Simple Fabrication of Polycaprolactone-co-lactide Membrane with Silver Nanowires: Synthesis, Characterization and Cytotoxicity Studies

Zuzana Šimonová,Ludmila Porubová,Adam Verner,Roman Gabor,Zuzana Vilamová,Edmund Dobročka,Miroslav Cieslar,Veronika Krbečková,Kateřina Peterek Dědková,Ladislav Svoboda,Jiří Bednář,Richard Dvorský,Jana 한국섬유공학회 2022 Fibers and polymers Vol.23 No.11

Our simple technique of polymer/metal-based material preparation produces very promising material, and weoutline that this material can be suitable for the potential wound healing multilayered dressing. In our research we focused onthese main issues: (1) the preparation of silver nanowire-like structures using gallic acid (GA); (2) direct silver nanowire-likestructure crystallization of co-polymer L-lactide and ε-caprolactone (PLCL) electrospun fiber and (3) evaluation of thematerial cytotoxicity on the Vero cell line. Synthesized silver nanowire-like width varied from 30 to 100 nm and thehexagonal particles had sizes from 80 to 300 nm. The detected structures were crystalline cubic silver and were similarlysynthesized during both batch synthesis and direct synthesis on the PLCL fibers. The amount of the silver spread within thefibrous membrane was approximately 1.1 wt. % in the sample, moreover, the silver incorporation had no influence on thepolymer structure, which was confirmed by FTIR measurement. The cytotoxicity testing estimated that cell survivalincreased with decreased concentration of GA and silver in the PLCL matrix and the silver-based sample in 50 % MTTextraction concentration maintained required non-cytotoxic properties.

Peristaltic Recovery After Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy for Achalasia: Dream or Reality?: Author‘s Reply

( Zuzana Vackova ),( Jan Mares ),( Jana Krajciova ),( Zuzana Rabekova ),( Lucie Zdrhova ),( Pavla Loudova ),( Julius Spicak ),( Petr Stirand ),( Tomas Hucl ),( Jan Martinek ) 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회 2022 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.28 No.1

Esophageal Motility Patterns After Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy in Patients With Achalasia

( Zuzana Vackova ),( Jan Mares ),( Jana Krajciova ),( Zuzana Rabekova ),( Lucie Zdrhova ),( Pavla Loudova ),( Julius Spicak ),( Petr Stirand ),( Tomas Hucl ),( Jan Martinek ) 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회(구 대한소화관운동학회) 2021 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.27 No.2

Background/Aims Several studies have reported partial recovery of peristalsis in patients with achalasia after myotomy. The aim of our study is to analyze esophageal motility patterns after peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) and to assess the potential predictors and clinical impact of peristaltic recovery. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of consecutive patients with achalasia undergoing POEM at a tertiary center. High-resolution manometry (HRM) studies prior to and after POEM were reviewed and the Chicago classification was applied. Results A total of 237 patients were analyzed. The initial HRM diagnoses were achalasia type I, 42 (17.7%); type II, 173 (73.0%); and type III, 22 (9.3%). Before POEM, peristaltic fragments were present in 23 (9.7%) patients. After POEM the Chicago classification diagnoses were: 112 absent contractility, 42 type I achalasia, 15 type II, 11 type III, 26 ineffective esophageal motility, 18 esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction, 10 fragmented peristalsis, and 3 distal esophageal spasm. Altogether 68 patients (28.7%) had signs of contractile activity, but the contractions newly appeared in 47 patients (47/214, 22.0%). Type II achalasia showed a trend for appearance of contractions (P = 0.097). Logistic regression analysis did not identify any predictors of peristaltic recovery. The post-POEM Eckardt score did not differ between patients with and without contractions nor did the parameters of timed barium esophagogram. Conclusions More than 20% of achalasia patients have signs of partial recovery of esophageal peristalsis after POEM. It occurs predominantly in type II achalasia but the clinical relevance seems to be negligible. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2021;27:205-214)

The impact of probiotics and vitamin C on the prevention of upper respiratory tract symptoms in two preschool children cohorts

Paduchová Zuzana,Nagyová Zuzana,Wang Duolao,Muchová Jana 한국영양학회 2024 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.18 No.1

