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Recent studies suggest that serum irisin might be a predictor of insulin resistance in obese subjects. The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of life style intervention on insulin sensitivity, irisin, and visfatin concentrations. Methods: A group of 43 obese patients (13M/30F; 43.0 ±12.4 years; BMI 31.2 ± 6.3 kg/m2) participated in a weight loss interventional program (NCT02325804) following an 8-week program consisting of hypocaloric diet (-30% energy intake) and physical activity 150 minutes/week. Insulin sensitivity was evaluated according to the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and insulin sensitivity indices according Matsuda and Cederholm were calculated (ISIMat and ISICed). Plasma ALT, AST, irisin, visfatin, and physical fitness were measured. Results: The average reduction of body weight was 6.8±4.9 kg (0-15 kg; p=0.0006), accompanied with significant reduction of body fat mass (p=0.03), and waist circumference (p=0.02). Insulin sensitivity improved (IR HOMA 2.71±3.90 vs. 1.24 ±0.83; p=0.01; ISIMat 6.64±4.38 vs. 8.93±5.36 p ≤ 0.001; ISICed 59.1±21.4 vs. 64.7±22.2 p=0.03). Total and LDL cholesterol, as well as triglycerides decreased (p=0.02, p=0.02, p=0.resp.), Physical fitness significantly improved after intervention (as measured by VO2 max: 25.1±5.9 vs. 28.0±6.0 ml.kg-1.min-1, p ≤ 0.001). Plasma irisin significantly decreased after intervention (233 ± 66 vs. 167 ± 88 ng/mL; P ≤ 0.001), while visfatin levels did not changed. Conclusion: Eight weeks of diet and physical activity intervention program in obese otherwise healthy subjects leaded to improvement of insulin sensitivity, as well as physical fitness and lowering of plasma irirsin levels. Irisin strongly reflects body fat mass, suggesting that the irisin circulating levels are conditioned by adiposity level. Disclosure A. Penesova: None. Z. Radikova: None. B. Bajer: None. M. Vlcek: None.

Background Interleukin 35 (IL-35) is a recently identified member of the IL-12 family of cytokines and represents a novel target for therapies of autoimmune, inflammatory, and infectious diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Choi et al. 2015 IL-35 is a heterodimer consisting of EBV-induced gene 3 (EBI3) and IL-12α chain p35 (Nakano et al. 2015). In contrast to other IL-12 cytokine family members, IL-35 appears to have anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties mediated by induction of regulatory T and B cells; (Choi et al. 2015. Huang et al. 2017). In particular, IL-35 may play an important role in suppressing the inflammatory response by expanding regulatory T cells and in dampening the differentiation of Th17 cells (Niedbala et al. 2007). Objectives This study was designed to analyse effects of IL-35 on stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and their subpopulations in RA patients and healthy controls. Methods PBMCs of 10 RA patients and 10 controls as well as CD14 +and CD4+cells isolated from PBMCs using magnetic separation were cultured for 24 hours, and subjected to three conditions: no stimulation, stimulation with LPS (PBMC and CD14+) or stimulation with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibodies (PBMC and CD4+), and stimulation with added IL-35 (100 ng/ml). A panel of nine cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-17a, IFN-γ, MIP-1β and TNF) was analysed in the cell culture supernatants. Results RA patients had higher serum levels of IL-35 compared to healthy controls. A decreased secretion of IL-8 and increased secretion of TNF in the presence of IL-35 was observed in vitro in stimulated PBMCs of RA patients. In the control group, we observed an increased secretion of IL-6 by PBMCs and decreased secretion of IL-10 by T lymphocytes as a result of IL-35 addition to stimulated cells. Conclusions In this study, we found elevated serum levels of IL-35 in RA patients suggesting a possible involvement of IL-35 in the pathogenesis of RA. However, in vitro, the effect of IL-35 on stimulated immune cells was partially anti-inflammatory and partially pro-inflammatory, suggesting that the effect of IL-35 is pleiotropic and depends on the type and the state of the affected immune cell. References [1] Huang A, Cheng L, He M, et al. Interleukin-35 on B cell and T cell induction and regulation. J. Inflamm. (United Kingdom)2017;14. [2] Choi J, Leung PSC, Bowlus C, Gershwin ME. IL-35 and Autoimmunity: a Comprehensive Perspective. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol2015;49:327–332. doi:10.1007/s12016-015-8468-9 [3] Nakano S, Morimoto S, Suzuki S, et al. Immunoregulatory role of IL-35 in T cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford)2015;54:1498–1506. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keu528 [4] Niedbala W, Wei XQ, Cai B, et al. IL-35 is a novel cytokine with therapeutic effects against collagen-induced arthritis through the expansion of regulatory T cells and suppression of Th17 cells. Eur J Immunol2007;37:3021–3029. doi:10.1002/eji.200737810 Acknowledgements Grant support: APVV-15–0228 and VEGA 2/0161/16 Disclosure of Interest None declared

Photosensitivity based practical applications of chalcogenide glasses such as high resolution inorganic photoresists require thorough understanding of the relations between the glass structure and the etching kinetics. In this paper we report on the selective wet etching of thermally evaporated As2Se3 thin films carried out using amine based solutions. The relation between photo- and thermo-induced structural changes in thin As2Se3 films and the decrease of the etching rate, increase of the etching process' activation energy respectively, was determined.

