Eventos isquêmicos seguidos por reperfusão levam ao dano celular e mitocondrial devido à abertura do poro de transição de permeabilidade mitocondrial (TPM). Todavia, o pré-condicionamento evita o dano celular por isquemia e reperfusão. Esse efeito protetor é semelhante ao obtido pela abertura do canal mitocondrial de potássio sensível a ATP (mitoKATP). Aqui, nós mostramos os mecanismos de sinalização que ativam o mitoKATP durante o pré-condicionamento, o papel redox destes canais e seu conseqüente mecanismo protetor. Usando células cardíacas HL-1, nós demonstramos que aumentos em espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs) observadas durante o pré-condicionamento não foram revertidos por antagonistas do mitoKATP, que significativamente evitaram a proteção pelo pré-condicionamento. Isso sugere que essas espécies são formadas anteriormente à abertura do canal. Consistente com essa hipótese, a adição de catalase a corações perfundidos de rato e a células HL-1 promove reversão dos efeitos benéficos do pré-condicionamento, mas não do diazóxido (um agonista do mitoKATP). Por outro lado, 2-mercaptopropionil glicina preveniu a cardioproteção em ambos os casos, sugerindo que este composto deve apresentar outros efeitos além de antioxidante. De fato, verificamos que agentes redutores tiólicos interferem na ativação do mitoKATP mediada pelo diazóxido em mitocôndrias isoladas de coração de rato. Examinando como o mitoKATP pode ser ativado durante o pré-condicionamento, constatamos que EROs endógenas e exógenas fortemente ativaram o mitoKATP, sugerindo que o moderado aumento nas EROs durante o pré-condicionamento pode ativar esse canal. Uma vez ativado, o canal preveniu as condições (captação de Ca2+ e formação de EROs) que favorecem a ocorrência de TPM em situação de isquemia. A atividade deste canal também leva à diminuição de EROs gerados fisiologicamente ou durante períodos de isquemia e reperfusão, evitando o dano celular conseqüente. Este fato não envolveu nenhum aumento nos sistemas de remoção de oxidantes. Por outro lado, a inibição da TPM, usando ciclosporina A, preveniu o estresse oxidativo somente durante a reperfusão, mas protegeu as células de maneira indistinguível da abertura do mitoKATP. Juntos, nossos resultados sugerem que o mitoKATP age como um sensor para as EROs que diminui a sua geração em resposta a níveis aumentados de oxidantes. Em conseqüência, estes canais regulam o balanço redox em condições fisiológicas e previnem o estresse oxidativo em condições patológicas, inibindo com isso a ocorrência de TPM e morte celular isquêmica. / Ischemia followed by reperfusion results in impairment of cellular and mitochondrial functionality due to opening of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pores. Nevertheless, preconditioning rescues cells from ischemic damage. Mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K+ channel (mitoKATP) opening also prevents cardiac ischemic cell death. Here we show the signaling mechanisms that activate mitoKATP during preconditioning, the redox role of these channels and consequent protective mechanisms. Using cardiac HL-1 cells, we found that increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) observed during preconditioning were not inhibited by mitoKATP antagonists, although these drugs significantly avoided the protection afforded by preconditioning, suggesting their activation occurrs upstream of channel activity. Consistent with this, catalase addition to perfused rat hearts and HL-1 cells reversed the beneficial effects of preconditioning, but not of diazoxide (a mitoKATP agonist). On the other hand, 2-mercaptopropionylglycine prevented cardioprotection in both cases, suggesting this compound may present effects other than scavenging ROS. Indeed, thiol reducing agents impaired diazoxide-mediated activation of mitoKATP in isolated rat heart mitochondria. We found that endogenous or exogenous ROS strongly enhanced mitoKATP activity, suggesting that moderate increments in ROS release during preconditioning may activate mitoKATP. Furthermore, mitoKATP prevented conditions (Ca2+ uptake and ROS formation) that favor the opening of MPT pores under ischemic conditions. MitoKATP opening decreased ROS generation physiologically and during both ischemia and reperfusion, consequently avoiding cellular damage. This prevention does not involve an increase in oxidant removal systems. On the other hand, the inhibition of MPT, using cyclosporin A, prevented oxidative stress only during simulated reperfusion, but protected cells in a manner indistinguishable from mitoKATP opening. Collectively, our results suggest that mitoKATP acts as a ROS sensor that decreases mitochondrial ROS generation in response to enhanced local levels of oxidants. As a result, these channels regulate mitochondrial redox state under physiological conditions and prevent oxidative stress under pathological conditions, inhibiting MPT opening and ischemic cardiac damage.