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES The efficacy of Lab4 probiotic and vitamin C combination on the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) was investigated in two studies with children. Our objective was to pool dataset of 57 preschool children from the PROCHILD study (ISRCTN28722693) and the dataset of 50 preschool matched cohort from the PROCHILD-2 study (ISRCTN26587549) to evaluate the impact of probiotic/vitamin C combination on the prevention of upper respiratory tract symptoms and provide a more robust assessment of effect using detailed individual level data. SUBJECTS/METHODS The children were supplemented daily for 6 months with either the multistrain probiotic (1.25×1010 cfu/tablet consisting of two strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus CUL21 and CUL60, Bifidobacterium bifidum CUL20 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CUL34) plus 50 mg vitamin C or a placebo. RESULTS In the pooled analysis of the individual participant data (per protocol population), significant reductions were observed for the incidence (−25%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66, 0.85; P < 0.0001) and duration (−14.9 days; 95% CI, −24.8, −5.1; P = 0.0030) of typical URTI symptoms in the active group compared with the placebo. The incidence rates of absenteeism from preschool (IR ratio, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.66, 0.86; P < 0.0001), paediatric visits (IR ratio, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.47; 0.68; P < 0.0001) and antibiotic usage (IR ratio, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.39, 0.71; P < 0.0001) were also significantly reduced. CONCLUSION The pooled analysis findings of comparable preschool cohorts from two studies indicate that the supplementation with probiotic and vitamin C combination is beneficial in the prevention and management of URTI symptoms. BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES The efficacy of Lab4 probiotic and vitamin C combination on the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) was investigated in two studies with children. Our objective was to pool dataset of 57 preschool children from the PROCHILD study (ISRCTN28722693) and the dataset of 50 preschool matched cohort from the PROCHILD-2 study (ISRCTN26587549) to evaluate the impact of probiotic/vitamin C combination on the prevention of upper respiratory tract symptoms and provide a more robust assessment of effect using detailed individual level data. SUBJECTS/METHODS The children were supplemented daily for 6 months with either the multistrain probiotic (1.25×1010 cfu/tablet consisting of two strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus CUL21 and CUL60, Bifidobacterium bifidum CUL20 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CUL34) plus 50 mg vitamin C or a placebo. RESULTS In the pooled analysis of the individual participant data (per protocol population), significant reductions were observed for the incidence (−25%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66, 0.85; P < 0.0001) and duration (−14.9 days; 95% CI, −24.8, −5.1; P = 0.0030) of typical URTI symptoms in the active group compared with the placebo. The incidence rates of absenteeism from preschool (IR ratio, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.66, 0.86; P < 0.0001), paediatric visits (IR ratio, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.47; 0.68; P < 0.0001) and antibiotic usage (IR ratio, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.39, 0.71; P < 0.0001) were also significantly reduced. CONCLUSION The pooled analysis findings of comparable preschool cohorts from two studies indicate that the supplementation with probiotic and vitamin C combination is beneficial in the prevention and management of URTI symptoms.

Základy slovenského jazyka pre kórejských študentov so znalosťou češtiny

Zuzana Smatlakova 한국슬라브어학회 2018 슬라브어연구 Vol.23 No.1

The study focuses on teaching the basics of Slovak language for the Korean students. We consider that there is the areal, cultural and especially linguistic distance between Slovak and Korean environments. What is important is the fact that students who study Slovak language in Korea already have a basic knowledge of Czech language that can be used in the educational process. The similarity of Slovak and Czech language on the one hand facilitates students' work, on the other hand it can complicate it. The study shows when and to what extent it is appropriate to use the comparative method in teaching, and vice versa, when this method appears to be counterproductive. Using practical experience, the study focuses on the graphical system, phonological system, morphology, and ultimately on teaching basic phrases. Also we particularly focuse on how to make students' reactions automatic toward these phrases.

Biased G Protein-Coupled Receptor Signaling: New Player in Modulating Physiology and Pathology

( Zuzana Bologna ),( Jian-peng Teoh ),( Ahmed S. Bayoumi ),( Yaoliang Tang ),( Il-man Kim ) 한국응용약물학회 2017 Biomolecules & Therapeutics(구 응용약물학회지) Vol.25 No.1

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a family of cell-surface proteins that play critical roles in regulating a variety of patho-physiological processes and thus are targeted by almost a third of currently available therapeutics. It was originally thought that GPCRs convert extracellular stimuli into intracellular signals through activating G proteins, whereas β-arrestins have important roles in internalization and desensitization of the receptor. Over the past decade, several novel functional aspects of β-arrestins in regulating GPCR signaling have been discovered. These previously unanticipated roles of β-arrestins to act as signal transduc-ers and mediators of G protein-independent signaling have led to the concept of biased agonism. Biased GPCR ligands are able to engage with their target receptors in a manner that preferentially activates only G protein- or β-arrestin-mediated downstream signaling. This offers the potential for next generation drugs with high selectivity to therapeutically relevant GPCR signaling path-ways. In this review, we provide a summary of the recent studies highlighting G protein- or β-arrestin-biased GPCR signaling and the effects of biased ligands on disease pathogenesis and regulation.