The nature of intrinsic phase separation initiated under different homogenization routes is studied in arsenic trisulfide As2S3 glass using Raman scattering spectroscopy. It is shown that As2S3 glass prepared within conventional melt-quenching route is subjected to essential phase separation dependent on the homogenization of elemental constituents sealed in evacuated ampoules. Under condition of low-temperature homogenization at 450–550 °С, chemical interaction due to limited solubility of liquid S in solid As results in structurally intrinsic As- and S-rich phases with high content of homoatomic As–As and S–S bonds, respectively, which are “wrong” from the point of As2S3 stoichiometry This process can be essentially facilitated with more rapid heating and greater amount of initial elemental ingredients taken for synthesis. During prolonged homogenization of this intrinsically-decomposed melt (such as lasting 2 days in a rocking furnace), these products are partially separated giving main glassy phase enriched on As in the form of realgar- and dimorphite-type molecules, isolated As–As bonds in a glassy network and volatilized S-rich phase, which condenses on the walls of ampoules. If such melt is insufficiently homogenized as under 6-h heating at 500 °C with only 2-h rocking, the coordination disordering is maintained in the ultimate glass. This provides that volatilized S-rich phase does not form, and all decomposition products are stabilized in glassy state as quasi-tetrahedral units and compensating homoatomic As–As bonds.

Chalcogenide glass thin layers are useful to many practical applications especially for the fabrication of infrared (IR) optical elements. In comparison to the conventional vacuum deposition methods of their preparation, recently chemical methods such as spin coating are gaining attention. They involve dissolution of the source bulk glass in appropriate solvent and then depositing its thin layer. Chemical processes occurring during the glass dissolution and thin layer deposition determine the physico-chemical properties of deposited thin layers. The structure of chalcogenide bulk glasses (AsxS100 − x, where 30 ≤ × ≤ 40) and their solutions in n-butylamine have been studied in this work by Raman spectroscopy. From the composition and time dependence of Raman spectra of solutions the mechanism of arsenic–sulfur glass dissolution involving the reaction of aliphatic amine solvent with homopolar S S bonds is proposed and the presence of alkyl ammonium arsenic sulfide salts in thin layers is established.

This brief presents the degree equation of an equiripple narrow bandpass finite-impulse response filter, which follows from the filter approximation rather than from empirical data. The degree equation relates the filter specification and the corresponding filter degree. It completes the closed-form filter design, and it is useful in numerical design procedures as well. Two examples demonstrate its functionality and usefulness.

In present work, the results on the influence of doping by transitional elements on thermal, optical, structural and magnetic properties of chalcogenide glasses are presented. Thermal properties (Tg values for undoped and doped glasses) were studied using differential scanning calorimetry technique. Activation energy of glass transition was estimated with the use of Kissinger’s expression. Structural studies were carried with the use of Raman and infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Radial electron distribution functions in doped and undoped bulk glasses were obtained and analyzed. In Raman spectra, main observed effect under the introduction of dopants was the change of relative concentration of main and non-stoichiometric structural units characteristic for As2S3 glasses. Investigation of influence of transition metals Mn-dopants on the optical properties of As2S3 glass was studied in mid-IR region. Pure chalcogenide glasses are diamagnetics. Introduction of transitional and rare earth impurities changes the magnetic properties of investigated chalcogenide glasses. & 2015 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.

Spin coated chalcogenide thin films have different structural and chemical properties than the films obtained by traditional methods such as thermal evaporation or sputtering. The solution-based method provides lower sensitivity of glass matrix to the influence of bandgap and superbandgap light. This property is very useful for non-linear optical applications based on high transparency of these materials in infrared spectral region. Arsenic selenide spin coated thin films were obtained by chemical dissolution of bulk glasses in ethylenediamine. The influence of preparation conditions, especially the annealing temperatures at the final stage of thin films synthesis, on in-situ kinetics of photodarkening (bleaching) at various energies and intensities of UV-VIS light was studied. It was found that at certain annealing conditions only transient photoinduced effects can be obtained by eliminating metastable kinetic component. Mechanisms of the photoinduced effects are discussed based on the parameters of relaxation functions.Spin coated chalcogenide thin films have different structural and chemical properties than the films obtained by traditional methods such as thermal evaporation or sputtering. The solution-based method provides lower sensitivity of glass matrix to the influence of bandgap and superbandgap light. This property is very useful for non-linear optical applications based on high transparency of these materials in infrared spectral region. Arsenic selenide spin coated thin films were obtained by chemical dissolution of bulk glasses in ethylenediamine. The influence of preparation conditions, especially the annealing temperatures at the final stage of thin films synthesis, on in-situ kinetics of photodarkening (bleaching) at various energies and intensities of UV-VIS light was studied. It was found that at certain annealing conditions only transient photoinduced effects can be obtained by eliminating metastable kinetic component. Mechanisms of the photoinduced effects are discussed based on the parameters of rela...

Obesity management for achieving an effective weight loss includes dietary modification and exercise [resistance (strength), endurance (cardiovascular) or intervals training (high-intensity intermittent exercise)]. Regular exercise acutely increases fat oxidation, which induces loss of fat mass and increases energy expenditure. Moreover, it has a positive effect on the physical (improved insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, etc.) and mental health (mood, cognition, memory, sleep, etc.). Endocrine responses to muscle actions are affected by many factors, including the exercise muscle groups (lower and upper body), load/volume, time-under tension, and rest-period intervals between sets, training status, gender, and age. The aim of this review is to summarize, evaluate, and clarify the literature data focusing on the endocrine responses to different types of exercise, including the frequency, intensity, and type of movement with regard to the fat loss strategies. Many studies have investigated anabolic [growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), testosterone] and gluco- and appetite- regulatory (insulin, cortisol, ghrelin) hormone responses and adaptations of skeletal muscles to exercise. Muscle tissue is a critical endocrine organ, playing important role in the regulation of several physiological and metabolic events. Moreover, we are also describing the response of some other substances to exercise, such as myokines [irisin, apelin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), myostatin, and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21)]. It is proposed that reducing intra-abdominal fat mass and increasing cardiorespiratory fitness through improving nutritional quality, reducing sedentary behavior, and increase the participation in physical activity/exercise, might be associated with clinical benefits, sometimes even in the absence of weight loss.

