Volume 27 (2014): Issue 2 (June 2014)

Considering the nutritional values, breadstuff plays a big part in covering human nourishment needs and constitutes a base of all day diet. Moreover, bread is an excellent source of numerous vitamins and minerals the abundance of which depends on the degree of grinding. Thus, it seems to be very important to know the composition and level of bio-elements. That is why the main target of this study was to evaluate the concentration of selected trace elements: chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) in wheat grain, wheat bran, different wheat and rye flour types and variety of breadstuff also with addition of grains and seeds from different bakeries and mills. Another task was to analyze if the technological process has an influence on secondary despoil of bread goods with heavy metal elements. The analyzed trace elements were measured with a precise and accurate atomic absorption spectrophotometric method (AAS) and the results were expressed in mg/kg of selected sample. Obtained results show that bread and grain products are a good source of trace elements like chromium, nickel, iron and manganese. However, the higher levels of chromium and nickel in bread goods could rather be an effect of impurity caused by a technological process in mill and bakeries.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of N-(m-bromoanilinomethyl)- p-isopropoxyphenylsuccinimide (BAM-IPPS - a new succinimide derivative) on the protective action of four classical antiepileptic drugs (AEDs: carbamazepine [CBZ], phenobarbital [PB], phenytoin [PHT] and valproate [VPA]) in the mouse maximal electroshock (MES)-induced tonic seizure model. Tonic hind limb extension (seizure activity) was evoked in adult male albino Swiss mice by a current (sine-wave, 25 mA, 500 V, 50 Hz, 0.2 s stimulus duration) delivered via ear-clip electrodes. BAM-IPPS administered (i.p.) at a dose of 150 mg/kg significantly elevated the threshold for electroconvulsions in mice (P<0.05). Lower doses of BAM-IPPS (50 and 100 mg/kg) had no significant impact on the threshold for electroconvulsions in mice. Moreover, BAM-IPPS (100 mg/kg) did not significantly affect the anticonvulsant potency of CBZ, PB, PHT and VPA in the mouse MES model. BAM-IPPS elevated the threshold for electroconvulsions in mice in a dosedependent manner. However, BAM-IPPS (100 mg/kg) did not affect the anticonvulsant action of various classical AEDs in the mouse MES model, making the combinations of BAM-IPPS with CBZ, PB, PHT and VPA neutral, from a preclinical point of view.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of SYM 2206 (a potent non-competitive AMPA receptor antagonist) on the threshold for maximal electroshock (MEST)-induced seizures in mice. Electroconvulsions were produced in mice by means of a current (sinewave, 50 Hz, maximum 500 V, strength from 4 to 14 mA, 0.2-s stimulus duration, tonic hind limb extension taken as the endpoint) delivered via ear-clip electrodes. SYM 2206 administered systemically (i.p.), 30 min before the MEST test, at doses of 2.5 and 5 mg/kg, did not alter the threshold for maximal electroconvulsions in mice. In contrast, SYM 2206 at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg significantly elevated the threshold for maximal electroconvulsions in mice (P<0.01 and P<0.001). Linear regression analysis of SYM 2206 doses and their corresponding threshold increases allowed for the determination of threshold increasing doses by 20% and 50% (TID₂₀ and TID₅₀ values) that elevate the threshold in drug-treated animals over the threshold in control animals. The experimentally derived TID₂₀ and TID₅₀ values for SYM 2206 were 4.25 and 10.56 mg/kg, respectively. SYM 2206 dose-dependently increased the threshold for MEST-induced seizures, suggesting the anticonvulsant action of the compound in this seizure model in mice.

The aim of this work was the isolation and identification of phenolic acids from fruit and leaves of Ailanthus glandulosa Desf. The methods used in the isolation and identification of the compounds were: isolation of phenolic acids modified by Ibrahim and Towers, acidic and alkaline hydrolysis by Schmidtlein and Herrmann and identification of phenolic acids in the isolated fraction of two-dimensional thin layer chromatography (TLC) on cellulose plates. In the course of the study, the presence of phenolic acids in leaves and fruit of Ailanthus glandulosa Desf was confirmed. Overall, proportions of 15 phenolic acids were found and identified in the analyzed material. These are: gallic acid, ellagic acid, caffeic acid, gentisic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, m-hydroxybenzoic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, syryngic acid, vanillic acid, salicylic acid, 2-hydroxy-4- methoxybenzoic acid, 2,5-dimethoxycinnamic, p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, and 3 other compounds named A, B, C, whose identification was not possible due to the lack of suitable reference patterns. Studies have shown that leaves and fruit of the plant Ailanthus glandulosa Desf. contain a large number of phenolic acids which possess many important pharmacological activities.

