Use of ion chromatography for the determination of selected metals in blood serum of patients with type 2 diabetes

Ion chromatography followed by microwave-induced acid digestion was used to evaluate the serum levels of Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Mn²⁺ in patients with diagnosed type 2 diabetes and in healthy controls. Recoveries ranged from 98.0% to 102% for Fe³⁺, from 89.9% to 100% for Cu²⁺, from 87.9% to 102% for Zn²⁺, and from 89.6% to 102% for Mn²⁺ were determined by examining samples spiked with various amounts of all the studied ions. The time of mineralization longer than 28 min did not affect the assay values. Precision was assessed at four unique concentrations in replicates of six, on four separate occasions. RSD was determined to be 1.16% for Fe³⁺, 5.20% for Cu²⁺, 2.8% for Zn²⁺, and 3.75% for Mn²⁺. The accuracy results (values of RSD) were as follows: 5.16% for Fe³⁺, 6.35% for Cu²⁺, 4.9% for Zn²⁺, and 7.23% for Mn²⁺.The statistical analysis confirmed that mean concentrations of Fe³⁺ and Zn²⁺ did not differ significantly from analogous values in the control group. Patients who additionally suffered from hypertension had higher copper concentrations compared with diabetic patients. For diabetics the presence of Mn²⁺ was not stated (LOD values amounting to 0.006 μg/mL). Ni²⁺ was not detectable for either the studied group or the control group (LOD=0.006 μg/mL).     

Cu(II) binding by substituted 1, 3, 5-triazine herbicides

s-Triazine herbicides form relatively stable complexes with cupric ions, complexes in which the major binding site was found to be a cyclic nitrogen N5. Polarographic data have shown that cuprous ions also form quite stable complexes with the studied ligands. The stability constants strongly suggest that s-triazines act in solutions as the monodentate ligands, a result which agrees well with earlier X-ray results.     

The Level of Isoprostanes as a Non-invasive Marker for <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis> Lipid Peroxidation in Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Oxidative stress leads to lipid peroxidation and may contribute to the pathogenesis of lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory as well as degenerative phenomena. Isoprostanes are prostaglandin-like compounds which are formed by free radical catalysed peroxidation of arachidonic acid esterified in membrane phospholipids. They are a new class of sensitive specific markers for in vivo lipid peroxidation. In this study 26 patients (15 females and 11 males; mean age 48.2 ± 15.2 year; mean disease duration 10.0 ± 6.5 year) with secondary progressive MS (SPMS) and 12 healthy controls were enrolled. In patients with multiple sclerosis the lipid peroxidation as the level of urine isoprostanes and the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) in plasma were estimated. Moreover, we estimated the total antioxidative status (TAS) in plasma. It was found that the urine isoprostanes level was over 6-fold elevated in patients with SPMS than in control (P < 0.001). In SPMS patients TBARS level was also statistically higher than in controls (P < 0.01). However, we did not observed any difference of TAS level in serum between SPMS patients and controls (P > 0.05). In patients with SPMS the lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress measured as the increased level of isoprostanes was observed. Thus, we suggest that the level of isoprostanes may be used as non-invasive marker for a determination of oxidative stress what in turn, together with clinical symptoms, may determine an specific antioxidative therapy in SPMS patients.     

Isolation and characterisation of KP34--a novel φKMV-like bacteriophage for Klebsiella pneumoniae

Bacteriophage KP34 is a novel virus belonging to the subfamily Autographivirinae lytic for extended-spectrum ??-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. Its biological features, morphology, susceptibility to chemical and physical agents, burst size, host specificity and activity spectrum were determined. As a potential antibacterial agent used in therapy, KP34 molecular features including genome sequence and protein composition were examined. Phylogenetic analyses and clustering of KP34 phage genome sequences revealed its clear relationships with ??phiKMV-like viruses??. Simultaneously, whole-genome analyses permitted clustering and classification of all phages, with completely sequenced genomes, belonging to the Podoviridae.     

Videostroboscopic and morphological aspects of voice disturbances in patients with larynx atrophy and coexisting hypopharynx cancer

Vocal folds play a crucial role in voice production. The physiological vibrations of vocal folds depend on the unchanged multilayered structure of the vocal folds mucosa. Morphological changes of mucosa are the cause of voice quality disorders - dysphonia. The aim of this study was to determine the morphological base of dysphonia in patients with vocal folds atrophy. A group of 24 patients with larynx atrophy confirmed by endoscopic (VLS) and stroboscopic (VLSS) examination of the larynx was included in the study. The morphological assessment of the larynx mucosa was carried out with the use of the transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Ultramorphological examinations revealed changes in the epithelium, basal membrane and lamina propria of the vocal folds mucosa. An increased number of collagenous fibers, fibroblasts with signs of vacuolar degeneration inflammatory cells and a decreased number of blood vessels and pericytes were observed. Morphological changes found in the epithelium, basal membrane and lamina propria of the vocal folds mucosa were the cause of disorders of vocal folds vibrations registered in the stroboscopic examination of the larynx (VLSS).