Matrix Metalloproteinases and Their Tissue Inhibitors: an Evaluation of Novel Biomarkers in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) may play an important role in both inflammation with subsequent fibrosis and in repair and healing in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). We evaluated the circulating levels of MMPs, including pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), and TIMPs in patients with AAV. PAPP-A, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and selected parameters were measured in 100 AAV patients (36 patients with active disease and 64 patients in remission) and 34 healthy subjects. The levels of MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and PAPP-A in AAV were all found to be different to those of the controls. The MMP-7 and PAPP-A concentrations were increased in active disease in comparison to the controls (MMP-7: 13 ±.7 vs. 2 ± 0.6 ng/ml, PAPP-A: 14 ± 18 vs. 6.8 ± 2.6 ng/ml, both P < 0.005). The MMP-2 and TIMP-2 levels were increased in remission when compared to the controls (MMP-2: 242 ± 50 ng/ml vs. 212 ± 26 ng /ml, TIMP-2: 82 ± 14 ng/ml vs. 68 ± 93 ng/ml) and to the active AAV (MMP-2: 242 ± 50 vs. 219 ± 54 ng/ml, TIMP-2: 82 ± 14 ng/ml vs. 73 ± 15 ng/ml, all P < 0.005). MMP-3, MMP-7, TIMP-1, and PAPP-A correlated with serum creatinine. The serum levels of MMPs, TIMPs and PAPP-A are all altered in AAV. MMP-2, MMP-7 and TIMP-2 appear to be promising markers in distinguishing active AAV from remission. MMP-3, MMP-7, TIMP-1, and PAPP-A are associated with kidney function in AAV. Further studies are needed to delineate the exact roles of circulating MMPs, TIMPs and PAPP-A in patients with AAV.

Comparison of fungicidal properties of non-thermal plasma produced by corona discharge and dielectric barrier discharge.

The inactivation of four micromycete species by action of non-thermal plasma was followed. Two sources of plasma were compared, namely, positive corona discharge and dielectric barrier discharge. The corona discharge appeared as suitable for fungal spore inactivation in water suspension, whereas the barrier discharge inactivated spores on the surface of cultivation agar. Cladosporium sphaerospermum was the most sensitive, being inactivated within 10 min of exposure to plasma, whereas Aspergillus oryzae displayed decrease in viable cell count only, the complete inactivation was not achieved even after 40 min of exposure. Intermediate sensitivity was found for Alternaria sp. and Byssochlamys nivea. The significant delay of growth was observed for all fungi after exposure to sublethal dose of plasma, but we failed to express this effect quantitatively.

Decontamination effects of low-temperature plasma generated by corona discharge. Part I: an overview.

The first part of this article is devoted to a minireview of basic terms of plasma physics and chemistry described in a way understandable even to nonspecialists in the field. Among the methods of generation of low-temperature plasma, the unipolar electric corona discharge in air at atmospheric pressure is described in more detail. Selected studies are mentioned that concern the decontamination effects of low-temperature plasma and the currently known mechanisms of its microbicidal action. The key part of this mechanism is the action of UV light and both charged and uncharged particles. The most important common mechanism seems to be different forms of reactive oxygen species and some methods of their determination are therefore briefly described.

Decontamination effects of low-temperature plasma generated by corona discharge. Part II: new insights.

The second part of our paper presents the results of experiments with the decontamination of surfaces by low-temperature plasma generated by corona discharge in air at atmospheric pressure. A simple device is described and the effects of the corona discharge on model microorganisms, viz. the yeast Candida albicans, Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Neisseria sicca, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Gram-positive bacteria Deinococcus radiodurans, Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus sanguinis, and vegetative and spore forms of Geobacillus stearothermophilus are discussed. A similar microbicidal effect after about one-minute exposure was observed in all vegetative forms of the microorganisms. Measurement in growth inhibition zones on a semisolid medium was used to determine the dependence of the microbicidal effect on exposure time and the distance between electrodes. Counting of colonies served to assess the microbicidal effect of the discharge on contaminated inert surfaces observable after more than 1 min exposure. Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores were found to have several times lower susceptibility to the action of the discharge and the microbicidal effect was observed only after an 8 min exposure. Reaction with the iodide reagent did not unambiguously demonstrate the difference between ozone and singlet oxygen as presumed active components of the corona. The area distribution of reactive oxygen species was determined; it was found to differ from the Wartburg law depending on exposure time. Qualitative evidence was obtained on the penetration of the reactive oxygen species into the semisolid medium.