This paper presents a robust evaluation of partial subfilters in a cascade representation of equiripple narrow band-pass FIR filters. The presented procedure is based on an approximating equiripple polynomial. We demonstrate its functionality and robustness.

Autonomic dysfunction is commonly detected in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, data evaluating autonomic nervous system function in early MS are limited. Present study investigates response to two different stressors in newly diagnosed MS patients, looking for the signs of autonomic dysfunction at the beginning of the disease. We examined 19 MS patients and 19 age, sex, and body mass index matched healthy controls. MS patients were newly diagnosed, untreated, and with low expanded disability status scale (EDSS) values [median 1.0 (interquartile range 1.0–1.5)]. Two stressors were used to evaluate the response of autonomic nervous system: Stroop word-color interference mental stress test and orthostasis. Plasma levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine, blood pressure (BP), and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters were evaluated. At the end of Stroop test MS patients had lower systolic BP (121 ± 15 vs. 132 ± 17 mmHg, p = 0.044), lower heart rate (79 ± 9 vs. 88 ± 16 1/min, p = 0.041), and lower epinephrine increment (10 ± 22 vs. 30 ± 38 pg/ml; p = 0.049) compared to healthy controls. Norepinephrine response was unaffected in MS, however, with lower norepinephrine levels during the test (p = 0.036). HRV parameters were similar in both groups. No differences in BP, heart rate, catecholamines, and HRV parameters between groups during orthostatic testing were found. We found slightly diminished sympathetic response to mental stress test, but unchanged response to orthostasis, in newly diagnosed untreated MS patients. The results suggest that autonomic dysfunction in MS is connected with more developed disease.

Lower production of adrenal androgens has been confirmed in females with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, the mechanisms of this finding are not completely understood. The aim of our study was to assess the contribution of genetic factors associated with variability of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels to lower DHEAS in female RA patients. 448 RA and 648 healthy controls were genotyped for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes ZKSCAN5 (rs11761528), SULT2A1 (rs2637125), HHEX (rs2497306), and ARPC1A (rs740160). Serum DHEAS concentrations were measured in 112 RA patients and 91 healthy women. The allele frequencies in DHEAS-related loci were similar in RA and controls. RA patients had significantly lower serum DHEAS concentrations compared to healthy women. The cumulative number of alleles associated with lower DHEAS within genes ZKSCAN5, SULT2A1, HHEX, and ARPC1A present in each individual negatively correlated with DHEAS levels in RA patients, but not in controls. Linear regression analysis showed significant effect of polymorphisms in genes ZKSCAN5 and ARPC1A on serum DHEAS levels in female RA patients but not in the control group. Our findings suggest that complex interactions exist between genotype and adrenal androgen hypofunction in RA.

Inadequate production of cortisol related to inflammation and decrease in adrenal androgen production are hallmarks of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-related endocrine findings in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In particular, lower dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels were consistently found in a subset of premenopausal RA females. Recently, several new gene variants have been identified in association with serum DHEAS concentrations, such as in SULT2A1 and HHEX genes. These DHEAS-related genes and other variants involved in HPA regulation may play a role in the adrenal androgen deficiency in RA. The aim of our study was to review involvement of genetic mechanisms of HPA regulation, with focus on adrenal androgens, in the context of RA pathophysiology. Although, effects of the DHEAS-related gene variants appear to be relatively small compared to other well-known factors such as age, complex interactions between DHEAS-associated genotypes and adrenal androgen hypofunction phenotype may exist in RA. Further studies analyzing specific neuroendocrine phenotype/genotype in RA are needed.

Objective Hypertrophic obesity is associated with impaired insulin sensitivity and lipid-mobilizing activity of zinc-α2-glycoprotein. Adipose tissue (AT) of growth hormone (GH) -deficient patients is characterized by extreme adipocyte hypertrophy due to defects in AT lipid metabolism. It was hypothesized that zinc-α2-glycoprotein is regulated by GH and mediates some of its beneficial effects in AT. Methods AT from patients with GH deficiency and individuals with obesity-related GH deficit was obtained before and after 5-year and 24-month GH supplementation therapy. GH action was tested in primary human adipocytes. Relationships of GH and zinc-α2-glycoprotein with adipocyte size and insulin sensitivity were evaluated in nondiabetic patients with noncancerous cachexia and hypertrophic obesity. Results AT in GH-deficient adults displayed a substantial reduction of zinc-α2-glycoprotein. GH therapy normalized AT zinc-α2-glycoprotein. Obesity-related relative GH deficit was associated with almost 80% reduction of zinc-α2-glycoprotein mRNA in AT. GH increased zinc-α2-glycoprotein mRNA in both AT of obese men and primary human adipocytes. Interdependence of GH and zinc-α2-glycoprotein in regulating AT morphology and metabolic phenotype was evident from their relationship with adipocyte size and AT-specific and whole-body insulin sensitivity. Conclusions The results demonstrate that GH is involved in regulation of AT zinc-α2-glycoprotein; however, the molecular mechanism linking GH and zinc-α2-glycoprotein in AT is yet unknown.

