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Three types of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesised with a custom-made Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis (USP) device, from aqueous solutions of gold (III) chloride (AuCl3) and gold (III) acetate (AuC6H12O6), with an initial concentration of Au 0.5 g/L. AuNPs were collected in suspensions of deionised (D.I.) water with the stabilisers polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) or polyethylene glycol (PEG), followed by the process of freeze drying the AuNPs to be useful as a new additive for the cream. The standard cream base was used as a matrix for preparation of three types of cream with AuNPs in the same concentration ratios. The third AuNPs cream was prepared with a patented hydroxylated fullerene water complex (3HFWC-W) matrix. To examine the effect of AuNPs as additive in creams, a six-week study of test creams was conducted on 33 volunteers with no dermatological diseases. During the study three main parameters of the skin where measured: Collagen quality, skin moisturisation and the epidermis-dermis function. The results of the study found improvements of collagen quality between 18-24 %, achieved due to the use of AuNPs in standard creams, while the cream with the combination of 3HFWC-W and AuNPs gave significantly higher improvements with a value of 45.7 %. It was also discovered that hydration of the skin (stratum cornum) increased by 6.4-9.6 % in standard creams with AuNPs, and 73.7 % in the 3HFWC/AuNPs' cream. Similar results were measured by the epidermis- dermis function, where 24-28 % improvement for standard creams with AuNPs was identified, and 38.4 % for the cream 3HFWC-W/AuNPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have now been used in skin care creams for several years, with marketed anti-aging, moisturizing, and regenerative properties. Information on the harmful effects of these nanoparticles is lacking, a concern for the use of AuNPs as cosmetic ingredients. Testing AuNPs without the medium of a cosmetic product is a typical method for obtaining this information, which is mainly dependent on their size, shape, surface charge, and dose. As these properties depend on the surrounding medium, nanoparticles should be characterized in a skin cream without extraction from the cream's complex medium as it may alter their physicochemical properties. The current study compares the sizes, morphology, and surface changes of produced dried AuNPs with a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) stabilizer and AuNPs embedded in a cosmetic cream using a variety of characterization techniques (TEM, SEM, DLS, zeta potential, BET, UV-vis). The results show no observable differences in their shapes and sizes (spherical and irregular, average size of 28 nm) while their surface charges changed in the cream, indicating no major modification of their primary sizes, morphology, and the corresponding functional properties. They were present as individually dispersed nanoparticles and as groups or clusters of physically separated primary nanoparticles in both dry form and cream medium, showing suitable stability. Examination of AuNPs in a cosmetic cream is challenging due to the required conditions of various characterization techniques but necessary for obtaining a clear understanding of the AuNPs' properties in cosmetic products as the surrounding medium is a critical factor for determining their beneficial or harmful effects in cosmetic products.

In our recent study, we showed that in vitro treatment of melanoma cells with hyperpolarized light (HPL) as well as with the second derivative of fullerene, hyper-harmonized hydroxylated fullerene water complex (3HFWC) reduced viability of cells by decreasing their proliferative capacity and inducing senescence and reprogramming towards a normal, melanocytic phenotype. Therefore, we wanted to determine whether these effects persisted in vivo in the syngeneic mouse melanoma model with a combined treatment of HPL irradiation and 3HFWC per os . Our results demonstrated the potent antitumor effects of 3HFWC nanosubstance assisted by HPL irradiation. These effects were primarily driven by the stimulation of melanoma cell growth arrest, the establishment of a senescent phenotype, and melanocytic differentiation on the one hand, and the awakening of the antitumor immune response on the other. In addition, the combined treatment reduced the protumorigenic activity of immune cells by depleting T regulatory cells, myeloid-derived suppressors, and M2 macrophages. The support of the 3HFWC substance by HPL irradiation may be the axis of the new approach design based on tumor cell reprogramming synchronized with the mobilization of the host's protective immune response.

(1) Background: Their unique structure and electron deficiency have brought fullerenes into the focus of research in many fields, including medicine. The hyper-harmonized hydroxylated fullerene water complex (3HFWC) formulation has solved the limitations of the poor solubility and bioavailability of fullerenes. To achieve better antitumor activity, 3HFWC was combined with short-term irradiation of cells with hyperpolarized light (HPL) generated by the application of a nanophotonic fullerene filter in a Bioptron ® device. The benefits of HPL were confirmed in the microcirculation, wound healing and immunological function. (2) Methods: B16, B16-F10 and A375 melanoma cells were exposed to a wide spectrum of 3HFWC doses and to a single short-term HPL irradiation. (3) Results: Apart from the differences in the redox status and level of invasiveness, the effects of the treatments were quite similar. Decreased viability, morphological alteration, signs of melanocytic differentiation and cellular senescence were observed upon the successful internalization of the nanoquantum substance. (4) Conclusions: Overall, 3HFWC/HPL promoted melanoma cell reprogramming toward a normal phenotype.

