University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice

Slama H.B., Chenari Bouket A., Pourhassan Z., Alenezi F.N., Silini A., Cherif-Silini H., Oszako T., Luptakova L., Golińska P., Belbahri L.

Natural dyes have been used from ancient times for multiple purposes, most importantly in the field of textile dying. The increasing demand and excessive costs of natural dye extraction engendered the discovery of synthetic dyes from petrochemical compounds. Nowadays, they are dominating the textile market, with nearly 8 × 105 tons produced per year due to their wide range of color pigments and consistent coloration. Textile industries consume huge amounts of water in the dyeing processes, making it hard to treat the enormous quantities of this hazardous wastewater. Thus, they have harmful impacts when discharged in non-treated or partially treated forms in the environment (air, soil, plants and water), causing several human diseases. In the present work we focused on synthetic dyes. We started by studying their classification which depended on the nature of the manufactured fiber (cellulose, protein and synthetic fiber dyes). Then, we mentioned the characteristics of synthetic dyes, however, we focused more on their negative impacts on the ecosystem (soil, plants, water and air) and on humans. Lastly, we discussed the applied physical, chemical and biological strategies solely or in combination for textile dye wastewater treatments. Additionally, we described the newly established nanotechnology which achieves complete discharge decontamination.

Bedlovičová Z., Strapáč I., Baláž M., Salayová A.

Our objective in this review article is to find out relevant information about methods of determination of antioxidant activity of silver nanoparticles. There are many studies dealing with mentioned problem and herein we summarize the knowledge about methods evaluating the antioxidant activity of silver nanoparticles reported so far. Many authors declare better antioxidant activity of silver nanoparticles compared to the extract used for synthesis of them. In this review, we focused on methods of antioxidant activity determination in detail to find out novel and perspective techniques to solve the general problems associated with the determination of antioxidant activity of silver nanoparticles.

Salayová A., Bedlovičová Z., Daneu N., Baláž M., Lukáčová Bujňáková Z., Balážová Ľ., Tkáčiková Ľ.

A green synthetic route for the production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using five different aqueous plant extracts, namely, Berberis vulgaris, Brassica nigra, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Lavandula angustifolia and Origanum vulgare, was investigated in this study. The present work demonstrates the influence of plant extract composition (antioxidant and total phenolic content) on the size and morphology of the produced AgNPs. The biosynthetic procedure was rapid and simple and was easily monitored via colour changes and ultraviolet and visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. Subsequently, measurement of zeta potential (ZP), photon cross-correlation spectroscopy (PCCS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) analysis were employed to characterise the as-synthesised nanoparticles. The XRD investigation confirmed the presence of Ag0 in the nanoparticles, and interactions between the bioactive compounds of the plants and the produced AgNPs were evident in the FTIR spectra. TEM indicated that the nanoparticles exhibited a bimodal size distribution, with the smaller particles being spherical and the larger having a truncated octahedron shape. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of the AgNPs was tested against five bacterial strains. All synthesised nanoparticles exhibited enhanced antimicrobial activity at a precursor concentration of 5 mM compared to the control substance, gentamicin sulphate, with the best results observed for AgNPs prepared with B. nigra and L. angustifolia extracts.

Michalicova A., Majerova P., Kovac A.

The blood-brain barrier plays a crucial role in maintaining the specialized microenvironment of the central nervous system. In aging, there is a decline in the stability of the blood-brain barrier leading to increased permeability. The list of central nervous system pathologies involving blood-brain barrier dysfunction is growing. The opening of the blood-brain barrier and subsequent infiltration of serum components to the brain can lead to a host of processes resulting in progressive synaptic, neuronal dysfunction, and detrimental neuroinflammatory changes. Such processes have been implicated in different diseases, including vascular dementia, stroke, Alzheimer´s disease, Parkinson´s disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, hypoxia, ischemia and diabetes mellitus. The blood-brain barrier damage is also observed in tauopathies that lack Aß over-production, suggesting a role for tau in blood-brain barrier damage. Tauopathies represent a heterogeneous group of around twenty different neurodegenerative diseases characterized by abnormal deposition of the microtubule-associated protein tau in cells of the nervous system. Neuropathology of tauopathies is defined as intracellular accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles consisting of aggregated hyper- and abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein and neuroinflammation. Chronic neuroinflammation in tauopathies is driven by glial cells that potentially trigger the disruption of the blood-brain barrier. Pro-inflammatory signaling molecules such as cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules produced by glial cells, neurons and endothelial cells, in general, cooperate to determine the integrity of the blood-brain barrier by influencing vascular permeability, enhancing the migration of immune cells and altering transport systems. The inflammatory processes promote structural changes in capillaries such as fragmentation, thickening, atrophy of pericytes, accumulation of laminin in the basement membrane and increased permeability of blood vessels to plasma proteins. Here we summarize the knowledge about the role of tau protein in blood-brain barrier structural and functional changes.

