Acta biochimica Polonica最新文献

In recent years, cannabinoids and their derivatives have been tested for efficacy in epilepsy therapy and related disorders. Many of them may help alleviate ailments associated with seizures. An in-depth study of cannabinoid derivatives and the receptors on which they operate give us a chance for more effective use of these substances in epilepsy therapy. Many studies point to the beneficial synergy of cannabinoids with chemotherapeutics and the increase in effectiveness of the latter. As a result, both alternatives to drug treatment and support for the pharmacotherapy are being developed. In this review, we focused on compounds such as Δ9-THC, CBDV, Δ9-THCA, Δ9-THCV, H2CBD and their receptors as well as on CBD's actions, and the enzymes, ion channels, and transporters engaged in the fundamental causes of epileptic seizures. Treating epilepsy and drug-resistant epilepsy are the two common medical uses of cannabinoids. We looked at approximately 150 current scientific articles from peer-reviewed journals to explore the molecular effects of cannabinoids in these applications. Our goal was to improve physician awareness of factors influencing treatment decisions and potential adverse reactions to minimize medical errors and optimize patient care.

Glioblastoma remains one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant malignancies. Current treatment options, such as radio- and chemotherapy, induce oxidative stress-mediated DNA damage leading to cancer cell death, but are also neurotoxic and not efficient in long term. Our study investigated the effects of cannabidiol, celecoxib and 2,5-dimethylcelecoxib, individually and in combinations, on U-138 MG glioblastoma cell survival, oxidative stress, canonical and non-canonical Nrf2 pathway activation, cell migration and apoptosis. Using the MTT and flow cytometry assay we found that the analyzed compounds and their combinations induce dose-dependent, synergistic, and oxidative stress-related cytotoxicity, with minimal impact (at the concentrations exhibiting anti-cancer effects) on non-cancerous human astrocyte (HA) cell line. The Nrf2 ELISA assay was used for the analysis of the nuclear binding of the nuclear factor-2 erythroid related factor-2 (Nrf2), which followed by the RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis, confirmed the antioxidant response of cells to the applied treatments. Diminished migratory potential, and increase of the autophagy-related p62, LC3 and apoptosis-related caspase-3 protein levels were also observed in response to the treatment with the analyzed compounds. Overall, our study provides evidence that cannabidiol combined with celecoxib or 2,5-dimethylcelecoxib may represent a promising strategy for glioblastoma treatment.

Human and mouse incisors are both primarily composed of dentin and enamel, which meet at an interface called the dentin-enamel junction (DEJ). However, incisors in the two species have very different growth patterns, structures, and loading requirements. Since the DEJ is responsible for minimizing cracking at this at-risk interface between mechanically dissimilar dentin and enamel, its structure is expected to be significantly different between humans and mice. Here, structural and compositional gradients across human and murine incisors DEJs were measured via microcomputed tomography and Raman spectroscopy. Density gradients across the DEJ were significantly larger in humans compared to murine teeth, likely due to the larger size of the mantle dentin. Multiple gradients in mineral content and crystallinity were found at the murine DEJ, while the human DEJ only exhibited gradients in mineral content. Models predicting the modulus across the DEJ according to compositional results show that mineral crystallinity is critical in regulating gradients in tissue stiffness across the murine DEJ. Together, these results show the multiple ways in which the DEJ can adapt to variations in the loading environment.

During the rearing period, fish may be exposed to fasting due to low or high temperatures, transportation, handling, and other stressors, while they may catch-up the growth differently after supplying the feed. The aim of this study was to investigate the compensatory growth (CG) response of juvenile Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii after restricted feeding. In the first phase (60 days), triplicate groups of fish were subjected to feed restriction (25%, 50%, and 75% of the amount needed to reach satiation, respectively) or satiation feeding (control) and in the second phase all treatment groups were fed to satiation for an additional 60 days. Growth performance was measured during the two phases and blood samples were collected at the end of the second phase to measure blood biochemical indices. At the end of the first phase of the experiment, as expected, the control group showed the highest mean body weight, followed by the 75%, 50% and 25% satiation fed groups (P < 0.05). However, at the end of the second phase, the final body weights were not significantly different between the groups (P > 0.05), while some of the growth performance improved in the 25% satiation fed group (P < 0.05). At the end of the second phase, serum metabolites except for glucose and cholesterol were significantly different among treatment groups, with the highest levels in the control group. Feed restriction significantly lowered hematocrit, total protein and triglyceride levels especially in the 25% satiation fed group (P < 0.05). The results showed that juvenile Siberian sturgeon could tolerate feed restriction without any significant negative impacts on the majority of growth and metabolite indices. In conclusion, using an appropriate feeding regime helps to improve feed efficiency with no physiological impacts on Siberian sturgeon rearing.