The aim of our study was to investigate adrenocortical function in the context of disease activity and inflammatory status in premenopausal RA females. Adrenal glucocorticoid and androgen responses to the 1 µg ACTH 1-24 test were investigated in 23 premenopausal RA and in 15 age- and BMI-matched healthy females. Twelve RA patients were on low-dose prednisone (3.2 had lower (p3.2 had lower (p

Objective To examine the regulatory aspects of zinc-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG) association with obesity-related insulin resistance. Methods ZAG mRNA and protein were analyzed in subcutaneous adipose tissue (AT) and circulation of lean, obese, prediabetic, and type 2 diabetic men; both subcutaneous and visceral AT were explored in lean and extremely obese. Clinical and ex vivo findings were corroborated by results of in vitro ZAG silencing experiment. Results Subcutaneous AT ZAG was reduced in obesity, with a trend to further decrease with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. ZAG was 3.3-fold higher in subcutaneous than in visceral AT of lean individuals. All differences were lost in extreme obesity. Obesity-associated changes in AT were not paralleled by alterations of circulating ZAG. Subcutaneous AT ZAG correlated with adiposity, adipocyte hypertrophy, whole-body and AT insulin sensitivity, mitochondrial content, expression of GLUT4, PGC1α, and adiponectin. Subcutaneous AT ZAG and adipocyte size were the only predictors of insulin sensitivity, independent on age and BMI. Silencing ZAG resulted in reduced adiponectin, IRS1, GLUT4, and PGC1α gene expression in primary human adipocytes. Conclusions ZAG in subcutaneous, but not in visceral AT, was markedly reduced in obesity. Clinical, cellular, and molecular evidence indicate that ZAG plays an important role in modulating whole-body and AT insulin sensitivity.

Despite a great number of studies devoted to the synthesis of chalcogenide quantum dots (QDs), many essential questions remain open up to date. Primarily, it is a safety of the synthesis, both in the laboratory and in the industry. Another issue is the reproducibility of QDs with desired characteristics. And, without doubt, the ability to adjust properties of the resulting QDs by the implementation of various approaches to the synthesis is significant. Here we provide a novel approach to the synthesis of ternary Cd–Zn–Se QDs (ratios Cd: Zn = 10 : 90; 25 : 75; 50 : 50; 75 : 25; 90 : 10) using disubstituted selenourea as a novel source of selenium. (Z)-1-hexyl-3-(octadec-9-enyl)selenourea was synthesized in three steps with a good yield of the final product. It opens up a simple, convenient and environmentally friendly way to the synthesis of the selected QDs. Varying the molar ratios of Cd and Zn, QDs of different composition were produced in high yields. According to the conducted research, highly photoluminescent ternary Cd–Zn–Se QDs (photoluminescent quantum yield PL QY up to 64%) are uniform, both in elemental composition and in size (3.6–5.3 nm). Moreover, the selection of given selenourea made it possible to scale the synthesis by 24 times with an increase in the amount of QDs without loss of product quality. This demonstrates the feasibility to produce such type of materials on an industrial scale.

Ge20Sb5S75 thin films with high chemical resistance to aliphatic amines were deposited from solutions of various glass concentrations (0.015-0.09 g of grinded glass material/ml of n-butylamine) by the spin-coating technique. As-prepared and annealed thin films were analyzed by spectroscopic ellipsometry and EDS (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy). Results proved that the refractive index of thin films was not affected by the solution concentration (within studied range), and the studied optical properties of deposited samples were homogenous in their volume. The Ge20Sb5S75 solution of the highest concentration (0.09 g/ml) was chosen for deposition of thicker chalcogenide glass material using multiply deposition/thermal stabilization procedure. Prepared multilayers proved to have good optical quality and homogenous chemical resistance through the whole thickness. No interfaces between layers were observed from etching kinetics and SEM scans. Thus, the results confirmed that multiple layers stacking procedure is suitable for deposition of thick homogenous Ge20Sb5S75 thin films. Vrstvy Ge20Sb5S75 s vysokou chemickou odolností vůči alifatickým aminům byly připraveny z roztoků o různých koncentracích skla (0.015-0.09 g nadrceného skelného materiálu na ml n-butylaminu) pomocí metody spin-coating. Čerstvě připravené a temperované tenké vrstvy byly analyzovány pomocí spektroskopické elipsometrie a EDS (energiově-disperzní rentgenové analýzy). Výsledky potvrdily že index lomu tenkých vrstev nebyl ovlivněn koncentrací roztoku (ve studovaném rozsahu koncentrací) a studované optické vlastnosti deponovaných vrstev byly homogenní v tloušťce materiálu. Roztok Ge20Sb5S75 o nejvyšší koncentraci (0.09 g/ml) byl zvolen pro depozici tlustších chalkogenidových vrstev pomocí multinásobné procedury depozice a tepelné stabilizace. Připravené multivrstvy měly dobrou optickou kvalitu a homogenní chemickou odolnost v celém svém objemu. Na základě dat z leptacích kinetik a SEM scanů nebyla pozorována žádná rozhraní mezi jednotlivými vrstvami. výsledky tedy potvrdily, že metoda multinásobné depoziční procedury je vhodná pro přípravu tlustších homogenních vrstev složení Ge20Sb5S75.

