A Combined Metabolomic and Proteomic Analysis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

The aim of this pilot study was to apply a novel combined metabolomic and proteomic approach in analysis of gestational diabetes mellitus. The investigation was performed with plasma samples derived from pregnant women with diagnosed gestational diabetes mellitus (n = 18) and a matched control group (n = 13). The mass spectrometry-based analyses allowed to determine 42 free amino acids and low molecular-weight peptide profiles. Different expressions of several peptides and altered amino acid profiles were observed in the analyzed groups. The combination of proteomic and metabolomic data allowed obtaining the model with a high discriminatory power, where amino acids ethanolamine, l-citrulline, l-asparagine, and peptide ions with m/z 1488.59; 4111.89 and 2913.15 had the highest contribution to the model. The sensitivity (94.44%) and specificity (84.62%), as well as the total group membership classification value (90.32%) calculated from the post hoc classification matrix of a joint model were the highest when compared with a single analysis of either amino acid levels or peptide ion intensities. The obtained results indicated a high potential of integration of proteomic and metabolomics analysis regardless the sample size. This promising approach together with clinical evaluation of the subjects can also be used in the study of other diseases.     

Thermal and conductometric studies of the CeBr3–MBr binary systems (M = Li, Na)

DSC was used to investigate phase equilibrium in the CeBr₃–MBr (M = Li, Na) systems. They represent typical examples of simple eutectic systems. The eutectic composition and eutectic temperature, x(CeBr₃) = 0.249, T_eut = 709 K and x(CeBr₃) = 0.372, T_eut = 692 K, were found for CeBr₃–LiBr and CeBr₃–NaBr systems, respectively.

The electrical conductivity of CeBr₃–MBr liquid mixtures, together with that of pure components was measured down to temperatures below solidification. Results obtained are discussed in term of possible complex formation.     

Enzymatic biofuel cell based on electrodes modified with lipid liquid-crystalline cubic phases

Two glassy carbon electrodes modified with enzymes embedded in lyotropic liquid-crystalline cubic phase were used for the biofuel cell construction. The monoolein liquid-crystalline film allowed to avoid separators in the biofuel cell. Glucose and oxygen as fuels, and glucose oxidase and laccase as anode and cathode biocatalysts, respectively were used. The biofuel cell parameters were examined in McIlvaine buffer, pH 7 solution containing 15 mM of glucose and saturated with dioxygen. A series of mediators were tested taking into account their formal potentials, stability in the cubic phase and efficiency of mediation. Most stable was the biofuel cell based on tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) as anode and cathode mediators, respectively. The open-circuit voltage was equal to 450 ± 40 mV. The power densities and current densities were measured for all the systems studied.     

Hydrometallurgical recovery of copper and cobalt from reduction-roasted copper converter slag

The paper is concerned with a simple hydrometallurgical method for selective recovery of copper and cobalt from industrial copper converter slag. The following consecutive stages are proposed: roasting of the slag in reduction conditions to produce Cu–Co–Fe–Pb alloy, electrolytic dissolution of the alloy in an ammonia–ammonium chloride solution, ammoniacal leaching of the slime, selective copper and cobalt electrowinning. Cu27–Co6–Fe64–Pb1.5 alloy was a five-phase system and did not dissolve uniformly during electrolysis. This resulted in the separation of the metals, wherein iron remained in the slime, while copper and cobalt were components of slime, electrolyte and cathodic deposit. A mechanism of the alloy dissolution was developed. A series of secondary processes took place in the system: precipitation of iron compounds, copper cementation with cobalt and iron; adsorption of copper and cobalt ions on the iron precipitates. Final products were metals of high purity (99.9% Cu, 92% Co).     

Effect of Fe3O4, Fe and Cu doping on magnetic properties and behaviour in physiological solution of biological hydroxyapatite/glass composites

The effect of Fe, Fe₃O₄ and Cu additives on magnetic properties and behaviour in physiological solution of glass-reinforced biological hydroxyapatite composites has been investigated. 1 wt% of additive was admixed before the final sintering of composites at 500 or 780 °C. The relative green and sintered densities of the samples were analyzed for the influence of additives and sintering temperature on the composite properties. The morphology of composites exhibited a porous structure with a pore size of 0.1–200.0 μm for OK 015 and 0.2–600.0 μm for OK 6 samples. It has been found that the magnetic properties of the doped composites depend on their compositions, the nature of additive and sintering conditions. The influence of the additive phases on the degradation of the composites in physiological solution was studied in vitro. It has been shown that Fe₃O₄-doped OK 015, which has ferromagnetic properties, can be the most suitable material for targeted delivery of drugs.     

