β-Hexachlorocyclohexane Drives Carcinogenesis in the Human Normal Bronchial Epithelium Cell Line BEAS-2B

Organochlorine pesticides constitute the majority of the total environmental pollutants, and a wide range of compounds have been found to be carcinogenic to humans. Among all, growing interest has been focused on β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), virtually the most hazardous and, at the same time, the most poorly investigated member of the hexachlorocyclohexane family. Considering the multifaceted biochemical activities of β-HCH, already established in our previous studies, the aim of this work is to assess whether β-HCH could also trigger cellular malignant transformation toward cancer development. For this purpose, experiments were performed on the human normal bronchial epithelium cell line BEAS-2B exposed to 10 µM β-HCH. The obtained results strongly support the carcinogenic potential of β-HCH, which is achieved through both non-genotoxic (activation of oncogenic signaling pathways and proliferative activity) and indirect genotoxic (ROS production and DNA damage) mechanisms that significantly affect cellular macroscopic characteristics and functions such as cell morphology, cell cycle profile, and apoptosis. Taking all these elements into account, the presented study provides important elements to further characterize β-HCH, which appears to be a full-fledged carcinogenic agent.     

Phase-contrast microtomography of thin biomaterials

Phase-contrast microtomography, performed at the beamline ID 22 of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF, Grenoble, France), is demonstrated for high-resolution 3-D imaging of a hydroxyapatite sample. The technique, which relies on phase contrast imaging, gives the possibility to observe features inside samples with negligible absorption contrast. The positive results obtained suggest a possible future investigation of the influence of the distribution of pores and defects inside biomaterial coatings, on the growth of osteoblast cells.     

Methodology of kinetic interaction studies in clinical pharmacology: an experimental contribution on diftalone and acetylsalicylic acid

The possible interaction of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and diftalone (DIF), a new anti-inflammatory drug, was studied in 6 volunteers. All subjects received each of the following three treatments: ASA 1 g, DIF 0.5 g, ASA 1 g plus DIF 0.5 g at 4-day intervals (stage 1 of the study). In stage II of the same study, each subject received ASA 1 g plus DIF 0.5 g in three different occasions 1 week apart; after a 7-day pre-treatment with either DIF 0.25 g b.i.d., or ASA 0.5 g b.i.d., or DIF 0.25 g b.i.d. plus ASA 0.5 g b.i.d. A total of four different comparisons were made. After pre-treatment with DIF, but not after pre-treatment with DIF plus ASA, the peak level of salicylate was significantly reduced by about 15%. No other evidence of interaction was found.     

Cooked ham classification on the basis of brine injection level and pork breeding country

The aim of this study was to classify whole-leg cooked hams, made without polyphosphates, by linear discriminant analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used for the selection of significant variables. Thirty-two variables were evaluated on 26 cooked hams prepared using different levels of brine injection and legs from pork bred in different countries (France or Denmark). Previously published data related to 20 hams were also used for classification. A chemometric model, based on ten variables, was obtained by using PCA. The variables were pH, moisture, protein, fat, NaCl, superficial wateriness, L* and a*/b* of biceps femoris muscle, modulus and elasticity index of semitendinosus muscle. Discriminant functions calculated using PCA-selected variables enable correct classification of the cooked hams according to the origin of the meat used and, when this is the same, according to the percentage of brine injected.     

Analysing the influence of operating conditions on the performance of algal–bacterial granular sludge processes for wastewater treatment: A review

This article discussed the effect of the main operating parameter involved in the operation of algal–bacterial granular sludge (ABGS) systems as promising biological processes for wastewater treatment. The focus was on the operational ranges reported in the literature capable of achieving better granule properties, good stability and high removal capacities. This review identified that hydraulic retention time (HRT), light intensity (LI) and light/dark periods were the most influential operating factors on the formation, stability, settleability and organic pollutant removal efficiency of ABGS. The discussion argued that ABGS systems enhance industrial and domestic wastewater treatment due to additional advantages that provide the symbiotic interactions to process performance, maintaining lesser operating costs concerning aerobic granular sludges (AGS) and microalgae consortia. This review will improve the understanding of the operation of ABGS systems and thus further expand possible operating combinations that help to enhance microbial interactions, microalgae growth and external aeration self-sufficiency in further research with a focus on its scaling up.