Irisin was identified as a myokine secreted by contracting skeletal muscle, possibly mediating some exercise health benefits via 'browning' of white adipose tissue. However, a controversy exists concerning irisin origin, regulation and function in humans. Thus, we have explored Fndc5 gene and irisin protein in two clinical studies: (i) a cross-sectional study (effects of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in drug-naive men) and (ii) an intervention study (exercise effects in sedentary, overweight/obese individuals). Glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity were assessed. Maximal aerobic capacity and muscle strength were measured before and after training. Body composition (magnetic resonance imaging), muscle and liver fat content (1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)) and in vivo muscle metabolism (32P-MRS) were determined. Skeletal muscle and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue samples were taken in the fasted state and during euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemia (adipose tissue) and before/after exercise training (muscle). We found that muscle Fndc5 mRNA was increased in prediabetes but not T2D. Fndc5 in adipose tissue and irisin in plasma were reduced in T2D by 40% and 50%, respectively. In contrast, T2D-derived myotubes expressed/secreted the highest levels of Fndc5/irisin. Neither hyperinsulinaemia (adipose tissue/plasma) nor exercise (muscle/plasma) affected Fndc5/irisin in vivo. Circulating irisin was positively associated with muscle mass, strength and metabolism and negatively with fasting glycaemia. Glucose and palmitate decreased Fndc5 mRNA in myotubes in vitro. We conclude that distinct patterns of Fndc5/irisin in muscle, adipose tissue and circulation, and concordant in vivo down-regulation in T2D, indicate that irisin might distinguish metabolic health and disease. Moreover, Fndc5/irisin was discordantly regulated in diabetic muscle and myotubes in vitro, suggesting that whole body factors, such as glucose and fatty acids, might be important for irisin regulation. Exercise did not affect Fndc5/irisin. However, irisin was positively linked to muscle mass, strength and metabolism, pointing to common regulatory factors and/or the potential for irisin to modify muscle phenotype.

TLR4-mediated inflammatory responses are important for innate immune functions, thus their alterations may participate in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Cortisol is one of the most potent immunomodulatory hormones involved in control of inflammation. In this study, we analyzed TLR4-mediated responses and cortisol effects on the process in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from RA patients. Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated PBMC from 23 female patients and 15 healthy controls were cultured in the presence or absence of cortisol (1 µM) for 24 h. A panel of 17 inflammatory cytokines was analyzed in the cell culture supernatants. Higher (p < 0.05) concentrations of IL-6, IL-17 and MCP-1 were found in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated PBMC from RA patients compared to controls. After normalization of stimulated cytokine secre - tion to unstimulated cells, a significantly higher (p < 0.05) IL-6 and G-CSF production was found in RA PBMC. Cortisol induced stronger (p < 0.05) suppression of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated secretion of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17 and G-CSF in RA group compared to controls. The observed higher production of the key inflammatory cytokines by RA PBMC to lipopolysaccharide stimulation supports involvement of TLR4-mediated processes in RA pathogenesis. The higher sensitivity of LPS-stimulated RA PBMC to immunosuppressive effects of cortisol may reflect adaptive processes to chronic inflammation.

The use of high resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to study chalcogenide glass thin films is analyzed. It is shown that the method is an effective tool to explore different chemical environments in the films and control chemical composition of the surface. Examples of the method applications such as kinetics study of induced silver dissolution in the thin films and investigation of oxidation on the surface of the thin film are presented. Limitations of the method are shown on the example of photoinduced structural transformations in chalcogenide glass thin films.

The up to date increasing number of nanotechnology applications is linked with a serious danger of environmental pollution by nanomaterials. Consequently, the ecotoxicity testing of nanomaterials becomes an essential part of nanotechnology development. Classical ecotoxicity tests suffer with a number of complications when used for nanomaterials. In the case of aquatic toxicity tests, the nanoparticle agglomeration in the liquid media is a fundamental problem. The aim of this work is to evaluate the influence of important physico-chemical parameters (nanoparticle concentration and illumination conditions) on an agglomeration of 40 nm silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in a liquid media prescribed for fish eco-toxicity test by the OECD 203 guideline (Medium 203).

Objectives Stress is accompanied also by a rise in splenic catecholamines (CAs). However, indications about endogenous CA production in the spleen exist but there are no data about the cellular source of this production and possible modification by stress. Therefore, our aim was to investigate whether splenic T- and B-cells are one of main sources in the spleen expressing tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), enzyme crucial for CA biosynthesis, and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) which is necessary for epinephrine production. We also investigated whether stress is able to modify expression of both enzymes and CA levels within these cell fractions as well as tried to explain functional consequences of changes observed. Results T-cells contain higher levels of TH mRNA than B-cells although protein levels appeared similar. On contrary, the PNMT mRNA and protein were higher in B-cells, which appeared to be the main source of PNMT in the spleen. T-cells increased TH and PNMT expression after acute stress while similar rise was observed in B-cells after repeated stress, most probably as a consequence of higher CA turnover in both cell populations. The rise in TH and PNMT was accompanied by an elevation of Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA ratio, number of apoptotic cells and also by a decline of IFN-γ mRNA in both cell types. Reduction of IL-2 and IL-4 mRNA was also observed in B-cells. Conclusion Stress-induced stimulation of endogenous CA biosynthesis in lymphocytes is dependent on the type of lymphocyte population and duration of stressor and leads to attenuated IFN-γ expression and induction of apoptosis. These changes might contribute to dysregulation of specific immune functions involving T- and B-cells and may decrease the ability to cope with intracellular agents following stress situations.

