Multielemental Analysis of Bee Pollen, Propolis, and Royal Jelly Collected in West-Central Poland.

Beehive products possess nutritional value and health-promoting properties and are recommended as so-called "superfoods". However, because of their natural origin, they may contain relevant elemental contaminants. Therefore, to assess the quality of bee products, we examined concentrations of a broad range of 24 selected elements in propolis, bee pollen, and royal jelly.

Serum Free Amino Acid Profiling in Differential Diagnosis of Ovarian Tumors-A Comparative Study with Review of the Literature.

Proper preoperative ovarian cancer (OC) diagnosis remains challenging. Serum free amino acid (SFAA) profiles were investigated to identify potential novel biomarkers of OC and assess their performance in ovarian tumor differential diagnosis. Serum samples were divided based on the histopathological result: epithelial OC ( = 38), borderline ovarian tumors ( = 6), and benign ovarian tumors (BOTs) ( = 62).

Identification and quantification of honeybee venom constituents by multiplatform metabolomics.

Honeybee (Apis mellifera) venom (HBV) has been a subject of extensive proteomics research; however, scarce information on its metabolite composition can be found in the literature. The aim of the study was to identify and quantify the metabolites present in HBV. To gain the highest metabolite coverage, three different mass spectrometry (MS)-based methodologies were applied.

Development of an LC-MS Targeted Metabolomics Methodology to Study Proline Metabolism in Mammalian Cell Cultures.

A growing interest in metabolomics studies of cultured cells requires development not only untargeted methods capable of fingerprinting the complete metabolite profile but also targeted methods enabling the precise and accurate determination of a selected group of metabolites. Proline metabolism affects many crucial processes at the cellular level, including collagen biosynthesis, redox balance, energetic processes as well as intracellular signaling. The study aimed to develop a robust and easy-to-use targeted metabolomics method for the determination of the intracellular level of proline and the other two amino acids closely related to proline metabolism: glutamic acid and arginine.

Overexpression of Prolidase Induces Autophagic Death in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells.

Background/aims: Proline availability for proline dehydrogenase/proline oxidase (PRODH/POX) may represent switching mechanism between PRODH/POX-dependent apoptosis and autophagy. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of overexpression of prolidase (proline releasing enzyme) on apoptosis/autophagy in breast cancer MCF-7 cells.

Methods: The model of MCF-7 cells with prolidase overexpression (MCF-7) was obtained.

Alterations in Serum-Free Amino Acid Profiles in Childhood Asthma.

Asthma often begins in childhood, although making an early diagnosis is difficult. Clinical manifestations, the exclusion of other causes of bronchial obstruction, and responsiveness to anti-inflammatory therapy are the main tool of diagnosis. However, novel, precise, and functional biochemical markers are needed in the differentiation of asthma phenotypes, endotypes, and creating personalized therapy.

Population analysis to assess the influence of age and body weight on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of dexmedetomidine in New Zealand White rabbits.

The purpose of this work was i) to develop a population pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) model of dexmedetomidine (DEX) in New Zealand White rabbits, ii) to investigate the influence of the age and weight of the animals on the model parameters, and iii) to assess the linearity of DEX PKs in the examined dose range. This was a prospective, crossover study, using a total of 18 New Zealand White rabbits. DEX was administered as a single intravenous bolus injection in the doses from 25 to 300 μg kg .

Population Pharmacokinetic Model of Dexmedetomidine in a Heterogeneous Group of Patients.

Dexmedetomidine is a hepatically eliminated drug with sedative, anxiolytic, sympatholytic, and analgesic properties that has been increasingly used for various indications in the form of a short or continuous intravenous infusion. This study aimed to propose a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model of dexmedetomidine in a heterogeneous group of intensive care unit patients, incorporating 29 covariates potentially linked with dexmedetomidine PK. Data were collected from 70 patients aged between 0.

Tricyclic Derivative of Acyclovir and Its Esters in Relation to the Esters of Acyclovir Enzymatic Stability: Enzymatic Stability Study.

The 3,9-dihydro-3-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-9-oxo-5-imidazo[1,2-]-purine (6-(4-MeOPh)-TACV) was selected to assess the enzymatic stability of the tricyclic acyclovir derivatives from the imidazo[1,2-]-purine group. The parent compound and its esters (acetyl, isobutyryl, pivaloyl, nicotinic, ethoxycarbonyl) were subjected to kinetic studies and compared with the stability of analogous acyclovir (ACV) esters. The enzymatic hydrolysis was observed in vitro in a medium of 80% human plasma in the absence and presence of porcine liver esterase (PLE).

Urban wastewater analysis as an effective tool for monitoring illegal drugs, including new psychoactive substances, in the Eastern European region.

The use of illicit drugs causes unquestionable societal and economic damage. To implement actions aimed at combating drug abuse, it is necessary to assess illicit drug consumption patterns. The purpose of this paper was to develop, optimize, validate and apply a procedure for determining new psychoactive substances (NPSs) and classic drugs of abuse and their main metabolites in wastewater samples by using solid phase extraction (SPE) and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS).

Proline-Dependent Induction of Apoptosis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC)-The Effect of Celecoxib.

: Oral squamous cell carcinoma remains a significant worldwide public health challenge, associated with high morbidity and mortality. Treatment of this type of cancer lacks effective medication. Moreover, there are very few specific biomarkers that are useful in early diagnosis or treatment optimisation.

Extending Metabolomic Studies of Venom: LC-MS-Based Targeted Analysis of Organic Acids.

Organic acids are important active small molecules present in venoms and toxins, which have not been fully explored yet. The aim of the study was the determination of organic acids in honeybee venom (HBV) samples by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Two protocols for sample preparation were employed.