Plant transcriptomes comprise nuclear and organellar (mitochondrial and plastid) transcripts expressed by nuclear and organellar genomes, respectively. They are spatiotemporally shaped during development. The aim of this review was to summarize the most relevant transcriptomic responses in various plant organs and tissues in the developmental context. The dynamicity of organ- or tissue-specific transcriptomic responses was discussed based on the complexity and diversity of the recently characterized plant genomes and transcriptomes. Data were taken from high-throughput studies on numerous species, including model, crop and medicinal plant species. Vascular element transcriptomes as well as the root, leaf, flower and seed transcriptomes were exhaustively characterized. Transcriptomic alterations within various tissue and organ-specific transcriptomes employed various gene classes depending on the species, a given organ/tissue and the developmental stage. The specificity of organ-specific transcriptomes related to the over-representation of certain gene families and a plethora of transcription factors was focused. In addition, transcriptomes of medicinal plant species were characterized. The perspectives of medicinal plant species to synthesize valuable secondary metabolites (including quinones, carotenoids, phytoestrogens, terpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, phenolic derivatives, polysaccharides, glycosides, anthocyanins and macrocyclic peptides) were described based on organ transcriptomic patterns. Future research should be broadened by investigation of transcriptomes from field grown plants. Also, the potential of biomedical plants should be better revealed by genetic engineering and genome editing in further biotechnological applications.

Although there no single, widely accepted definition of a "rare disease," this group of disorders includes conditions that affect only a small fraction of the population. A large number of rare diseases is caused by defined molecular defects, predominantly the occurrence of pathogenic variant(s) of genes. Thus, they are classified as "genetic diseases," among which there are many neurodegenerative disorders. Despite a low incidence of each such disease, majority of them are severe and no effective treatment is available. This creates a battery of problems for millions of people suffering from these disease as well as to their relatives and caregivers. However, the set of problems is larger; therefore, in this narrative review we summarize and discuss various kinds of problems caused by rare disease, including severe symptoms of patients, everyday problems of patients and caregivers, loneliness and social exclusion, diagnostic difficulties, unavailability of effective therapies and economic difficulties in introducing orphan drugs, and a complexity of studies on rare diseases due to low availability of biological material and complicated pathomechanisms. The global picture of the complex problems caused by rare diseases is presented.

Oxidative stress (OS), arising from an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant defenses, plays a pivotal role in cellular dysfunction and the pathogenesis of numerous diseases. This study evaluates the impact of oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide on the metabolomic profiles of the human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) and African green monkey kidney (COS-7) cell lines. Viability (MTT) and free radical accumulation (DCF-DA) assays confirmed a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect of hydrogen peroxide, with COS-7 cells exhibiting greater resistance and producing lower levels of intracellular ROS compared to HEK-293. Metabolomic profiling was conducted using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR) to identify and quantify metabolic changes. Exposure to a free radical inducer significantly altered both intracellular and extracellular metabolites compared to control H₂O₂-free samples. The analysis revealed common changes in intracellular metabolites between the two lines, including glutamate, NAD⁺, glutathione, ATP/ADP, AMP, and pyruvate - key molecule for mitochondrial function, as well as extracellular metabolites such as glutamate, glutamine, acetate, lactate, and pyruvate. Metabolomic differences observed in COS-7 cells suggest a potentially greater capacity for metabolic adaptation to oxidative stress. These included elevated levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), supporting energy production, and increased formate production, which may aid purine synthesis and cellular resilience. These findings highlight the distinct metabolic adaptations of COS-7 cells to oxidative stress in comparison to the HEK-293 cell line. They also provide insights into the direct cellular responses to altered redox potential, offering possible therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting metabolic pathways to mitigate oxidative stress.

Background: The postpartum period involves complex physiological changes, notably in hormone levels, that significantly influence immune system function. Hormonal regulation during pregnancy prevents maternal immune rejection of the fetus, but following childbirth, these hormone levels drop rapidly, leading to immune reconstitution.

