This review examines the existing knowledge about Ru(II)/(III) ion complexes with a potential application in medicine or pharmacy, which may offer greater potential in cancer chemotherapy than Pt(II) ...complexes, which are known to cause many side effects. Hence, much attention has been paid to research on cancer cell lines and clinical trials have been undertaken on ruthenium complexes. In addition to their antitumor activity, ruthenium complexes are under evaluation for other diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and HIV. Attempts are also being made to evaluate ruthenium complexes as potential photosensitizers with polypyridine ligands for use in cancer chemotherapy. The review also briefly examines theoretical approaches to studying the interactions of Ru(II)/Ru(III) complexes with biological receptors, which can facilitate the rational design of ruthenium-based drugs.
Introduction:
Environmental arsenic contamination is a major toxicological problem worldwide due to its carcinogenic and nephrotoxic potential.
Aim:
The purpose of this observational study was to ...determine the suspected association between urinary arsenic (uAs) and urinary leucine (or leucyl) aminopeptidase 3 (uLAP3) to evaluate uLAP3 as a candidate biomarker of exposure to airborne arsenic.
Materials and Methods:
A total of 918 adults occupationally and/or environmentally exposed to airborne arsenic were enrolled in the study. Baseline information (age; sex; history of smoking; alcohol, fish and seafood consumption) was gathered. Total uAs concentrations μg/L of 918 subjects, as well as the sum of arsenic species (ΣiAs) in 259 subjects, were obtained. Urinary LAP3 was measured by an immune-enzymatic assay using an ELISA kit. Urinary creatinine concentration was assessed with the IB/lAB/1289 research protocol (version II, 2015-09-17). The values of uAs and uLAP3 were recalculated per unit of creatinine. The association between uAs and uLAP3 was assessed using a logistic regression model adjusted for confounders.
Results:
The study identified a positive correlation between the logarithm of uAs and the logarithm of uLAP3 in the study population (r = 0.1737, p < 0.0000) and between urinary creatinine and uLAP3 concentration not adjusted for creatinine level (r = 0.1871, p < 0.001). In the logistic regression model, there was also an association between increased (≥15 µg/L) uAs and decreased (below the 25th quartile) uLAP3 OR uLAP3 = 1.22 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.44, p < 0.02).
Conclusions:
These data suggest that urinary LAP3 may be a potential biomarker of arsenic exposure, which warrants further study.
Meningococcal disease continues to be a global public health concern due to its epidemic potential, severity, and sequelae. The global epidemiological data on circulating meningococcal serogroups ...have never been reviewed concurrently with the laboratory capacity for meningococcal surveillance at the national level. We, therefore, aimed to conduct a country-level review of meningococcal surveillance, serogroup distribution, and vaccine use.
We conducted a systematic literature review across six databases to identify studies (published January 1, 2010 to October 16, 2017) and grey literature reporting meningococcal serogroup data for the years 2010-2016. We performed independent random effects meta-analyses for serogroups A, B, C, W, X, Y, and other. We developed and circulated a questionnaire-based survey to surveillance focal points in countries (N = 95) with known regional bacterial meningitis surveillance programs to assess their surveillance capacity and summarized using descriptive methods.
We included 173 studies from 59 countries in the final analysis. The distribution of meningococcal serogroups differed markedly between countries and regions. Meningococcal serogroups C and W accounted for substantial proportions of meningococcal disease in most of Africa and Latin America. Serogroup B was the predominant cause of meningococcal disease in many locations in Europe, the Americas, and the Western Pacific. Serogroup Y also caused many cases of meningococcal disease in these regions, particularly in Nordic countries. Survey responses were received from 51 countries. All countries reported the ability to confirm the pathogen in-country, while approximately 30% either relied on reference laboratories for serogrouping (N = 10) or did not serogroup specimens (N = 5). Approximately half of countries did not utilize active laboratory-based surveillance system (N = 22). Nationwide use of a meningococcal vaccine varied, but most countries (N = 36) utilized a meningococcal vaccine at least for certain high-risk population groups, in private care, or during outbreaks.
Due to the large geographical variations in circulating meningococcal serogroups, each country should continue to be monitored for changes in major disease-causing serogroups in order to inform vaccine and control policies. Similarly, laboratory capacity should be appropriately scaled up to more accurately understand local epidemiology and disease burden, as well as the impact of vaccination programs.