The aim of the study was to verify the thesis that the cardiotoxic effects of doxorubicin are connected with activation of the ubiquitin - proteasome pathway followed by protein degradation. The expression of myocardial damage markers - fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) was evaluated in rat fetal cardiomyocytes simultaneously treated with doxorubicin and the proteasome inhibitor - bortezomib. The level of H-FABP and BNP protein under the influence of doxorubicin was decreased below the detection threshold with unchanged (H-FABP) or elevated (BNP) mRNA expression level. Against the expectations, the inhibitor of proteasome did not abolish this effect. The observed abnormal expression of BNP and H-FABP protein after doxorubicin treatment makes their diagnostic significance in anthracycline cardiotoxicity questionable.

In adult life, proper bone metabolism requires efficient regulation of bone formation and resorption processes. Bone turnover markers allow for assessing the rate of bone formation and resorption processes. In menopausal period, female patients experience gradual reduction in blood estradiol levels. The deficit of estrogens leads to enhanced osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a membranebound enzyme that stimulates the osteoblast activity and bone mineralization. It is synthesized by osteoblasts and incorporated into the newly formed bone tissue. The produced enzyme stimulates the osteoblast activity and bone mineralization. The goal of this study is to determine the effect of hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women on the expression of alkaline phosphatase gene (ALPL) within the mucosal epithelium of the cheek and in peripheral blood lymphocytes. The studies show that hormone replacement therapy has no significant effect on the increase in ALPL expression within the mucosal epithelium of the cheek. Only in women having undergone ovarectomy (OV), the epithelial ALPL expression level was higher than in the remaining groups.

Unpredictable chronic mild stress model was developed as an animal model of depression more than 20 years ago. Essential for this model is that after prolonged exposure of tested animals to a series of unpredictable mild stressors, a condition similar to anhedonia develops, which is observed in the majority of depressive disorders. Unpredictable chronic mild stress model is used nowadays in numerous studies related to the neurobiological and biochemical changes associated with depressive illness. Their results confirm that chronic unpredictable mild stress induces in tested animals a number of changes, which reflect those seen in depressive disorders. Because the effects of unpredictable chronic mild stress can be used in a more accurate diagnosis of the pathophysiology of depressive illness and expand knowledge of its pharmacotherapy, therefore research in this area has been continued all the time.

The diagnostic management is a very important and integral part of the entire treatment process and has a direct influence on the decision-taking on the choice of the most appropriate form of therapy consistent with current knowledge. Knowledge of the morphology of hard dental tissues lesions has led to the development of quantitative methods for diagnosis and monitoring of dental caries, which enabled the implementation of appropriate treatments aimed at repairing than replacing damaged tissue. The aim of the study was to compare selected diagnostic methods: visual (ICDAS), impedance spectroscopy (CarieScan PRO) and laser fluorescence (Diagnodent Pen) in detecting caries in grooves on the chewing surfaces of molars and premolars. The obtained results indicated a high concordance of measurements performed with the Diagnodent Pen with the results of visual examination and a lower compliance of visual examination with the results obtained using the CarieScan PRO. A combination of visual and tactile method with tests using advanced technology provides greater opportunity to confirm the diagnosis of carious lesions requiring medical intervention.

Macrodontic tooth (in Latin: macrodens) is an anomaly of the structure of a tooth; it usually refers to the medial upper incisors, and is usually the cause of malocclusion in the anterior jaw. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of therapeutic management of a macrodontic tooth. The orthodontic treatment as well as conservative and endodontic treatment of the macrodontic tooth was applied to dental defects resulting from the presence of a macrodontic tooth. Determining precise objectives and their implementation in collaboration with the patient makes obtaining satisfactory functional and aesthetic effect possible.

