Catabolism of hydroxycinnamic acids in contact with probiotic Lactobacillus.

AIMS: The catabolism products of the fermentation process of selected hydroxycinnamic acids initiated by different species of Lactobacillus strains were identified. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three dietary supplements (Sanprobi IBS® , BioGaia ProTectis Baby® and Dicoflor 60® ) were used to isolate the Lactobacillus strains. The overnight bacterial cultures (18 h) were diluted and grown in a microaerophilic atmosphere at 37°C. Then, each phenolic acid was added to bacterial cultures and incubated for 24 h at 37°C. Samples were collected at specific intervals for a further 24 h of incubation. LC-MS/MS was used for the identification of metabolism products of selected phenolic acids. CONCLUSIONS: The phenolic acids were resistant to the Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. Lactobacillus plantarum 299v caused degradation of caffeic and ferulic acids. The former was degraded either to dihydrocaffeic acid or to 4-vinylcatechol and 4-ethylcatechol. Ferulic acid was degraded only to dihydroferulic acid. Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 caused only the degradation of chlorogenic acid (5-caffeoylquinic acid, referred to IUPAC nomenclature) to caffeic acid. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Using of Lactobacilli as food additive should be taken into account that phenolic acids metabolism rate depends on not only the specific bacterial strain but also the structural properties of the acid.

Roles of endothelin-1 and selected proinflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy: Analysis of vitreous samples.

PURPOSE: To investigate the roles of endothelin-1(ET-1), TNF-alpha, IL-6 in the pathogenesis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Vitreous and blood serum samples were collected during vitrectomy from 19 patients with PDR and 15 patients who underwent vitrectomy for other reasons. The concentrations of ET-1, TNF-alpha, IL-6, vWF, sE-selectin were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Intraocular and serous concentrations of ET-1, TNF-alpha, IL-6, vWF, sE-selectin were higher in patients with PDR than in the control group. The vitreous ET-1/plasma ET-1 ratios the group of diabetic patients and in the control group were similar. Also TNF-alpha, IL-6 vitreous/plasma ratio were not statistically different between the analysed groups. Correlation between intraocular ET-1 and TNF-alpha concentrations in patients with PDR and between the increases in both factors in the vitreous and HbA(1)c concentration were shown. In the vitreous the increase in vWF depended on elevated levels of vWF in the serum. E-selectin concentration correlated with diastolic blood pressure. CONCLUSION: These data provide evidence of the activation of the local synthesis of ET-1, TNF-alpha, IL-6 in PDR. The relationship between the increase in vitreous ET-1, TNF-alpha concentrations and HbA(1)c concentration is a important confirmation of the necessity to optimise diabetes treatment.

[Risks attributable to the occurrence of tin, silver and tungsten in the air of the workplace environment--methods of determination]. / Zagrozenia zwiazane z wystepowaniem cyny, srebra oraz wolframu w powietrzu na stanowiskach pracy--metody oznaczania.

Tin, silver and tungsten constitute serious threat to the health of the employees of Polish industry. As no standard methods for determination of those metals in the atmospheres of workplaces were available, measurements of their concentrations in the workplace atmospheres were not performed, and, therefore, determination of the resultant risks to the health of the people exposed to those metals was not possible. A spectrophotometric method of determination has been developed for tin, which is based on the formation of coloured Sn(IV)--pyrocatechine complexes in the dilute sulfuric and citric acid medium in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (absorbance determined at lambda = 600 nm). The detectability of the method is 0.5 mg/m3. To ensure the selectivity of the method in the presence of foreign cations and acid anions. Sn should be pre-separated from the disturbing ions by the extraction method. For silver determination, a method using atomic absorption spectrometry with air-C2H2 flame has been developed. The detectability of the method is 0.005 mg/m3. The presence of cations of other metals or of acid anions does not affect the results obtained with this method. The new-developed method of tungsten determination involves reaction with calcium thiocyanate in HCl medium in the presence of stannous chloride, followed by assessing the tungsten complex, pre-extracted with izoamyl, alcohol, by spectrophotometry at lambda = 405 nm. This method enables determination of 1 mg/m3 tungsten. The results are affected only by the presence of Mo in quantities exceeding 4 mg/m3 and Al in quantities exceeding 2 mg/m3.

[Our experience with using amrinone in circulatory failure]. / Doswiadczenia wlasne nad stosowaniem amrinonu w niewydolnosci krazenia.

A study aimed at evaluating an effect of amrinone of blood circulation dynamics (cardiac output), using impedance ++rheography. The study involved patients with acute, congestive cardiac failure (NYHA III-IV degrees). Cardiac output was measured prior to and 3 and 24 hours following amrinone administration. A favourable effect of a 24-hour i.v. infusion of amrinone on blood circulation dynamics was confirmed. The drug proved to be proarrhythmic.