Category Archives: Uncategorized
Angiotensin, vascular endothelial growth factor and caspase-3 levels in blood serum of smoking students
I. A. A. K. Al-Samarai1, A. J. Al Samer1, H. N. Mohammed2
1Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Applied Science,
University of Samarra, Saleh Aden, Iraq;
2Department of Biotechnology, College of Applied Science,
University of Samarra, Saleh Aden, Iraq;
e-mail: israa.a@uosamarra.edu.iq
Received: 18 July 2025; Revised: 18 September 2025;
Accepted: 28 November 2025; Available on-line: 23 December 2025
Smoking cigarettes is currently considered a widespread behavioral habit among university students due to psychological, social, and behavioral factors. Smoking is believed to impair renin-angiotensin system, blood pressure regulation, endothelial function, and cells viability, particularly in the lungs or blood vessels. The study aimed to assess the level of angiotensin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), caspase-3 and the activity of antioxidants glutathione S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the blood serum of students at Samarra University (Iraq). The study lasted from 20/2 /2025 to 20/4/ 2025 and involved 100 male students aged 18-28 years. The first group consisted of 30 nonsmoker students and the second included 70 smoker students, whose daily cigarette consumption ranged between 60-100 cigarettes. The results showed a significant increase in angiotensin, VEGF and caspase-3 levels, measured by ELISA, and a significant decrease in GST and SOD activity in the blood serum of smoker students compared to nonsmokers. A high negative correlation between angiotensin, GST and SOD activity in both smokers and nonsmokers, and a positive correlation between angiotensin and caspase-3 levels in smokers were observed, indicating the promising use of studied parameters as indicators of adverse effects caused by smoking.
Inflammatory cytokines profile and oxidative stress markers in the serum of albino rats injected with macrophage migration inhibitory factor
N. T. Guliyeva1, S. V. Guliyeva2*, R. A. Akhundov2,
N. R. Jabbarova3, T. A. Eyvazov2
1Department of Cytology, Embryology and Histology,
Azerbaijan Medical University, Baku, Azerbaijan;
2Research Center, Azerbaijan Medical University, Baku, Azerbaijan;
3Department of Health Care Organization,
Azerbaijan Medical University, Baku, Azerbaijan;
*e-mail: quliyevasevda789@gmail.com
Received: 09 July 2025; Revised: 28 August 2025;
Accepted: 28 November 2025; Available on-line: 23 December 2025
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in the regulation of inflammation, immune responses, and redox homeostasis. However, its metabolic effects in experimental models remain insufficiently characterized. The aim of the work was to estimate the effect of recombinant MIF on cytokines profile, antioxidant defense markers and LPO indicators at different time points following its single intraperitoneal administration to albino rats. Animals were divided into a control group (n = 20) and three experimental groups (n = 10 each) assessed in 2, 3, and 14 days after MIF administration (10 µg/kg of b.w.), respectively. Serum samples were analyzed for IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IL-4, antioxidant markers and LPO products levels by ELISA and standard biochemical assays. It was shown that MIF administration induced time-dependent pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant effects. Early compensatory anti-inflammatory responses were marked by increased IL-10 and decreased IL-6 levels. However, at the later stages (days 3 and 14), IL-6 and TNF-α elevation, along with IL-4 suppression, indicated a shift toward chronic inflammation. Antioxidant parameters progressively declined, with maximal suppression observed on day 14. Concurrently, a significant accumulation of LPO products confirmed sustained oxidative stress and membrane damage. These findings underscore the potential of MIF as a pharmacological target for the treatment of chronic inflammatory and metabolic disorders.
Purification and physico-chemical properties of Bacillus sp. L9 protease with fibrin(ogen)olytic activity
O. V. Gudzenko1*, L. D. Varbanets1, V. O. Chernyshenko2, E. M. Stognii2
1D.K. Zabolotny Institute of Microbiology and Virology,
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
2Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
*e-mail: alena.gudzenko81@gmail.com
Received: 18 September 2025; Revised: 13 October 2025;
Accepted: 28 November 2025; Available on-line: 23 December 2025
Previously, we isolated a number of Bacillus sp. strains from the dry grass of the coastal zone of the Kinburn Spit, which may be promising for further research as producers of proteases with fibrinolytic and fibrinogenolytic activity. The aim of the work was to isolate, purify and study the properties of fibrin(ogen)ase from the Bacillus sp. L9 strain. The enzyme preparation was isolated from the supernatant of the Bacillus sp. L9 culture liquid. The yield of the purified enzyme was 1.8%, the specific fibrinogenolytic and fibrinolytic activities were 483 and 383 U/mg protein, respectively, the molecular weight of the enzyme was about 40 kDa, the optimum pH was 8.0, and the thermooptimum was 40°C. Bacillus sp. L9 fibrin(ogen)ase is a serine protease, in the active center of which is the carboxyl group of the C-terminal (aspartic or glutamic) amino acid. At some distance from the active site are localized sulfhydryl groups that do not participate in catalysis, but play an important role in maintaining the catalytically active conformation of the protein molecule. The enzyme from Bacillus sp. L9 hydrolyzed fibrin molecules much more slowly than fibrinogen, and showed the greatest specificity in the hydrolysis of bonds formed by the Aα-chain of fibrinogen. According to the specificity of action on fibrinogen, the enzyme was identified as α-fibrinogen(ogen)ase.
