Publications by authors named "Witek K"

Background: Analysis of urinary organic acids (UOAs) by gas chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC-MS) is widely used in metabolomic studies. It is a complex test with many limitations and pitfalls yet there is limited evidence in the literature to support best practice. This study investigated the impact of drying down time and temperature on the recovery of 16 key analytes from solvent extracts.

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Decidualisation of the endometrium is a key event in early pregnancy, which enables embryo implantation. Importantly, the molecular processes impairing decidualisation in obese mothers are yet to be characterised. We hypothesise that impaired decidualisation in obese mice is mediated by the upregulation of leptin modulators, the suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 (SOCS3) and the protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 2 (PTPN2), together with the disruption of progesterone (P4)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3) signalling.

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Hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 (HT1) is a rare metabolic disease resulting in acute liver failure in early infancy, hypophosphataemic rickets, neurological crises, liver cirrhosis and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma later on in life. It is caused by the deficiency of the enzyme fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase which is involved in the terminal step of the catabolic pathway of tyrosine. Diagnosis is made through clinical suspicion supported by biochemical abnormalities that result from accumulation of upstream metabolites.

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Endometritis is a common disease in animals, leading to disruption of reproductive processes and economic losses. Noradrenergic control of prostaglandin (PG)I2 formation by inflamed endometrium is unknown. We determined the involvement of α1-, α2- and β-adrenoreceptors (ARs) in noradrenaline-influenced PGI synthase (PGIS) protein abundance and PGI2 release from porcine (1) endometrial explants with ()-induced inflammation in vivo, and (2) lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated endometrial epithelial cells.

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Differences in structural and functional properties between oocytes and cumulus cells (CCs) may cause low vitrification efficiency for cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). We have suggested that the disconnection of CCs and oocytes in order to further cryopreservation in various ways will positively affect the viability after thawing, while further co-culture in vitro will contribute to the restoration of lost intercellular gap junctions. This study aimed to determine the optimal method of cryopreservation of the suspension of CCs to mature GV oocytes in vitro and to determine the level of mRNA expression of the genes (, ; , ) and gene-specific epigenetic marks () after cryopreservation and in vitro maturation (IVM) in various culture systems.

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The effectiveness of altitude training on haematological adaptations is largely dependent on iron metabolism. Hepcidin and erythroferrone (ERFE) are key iron-regulating hormones, yet their response to altitude training is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to analyze changes in hepcidin and ERFE under the influence of 3 weeks of the Live High-Train Low (LH-TL) method.

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In this study, a search for new therapeutic agents that may improve the antibacterial activity of conventional antibiotics and help to successfully overcome methicillin-resistant (MRSA) infections has been conducted. The purpose of this work was to extend the scope of our preliminary studies and to evaluate the adjuvant potency of new derivatives in a set of clinical isolates. The study confirmed the high efficacy of piperazine derivatives of 5-arylideneimidazol-4-one (-) tested previously, and it enabled the authors to identify even more efficient modulators of bacterial resistance among new analogs.

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The effect of strenuous exercise on sleep patterns in swimmers is equivocal. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to describe possible changes in sleep parameters among elite swimmers subjected to different training loads (TL). Methods: Eighteen elite swimmers (8 females) were monitored across two high-volume preparatory 1-wk periods (P1, P2) and a lower-volume tapering 1-wk period (P3) before a major competition.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to assess the effects of 2 mg intravitreal aflibercept injections on reducing non-perfusion areas, improving blood flow, and decreasing retinal edema in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO).
  • It analyzed data from 50 eyes of 25 patients with either central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) or branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), evaluating metrics such as vessel density and flow areas through optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A).
  • Results showed significant improvements, including reduced macular edema, enhanced retinal blood flow, and better visual acuity among patients treated with aflibercept.
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  • Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is a brain disease characterized by compulsive drug use, often linked to psychological issues like depression, and targeting the NMDA receptor with drugs like esketamine shows potential for treatment.
  • The study examined how esketamine affects cocaine-seeking behavior in rats after a period of abstinence, using different experimental conditions and doses.
  • Results indicated that esketamine reduced cravings for cocaine in abstinent rats, suggesting it could help manage cocaine relapse, but more research is needed to understand its effects on CUD fully.
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  • Potato and tomato crops are impacted by late blight from the pathogen Phytophthora infestans, while the related plant Solanum americanum shows resistance to this disease.
  • Researchers sequenced the genomes of four S. americanum accessions, analyzed 52 more for immune receptor genes (NLR genes), and tested their responses to 315P. infestans RXLR effectors.
  • The study identified three specific genes (Rpi-amr4, R02860, and R04373) that can recognize certain blight-causing effectors, providing resources to help develop potatoes with better resistance to late blight and potentially other crop diseases.
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Intercellular communication is a critical process that ensures cooperation between distinct cell types at the embryo-maternal interface. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are considered to be potent mediators of this communication by transferring biological information in their cargo (e.g.