Poly(2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline) for Immunotherapeutical Applications

Zuzana Kronekova,Monika Majer?ikova,Ema Paulovi?ova,Lucia Paulovi?ova,Juraj Kronek 한국고분자학회 2019 한국고분자학회 학술대회 연구논문 초록집 Vol.44 No.2

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Can Secrete Sapp1p Proteinase of Candida parapsilosis But Cannot Use It for Efficient Nitrogen Acquisition

Zuzana Vinterová,Václava Bauerová,Jiří Dostál,Hana Sychrová,Olga Hrušková-Heidingsfeldová,Iva Pichová 한국미생물학회 2013 The journal of microbiology Vol.51 No.3

Secreted aspartic proteinase Sapp1p of Candida parapsilosis represents one of the factors contributing to the pathogenicity of the fungus. The proteinase is synthesized as an inactive pre-pro-enzyme, but only processed Sapp1p is secreted into extracellular space. We constructed a plasmid containing the SAPP1 coding sequence under control of the ScGAL1 promoter and used it for proteinase expression in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae kex2Δ mutant. Because Sapp1p maturation depends on cleavage by Kex2p proteinase, the kex2Δ mutant secreted only the pro-form of Sapp1p. Characterization of this secreted proteinase form revealed that the Sapp1p signal peptide consists of 23 amino acids. Additionally, we prepared a plasmid with the SAPP1 coding sequence under control of its authentic CpSAPP1 promoter, which contains two GATAA motifs. While in C. parapsilosis SAPP1 expression is repressed by good low molecular weight nitrogen sources (e.g., ammonium ions), S. cerevisiae cells harboring this plasmid secreted a low concentration of active proteinase regardless of the type of nitrogen source used. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of a set of genes related to nitrogen metabolism and uptake (GAT1, GLN3, STP2, GAP1, OPT1, and PTR2) obtained from S. cerevisiae cells transformed with either plasmid encoding SAPP1 under control of its own promoter or empty vector and cultivated in media containing various nitrogen sources also suggested that SAPP1 expression can be connected with the S. cerevisiae regulatory network. However, this regulation occurs in a different manner than in C. parapsilosis.

Assessing Source Speech Difficulty for Research Purposes

Zuzana KRAVIAROVA 한국통역번역학회 2013 FORUM Vol.11 No.1

Changes in Reproductive Traits of Large White Pigs after Estrogen Receptor Gene-based Selection in Slovakia: Preliminary Results

Chvojkova, Zuzana,Hraska, S. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2008 Animal Bioscience Vol.21 No.3

We investigated the effect of ESR gene-based selection on an improvement of litter size in the herds in real (non-experimental) conditions. The pigs were selected for three years. In the tested population the pigs were mated according to a breeding scheme where the individuals with at least one ESR-B allele were preferred in the selection. In the control group (CP; n = 140) the pigs were mated just according to a breeding scheme without knowledge of the ESR genotype. We observed a significant increase in litter size (total number of born, number of born alive and number of weaned piglets per litter) in the final tested ESR-selected population (LP; n = 184) and an insignificant increase in CP as compared with the original population (OP; n = 155). After the selection we could observe a significant increase in the frequency of allele B in LP. Frequency of the genotypes AB and BB increased in both LP and CP; the distribution of the genotypes changed significantly only in LP. An association analysis of the ESR gene effects on reproductive traits in LP showed no significant differences between the genotypes. The results of our study suggest that ESR gene-based selection can be successful also in small herds, under real (non-experimental) conditions with a respect for general breeding principles and limitations and during a short period. An examination of a larger sample population as well as an analysis of selection consequences on other traits (meat and carcass quality) could bring a more conclusive evaluation of ESR-based selection. Nevertheless, the results are encouraging especially for small breeding farms taking a perspective of better litter size improvement.