Chronic systemic inflammation is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of our study was to investigate association of glucose metabolism and inflammatory markers in a group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis free of other metabolic risk factors. Twenty-two premenopausal RA females (11 patients on low-dose GC (

Spectral dependence of photostructural transformations on the surface and in the interior of thermally evaporated As 2 S 3 thin films is studied under the influence of bandgap, sub-bandgap and super-bandgap light. For the given light intensity (W~15 mW/cm 2 ) the irradiation by bandgap and super-bandgap light leads to partial restoration of pyramidal structural units in the film, which is a characteristic of the bulk glasses of this stoichiometric composition. The mechanism of photostructural transformations on the surface of the film exhibits strong spectral dependence. S- rich layer is formed upon irradiation by super-bandgap UV light. The sub-bandgap light does not cause any noticeable photostructural transformations at this light intensity.

This paper presents an improved design of optimal equiripple notch FIR filters. In contrast to previous achievements, the notch FIR filters are additionally specified by the stop-band properties which are reflected by a novel degree equation. The degree equation relates the filter specification and the lowest possible filter length. An enhanced filter design is presented. Two examples demonstrate its functionality and robustness.

Introduction The aim of the study was to analyse genetic architecture of RA by utilizing multiparametric statistical methods such as linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and redundancy analysis (RDA). Methods A total of 1393 volunteers, 499 patients with RA and 894 healthy controls were included in the study. The presence of shared epitope (SE) in HLA-DRB1 and 11 SNPs (PTPN22 C/T (rs2476601), STAT4 G/T (rs7574865), CTLA4 A/G (rs3087243), TRAF1/C5 A/G (rs3761847), IRF5 T/C (rs10488631), TNFAIP3 C/T (rs5029937), AFF3 A/T (rs11676922), PADI4 C/T (rs2240340), CD28 T/C (rs1980422), CSK G/A (rs34933034) and FCGR3A A/C (rs396991), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti–citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) and clinical status was analysed using the LDA and RDA. Results HLA-DRB1, PTPN22, STAT4, IRF5 and PADI4 significantly discriminated between RA patients and healthy controls in LDA. The correlation between RA diagnosis and the explanatory variables in the model was 0.328 (Trace = 0.107; F = 13.715; P = 0.0002). The risk variants of IRF5 and CD28 genes were found to be common determinants for seropositivity in RDA, while positivity of RF alone was associated with the CTLA4 risk variant in heterozygous form. The correlation between serologic status and genetic determinants on the 1st ordinal axis was 0.468, and 0.145 on the 2nd one (Trace = 0.179; F = 6.135; P = 0.001). The risk alleles in AFF3 gene together with the presence of ACPA were associated with higher clinical severity of RA. Conclusions The association among multiple risk variants related to T cell receptor signalling with seropositivity may play an important role in distinct clinical phenotypes of RA. Our study demonstrates that multiparametric analyses represent a powerful tool for investigation of mutual relationships of potential risk factors in complex diseases such as RA.

International audience; An atomistic view on Johari-Goldstein secondary β-relaxation processes responsible for structural relaxation far below the glass transition temperature (Tg ) in network glasses is developed for the archetypal chalcogenide glass, As20Se80, using positron annihilation lifetime, differential scanning calorimetry, Raman scattering and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. Increased density fluctuations are shown to be responsible for the initial stage of physical ageing in these materials at the temperatures below Tg . They are correlated with changes in thermodynamic parameters of structural relaxation through the glass-to-supercooled liquid transition interval. General shrinkage, occurred during the next stage of physical ageing, is shown to be determined by the ability of system to release these redundant open volumes from the glass bulk through the densification process of glass network.

This brief introduces perfect decomposition filter banks based on narrow-band linear-phase finite impulse response (FIR) filters. They consist of inner and lateral FIR filters. The inner filters are optimal equiripple narrow-bandpass FIR filters based on isoextremal polynomials. The inner filters are supplemented by lateral narrow-band low- and high-pass FIR filters. The concept of such isoextremal polynomials of this kind enables flexibility in the resulting frequency response of the filter bank. The filter banks presented here are made under the constraint of the resulting frequency response with a constant value for all frequencies.

An approximation of the linear phase almost equiripple low-pass finite impulse response filter is introduced. The frequency response of an almost equiripple low-pass finite impulse response filter closely approaches the frequency response of an optimal equiripple low-pass finite impulse response filter in the Chebyshev sense. The presented approximation is based on the generating polynomial. Despite that the generating polynomial has no iso-extremal behavior, it is related to the class of iso-extremal polynomials. The zero phase transfer function of an almost equiripple low-pass finite impulse response filter follows from the generating polynomial. The closed form solution for the direct algebraic computation of the impulse response of the filter has been developed on the basis of generalization of the differential equation suitable for the half-band specifications. No numerical procedures are involved. The practical design procedure based on the developed approximation is presented. For illustration of the design procedure one example of the design is included here.

The sympathoneural and the adrenomedullary systems are involved in regulation of immune processes. Their impairment has been suggested in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, sympathetic response to orthostasis was evaluated in 22 RA females with

The critically ill subjects are represented by a heterogeneous group of patients suffering from a life-threatening event of different origin, e.g. trauma, cardiopulmonary failure, surgery or sepsis. The majority of these patients are dependent on the artificial lung ventilation, which means a life-saving chance for them. However, the artificial lung ventilation may trigger ventilation-associated lung injury (VALI). The mechanical ventilation at higher volumes (volutrauma) and pressure (barotrauma) can cause histological changes in the lungs including impairments in the gap and adherens junctions and desmosomes. The injured lung epithelium may lead to an impairment of the surfactant production and function, and this may not only contribute to the pathophysiology of VALI but also to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Other components of VALI are atelectrauma and toxic effects of the oxygen. Collectively, all these effects may result in a lung inflammation associated with a subsequent profibrotic changes, endothelial dysfunction, and activation of the local and systemic endocrine responses such as the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). The present review is aimed to describe some of the pathophysiologic aspects of VALI providing a basis for novel therapeutic strategies in the critically ill patients.