: This study examined the hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of anthocyanins from Vaccinim myrtillus (bilberry) fruit extract on the acute liver failure caused by carbon tetrachloride-CCl 4 (3 mL/kg, i.p.). The preventive treatment of the bilberry extract (200 mg anthocyanins/kg, orally, 7 days) prior to the exposure to the CCl 4 resulted in an evident decrease in markers of liver damage (glutamate dehydrogenase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase), and reduced pro-oxidative (conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxide, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, advanced oxidation protein products, NADPH oxidase, hydrogen peroxide, oxidized glutathione), and pro-inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, nitrite, myeloperoxidase, inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, CD68, lipocalin-2), and also caused a significant decrease in the dissipation of the liver antioxidative defence capacities (reduced glutathione, glutathione S-transferase, and quinone reductase) in comparison to the results detected in the animals treated with CCl 4 exclusively. The administration of the anthocyanins prevented the arginine metabolism's diversion towards the citrulline, decreased the catabolism of polyamines (the activity of putrescine oxidase and spermine oxidase), and significantly reduced the excessive activation and hyperplasia of the Kupffer cells. There was also an absence of necrosis, in regard to the toxic effect of CCl 4 alone. The hepatoprotective mechanisms of bilberry extract are based on the inhibition of pro-oxidative mediators, strong anti-inflammatory properties, inducing of hepatic phase II antioxidant enzymes (glutathione S-transferase, quinone reductase) and reduced glutathione, hypoplasia of Kupffer cells, and a decrease in the catabolism of polyamines., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no conflicts of interest.

This study examined the nephroprotective effects of 15 different anthocyanins from the bilberry extract on the acute kidney injury caused by CCl 4 . The acute nephrotoxicity in rats was induced 24 h after the treatment with a single dose of CCl 4 (3 mL/kg, i.p.).The nephroprotective effects of the anthocyanins were examined in the animals that had been given the bilberry extract in a single dose of 200 mg of anthocyanins/kg daily, 7 days orally, while on the seventh day, 3 h after the last dose of anthocyanins, the animals received a single dose of CCl 4 (3 mL/kg, i.p.) and were sacrificed 24 h later. When the nephrotoxicant alone was administered, it resulted in a substantial increase of the pro-oxidative (TBARS, CD, H 2 O 2 , XO, and GSSG) and pro-inflammatory markers (TNF-α, NO, and MPO), as well as a noticeable reduction of the antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, POD, GPx, GST, GR) and GSH when compared to the results of the control group. Moreover, the application of CCl 4 significantly influenced a reduction of the renal function, as well as an increase in the sensitive and specific injury indicators of the kidney epithelial cells (β 2 -microglobulin, NGAL, KIM1/TIM1) in the serum and urine of rats. The pretreatment of the animals poisoned with CCl 4 with the anthocyanins from the bilberry extract led to a noticeable reduction in the pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory markers with reduced consumption of the antioxidant defence kidney capacity, compared to the animals exposed to CCl 4 alone. Anthocyanins have been protective for the kidney parenchyma, with an apparent absence of the tubular and periglomerular necrosis, severe degenerative changes, inflammatory mononuclear infiltrates and dilatation of proximal and distal tubules, in contrast to the CCl 4 -intoxicated animals. The nephroprotective effects of anthocyanins can be explained by strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects achieved through the stabilization and neutralization of highly reactive and unstable toxic CCl 4 metabolites., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background/aim: Psoriasis as multisystemic inflammatory dis-ease is related with an increased cardiometabolic risk. The aim of the study was to analyze risk biomarkers, peripheral and renal arteries ultrasonography and echocardiography for subclinical atherosclerosis and metabolic disease in 106 subjects (66 psoriasis patients and 40 controls, 20 eczema patients and 20 healthy volunteers)., Methods: In all exameenes following parameters were analyzed: body mass index (BMI), C-reactive protein, D-dimer, serum amyloid A (SAA), apolipoprotein (Apo) A1, ApoB, ApoB/Apo A1 index, fasting glucose, C-peptide, fasting insulinemia, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), HOMA-β-cell, lipid profile, serum uric acid concentration (SUAC), 24-h proteinuria and microalbuminuria. Carotid, brachial, femoral and renal arteries ultrasonography, as well as echocardiography was also performed., Results: Five of 66 (7.6%) psoriasis patients had metabolic syndrome (not present in both control groups). The following variables were increased in patients with psoriasis compared to both control groups: BMI (p = 0.012), insulinemia (p < 0.001), HOMA-IR (p = 0.003), HOMA-β cell (p < 0.001), SUAC (p = 0.006), ApoB/ApoA1 ra-tio (p = 0.006) and microalbuminuria (p < 0.001). Also, increased C-peptide (p = 0.034), D-dimer (p = 0.029), triglycerides (p = 0.044), SAA (p = 0.005) and decreased ApoA1 (p = 0.014) were found in the psoriasis patients compared to healthy controls. HDL cholesterol was decreased in the psoriasis patients compared to the control group of eczema patients (p = 0.004). Common carotid (CIMT) and femoral artery intima-media thickness (FIMT) was significantly greater (p < 0.001) and the maximal flow speed (cm/s) in brachial artery significantly de-creased (p = 0.017) in the patients with psoriasis in comparison to both control groups. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, after the adjustment for confounding variables, the most important predictor of CIMT and FIMT was the diagnosis of psoriasis (p < 0.001).., Conclusion: Cardiometabolic risk biomarkers and ultrasonographic signs of early atherosclerosis are correlated with the diagnosis of psoriasis, and not to generalized eczema. Psoriasis was found to be an independent risk factor for subclinical atherosclerosis