Serum lipidome screening in patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

The ability of early lung cancer diagnosis is an unmet need in clinical practice. Lung cancer metabolomic analyses conducted so far have demonstrated several abnormalities in cancer lipid profile providing a rationale for further study of blood lipidome of the patients. In the present research, we performed a targeted lipidome screening to select molecules that show promise for early lung cancer detection.

The influence of the coadministration of the p-glycoprotein modulator elacridar on the pharmacokinetics of lapatinib and its distribution in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid.

Background Lapatinib is a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor of human epidermal receptor 2 (HER2) and EGFR that has currently been approved for the treatment of HER2-positive advanced and metastatic breast cancer (BC). The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family of transporters includes P-glycoprotein (P-gp; ABCB1) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP; ABCG2), which substantially restrict the penetration of drugs, including chemotherapeutics, through the blood-brain barrier and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of elacridar, an ABCB1 and ABCG2 inhibitor, on the brain and cerebrospinal fluid uptake of lapatinib.

Serum free amino acid levels in rheumatoid arthritis according to therapy and physical disability.

Background: In presented study the amino acid analysis was performed in serum derived from rheumatoid arthritis patients (RA) according to undertaken therapy and classification of physical disability. The results were compared with previously published data.

Methods: The levels of 31 free amino acids were determined in 50 serum samples derived from RA subjects and 51 controls.

Application of Metabolomic Tools for Studying Low Molecular-Weight Fraction of Animal Venoms and Poisons.

Both venoms and poisonous secretions are complex mixtures that assist in defense, predation, communication, and competition in the animal world. They consist of variable bioactive molecules, such as proteins, peptides, salts and also metabolites. Metabolomics opens up new perspectives for the study of venoms and poisons as it gives an opportunity to investigate their previously unexplored low molecular-weight components.

A study of low-molecular-weight organic acid urinary profiles in prostate cancer by a new liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method.

Metabolomic studies constantly require high throughput screenings, and this drives development and optimization of methods that include more analytes in a single run, shorten the analysis time and simplify sample preparation. The aim of the study was to develop a new simple and fast liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based methodology for quantitative analysis of a panel of ten organic acids in urine. The metabolites selected for the study include ten molecules potentially associated with cancer development.

Corrigendum: Amino Acids in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients With Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Haemorrhage: An Observational Study.

[This corrects the article on p. 438 in vol. 8, PMID: 28894433.

The influence of a 3-week body mass reduction program on the metabolic parameters and free amino acid profiles in adult Polish people with obesity.

Background: Previous studies have showed differences in the amino acid (AA) composition in the plasma of people with obesity when compared to lean individuals, but the perturbations of AA concentrations in obesity and the dynamics of AA changes after weight loss is not fully understood.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of a short-term weight reduction program on the metabolic status and plasma AA levels in individuals with obesity.

Material And Methods: A total of 24 adult Polish patients with a BMI between 34 and 49 kg/m2 were enrolled in a 3-week controlled body mass reduction program based on everyday physical activity and a hypocaloric diet (25-30% less than total daily energy requirements).

A pharmacokinetic study on lapatinib in type 2 diabetic rats.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex metabolic disorder which affects the function of numerous tissues and alters the pharmacokinetic parameters of many drugs. As many oncological patients are diabetics, it is important to determine the influence of this chronic disease on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of anticancer drugs. Lapatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), approved for the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer.

The concomitant use of lapatinib and paracetamol - the risk of interaction.

Lapatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor used for the treatment of breast cancer. Paracetamol is an analgesic commonly applied to patients with mild or moderate pain and fever. Cancer patients are polymedicated, which involves high risk of drug interactions during therapy.

Pharmacokinetics of dexmedetomidine during analgosedation in ICU patients.

Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a fairly new alfa-agonist which has been increasingly used in recent years for analgosedation, mostly because it offers a unique ability of providing both moderate level of sedation and analgesia without respiratory depression. Despite of many papers published, there are still only a few concerning the PK of the drug given as long-term infusion in ICU patients. The aim of this work was to characterize the population pharmacokinetics of dexmedetomidine and to investigate the potential benefits of individualization of drug dosing based on patient characteristics in the heterogeneous group of medical and surgical patients staying in intensive care unit.

Usefulness of Amino Acid Profiling in Ovarian Cancer Screening with Special Emphasis on Their Role in Cancerogenesis.

The aim of this study was to quantitate 42 serum-free amino acids, propose the biochemical explanation of their role in tumor development, and identify new ovarian cancer (OC) biomarkers for potential use in OC screening. The additional value of this work is the schematic presentation of the interrelationship between metabolites which were identified as significant for OC development and progression. The liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry technique using highly-selective multiple reaction monitoring mode and labeled internal standards for each analyzed compound was applied.

Amino Acids in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Haemorrhage: An Observational Study.

Background: The authors are aware of only one article investigating amino acid concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms, and this was published 31 years ago. Since then, both management of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and amino acid assay techniques have seen radical alterations, yet the pathophysiology of SAH remains unclear.

Objective: To analyse the pattern of concentrations of amino acids and related compounds in patients with different outcomes following aneurysmal SAH.

Development and validation of HPLC-MS/MS procedure for determination of 3,4,4',5-tetra-methoxystilbene (DMU-212) and its metabolites in ovarian cancer cells and culture medium.

The synthetic resveratrol analogue DMU-212 (3,4,4',5-tetramethoxystilbene) has been shown to possess stronger anticancer activity than resveratrol in a variety of tumour cells. To date, there has been no appropriate procedure that would ensure a reliable data about levels of metabolic products of DMU-212 in cancer cell lines. The purpose of this study was to develop a new procedure for determination of DMU-212 and its three metabolites (DMU-214, DMU-281, DMU-291) in cell lines.