An alternative polynomial approximation for the activation sigmoid function is developed here. It can considerably simplify the input/output opera- tions of a neural network. The recursive algorithm is found for Chebyshev expan- sion of all constituting polynomials.

Light-induced structural changes of As-S glasses and films were probed both by macro FT-Raman and photon-energy dependent micro-Raman spectroscopy using different spectral composition of photoactive light: polychromatic or different wavelengths of laser radiation. The polychromatic illumination and thermal treatment leads to continuous decrease in intensity of characteristics vibrational modes of molecular or cage-like species like As4S4, As4S3, etc. Under laser illumination the picture is different, new observed features in the Raman spectra of As-rich As-S glass are related to transformations of As4S4 molecules: α(β)-As4S4 transform into pararealgar p -As4S4 form during laser illumination. The effectiveness of transformations depends mainly on photon energies used for irradiation, but the tendency to transform is observed for all used photon energies ranging from 1.65 to 2.54 eV. Experimental photon-energy dependent Raman spectroscopy used together with ab initio DFT calculations indicate that the mechanism of photo-induced changes in As-S glasses and films is defined by spectral width of illumination source (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Photoinduced changes in the optical properties of chalcogenide glass thin films have been studied extensively but usually only permanent changes were recorded through measurements before and after exposure to pump light. To understand the progression of such effects, in this paper we report in situ measurement of transient changes in the optical transmission of amorphous As2Se3, As5Se5 and As4Se3 thin films during their exposure to a He–Ne laser which has photon energy close to the bandgap of the studied compositions. Mathematical expressions are established, which describe accurately both the light intensity and time dependences of photodarkening. The structural origin of the observed changes is discussed briefly.

The concept of relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI) has been originally introduced to describe a situation in which critically ill patients, without any prior risk or evidence for adrenal insufficiency, have total serum cortisol levels inadequate for the severity of patients' illness. The concept provided a framework for other disease states, in which higher than normal adrenal function could be expected, such as in chronic inflammation. An intense research in RAI field highlighted some new methodological aspects that significantly improved assessment of adrenal function in chronic illness. Measurement of salivary cortisol may provide additional information on locally available cortisol in target tissues. Low levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) for given age and gender were confirmed as a simple and reliable indicator of decreased adrenal function, even in subjects with normal baseline cortisol or normal corticotropin-stimulated cortisol response. Combined lower DHEAS and lower baseline cortisol levels could be an example of hypocompetence of adrenocortical function, yet clinically not apparent.

We present the study of volatile amine-based single or multi-component solvent formulations and their influence on As30Se70 chalcogenide glass solubility and dissolution mechanism. The source As30Se70 bulk glass was dissolved in various amine based solvents, and solutions of quantitatively dissolved bulk glass were used for thin films deposition by the spin-coating technique. The methanol – n-propylamine solvent mixture proved to be suitable for preparation of thin films in specular optical quality, low surface roughness and targeted composition. The post-deposition thermal treatment has a high impact on the thickness, optical properties and structure of the studied thin films. The content of the organic residuals was also significantly reduced.

A novel design procedure of equiripple (ER) half-band (HB) finite-impulse-response (FIR) filters is developed. A solution to the approximation problem in terms of generating function and zero-phase transfer function for the ER HB FIR filter is presented. The ER HB FIR filters are optimal in the Chebyshev sense. The closed-form solution provides an efficient computation of the impulse response of the filter. One example is included.

An extension to the analytical design of digital equiripple comb FIR filters is presented here. The filters are optimal in Chebyshev sense. The design runs from the filter specification through the degree formula to the impulse response coefficients, which are evaluated by an extremely efficient recursive algorithm. The proposed design method outperforms the standard procedures in terms of speed and robustness.

A theoretical relationship for the dissolution kinetics of thin chalcogenide films is proposed. The influence of light irradiation on the film dissolution is taken into account. The theoretical curves are in good agreement with the experimental dissolution results obtained for As2S3 thin amorphous films.

The interrelationship between activity of sympathetic nervous system and metabolic risk factors in youth with hypertension (HT) has been poorly studied. The aim of our present study was to assess the interrelationship between metabolic risk factors, such as insulin resistance, concentration of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, and catecholamines in an early stage of HT onset. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed in 17 young males with early-diagnosed nontreated HT grade 1 and 16 gender-, age-, and BMI-matched normotensive controls. Concentrations of glucose, insulin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, PAI-1, and plasma renin activity (PRA) were determined in venous plasma. Insulin sensitivity indices (ISIs) proposed by Cederholm, Matsuda, and Gutt were calculated. HT had higher baseline levels of norepinephrine, insulin (P= 0.02), and PAI-1 (P= 0.04). ISIs were lower in HT subjects (P < 0.001). Baseline concentrations of epinephrine were negatively associated with HDL cholesterol (r=-0.415, P= 0.02), ISI Matsuda (r=-0.361, P= 0.04), ISI Cederholm (r=-0.354, P= 0.04), and ISI Gutt (r=-0.429, P= 0.01), and positively with PRA (r= 0.609, P < 0.0001). Positive association was found between baseline concentrations of norepinephrine and PAI-1 (r= 0.418, P= 0.02). The sympathetic overactivity, which occurs in the early stage of HT may contribute to reduced insulin sensitivity even in young patients and intensify the undesirable development of metabolic cardiovascular risk factors and progress of the disease.