Introduction: Stent thrombosis (ST) in clinical practice can be classified according to time of onset as early (0–30 days after stent implantation), which is further divided into acute (< 24 hours) and subacute (1–30 days), late (> 30 days) and very late (> 12 months). Myocardial reinfaction due to very late ST in a patient receiving antithrombotic therapy is very rare, and potentially fatal. The procedure alone and related mechanical factors seem to be associated with acute/subacute ST. On the other hand, in-stent neoathero-sclerosis, inflammation, premature cessation of antiplatelet therapy, as well as stent fracture, stent malapposition, un-covered stent struts may play role in late/very late ST. Some findings implicate that the etiology of very late ST of bare-metal stent (BMS) is quite different from those following drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation., Case Report: We presented a 56-year old male with acute inferoposterior ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) related to very late stent thrombosis, 9 years after BMS implantation, despite antithrombotic therapy. Thrombus aspiration was successfully performed followed by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with implantation of DES into the pre-viously implanted two stents to solve the in-stent restenosis., Conclusion: Very late stent thrombosis, although fortu-nately very rare, not completely understood, might cause myocardial reinfaction, but could be successfully treated with thrombus aspiration followed by primary PCI. Very late ST in the presented patient might be connected with neointimal plaque rupture, followed by thrombotic events.

Unlabelled: INTRODUCTION. Left main coronary artery dissection is a rare and potentially life-threatening complication of coronary angiography and angioplasty which requests urgent revascularization., Case Report: During the period between 2010 and November 2014 at single healthcare center we did totally 8,884 coronary procedures, out of which 2333 were percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). In this period we had a total of 3 (0.03%) left main coronary artery dissections, and all of them were successfully treated by PCI. We presented three cases with iatrogenic dissection of the left main coronary artery, occurred during elective diagnostic procedures, successfully treated with PCI with different techniques., Conclusion: PCI could be fast and life-saving approach in iatrogenic dissections of the left main coronary artery.

Introduction: Dual left anterior descending (LAD) artery is a very rare inherited anomaly. It can be incidentally revealed during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) and may produce difficulties in detecting and treating the culprit lesion., Case Report: We presented a 52-year-old male patient with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEM1) of inferior wall, in whom dual LAD anomaly was revealed during pPCI: a short LAD artery originated from the left main coronary artery and a long LAD artery originated from the proximal part of the right coronary artery (RCA). A bare metal stent was successfully implanted in the place of the culprit lesion in RCA and ST-segment resolution was achieved in ECG. After two hours, the patient was referred again to the catheter lab due to new STEMI of anteroseptal wall. Another bare metal stent was implanted in new infarction related artery, this time it was proximal part of the short LAD., Conclusion: Careful and correct interpretation of ECG is very helpful in detection and treatment of the culprit lesion in cases with dual LAD.

Introduction: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a very rare disease with poor prognosis. It mainly affects young women free of risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) and women during the peripartum period. The prognosis for myocardial infarction caused by SCAD is poor, management is often difficult and guidelines still missing., Case Report: We presented a woman with acute myocardial infarction of anterior wall of the left ventricle, caused by spontaneous dissection of medial segment of the left anterior descending coronary artery. We treated the patient with thrombolytic therapy and performed coronary angiography after that. Finally we decided to do nothing more. Two years later we performed coronary angiography again and founded the coronary artery normal. We also analyzed 19 cases publiched from 1996 to 2012 when coronary artery dissection had been treated with thrombolytic agent Analysis revealed only one case of 19, with complication after treating SCAD with thrombolysis., Conclusion: Sometimes, regarding myocardial infarction in young women with no risk factors for CAD, especially in young women in peripartum, we should think about SCAD. The presented case, like eight others, demonstrates that good clinical outcomes can be achieved with thrombolysis. In spite of all this, we still need more data to verify that thrombolysis does not have to harm the therapy for SCAD. For the time being thrombolytic therapy could be an option.

Introduction: Persistent left superior vena cava, a rare congenital abnormality, can complicate placement of pacemaker leads through the subclavian vein. A left-sided approach is usually preferable in such cases., Case Report: We reported a case in which we began a single-chamber pacemaker implantation procedure via a right subclavian approach (because of scarring beneath the left clavicle) and then discovered intraoperatively that the patient had a persistent left superior vena cava. After a few attempts, we succeeded in placing the head of the electrode in the septum, near the top of the right ventricle, and the rest of the procedure was completed without complication., Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of pacemaker implantation, with passive electrode, through a persistent left superior vena cava via the right subclavian vein. This case demonstrates that such an approach, when necessary, can be used successfully.