Our Publications Database

Article 41

Concentrations of Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium, Manganese, and Aluminum in Blood of Romanian Children Suspected of Having Autism Spectrum Disorder

Manouchehr Hessabi, Mohammad H Rahbar, Iuliana Dobrescu, MacKinsey A Bach, Liana Kobylinska, Jan Bressler, Megan L Grove, Katherine A Loveland, Ilinca Mihailescu, Maria Cristina Nedelcu, Mihaela Georgeta Moisescu, Bogdan Mircea Matei, Christien Oktaviani Matei, Florina Rad 

Journal: International journal of environmental research and public health

Year: 2019

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16132303 

Romania; Aluminum; Arsenic; Autism Spectrum disorder; Cadmium; Lead; Manganese; Mercury.

Environmental exposure to lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), and aluminum (Al) has been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We conducted a pilot study during May 2015-May 2107 to estimate blood concentrations of six metals (Pb, Hg, As, Cd, Mn, and Al) and identify their associated factors for children with ASD or suspected of having ASD in Romania. Sixty children, age 2-8 years, were administered versions of ADOS or ADI-R translated from English to Romanian. After assessment, 2-3 mL of blood was obtained and analyzed for the concentrations of the six metals. The mean age of children was 51.9 months and about 90% were male. More than half (65%) of the children were born in Bucharest. Over 90% of concentrations of As and Cd were below limits of detection. Geometric mean concentrations of Pb, Mn, Al, and Hg were 1.14 μg/dL, 10.84 μg/L, 14.44 μg/L, and 0.35 μg/L, respectively. Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that children who were female, had less educated parents, exhibited pica, and ate cold breakfast (e.g., cereal), watermelon, and lamb had significantly higher concentrations of Pb compared to their respective referent categories (all p < 0.05 except for eating lamb, which was marginally significant, p = 0.053). Although this is the first study that provides data on concentrations of the six metals for Romanian children with ASD, the findings from this study could be useful for designing future epidemiologic studies for investigating the role of these six metals in ASD in Romanian children.

Article 40

Controlling drug release from mesoporous silica through an amorphous, nanoconfined 1-tetradecanol layer

Raul-Augustin Mitran, Cristian Matei, Daniela Berger, Laura Băjenaru, Mihaela G Moisescu

Journal: Antioxidants

Year: 2018

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2018.02.020

Controlled release; Drug delivery systems; Interfacial layer; Mesoporous silica; Tetradecanol

Mesoporous silica materials are promising nano-carriers for drug delivery systems. Even though there are many strategies for controlling the drug release kinetics, these must be adapted through trial and error on a case-by-case basis. Here we explore the possibility of tailoring the release kinetics of hydrophilic, water soluble therapeutic agents from mesoporous silica through addition of a hydrophobic excipient, 1-tetradecanol. In vitro drug release experiments performed at 37 °C, in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.4) show that the addition of tetradecanol yields slower drug release kinetics, which was correlated with the presence of a liquid fatty alcohol interfacial layer. The layer mass is 11-23 wt.% of the metoprolol-loaded silica sample, and it causes up to 1.6 times decrease of initial release rate with respect to materials without the fatty alcohol. This effect does not depend of carrier pore arrangement, being noticed for both hexagonal MCM-41 and cubic KIT-5 mesoporous silica. The toxicity of tetradecanol-containing materials was evaluated by formazan-based viability assay on Opossum kidney epithelial cell line, and no significant toxicity was observed.

Article 39

Noninvasive detection of changes in cells' cytosol conductivity by combining dielectrophoresis with optical tweezers

Moisescu, Mihaela Georgeta; Savopol, Tudor; Dimitriu, Liviu; Cemazar, Jaka; Kovacs, Eugenia; Radu, Mihai

Journal: Analytica Chimica ACTA

Year: 2018

DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2018.05.010  

 

Cytosol conductivity; Dielectrophoresis; Optical tweezers; Electroporation; Clausius-Mossotti factor; Murine melanoma cells

Cellular electrical properties are modulated by various physical and/or chemical stresses and detection of these changes is a challenging issue. Optical tweezers (OT) and dielectrophoresis (DEP) are frequently integrated to devices dedicated to the investigation of cells properties. Here we provide a technique to detect changes in cytosol conductivity of cells by using a combination of DEP and OT. The method was exemplified for the case of cells electroporation and is based on balancing the DEP force by a controlled OT force. We observed a decrease of the DEP force in the case of electroporated cells which was correlated to a decrease of cytosol conductivity by means of Clausius- Mossotti factor modeling. For highly stressing electroporation pulses, the cytosol conductivity drops to values close to those of the cells suspending medium. These results are consistent with those reported in the literature proving the robustness of our proposed sensing method. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Article 38

Evaluation of the metastatic potential of malignant cells by image processing of digital holographic microscopy data

Violeta L Calin, Mona Mihailescu, Eugen I Scarlat, Alexandra V Baluta, Daniel Calin, Eugenia Kovacs, Tudor Savopol, Mihaela G. Moisescu

