Epidemiological studies demonstrated that the exposure of different air pollutants including particulate matter (PM) has been related to adverse effect on immune system. Current study was designed to investigate cytokines in blood plasma of adolescent persons continuously exposed to different degrees of ambient air pollutions. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-12p40, and IL-10 were chosen as cytokines of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory immune response. The peripheral venous blood was taken from adolescents living in the cities of Stara Zagora region, Southeast Bulgaria, that is, in Stara Zagora, Kazanlak, and Chirpan. The quantity of cytokines in plasma samples was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results demonstrated that youths living in Stara Zagora showed significantly smaller quantity of TNF-α, compared with adolescents from Kazanlak and Chirpan. Moreover, adolescents living in Stara Zagora showed significantly higher quantity of IL-10 than students from Kazanlak and Chirpan. Analysis of the data of air quality gives reason to assert that PM10 and PM2.5 have been the main atmospheric pollutants around the monitoring points. The complex air quality assessment based on these criteria determined that the highest air pollution was in the city of Stara Zagora, followed by Chirpan and the relatively unpolluted town was Kazanlak. We concluded that air pollutants, mostly PM2.5, can modulate cytokine production and can change the balance between proinflammatory TNF-α and anti-inflammatory IL-10 production. Increased levels of IL-10 combined with decreased level of TNF-α in adolescents living in Stara Zagora can serve as a biomarker for suppression of T helper 1 (Th1) cell-mediated immunity and exacerbation of Th2 humoral immune response and could be a prerequisite for the development of allergic and autoimmune diseases.

Free radical-mediated damages may play an important role in cancerogenesis. To investigate their relevance in the cancer process, malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities were determined in the normal brain tissue and brain tumor tissue. When compared with the normal brain tissue, we have detected: (i) significantly lower MDA concentration in brain tumor tissue (1.63 nmol/mg Pr vs 2.04 nmol/mg Pr; p = 0.03); (ii) SOD activity in brain tumor tissue was significantly lower (3.15 U/mg Pr vs 4.97 U/mg Pr; p = 0.0002); and (iii) CAT activity in brain tumor tissue was 106.3% higher than that in controls.

1. A bio-electrically controlled limb for forearm amputees is described. 2. The technique of its use and its advantages are listed.

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The aim of this study was to determine the deleterious effects of nonlethal gamma radiation on testes and their possible inhibition by Haberlea rhodopensis extract (HRE). For this goal, 20 male New Zealand rabbits were divided into 4 groups: group I -untreated, group II -treated with HRE extract, group III -exposed to 2 Gy gamma radiation, group IV -treated with HRE (0.24 g/kg b.w.) two hours before irradiation with 2 Gy. Exposure of animals to 2.0 Gy gamma radiation resulted into significant decrease in tubular diameter and the area of the seminiferous tubules on the 15 th day after irradiation. HRE pretreatment resulted in significant increase in tubular diameter and the area of the seminiferous tubules as compared to the irradiated group. Radiation-induced histological lesions in testicular architecture were more severe in irradiated only than in HRE-treated irradiated rabbits. HRE administration before irradiation significantly attenuated radiation-induced histological damages in testes. These observations indicate the radioprotective potential of Haberlea Rhodopensis leaves extract against the effects of whole body gamma irradiation on rabbit testicular histostructure.