Identification of plasma miR-4505, miR-4743-5p and miR-4750-3p as novel diagnostic biomarkers for coronary artery disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD) are commonly coexisting clinical entities with still growing incidence worldwide. Recently, circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as novel molecular players in cardiometabolic diseases. This study aimed to identify a specific miRNA signature as a candidate biomarker for CAD in T2DM and to delineate potential miRNA-dependent mechanisms contributing to diabetic atherosclerosis. METHODS: A total of 38 plasma samples from T2DM patients with and without CAD, CAD patients and healthy controls were collected for expression profiling of 2,578 miRNAs using microarrays. To investigate the regulatory role of differentially expressed (DE)-miRNA target genes, functional annotation and pathway enrichment analyses were performed utilizing multiple bioinformatics tools. Then, protein-protein interaction networks were established leveraging the STRING database in Cytoscape software, followed by cluster analysis and hub gene identification. Reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was carried out for microarray data validation in the larger replication cohort of 94 participants. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was applied to evaluate the diagnostic values of miRNAs. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to develop miRNA-based diagnostic models. RESULTS: In the discovery stage, overexpression of hsa-miR-4505, hsa-miR-4743-5p, hsa-miR-6846-5p, and down-regulation of hsa-miR-3613-3p, hsa-miR-4668-5p, hsa-miR-4706, hsa-miR-6511b-5p, hsa-miR-6750-5p, hsa-miR-4750-3p, hsa-miR-320e, hsa-miR-4717-3p, hsa-miR-7850-5p were detected in T2DM-CAD patients. The DE-miRNA target genes were significantly enriched in calcium ion binding, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, and gene expression. hsa-miR-4505, hsa-miR-4743-5p, and hsa-miR-4750-3p were found to be involved in fatty acid metabolism, leukocyte transendothelial migration, and neurotrophin signaling pathway. Dysregulation of hsa-miR-4505, hsa-miR-4743-5p, and hsa-miR-4750-3p in T2DM-CAD patients compared with T2DM subjects and controls (all p < 0.001) was further confirmed by RT-qPCR. All validated miRNAs demonstrated good discriminatory values for T2DM-CAD (AUC = 0.833-0.876). The best performance in detecting CAD in T2DM was achieved for a combination of three miRNAs (AUC = 0.959, 100% sensitivity, 86.67% specificity). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed a unique profile of plasma-derived miRNAs in T2DM patients with CAD. Potential miRNA-regulated pathways were also identified, exploring the underlying pathogenesis of CAD in T2DM. We developed a specific three-miRNA panel of hsa-miR-4505, hsa-miR-4743-5p and hsa-miR-4750-3p, that could serve as a novel non-invasive biomarker for CAD in patients with T2DM.

Influence of Thermal Treatment on the Composition of Alpinia officinarum Rhizome.

Alpinia officinarum is a representative of the Zingiberaceae family, which is known for its wide use in the food and pharmaceutical industries also due to its precious pharmacological potential. The major aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of thermal treatment on the composition of the rhizome of Alpinia officinarum and its antioxidant activity. The fresh rhizome was subjected to various thermal treatment processes-boiling, frying and microwave heating during various time intervals-and their composition and antioxidant activity were determined using chromatographic (HPLC - High Performance Liquid Chromatography and HPLC-MS - High Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry) and spectrophotometric (DPPH and TPC - Total Phenolic Content) methods. Pinobanksin was the main compound found in the extract of the fresh rhizome (537.79 mg/kg), followed by galangin (197.7 mg/kg) and zingerone (185.5 mg/kg). The effect of thermal treatment on the rhizome composition was varied. In general, thermal processing significantly decreased the content of active compounds in the rhizome. However, there were some exceptions-boiling for 4 min significantly increased the content of pinobanksin (1162.4 mg/kg) and galangin (280.7 mg/kg), and microwave processing for 4 min increased the content of pinocembrin (213 mg/kg). It was found that boiling and microwave treatment significantly increased the antioxidant activity of the processed rhizomes.

Pulp or Peel? Comparative Analysis of the Phytochemical Content and Selected Cosmetic-Related Properties of Annona cherimola L., Diospyros kaki Thumb., Cydonia oblonga Mill. and Fortunella margarita Swingle Pulp and Peel Extracts.