The epidemiology of invasive listeriosis in humans appears to be weakly characterized in Poland, the sixth most populous member state of the European Union. We obtained antimicrobial susceptibility ...data, PCR-serogroups and genotypic profiles for 344 invasive isolates of Listeria monocytogenes, collected between 1997 and 2013 in Poland. All isolates were susceptible to the 10 tested antimicrobials, except one that was resistant to tetracycline and minocycline and harbored the tet(M), tet(A) and tet(C) genes. Overall, no increasing MIC values were observed during the study period. Four PCR-serogroups were observed: IVb (55.8%), IIa (34.3%), IIb (8.1%) and IIc (1.8%). We identified clonal complexes (CCs) and epidemic clones (ECs) previously involved in outbreaks worldwide, with the most prevalent CCs/ECs being: CC6/ECII (32.6%), CC1/ECI (17.2%), CC8/ECV (6.1%) and CC2/ECIV (5.5%). The present study is the first extensive analysis of Polish L. monocytogenes isolates from invasive infections.
A highly efficient recognition unit based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was developed as a promising, fast, and sensitive tool for detection of meningococcal meningitis, which is an ...extremely serious and often fatal disease of the nervous system (an inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord). The results of this study confirmed that there were specific differences in SERS spectra between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples infected by
Neisseria meningitidis
and the normal CSF, suggesting a potential role for neopterin in meningococcal meningitis detection and screening applications. To estimate the best performance of neopterin as a marker of bacterial infection, principal component analysis (PCA) was performed in a selected region (640–720 cm
−1
) where the most prominent SERS peak at 695 cm
−1
arising from neopterin was observed. The calculated specificity of 95 % and sensitivity of 98 % clearly indicate the effective diagnostic efficiency for differentiation between infected and control samples. Additionally, the limit of detection (LOD) of neopterin in CSF clinical samples was estimated. The level of neopterin was significantly higher in CSF samples infected by
N. meningitidis
(48 nmol/L), compared to the normal (control) group (4.3 nmol/L). Additionally, this work presents a new type of SERS-active nanostructure, based on polymer mats, that allows simultaneous filtration, immobilization, and enhancement of the Raman signal, enabling detection of spectra from single bacterial cells of
N. meningitidis
present in CSF samples. This provides a new possibility for fast and easy detection of bacteria in CSF and other clinical body fluids on a time scale of seconds. This method of detection produces consistent results faster and cheaper than traditional laboratory techniques, demonstrates the powerful potential of SERS for detection of disease, and shows the viability of future development in healthcare applications.
Arsenic is a known environmental carcinogenic agent. However, under certain circumstances, it may exert anticancer effects. In this systematic review, we aim to provide information on recent ...developments in studies on arsenic antitumor effects in breast cancer. Research included in the review refers to experimental data from in vitro studies. The data was collected using search terms “breast cancer,” “arsenic,” and “anticancer” (25.05.2021). Only studies in English and published in the last 10 years were included. The search identified 123 studies from the EBSCOhost, PubMed, and Scopus databases. In the selection process, thirty full-texts were evaluated as eligible for the review. The literature of the last decade provides a lot of information on mechanisms behind anticancer effects of arsenic on breast cancer. Similar to arsenic-induced carcinogenesis, these mechanisms include the activation of the redox system and the increased production of free radicals. Targets of arsenic action are systems of cell membranes, mitochondria, pathways of intracellular transmission, and the genetic apparatus of the cell. Beneficial effects of arsenic use are possible due to significant metabolic differences between cancer and healthy cells. Further efforts are needed in order to establish modes and doses of treatment with arsenic that would provide anticancer activity with minimal toxicity.
Linseed oil has cardio-protective effects. However, its antihypertensive action has not yet been well characterised.
The primary purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of short-term dietary ...supplementation with linseed oil on blood pressure (BP) and lipid metabolism in patients with mild hypercholesterolaemia. The secondary aim was to assess the effect of linseed oil on nitric oxide pathway and selected serum trace metals.
150 volunteers: 43 men (49.9 ± 11.5 years) and 107 women (53.2 ± 10.3 years), diagnosed with mild hyper-cholesterolaemia, were assessed prospectively for BP and lipid levels, before and after lipid-lowering diet plus linseed oil supplementation at a dose of 15 mL daily for four weeks (study groups) or four-weekly lipid-lowering diet (control group). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the effect of linseed oil on BP after adjustment for age, sex, height, body weight, body mass index, smoking status, and alcohol consumption.
