Changes in the Mechanical Properties of Alginate-Gelatin Hydrogels with the Addition of Pygeum africanum with Potential Application in Urology

New hydrogel materials developed to improve soft tissue healing are an alternative for medical applications, such as tissue regeneration or enhancing the biotolerance effect in the tissue-implant–body fluid system. The biggest advantages of hydrogel materials are the presence of a large amount of water and a polymeric structure that corresponds to the extracellular matrix, which allows to create healing conditions similar to physiological ones. The present work deals with the change in mechanical properties of sodium alginate mixed with gelatin containing Pygeum africanum. The work primarily concentrates on the evaluation of the mechanical properties of the hydrogel materials produced by the sol–gel method. The antimicrobial activity of the hydrogels was investigated based on the population growth dynamics of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, as well as the degree of degradation after contact with urine using an innovative method with a urine flow simulation stand. On the basis of mechanical tests, it was found that sodium alginate-based hydrogels with gelatin showed weaker mechanical properties than without the additive. In addition, gelatin accelerates the degradation process of the produced hydrogel materials. Antimicrobial studies have shown that the presence of African plum bark extract in the hydrogel enhances the inhibitory effect on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The research topic was considered due to the increased demand from patients for medical devices to promote healing of urethral epithelial injuries in order to prevent the formation of urethral strictures.     

Etiology of IBD—Is It Still a Mystery?

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including colitis ulcerosa and Crohn’s disease, are chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract for which the cause has not been fully understood. However, it is known that the etiology is multifactorial. The multidirectional network of interactions of environmental, microbiological and genetic factors in predisposed persons lead to an excessive and insufficiently inhibited reaction of the immune system, leading to the development of chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal walls, the consequence of which is the loss of the function that the intestine performs, inter alia, through the process of fibrosis. Detailed knowledge of the pathways leading to chronic inflammation makes it possible to pharmacologically modulate disorders and effectively treatthese diseases. In this review, we described the primary and adaptive immune system response in the gut and the known immune pathogenetic pathways leading to the development of IBD. We also described the process leading to intestinal tissue fibrosis, which is an irreversible consequence of untreated IBD.     

Effect of the Production Parameters and In Vitro Digestion on the Content of Polyphenolic Compounds,Phenolic Acids,and Antiradical Properties of Innovative Snacks Enriched with Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum L.) Leaves

A new type of corn snack has been created containing additions of wild garlic (Allium ursinum L.). This medicinal and dietary plant has a long tradition of use in folk medicine. However, studies on wild garlic composition and activity are fairly recent and scarce. This research aimed to investigate the influence of the screw speed and A. ursinum amounts on the antiradical properties as well as the content of polyphenolic compounds and individual phenolic acids of innovative snacks enriched with wild garlic leaves. The highest radical scavenging activity and content of polyphenols and phenolic acids were found in the snacks enriched with 4% wild garlic produced using screw speed 120 rpm. The obtained findings demonstrated that snacks enriched with wild garlic are a rich source of polyphenolic compounds. Since the concentration of such compounds is affected by many factors, e.g., plant material, presence of other compounds, and digestion, the second aim of this study was to determine radical scavenging activity, the content of polyphenols, and individual phenolic acids of snacks after in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Using an in vitro two-stage model, authors noted a significant difference between the concentration of polyphenolic compounds and the polyphenol content of the plant material before digestion.     

Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Burn Wound Management

Mesenchymal stem cells have a known regenerative potential and are used in many indications. They secrete many growth factors, including for fibroblasts (FGF), endothelium (VEGF), as well as 14 anti-inflammatory cytokines, and they stimulate tissue regeneration, promoting the secretion of proteins and glycosaminoglycans of extracellular matrices, such as collagen I, II, III, and V, elastin, and also metalloproteinases. They secrete exosomes that contain proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and enzymes. In addition, they show the activity of inactivating free radicals. The aim of this study was an attempt to collect the existing literature on the use of stem cells in the treatment of a burn wound. There were 81 studies included in the analysis. The studies differed in terms of the design, burn wound model, source of stem cells, and methods of cellular therapy application. No major side effects were reported, and cellular therapy reduced the healing time of the burn wound. Few case reports on human models did not report any serious adverse events. However, due to the heterogeneity of the evidence, cellular therapy in burn wound treatment remains an experimental method.     

Partial breakage of a tunneled dialysis catheter: An uncommon finding

Infections and dysfunction are the most common complications related to catheter use. Here we describe a case of catheter rupture on the course of subcutaneous channel. Catheter fractures are relatively rare, but potentially hazardous complications. In case of partial breakage, a catheter exchange should be a simple solution.     