Fruit peels might be a valuable source of active ingredients for cosmetics, leading to more sustainable usage of plant by-products. The aim of the study was to evaluate the phytochemical content and selected biological properties of hydroglycolic extracts from peels and pulps of Annona cherimola, Diospyros kaki, Cydonia oblonga, and Fortunella margarita as potential cosmetic ingredients. Peel and pulp extracts were compared for their antiradical activity (using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays), skin-lightening potential (tyrosinase inhibitory assay), sun protection factor (SPF), and cytotoxicity toward human fibroblast, keratinocyte, and melanoma cell lines. The total content of polyphenols and/or flavonoids was significantly higher in peel than in pulp extracts, and the composition of particular active compounds was also markedly different. The HPLC-MS fingerprinting revealed the presence of catechin, epicatechin and rutoside in the peel of D. kaki, whereas kaempferol glucoside and procyanidin A were present only in the pulp. In A. cherimola, catechin, epicatechin and rutoside were identified only in the peel of the fruit, whereas procyanidins were traced only in the pulp extracts. Quercetin and luteolinidin were found to be characteristic compounds of F. margarita peel extract. Naringenin and hesperidin were found only in the pulp of F. margarita. The most significant compositional variety between the peel and pulp extracts was observed for C. oblonga: Peel extracts contained a higher number of active components (e.g., vicenin-2, kaempferol rutinoside, or kaempferol galactoside) than pulp extract. The radical scavenging potential of peel extracts was higher than of the pulp extracts. D. kaki and F. margarita peel and pulp extracts inhibited mushroom and murine tyrosinases at comparable levels. The C. oblonga pulp extract was a more potent mushroom tyrosinase inhibitor than the peel extract. Peel extract of A. cherimola inhibited mushroom tyrosinase but activated the murine enzyme. F. margarita pulp and peel extracts showed the highest in vitro SPF. A. cherimola, D. kaki, and F. margarita extracts were not cytotoxic for fibroblasts and keratinocytes up to a concentration of 2% (v/v) and the peel extracts were cytotoxic for A375 melanoma cells. To summarize, peel extracts from all analyzed fruit showed comparable or better cosmetic-related properties than pulp extracts and might be considered multifunctional active ingredients of skin lightening, anti-aging, and protective cosmetics.

Comparison of SOX2 and POU5F1 Gene Expression in Leukapheresis-Derived CD34+ Cells before and during Cell Culture.

Bone marrow is an abundant source of both hematopoietic as well as non-hematopoietic stem cells. Embryonic, fetal and stem cells located in tissues (adipose tissue, skin, myocardium and dental pulp) express core transcription factors, including the SOX2, POU5F1 and NANOG gene responsible for regeneration, proliferation and differentiation into daughter cells. The aim of the study was to examine the expression of SOX2 and POU5F1 genes in CD34-positive peripheral blood stem cells (CD34+ PBSCs) and to analyze the influence of cell culture on the expression of SOX2 and POU5F1 genes. The study material consisted of bone marrow-derived stem cells isolated by using leukapheresis from 40 hematooncology patients. Cells obtained in this process were subject to cytometric analysis to determine the content of CD34+ cells. CD34-positive cell separation was conducted using MACS separation. Cell cultures were set, and RNA was isolated. Real-time PCR was conducted in order to evaluate the expression of SOX2 and POU5F1 genes and the obtained data were subject to statistical analysis. We identified the expression of SOX2 and POU5F1 genes in the examined cells and demonstrated a statistically significant (p < 0.05) change in their expression in cell cultures. Short-term cell cultures (<6 days) were associated with an increase in the expression of SOX2 and POU5F1 genes. Thus, short-term cultivation of transplanted stem cells could be used to induce pluripotency, leading to better therapeutic effects.

