Pyrethroids are synthetic derivatives of natural pyrethrins extracted from Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium. They are 2250 times more toxic to insects than to vertebrates due to insects’ smaller size, lower body temperature and more sensitive sodium channels. In particular, three pyrethroid compounds, namely deltamethrin, permethrin, and alpha-cypermethrin, are commonly used as insecticides and are recommended for in-home insect control because they are considered to be relatively non-toxic to humans in all stages of life. However, recent data show that they are not completely harmless to human health as they may enter the body through skin contact, by inhalation and food or water, and absorption level depending on the type of food. Permethrin seems to have an adverse effect on fertility, the immune system, cardiovascular and hepatic metabolism as well as enzymatic activity. Deltamethrin induces inflammation, nephro- and hepatotoxicity and influences the activity of antioxidant enzymes in tissues. Alpha-cypermethrin may impair immunity and act to increase glucose and lipid levels in blood. The aim of the review is to provide comprehensive information on potential hazards associated to human exposure to deltamethrin, permethrin and alpha-cypermethrin. The results of presented studies prove that the insecticides must be used with great caution.

The measurement of electric potential and resistance reflect the transport of sodium and chloride ions which take place in keratinocytes and is associated with skin response to stimuli arising from external and internal environment. The aim of the study was to assess changes in electrical resistance and the transport of chloride and sodium ions, under iso-osmotic conditions and following the use of inhibitors affecting these ions’ transport, namely amiloride (A) and bumetanide (B). The experiment was performed on 104 fragments of rabbit skin, divided into three groups: control (n = 35), A—inhibited sodium transport (n = 33) and B—inhibited chloride transport (n = 36). Measurement of electrical resistance (R) and electrical potential (PD) confirmed tissue viability during the experiment, no statistically significant differences in relation to control conditions were noted. The minimal and maximal PD measured during stimulation confirmed the repeatability of the recorded reactions to the mechanical and mechanical–chemical stimulus for all examined groups. Measurement of PD during stimulation showed differences in the transport of sodium and chloride ions in each of the analyzed groups relative to the control. The statistical analysis of the PD measured in stationary conditions and during mechanical and/or mechanical–chemical stimulation proved that changes in sodium and chloride ion transport constitute the physiological response of keratinocytes to changes in environmental conditions for all applied experimental conditions. Assessment of transdermal ion transport changes may be a useful tool for assessing the skin condition with tendency to pain hyperactivity and hypersensitivity to xenobiotics.

No abstract

Background and Objectives: Top-level sports performance places heavy physical and psychological demands on elite-level athletes, which can be a source of increased levels of stress. Therefore, high-level volleyball players may present altered cardiovascular and endocrinological stress response during stressful events. Although many previous studies have examined the response to stress on athletes, most of them regarded only males, while the impact of the female menstrual cycle has rarely been taken into account. We aimed to study psychophysiological response to anticipatory stressor through analysis of heart rate, self-reported anxiety level, and salivary cortisol in healthy young female athletes by minimalizing the effect of confounders. Materials and Methods: A total of 55 females (25 members of the best league for female volleyball players in Poland and 30 sedentary-lifestyle control subjects) in the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle were exposed to mental arithmetic tasks as an experimental imitation of the stressor. Volleyball players were significantly taller than sedentary individuals (177.1 ± 3.4 cm vs. 173.3 ± 3.4 cm, respectively, p = 0.034), but did not differ in weight (73.6 ± 5.2 kg vs. 70 ± 4.23 kg, respectively, p = 0.081), body mass index (BMI) (23.5 ± 1.13 vs. 24.1 ± 1.45, respectively, p = 0.060), and age (22 ± 1.11 vs. 23 ± 1.14 years, respectively, p = 0.2). Their stress responses were assessed through self-reported anxiety levels and physiological measurements of salivary cortisol concentrations and heart rate (HR). Results: For HR, significant effects of time (F(2,120) = 21.34, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.26) were found, but not for training status (F(1,60) = 2.69, p = 0.106, η2 = 0.04). For cortisol levels, the analysis showed the main effects of time (F(3,180) = 11.73, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.16) and training status (F(1,60) = 4.69, p = 0.034, η2 = 0.07) and a significant interaction between training status and time (F(3,180) = 3.07, p = 0.029, η2 = 0.05). Post-hoc analyses showed higher cortisol concentrations among volleyball players following the math task (all p < 0.001), as well as higher cortisol concentrations in S2, S3, and S4 compared to S1 in volleyball players (all p < 0.001). We observed also a significant increase in state anxiety in both groups (all p < 0.001), but no differences in state anxiety levels between groups. Conclusion: Female volleyball players may not differ in subjective graduation of stressors; however, exposure to training-based stressors seems to promote cortisol response to the anticipated stressor.