Cimicifuga racemosa, is a plant with a diverse and long history of medicinal use. Caffeic acid, bioactive compound, which often occurs with other polyphenols can influence the biological activity of this plant. The aim of our work was quantitative analysis of caffeic acid in roots and rhizomes of two varieties of C. racemosa. Analysis was performed by HPLC method. The extracts were separated on C18 reversed-phase column using mixture of methanol, water and formic acid (25:75:0.5 v/v/v) as a mobile phase. The flow rate of eluent was 1.0 ml·min^-1. The obtained validation parameters such as linearity, linear regression equation and precision expressed as a relative standard deviation were adequate for quantitative determination. Caffeic acid was found in all tested extracts. The highest total amount of caffeic acid was determined in C. racemosa var. racemosa (255.3 μg·g^-1) while its concentration in C. racemosa var. cordifolia was significantly lower (213.0 μg·g^-1).

Fever develops in various diseases. It is mainly associated with infectious diseases but can also occur in non-infectious ailments. Clinical symptoms are not always explicit, which can hinder the diagnosis and delay the institution of appropriate treatment. The aim of the study is to present difficulties in diagnosing the cause of a febrile state in a patient with splenic abscess.

Dissolution tests of amlodipine and perindopril from their fixed dose formulations were performed in 900 mL of phosphate buffer of pH 5.5 at 37°C using the paddle apparatus. Then, two simple and rapid derivative spectrophotometric methods were used for the quantitative measurements of amlodipine and perindopril. The first method was zero crossing first derivative spectrophotometry in which measuring of amplitudes at 253 nm for amlodipine and 229 nm for perindopril were used. The second method was ratio derivative spectrophotometry in which spectra of amlodipine over the linearity range were divided by one selected standard spectrum of perindopril and then amplitudes at 242 nm were measured. Similarly, spectra of perindopril were divided by one selected standard spectrum of amlodipine and then amplitudes at 298 nm were measured. Both of the methods were validated to meet official requirements and were demonstrated to be selective, precise and accurate. Since there is no official monograph for these drugs in binary formulations, the dissolution tests and quantification procedure presented here can be used as a quality control test for amlodipine and perindopril in respective dosage forms.

The study presents a case of the rarely occurring totally retained fourth molar teeth simultaneously in maxilla and mandible. The appearance of supernumerary teeth is a relatively uncommon dental anomaly and it is rare for patients to have impacted fourth molars in two quadrant. The aim of this work is to describe the presence of unilateral (right) fourth molars in the maxilla and the mandible in a young female patient aged 24 years. Orthopantomogram revealed impacted lower third molars but also unerupted unilateral (right) upper and lower fourth molars. Before orthodontic treatment, the patient was subsequently admitted for removal of third and fourth impacted upper and lower molars under local anesthesia.

Due to high amount of collagen fibres in the structure of bone, the enzymes capable of collagen digestion play a key role in bone remodelling. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), prevailing extracellular endopeptideses, can digest extracellularly located proteins, e.g. collagen, proteoglycans, elastin or fibronectin. Among MMPs, collagenases (MMP-1, MMP-8 and MMP-13) and gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) can cleave collagen particles to forms that are able to undergo further steps of catabolism intracellularly. In addition, activity of the gelatinases (as an activation of proinflammatory cytokines) facilitates spreading inflammation that is necessary during the first stage of bone healing. Further studies related to the role of various MMPs in mandibular fractures should precisely explain their function in the bone healing and evaluate the influence of MMPs inhibitors on that process. This review provides the basic information about two groups among MMPs family, collagenases and gelatinases, and their role in repairing processes after mandibular fractures.

The quest for new techniques for screening inhibitors of phosphoglucose isomerase is crucially important owing to therapeutic control of chronic bacterial infections associated with the biosynthesis of bacterial biofilm. According to the new method, yellowish zones against the purple background could be visually observed where phosphoglucose isomerase activity was inhibited. The new protocol with NADPH/NBT/PMS staining for TLC-autographic method was able to detect PGI inhibition by pure reference substance as mercury(II) chloride.