Advances in Management of Bladder Cancer-The Role of Photodynamic Therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-invasive and modern form of therapy. It is used in the treatment of non-oncological diseases and more and more often in the treatment of various types of neoplasms in various locations including bladder cancer. The PDT method consists of local or systemic application of a photosensitizer, i.e., a photosensitive compound that accumulates in pathological tissue. Light of appropriate wavelength is absorbed by the photosensitizer molecules, which in turn transfers energy to oxygen or initiates radical processes that leads to selective destruction of diseased cells. The technique enables the selective destruction of malignant cells, as the photocytotoxicity reactions induced by the photosensitizer take place strictly within the pathological tissue. PDT is known to be well tolerated in a clinical setting in patients. In cited papers herein no new safety issues were identified. The development of anti-cancer PDT therapies has greatly accelerated over the last decade. There was no evidence of increased or cumulative toxic effects with each PDT treatment. Many modifications have been made to enhance the effects. Clinically, bladder cancer remains one of the deadliest urological diseases of the urinary system. The subject of this review is the anti-cancer use of PDT, its benefits and possible modifications that may lead to more effective treatments for bladder cancer. Bladder cancer, if localized, would seem to be a good candidate for PDT therapy since this does not involve the toxicity of systemic chemotherapy and can spare normal tissues from damage if properly carried out. It is clear that PDT deserves more investment in clinical research, especially for plant-based photosensitizers. Natural PS isolated from plants and other biological sources can be considered a green approach to PDT in cancer therapy. Currently, PDT is widely used in the treatment of skin cancer, but numerous studies show the advantages of related therapeutic strategies that can help eliminate various types of cancer, including bladder cancer. PDT for bladder cancer in which photosensitizer is locally activated and generates cytotoxic reactive oxygen species and causing cell death, is a modern treatment. Moreover, PDT is an innovative technique in oncologic urology.

Assessment of Cucurbita spp. Peel Extracts as Potential Sources of Active Substances for Skin Care and Dermatology.

By-products of cultivated plants are one of the major environmental concerns worldwide. Due to the high concentration of bioactive chemicals, such waste may be considered hazardous due to the interference with the plant growth, deterioration of the drinking water quality or toxic effects on sensitive marine organisms. Moreover, plant-derived by-products, with proper handling, may represent a low-cost source of bioactive compounds potentially important for pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. The aim of the study was to evaluate the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, the influence of tyrosinase activity, in vitro sun protecting factor and cytotoxicity of 15 extracts from peels of five cultivars of Cucurbita maxima and C. moschata. The extracts were prepared using "green solvents" (water, 50% propylene glycol, and 20% ethanol) and ultrasound-assisted extraction. The performed analysis showed that the peel extracts from various cultivars differ significantly in respect to the phytochemical content and activity. The type of solvent also had a significant impact on the extract's composition and bioactivity. Aqueous peel extracts contained the highest amounts of flavonoids, showed the greatest antioxidant potential and the most significant in vitro SPF values. In vitro studies showed that the analyzed peel extracts are not cytotoxic for human keratinocytes up to the concentration of 1000 µg/mL and thus might be considered as non-irritant for the skin. The study confirms the potential application of peel extracts from Cucurbita spp. cultivars in cosmetic products.

MicroRNAs in the aqueous humor of patients with different types of glaucoma.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to compare the frequency and the level of expression of selected miRNAs in the aqueous humor of patients with various types of glaucoma. METHODS: The studied group consisted of 42 patients with glaucoma: 19 with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), 14 with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG), 9 with primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG), and the control group of 36 patients with senile cataract without glaucoma. The real-time polymerase chain reaction method was used to analyze the expression of miRNAs. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the frequency and the level of miRNA expression between various types of glaucoma. There was a tendency for hsa-miR-6722-3p and hsa-miR-184 to be expressed more frequently in PEXG and hsa-miR-1260b in POAG. The expression levels of hsa-miR-1260b and hsa-miR-6515-3p were correlated with age in POAG. Target annotation and functional analyses showed that genes targeted by the most frequently expressed miRNAs (hsa-miR-1202, -1260b, -184, -187-5p, -6515-3p, -6722-3p, and hsa-mir-4634) are involved mainly in response to hypoxia, cardiovascular system development, and apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Hsa-miR-1260b was the most abundantly expressed among studied miRNAs and may be a potential biomarker of clinical status in PEXG and PACG.

Analytical Assessment of Bioelements in Various Types of Black Teas from Different Geographical Origins in View of Chemometric Approach.

