Program and book of abstracts 1st conference

October 17 th – 20 th , 2022, Congress Centre of Slovak Academy of Sciences, Smolenice castle, Slovakia

Szeiffova Bacova Barbara

Is an independent scientific employee at the Institute for Heart Research, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences in Bratislava, Slovakia. In 2013, she completed her Ph.D. study focused on the effect of pharmacological and non-pharmacological cardioprotection on the expression of intercellular connexin channels in the diseased heart. The main focus of her interest is to investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the development of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. In this context, the intercellular gap junction communication mediated by connexins and extracellular matrix remodeling plays a fundamental role in the diseased heart. She uses mainly proteomic, transcriptomic,

and microscopic methods. She was awarded by several domestic and foreign awards, she received in 2013the Award of the Minister of Education, Science, Research and Sports of the Slovak Republic for extraordinary contribution in science and technology awarded to young workers. She is the principal investigator of 2 grants. She has participated in several foreign internships, in the Czech Republic, Japan, and Germany. HYDROGEN INTAKE ATTENUATES OXIDATIVE STRESS AND INFLAMMATION IN IRRADIATED RAT HEARTS Szeiffova Bacova Barbara, M. Sykora, Martiskova A. N. Tribulova, K. Andelova, B. Kalocayova, J. Slezak, B. Kura Center of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia Chest radiotherapy primarily used to treat malignant tumors is frequently associated with the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The main detrimental factor of CVD under this condition is oxidative stress, an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidant enzymes, as well as inflammatory reactions leading to cells impairment. Therefore, we aimed to explore the cardioprotective effect of selected antioxidants to minimalize the adverse effects of radiotherapy. We used as an experimental model, male, 3-month-old Wistar rats, which were exposed to single chest irradiation at 10 Gy. Rats were subsequently divided into post-irradiation non-treated and treated groups. Rats received 3-times per day (9 days) α-tocopherol (VitE) (60 mg/kg), laminaria extract (30% of total food), and molecular hydrogen (H2) (3% in inhaled air for 30 min.). Afterward the left ventricular heart tissue was used for western blot and colorimetric analysis of oxidative damage and inflammatory markers. Irradiation of the rat´s chest caused a significant increase in the levels of cardiac malondialdehyde (a marker of lipid peroxidation), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (an inflammatory cytokine), and a decrement of superoxide dismutase 1 and 2 (antioxidant enzymes). These changes were partially attenuated after antioxidant treatment, while the most pronounced effect was observed after H2 inhalation. Moreover, a significant increase of cardiac nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), an important regulator of oxyradical homeostasis, was detected in H2 and VitE treated rats. There was mild cardioprotective effect of laminaria treatment. (The mild protective effect of laminaria can be caused by low dosing and short administration).

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