Some Molecular and Cellular Stress Mechanisms Associated with Neurodegenerative Diseases and Atherosclerosis

Chronic stress is a combination of nonspecific adaptive reactions of the body to the influence of various adverse stress factors which disrupt its homeostasis, and it is also a corresponding state of the organism’s nervous system (or the body in general). We hypothesized that chronic stress may be one of the causes occurence of several molecular and cellular types of stress. We analyzed literary sources and considered most of these types of stress in our review article. We examined genes and mutations of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes and also molecular variants which lead to various types of stress. The end result of chronic stress can be metabolic disturbance in humans and animals, leading to accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidative stress, energy deficiency in cells (due to a decrease in ATP synthesis) and mitochondrial dysfunction. These changes can last for the lifetime and lead to severe pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases and atherosclerosis. The analysis of literature allowed us to conclude that under the influence of chronic stress, metabolism in the human body can be disrupted, mutations of the mitochondrial and nuclear genome and dysfunction of cells and their compartments can occur. As a result of these processes, oxidative, genotoxic, and cellular stress can occur. Therefore, chronic stress can be one of the causes forthe occurrence and development of neurodegenerative diseases and atherosclerosis. In particular, chronic stress can play a large role in the occurrence and development of oxidative, genotoxic, and cellular types of stress.     

东北地区传统发酵食品中两株植物乳杆菌的安全性评价

针对已分离的植物乳杆菌L12和L20通过体外和体内两种方法进行安全性评价。通过体外实验测定乳酸水解活性抗生素敏感性，胆盐水解酶活性，D-乳酸含量，γ溶血等指标；体内实验是对小鼠进行短期口服毒性的研究，口服0.2 mL（109 CFU/mL）的实验性细菌溶液30 d。结果表明，体外实验中，两株菌株均具有良好的抗氧化活性，对抗生素敏感性高，胆盐水解酶活性高，D-乳酸含量低，γ溶血；体内实验中灌胃给药对治疗小鼠的生长、行为、摄食量、器官重量或组织病理学分析均无不良影响。与对照组相比，益生菌组小鼠血清MDA浓度和肝脏GSH含量差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。这些结果表明，菌株L12和L20是非致病性的，人直接食用是安全的。     

Two placebo-controlled crossover studies in healthy subjects to evaluate gastric acid neutralization by an alginate–antacid formulation (Gaviscon Double Action)

Objective: To investigate the intragastric acid neutralization activity of a combined alginate-antacid formulation.

Significance: Published studies have investigated the reflux-suppressing alginate component of Gaviscon Double Action (Gaviscon DA; RB, UK) but intragastric acid neutralization activity of the antacid component has not been evaluated in vivo.

Methods: Intragastric pH monitoring, using a custom-made 10-electrode catheter, was evaluated in a two-part exploratory study in healthy subjects; Part I (n?=?6) tested suitability of the catheter using antacid tablets (Rennie; Bayer, Germany); Part II (n?=?12) evaluated gastric acid neutralization activity of Gaviscon DA liquid (20?ml) versus placebo in fasted subjects using a randomized, open-label, crossover design. The primary endpoint was the percentage of time that intragastric pH ≥4 was measured during 30?min post-treatment. A confirmatory study of identical design was subsequently conducted (n?=?20).

Results: Monitoring pH using the multielectrode catheter was a viable approach, directly detecting changes in intragastric pH following a single dose of antacid tablets. In the exploratory study, the percentage of time that pH ≥4 during 30?minutes post-treatment was 46.8% with Gaviscon DA liquid versus 4.7% with placebo (p?=?0.0004). These findings were supported by the confirmatory study, where pH ≥4 was recorded 50.8% of the time with Gaviscon DA versus 3.5% with placebo (p?=?0.0051). In this study, Gaviscon DA was safe and well tolerated.

Conclusions: These studies demonstrate the effective acid neutralizing capacity of Gaviscon DA versus placebo in healthy, fasted subjects. This adds to the evidence base for the combination of alginates and antacids.     

Solution‐Processable Photonic Inks of Mie‐Resonant Hollow Carbon–Silica Nanospheres

Hollow carbon–silica nanospheres that exhibit angle‐independent structural color with high saturation and minimal absorption are made. Through scattering calculations, it is shown that the structural color arises from Mie resonances that are tuned precisely by varying the thickness of the shells. Since the color does not depend on the spatial arrangement of the particles, the coloration is angle independent and vibrant in powders and liquid suspensions. These properties make hollow carbon–silica nanospheres ideal for applications, and their potential in making flexible, angle‐independent films and 3D printed films is explored.     