A comprehensive approach to the mineral composition of black teas of different origins was studied using the Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS) method, supported by chemometric tools including Principal Component Analysis PCA) and Classification and Regression Trees (CART). Significant differences between the teas from seven countries (Japan, Nepal, Kenya, Iran, Sri Lanka, India, and China) were shown. K was the main element determined in all teas, with an average concentration of 11,649 mg/kg, followed by Ca, Mg and Mn. In general, regarding all investigated black teas, the element content was ranked in the following order: K > Ca > Mg > Mn > Fe > Na > Zn > Cu. The applied chemometric methods allowed us to recognize black tea clusters based on their mineral composition and place of cultivation, and allowed us to find correlations between particular elements in black teas. The performed analyses revealed interesting correlations between the concentration of various elements in black teas: K was negatively correlated with Na, Fe, Mn and Cu; K was positively correlated with the content of Ca and Mg. Significant positive correlations between Mn and Fe and Mn and Zn in the studied black tea samples were also revealed. It was shown that mineral composition may be a significant factor regarding the origin of the black tea, not only considering the country, but also the region or province.

The Role of Extracting Solvents in the Recovery of Polyphenols from Green Tea and Its Antiradical Activity Supported by Principal Component Analysis.

Green tea contains a variety of biologically active constituents that are widely used in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Among them, simple catechins constitute a major group of compounds that is primarily responsible for the high biologic activity of green tea extracts. Therefore, the application of optimized extraction conditions may result in obtaining high value extracts. The main purpose of the study was to compare the content of polyphenols, mainly catechins, and the antioxidant activity of green tea extracts obtained by three different extraction methods: simple maceration, ultrasound extraction and accelerated solvent extraction using six various solvent systems. The quality of the extracts was evaluated by LC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS methodologies and spectrophotometric determinations. The obtained results revealed that catechins' extraction efficiency was identical for the three techniques studied. However, larger quantitative differences among the samples were observed when using different solvents. The total content of major catechins and gallic acid was within a very wide range of 10.2-842 mg/L. Ethyl acetate was by far the least effective extractant, regardless of the extraction technique used. After all, the solvent system composed of ethanol:water (1:1 v/v) was proven to be the best to recover catechins and to deliver extracts with the highest antiradical activity.

Achillea millefolium L. and Achillea biebersteinii Afan. Hydroglycolic Extracts-Bioactive Ingredients for Cosmetic Use.

Studies on hydroglycolic (HG) extracts of Achillea biebersteinii (AB)-a less investigated representative of the genus-were performed to determine their potential for cosmetic applications compared to the well-known Achillea millefolium (AM). Three types of water:polyethylene glycol extracts (1:1, 4:1, 6:1 v/v) were obtained from both species and analyzed for their composition by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS) and assayed for their biological activities. The study led to the identification of 11 metabolites from different natural product classes with the highest share corresponding to 5-caffeoylquinic acid, axillarin, coumaroylquinic acid isomers and 3-caffeoylquinic acid. The highest antiradical capacity in DPPH and ABTS scavenging assays was shown for HG 4:1 of AB and AM extracts. HG 1:1 extracts from both species inhibited monophenolase and diphenolase activity of tyrosinase, whereas AB HG 4:1 extract showed significant monophenolase inhibition. The highest sun protection factor (SPF) was determined for AM HG 4:1 extract, equal to 14.04 ± 0.17. The AB extracts were cytotoxic for both human keratinocytes HaCaT and A375 melanoma, however HG 1:1 and 4:1 extracts were more cytotoxic for cancer than for noncancerous cells. In conclusion, AB HG 1:1 and 4:1 extracts display significant potential as active cosmetic ingredients.

Anti-endothelial cell antibodies are associated with apoptotic endothelial microparticles, endothelial sloughing and decrease in angiogenic progenitors in systemic sclerosis.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence has accumulated for the role of endothelial damage in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and the anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECAs) might underlie vascular injury. AIM: Since endothelial microparticles (EMPs) and circulating endothelial cells (CECs) reflect endothelial damage, we aimed to investigate their possible relationship with AECAs in SSc. We examined whether AECAs could affect endothelial repair based on the number of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-seven SSc patients were screened. The AECAs were identified in serum by indirect immunofluorescence. EPCs and CECs were isolated from the peripheral blood using anti-CD34-based immunomagnetic separation, whereas EMPs were analyzed in plasma. Flow cytometry was used to quantify EMPs, CECs and EPCs. RESULTS: AECAs were found in 21 (44.7%) SSc patients and were significantly associated with higher levels of total as well as apoptotic (AnnV+ and CD51+) EMPs, whereas activated (CD62E+/AnnV-) EMPs did not differ between groups. Patients with AECAs had significantly elevated total CECs as well as activated CD105+ CECs. Total endothelial progenitors did not differ between patients with or without AECAs; however AECAs was negatively associated with the population of EPCs that express VEGFR2 or Tie2 receptors. CONCLUSIONS: We found an association between AECAs and the severity of endothelial damage in SSc based on higher levels of total EMPs and CECs. In our study, AECAs were associated with apoptosis of ECs rather than their activation. We also identified a possible role of AECAs in the impairment of vascular repair in SSc as evidenced by significantly fewer angiogenic EPCs.

