Single Donor Infusion of S-Nitroso-Human-Serum-Albumin Attenuates Cardiac Isograft Fibrosis and Preserves Myocardial Micro-RNA-126-3p in a Murine Heterotopic Heart Transplant Model.

Cold ischemia and subsequent reperfusion injury are non-immunologic cornerstones in the development of graft injury after heart transplantation. The nitric oxide donor S-nitroso-human-serum-albumin (S-NO-HSA) is known to attenuate myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-injury. We assessed whether donor preservation with S-NO-HSA affects isograft injury and myocardial expression of GATA2 as well as miR-126-3p, which are considered protective against vascular and endothelial injury.

FEA Simulation of the Biomechanical Structure Overload in the University Campus Planting.

Research of breakage of the chestnut tree branch on the planting of university campus is provided. Collapse is caused by a severe accidental wind gust. Due to collapse in the student environment, the investigation has additional methodical value for the teaching of FEA simulation.

Production of Sc medical radioisotopes with proton and deuteron beams.

Proton and deuteron beams (15.3 and 6.8 MeV, respectively) extracted from the PETtrace medical cyclotron at the Radiopharmaceuticals Production and Research Centre in the University of Warsaw, Heavy Ion Laboratory, 28 MeV protons from the C30 cyclotron at the National Centre for Nuclear Research, Świerk, near Warsaw and 33 MeV protons from the ARRONAX accelerator, Nantes were used to produce and investigate the medically interesting Sc radioisotopes.

Production of medical Sc radioisotopes with an alpha particle beam.

The internal α-particle beam of the Warsaw Heavy Ion Cyclotron was used to produce research quantities of the medically interesting Sc radioisotopes from natural Ca and K and isotopically enriched Ca targets. The targets were made of metallic calcium, calcium carbonate and potassium chloride. New data on the production yields and impurities generated during the target irradiations are presented for the positron emitters Sc, Sc and Sc.

Activation of the nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT)-1-methylnicotinamide (MNA) pathway in pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is associated with inflammatory response but it is unknown whether it is associated with alterations in NNMT activity and MNA plasma concentration. Here we examined changes in NNMT-MNA pathway in PAH in rats and humans.

Methods: PAH in rats was induced by a single subcutaneous injection of MCT (60 mg/kg).

1-Methylnicotinamide protects against liver injury induced by concanavalin A via a prostacyclin-dependent mechanism: A possible involvement of IL-4 and TNF-α.

We have recently demonstrated that concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatitis is associated with the release of endogenous 1-methylnicotinamide (MNA). Here we study the mechanism by which exogenous MNA alleviates Con A-induced liver inflammation and injury in vivo. The involvement of prostacyclin (PGI2) in hepatoprotective action of MNA (30-100 mg kg(-1); i.

Cyclotron production of (43)Sc for PET imaging.

Background: Recently, significant interest in (44)Sc as a tracer for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging has been observed. Unfortunately, the co-emission by (44)Sc of high-energy γ rays (E γ = 1157, 1499 keV) causes a dangerous increase of the radiation dose to the patients and clinical staff. However, it is possible to produce another radionuclide of scandium-(43)Sc-having properties similar to (44)Sc but is characterized by much lower energy of the concurrent gamma emissions.

Differential involvement of IL-6 in the early and late phase of 1-methylnicotinamide (MNA) release in Concanavalin A-induced hepatitis.

Exogenous 1-methylnicotinamide (MNA) displays anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of this work was to characterize the profile of release of endogenous MNA during the initiation and progression of murine hepatitis induced by Concanavalin A (ConA). In particular we aimed to clarify the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) as well as the energy state of hepatocytes in MNA release in early and late phases of ConA-induced hepatitis in mice.

Effects of thienopyridines and thienopyrimidinones on L-type calcium current in isolated cardiomyocytes.

Thienopyridines (ticlopidine, clopidogrel) are frequently used drugs in antiplatelet therapy and have been shown to exert a more pronounced negative inotropic effect than thienopyrimidinones. We hypothesized that these differences are due to a differential impact of thienopyridines and thienopyrimidinones on L-type calcium current at the single-cell level. The effects of thienopyridines and thienopyrimidinones were studied on L-type calcium current and action potential parameters with the whole-cell patch-clamp technique in isolated myocytes from guinea pig ventricle and human atrial appendage.

Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) and 1-methylnicotinamide (MNA) in experimental hepatitis induced by concanavalin A in the mouse.

Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), which converts nicotinamide (NA) to 1-methylnicotinamide (MNA), is up-regulated in the cirrhotic liver. Because MNA displays PGI(2)-dependent anti-inflammatory effects, the up-regulation of NNMT may play a regulatory role in liver inflammation. In the present work, we analyzed changes in NNMT activity in the liver and concomitant changes in the concentration of endogenous MNA in plasma in T-cell dependent hepatitis induced by concanavalin A (ConA) in BALB/c mice.

Optoelectronic capillary sensors in microfluidic and point-of-care instrumentation.

This paper presents a review, based on the published literature and on the authors' own research, of the current state of the art of fiber-optic capillary sensors and related instrumentation as well as their applications, with special emphasis on point-of-care chemical and biochemical sensors, systematizing the various types of sensors from the point of view of the principles of their construction and operation. Unlike classical fiber-optic sensors which rely on changes in light propagation inside the fiber as affected by outside conditions, optical capillary sensors rely on changes of light transmission in capillaries filled with the analyzed liquid, which opens the possibility of interesting new applications, while raising specific issues relating to the construction, materials and instrumentation of those sensors.

S-nitroso-human-albumin: a new therapeutic approach in endotoxic shock.

Introduction: Endotoxemia leads to induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and increased expression of numerous inflammatory mediators, contributing to endotoxin-induced acute lung injury.

Objectives: We examined the hypothesis that supplementation of nitric oxide (NO) with the novel NO donor, S-nitroso-human-serum-albumin (S-NO-HSA), may reduce iNOS expression, lung inflammation and acute lung injury in a rat model of septic shock.

Material And Methods: Rats were divided into 4 groups: sham-operated (no treatment), LPS (lipopolysaccharide), LPS + HSA, and LPS + S-NO-HSA.

Anti-inflammatory effect of 1-methylnicotinamide in contact hypersensitivity to oxazolone in mice; involvement of prostacyclin.

1-methylnicotinamide (MNA) displays anti-inflammatory effects in patients with contact dermatitis, though the mechanisms involved remain unknown. Herein, we examined the anti-inflammatory effects of MNA and its parent molecule, nicotinamide, in the contact hypersensitivity reaction to oxazolone in CBA/J inbred mice. Feeding mice with MNA or nicotinamide (100 mg/kg, 10 days) resulted in the inhibition of the development of contact hypersensitivity reaction by 37% and 35%, respectively, as assessed by the magnitude of ear swelling.

Inhibition of neutral endopeptidase by thiorphan does not modify coronary vascular responses to angiotensin I, angiotensin II and bradykinin in the isolated guinea pig heart.

Both angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and neutral endopeptidase (NEP) are involved in the regulation of renin-angiotensin and kallikrein-kinin systems. The aim of the present study was to assess the role of NEPand ACE in the regulation of vascular responses to angiotensin I (Ang I), angiotensin II (Ang II) and bradykinin (Bk) in the coronary circulation. For this purpose we used typical inhibitors of ACE and NEP, perindoprilate (1 microM) and thiorphan (1 micromM and 10 microM), respectively, and analyzed their effects on the coronary vasoconstrictor responses to Ang I and Ang II and coronary vasodilator responses to Bk in the isolated guinea pig heart.

A poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase inhibitor, benzamide protects smooth muscle cells but not endothelium against ischemia/reperfusion injury in isolated guinea-pig heart.

Activation of the nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase (PARS) is important in the cellular response to oxidative stress. During ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) increased free radical production leads to DNA breakage that stimulates PARS which in turn results in an energy-consuming metabolic cycle and initiation of the apoptotic process. Previous studies have reported that PARS inhibition confers protection in various models of I/R-induced cardiovascular damage.

S-nitroso human serum albumin treatment reduces ischemia/reperfusion injury in skeletal muscle via nitric oxide release.

Background: Peroxynitrite generated from nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide (O2-) contributes to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Feedback inhibition of endothelial NO synthase by NO may inhibit O2- production generated also by endothelial NO synthase at diminished local L-arginine concentrations accompanying I/R.

Methods And Results: During hindlimb I/R (2.