Synthesis of Long-Chain β-Lactones and Their Antibacterial Activities against Pathogenic Mycobacteria

In the quest for new antibacterial agents, a series of novel long- and medium-chain mono- and disubstituted β-lactones was developed. Their activity against three pathogenic mycobacteria—M. abscessus, M. marinum, and M. tuberculosis—was assessed by the resazurin microtiter assay (REMA). Among the 16 β-lactones synthesized, only 3-hexadecyloxetan-2-one (VM005) exhibited promising activity against M. abscessus, whereas most of the β-lactones showed interesting activities against M. marinum, similar to that of the classical antibiotic, isoniazid. Regarding M. tuberculosis, six compounds were found to be active against this mycobacterium, with β-lactone VM008 [trans-(Z)-3-(hexadec-7-en-1-yl)-4-propyloxetan-2-one] being the best growth inhibitor. The promising antibacterial activities of the best compounds in this series suggest that these molecules may serve as leads for the development of much more efficient antimycobacterial agents.     

Ruthenium(II)–Arene Thiocarboxylates: Identification of a Stable Dimer Selectively Cytotoxic to Invasive Breast Cancer Cells

Ru^II-arene complexes provide a versatile scaffold for novel anticancer drugs. Seven new Ru^II-arene-thiocarboxylato dimers were synthesized and characterized. Three of the complexes ( 2 a , b and 5 ) showed promising antiproliferative activities in MDA-MB-231 (human invasive breast cancer) cells, and were further tested in a panel of fifteen cancerous and noncancerous cell lines. Complex 5 showed moderate but remarkably selective activity in MDA-MB-231 cells (IC₅₀=39±4 μm Ru). Real-time proliferation studies showed that 5 induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells but had no effect in A549 (human lung cancer, epithelial) cells. By contrast, 2 a and b showed moderate antiproliferative activity, but no apoptosis, in either cell line. Selective cytotoxicity of 5 in aggressive, mesenchymal-like MDA-MB-231 cells over many common epithelial cancer cell lines (including noninvasive breast cancer MCF-7) makes it an attractive lead compound for the development of specifically antimetastatic Ru complexes with low systemic toxicity.     

Key factors that influence the UX of a dual-player game for the cognitive stimulation and motor rehabilitation of older adults

Universal Access in the Information Society - In this work, the results of usability and user experience (UX) evaluation of a serious video game for the cognitive stimulation and motor...     

Effects of the drying method on the oxidative stability of the free and encapsulated fractions of microencapsulated sunflower oil

The influence of the drying method, freeze-drying and spray-drying, on the oxidative stability of microencapsulated sunflower oil depended on the type of encapsulation matrix. For a dairy-type matrix, formed by sodium caseinate and lactose, greater losses of tocopherols were detected during spray-drying, but both the free and encapsulated oil fractions were more stable against lipid oxidation than their freeze-dried counterparts. Results suggested that the free oil was also constituted by droplets that preserved their interfacial membrane and were protected by the matrix. Therefore, the free oil was not necessarily the non-encapsulated fraction. For a matrix constituted by gelatine, maltodextrin and sucrose, the emulsion showed low stability and a great destabilisation during spray-drying. No significant effect of the drying method on the oxidative stability of the encapsulated fraction was found with this matrix, but the free oil of the spray-dried sample oxidised faster, probably due to the emulsion destabilisation observed, which gave rise to a great amount of oil on the particle surface as a consequence of large droplets poorly stabilised.     

Emissions of VOCs,SVOCs, and mold during the construction process: Contribution to indoor air quality and future occupants’ exposure

Building materials and human activities are important sources of contamination indoors, but little information is available regarding contamination during construction process which could persist during the whole life of buildings. In this study, six construction stages on two construction sites were investigated regarding the emissions of 43 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 46 semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), and the presence of 4 genera of mold. Results show that the future indoor air quality does not only depend on the emissions of each building product but that it is also closely related to the whole implementation process. Mold spore measurements can reach 1400 CFU/m³, which is particularly high compared with the concentrations usually measured in indoor environments. Relatively low concentrations of VOCs were observed, in relation to the use of low emissive materials. Among SVOCs analyzed, some phthalates, permethrin, and hydrocarbons were found in significant concentrations upon the delivery of building as well as triclosan, suspected to be endocrine disruptor, and yet prohibited in the treatment of materials and construction since 2014. As some regulations exist for VOC emissions, it is necessary to implement them for SVOCs due to their toxicity.