Titania nanofibers were fabricated using the industrial Nanospider(TM) technology. The preparative protocol was optimized by screening various precursor materials to get pure anatase nanofibers. Composite films were prepared by mixing a commercial paste of nanocrystalline anatase particles with the electrospun nanofibers, which were shortened by milling. The composite films were sensitized by Ru-bipyridine dye (coded C106) and the solar conversion efficiency was tested in a dye-sensitized solar cell filled with iodide-based electrolyte solution (coded Z960). The solar conversion efficiency of a solar cell with the optimized composite electrode (η = 7.53% at AM 1.5 irradiation) outperforms that of a solar cell with pure nanoparticle film (η = 5.44%). Still larger improvement was found for lower light intensities. At 10% sun illumination, the best composite electrode showed η = 7.04%, referenced to that of pure nanoparticle film (η = 4.69%). There are non-monotonic relations between the film's surface area, dye sorption capacity and solar performance of nanofiber-containing composite films, but the beneficial effect of the nanofiber morphology for enhancement of the solar efficiency has been demonstrated.

• MeSH
• 2,2'-dipyridyl analogy a deriváty   chemie   MeSH
• barvicí látky chemie   MeSH
• elektrody MeSH
• elektrolyty chemie   MeSH
• nanočástice chemie   MeSH
• nanovlákna chemie   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• organokovové sloučeniny chemie   MeSH
• polymery chemie   MeSH
• sluneční energie * MeSH
• titan chemie   MeSH
• zdroje elektrické energie * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

In the last few years, magnetically labeled cells have been intensively explored, and non-invasive cell tracking and magnetic manipulation methods have been tested in preclinical studies focused on cell transplantation. For clinical applications, it is desirable to know the intracellular pathway of nanoparticles, which can predict their biocompatibility with cells and the long-term imaging properties of labeled cells. Here, we quantified labeling efficiency, localization, and fluorescence properties of Rhodamine derivatized superparamagnetic maghemite nanoparticles (SAMN-R) in mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC). We investigated the stability of SAMN-R in the intracellular space during a long culture (20 days). Analyses were based on advanced confocal microscopy accompanied by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and magnetic resonance imaging. SAMN-R displayed excellent cellular uptake (24 h of labeling), and no toxicity of SAMN-R labeling was found. 83% of SAMN-R nanoparticles were localized in lysosomes, only 4.8% were found in mitochondria, and no particles were localized in the nucleus. On the basis of the MSC fluorescence measurement every 6 days, we also quantified the continual decrease of SAMN-R fluorescence in the average single MSC during 18 days. An additional set of analyses showed that the intracellular SAMN-R signal decrease was minimally caused by fluorophore degradation or nanoparticles extraction from the cells, main reason is a cell division. The fluorescence of SAMN-R nanoparticles within the cells was detectable minimally for 20 days. These observations indicate that SAMN-R nanoparticles have a potential for application in transplantation medicine.

• MeSH
• dextrany metabolismus   MeSH
• fluorescenční spektrometrie MeSH
• intracelulární prostor metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• magnetické nanočástice chemie   MeSH
• mezenchymální kmenové buňky cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• molekulární sondy chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• molekulární zobrazování metody   MeSH
• rhodaminy chemie   MeSH
• tuková tkáň cytologie   MeSH
• viabilita buněk MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

• Publikační typ
• abstrakt z konference MeSH

The ultraviolet (UV) region of solar radiation is a critical factor in the initiation and development of a number of skin diseases. However, it is not only skin which is directly exposed to solar light that is affected by UV radiation, through low molecular weight mediators, generated upon irradiation, "non-skin" tissues can also be affected. The aim of this study was to examine in detail, the acute effects of UVA and UVB wavebands on hairless mice. Female SKH-1 hairless mice were exposed to a single dose of UVB (200, 800 mJ/cm(2)) or UVA (10, 20 J/cm(2)) using a solar simulator. The effects on haematological parameters, activity and/or expression of antioxidant enzymes, level of glutathione (GSH), markers of oxidative damage (lipid peroxidation and carbonylated proteins) were analysed in erythrocytes, plasma, liver and whole skin homogenates. No macroscopic changes were observed either 4 or 24 h after UVA/UVB exposure. The blood count showed a significant increase in leukocyte number and reduction of platelets 4 h following UVA and UVB irradiation, which disappeared 24 h after irradiation except for the higher UVA dose. Changes in oxidative stress-related parameters, particularly activity of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and level of GSH and lipid peroxidation products, were found in skin, erythrocytes and liver. The expression of several enzymes (CAT, SOD, glutathione transferase (GST), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) and hem oxygenase-1 (HO-1)) in skin was affected following UVA and UVB radiation. Increase in carbonylated proteins was found in plasma and skin samples.

