Properties of particleboard produced from post-industrial UF- and PF-bonded plywood

An approach based on the recycling of waste plywood as a recovered wood resource for the particleboard industry is described. It is demonstrated that post-industrial urea- (UF) and phenol-formaldehyde (PF) bonded plywood can be effectively shredded to the form of the recovered particles that can be a valuable material in particleboard manufacturing. The effects of shredding conditions and binder type on the recovered particles characteristics and the mechanical properties of the particleboards were analyzed. It is shown that the substitution of 20–100% of virgin particles with the recovered material is possible without affecting the performance of the particleboard.     

Comparison of the Effects of Resveratrol and Its Derivatives on the Radiation Response of MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

Radiotherapy is among the most important methods for breast cancer treatment. However, this method’s effectiveness is limited by radioresistance. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the stilbene derivatives piceid, resveratrol, and piceatannol have a radiosensitising effect on breast cancer cells (MCF-7). The conducted research enabled us to determine which of the tested compounds has the greatest potential in sensitising cells to ionising radiation (IR). Among the stilbene derivatives, resveratrol significantly increased the effect of IR. Resveratrol and IR used in combination had a higher cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cells than using piceatannol, piceid, or radiation alone. This was due to a significant decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes, which resulted in the accumulation of formed reactive oxygen species (ROS). The effect of resveratrol and IR enhanced the expression of apoptotic genes, such as Bax, p53, and caspase 8, leading to apoptosis.     

New Glycosylated Dihydrochalcones Obtained by Biotransformation of 2′-Hydroxy-2-methylchalcone in Cultures of Entomopathogenic Filamentous Fungi

Flavonoids, including chalcones, are more stable and bioavailable in the form of glycosylated and methylated derivatives. The combined chemical and biotechnological methods can be applied to obtain such compounds. In the present study, 2′-hydroxy-2-methylchalcone was synthesized and biotransformed in the cultures of entomopathogenic filamentous fungi Beauveria bassiana KCH J1.5, Isaria fumosorosea KCH J2 and Isaria farinosa KCH J2.6, which have been known for their extensive enzymatic system and ability to perform glycosylation of flavonoids. As a result, five new glycosylated dihydrochalcones were obtained. Biotransformation of 2′-hydroxy-2-methylchalcone by B. bassiana KCH J1.5 resulted in four glycosylated dihydrochalcones: 2′-hydroxy-2-methyldihydrochalcone 3′-O-β-d-(4″-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside, 2′,3-dihydroxy-2-methyldihydrochalcone 3′-O-β-d-(4″-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside, 2′-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyldihydrochalcone 3′-O-β-d-(4″-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside, and 2′,4-dihydroxy-2-methyldihydrochalcone 3′-O-β-d-(4″-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside. In the culture of I. fumosorosea KCH J2 only one product was formed—3-hydroxy-2-methyldihydrochalcone 2′-O-β-d-(4″-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside. Biotransformation performed by I. farinosa KCH J2.6 resulted in the formation of two products: 2′-hydroxy-2-methyldihydrochalcone 3′-O-β-d-(4″-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside and 2′,3-dihydroxy-2-methyldihydrochalcone 3′-O-β-d-(4″-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside. The structures of all obtained products were established based on the NMR spectroscopy. All products mentioned above may be used in further studies as potentially bioactive compounds with improved stability and bioavailability. These compounds can be considered as flavor enhancers and potential sweeteners.     

Utility of Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 in the Platelet Activity Assessment in Mouse and Human Blood

In our previous study, we introduced the platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1)/thrombus ratio, which is a parameter indicating the proportion of PECAM-1 in laser-induced thrombi in mice. Because PECAM-1 is an antithrombotic molecule, the higher the PECAM-1/thrombus ratio, the less activated the platelets. In this study, we used an extracorporeal model of thrombosis (flow chamber model) to verify its usefulness in the assessment of the PECAM-1/thrombus ratio in animal and human studies. Using the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation model, we also evaluated whether the PECAM-1/thrombus ratio determined in the flow chamber (without endothelium) differed from that calculated in laser-induced thrombosis (with endothelium). We observed that acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) decreased the area of the thrombus while increasing the PECAM-1/thrombus ratio in healthy mice and humans in a dose-dependent manner. In LPS-treated mice, the PECAM-1/thrombus ratio decreased as the dose of ASA increased in both thrombosis models, but the direction of change in the thrombus area was inconsistent. Our study demonstrates that the PECAM-1/thrombus ratio can more accurately describe the platelet activation status than commonly used parameters such as the thrombus area, and, hence, it can be used in both human and animal studies.     

NKT and NKT-like Cells in Autoimmune Neuroinflammatory Diseases—Multiple Sclerosis,Myasthenia Gravis and Guillain-Barre Syndrome

NKT cells comprise three subsets—type I (invariant, iNKT), type II, and NKT-like cells, of which iNKT cells are the most studied subset. They are capable of rapid cytokine production after the initial stimulus, thus they may be important for polarisation of Th cells. Due to this, they may be an important cell subset in autoimmune diseases. In the current review, we are summarising results of NKT-oriented studies in major neurological autoimmune diseases—multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, and Guillain-Barre syndrome and their corresponding animal models.