The influence of ZnO nanoparticles on horizontal transfer of resistance genes in lab and soil conditions.

Antibiotic resistance is a severe problem that threatens the achievements of modern medicine. Metallic nanoparticles may promote the horizontal transfer of resistance genes due to their toxicity to bacterial cells and metal-induced co-selection mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the toxicity of ZnO nanoparticles to E.

Transforming growth factor beta inhibition increases mortality and left ventricular dilatation after myocardial infarction.

Background: Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta is a locally generated cytokine involved in healing processes and tissue fibrosis, all relevant for cardiac remodeling and the development of heart failure after myocardial infarction (MI). However, data regarding the function of TGF-beta after ischemic injury are inconclusive.

Methods And Results: We tested the effect of TGF-beta inhibition by application of a blocking antibody in mice with MI.

Role of 5-lipoxygenase in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice.

Myocardial ischemia induces 5-lipoxygenase (LOX) translocation and leukotriene production in the heart. Leukotrienes increase inflammatory responses and could thereby aggravate ischemic injury. However, the role of lipoxygenase and leukotrienes in cardiac ischemia/reperfusion damage has not been well defined.

Tissue-specific effects of the nuclear factor kappaB subunit p50 on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) is a ubiquitous transcription factor activated by various stimuli implicated in ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, the role of NF-kappaB in cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury has not yet been well defined. Therefore, we investigated reperfusion damage in mice with targeted deletion of the NF-kappaB subunit p50.

High dose aspirin and left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction: aspirin and myocardial infarction.

Background: Proinflammatory proteins like inflammatory cytokines are implicated in myocardial depression and left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction. High-dose aspirin inhibits cytokine activation. Therefore, we tested the influence of high-dose aspirin treatment on left ventricular remodeling in mice after myocardial infarction.

Absence of NF-kappaB subunit p50 improves heart failure after myocardial infarction.

Background: NF kappa B (NF-kappaB) is a ubiquitous transcription factor activated by various stimuli implicated in heart failure progression including reactive oxygen species (ROS), hypoxia, and inflammatory cytokines. Although NF-kappaB is involved in ischemic preconditioning, unstable angina pectoris, and atherogenesis, its role in heart failure has not been determined. Therefore, we investigated left ventricular remodeling in mice with a targeted deletion of the NF-kappaB subunit p50/NF-kappaB1 after myocardial infarction.

Morphological assessment of craniovetebral junction development in the prenatal period.

Background: Because of numerous abnormalities of craniovertebraljunction development observed in the prenatal period, the region has been studied thoroughly in order to elucidate the mechanism of axial differentiation, dependence of vertebral morphology on the development of ossification centers and the mechanisms regulating the dynamics of growth.

Aim: Analysis of morphological changes of the craniovertebral junction taking place during the prenatal period by quantitative assessment of some developmental changes such as growth rate, sexual dimorphism, interdependence of the analyzed parameters, taking into consideration the variable geometry of the studied area.

Material/methods: he study was carried out on 48 fetuses (22 male, 26 female) of 86-212mm crown-rump length (CRL) range.