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Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Darstellung funktioneller Materialien, die ein multi-sensitives Ansprechverhalten aufweisen. Die Charakterisierung des Quellverhaltens der Gele stellt die Voraussetzung dar, die phasenseparierten Polymerfilme als multi-sensitive Sensorschichten mit verbessertem Ansprechverhalten einzusetzen. Die Aufgabe dieser Arbeit besteht in der Synthese von AB-Blockcopolymeren, die im wässrigen Medium auf die Temperatur oder auf die Temperatur und den pH-Wert ansprechen. Unter Verwendung der Makroinitiator-Technik werden Blockcopolymere synthetisiert. Zunächst werden temperatur-sensitive Polymere mit einem wasserlöslichen Polyethylenglykol-Block (PEG) und N-Isopropylacrylamid (NIPAAm) mittels "Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization" (ATRP) hergestellt. Die Umsetzung der durch "Nitroxide Mediated Radical Polymerization" (NMRP) hergestellten pH-sensitiven Poly(2-vinylpyridin)-Blöcke (P2VP) mit NIPAAm führt zu multi-sensitiven Blockcopolymeren. Da die Polymere auf ihre Quelleigenschaften in dünnen Filmen hin untersucht werden sollen, ist die Verwendung eines Chromophors, der in den NIPAAm-Block einpolymerisiert wird, nötig. Die Vernetzung der Polymerfilme erfolgt photochemisch. Das Quellverhalten der Polymerschichten wurde mit der Methode der "Surface Plasmon Resonance"-Spektroskopie (SPR) charakterisiert. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit ist es gelungen, multi-sensitive Polymere darzustellen und deren Sensitivität in dünnen Polymerfilmen nachzuweisen. Bei den synthetisierten Polymeren handelt es sich um neuartige und funktionelle Materialien.

Aufgrund der stetig wachsenden Weltbevölkerung bei gleichzeitig sinkenden Agrarressourcen ist die Automatisierung auf dem Feld notwendig. Die dafür erforderlichen Maschinen, Technologien und Datenströme sind im entstehen und z. T. verfügbar. Jedoch ist die Automatisierung auf dem Feld im Vergleich zur Fabrikautomation zusätzlichen Störgrößen ausgesetzt, die eine permanent verfügbare Eingriffsressource notwendig machen. Der Autor postuliert die Entstehung von Maschinen Teams, die von einem besetzten Schlepper geführt werden. Durch die Führung der zusätzlichen Automaten, in deren Programmablauf eingegriffen werden muss, wird die Komplexität der Mensch-Maschine Schnittstelle zunehmen. Hier ist aber schon eine Grenze erreicht, sodaß zusätzliche Bedienelemente oder weitere Displays keine Lösung darstellen. Als Lösung werden hier Elemente aufgezeigt, die Flexibilität in der Bedienung und in der Darstellung optimieren und so zu einem permanenten Wechsel in puncto Maschinenbedienung fähig sind. An einem realisierten Prototyp werden Technologien und Funktionsumfänge deutlich gemacht.

The categories of 'ethnicity' or 'Roma' could obscure the whole topic, as they may suggest an idea that the socially excluded are somehow special or unrecognizable. It is therefore very important to use these categories clearly and specifically. That is what I am trying to do in this thesis. The theoretical part is divided into three main parts: the dynamic model of practice, culturally sensitive social work and the chapter entitled Roma. In the first part, the dynamic model, I try to have a look at the practical implementation of social work as described by Karen Healy (from page 10 onwards). I also explore the areas that influence the interactions between the social worker and their client. The dynamic model is focused on professional goals, which are made up of four areas: the institutional context, the needs and expectations of the service users and the community, the professional foundation, and an emerging framework for practice that develops through critical reflection on professional experience. These four elements further interact within the framework of the professional goal. I have also included a subsection where I attempt to define social work and its relationship to social services (p. 19). In the next chapter, I describe the culturally sensitive social work (from p. 25) on which the...

Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Biological and Medical Sciences Study program: Bioanalytical laboratory diagnostics in health care Candidate: Bc. Martina Malíková Thesis supervisor: PharmDr. Ondřej Janďourek, Ph.D. Consultant: RNDr. Irena Hanovcová, CSc. Title of diploma thesis: Effectiveness of disinfectants for hygienic hand disinfection against clinically important strains of enterococci Alcohol-based hand disinfectants for hygienic hand disinfection are a key tool for the control of nosocomial infections worldwide. The aim of this study was to verify the effectiveness of these products, which are used in healthcare facilities, against vancomycin-sensitive and vancomycin-resistant enterococci isolated from clinical materials. Testing of the efficacy of disinfectants was performed according to the Czech technical standard ČSN EN 1040 - Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics - Quantitative test using suspension to determine the basic bactericidal effect of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics - Test method and requirements (phase 1). We used the dilution method with a neutraliser for our testing. There were used a total of 35 strains of enterococci to determine efficacy, 12 of which were vancomycin sensitive (four E. faecium strains and eight E. faecalis...