Klein R., Nagy O., Tóthová C., Chovanová F.

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is widely distributed enzyme in cells of various living systems where it is involved in carbohydrate metabolism catalyzing interconversion of lactate and pyruvate with NAD+/NADH coenzyme system. Cells of tissues are direct source of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes that are naturally distributed in blood plasma/serum of animals and humans producing characteristic profile. This profile depends on intracellular isoenzyme concentration in all tissues that contribute to the common pool of lactate dehydrogenases in plasma/serum as a consequence of natural cell degradation. LDH is widely distributed in the body, high activities are found in the heart, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney, and erytrocytes, whereas lesser amounts are found in the lung, smooth muscle, and brain. Because of its widespread activities in numerous body tissues, LDH is elevated in a variety of disorders. There are many conditions that contribute to increased activity of LDH. An elevated total LDH value is a rather nonspecific finding. Therefore, LDH assays assume a more clinical significance when separated into isoenzyme fractions. The activity of LDH and its serum and tissue patterns and composition show great variations between the species. These differences do not allow using catalytic activities of LDH isoenzymes from one species to another. Instead, the pattern of serum LDH isoenzymes should be interpreted in respect to its species origin that is important in particular in veterinary medicine. Determination of total LDH activity and its isoenzyme pattern in serum of mammals had become one of the biochemical indicators in the assessment of organ disorders. When the content of cells is released from tissue to plasma, as on cell injury, the LDH isoenzyme pattern of the serum changes in favour of the profile of the affected organ (tissue) that can be used in the diagnostic practice.

Takáč P., Michalková R., Čižmáriková M., Bedlovičová Z., Balážová Ľ., Takáčová G.

Cancer is a fatal disease with a complex pathophysiology. Lack of specificity and cytotoxicity, as well as the multidrug resistance of traditional cancer chemotherapy, are the most common limitations that often cause treatment failure. Thus, in recent years, significant efforts have concentrated on the development of a modernistic field called nano-oncology, which provides the possibility of using nanoparticles (NPs) with the aim to detect, target, and treat cancer diseases. In comparison with conventional anticancer strategies, NPs provide a targeted approach, preventing undesirable side effects. What is more, nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have shown good pharmacokinetics and precise targeting, as well as reduced multidrug resistance. It has been documented that, in cancer cells, NPs promote reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, activate ER (endoplasmic reticulum) stress, modulate various signaling pathways, etc. Furthermore, their ability to inhibit tumor growth in vivo has also been documented. In this paper, we have reviewed the role of silver NPs (AgNPs) in cancer nanomedicine, discussing numerous mechanisms by which they render anticancer properties under both in vitro and in vivo conditions, as well as their potential in the diagnosis of cancer.

Zigo F., Vasil' M., Ondrašovičová S., Výrostková J., Bujok J., Pecka-Kielb E.