• MeSH
• antioxidancia metabolismus   MeSH
• biologické markery metabolismus   MeSH
• erytrocyty metabolismus   účinky záření   MeSH
• játra enzymologie   účinky záření   MeSH
• karbonylace proteinů účinky záření   MeSH
• krev imunologie   metabolismus   účinky záření   MeSH
• kůže enzymologie   účinky záření   MeSH
• leukocyty účinky záření   MeSH
• myši bezsrsté MeSH
• myši MeSH
• oxidační stres účinky záření   MeSH
• peroxidace lipidů účinky záření   MeSH
• sluneční záření škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• trombocyty metabolismus   účinky záření   MeSH
• ultrafialové záření škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Non-small cell lung cancer has one of the highest mortality rates among cancer-suffering patients. It is well known that the unwanted psychotropic effects of cannabinoids (CBs) are mediated via the CB1 receptor (R), and selective targeting of the CB2R would thus avoid side effects in cancer treatment. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of selective CB2R agonist, JWH-133, on A549 cells (non-small lung cancer) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Cytotoxicity assay and DNA fragmentation assay were employed to evaluate the influence of JWH-133 (3-(1,1-dimethylbutyl)- 1-deoxy-Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol) on investigated cancer cells. In addition, migration assay and gelatinase zymography were performed in HUVECs to asses JWH-133 anti-angiogenic activity. Our study showed that JWH-133 exerted cytotoxic effect only at the highest concentration used (10-4 mol/l), while inhibition of colony formation was also detected at the non-toxic concentrations (10-5–10-8 mol/l). JWH-133 was also found to be able to induce weak DNA fragmentation in A549 cells. Furthermore, JWH-133 at non-toxic concentrations inhibited some steps in the process of angiogenesis. It significantly inhibited endothelial cell migration after 17 h of incubation at concentrations of 10-4–10-6 mol/l. In addition, JWH-133 inhibited MMP-2 secretion as assessed by gelatinase zymography. The present study demonstrates the in vitro anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic potential of CB2R agonist, JWH-133, in nonsmall lung cancer cells and HUVECs. Our results generate a rationale for further in vivo efficacy studies with this compound in preclinical cancer models.

• MeSH
• buněčné kultury MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• endoteliální buňky pupečníkové žíly (lidské) účinky léků   MeSH
• fragmentace DNA MeSH
• hojení ran MeSH
• kanabinoidy farmakologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádory plic farmakoterapie   MeSH
• nemalobuněčný karcinom plic farmakoterapie   MeSH
• patologická angiogeneze MeSH
• pohyb buněk MeSH
• proliferace buněk MeSH
• receptor kanabinoidní CB2 agonisté   metabolismus   MeSH
• viabilita buněk MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Background: Pheochromocytoma is a neuroendocrine tumour originating from the chromaffin cells of adrenal glands or sympathetic paraganglia. It produces most frequently norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine. As a result of non-specific and variable clinical presentation, pheochromocytoma is difficult to diagnose. Case summary: A 37-year-old female without medical history and 57-year-old male patient with diabetes, arterial hypertension, and aortic valve replacement with a mechanical prosthesis were admitted to the hospital after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation due to ventricular fibrillation. In both patients, coronary angiography demonstrated a normal finding, and echocardiography showed left ventricular (LV) contractile dysfunction with improvement in the subsequent examination. In the first patient, the diagnosis of stress-induced cardiomyopathy was considered as the most probable cause. She was later admitted to hospital due to acute pulmonary oedema with hypertensive crisis. Echocardiography documented reversible LV systolic dysfunction with improvement after 3 days. The course of hospitalization of the male was complicated by multi-organ dysfunction syndrome comprising renal failure, paralytic ileus, and pancreatic irritation, which normalized after 2 weeks. The diagnosis of pheochromocytoma was confirmed by laboratory tests and imaging methods. After pharmacological pre-treatment with doxazosin in both patients and bisoprolol in the female, successful adrenalectomies were performed with no relapse of tumour. Discussion: We describe an atypical clinical presentation of pheochromocytoma with initial cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation and reversible LV systolic dysfunction. Our cases underline that clinical suspicion of pheochromocytoma as a potentially correctable cause should be raised in unexplained cases of severe heart failure, ventricular arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest.