The Working Conditions and Optimisation of a Large Rainwater Harvesting and Treatment System in an Area at a Risk of Erosion

Rainwater harvesting and treatment systems (RHTS) are used in many places around the world as a part of sustainable water management. They decrease the risk of overloading the sewage network and environmental pollution. The efficiency and reasonableness of using such solutions in specific erosive conditions are not sufficiently understood. The aim of the study was to evaluate the operation of RHTS, receiving effluents from the wholesale market and fuel station (twenty years of observations). The studied system is located in an area endangered by water erosion. In the study period, due to the accumulation of erosive phenomena, it was necessary to optimise the system (including the installation of new devices and increasing the capacity of reservoirs). The analyses referred to the stability and work safety of the most important equipment and water treatment efficiency. The quality of water in the reservoirs was measured before and after the modernisation of the system. Selected physical, oxygen, biogenic and salinity indicators were determined in the water. During the study, RHTS had a positive effect on the quality of rainwater runoff – the values of many contaminants were reduced (RHTS 1: suspended solids, nitrogen, iron, potassium; RHTS 2: conductivity, suspended solids, nitrogen). Design and operational errors were noticed that in the long run may contribute to deteriorating the operational efficiency and even lead to a building collapse (intense erosive phenomena). This study clearly demonstrates that building a rainwater management system is a highly site-specific issue.

     

Effect of Hydrophobic Plant Extract on the Physicochemical Properties of a Transparent Fabric Softener

This article investigates the effect of hydrophobic supercritical CO₂ raspberry seed extracts on the physicochemical and functional properties of a modern, transparent fabric softener. The addition of a hydrophobic extract to a transparent softener formulation increased the turbidity and dynamic viscosity of the product compared to the reference formulation (with no added extract). In addition, fabric rinsed in a bath containing the transparent fabric softener enriched with the hydrophobic extract was characterized by a higher degree of softness and slightly lower values of fabric rewettability (two parameters determining the usable properties of this type products) in relation to the values determined for a fabric exposed to the rinsing process in an aqueous solution of the transparent fabric softener without added extract. The results obtained in the assessment of physicochemical properties point to the modification of the structure of fabric softener resulting from the growth of surfactant aggregates due to solubilization of the hydrophobic extract. As a consequence, the deposit—an adsorption layer of surfactants (responsible for key characteristics relevant to the performance of this type of products) remaining on the fabric after the rinsing process—is modified.     

A Role for Caveolin-3 in the Pathogenesis of Muscular Dystrophies

Caveolae are the cholesterol-rich small invaginations of the plasma membrane present in many cell types including adipocytes, endothelial cells, epithelial cells, fibroblasts, smooth muscles, skeletal muscles and cardiac muscles. They serve as specialized platforms for many signaling molecules and regulate important cellular processes like energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, mitochondria homeostasis, and mechano-transduction. Caveolae can be internalized together with associated cargo. The caveolae-dependent endocytic pathway plays a role in the withdrawal of many plasma membrane components that can be sent for degradation or recycled back to the cell surface. Caveolae are formed by oligomerization of caveolin proteins. Caveolin-3 is a muscle-specific isoform, whose malfunction is associated with several diseases including diabetes, cancer, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular diseases. Mutations in Caveolin-3 are known to cause muscular dystrophies that are collectively called caveolinopathies. Altered expression of Caveolin-3 is also observed in Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, which is likely a part of the pathological process leading to muscle weakness. This review summarizes the major functions of Caveolin-3 in skeletal muscles and discusses its involvement in the pathology of muscular dystrophies.     

Isolation and Self-Association Studies of Beta-Lactoglobulin

The aim of this study was to investigate isolated β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) from the whey protein isolate (WPI) solution using the column chromatography with SP Sephadex. The physicochemical characterization (self-association, the pH stability in various salt solutions, the identification of oligomeric forms) of the protein obtained have been carried out. The electrophoretically pure β-LG fraction was obtained at pH 4.8. The fraction was characterized by the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS) technique. The use of the HCCA matrix indicated the presence of oligomeric β-LG forms, while the SA and DHB matrices enabled the differentiation of A and B isoforms in the sample. The impact of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, ammonium sulfate, and sodium citrate in dispersion medium on β-LG electrophoretic stability in solution was also studied. Type of the dispersion medium led to the changes in the isoelectric point of protein. Sodium citrate stabilizes protein in comparison to ammonium sulfate. Additionally, the potential of capillary electrophoresis (CE) with UV detection using bare fused capillary to monitor β-LG oligomerization was discussed. Obtained CE data were further compared by the asymmetric flow field flow fractionation coupled with the multi-angle light scattering detector (AF4-MALS). It was shown that the β-LG is a monomer at pH 3.0, dimer at pH 7.0. At pH 5.0 (near the isoelectric point), oligomers with structures from dimeric to octameric are formed. However, the appearance of the oligomers equilibrium is dependent on the concentration of protein. The higher quantity of protein leads to the formation of the octamer. The far UV circular dichroism (CD) spectra carried out at pH 3.0, 5.0, and 7.0 confirmed that β-sheet conformation is dominant at pH 3.0, 5.0, while at pH 7.0, this conformation is approximately in the same quantity as α-helix and random structures.