In dairy industry, quality of produced milk must be more important than quantity without a high somatic cells count (SCC) or pathogens causing mastitis of dairy cows and consumer diseases. Preserving the good health of dairy cows is a daily challenge for all involved in primary milk production. Despite the increasing level of technological support and veterinary measures, inflammation of the mammary gland–mastitis, is still one of the main health problems and reasons for economic losses faced by cow farmers. The mammary gland of high-yielding dairy cows requires making the right decisions and enforcing the proper measures aimed at minimizing external and internal factors that increase the risk of intramammary infection. Due to the polyfactorial nature of mastitis related to its reduction, the effectiveness of commonly used antimastitis methods tends to be limited and therefore it is necessary to find the areas of risk in udder health programs and monitoring systems. Only by implementing of complete udder health programs should be accompanied by research efforts to further development these complete udder health control. The present review analyses the current knowledge dealing with damping and prevention of mastitis include SCC control, proper nutrition, housing and management, milking and drying as practiced in dairy farming conditions. This information may help to improve the health of the mammary gland and the welfare of the dairy cows as well as the production of safe milk for consumers.

Bouremani N., Cherif-Silini H., Silini A., Bouket A.C., Luptakova L., Alenezi F.N., Baranov O., Belbahri L.

Abiotic stress significantly limits plant growth and production. Drought, in particular, is a severe constraint that affects growth and limits agricultural productivity on a global scale. Water stress induces in plants a set of morpho-anatomical (modification of root and leaf structure), physiological, and biochemical (relative water content, membrane stability, photosynthesis, hormonal balance, antioxidant systems, and osmolyte accumulation) changes mainly employed to cope with the drought stress. These strategies allow the plant to overcome the unfavorable period of limited water availability. Currently, a promising alternative is available to improve plant growth and tolerance under drought conditions. The use of osmotolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as inoculants can alleviate water stress by increasing the water use efficiency of the plant. The PGPR improve the tolerance of plants to drought, through changes in the morphology and architecture of the root system, production of phytohormones, extracellular polysaccharides, ACC 1-(aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate) deaminase, volatile chemicals, and osmolyte accumulation. They may also enhance the antioxidant defense system and induce transcriptional regulation of stress response genes. This review addresses the effects of stress on plant growth, adaptation, and response to drought conditions and discusses the significant potential of PGPR to modulate the physiological response against water scarcity, ensuring plant survival and improving the resistance and growth of agricultural crops.

Goga M., Elečko J., Marcinčinová M., Ručová D., Bačkorová M., Bačkor M.

Lichens present a symbiotic association between two or more organisms. These unique organisms produce many chemical compounds, known as secondary metabolites or lichen acids. Most of them are localized in the cortex and form specific crystals on the surface of the fungal hyphae. Approximately 1000 secondary metabolites were discovered so far and most of them are specific for lichens. Lichen secondary metabolites showed many pharmaceutical activities, including antimicrobial, antiproliferative, antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and further allelopathic, antiherbivore, photoprotective activities. Lichens are important source of bioactive compounds, and despite a lot of studies dealing with activity of lichen secondary metabolites, their production in lichens and their role is still very enigmatic. In this chapter, we demonstrated all three main pathways of how secondary compounds originate and chose most characteristic acids with their proposed biological and ecological activities. This chapter gives a basic overview of lichens, secondary metabolites, and their properties.

Sykova E., Cizkova D., Kubinova S.

Preclinical and clinical studies with various stem cells, their secretomes, and extracellular vesicles (EVs) indicate their use as a promising strategy for the treatment of various diseases and tissue defects, including neurodegenerative diseases such as spinal cord injury (SCI) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Autologous and allogenic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are so far the best candidates for use in regenerative medicine. Here we review the effects of the implantation of MSCs (progenitors of mesodermal origin) in animal models of SCI and ALS and in clinical studies. MSCs possess multilineage differentiation potential and are easily expandable in vitro. These cells, obtained from bone marrow (BM), adipose tissue, Wharton jelly, or even other tissues, have immunomodulatory and paracrine potential, releasing a number of cytokines and factors which inhibit the proliferation of T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells and modify dendritic cell activity. They are hypoimmunogenic, migrate toward lesion sites, induce better regeneration, preserve perineuronal nets, and stimulate neural plasticity. There is a wide use of MSC systemic application or MSCs seeded on scaffolds and tissue bridges made from various synthetic and natural biomaterials, including human decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) or nanofibers. The positive effects of MSC implantation have been recorded in animals with SCI lesions and ALS. Moreover, promising effects of autologous as well as allogenic MSCs for the treatment of SCI and ALS were demonstrated in recent clinical studies.