Aim: This review investigates the impact of hormonal changes on immune system dynamics during the postpartum period and highlights their implications for maternal recovery.

Methods: The study analyzed current literature, focusing on hormonal influences, particularly cortisol, prolactin, estrogen, and progesterone, on immune reconstitution with associated inflammatory responses in the postpartum period.

Results: Postpartum immune reactivation, triggered by hormonal shifts, can lead to a resurgence of inflammatory reactions. This process, characterized by increased cortisol and prolactin levels and a rapid decline in estrogen and progesterone, could exacerbate dormant autoimmune conditions or trigger latent infections, making this period especially vulnerable to immune-related complications.

Conclusion: Hormonal and immune responses are closely interdependent in the postpartum period, leading to heightened susceptibility to infections, autoimmune flare-ups, and other immune-related disorders. For improved postpartum care and enhanced maternal health outcomes, more research is necessary to clarify the mechanism of immune reconstitution, find possible hormonal indicators, and create focused therapeutic approaches. This review further highlights the critical role of hormonal-immune crosstalk in postpartum mood disorders (PPD, postpartum anxiety [PPA], and postpartum psychosis [PP]), proposing integrated biomarkers for early intervention.

Rapid access to blood laboratory test results is crucial for diagnosing and treating patients in life-threatening conditions. Oxygenation status and acid-base balance are determined on arterial blood gasometry and are vital components of modern treatment algorithms for critically ill patients, similar to capillary blood glucose level measurement. The aim of this study is to present a modern method of reporting the work of critical parameter analyzers and glucometers in a multi-speciality hospital. The material for the analysis consisted of data obtained during the supervision of POCT devices in the clinics/departments/institutes of MIM-NRI from 2017 to 2024. Analyzing the use of glucometers in MIM-NRI from 2017 to 2024, it was noted that their usage significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the previous period. Currently, 112 devices are continuously used in both locations. All of them are subject to international and national quality testing, as well as daily internal calibration checking at their workplaces. There are currently 13 analyzers of critical parameter in the clinics and departments of MIM-NRI. All operate within the AQURE system, which allows for monitoring the correct operation of these devices and helps in quickly identifying analytical problems and reporting in real-time about the device's operational status. In the first half of 2024, 40,082 blood sample tests were performed on patients. Analysis of correctly performed gasometric tests conducted in clinics and laboratories shows similar values, ranging from 84.17% to 86.38%. In addition to external control, critical parameter devices must necessarily undergo daily internal laboratory control and calibration. The highest number of correctly performed calibrations, 9,239, was recorded in the Cardiac Surgery Clinic's Intensive Therapy Unit, accounting for 29% of all correctly performed calibrations for these devices. In the analyzed period of 2024, the rate of correctly performed quality checking's was 82.26%. The highest number of correct analyses, 636, was conducted in the Intensive Therapy Unit of the hospital in Legionowo, accounting for 10.32% of all controls performed. The demand for POCT tests in Polish hospitals is steadily growing due to their enormous potential and the time savings associated with performing tests directly at the patient's bedside. The greatest advantage of POCT is that by providing quick access to test results, diagnosis can be accelerated, and treatment initiated more rapidly. Additionally, POCT tests conducted in emergency rooms or hospital emergency departments can help to reduce the number of unnecessary hospitalizations or costly imaging tests. Having an appropriate POCT data management system in a multi-specialty hospital and ensuring IT communication is currently indispensable for proper patient care.

Protein kinase C (PKC) is widely distributed in various tissues, organs, and cells. By catalyzing the phosphorylation of Ser/Thr residues on various proteins, PKC regulates the metabolism, growth, proliferation, and differentiation of multiple cells and plays a crucial role in transmembrane signal transmission. In dopamine receptor signal transduction, PKC regulates numerous physiological functions, such as dopamine release, internalization of the dopamine transporter, downregulation of dopamine receptors, etc. In disease conditions, hyperactivation of PKC can lead to disorders such as schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease, while reduced PKC signaling may be associated with Alzheimer's disease. In the past few decades, researchers have paid increasing attention to the transduction role of PKC in dopamine receptor signaling, aiming to identify and discover potential targets for dopaminergic diseases. This review, from the perspective of signal transduction between dopamine receptors and PKC, reveals the pivotal hub position of PKC in the intracellular signal transduction network and its regulation of various physiological functions, providing ideas for future research on PKC and therapeutic interventions for dopaminergic diseases.