A Comparative Analysis of Models for AAV-Mediated Gene Therapy for Inherited Retinal Diseases.

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) represent a diverse group of genetic disorders leading to progressive degeneration of the retina due to mutations in over 280 genes. This review focuses on the various methodologies for the preclinical characterization and evaluation of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene therapy as a potential treatment option for IRDs, particularly focusing on gene therapies targeting mutations, such as those in the and genes. AAV vectors, such as AAV2 and AAV5, have been utilized to deliver therapeutic genes, showing promise in preserving vision and enhancing photoreceptor function in animal models.

A morphological study of the inferior phrenic arteries on multidetector computed tomography and angiography.

Introduction: The inferior phrenic artery is a paired artery with a variable origin and course, primarily supplying the diaphragm, but also the suprarenal glands, inferior vena cava, stomach, and oesophagus. The aim of this study is to investigate the origin and course of the inferior phrenic arteries on multidetector computed tomography and angiography.

Materials And Methods: The anatomy of the inferior phrenic artery was analysed on 2449 multidetector computed tomography scans.

[Possibilities of tissue perfusion assessment in abdominal surgery: integration into the intraoperative system of safety control points].

Objective: To evaluate the possibility of integrating tissue perfusion assessment techniques (ICG perfusion and imaging photoplethysmography - iPPG) into the system of intraoperative control points of laparoscopic interventions with a reconstructive component.

Materials And Methods: Quantitative assessment of ICG fluorescence and iPPG were used during 8 laparoscopically assisted interventions: gastrectomy for gastric cancer (total - 2 and distal - 1) and colorectal resections (left-sided colorectal resections - 4 and right hemicolectomy - 1).

Results: Four stages are presented for the assessment of tissue perfusion: initial assessment, before intestine transection, before anastomosis formation, and evaluation of anastomosis.

Synthesis, Properties, and Biomedical Application of Dicationic Gemini Surfactants with Dodecane Spacer and Carbamate Fragments.

A synthesis procedure and aggregation properties of a new homologous series of dicationic gemini surfactants with a dodecane spacer and two carbamate fragments (N,N'-dialkyl-N,N'-bis(2-(ethylcarbamoyloxy)ethyl)-N,N'-dimethyldodecan-1,6-diammonium dibromide, n-12-n(Et), where n = 10, 12, 14) were comprehensively described. The critical micelle concentrations of gemini surfactants were obtained using tensiometry, conductometry, spectrophotometry, and fluorimetry. The thermodynamic parameters of adsorption and micellization, i.

Gender-based differences in abstention and desistance from drug use among American Indian adolescents.

Informed by the social control theoretical perspective, this study intends to identify the factors more likely to differentiate American Indian (AI) adolescents who never used illicit drugs (abstainers) and those who used drugs in the past but did not report recent drug usage (desisters) from their peers who reported lifetime and recent drug usage (persisters). This secondary analysis is based on data from a multi-site study conducted between 2009 and 2013. It is based on a gender-balanced sample (N = 3,380) of AI adolescents (50.

The Formation of Morphologically Stable Lipid Nanocarriers for Glioma Therapy.

Cerasomes are a promising modification of liposomes with covalent siloxane networks on the surface that provide outstanding morphological stability while maintaining all the useful traits of liposomes. Herein, thin film hydration and ethanol sol injection methods were utilized to produce cerasomes of various composition, which were then evaluated for the purpose of drug delivery. The most promising nanoparticles obtained by the thin film method were studied closely using MTT assay, flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy on T98G glioblastoma cell line and modified with surfactants to achieve stability and the ability to bypass the blood-brain barrier.

Recent Nanoscale Carriers for Therapy of Alzheimer's Disease: Current Strategies and Perspectives.

