In the context of Aßplaque formation in AD, we discuss metallothionein (MT) interaction with TTR, the effects of which depend on the type of MT isoform. In the brains of patients with AD, the loss of MT-3 occurs. On the contrary, MT-1/2 level has been consistently reported to be increased. Through interaction with TTR, MT-2 reduces the ability of TTR to bind to Aß, while MT-3 causes the opposite effect. It increases TTR-Aß binding, providing inhibition of Aß aggregation. The protective effect, assigned to MT-3 against the deposition of Aß, relies also on this mechanism. Additionally, both Zn7MT-2 and Zn7MT-3, decrease Aß neurotoxicity in cultured cortical neurons probably because of a metal swap between Zn7MT and Cu(II)Aß. Understanding the molecular mechanism of metals transfer between MT and other proteins as well as cognition of the significance of TTR interaction with different MT isoforms can help in AD treatment and prevention.

Silver Nanomaterials for Wound Dressing Applications.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have recently become very attractive for the scientific community due to their broad spectrum of applications in the biomedical field. The main advantages of AgNPs include a simple method of synthesis, a simple way to change their morphology and high surface area to volume ratio. Much research has been carried out over the years to evaluate their possible effectivity against microbial organisms. The most important factors which influence the effectivity of AgNPs against microorganisms are the method of their preparation and the type of application. When incorporated into fabric wound dressings and other textiles, AgNPs have shown significant antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and inhibited biofilm formation. In this review, the different routes of synthesizing AgNPs with controlled size and geometry including chemical, green, irradiation and thermal synthesis, as well as the different types of application of AgNPs for wound dressings such as membrane immobilization, topical application, preparation of nanofibers and hydrogels, and the mechanism behind their antimicrobial activity, have been discussed elaborately.

Alterations in Concentration/Activity of Superoxide Dismutases in Context of Obesity and Selected Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Genes: SOD1, SOD2, SOD3.

Little is known about the contribution of each of the three superoxide dismutase isozymes (SODs) to the total SOD activity in extracellular fluids. This study was aimed to investigate the alterations in concentration/activity of (SODs) in plasma, in context of sex, obesity, exposition to cigarette smoke, and genotypic variability of five selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes SOD1, SOD2, SOD3. Men showed higher SOD1 concentration, lower SOD3 concentration and higher total antioxidative capacity (TAC) values. Intersexual variability was observed in concentration of copper, zinc, and cadmium. The obese showed higher total oxidative capacity regardless of sex. An increase in SOD2 activity was coexistent with obesity in men, and exposition to cigarette smoke in non-obese individuals. Additionally, in state of this exposition, Cu,Zn-SOD contribution to the total SOD was lower. Interestingly, over 90% of the obese were of C/T genotype of rs4880 (SOD2). Non-obese of T/T genotype (rs4880) were of lower total SOD activity due to decrease in both Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD activities. SNP rs2234694 was associated with differences in concentration of SODs, depending on obesity status. Correlations indicate that both TAC and SODs, together, may adapt to insulin resistance and inflammation-derived oxidative stress found in obesity. This topic should be further investigated.