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Paper spray - mass spectrometry (PS-MS) has been developed as a rapid and direct ionization method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of complex samples at trace levels. In this work, different sampling devices for PS-MS were investigated to improve the assay’s simplicity and sensitivity over traditional approaches. In particular, chapter two characterizes an alternate paper substrate to enhance drug detection on surfaces like asphalt, cloth, concrete, aluminum, and glass. Analysis occurs on a single spray ticket coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), also known as Post-it notes to detect and quantify drug residues. A PS-MS method utilizing PSA paper was developed to detect a mixture of ten drugs off of various surfaces to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative capabilities of the aforementioned substrate. After the method development on a conventional linear ion trap mass spectrometer, the assay was translated for use on a portable mass spectrometer to evaluate the suitability of the pressure-sensitive adhesive paper substrate in the field in chapter three. Chapter four introduces a sampling device combined with a snap-in solid-phase extraction (SPE) column. The new cartridge design not only inherits the functions from the first iteration SPE cartridge, including extraction and preconcentration from complex samples, but also exhibits greater flexibility in volume control and ease of use for on-site sample collection.

Proteins are a diverse category of biomolecules with great therapeutic potential. Intracellular delivery of proteins can augment the deficient activities of dysfunctional or poorly expressed innate proteins and therefore represents a promising strategy to treat the associated diseases. One major barrier to intracellular protein delivery is the translocation of the protein across the cellular membrane. Endocytosis provides an important pathway for protein nanocarriers to enter cells across the plasma membrane. However, the cargo protein must then promptly escape from the endosomes to avoid degradation in the lysosome and to exert its cellular function. Previously, we reported a cationic lipid-coated magnesium phosphate nanoparticle (LPP) system for intracellular protein delivery. The intracellular delivery of catalase, an antioxidant enzyme, by LPP protected MCF-7 cells from a lethal level of exogenous H2O2 and lowered the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in EA.hy926 cells. These findings prompted us to further develop LPP to evaluate its protein delivery in animals. Two categories of LPP formulations, catalase-encapsulated (CE) LPP and catalase-complexed (CC) LPP, were successfully prepared by a modular approach. Catalase-encapsulated liposomes (CE LP) were prepared by hydrating a thin-film of lipids with catalase solution followed by extrusion. However, extrusion of CE LP resulted in substantial loss of catalase activity. Catalase-complexed liposomes (CC LP) were prepared by first extruding cationic liposomes with a LIPEX extruder and then mixing with catalase solution. The resultant CC LP was much smaller than CE LP and preserved all the catalase activity. Magnesium phosphate nanoparticles (MgP NP) were prepared by the microemulsion precipitation technique. CE LP or CC LP were mixed with MgP NP to yield LPP formulations (CE LPP or CC LPP, respectively). The formulations were then rendered isotonic with glucose (5% w/v). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the proposed structure of LPP comprising a shell of lipid bilayers with a core of MgP NP. Furthermore, TEM showed drastic morphological changes of LPP formulations at acidic pH, consistent with an osmotic explosion. The LPP formulations were administered by intravenous or intranasal routes to CD-1 mice. LPP formulations of fluorescently labeled catalase distributed substantially into the lung following intranasal administration, whereas intravenous administration of the same formulations caused catalase distribution mainly into the liver. In addition, intranasal administration of both the LPP formulations yielded higher pulmonary catalase activity and lowered the ROS levels in the healthy lung compared to free catalase solution. Based on these results, LPP’s antioxidant effects were further evaluated in mice with lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury (ALI). Lack of LPP distribution into the lung following intranasal administration indicated that intranasal dosing did not deliver catalase substantially into inflamed lungs. In corroboration, the inflammatory biomarker tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) remained unchanged after intranasal dosing of LPP formulations. Intratracheal dosing of LPP formulations delivered the fluorescently labeled catalase deep into the lung and significantly reduced TNF-α production in the inflamed lungs compared to free catalase solution. CC LPP, which was smaller and which better preserved catalase activity than CE LPP, showed greater intrapulmonary catalase activity compared to CE LPP in both healthy and inflamed lungs. Taken together, LPP represents a promising nanocarrier for intracellular protein delivery.

In the past, aminocyclohexanol rings have been successfully utilized as pH-triggered molecular switches in various trans-2-aminocyclohexanol derivatives. By changing the groups on the amine nitrogen, these models provided a wide pH range in which a switch can occur. The pH-induced switch of conformation was monitored by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The models were also incorporated into the bilayer membrane of liposome structures and tested for their ability to disrupt their membrane upon their conformational flip induced by a decrease in pH. In this work, the amide bond has been studied as a molecular switch and various amide derivatives have been tested for their potential as lipid-like compounds that also exhibit a pH-sensitive conformational flip. The conformational analysis of these compounds was achieved by various NMR techniques and NMR acid-base titration studies were utilized to estimate the pKa of a number of the compounds described.

The aim of this work is to make a literature search in the measurement of membrane voltage using voltage-sensitive dyes and suggest a method for measuring the membrane voltage on the available cells using the voltage-sensitive dye di 4 ANEPPS and its further implementation. The work contains an introduction to electrophysiology of cells, and explains typical fluorescence characteristics. The thesis contains the description of a fluorescence microscope. The document presents characteristics of voltage-sensitive dyes and their distribution. A large part of the work describes the implementation and measurement of the experiment. The document also includes different methods for measuring and processing of all results.