This review covers nanotherapeutic strategies for solving the global problems associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The most dramatic factor contributing humanistic, social and economic urgency of the situation is the incurability of the disease, with the drug intervention addressing only AD symptoms and retarding their progress. Key sources behind these challenges are the inability of the early diagnosis of AD, the lack of comprehensive information on the molecular mechanism of the pathogenesis, the bloodbrain barrier obstacles, and the insufficient effectiveness of currently available drugs and therapeutic strategies.

Supramolecular Tools to Improve Wound Healing and Antioxidant Properties of Abietic Acid: Biocompatible Microemulsions and Emulgels.

Abietic acid, a naturally occurring fir resin compound, that exhibits anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties, was formulated into biocompatible emulgels based on stable microemulsions with the addition of a carbamate-containing surfactant and Carbopol 940 gel. Various microemulsion and emulgel formulations were tested for antioxidant and wound-healing properties. The chemiluminescence method has shown that all compositions containing abietic acid have a high antioxidant activity.

Oxime Therapy for Brain AChE Reactivation and Neuroprotection after Organophosphate Poisoning.

One of the main problems in the treatment of poisoning with organophosphorus (OPs) inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is low ability of existing reactivators of AChE that are used as antidotes to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In this work, modified cationic liposomes were developed that can penetrate through the BBB and deliver the reactivator of AChE pralidoxime chloride (2-PAM) into the brain. Liposomes were obtained on the basis of phosphatidylcholine and imidazolium surfactants.

Combined Cytotoxic Effect of Inhibitors of Proteostasis on Human Colon Cancer Cells.

Despite significant progress in the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer, drug resistance continues to be a major limitation of therapy. In this regard, studies aimed at creating combination therapy are gaining popularity. One of the most promising adjuvants are inhibitors of the proteostasis system, chaperone machinery, and autophagy.

Domestic Violence: Rehabilitation Programme for the Victim and Violent / Predator.

Evan Stark claims that "partner-perpetrated physical abuse and other forms of violence against women ought to be understood as a human rights violation. Domestic violence effects not only the women involved, but the whole of society. Thus, the identification of the victims and perpetrators is necessary, not only to prevent further abuse and injury to the victims, but also to create a violence-free society.

Prevention of High Glucose-Mediated EMT by Inhibition of Hsp70 Chaperone.

Hyperglycemia may contribute to the progression of carcinomas by triggering epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Some proteostasis systems are involved in metastasis; in this paper, we sought to explore the mechanism of Hsp70 chaperone in EMT. We showed that knockdown of Hsp70 reduced cell migration capacity concomitantly with levels of mRNA of the Slug, Snail, and Twist markers of EMT, in colon cancer cells incubated in high glucose medium.

Self-Assembly of Amphiphilic Compounds as a Versatile Tool for Construction of Nanoscale Drug Carriers.

This review focuses on synthetic and natural amphiphilic systems prepared from straight-chain and macrocyclic compounds capable of self-assembly with the formation of nanoscale aggregates of different morphology and their application as drug carriers. Since numerous biological species (lipid membrane, bacterial cell wall, mucous membrane, corneal epithelium, biopolymers, e.g.

Biomedical potentialities of cationic geminis as modulating agents of liposome in drug delivery across biological barriers and cellular uptake.

Hydroxyethyl bearing gemini surfactants, alkanediyl-α,ω-bis(N-hexadecyl-N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-methylammonium bromide), 16-s-16(OH), were used to augment phosphatidylcholine based liposomes to achieve higher stability and enhanced cellular uptake and penetration. The developed liposomes were loaded with rhodamine B, doxorubicin hydrochloride, pralidoxime chloride to investigate release properties, cytotoxicity in vitro, as well as ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. At molar ratio of 35:1 (lipid:surfactant) the formulation was found to be of low toxicity, stable for two months, and able to deliver rhodamine B beyond the blood-brain barrier in rats.

Determination of oxygen perfusion in the area of radiation-induced fibrosis of the skin in patients with breast cancer and its role in pathogenesis of late radiation injury.

