Effects of Spherical and Rod-like Gold Nanoparticles on the Reactivity of Human Peripheral Blood Leukocytes.

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are widely used in the technological and biomedical industries, which is a major driver of research on these nanoparticles. The main goal of this study was to determine the influence of GNPs (at 20, 100, and 200 µg/mL concentrations) on the reactivity of human peripheral blood leukocytes. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the respiratory burst activity and pyroptosis in monocytes and granulocytes following incubation with GNPs for 30 and 60 min. Furthermore, the concentration of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) in human blood samples was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) after their incubation with GNPs for 24 h. Under the conditions tested in the study, the GNPs did not significantly affect the production of reactive oxygen species in the granulocytes and monocytes that were not stimulated using phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) in comparison to the samples exposed to PMA (p < 0.05). Compared to the control sample, the greatest significant increase in the mean fluorescence intensity of the granulocytes occurred in the samples incubated with CGNPs = 100 and 200 µg/mL for tinc = 30 and 60 min (p < 0.05). From our results, we conclude that the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles, chemical composition, and the type of nanoparticles used in the unit, along with the unit and incubation time, influence the induced toxicity.

Evaluation of CD10 expression as a diagnostic marker for colorectal cancer.

Aim: We aimed to determine the potential of CD10 as a marker for the early diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the colon. Background: Adenocarcinoma is diagnosed in one out of 20 individuals in the USA and western European countries. Its prognosis and treatment depend largely on the severity of the disease at the time of diagnosis. Additional new biological markers are being sought that can help diagnose colon cancer at an early stage. One such marker present in both serum and tumor tissue is CD10. Methods: CD10 concentrations were tested by ELISA and immunohistochemistry in serum and tissue samples, respectively, from 113 patients diagnosed histopathologically and treated for adenocarcinoma of the colon. Additionally, the ROC curve with optimal cut-off point based on Youden's criterion was calculated for CD10. Results: Serum concentrations of CD10 and its tissue expression in patients diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the colon correlate with cancer staging based on the Astler-Coller-Dukes classification. To ascertain the optimal cut-off point for CD10 as a predictor of belonging to the study group, ROC curve was prepared for CD10. Optimal cut-off point for CD10 was 0.57, with prediction of belonging to the study group for CD10 ≥ 0.57. Conclusion: CD10 can be a useful marker in the early diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the colon.

Amorphous Form of Carvedilol Phosphate-The Case of Divergent Properties.

The amorphous form of carvedilol phosphate (CVD) was obtained as a result of grinding. The identity of the obtained amorphous form was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), different scanning calorimetry (DSC), and FT-IR spectroscopy. The process was optimized in order to obtain the appropriate efficiency and time. The crystalline form of CVD was used as the reference standard. Solid dispersions of crystalline and amorphous CVD forms with hydrophilic polymers (hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin, Pluronic® F-127, and Soluplus®) were obtained. Their solubility at pH 1.2 and 6.8 was carried out, as well as their permeation through a model system of biological membranes suitable for the gastrointestinal tract (PAMPA-GIT) was established. The influence of selected polymers on CVD properties was defined for the amorphous form regarding the crystalline form of CVD. As a result of grinding (four milling cycles lasting 15 min with 5 min breaks), amorphous CVD was obtained. Its presence was confirmed by the "halo effect" on the diffraction patterns, the disappearance of the peak at 160.5 °C in the thermograms, and the changes in position/disappearance of many characteristic bands on the FT-IR spectra. As a result of changes in the CVD structure, its lower solubility at pH 1.2 and pH 6.8 was noted. While the amorphous dispersions of CVD, especially with Pluronic® F-127, achieved better solubility than combinations of crystalline forms with excipients. Using the PAMPA-GIT model, amorphous CVD was assessed as high permeable (Papp > 1 × 10-6 cm/s), similarly with its amorphous dispersions with excipients (hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin, Pluronic® F-127, and Soluplus®), although in their cases, the values of apparent constants permeability were decreased.

Current Knowledge of Silver and Gold Nanoparticles in Laboratory Research-Application, Toxicity, Cellular Uptake.

Silver and gold nanoparticles can be found in a range of household products related to almost every area of life, including patches, bandages, paints, sportswear, personal care products, food storage equipment, cosmetics, disinfectants, etc. Their confirmed ability to enter the organism through respiratory and digestive systems, skin, and crossing the blood-brain barrier raises questions of their potential effect on cell function. Therefore, this manuscript aimed to summarize recent reports concerning the influence of variables such as size, shape, concentration, type of coating, or incubation time, on effects of gold and silver nanoparticles on cultured cell lines. Due to the increasingly common use of AgNP and AuNP in multiple branches of the industry, further studies on the effects of nanoparticles on different types of cells and the general natural environment are needed to enable their long-term use. However, some environmentally friendly solutions to chemically synthesized nanoparticles are also investigated, such as plant-based synthesis methods.

Usefulness of rebiopsy in the case of mesangial pathology.

Immunologically different types of glomerulopathies show varied symptoms and clinical courses. Unlike in lupus nephritis, repeated biopsy is rarely performed in cases of mesangial glomerulonephritis. We reviewed 200 cases wherein rebiopsy was performed in patients with diagnosed mesangial glomerular pathology over a 30-year period and analyzed the symptoms follow-up in these cases. Further, we evaluated the morphological changes between the first and final biopsies to identify cases of histological progression and histological remission and examined the correlation between such changes and clinical symptoms. The time between the first and last biopsies ranged from 7 months to 35 years. The most common for the initial biopsy was nephrotic syndrome, followed by non-nephrotic proteinuria; other symptoms occurred rarely. Histological progression occurred at various stages of observation, ranging from within a few months to after several years. Histological progression and remission were detected in 118 and 3 patients, respectively, whereas there was no difference in morphological findings between the first and last biopsies in 79 patients. Rebiopsy is useful in patients who do not respond adequately to treatment, and especially in those with increased clinical symptoms. Moreover, electron microscopic examination is necessary to discover early signs of histological progression.

Children with epilepsy against their healthy peers and those with headaches: Differences-similarities.

INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy, like most chronic diseases, affects bio-psycho-social functioning of children and adolescents. The aim of this work was to assess functioning of children with epilepsy compared with the group of healthy children and those with headaches carried out by children themselves and their mothers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 209 children with epilepsy and 173 children with headaches and 182 healthy students and their mothers. The research tool was Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 Generic Core Scales (PedsQL™ 4.0) questionnaire. RESULTS: Quality of life of healthy children was rated the highest in all areas by both children and mothers. In younger and older children, difference was demonstrated between the assessment of the quality of life of healthy children and the ones with epilepsy or healthy children and the ones with and headaches in all areas of the PedsQL™ 4.0 questionnaire (p<0.05). Children with epilepsy had the most difficulties in subscale School Functioning in their own and their mothers' opinion. Healthy children and their mothers rated the subscale Emotional Functioning lowest. CONCLUSIONS: The functioning of children with epilepsy in the assessment of children and their mothers was the closest to the functioning of children with headaches. Quality of children's life assessment by children with epilepsy and by healthy children differed between the group of girls and boys and between older and younger children in all PedsQLTM 4.0 questionnaire areas. A medium response compatibility between children with epilepsy and their mothers was shown in individual questions.