The Effect of Furanocoumarin Derivatives on Induction of Apoptosis and Multidrug Resistance in Human Leukemic Cells.

BACKGROUND: The insensitivity of cancer cells to therapeutic agents is considered to be the main cause of failure of therapy and mortality of patients with cancer. A particularly important problem in these patients is the phenomenon of multidrug resistance, consisting of abnormal, elevated expression of transport proteins (ABC family). The aim of this research included determination of IC50 values of selected furanocoumarins in the presence and absence of mitoxantrone in leukemia cells and analysis of changes in apoptosis using anexinV/IP and Casp3/IP after 24 h exposure of cell lines to selected coumarins in the presence and absence of mitoxantrone in IC50 concentrations. METHODS: Research was conducted on 3 cell lines derived from the human hematopoietic system: HL-60, HL-60/MX1 and HL-60/MX2. After exposure to coumarin compounds, cells were subjected to cytometric analysis to determine the induction of apoptosis by two methods: the Annexin V test with propidium iodide and the PhiPhiLux-G1D2 reagent containing caspase 3 antibodies. RESULTS: All of the furanocoumarin derivatives studied were found to induce apoptosis in leukemia cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: Our results clearly show that the furanocoumarin derivatives are therapeutic substances with antitumor activity inducing apoptosis in human leukemia cells with phenotypes of resistance.

Imaging Flow Cytometric Analysis of Stilbene-Dependent Apoptosis in Drug Resistant Human Leukemic Cell Lines.

Background: The natural compounds have been researched extensively as an alternative to the conventional chemotherapy and radiation. Stilbene derivatives appear as a group of therapeutics which deserves special attention. The present study was designed to analyze the effects of stilbene derivatives on drug resistant human leukemic cells. The aim of this work was to evaluate the apoptotic effect of stilbene derivatives in various concentrations on leukemic cells (LC) with and without resistant phenotype. Methods: Human acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cell lines (HL60, HL60/MX1, HL60/MX2) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell lines (CEM/C1, CCRF-CEM) were studied. T-resveratrol, piceatannol, rhaponticin, deoxyrhaponticin, pterostilbene were used to stimulate apoptosis. Mitoxantrone (MIT) was applied to induce drug resistance. Results: t-Resveratrol (RES), deoxyrhaponticin (D-RHAP), rhaponticin (RHAP), pterostilbene (PTER), and piceatannol (PIC) influenced viability and induced apoptosis in all investigated cell lines. Conclusions: Our results confirmed that RES, PIC, RHAP, D-RHAP, and PTER are essential therapeutic compounds with anticancer activity exhibited by induction of apoptosis in leukemic cells with and without resistant phenotype. Stilbene-induced apoptosis in HL60/MX1, HL60/MX2, CEM/C1, and CCRF-CEM leukemia cell lines have been presented in very few studies so far and our research is an important contribution to the investigation of these substances.

Circulating Endothelial Microparticles and Aortic Stiffness in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus represents a metabolic disorder the incidence of which has been on the increase in recent years. The well-known long-term complications of this disease encompass a wide spectrum of renal, neurological and cardiovascular conditions. The aim of the study was to investigate the serum concentration of endothelial microparticles (EMPs) as well as selected noninvasive parameters of the ascending aorta stiffness calculated with echocardiography. In this study, 58 patients were enrolled-38 subjects diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 20 healthy controls. The analyzed populations did not differ significantly with respect to age, renal function, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The patients with diabetes and concomitant hypertension presented higher levels of EMPs in comparison with diabetic normotensive subjects. Among patients with diabetes and hypertension, aortic stiffness assessed with the elasticity index (Ep) was higher and the aortic compliance index (D) lower than in the diabetic normotensive group. No correlation between the amount of EMPs and lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP) level and glycemia, was observed in the studied group. There was, however, a statistically significant positive correlation between the creatinine level and amount of EMPs, while the negative relationship was documented for EMPs level and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Phenotypic Characterization of Adherent Cells Population CD34+ CD90+ CD105+ Derived from Wharton's Jelly.

BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stromal cells, MSCs, show expression of specific antigens on their surface. The aim of the study is to assess the phenotype of stem cells like isolated from the umbilical cord with respect to the presence of surface antigens CD34, CD90, and CD105 and differences in the expression of surface antigens in cells isolated from freshly sampled material in comparison with the phenotype of cells from in vitro culture. MATERIAL AND METHODS Stem cells collected from the umbilical cord from healthy patients and then cultured in vitro. To assess the phenotype of stem cells, cytometric analysis was carried out. To assess the phenotype of cells we used fluorescently labelled monoclonal antibodies: APC Mouse anti-human CD34, PC5 Mouse anti-human CD90 and PE Mouse anti-human CD105. RESULTS In the case of cells from the umbilical cord and then cultured in vitro for the period of 10-14 days CD34 expression is lower (69,5%) in comparison with the group of cells not cultured. Not cultured cells were demonstrated 37% of cells co-expression of antigens CD34 and CD105, over 21% of CD34/CD90 cells and over 24% of CD105/CD90. Cultured cells group was showed higher percentage of CD90, CD105, CD34/CD105, CD34/CD90, CD105/CD90 in comparison with not cultured cells. CONCLUSIONS Our reults suggested that adherent cells population from umbilical cord, demonstrate CD34 expression In vivo. Moreover, the phenotype of MSCs, mainly in the context of CD34 expression, may vary depending on the place of collection of cells and the length of growing the cell culture.

In Vitro Evaluation of Bioavailability of Cr from Daily Food Rations and Dietary Supplements from the Polish Market.

Only some of the nutrients consumed with food are able to be absorbed from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and enter the systemic circulation (blood). Because some elements are essential minerals for humans, their beneficial effect on the body depends significantly on their bioavailable amount (the fraction that can be absorbed and used by the organism). The term bioavailability, which is very often used to describe the part of nutrients that is able to be absorbed, is influenced by various factors of exogenous and endogenous origin. The main purpose of the study was to assess the relative bioavailability of Cr from selected dietary supplements in the presence of various types of diets, which significantly influence the level of bioavailability. The research was performed using a previously developed and optimized two-stage in vitro digestion model using cellulose dialysis tubes of food rations with the addition of pharmaceutical products. Cr was determined using the ICP-OES and GF-AAS methods, depending on its concentration in particular fractions. The determined relative bioavailability ranged between 2.97 and 3.70%. The results of the study revealed that the type of diet, the chemical form of the molecule, and the pharmaceutical form of preparations have a significant influence on the bioavailability of Cr.

Impact of Thermal Processing on the Composition of Curcuma longa Rhizome.

Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae), known as turmeric, is a perennial tuberous plant from the genus Curcuma, which includes about 100 plant species. The chemical composition of the turmeric rhizome is very diverse. Diarylheptanoid derivatives, also known as curcuminoids (of which curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin are the most important representatives), are the major active constituents of the plant rhizome. Many extracts used in the food and pharmaceutical industries are produced from thermally processed rhizome, when there are significant changes in the composition of the main compounds. Therefore, the aim of the study was to compare how the type of thermal treatment affects the content of curcuminoids and the antioxidant properties of the rhizome. The plant material was subjected to three different methods of thermal processing-microwave heating, boiling and frying in different time intervals. The chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the processed rhizome was evaluated using LC-MS (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry), HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) and spectrophotometric methods (a DPPH test and TPC assay). Obtained results revealed that curcumin was the major curcuminoid present in all samples (113.92 mg/g of the fresh rhizome). Significant correlation between the type and time of the thermal processing and the composition of turmeric samples was revealed. A traditional boiling process lasting for 10 min was the most beneficial process in terms of the curcuminoid content (204 mg/g of curcumin) and antioxidant activity of the samples.

