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Oxidative stress caused by an overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is the key factor in developing a variety of pathological conditions. Recently various nanomaterials have attracted growing interest as nanoantioxidants with ROS-regulating ability. Here, for the first time, we report on high antioxidant behavior (enzyme-like activity) of GdYVO4:Eu3+ nanoparticles (GdYVO NPs) revealed by spectroscopic methods both in cell-free and biological milieu using various ROS sensors. It was revealed that GdYVO NPs (d = 2 nm) effectively scavenge hydroxyl radicals · O H , superoxide anions O 2 · − , hydrogen peroxide H 2 O 2 , peroxyl radicals R O O · , and remarkably reduce the lipopolysaccharide-induced ROS generation in rat leukocytes. The antioxidant activity of GdYVO NPs is ascribed to high amount of V4+ and V3+ ions in the structure of the NPs and the reversible switching V 3 + ↔ V 4 + and V 4 + ↔ V 5 + vanadium oxidation states.

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Titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles are promising biomedical agents characterized by good biocompatibility. In this study, we explored the cytotoxicity of TiO 2-x nanoparticles with a different Ti 3+ (Ti 2+ )/Ti 4+ ratio and analyzed the effeciency of eryptosis indices as a tool in nanotoxicology.Methods. Two types of TiO 2-x nanoparticles (5 nm) with various Ti 3+ (Ti 2+ )/ Ti 4+ ratios in the crystal lattice were synthesized. 1-TiO 2-x nanoparticles contained 54% Ti 4+ , 38% Ti 3+ and 8% Ti 2+ , while the relative amount of Ti 4+ and Ti 3+ in the crystal lattice of 2-TiO 2-x nanoparticles was 63% and 37%, respectively. Cell viability and cell motility induced by TiO 2-x nanoparticles were investigated on primary broblast cultures. Eryptosis modulation by the nanoparticles along with cell death mechanisms was studied on rat erythrocytes.Results. We report that both TiO 2-x nanoparticles don't decrease the viability of broblasts simultaneously stimulating cell migration. Data from in vitro studies on erythrocytes indicate that TiO 2-x nanoparticles trigger eryptosis via ROS-(1-TiO 2-x ) and Ca 2+ -mediated mechanisms (both TiO 2-x nanoparticles) suggesting that evaluation of eryptosis parameters is a more sensitive nanotoxicological approach for TiO 2-x nanoparticles than cultured broblast assays.Conclusion. TiO 2-x nanoparticles are characterized by low toxicity against broblasts, but they induce eryptosis, which is shown to be a promising tool for nanotoxicity screening. The Ti 3+ (Ti 2+ )/ Ti 4+ ratio at least partially determines the cytotoxicity mechanisms for TiO 2-x nanoparticles.

Background:The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of intravenous isoniazid (H) and ethambutol (E) administered in patients with new sputum positive drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) with tuberculous meningoencephalitis (TM) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection in the intensive phase of treatment. Methods: Fifty-four patients with TB/TM and HIV co-infection were enrolled for this study. Group 1 comprised of 23 patients treated with E and H intravenously, while rifampicin and pyrazinamide were prescribed orally. Group 2 consisted of 31 patients treated with the first-line anti-TB drugs orally. The concentrations of H and E in blood serum were detected using a chromatographic method. Results: A significant improvement in the clinical symptoms and X-ray signs in patients treated intravenously with H and E was observed and compared to group 2. The sputum Mycobacterium tuberculosis positivity was observed during the second month of the treatment in 25.0% of patients from group 1 and 76.1% of the patients from the control group (p=0.003). In addition, nine patients (39.1%) died up to 6 months when H and E were prescribed intravenously compared with 22 (70.9%) in group 2 (p=0.023). Conclusion:In TB/TM with HIV, the intravenous H and E treatment was more effective than oral H and E treatment at 2 months of intensive treatment in sputum conversion as well as in clinical improvement, accompanied by significantly higher mean serum concentrations. In addition, the mortality rate was lower in intravenous H and E treatment compared to oral treatment.

The safety of food additives E407 and E407a has raised concerns in the scientific community. Thus, this study aims to assess the local and systemic toxic effects of the common food additive E407a in rats orally exposed to it for two weeks. Complex evaluations of the effects of semi-refined carrageenan (E407a) on rats upon oral exposure were performed. Local effects of E407a on the intestine were analyzed using routine histological stains and CD68 immunostaining. Furthermore, circulating levels of inflammatory markers were assessed. A fluorescent probe O1O (2- (2′-OH-phenyl)-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazole) was used for evaluating the state of leukocyte cell membranes. Cell death modes of leukocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry using Annexin V and 7-aminoactinomycin D staining. Oral administration of the common food additive E407a was found to be associated with altered small and large intestinal morphology, infiltration of the lamina propria in the small intestine with macrophages (CD68+ cells), high systemic levels of inflammation markers, and changes in the lipid order of the phospholipid bilayer in the cell membranes of leukocytes, alongside the activation of their apoptosis. Our findings suggest that oral exposure to E407a through rats results in the development of intestinal inflammation.