Initial assessment of α-synuclein structure in platelets

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis - Over the last few years data from our group have indicated that α-synuclein is important in development of immune cells as well as potentially...     

Cement Paste Mixture Proportioning with Particle Packing Theory: An Ambiguous Effect of Microsilica

Recently, the research of innovative building materials is focused on applying supplementary materials in the form of micro- and nanopowders in cementitious composites due to the growing insistence on sustainable development. Considering above, in paper, a research on the effect of microsilica and SiO₂ nanoparticles addition to cement paste, designed with Andreasen and Andersen (AA) packing density model (PDM), in terms of its physical and mechanical properties was conducted. Density, porosity, compressive strength, hardness, and modulus of indentation were investigated and compared regarding different amount of additives used in cement paste mixes. Microstructure of the obtained pastes was analyzed. The possibility of negative influence of alkali-silica reaction (ASR) on the mechanical properties of the obtained composites was analyzed. The results of the conducted investigations were discussed, and conclusions, also practical, were presented. The obtained results confirmed that the applied PDM may be an effective tool in cement paste design, when low porosity of prepared composite is required. On the other hand, the application of AA model did not bring satisfactory results of mechanical performance as expected, what was related, as shown by SEM imaging, with inhomogeneous dispersion of microsilica, and creation of agglomerates acting as reactive aggregates, what as a consequence caused ASR reaction, crack occurrence and lowered mechanical properties. Finally, the study found that the use of about 7.5% wt. of microsilica is the optimum in regards to obtain low porosity, while, to achieve improved mechanical properties, the use of 4 wt. % of microsilica seems to be optimal, in the case of tested cement pastes.     

Effect of MPEP in Morris water maze in adult and old rats

The present investigation assessed the effects of 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)-pyridine (MPEP) on acquisition and reference memory in the Morris water maze in young adult rats aged 3-month and old rats aged 26-month. MPEP reduced the swim speed of the young adult rats during acquisition, shortened the distance they covered and reduced their swim speed in the probe trial. The untreated old rats had impaired acquisition of spatial learning, shortened distance and a lower swim speed in the probe trial in comparison with young rats. MPEP did not influence the activity of the old rats in the water maze. In summary, MPEP did not influence acquisition of spatial learning and reference memory in the young adult and old rats.     

The role of the pharmacist in palliative care: results of a survey conducted in Australia and Canada

A survey was conducted to determine what pharmaceutical services are provided to palliative care sites in Australia and Canada, and the pharmacist's role on the interdisciplinary team. Questionnaires were sent to 100 selected sites in each country. Questions pertained to demographics and the level of duties performed. Australian 42/76 (55.3%) and Canadian 59/69 (85.5%) sites employed palliative care pharmacists. Most Australians (83.3%) and Canadians (69.8%) worked under 20 hours/week on the palliative care service. Administrative duties and basic drug supply functions were more common in Australia, whilst Canadians had greater participation in team meetings and rounds. Medication review was the most common clinical duty; approximately 70% of respondents in each country provided specific advice on pharmacotherapy, administration, treatment, adverse effects, and incompatibilities. Education was universally important, but active participation in conferences, publication, and research was infrequent. Pharmacists in both Australia and Canada are important members of the palliative care team, and provide a similar high level of unique and valuable services to patients and their families.     

Outbreak of Mupirocin-Resistant Staphylococci in a Hospital in Warsaw, Poland, Due to Plasmid Transmission and Clonal Spread of Several Strains

An outbreak of mupirocin-resistant (MuR) staphylococci was investigated in two wards of a large hospital in Warsaw, Poland. Fifty-three MuR isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, S. xylosus, and S. capitis were identified over a 17-month survey which was carried out after introduction of the drug for the treatment of skin infections. The isolates were collected from patients with infections, environmental samples, and carriers; they constituted 19.5% of all staphylococcal isolates identified in the two wards during that time. Almost all the MuR isolates were also resistant to methicillin (methicillin-resistant S. aureus and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci). Seven of the outbreak isolates expressed a low-level-resistance phenotype (MuL), whereas the remaining majority of isolates were found to be highly resistant to mupirocin (MuH). The mupA gene, responsible for the MuH phenotype, has been assigned to three different polymorphic loci among the strains in the collection analyzed. The predominant polymorph, polymorph I (characterized by a mupA-containing EcoRI DNA fragment of about 16 kb), was located on a specific plasmid which was widely distributed among the entire staphylococcal population. All MuR S. aureus isolates were found to represent a single epidemic strain, which was clonally disseminated in both wards. The S. epidermidis population was much more diverse; however, at least four clusters of closely related isolates were identified, which suggested that some strains of this species were also clonally spread in the hospital environment. Six isolates of S. epidermidis were demonstrated to express the MuL and MuH resistance mechanisms simultaneously, and this is the first identification of such dual MuR phenotype-bearing strains. The outbreak was attributed to a high level and inappropriate use of mupirocin, and as a result the dermatological formulation of the drug has been removed from the hospital formulary.     

EPR Spectra of Sintered Cd1−xCrxTe Powdered Crystals with Various Cr Content

In this paper, we show a simple method of producing ferromagnetic materials with a Curie temperature above room temperature. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of Cd_1−xCr_xTe (0.002 < x < 0.08) were measured with a dependence on temperature (82 K < T < 381 K). Obtained EPR lines were fitted to a Lorentz-shaped curve. The temperature dependencies of the parameters of the EPR lines, such as the peak-to-peak linewidth (H_pp), the intensity (A), as well as the resonance field (H_r), were studied. Ferromagnetism was noticed in samples at high temperatures (near room temperature). For a sample with a nominal concentration of chrome of x = 0.05, a very strong intrinsic magnetic field is observed. The value of the effective gyromagnetic factor for this sample is g_e = 30 at T = 240 K. An increase of chrome concentration above x = 0.05 reduces the ferromagnetic properties considerably. Analysis of the temperature dependencies of the integral intensity of EPR spectra was carried out using the Curie–Weiss law and the paramagnetic Curie temperature was obtained.     

Present and future possibilities for early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) represents the fifth most common cancer in the world,and the third most frequent oncological cause of death.The incidence of HCC is on the increase.HCC typically develops in patients with chronic liver diseases,and cirrhosis,usually with viral etiology,is the strongest predisposing factor.Nowadays HCC diagnosis is a multistage process including clinical,laboratory,imaging and pathological examinations.The prognosis of HCC is mostly poor,because of detection at an advanced,non-r...     

Morphohistochemical appraisal of the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygenation, cytochrome c, and thymalin in the management of experimental gastric ulcers

The authors studied the content of xanthine oxidase and the activity of the reparative process in the border of an acetate ulcer after Okabe in 48 rabbits before and during treatment by HBO, cytochrome c, and thymalin. In treatment by HBO and cytochrome c the activity of the enzyme was normalized rapidly, which coincided with cicatrization of the ulcer. In treatment with thymalin xanthinE oxidase activity was not normalized in this period and mucosal inflammation persisted in the zone of ulcer cicatrization.