Journal: FEBS Open Bio

Year: 2017

DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.12282

Bimodality coefficient analysis of quantitative phase image; Clonogenic test; Digital holographic microscopy; Impedance‐based cell proliferation test; Metastatic potential; Murine B16 malignant cells

The cell refractive index has been proposed as a putative cancer biomarker of great potential, being correlated with cell content and morphology, cell division rate and membrane permeability. We used digital holographic microscopy to compare the refractive index and dry mass density of two B16 murine melanoma sublines of different metastatic potential. Using statistical methods, the distribution of phase shifts within the reconstructed quantitative phase images was analyzed by the method of bimodality coefficients. The observed correlation of refractive index, dry mass density and bimodality profile with the metastatic potential of the cells was validated by real time impedance-based assay and clonogenic tests. We suggest that the refractive index and bimodality analysis of quantitative phase image histograms could be developed as optical biomarkers useful in label-free detection and quantitative evaluation of cell metastatic potential.

Article 37

Vegetable Oils Microwave Heating - CUPRAC, TEAC and FRAP Values in Relation with Oxidative Parameters

Iosif, Liviu; Gaman, Laura; Gilca, Marilena; Radoi, Mugurel; Kovacs, Eugenia; Stoian, Irina; Dragos, Dorin

Journal: Revista de Chimie

Year: 2017

DOI: 10.37358/RC.17.8.5793

 

Vegetable oils, Total antioxidant capacity; Lipid peroxidation; Microwave heating CUPRAC; FRAP

 

Microwave heating is a common cooking procedure. Heating can accelerate oxidative processes in oil sand oxidation products are known to have potential toxic effects on human health. Therefore it would be useful to have a method to anticipate the vegetable oils behaviour under thermal conditions. Several methods to evaluate total oxidant activity were developed but unfortunatelly their ability to predict the oxidative changes during heating are poorly estimated. In this study we evaluated the relation of TEAC FRAP and CUPRAC values together with total polyphenols and flavonoids content of several commercial available vegetable oils with conjugated dienes and TBAR’s products during 15 min microwave heating. FRAP values were correlated with oxidative parameters after 15 min heating

Article 36

Changes in optical properties of electroporated cells as revealed by digital holographic microscopy

Violeta L Calin, Mona Mihailescu, Nicolae Mihale, Alexandra V. Baluta, Eugenia Kovacs, Tudor Savopol, Mihaela G. Moisescu

Journal: Biomedical Optics Express

Year: 2017

DOI: 10.1364/BOE.8.002222 

Digital holography; Medical optics and biotechnology; Cell analysis

Changes in optical and shape-related characteristics of B16F10 cells after electroporation were investigated using digital holographic microscopy (DHM). Bipolar rectangular pulses specific for electrochemotherapy were used. Electroporation was performed in an “off-axis” DHM set-up without using exogenous markers. Two types of cell parameters were monitored seconds and minutes after pulse train application: parameters addressing a specifically defined area of the cell (refractive index and cell height) and global cell parameters (projected area, optical phase shift profile and dry mass). The biphasic behavior of cellular parameters was explained by water and mannitol dynamics through the electropermeabilized cell membrane.

Article 35

Polygonum bistorta L. herba et flores. Polyphenols profile, antioxidant properties and cytotoxic effect on murine fibroblast cell line NIH3T3

Lucia Pîrvu, Fawzia Sha’at, Luminița Claudia Miclea, Tudor Savopol, Georgeta Neagu, Denisa Ioana Udeanu, Mihaela Georgeta Moisescu

Journal: Farmacia

Year: 2017

DOI: 10.1364/BOE.8.002222

Polygonum bistorta, Polyphenols, Antioxidant, Cytotoxicity, Fibroblast cells, NIH3T3

This work aimed to study the polyphenols content, the antioxidant activity and the potential cytotoxic effects on fibroblast
murine cells NIH3T3 of an ethanolic extract (70%, v/v) obtained from the aerial part (herba et flores) of Polygonum bistorta
L. (Polygonaceae family). The tested extract was assessed for its total phenols content: 1.15 mg gallic acid equivalents
(GAE) per 1 mL extract and showed numerous flavonoids compounds such as quercetin, kaempferol and luteolin derivates,
as well as caffeic and chlorogenic phenolic acids. The chemiluminescence (CL) tests indicated a high antioxidant capacity
(IC50 = 0.57 µg GAE/mL), superior to gallic acid (IC50 = 0.85 µg/mL) and rutin (IC50 = 2.54 µg/mL), used as reference
compounds. The cytotoxicity test demonstrated that, at concentrations over 25 µg GAE/mL extract, the ethanolic extracts
from the aerial part of Polygonum bistorta plant species have a significant toxicity on mouse embryonic fibroblast NIH3T3 cells.