Aim: Late radiation injury in the form of radiation-induced fibrosis (RIF) is one of the many complications of radiation therapy. The aim was to evaluate oxygen perfusion in the skin in the area of late radiation injury manifested as RIF in patients with breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: Based on our first-hand experience in treating late radiation injures of soft tissues in patients with breast cancer, we measured oxygen perfusion of the skin (tсрО2) in the area of late radiation injury using a transcutaneous monitor (oximeter) TCM 400 (Radiometer, Denmark).

Ten-Year Trends in the Morbidity of Diabetes Mellitus and Antidiabetic Drug Utilization in Croatia: A Study Based on Routinely Collected Data.

Objectives. To investigate trends of diabetes mellitus (DM) morbidity and antidiabetic drug utilization in Croatian primary health care (PHC) from 2005 to 2014. Method.

Diabetes in elderly.

Diabetes is a major public health problem in the world and one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease. Aging of the population is expected to further increase the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, particularly in the age group over 65. According to the 2011 census, in Croatia, 17.

A role of Croatian family doctors in the provision of women's health care: a study based on routinely collected data.

The aim of this study was to investigate how often Croatian FDs are involved in the provision of women's health, having in mind that women's health is primarily organized by the gynecological service. Only the data related to women's health were collected from the Croatian health statistical yearbooks from 1995 to 2012, in which ICD X was used. Results showed that total number of diagnoses are increasing.

A cultural diversity seen in Croatian family medicine: a lady from Janjevo.

The role of cultural diversities in doctor's everyday work is going more and more important in globalised world, therefore it draws lots of attention in literature. Cultural differences that exist between people, such as language, dress and traditions, are usually distinguished from the term cultural diversity which is mainly understood as having different cultures respect each other's differences. The great effort is made to educate culturally competent practitioners, nurses or doctors.

Trends in family planning and contraception carried out in primary health care in Croatia: 1995-2012: study based on routinely collected data.

The lack of objective findings provided the reason to undertake this study with the main aim of exploring the trends in family planning and contraception carried out in primary health care in Croatia. Based on the Croatian health statistical yearbooks from 1995 to 2012, data were collected on the number and structure of visits and the number and type of prescribed contraceptives by public and private gynecological practices, and visits to family practices and school medicine services. The results showed that only a small number of fertile women received primary care for family planning issues, trends that are evident through the entire follow-up period.

Preventive health care for women in Croatia: ongoing trends from 1995 to 2012.

The privatization of gynecological services and the introduction of additional reimbursements to capitation fees are ongoing mini reforms in Croatia. In order to evaluate the outcomes of this, study was performed with the main aim of determining trends in preventive activities carried out in public and private gynecological practices from 1995 to 2012. The Croatian Health Service Yearbooks served as the basis for data collection.

Comparative efficiency of intraperitoneal interleukine-2 and interferon-A in rats with experimental endometriosis.

Intraperitoneal injection of rat IFN-alpha and human IL-2 to rats with experimental endometriosis led to complete regression of endometrioid heterotopies in 50 and 60% cases, respectively. Retention of the endometrioid epithelium resulted in a significant reduction of proliferative activity of its cells, degree of vascularization, and number of macrophages in the leukocytic infiltration of endometrioid heterotopies.

[Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and extracorporeal correction of water-electrolytic imbalance in critically ill patients].

The review of literature is dedicated to some issues of the development, diagnosis, and extracorporeal correction of water electrolytic disorders in critically ill patients. It considers the main points concerning water-electrolytic metabolism and its regulation in health and disease. The authors describe the specific features of invasive and noninvasive methods for diagnosing water-sectoral disorders and the possibilities of their correction with medical measures.

Sporotrichoid lymphangitis due to group A Streptococcus.

We describe what is, to our knowledge, the first case of sporotrichoid lymphangitis caused solely by group A Streptococcus in an otherwise healthy patient. Infection with pyogenic pathogens, such as streptococci and staphylococci, as well as with the most common causes of sporotrichoid lymphangitis (i.e.