Supplementation with linseed oil significantly decreased low-density lipoprotein (LDL)- and non-high-density lipo-protein (HDL) cholesterol, and increased HDL- and HDL₃- cholesterol levels. Additionally, linseed oil decreased diastolic BP in men (95% confidence interval CI: -6.0 to -1.1, p < 0.006), whereas in women linseed oil reduced (p < 0.001) systolic BP (-3.6 mmHg; 95% CI: -5.8 to -1.5) as well as diastolic BP (-4 mmHg; 95% CI: -5.8 to -2.1). Women with higher BP displayed an increase in serum L-arginine level (p < 0.01). In the logistic regression model oil consumption was associated with a decrease in mean BP (adjusted odds ratio 3.85; 95% CI 1.32-11.33).
Our findings confirm the benefit of short-term linseed oil use in mild hypercholesterolaemia, particularly in patients with increased blood pressure.
Haemophilus influenzae
is a human-specific pathogen responsible for respiratory tract infections, meningitis, and sepsis. The study aimed to characterize antibiotic resistance in
H. influenzae
...strains isolated from patients with lower respiratory tract infections over 15 years in Poland. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of clinically relevant antibiotics were determined by broth microdilution method. Screening for beta-lactam resistance was performed in all isolates following EUCAST recommendation. Finally, relevant changes in penicillin-binding protein 3 (PBP3) were detected by PCR screening. Of the 1481 isolates collected between 2005 and 2019, 12.6%, 0.2%, 17.1%, and 0.2% were resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanate, cefuroxime, and ceftriaxone, respectively. Among them, 74.4% (1102/1481) of isolates were categorized as BLNAS (β-lactamase negative, ampicillin-susceptible), 13.0% (192/1481) as BLNAS with modified PBP3 (mutations in
fts
I gene), 2.6% (39/1481) as BLNAR (β-lactamase negative, ampicillin-resistant), and 0.2% had PBP3 modifications typical for high-BLNAR. Production of β-lactamase characterized 9.7% of isolates (8.6% BLPAR-β-lactamase-positive, ampicillin-resistant, and 1.1% BLPACR-β-lactamase-positive, amoxicillin-clavulanate resistant). Three isolates with PBP3 modifications typical for high-BLNAR proved resistant to ceftriaxone (MIC > 0.125 mg/L). Resistance to ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was observed in 0.1%, 0.5%, 1.6%, and 24.7% of isolates, respectively. This is the first report of Polish
H. influenzae
isolates resistant to third-generation cephalosporins. Polish
H. influenzae
isolates demonstrate similar susceptibility trends as in many other countries. The substantial proportion of β-lactam-resistant isolates and the emergence of those resistant to third-generation cephalosporins are of great concern and should be under surveillance.
We estimate and describe the incidence rates, mortality, and cost of CAP (community-acquired pneumonia), in both inpatient and outpatient settings, in the Czech Republic (CZ), Slovakia (SK), Poland ...(PL), and Hungary (HU). A retrospective analysis was conducted on administrative data from the health ministry and insurance reimbursement claims with a primary diagnosis of pneumonia in 2009 to determine hospitalization rates, costs, and mortality in adults ≥50 years of age. Patient chart reviews were conducted to estimate the number of outpatient cases. Among all adults ≥50 years, the incidence of hospitalized CAP per 100,000 person years was: 456.6 (CZ), 504.6 (SK), 363.9 (PL), and 845.3 (HU). The average fatality rate for all adults ≥50 is 19.1%, and for each country; 21.7% (CZ), 20.9% (SK), 18.6% (PL), 17.8% (HU). Incidence, fatality, and likelihood of hospitalization increased with advancing age. Total healthcare costs of CAP in EUR was 12,579,543 (CZ); 9,160,774 (SK); 22,409,085 (PL); and 18,298,449 (HU); with hospitalization representing over 90% of the direct costs of treatment. The burden of CAP increases with advancing age in four CEE countries, with hospitalizations driving the costs of CAP upwards in the elderly population. Mortality rates are generally higher than reported in Western EU countries.
Numerous plant compounds and their metal-ion complexes exert antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and other beneficial effects. This review highlights the different bioactivities of ...flavonoids, chromones, and coumarins and their metal-ions complexes due to different structural characteristics. In addition to insight into the most studied antioxidative properties of these compounds, the first part of the review provides a comprehensive overview of exogenous and endogenous sources of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, oxidative stress-mediated damages of lipids and proteins, and on protective roles of antioxidant defense systems, including plant-derived antioxidants. Additionally, the review covers the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of flavonoids, chromones, coumarins and their metal-ion complexes which support its application in medicine, pharmacy, and cosmetology.
PDF
