A novel biosensor for evaluation of apoptotic or necrotic effects of nitrogen dioxide during acute pancreatitis in rat.

The direct and accurate estimation of nitric dioxide levels is an extremely laborious and technically demanding procedure in the molecular diagnostics of inflammatory processes. The aim of this work is to demonstrate that a stop-flow technique utilizing a specific spectroscopic biosensor can be used for detection of nanomolar quantities of NO(2) in biological milieu. The use of novel compound cis-[Cr(C(2)O(4))(AaraNH(2))(OH(2))(2)](+) increases NO(2) estimation accuracy by slowing down the rate of NO(2) uptake.

Compressibility of gastroretentive pellets coated with Eudragit NE using a single-stroke and a rotary tablet press.

In this study, 15 kinds of powders with different compression mechanisms were used in the process of filling-binding substances in tablets with pellets. Applied substances possessed dominant brittle time-independent mechanism or time-dependent viscoplastic, viscoelastic mechanism of compression. Using 6 kN compression force in a single-stroke tablet press during 150 ms of compression, damage to the polymer film and pellet core was found in all formulations.

Influence of the type of cellulose on properties of multi-unit target releasing in stomach dosage form with verapamil hydrochloride.

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and powdered cellulose (PC) are commonly used excipients for solid dosage forms e.g., pellets.

Quantifying division of aortal smooth muscle cells in culture stimulated by 1,25(OH)2D3.

Inhibitory effect of 1alpha,25dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25D(3)=calcitriol) in different cell type is well recognized but its promoting effect on vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is poor established. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine stimulatory effect of calcitriol on aortal SMCs proliferation in culture. We used the cell division analysis procedure based on the quantitative sequential halving of the stably incorporating fluorescent dye carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE).

Does resveratrol prevent free radical-induced acute pancreatitis?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine protective and antioxidative effect of stilbene derivatives, resveratrol and diethylstilbestrol, in experimental acute pancreatitis (EAP).

Methods: EAP was induced in male Wistar rats by retrograde injection of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (ButOOH) solution, a well-known prooxidant agent, into the common bile pancreatic duct. After a 3-hour observation, the animals were killed.

Myocardial necrosis due to vitamin D3 overdose -- scanning electron microscopic observations.

Our studies were carried out on the hearts of virgin female Wistar rats treated with 100,000 i.u. of vitamin D3 (calciol) per os for 3 consecutive days.

Pivotal participation of nitrogen dioxide in L-arginine induced acute necrotizing pancreatitis: protective role of superoxide scavenger 4-OH-TEMPO.

For the first time, a direct sensitive method of *NO(2) detection and measurement in biological material has been established. It is based on the interaction of this radical with the coordination compound of Cr(III) with aminodeoxysugar as biosensor. Our new method makes it possible to precisely assess *NO(2) level in experimental acute necrotizing pancreatitis induced by L-arginine, where oxidative and nitrosative stresses are supposed to play a key role in the pathomechanism of the disease.

4-OH-TEMPO prevents the morphological alteration of rat thymocytes primed to apoptosis by oxidative stress inducer ButOOH.

Thymocytes exposed to the pro-oxidant tert-butyl-hydroperoxide (ButOOH) display a number of dramatic changes in morphology similar to those observed in the case of dexamethasone-treated cells. Both reagents induce nuclear chromatin peripheral aggregation below the nuclear membrane. Some nuclei themselves break up producing two or more fragments.

The morphology of acinar cells during acute pancreatitis in rats induced by intraductal infusion of peracetate.

Many experimental models have been created to explain the pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis (AP). Investigations have been undertaken in this laboratory into the influence of strong oxidants introduced into the pancreas retrogradely through the bile-pancreatic duct. In these experiments a potentially toxic metabolite of ethanol-peracetic acid was used to induce AP.

The growth and differentiation of aortal smooth muscle cells after calcitriol treatment are associated with microtubule reorganisation -- an in vitro study.

The smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of the arterial media play a predominant role in functional and structural alterations of the arterial wall. The transition from the "contractile" to the "synthetic" phenotype appears to be an early critical event in the development of atherosclerotic disease. A number of observations suggest that 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) (calcitriol) is of importance in maintaining normal cardiovascular function through its receptors in cardiac myocytes or aortal SMCs.

The effect of fasting and refeeding on the ultrastructure of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus in young and old rats.

In order to explore the morphological basis of the altered feeding behaviour of old rats, an ultrastructural investigation of the magnocellular neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) was performed. Young and old male Wistar rats, 5 and 24 months old, respectively, and with each age group comprising 12 animals, were divided into 3 groups. The rats in Group I were used as controls (normally fed), the rats of Group II were fasted for 48 hours and in Group III the rats were fasted for 48 hours and then refed for 24 hours.

The effect of angiogenesis inhibitor TNP-470 on the blood vessels of the lungs, kidneys and livers of treated hamsters.

The growth of solid tumours and their metastases is dependent on the development of new blood vessels (angiogenesis). Therefore angiogenesis inhibitors are potential antitumour drugs. In our previous studies it was found that the angiogenesis inhibitor TNP-470 given to transplantable melanoma-bearing hamsters can decrease the rate of the tumour growth, although the survival time of the animals treated was not significantly affected.

The correlation of protein peroxidation with morphological changes in experimental oestradiol-induced carcinogenesis.

Oestradiol-induced male Syrian hamster carcinogenesis is a well-known experimental model of human cancer of the breast, ovary and uterus. The pathomechanism postulated in this model is 4-hydroxylation of oestradiol and further free radical formation. The same process is suspected in human breast cancer.

Ultrastructure of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus in fasted and refed young and old rats.

Many hypothalamic nuclei are involved in the regulation of food intake and energy homeostasis. An ultrastructural investigation of the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus (VMN), a hypothetical "satiety centre" was performed to explore the morphological basis of altered feeding behaviour of old rats in an experimental model of fasting/refeeding. Young (5 months old, n=12) and old (24 months old, n=12) male Wistar rats were fasted for 48 hours, then refed for 24 hours and sampled thereafter.

A scanning electron microscopic study of phenotypic plasticity and surface structural changes of aortal smooth muscle cells in primary culture.

Phenotypic modulation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) from a contractile to a synthetic state characterised by active proliferation appears to be an early event in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. A similar transition occurs when SMCs are established in culture. In this study the phenotypic plasticity and surface structural changes of aortal smooth muscle cells during the transition from the contractile to the synthetic state and during maturation have been structurally assessed by scanning electron microscope (SEM).