Article 34

Oxidative stress in androgenetic alopecia

BE Prie, L Iosif, I Tivig, I Stoian, C Giurcaneanu

Journal: Journal of Medicine and Life

Year: 2016

PMCID: PMC5152608

androgenetic alopecia, antioxidants, erythrocytes, oxidative stress, trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity

     Rationale:Androgenetic alopecia is not considered a life threatening disease but can have serious impacts on the patient’s psychosocial life. Genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors are considered responsible for the presence of androgenetic alopecia. Recent literature reports have proved the presence of inflammation and also of oxidative stress at the level of dermal papilla cells of patients with androgenetic alopecia Objective:We have considered of interest to measure the oxidative stress parameters in the blood of patients with androgenetic alopecia Methods and results:27 patients with androgenetic alopecia and 25 age-matched controls were enrolled in the study. Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and total thiols levels were measured on plasma samples. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) activities, and also non protein thiols levels together with TEAC activity were determined on erythrocytes samples No statistically significant changes were observed for TEAC erythrocytes, non-protein thiols, GPx and CAT activities. Significantly decreased (p<0.01) SOD activity was found in patients with androgenetic alopecia. For plasma samples decreased TEAC activity (p<0.001), increased MDA levels (p<0.001) and no change in total thiols concentration were found in patients when compared with the controls. Discussions:Decreased total antioxidant activity and increased MDA levels found in plasma samples of patients with androgenetic alopecia are indicators of oxidative stress presence in these patients. Significantly decreased SOD activity but no change in catalase, glutathione peroxidase, non protein thiols level and total antioxidant activity in erythrocytes are elements which suggest the presence of a compensatory mechanism for SOD dysfunction in red blood cells of patients with androgenetic alopecia.

Article 33

Hemorrhagic risk due to platelet dysfunction in myelodysplastic patients, correlations with anemia severity and iron overload

Popov, Viola M.; Vladareanu, Ana M.; Bumbea, Horia; Kovacs, Eugenia; Savopol, Tudor; Iordache, Maria M.; Moisescu, Mihaela G.

Journal: Blood Coagulation & Fibrinolysis

Year: 2015

DOI: 10.1097/MBC.0000000000000287 

Aggregation; Anemias; Hemorrhages; Hemosideroses; Membrane glycoproteins; Myelodysplastic syndrome; Platelet

Platelet function is influenced by changes in membrane fluidity that has an important role in the expression of platelet receptors and in modulating the activity of proteins like phospholipase C or proteinkinase C. In freshly prepared platelets, membrane fluidity modifies the aggregation/agglutination function. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) represent another important parameter involved in platelet receptor activation. There is a certain association of high levels of ROS and iron overload. Patients with hemochromatosis have low platelet aggregation induced by thrombin; little is known about the anemia and effects of iron overload on platelet activation in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients. Study of platelet membrane fluidity and ROS production changes in patients with MDS and possible correlations with altered platelet function as reflected in aggregation curves and platelet receptor expression. To find out possible correlations of fluidity of platelet membrane and ROS level with hematologic parameters and iron levels. The prospective study included 34 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes classified according to French-American-British cooperative group proposals and 29 healthy volunteers. Platelet membrane fluidity was quantified by fluorescence anisotropy measurements using the marker 1-(4-trimethylammoniumphenyl)-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene p-toluenesulfonate. ROS production was evaluated by fluorescence measurements using 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate. Platelet function was analyzed by optical aggregometry using the agonists adenosine diphosphate, collagen, ristocetin and epinephrine. The expression of platelet receptors CD41/ CD61, CD42a/CD42b and CD62P/CD63 was evaluated by flow cytometry. Platelet membrane fluidity in patients with MDS was similar to that of healthy volunteers and did not vary according to the risk category. Patients with MDS had increased platelet ROS production compared with the control group without statistical correlation with membrane fluidity. We found a negative correlation of ROS levels with the severity of anemia (R=-0.587, P=0.017). Platelet response was reduced in patients with MDS compared with volunteers, for all reagents. The response was different according to the risk category only in case of ristocetin or collagen. Patients with anemia presented a decreased platelet aggregation induced by collagen or ristocetin (collagen: R=0.395, P=0.003; ristocetin: R=0.420, P=0.002). The membrane fluidity of platelets from MDS patients appeared unmodified, but the ROS production was increased in all risk categories of MDS. The levels of ROS were correlated with the degree of anemia, which, in turn, had a negative impact on the platelet aggregation function induced by collagen or ristocetin. Copyright (c) 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Article 32

Stretching of red blood cells using an electro-optics trap

Haque, Md. Mozzammel; Moisescu, Mihaela G.; Valkai, Sandor; Der, Andras; Savopol, Tudor

Journal: Biomedical Optics Express

Year: 2015

DOI: 10.1364/BOE.6.000118 

  

 

Human Erythrocyte-Membrane; Optical Tweezers; Deformability; Manipulation; Mechanics; System

The stretching stiffness of Red Blood Cells (RBCs) was investigated using a combination of an AC dielectrophoretic apparatus and a single-beam optical tweezer. The experiments were performed at 10 MHz, a frequency high enough to avoid conductivity losses, but below the second turnover point between positive and negative dielectrophoresis. By measuring the geometrical parameters of single healthy human RBCs as a function of the applied voltage, the elastic modulus of RBCs was determined (mu = 1.80 +/- 0.5 mu N/m) and compared with similar values of the literature got by other techniques. The method is expected to be an easy-to-use, alternative tool to determine the mechano-elastic properties of living cells, and, on this basis, to distinguish healthy and diseased cells (C) 2014 Optical Society of America

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