Fluorescence of Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles is Controlled by the Surface Adsorbate

Fluorescent gold nanoparticles are important biological labels, in particular for combined optical and electron microscopy. It is reported that density and type of surface ligands have key influence on the dominant UV‐vis fluorescence band in positively and negatively charged gold nanoparticles capped with citrate, gold oxide, and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). The peak excitation and emission energies and fluorescence intensities vary with nanoparticle size, reflecting changes in surface charge and surface potential as well as a varying density of surface adsorbates. The fluorescence peak shifts, the evolution of zeta potentials, and fluorescence intensity trends are explained by a model of the principal fluorescence transitions that takes into account the nanoparticle surface conditions, such as the adhesion of ligands. Varying surface ligands is a simple strategy to optimize fluorescence intensity and to design spectral properties of gold nanoparticles.     

Discrimination of Salmonella enterica serotypes by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Salmonella continues to be an important cause of foodborne infections in humans throughout the world. The precise nature of the infection depends on the specific combination of host and Salmonella serotypes, some of them being highly pathogenic. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy together with chemometric techniques were used in this study to discriminate closely related S. enterica serotypes. Intact cells of 26 different serotypes belonging to serogroups B, C1, C2–C3 and D1 (Enteritidis, Typhimurium, Bredeney, Goldcoast, Rissen, Hadar, Derby, Essen, Virchow, Mbandaka, Menden, Agona, Brikama, Saintpaul, Infantis, Braenderup, Mikawasima, Brandenburg, Heidelberg, Indiana, Norwich, Bardo, Bovismorbificans, Istanbul, Newport and Blockley) were examined by FT-IR spectroscopy in transmittance mode and classified based on the agglutination pattern reactions using the Kauffmann–White classification scheme. Using FT-IR spectra in the 1200–900 cm^? 1 range (outer membrane polysaccharides) allowed to correctly classify all isolates according to the four analysed serogroups. A discrimination analysis applied within each serogroup, demonstrated that it was also possible to differentiate between the different serotypes. Results demonstrate that application of FT-IR spectroscopy together with chemometric methods has considerable potential to effectively fulfil the current requirements for fast and straightforward differentiation of S. enterica serotypes.     

Enhanced Muscle Strength in Dyslipidemic Mice and Its Relation to Increased Capacity for Fatty Acid Oxidation

Dyslipidemia is commonly linked to skeletal muscle dysfunction, accumulation of intramyocellular lipids, and insulin resistance. However, our previous research indicated that dyslipidemia in apolipoprotein E and low-density lipoprotein receptor double knock-out mice (ApoE/LDLR -/-) leads to improvement of exercise capacity. This study aimed to investigate in detail skeletal muscle function and metabolism in these dyslipidemic mice. We found that ApoE/LDLR -/- mice showed an increased grip strength as well as increased troponins, and Mhc2 levels in skeletal muscle. It was accompanied by the increased skeletal muscle mitochondria numbers (judged by increased citrate synthase activity) and elevated total adenine nucleotides pool. We noted increased triglycerides contents in skeletal muscles and increased serum free fatty acids (FFA) levels in ApoE/LDLR -/- mice. Importantly, Ranolazine mediated inhibition of FFA oxidation in ApoE/LDLR -/- mice led to the reduction of exercise capacity and total adenine nucleotides pool. Thus, this study demonstrated that increased capacity for fatty acid oxidation, an adaptive response to dyslipidemia leads to improved cellular energetics that translates to increased skeletal muscle strength and contributes to increased exercise capacity in ApoE/LDLR -/- mice.     

Comparison of the oxidative stability of chemically and enzymatically interesterified fats

A mixture of low erucic acid rapeseed (LEAR) oil and tallow (6:4, w/w) was used for enzymatic interesterification using Lipozyme IM – a sn-1,3-specific lipase of Rhizomucor miehei, or for chemical interesterification using sodium methoxide. The starting mixture and the products of interesterification were separated by column chromatography into pure triacylglycerols (TAGs) and a non-TAG fraction containing free fatty acids, mono- and diacylglycerols. Subsequently, the starting mixture, the products of chemical and enzymatic interesterification and the pure triacylglycerols were oxidized and their oxidative stability was examined by means of DSC. The investigation showed that the pure triacylglycerols isolated from the product of enzymatic interesterification have a comparable oxidative stability to that of the TAGs prepared from the starting mixture. In contrast, the TAGs obtained from the products of chemical interesterification had inferior oxidative stability. The presence of non-TAG fraction in the interesterification products lowers their resistance to oxidation. The starting mixture had the highest oxidative stability.