Safety climate perceived by pre-hospital emergency care personnel-an international cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Improving patient safety is one of the most critical components of modern healthcare. Emergency medical services (EMS) are, by nature, a challenging environment for ensuring patient safety. It is fast-paced, physically dangerous, and highly stressful, requiring rapid decision-making and action. This can create risks not only for patients but also for employees. We assessed variations in perceptions of safety culture in prehospital emergency care among an international sample of paramedics and nurses. Methods: The Emergency Medical Services Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (EMS-SAQ) was used for the study. The instrument measures six domains of safety culture in the workplace: teamwork climate, job satisfaction, safety climate, working conditions, stress recognition, and perceptions of management. A total of 1,128 EMS from 9 countries participated in this study. Results: Safety Climate was 81.32/100 (SD 6.90), Teamwork Climate 84.14/100 (SD 8.74), Perceptions of Management 76.30/100 (SD 10.54), Stress Recognition 89.86/100 (SD 5.70), Working Conditions 81.07/100 (SD 9.75), and Job Satisfaction 70.71/100 (SD 7.21). There was significant variation in safety culture scores across countries for teamwork climate (TWC), working conditions (WC), and job satisfaction (JS). Among the individual variables (age, gender, level of education, and work experience), variations in safety culture scores were unaffected by age, gender, or work experience. Organizational characteristics: employment status and position type were linked to significant variations in safety culture domain scores. Conclusion: Participants' perceptions of the patient safety climate were not particularly satisfactory, confirming that there is still a need to develop a culture of patient safety in prehospital emergency care.

In Vitro Evaluation of Bioavailability of Se from Daily Food Rations and Dietary Supplements.

Bioavailability refers to a fraction of a substance that is potentially absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and enters the systemic circulation (blood). This term is related to various substances, including minerals, that are present in a complex matrix of food which is consumed every day as natural products and pharmaceutical preparations, e.g., dietary supplements. The purpose of the study was to assess the bioavailability of Se from selected dietary supplements, with the simultaneous assessment of the effect the diet type (standard, basic and high-residue diets) has on relative bioavailability. The research included a two-stage in vitro model of digestion using cellulose dialysis tubes of the food rations with the addition of dietary supplements. Se was determined using the ICP-OES method. The bioavailability of Se from dietary supplements, in the presence of food matrix, was determined to be within the range of 19.31-66.10%. Sodium selenate was characterized by the highest value of this parameter, followed by organic forms and sodium selenite. The basic diet, characterized by moderate protein and high carbohydrate and fiber contents, positively influenced the bioavailability of Se. The bioavailability of Se was also influenced by the pharmaceutical form of the product-the highest was for tablets, followed by capsules and coated tablets.

Twenty Novel MicroRNAs in the Aqueous Humor of Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma Patients.

The microRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs (19-25 nt) that regulate the level of gene expression at the post-transcriptional stage. Altered miRNAs expression can lead to the development of various diseases, e.g., pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG). In this study, we assessed the levels of miRNA expression in the aqueous humor of PEXG patients using the expression microarray method. Twenty new miRNA molecules have been selected as having the potential to be associated with the development or progression of PEXG. Ten miRNAs were downregulated in PEXG (hsa-miR-95-5p, hsa-miR-515-3p, hsa-mir-802, hsa-miR-1205, hsa-miR-3660, hsa-mir-3683, hsa -mir-3936, hsa-miR-4774-5p, hsa-miR-6509-3p, hsa-miR-7843-3p) and ten miRNAs were upregulated in PEXG (hsa-miR-202 -3p, hsa-miR-3622a-3p, hsa-mir-4329, hsa-miR-4524a-3p, hsa-miR-4655-5p, hsa-mir-6071, hsa-mir-6723-5p, hsa-miR-6847-5p, hsa-miR-8074, and hsa-miR-8083). Functional analysis and enrichment analysis showed that the mechanisms that can be regulated by these miRNAs are: extracellular matrix (ECM) imbalance, cell apoptosis (possibly retinal ganglion cells (RGCs)), autophagy, and elevated calcium cation levels. Nevertheless, the exact molecular basis of PEXG is unknown and further research is required on this topic.