Change of electronic structure and chemical composition on the surface of freshly prepared As 35 S 65 thin films caused by electron- and light irradiation have been studied by high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The mechanisms of the induced transformations are compared. It is shown that light irradiation causes redistribution of chemical bonds without change in chemical composition. The products of such light-induced structural transformations were also identified by Raman spectroscopy in the volume of thin films. Electron irradiation changes chemical composition of the surface by creating an As-enriched layer due to the formation of As–O bonds. Anomalous increase of the ~ 10 eV band associated with non-bonding As 4s electrons was observed after light- and low dose e-beam irradiation.

Lithium-lead phosphate and borophosphate glasses were studied in compositional series of xLi2O-(50-x)PbO-50P2O5, xLi2O-(50-x)PbO-10B2O3-40P2O5 and xLi2O-(50-x)PbO-20B2O3- 30P2O5. All glasses crystallize on heating within the range of 400-610oC. Their glass transition temperature decreases with increasing Li2O content in the region of x = 0-30 mol% Li2O and then slowly increases in all series of glasses reflecting thus changes in the bond strength of the glass structural network. Density, molar volume and chemical durability of the glasses decrease with increasing Li2O content. The 31P MAS NMR and Raman spectra show that at all glass series with the replacement of PbO by Li2O the ratio of Q2/Q1 units, present in the structure, slightly increase. The 11B MAS NMR spectra of glasses with 10 mol% B2O3 reveal the presence of only BO4 units in the glass structure, whereas the spectra of the glasses with 20 mol% B2O3 reveal also the presence of small amount of BO3 units.

We examined 2,046 adults (834 males and 1,212 females aged 20-75 years) from polluted district in East Slovakia (POLL) and two neighboring upstream and upwind located districts of background pollution (BCGR). By ultrasound we estimated the thyroid volume (ThV), hypoechogenicity (HYE), nodules and cysts. Serum levels of thyrotropin (TSH), thyroperoxidase antibodies (TPOab) and thyroglobulin were estimated by electrochemiluminiscent assay and these of 15 PCB congeners, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and hexachlorocyclohexane by high-resolution gas chromatography. In 320 subjects also selected hydroxylated and methylsulfonated PCB metabolites, polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins (PCDDs), -furans (PCDFs), five dioxin-like coplanar and eight mono-ortho PCB congeners were estimated. Urinary iodine was measured by automatic microplate method. Reciprocal positive association was found between three major POPs (PCBs, DDE and HCB), the levels of these and also PCDDs plus PCDFs in polluted area being considerably higher than in background pollution area. ThV in groups of males and females from POLL with high PCBs level was significantly higher (p0.001 by t-test) then in age and sex matched groups from BCGR with low PCBs level. In 1,048 males and females aged60 years with serum PCBs level1,000 ng g(-1) lipid (median=1,756 ng g(-1)) a significant effect of age on ThV was found (p0.01 by ANOVA), while in 921 respective subjects with PCBs level1,000 ng g(-1) (median=661 ng g(-1)) it was not. These findings supported the view on the additional effect of PCBs on ThV other than that of age. Since the urinary iodine in both districts showed optimal range, any interfering effect of unsatisfactory iodine intake on ThV may be excluded. The frequency of autoimmune thyroiditis signs such as HYE, increased serum level of TPOab and TSH resulting in subclinical or overt thyroid hypofunction was positively associated with sex, age and organochlorine levels. The increase of such frequency in males with POPs levels was much more abrupt than that in females. No considerable differences in the frequency of thyroid nodules as related to PCBs level were found.

Chalcogenide glasses, generally soluble in alkaline solvents, become more resistant to etching in amine-based solvents after exposure to high energy electrons (30 keV). We have used this characteristic for fabricating structures that are suitable for nanolithography. Using a scanning electron microscope equipped with a lithography system, nano-gratings are written digitally with varying point spacing, line pitch, and electron dose. The spot size of the electron beam is ∼1 nm, but the finest structures that have been created in our arsenic sulphide films have lines with widths of 27 nm, separation of 7 nm, and heights from 80 to 250 nm. As the line pitch decreases, the best resolved spacing between the lines decreases until the lines blend into each other, much before the e-beam overlap. A discussion of the optimization of fabrication parameters is included.

We demonstrate an application of photo-induced silver diffusion into chalcogenide glass thin film for gray scale lithography. The gray scale chalcogenide glass masking layer generated in the present experiments was dry etched using reactive ion etching. The etching rate increases almost linearly with the total dose of absorbed light, thus forming the basis of gray scale lithography. Chemical composition as well as electronic structure on the surface of chalcogenide glassy film has been determined by high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of the film at different stages of the patterning process. Influence of thermal annealing of chalcogenide film before Ag deposition has been investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and XPS techniques. It is observed that thermal annealing of the chalcogenide film slows the process of silver diffusion during the proposed processing procedure. A mechanism is proposed to explain the stages of gray scale lithography based on chalcogenide glass photoresists.

An extremely robust analytical procedure for the effective evaluation of the impulse response of a highly selective optimal equiripple DC-notch finite-impulse response (FIR) filter is presented. The DC-notch filter is optimal in the Chebyshev sense. The computational superiority of the presented procedure over the standard approach is emphasized