• Publikační typ
• kazuistiky MeSH

Differential diagnosis of brain lesion pathologies is complex, but it is nevertheless crucial for appropriate clinical management. Advanced imaging methods, including diffusion-weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient, can help discriminate between brain mass lesions such as glioblastoma, brain metastasis, brain abscesses as well as brain lymphomas. These pathologies are characterized by blood-brain barrier alterations and have been extensively studied. However, the changes in the blood-brain barrier that are observed around brain pathologies and that contribute to the development of vasogenic brain edema are not well described. Some infiltrative brain pathologies such as glioblastoma are characterized by glioma cell infiltration in the brain tissue around the tumor mass and thus affect the nature of the vasogenic edema. Interestingly, a common feature of primary and secondary brain tumors or tumor-like brain lesions characterized by vasogenic brain edema is the formation of various molecules that lead to alterations of tight junctions and result in blood-brain barrier damage. The resulting vasogenic edema, especially blood-brain barrier disruption, can be visualized using advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques, such as diffusion-weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient. This review presents a comprehensive overview of blood-brain barrier changes contributing to the development of vasogenic brain edema around glioblastoma, brain metastases, lymphomas, and abscesses.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

BACKGROUND: Investigation of p53 immunoreactivity in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of normal renal tissue and renal cell carcinoma with respect to histopathologic subtype and nuclear grade of RCC. METHODS: 42 tissue sections of RCC and 5 samples of normal renal tissue were stained for p53 expression using immunohistochemical assay. The results were analyzed in relation to nuclear grade and histopathologic subtype. RESULTS: In total, p53 expression was found to be 4 to 5 times higher (30.8%) in other types of RCC than in the clear-cell type of RCC (6.9%). Further, there was no statistically significant difference in p53 overexpression among the histopathologic subtypes (P>0.05, P=0.063). No association was found between the expression of p53 and nuclear grade (P>0.05, P=0.17). Interestingly, our study also showed weak cytoplasmic positivity in renal tubular epithelium. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that p53 might play an important role in tumour development or progression and it might be used as a new predictor and therapeutic target for RCC.

• MeSH
• karcinom z renálních buněk chemie   patologie   MeSH
• ledviny chemie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorový supresorový protein p53 analýza   MeSH
• nádory ledvin chemie   patologie   MeSH
• stupeň nádoru MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

• MeSH
• hematopoetické kmenové buňky cytologie   metabolismus   účinky léků   MeSH
• hematopoéza účinky léků   MeSH
• hořčík MeSH
• kultivované buňky MeSH
• kyselina asparagová farmakologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• niacin analogy a deriváty   farmakologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• stárnutí farmakologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH

Natural cosmetic products have recently re-emerged as a novel tool able to counteract skin aging and skin related damages. In addition, recently achieved progress in nanomedicine opens a novel approach yielding from combination of modern nanotechnology with traditional treatment for innovative pharmacotherapeutics. In the present study, we investigated the antiaging effect of a pretreatment with Myrtus communis natural extract combined with a polycaprolactone nanofibrous scaffold (NanoPCL-M) on skin cell populations exposed to UV. We set up a novel model of skin on a bioreactor mimicking a crosstalk between keratinocytes, stem cells and fibroblasts, as in skin. Beta-galactosidase assay, indicating the amount of senescent cells, and viability assay, revealed that fibroblasts and stem cells pretreated with NanoPCL-M and then exposed to UV are superimposable to control cells, untreated and unexposed to UV damage. On the other hand, cells only exposed to UV stress, without NanoPCL-M pretreatment, exhibited a significantly higher yield of senescent elements. Keratinocyte-based 3D structures appeared disjointed after UV-stress, as compared to NanoPCL-M pretreated samples. Gene expression analysis performed on different senescence associated genes, revealed the activation of a molecular program of rejuvenation in stem cells pretreated with NanoPCL-M and then exposed to UV. Altogether, our results highlight a future translational application of NanoPCL-M to prevent skin aging.

• MeSH
• exprese genu účinky léků   MeSH
• fibroblasty účinky léků   MeSH
• keratinocyty účinky léků   MeSH
• kmenové buňky účinky léků   MeSH
• kultivované buňky MeSH
• kůže účinky léků   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Myrtus chemie   MeSH
• nanovlákna chemie   MeSH
• polyestery chemie   MeSH
• proliferace buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• rostlinné extrakty farmakologie   MeSH
• stárnutí buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• stárnutí kůže účinky léků   MeSH
• ultrafialové záření škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH