Role of Klotho in Hyperglycemia: Its Levels and Effects on Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors,Glycolysis, and Glomerular Filtration

Hyperglycemic conditions (HG), at early stages of diabetic nephropathy (DN), cause a decrease in podocyte numbers and an aberration of their function as key cells for glomerular plasma filtration. Klotho protein was shown to overcome some negative effects of hyperglycemia. Klotho is also a coreceptor for fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs), the signaling of which, together with a proper rate of glycolysis in podocytes, is needed for a proper function of the glomerular filtration barrier. Therefore, we measured levels of Klotho in renal tissue, serum, and urine shortly after DN induction. We investigated whether it influences levels of FGFRs, rates of glycolysis in podocytes, and albumin permeability. During hyperglycemia, the level of membrane-bound Klotho in renal tissue decreased, with an increase in the shedding of soluble Klotho, its higher presence in serum, and lower urinary excretion. The addition of Klotho increased FGFR levels, especially FGFR1/FGFR2, after their HG-induced decrease. Klotho also increased levels of glycolytic parameters of podocytes, and decreased podocytic and glomerular albumin permeability in HG. Thus, we found that the decrease in the urinary excretion of Klotho might be an early biomarker of DN and that Klotho administration may have several beneficial effects on renal function in DN.     

Tuning Anti-Biofilm Activity of Manganese(II) Complexes: Linking Biological Effectiveness of Heteroaromatic Complexes of Alcohol,Aldehyde, Ketone,and Carboxylic Acid with Structural Effects and Redox Activity

The constantly growing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics and other antibacterial substances has led us to an era in which alternative antimicrobial therapies are urgently required. One promising approach is to target bacterial pathogens using metal complexes. Therefore, we investigated the possibility of utilizing series of manganese(II) complexes with heteroaromatic ligands: Alcohol, aldehyde, ketone, and carboxylic acid as inhibitors for biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. To complete the series mentioned above, Mn-dipyCO-NO₃ with dipyridin-2-ylmethanone (dipyCO) was isolated, and then structurally (single-crystal X-ray analysis) and physicochemically characterized (FT-IR, TG, CV, magnetic susceptibility). The antibacterial activity of the compounds against representative Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria was also evaluated. It is worth highlighting that the results of the cytotoxicity assays performed (MTT, DHI HoloMonitorM4) indicate high cell viability of the human fibroblast (VH10) in the presence of the Mn(II) complexes. Additionally, the inhibition effect of catalase activity by the complexes was studied. This paper focused on such aspects as studying different types of intermolecular interactions in the crystals of the Mn(II) complexes as well as their possible effect on anti-biofilm activity, the structure–activity relationship of the Mn(II) complexes, and regularity between the electrochemical properties of the Mn(II) complexes and anti-biofilm activity.     

Study of the pO2-sensitivity of the dendrimeric and free forms of Pd-meso-tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin, incorporated or not in chitosan-based nanoparticles

The concentration of oxygen and its rate of consumption are important factors in certain medical treatments, such as radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Measuring the tissue concentration of oxygen or its partial pressure (pO2) can be achieved by taking advantage of the oxygen-dependent luminescence lifetime of certain molecules, including metallo-porphyrin derivatives, due to the oxygen-dependent quenching of their triplet state. Unfortunately, most of these porphyrin derivatives are phototoxic due to the O(2)1delta produced in the pO2 measurement procedure. The aim of this work was to characterize new nanoparticle oxygen sensors, where the palladium-porhyrin molecule (Pd-meso-tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin) or its dendrimer form, is incorporated into an oxygen permeable matrix of chitosan-based colloidal particles. It was hypothesized that the reactive O(2)1delta produced during the pO2 measurement would react inside the particle thus reducing its toxicity for the surrounding tissue, whereas the 3sigma ground state of O2, that is to be measured, would diffuse freely in the peptide. We observed that the incorporation of the porphyrin in the nanoparticles resulted in a reduction of the phosphorescence lifetime sensitivity to pO2 by about one order of magnitude. Our studies of these new sensors indicate that the oxygen concentration can be measured in aqueous solutions with a precision of +/- 20% for oxygen concentrations ranging between 0% and 25%.     

Influence of Chemical Composition and Structure on Sorption Properties of Freeze-Dried Pumpkin

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of chemical composition and material structure on sorption properties of freeze-dried pumpkin. The chemical composition and material structure were changed by osmotic dehydration, blanching, freezing, and temperature of the freeze-drying process. Freeze-dried pumpkin obtained from nonpretreated pumpkin had the best sorption properties, whereas osmotic dehydration significantly decreased the water vapor adsorption ability of the investigated samples. Studies on the influence of different freezing methods on water vapor sorption showed that a combination method of freezing resulted in the best sorption properties. When the temperature of freeze drying was increased, the water vapor adsorption ability of the freeze-dried pumpkin also increased.     

Reconstruction of the constricted orbital cavity in patients with artificial anophthalmy

In cases, in which not only the globe of the eye, but the whole conjunctival sack is missing and the eyelids are due to scarring attached either to the orbital tissues and/or to each other, it is not possible to insert a prosthesis. This is a major aesthetic defect. The cavity that allows artificial eye insertion can be formed by surgery. One of the best methods is the orbital cavity reconstruction developed and suggested by the Hungarian István Csapody. He constructed two instruments to perform the operation: a butterfly shaped marker to prepare skin graft with proper size and shape, and an adjustable cone formed spacer to keep the reconstructed socket open during the healing process. We use free autologous split skin graft to line the cavity. If the shapes of the eyelids are intact, and the color of the prosthesis matches the fellow eye and it fits perfectly, then the postoperative cosmetic result can be excellent.     

The Relation Between Molecular Packing or Morphology and Chemical Structure or Processing Conditions: the Effect on Electronic Properties

In the past few decades, mainly two kind of organic semiconductors, namely small molecules and polymers, have been dealt with. It turns out that the difference between these two categories in terms of charge carrier transport arises from the potentially different morphologies and the molecular packing. There are many studies showing the effect of the chemical structure on the electronic properties. However, in this study, the focus is on the role of processing conditions which is found to be of at least equal importance. To study a range of morphologies and packing in as similar molecules, two systems prepared by “Click”‐type chemistry are chosen, with the major difference between them being the replacement of a flat unit with one that introduces a slight twist to the aromatic skeleton. Through AFM and X‐ray studies, it is shown that the molecule with the potentially flat geometry can exhibit a high degree of π–π stacking, leading to morphologies ranging from polycrystalline to single crystals while the other is always in the amorphous film state. The transport properties are compared using organic field effect transistor (OFETs) in both top and bottom contact configurations.     

Silicon compounds as additives improving coating performance: fixation of silicon compounds with cellulose

In this study the reactivity of cellulose with new solvent born preparations containing organosilanes, alkyd resin and natural oil was analysed. Structural analysis of cellulose after reaction with organosilanes and after extraction was performed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In IR spectra the analyzed bands included 1250 cm^?1 responsible for vibrations of the SiC group and 800 cm^?1 responsible for vibrations of SiC and/or SiO groups. These bands are characteristic of silicon bonds with atoms of carbon and oxygen originating from the methoxy groups found in organosilanes. The presence of these bands in the spectra proves the occurrence of a reaction between cellulose and organosilanes. The concentration of silicon was determined by AAS in cellulose after reaction with preparations and after extraction.     

Modeling of optical constants of diamond-like carbon

A new model of optical constants of diamond-like carbon parameterizing joint density of states (PJDOS) is introduced and compared with a previously published model based on the parameterization of density of states (PDOS). Both the models employ only six parameters: three parameters for π → π^⁎ and three parameters for the σ → σ^⁎ transitions. These parameters have a clear physical meaning. One describes the minimum energy needed for the band transition, i.e. band gap, the second is the maximum energy of transitions and the third is proportional to the total density of the corresponding electronic states. An inherent disadvantage of the PDOS model is in the necessity of a numerical calculation. On the other hand the PJDOS model is analytical and, therefore, it can be implemented in a simple manner. The efficiency of both the models for the study of DLC structure is demonstrated in several examples.