Katarzyna Michalik

Effect of UVC radiation on conformational restructuring of human serum albumin

The study of the influence of UVC-254 nm radiation on spectroscopic and calorimetric properties of human serum albumin in aqueous solutions was conducted. This radiation did not only accelerate aging of albumin solutions but also caused the other qualitative changes. The dose dependent effect on conformational restructuring and thermal stability of albumin for exposure periods from 10 to 60 min was shown. The differences in response to UVC-irradiation between non-defatted and fatty acid-free albumins were found.

Optical and X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy Studies of Bone and Teeth in Newborn Rats After Maternal Treatment with Indinavir

An experiment estimating influence of antiviral drug indinavir treatment during pregnancy on bones and teeth development in newborn rats was performed. Two different fluorescence noninvasive spectroscopy techniques, i.e. laser (407 nm)‐induced fluorescence method to characterize the organic fluorescent molecules and X‐ray fluorescence analysis to determine mineral components were used to study the surface response of femur, mandible and incisor during their formation in the first month of a rat’s life. Differences in autofluorescence depending on the form of the bone were observed on the basis of the emission from enamel in 7‐, 14‐ and 28‐day‐old newborn rats. The dependence between decrease in intensity of fluorescence and increase in mineralization with age in newborn rats was observed. An enhancement of the autofluorescence and a decrease in the concentration of Ca as a main element, as well as disturbances in the concentration of Zn as trace element were observed for bone as well as teeth in newborns during the first month of their life after maternal administration of indinavir (500 mg kg−1 P.O.) in comparison with the control group. The results indicate that indinavir causes a delay in development of the skeleton and teeth in newborn rats.

Laser induced autofluorescence of bones and teeth in newborn rats after maternal administration of indinavir

This paper presents autofluorescence of bones and teeth for 14-day and 28-day old newborn rats. The measurements were carried out by means of the fibre optical spectrometer with laser excitation source (407 nm). Differences in emission spectra of incisor, mandible and femur of rats with age were observed. It was also found that maternal administration of antiviral drug - indinavir (500 mg/kg po.) caused changes in autofluorescence of the studied tissues.

Changes in bone components of newborn rats after maternal treatment with cytarabine

Concentration of abundant elements like calcium as well as elements present in trace amount like zinc, iron, silicon, potassium in mandibles of 7, 14 an 28 day old newborn rats after maternal administration with cytarabine were determined by X-ray fluorescence analysis. The studies were carried out using measurement system containing X-ray tube ECLIPSE-III and X-ray and gamma ray detector XR-lOOT-CdTe (Amptek Inc.). Concentrations of studied elements (Ca, Zn, Si, K, Fe) obtained for bones from cytarabine treated rats (3 mg/kg sc.) markedly differ from those obtained for bones from control group. Cytarabine administration during pregnancy disrupts bone ontogenesis and mineralization of new born rats. Remarkable changes in Ca, Si and Fe content strived for concentration level compared with this characteristic for the control group with time.