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  • Maternal high-sugar diets, particularly those rich in glucose and fructose, may contribute to anxiety and depression in offspring, according to recent studies.
  • The research evaluated the cognitive, emotional, and locomotor effects of these diets on young rats, finding notable behavioral disturbances such as anxiety, hyperactivity, and depressive-like behaviors, especially in males.
  • The findings underscore the influence of maternal nutrition on offspring mental health, indicating that the type of carbohydrates consumed during pregnancy and lactation can significantly affect the emotional well-being of the young.
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Obesity is a substantial health and economic issue, and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is an important neurotransmitter system involved in the regulation of body weight. The 5-HT receptors (5-HTRs), one of 16 of the 5-HT receptor (5-HTRs) subtypes, play a significant role in food intake and body weight control. In this review, we focused on the 5-HTR agonists, such as fenfluramines, sibutramine, and lorcaserin, which act directly or indirectly at 5-HTRs and have been introduced into the clinic as antiobesity medications.

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In the inflamed uterus, the production and secretion of prostaglandins (PGs) and noradrenergic innervation pattern are changed. Receptor-based control of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production and secretion by noradrenaline during uterine inflammation is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the role of α1-, α2- and β-adrenoreceptors (ARs) in noradrenaline-influenced PG-endoperoxidase synthase-2 (PTGS-2) and microsomal PTGE synthase-1 (mPTGES-1) protein levels in the inflamed pig endometrium, and in the secretion of PGE2 from this tissue.

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The alarming increase in the resistance of bacteria to the currently available antibiotics necessitates the development of new effective antimicrobial agents that are active against bacterial pathogens causing major public health problems. For this purpose, our in-house libraries were screened against a wide panel of clinically relevant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, based on which compound I was selected for further optimization. Synthetic efforts in a group of arylurea derivatives of aryloxy(1-phenylpropyl) alicyclic diamines, followed with an in vitro evaluation of the activity against multidrug-resistant strains identified compound 44 (1-(3-chlorophenyl)-3-(1-{3-phenyl-3-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy] propyl}piperidin-4-yl)urea).

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Species of the genus Phytophthora, the plant killer, cause disease and reduce yields in many crop plants. Although many Resistance to Phytophthora infestans (Rpi) genes effective against potato late blight have been cloned, few have been cloned against other Phytophthora species. Most Rpi genes encode nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat-containing (NLR) immune receptor proteins that recognize RXLR (Arg-X-Leu-Arg) effectors.

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Carbohydrates are important macronutrients in human and rodent diet patterns that play a key role in crucial metabolic pathways and provide the necessary energy for proper body functioning. Sugar homeostasis and intake require complex hormonal and nervous control to proper body energy balance. Added sugar in processed food results in metabolic, cardiovascular, and nervous disorders.

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Uterine inflammation is a common pathology in animals, leading to disturbances in reproductive processes and reduced production profitability. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) effects at the uterine level during inflammation are not known. In the current study, we analyzed the relative PACAP type 1 receptor (PAC1R) mRNA transcript and protein abundances in the myometrium (MYO), as well s PACAP and PAC1R involvement in the contractile function of inflamed pig uterus.

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Knowledge of the immune mechanisms responsible for viral recognition is critical for understanding durable disease resistance and successful crop protection. We determined how potato virus Y (PVY) coat protein (CP) is recognised by Ry , a TNL immune receptor. We applied structural modelling, site-directed mutagenesis, transient overexpression, co-immunoprecipitation, infection assays and physiological cell death marker measurements to investigate the mechanism of Ry -CP interaction.

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Article Synopsis
  • Mesencephalic Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor (MANF), specifically DmMANF in fruit flies, is found in various clusters of clock neurons but its precise role is not well understood.! -
  • The study reveals that while DmMANF is present in several types of neurons, its expression in particular ventral lateral neurons is independent of the circadian clock but silencing it disrupts locomotor rhythms in different lighting conditions.! -
  • DmMANF is essential for the normal structure of specific interneurons in the visual system and plays a key role in maintaining the circadian adaptability of their dendritic structures.!
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Introduction And Objective: Performing indoor and outdoor work in cold environments may result in various adverse effects on human health and may lead to increased risk of respiratory infection. The aim of this study was to determine the relation of vitamin D status to secretory immunoglobulin A concentration, leucocyte counts, cytokine concentrations and incidence of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) episodes in young active men during an autumn-winter period.

Material And Methods: The effect of work in a cold microclimate was studied among 23 young active male ice hockey players during a 19-week study period.

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Neutrophils are an important component of the innate immune response against various pathogens. However, there is a lack of research concerning the effects of short intensive training on neutrophil functions, especially neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) formation. The study aim was to determine the effects of a 19-day training cycle on innate immunity among young male athletes.

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Cocaine use disorder is a serious, chronic and relapsing disease of the nervous system, for which effective treatments do not yet exist. Recently, the role of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit GluN2B has been highlighted in cocaine abstinence followed by extinction training. Since the GluN2B subunit is stabilized at synaptic level by the interaction with its scaffolding protein PSD95, in this study we aimed at investigating efficacy of Tat-NR2B9c peptide, a PSD95 inhibitor, which disrupts the interaction of PSD95 with GluN2B, in the attenuation of cocaine seeking-behavior or cue-induced reinstatement.

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