Category Archives: Uncategorized
Indices of liver and kidney function and the level of cytokines and tumor biomarkers in the serum of patients with hepatitis C and hepatocellular carcinoma
Othman A. Othman, Mahmoud Fadl Bakr*
Biochemistry Division, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science,
Minia University, 61519, El-Minia, Egypt;
*e-mail: mahmoud.fadl@mu.edu.eg
Received: 02 March 2025; Revised: 27 May 2025;
Accepted: 11 June 2025; Available on-line: 07 July 2025
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) selectively targets the liver and causes persistent infection, often evading the immune system, leading to chronic liver failure, kidney disease and HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aims to estimate the indices of liver and kidney functions and the level of inflammatory cytokines and tumor markers in patients with both HCV-positive chronic hepatitis and HCV-related HCC in comparison to HCV only patients and healthy controls. The study included 156 persons divided into four groups: control group I – 27 healthy individuals; HCV group – 45 patients with HCV (proved by PCR); HCC group – 42 patients with HCC (proved by radiological investigations and laboratory tests); HCV+HCC group – 42 patients with HCV and HCC (HCV – positive chronic hepatitis with HCC). Routine clinical tests for kidney and liver function were used. The levels of IL-6, IL-1B, TNF-α and tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), and alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) were examined by ELISA. The results showed a highly significant increase in ALT, ALP, and AST activity, as well as uric acid, urea and creatinine levels, with a significant decrease in albumin levels in HCC and HCV+HCC groups compared to HCV-only patients and healthy controls. The elevation in the serum levels of the studied tumor markers and cytokines in the HCC and HCV+HCC groups, with the highest levels in the latter, was observed. The data obtained indicate the progressive deterioration in liver and kidney functions and a significant effect of chronic inflammation in HCV-related liver carcinogenesis.
Plasma levels of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide and brain-derived neurotrophic factor are not significantly altered in posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury
A. Shcherbakova1, D. Martsenkovskyi2, D. Stroy3, A. Savchenko4,
K. Vosnitsyna5, O. Sulaieva1, O. Dudin1, V. Dosenko3
1Medical Laboratory CSD LAB;
2Department of Psychiatry, Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine;
3Bogomolets Institute of Physiology, National A cademy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
4Scientific and Medical Center “Doslid” (LLC “Medical Research”), Kyiv, Ukraine;
5State Institution Veteran Mental Health and Rehabilitation Center Forest Glade Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine;
e-mail: anna82201@gmail.com
Received: 04 April 2025; Revised: 12 May 2025;
Accepted: 11 June 2025; Available on-line: 07 July 2025
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are common consequences of combat exposure, significantly affecting both mental and physical health of military personnel. Identifying reliable biomarkers for these conditions is critical for timely diagnosis, monitoring of treatment effectiveness, and prediction of the disease course. The results of recent studies suggesting potential role of PACAP and BDNF in peripheral blood as biomarkers for PTSD have been yet unconclusive. In this study we analyzed the level of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the blood plasma of 450 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine divided into six groups based on their diagnosis: controls, PTSD, PTSD with TBI, TBI, complex PTSD (CPTSD), CPTSD with TBI. PTSD and CPTSD were diagnosed using the International Trauma Interview, and TBI using the Ohio State University TBI Identification Method. PACAP and BDNF levels were analyzed in the the fasting blood samples using ELISA. PACAP and BDNF levels in blood plasma in control group were 2.10 ± 0.26 and 5.13 ± 0.50 ng/ml, respectively. The study findings revealed no statistically significant differences in PACAP and BDNF levels among the study groups. The results obtained indicate potential limitations of using these biomarkers for stress disorders and TBI diagnosing in combat-exposed military populations and highlight the need for further research to identify reliable biomarkers with objective diagnostic value and prognostic significance.
Relationship between CpG and non-CpG DNA methylation in human lymphocytes assessed with comet assay
M. Chopei, A. Piven, K. Afanasieva, A. Sivolob*
ESC “Institute of Biology and Medicine”,
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine;
*e-mail: sivolob@knu.ua
Received: 21 April 2025; Revised: 26 May 2025;
Accepted: 11 June 2025; Available on-line: 07 July 2025
Tissue-specific DNA methylation plays an important role in the regulation of many functional processes. The methylation level in single cells can be assessed using the comet assay (single-cell gel electrophoresis), a simple and cost-effective technique. The methyl-sensitive comet assay approach has been widely used under the assumption that methylation in the context of CpG dinucleotides is the only type of this modification. However, although CpG is the main methylation target, non-CpG methylation is also widespread. We used the methyl-sensitive comet assay to demonstrate that, in human lymphocytes, non-CpG methylation significantly contributes to the global methylation level. The activation of lymphocyte proliferation results in an increase in non-CpG methylation, and the methyl-sensitive comet assay can be used to assess the ratio between CpG and non-CpG methylation levels.
Honor the past while celebrating the present: Tu Youyou and the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
T. V. Danylova1*, S. V. Komisarenko2
1Institute for Social and Political Psychology, National Academy
of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
*e-mail: danilova_tv@ukr.net;
2Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy
of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv
Received: 03 March 2025; Revised: 01 April 2025;
Accepted: 25 April 2025; Available on-line: 12 May 2025
This article aims to highlight the major milestones in the life of a medical scientist, pharmaceutical chemist, and educator Tu Youyou who, without a doctoral degree, a top position at a research institution and background of studying or researching abroad, made a breakthrough in world medicine. Turning to the treasury of Chinese wisdom – traditional Chinese medicine, she, together with her group, created an antimalarial drug that saved the lives of millions of people.
Physiological and biochemical parameters of winter wheat Triticum aestivum L. plants after seed treatment with fullerene C(60)
S. Prylutska1*, T. Tkachenko1, M. Petrovsky2
1National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
2Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine.
