Determination of one year stability of lipid plasma profile and comparison of blood collection tubes using UHPSFC/MS and HILIC-UHPLC/MS.

Effects of blood collection tubes, the time period, the sample origin, and the method used on the lipidomic profile are investigated by ultrahigh-performance supercritical fluid chromatography - mass spectrometry (UHPSFC/MS) and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry (HILIC-UHPLC/MS). Heparin plasma samples have been obtained from 99 healthy volunteers at three time points separated by six-month intervals together with one collection for EDTA plasma and serum. Furthermore, lipid concentrations in heparin plasma collected at two different sites are compared.

Very long-term stability of lipid biomarkers in human serum.

The assessment of the stability of biomarkers is very important for epidemiological studies. In this study, the stability of five lipid parameters (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol and free fatty acids) has been tested in 16 human serum samples after storage at -80 °C up at time points 0, 1, 8 and 13 y. The majority of the lipid biomarkers were stable during storage conditions, except for cholesterol.

The effect of fatty acids in red blood cell membranes on the dynamics of inflammatory markers following the coronary stent implantation.

The effect of 20 fatty acids in erythrocyte cell membranes on the extent of inflammatory response and cell oxidative stress was evaluated using multidimensional statistical data analysis in 54 patients suffering from ischemic heart disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with coronary stent implantation using multidimensional statistical data analysis. A systemic inflammatory response was indicated by an increase of C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA) and ceruloplasmin 48 h after stent implantation and by an increase of interleukin-6 (IL-6) 24 h after intervention. The increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) after 48 h was used as a marker of cell damage by oxidative stress.

Inflammatory markers in dependence on the plasma concentration of 37 fatty acids after the coronary stent implantation.

Using the regression model building the relationships between the concentration of 37 fatty acids of blood plasma phospholipids of 41 patients with coronary artery disease after coronary stent implantation, the inflammatory response and oxidative stress markers were estimated. The dynamics of the inflammatory response and the oxidative stress was indicated by measuring plasma concentrations of highly sensitive C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, serum amyloid A and malondialdehyde before, 24h after stent implantation. The multiple linear regression analysis was preceded by an exploratory data analysis, principal component analysis, factor analysis and cluster analysis, which proved a hidden internal relation of 37 fatty acids.

Long-term stability of oxidative stress biomarkers in human serum.

The storage time and storage temperature might affect stability of oxidative stress biomarkers, therefore, they have to be analyzed after long-term storage of serum samples. The stability of three biomarkers reflecting oxidative stress: reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) for hydroperoxides, total thiol levels (TTL) for the redox status and biological antioxidant potency (BAP) for the antioxidant status, was investigated at several time points during 60 months of storage at -20 and -80 °C. Biomarkers ROM and BAP showed a very good stability during storage for 60 months at both temperatures.

Heart failure is the strongest predictor of acute kidney injury in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are at higher risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) than patients undergoing PCI in stable clinical conditions. This fact suggests that mechanisms other than contrast nephrotoxicity are involved.

Aim: To evaluate the incidence, risk factors, and consequences of AKI in patients undergoing primary PCI for STEMI in current daily practice.

Long-term stability of cancer biomarkers in human serum: biomarkers of oxidative stress and redox status, homocysteine, CRP and the enzymes ALT and GGT.

Aim: Five frequently used biomarkers in cancer research and epidemiological studies were tested for their assay stability upon storage of serum for 12 months at -20 and -70/-80°C.

Materials & Methods: The biomarker assays include reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM), the total thiol levels (TTL), homocysteine (HCy), C-reactive protein (HS-CRP) and two liver enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT).

Results: The assays for ROM, HCy, HS-CRP and GGT were stable in human serum samples at the two temperatures tested.

Development of the olfactory and vomeronasal organs in Discoglossus pictus (Discoglossidae, Anura).

Using histological techniques and computer-aided three-dimensional reconstructions of histological serial sections, we studied the development of the olfactory and vomeronasal organs in the discoglossid frog Discoglossus pictus. The olfactory epithelium in larval D. pictus represents one continuous unit of tissue not divided into two separate portions.

Inverse correlation between plasma Beta-carotene and interleukin-6 in patients with advanced coronary artery disease.

The interrelationships between plasma beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, and the level of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress were investigated in patients with advanced coronary artery disease (CAD). Plasma beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, malondialdehyde, free radicals, interleukin-6, high sensitive C-reactive protein levels, and other risk factors of CAD were determined in a group of patients with advanced CAD [significant stenosis according to coronarographic examination (n=91) and a control group of examined patients with coronary arteries with no stenosis (n=49)]. Between-group differences in continuous variables were analyzed with the Hotelling T2-test (software NCSS2000), analyses of correlation matrix with the software STATISTICA.

Development of the ethmoidal structures of the endocranium in Discoglossus pictus (Anura: Discoglossidae).

We use histological techniques and computer-aided three-dimensional reconstructions made from serial histological sections to describe the ontogeny of the ethmoidal endocranium of discoglossid frog Discoglossus pictus. We identify a pattern of development for the suprarostral cartilage that differs from previous findings and probably represents the ancestral anuran pattern. The nasal cartilages, including the inferior prenasal cartilage, are de novo adult structures.

Evaluation of oxidative stress and inflammation in obese adults with metabolic syndrome.

Background: Obesity and metabolic syndrome increase the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Oxidative stress seems to be involved in the pathophysiology of diabetes and cardiovascular complications of metabolic syndrome. The aim of our study was to evaluate the level of oxidative stress and inflammation in obese adults with and without metabolic syndrome.

The model of D-galactosamine-induced injury of rat hepatocytes in primary culture.

D-galactosamine (GalN) is a highly selective hepatotoxin that causes liver damage similar to human viral hepatitis via depletion of uridine nucleotides, which subsequently diminishes synthesis of RNA and proteins. Model of galactosamine hepatotoxicity is frequently used in animal experiments in vitro. The purpose of our study was to establish the model of GalN-induced hepatocyte injury in in vitro conditions using primocultures of rat hepatocytes as an important pre-requisite for further experiments in which we would like to study potential hepatoprotective effect of various substances.

[Glutathione and glutathione assays].

Glutathione, the very important intracellular antioxidant, is present in intracelullar environment in milimolar concentrations. Glutathione is a tripeptide molecule, which plays an essential role in the antioxidant system, as well as in maintenance of the intracellular redox state. This thiol compound exists in two forms, the reduced (GSH) and the oxidized (GSSG), and the ratio of both forms is crucial for the characterization of the oxidative stress in cells.

Monitoring of antioxidant properties of uric acid in humans for a consideration measuring of levels of allantoin in plasma by liquid chromatography.

Uric acid is the end product of purine metabolism in humans. It has been pointed out that uric acid acts as an antioxidant and is capable to react with biologically relevant oxidants to form allantoin. Therefore, measurement of allantoin in humans was proposed as a marker of oxidative stress.

Highly specific, simple and rapid method for the determination of malondialdehyde in blood using high-performance liquid chromatography.

A novel, highly specific, simple and rapid method for the determination of malondialdehyde (MDA), the routinely used marker for free radical generation in body fluids has been developed and evaluated. Serum samples from 30 healthy volunteers in heparin and 1,4-dithiothreitol-containing tubes stored at -80 degrees C were analyzed. The MDA-thiobarbituric acid complex was separated from interfering substances using HPLC.