Identification of different subtypes of K(+) channels in the mitochondria of rat myometrium using K(+) channels modulators
M. V. Rudnytska, H. V. Danylovych*, M. R. Pavliuk, Yu. V. Danylovych
Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
*e-mail: danylovychanna@ukr.net
Received: 17 July 2025; Revised: 25 September 2025;
Accepted: 28 November 2025; Available on-line: 23 December 2025
Potassium ions affect Ca2+ transport in mitochondria, the magnitude of the electric potential on the inner mitochondrial membrane, metabolic processes in the matrix, and osmoregulation. The aim of this study was to identify different subtypes of K+ channels in the mitochondria of rat myometrium. Isolated mitochondria were obtained from the myometrium of non-pregnant Wistar rats by differential centrifugation. Potassium ion accumulation was studied by spectrofluorimetry using the K+-sensitive fluorescent probe PBFI-AM. Myometrial mitochondria effectively accumulate potassium ions within the concentration range of 25–150 mM. No increase in PBFI fluorescence was observed when K+ ions were replaced by choline in equimolar concentrations. In the presence of voltage-operated K+ channels inhibitor 4-aminopyridine, Ca2+-dependent K+ channels blockers charybdotoxin or paxilline, mitoKATP channels inhibitors glibenclamide, 5-hydroxydecanoic acid, or 200 μM ATP, a significant decrease in the PBFI fluorescence signal was observed. Conversely, application of Ca2+-dependent K+ channels specific activators NS11021 and NS1619, as well as of mitoKATP-specific activator cromakalim, resulted in increased mitochondrial K+ accumulation. The efficiency of K+ uptake increased further with the addition of 25–100 μM Ca²⁺ in the presence of 4-aminopyridine and ATP. The results obtained indicate the presence of voltage-operated and Ca2+-dependent subtypes of K+ channels, as well as of H+/K+ exchange system in myometrial mitochondria in addition to mitoKATP channels.
Human cells response to electromagnetic waves of radio and microwave frequencies
S. Souchelnytskyi
Oranta CancerDiagnostics AB, Uppsala, Sweden;
e-mail: serhiy8085@gmail.com
Received: 23 June 2025; Revised: 17 August 2025;
Accepted: 28 November 2025; Available on-line: 23 December 2025
Human cells both generate and absorb electromagnetic waves (EMW), but information about sensing and responding to EMW at different Hz frequencies is still fragmentary. The reported impact of radio (RF) and microwave (MW) frequencies is variable, from harmful to human health to applications promising for novel diagnostics and treatment of diseases, e.g., cancer. The review highlights both recent achievements in elucidation of molecular mechanisms of RF and MW effects and a direction for their successful practical application in humans.
At the intersection of history and modernity: a systems analysis of Nobel Prizes in the research activities of the Department of Scientific Information and Innovation Studies
S. V. Komisarenko, V. M. Danilova*, O. P. Matyshevska, M. V. Grigorieva
Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine,
Department of Scientific Information and Innovation Studies, Kyiv;
*e-mail: valdan@ biochem.kiev.ua
Received: 01 October 2025; Revised: 28 October 2025;
Accepted: 30 October 2025; Available on-line: 02 December 2025
The results of a systematic historical and scientific analysis of the groundbreaking achievements of Nobel Prize laureates in the fields of chemistry, physiology or medicine are presented. The study covers the entire history of this most prestigious scientific award – from its founding to the present day – and enables the identification and evaluation of the impact of Nobel discoveries on the advancement of modern knowledge and technologies. Particular attention is given to the role of these achievements in the development of medical-biological sciences, also known as life sciences, including disciplines such as biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, genetics, genetic engineering, molecular medicine, and other related fields. This analysis contributes to the development of strategies for further progress and helps identify priority areas in the field of medical-biological research, while also deepening our understanding of how scientific knowledge has evolved.