The preservation of physiological transport of ions and water content is particularly important for maintaining the skin barrier, touch and pain stimuli, as well as the initiation of skin regeneration processes, especially after treatments associated with breaking skin continuity and wound healing difficulties. The aim of the study was to assess changes in ion transport, measured as values of transepithelial electric resistance and potential difference in stationary conditions and during mechanical-chemical stimulations, depending on the hydration status of isolated rabbit skin specimens. The specimens were divided into five groups: control (n = 22), dehydrated in 10% NaCl (n = 30), rehydrated after dehydration (n = 26), dried at 37°C (n = 26), and rehydrated after drying (n = 25). Dehydrated tissue samples showed altered resistance compared to the control; this change was maintained regardless of rehydration. In the dehydrated samples, changes in the measured electric potential were also noted, which returned to values comparable with the control after rehydration. Dehydrated skin, regardless of the cause of dehydration, responds with changes in the transport of sodium and chloride ions and the altered cellular microenvironment. It could influence the perception of stimuli, particularly pain, and slow down the regeneration processes.

No abstract

Markery komórek śródbłonka w chorobie niedokrwiennej sercaM Ma ag gd da al le en na a L La am mp pk ka a 1 1 , , Z Zo of fi ia a G Gr rą ąb bc cz ze ew ws sk ka a 2 2 , , M Ma ar ri ia a K Kr ra aj je ew ws sk ka a 1 1 , , I Ig ga a H Ho oł ły yń ńs sk ka a--I Iw wa an n 1 1 , , J Ja ac ce ek k K Ku ub bi ic ca a 2 2 , , T To om ma as sz z T Ty yr ra ak ko ow ws sk ki i We examined 57 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD): 27 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 30 patients with stable angina pectoris (SA). The control group comprised 23 patients without symptoms of CAD. The concentration of von Willebrand factor (vWF), thrombomodulin (sTM), endothelin-1 (ET-1), and adhesion molecules (soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1)) was analysed in plasma or serum.R Re es su ul lt ts s: : A significant increase in vWF, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and ET-1 concentrations was found in AMI compared to the control group. Increased vWF and sICAM-1 concentrations were found in SA compared to the control group. The AMI group was characterized by significantly higher vWF concentration than the SA group. Thrombomodulin concentration did not differ significantly between any patient groups and the control group. There was a positive correlation between vWF concentration and sVCAM-1 and sTM concentrations, and an inverse correlation between ET-1 and sICAM-1 concentrations in AMI. A sICAM-1 correlated positively with sVCAM-1 concentration in SA.C Co on nc cl lu us si io on ns s: : von Willebrand factor is more useful than sTM, endothelin-1, and cell adhesion molecules sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 to assess endothelium state in patients with CAD. The increase in plasma vWF concentration confirms endothelial injury and/or activation in CAD and indicates a greater severity of these disorders in AMI than in SA.K Ke ey y w wo or rd ds s: : coronary artery disease, endothelial markers S t r e s z c z e n i e W Ws st tę ęp p: : Uszkodzenie, aktywacja lub zaburzenie funkcji śródbłonka naczyniowego odgrywają ważną rolę w progresji zmian miaż-dżycowych i rozwoju chorób układu krążenia.C Ce el l: : Ocena wskaźników biochemicznych określających stan śródbłonka naczyń krwionośnych u osób z chorobą niedokrwienną serca.M Ma at te er ri ia ał ł i i m me et to od dy y: : Badaniami objęto 57 osób z chorobą niedokrwienną serca (coronary artery disease -CAD): 27 pacjentów z ostrym zawałem serca (acute myocardial infarction -AMI) oraz 30 pacjentów ze stabilną chorobą wieńcową (stable angina -SA). Grupę kontrolną stanowiły 23 osoby bez objawów choroby wieńcowej. Stężenia czynnika von Willebranda (von Willebrand factorvWF), trombomoduliny (thrombomodulin -sTM), endoteliny-1 (endothelin-1 -ET-1), cząsteczek adhezyjnych [międzykomórkowej (soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 -sICAM-1) i naczyniowej (soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 -sVCAM-1)] oznaczano w osoczu lub surowicy.W Wy yn ni ik ki i: : U pacjentów z AMI obserwowano istotnie zwiększone w stosunku do grupy kontrolnej...

Pyrethroids are pesticides commonly used in crop protection; in the forestry, wood, and textile industries; as well as in medicine and veterinary medicine to treat parasitic crustacean infestations. They have been found to be relatively safe for humans and animals. Pyrethroids are recommended for personal protection against malaria and virus Zika by the World Health Organization. Pyrethroids act on voltage-gated sodium channels, which cause an influx of sodium ions into the nerve cells and permanent depolarization. They also influence activities of enzymes, especially in nerve and liver cells. Contact of pyrethroids with the skin, digestive tract, and respiratory tract results in their penetration into the body. Due to the importance of the subject, a summary of the current state of knowledge on the toxic effects of pyrethroids was presented in the comprehensive review by Chrustek et al, published in journal Medicina. Particular attention was paid to nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, cardiotoxic, immunotoxic, neurotoxic, and behavioral effects of pyrethroids on human and animal bodies. It could be added that pyrethroids generate oxidative stress, which modifies DNA, RNA, protein, lipid and carbohydrate molecules. However, public awareness of the possible negative effects of the use of insecticides is still low. Further research should be carried out to clarify the molecular basis of the pathomechanism of pyrethroid detrimental action. Proper dissemination of the results seems to be of first importance for public health.