Expected change of direction in Polish law regarding cosmetics

In connection with adaptation of Polish law to UE regulations, new Polish Act on cosmetics was published. There were also prepared regulations concerning: lists the substances forbidden to be used in cosmetics, permitted to be used in cosmetics only with restrictions, allowed colouring agents, preservatives and UV filters, rules of non-inclusion of one or more ingredients on the list used for the labelling, establishing National System for Informing about Cosmetics and methods of analysis necessary for checking the composition of cosmetic products. Publication in Official Journal of the European Union L. 66/26 Directive 2003/15/EC shows direction necessary changes in Polish Act on cosmetics.     

Intrinsic activity and comparative molecular dynamics of buspirone analogues at the 5-HT(1A) receptors

In CNS, the 5-hydroxytryptamine(1A) (5-HT(1A)) receptors exist in two different populations with different behavioural and physiological effects: (1) somatodendritic autoreceptors located pre-synaptically of 5-HT containing neurons and (2) receptors located post-synaptic to 5-HT containing neurons. Clinical studies have shown that 5-HT(1A) partial agonists have anxiolytic properties, while antagonists of pre-synaptical autoreceptors shorten the onset time of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). In the present study, the pre- and post-synaptic activity of structural analogues of buspirone was evaluated in animal models. A three dimensional model of the 5-HT(1A) receptor was used to study their interaction modes and helical displacements upon receptor binding. The predicted receptor-ligand interactions indicated similarities in the receptor binding modes for all buspirone analogues, and no clear relationship between receptor contact residues and activity at pre- and post-synaptic receptors. Comparative molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for 650ps indicated that pre-synaptic antagonistic behaviour is connected to large displacements of transmembrane helix (TMH) 7 upon binding, while pre-synaptic agonistic behaviour is connected to large displacements of TMH2 and small displacements of TMH7. Post-synaptic partial agonist behaviour is connected to large displacements of TMH4 and TMH5 upon binding, while post-synaptic antagonists only slightly displace these helices.     

Effects of nadroparin on bone histomorphometric parameters in rats

Nadroparin calcium is a low-molecular-weight heparin. Low-molecular-weight heparins have a number of advantages over standard heparin (heparin), but it is not clear if low-molecular-weight heparins have less effect on bones than heparin. Administration of heparin can lead to osteoporosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of nadroparin on the rat osseous system and compare them with those of heparin. The experiments were carried out on female Wistar rats (13-15 weeks old at the beginning of the experiment), divided into 5 groups: I. Control, II. Nadroparin (1000 anti-Xa IU/kg s.c. daily), III. Nadroparin (2000 anti-Xa IU/kg s.c. daily), IV. Heparin (1000 IU/kg s.c. daily), V. Heparin (2000 IU/kg s.c. daily). Nadroparin and heparin were administered for 4 weeks. Bone mass, mineral and calcium content, macrometric and histomorphometric parameters (endosteal and periosteal transverse growth, width of endosteal and periosteal osteoid, transverse cross-section area of the cortical bone in the diaphysis and of the marrow cavity in the tibia, width of epiphyseal cartilage, width of trabeculae in the epiphysis and metaphysis in the femur) were examined. The effect of heparin on the ratio of bone mineral content to bone mass was more pronounced than that of nadroparin. Nadroparin caused unfavorable changes in the investigated bone histomorphometric parameters, similar to those caused by heparin. Nadroparin and heparin caused disorder of bone formation and intensification of bone resorption in rats.     

C-kit receptor (CD117) expression on plasma cells in monoclonal gammopathies

The surface expression of CD117 antigen (c-kit) on plasma cells from 158 multiple myeloma (MM), 12 plasma cell leukemia (PCL), 7 MGUS, 7 IgM lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma patients and 10 healthy subjects has been analyzed by flow cytometry using triple staining with the monoclonal antibodies CD138, CD117 and CD38. The antigen expression intensity was calculated as relative fluorescence intensity (RFI) and for direct quantitative analysis the QuantiBRITE test (Becton Dickinson) was applied. Antibody bounding capacity (ABC) was calculated using QuantiCALC software. CD117 antigen was present in 49/158 MM, 5/12 PCL and 5/7 MGUS patients. The RFI values ranged from 0.2 to 20.2 in particular MM patients (mean: 11.0 ± 5.3; median 11.5) while the number of CD117 binding sites (ABC) on MM plasma cells ranged from 637 to 6217 (mean: 3029 ± 1568; median 2946) (r = 0.8328). In responsive to chemotherapy c-kit positive MM patients the percentage of CD117⁺ plasma cells in the bone marrow decreased significantly while in c-kit negative MM patients the percentage of CD117⁺ cells in bone marrow did not change and remained in the normal limits. When comparing the clinical and biological disease characteristics (monoclonal protein isotype, albumin, β₂-microglobulin, lactate dehydrogenase, stage of disease, response to chemotherapy, survival time) of c-kit positive and c-kit negative cases, no significant differences were found. In CD117 positive PCL cases expression of CD117 was detected in bone marrow plasma cells as well as in peripheral blood plasma cells. Normal plasma cells and those in IgM lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma did not show reactivity for the CD117 antigen. We conclude that it may be rationale to consider usefulness of therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the management of c-kit positive plasma cell proliferations. In one third of MM and PCL patients c-kit antigen could be considered as a "tumor associated marker" and together with CD38 and CD138 it may be of value for the identification of the malignant clone in minimal residual disease as it was first suggested by Spanish authors.     

Influence of physiologic 17 beta-estradiol concentrations on gene E6 expression in HVP type 18 in vitro

Many recent studies indicate that long term use of contraceptives is a strong risk factor in the development of cervical cancer. Steroid hormones, in persistent papilloma virus infection act on various levels, one of them is enhancing transforming activity of the virus. The aim of the study was to estimate if physiological concentrations of 17 beta-estradiol could influence expression of viral transforming genes. HeLa cell lines were incubated with three different physiological concentrations and and on the third day of incubation the level of E6 gene expression was determined. Results show no differences in expression between the control culter, and cultures incubated with physiological concentrations. It indicates that normal levels of 17 beta-estradiol don't play role in transforming process but it also shows need to analyse higher levels of hormones by quantitative analyses in prospective studies.     

Total antioxidative activity measured by ABTS method in pregnant women treated with L-arginine for IUGR

Elevated concentration of free radicals is observed in IUG and it is connected with high rate of prematurity and perinatal mortality too. The total antioxidative serum activity is one of the oxidative stress defence system parameter. The main aim of the study was to find the correlation between the L-arginine therapy and total antioxidative concentration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was done in Dep. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Medical University in Lodz in 2000-20003 y. The study group consist of 45 women with ultrasound diagnosed IUGR, the control group consist of 30 healthy pregnant women at the same gestational age. The IUGR therapy consist of L-arginine 3 x 1 g oral dose daily. The total antioxidative activity was measured in maternal blood on first and 20-th day of treatment. The Wayner method was used to measure total antioxidative activity by reduction of ABTS. The results were expressed in microM of serum. RESULTS: The value of the total antioxidative activity at the first day of observation in women with IUGR was 225.9 microM and after 20 days increased to 231.8 microM. In women in normal pregnancy at the first day the value was 249.6 ng/ml microM and after 20 days of observation 247.8 microM. CONCLUSIONS: The total antioxidative activity in blood serum decreased in pregnancy connected with IUGR. The L-arginine treatment decreased the oxidative stress risk.