Hemodialysis Patients with Higher Serum Levels of Soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products Have an Increased Risk for Arteriovenous Fistula Failure.

Background: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) failure due to thrombosis is a major cause of morbidity in patients undergoing regular hemodialysis (HD). Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their receptor (RAGE) might contribute to inflammation, neointimal hyperplasia, and thrombosis. RAGE has a C-truncated secretory receptor form, called soluble RAGE (sRAGE).

Arterial calcifications and osteoprotegerin in chronic hemodialysis patients: impact on 6-year survival.

Aim: The association between end-stage renal disease and cardiovascular mortality may be influenced through vascular alterations, in particular atherosclerosis and vascular calcification. The study goal was to assess the impact of each type of arterial intimal calcifications (AIC) and arterial medial calcifications (AMC), of osteoprotegerin (OPG), mineral metabolism markers and other features on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Methods: Ultrasound was performed in 87 patients on the carotid and femoral arteries, and the severity of AIC and AMC was assessed calculating a score according to the extension of calcification.

Relationship between vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) and functional hemodynamic parameters of arteriovenous fistula.

Background: The preferred vascular access for hemodialysis is represented by arteriovenous fistula (AVF) due to fewer complications and more prolonged survival. Considerable efforts have been made to identify biomarkers associated with AVF dysfunction, but results are conflicting. Vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) and advanced glycation end products are involved in atherogenesis, vascular calcification, peripheral artery disease, and neointimal hyperplasia in renal and non-renal patients.

A polycarboxylic chelating ligand for efficient resin purification of His-tagged proteins expressed in mammalian systems.

We describe the synthesis of a novel polyamino polycarboxylic ligand, its ability to coordinate metal-ions and attachment to a solid support designed for protein purification through Immobilised Metal-ion Affinity Chromatography (IMAC). The resin was found to be highly efficient for purification of His-tagged HCV E2 glycoproteins expressed in 293T mammalian cells.

Synthesis of Fluorescent Dansyl Derivatives of Methoxyamine and Diphenylhydrazine as Free Radical Precursors.

Starting from dansyl-chloride, in reaction with 1,1-diphenylhydrazine and methoxyamine, two new fluorescent derivatives and were obtained and characterized by NMR, IR, UV-Vis, HR-MS, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The single-crystal X-ray structure was obtained for compound . Both compounds generate free radicals by oxidation, as demonstrated by ESR spectroscopy.

A novel adaptive fluorescent probe for cell labelling.

In this study we describe the synthesis and characterisation of a new hydrazone-based fluorescent compound that is able to selectively label the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in yeast and mammalian living cells. The fluorescence properties of the compound depended on the DMSO/water ratio and on the pH. NMR experiments allowed determination of the conformation adopted in various environments.

Pentosidine in chronic hemodialysis patients: relation with arteriovenous fistula morphology and function.

Purpose: It has been suggested that advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are involved in atherogenesis, vascular calcification and remodeling, including neointimal hyperplasia, in renal and non-renal patients. Their relevance for arteriovenous fistula (AVF) function has been poorly studied to date, with only one clinical study addressing the issue of thrombosis of vascular access in relation to AGEs in dialysis patients. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum pentosidine and AVF morphology and function.

A novel profluorescent paramagnetic diaza-crown ether: synthesis, characterization and alkaline metal-ion complexation.

Starting from Kryptofix 22 two different branches were covalently attached through the nitrogen atoms, one containing a fluorescent moiety and the other the stable free radical TEMPO. The novel derivative exhibits fluorescence and paramagnetic properties, while the diaza-crown part ensures the affinity for alkaline metal-ions.

Determinants of visfatin in type 2 diabetes patients with diabetic kidney disease: Relationship to inflammation, adiposity and undercarboxylated osteocalcin.

Background: Visfatin is a proinflammatory molecule with possible actions on glucose metabolism. Interactions to bone metabolism and undercarboxylated osteocalcin (uOC) in diabetic patients (T2DP) with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) have not been reported.

Materials And Methods: We included 51 incident T2DP with DKD.

Diet and paraoxonase 1 enzymatic activity in diabetic foot patients from Romania and Belgium: favorable association of high flavonoid dietary intake with arylesterase activity.

Background/aims: The antiatherosclerotic enzyme paraoxonase (PON1) is affected by disease and lifestyle. We investigated the impact of diet in diabetic foot patients from 2 European countries.

Methods: Dietary intake and serum PON1 activity, using as substrate paraoxon (paraoxonase) or phenylacetate (arylesterase), were assessed in patients from Bucharest (n = 40) and Antwerp (n = 30) and in 34 healthy controls.

Diabetic foot patients with and without retinopathy and plasma oxidative stress.

Objective: The first aim of this study was to evaluate some plasma oxidative stress markers in diabetic patients (type2 diabetes mellitus) with peripheral arteriopathy. Secondly, these patients were divided into two groups considering the presence or absence of retinopathy. The differences in the levels of the oxidative stress parameters could be important to select patients prone to develop multiple vascular complications, including retinopathy.

The influence of sodium metavanadate on the process of diabetogenesis in BB rats.

Vanadium has been shown to be beneficial in the oral treatment of animal models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the short-term effects of sodium metavanadate in prediabetic BB-DP rats. To do this, 96 rats were divided into 4 equal groups.