*e-mail: psvit_1977@ukr.net
Received: 21 February 2025; Revised: 25 March 2025;
Accepted: 25 April 2025; Available on-line: 12 May 2025
Extreme climatic conditions, pests, diseases and environmental pollution significantly impact the cultivation of agricultural products and the quality of plant raw materials. It is assumed that nanostructured carbon materials, particularly fullerene C60, due to antioxidant, antiviral, and antibacterial properties can be used to prevent these effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pre-sowing treatment of wheat seeds with fullerene C60 on the state of plants 14 days after germination. The seeds of the winter wheat Triticum aestivum L. of the Patras and Akter varieties were treated with a colloidal solution of fullerene C60 (0.1-1.0 µg/ml) for 3 h. Biomorphometric parameters, photosynthetic pigments, phenolic compounds, MDA content and catalase activity were assessed using standard techniques. It was shown that seeds treatment with fullerene C60 was followed by the greater increase of both the fresh weight of Akter plants and shoot length of Patras plants as compared to untreated controls. A dose-dependent effect of fullerene C60 on the physiological and biochemical parameters of the plants was revealed. Photosynthetic activity in plants of both wheat varieties was enhanced after seed treatment with C60 in low (0.1-0.2 µg/ml) concentrations as evidenced by the increased content of chlorophylls a, while at high (0.5-1.0 µg/ml) C60 concentrations it decreased against the background of increased carotenoids content. The enhancement of antioxidant defense induced by C60 treatment at concentrations of 0.5-1.0 µg/ml was observed, as indicated by an increase in the content of phenolic compounds and activation of catalase. The positive effect of wheat seeds treatment with fullerene C60 indicates the potential use of carbon nanoparticles in agrobiotechnologies to improve plant growth and stress resistance.
Chromium picolinate prevents the development of oxidative-nitrosative stress and restores endogenous H(2)S production in the rat brain under rotenone-induced toxicity
A. O. Mykytenko1*, I. S. Hrytsenko2, A. Y. Semenchuk2, M. V. Voroniuk2,
V. V. Kovpak2, O. Y. Akimov3, K. S. Neporada1
1Department of Bioorganic and Biological Chemistry,
Poltava State Medical University, Poltava, Ukraine;
2Medical Faculty №1, Poltava State Medical University, Poltava, Ukraine;
3Department of Pathophysiology, Poltava state medical university, Poltava, Ukraine;
*e-mail: mykytenkoandrej18@gmail.com
Received: 19 December 2024; Revised: 03 March 2025;
Accepted: 25 April 2025; Available on-line: 12 May 2025
Energy deficit, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress induced by rotenone may play a decisive role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. Chromium picolinate has shown neuroprotective activity and efficacy in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease The effect of chromium picolinate on the brain under the conditions of rotenone influence has not been studied, and such data could shed light on the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of chromium picolinate on the indices of oxidative-nitrosative stress and the content of sulfide anion and sulfites in the brain homogenate under rotenone administration to rats. Experiments were performed on 24 white, sexually mature male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into 4 groups: control group; chromium picolinate group; rotenone group; group of combined exposure to chromium picolinate and rotenone. Chromium picolinate was administered orally at a dose of 80 μg/kg per day for 21 days. Rotenon was injected subcutaneously at a dose of 1.5 mg/kg every other day. The introduction of rotenone into the body of rats was accompanied by the development of oxidative-nitrosative stress mainly due to the increased activity of NO-synthase inducible isoform, and by the decrease in the content of H2S and SO32- in brain tissue. Oral administration of chromium picolinate against the background of rotenone administration prevents the development of oxidative-nitrosative stress in brain tissue by reducing the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen forms, promotes the restoration of arginase activity and increases the content of H2S and SO32-.
C(60) fullerene restores gastrocnemius contractile activity in a rat model of neurogenic muscle atrophy
D. M. Nozdrenko1, M. S. Anhelov1, T. Yu. Matviienko1,
O. V. Lynchak1, O. V. Korzhyk2, Yu. M. Valetskyi3,
K. I. Bogutska1, Yu. I. Prylutskyy1*
1Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine;
*e-mail: prylut@ukr.net;
2Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, Lutsk, Ukraine;
3Municipal Institution of Higher Education
“Volyn Medical Institute”, Lutsk, Ukraine
Received: 11 March 2025; Revised: 27 March 2025;
Accepted: 25 April 2025; Available on-line: 12 May 2025
Restoration of the motor function of the musculoskeletal system impaired due to innervation damage is an important clinical problem. In the study the potential therapeutic effect of C60 fullerene application was estimated in the Wistar rat model of neurogenic muscle atrophy caused by nervus ischiadicus injury. The animals were divided into the following: control, injury, injury+С60 groups. C60 fullerene aqueous solution was administrated orally for 30 days after ischiadicus injury at a daily dose of 1 mg/kg. Biomechanical parameters of gastrocnemius muscle contraction and biochemical indices (creatinine, lactate, reduced glutathione content as well as creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, catalase and superoxide dismutase activity) in the blood of rats were estimated on day 30 after nerve transection. It has been found that muscle strength response in the injury+С60 group was significantly enhanced, in particular, the muscle force impulse was increased by more than 30 ± 2% compared to the injury group. The studied biochemical indices of the muscle fatigue and oxidative stress in the blood of experimental animals had a pronounced tendency to increase after the initiation of the muscle neurogenic atrophy, while under the influence of C60 fullerene they decreased compared with the injury group. In our opinion, C60 fullerene prevented significant dysfunction of the gastrocnemius muscle after neurogenic atrophy by exerting an antioxidant effect and improving its contractile activity.