Arginase Activity in Eisenia andrei Coelomocytes: Function in the Earthworm Innate Response

Arginase is the manganese metalloenzyme catalyzing the conversion of l-arginine to l-ornithine and urea. In vertebrates, arginase is involved in the immune response, tissue regeneration, and wound healing and is an important marker of alternative anti-inflammatory polarization of macrophages. In invertebrates, data concerning the role of arginase in these processes are very limited. Therefore, in the present study, we focused on the changes in arginase activity in the coelomocytes of Eisenia andrei. We studied the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), heavy metals ions (e.g., Mn²⁺), parasite infection, wound healing, and short-term fasting (5 days) on arginase activity. For the first time in earthworms, we described arginase activity in the coelomocytes and found that it can be up-regulated upon in vitro stimulation with LPS and H₂O₂ and in the presence of Mn²⁺ ions. Moreover, arginase activity was also up-regulated in animals in vivo infected with nematodes or experiencing segment amputation, but not in fasting earthworms. Furthermore, we confirmed that the activity of coelomocyte arginase can be suppressed by l-norvaline. Our studies strongly suggest that similarly to the vertebrates, also in the earthworms, coelomocyte arginase is an important element of the immune response and wound healing processes.     

The Influence of Ecological and Conventional Plant Production Systems on Soil Microbial Quality under Hops (Humulus lupulus)

The knowledge about microorganisms—activity and diversity under hop production is still limited. We assumed that, different systems of hop production (within the same soil and climatic conditions) significantly influence on the composition of soil microbial populations and its functional activity (metabolic potential). Therefore, we compared a set of soil microbial properties in the field experiment of two hop production systems (a) ecological based on the use of probiotic preparations and organic fertilization (b) conventional—with the use of chemical pesticides and mineral fertilizers. Soil analyses included following microbial properties: The total number microorganisms, a bunch of soil enzyme activities, the catabolic potential was also assessed following Biolog EcoPlates^®. Moreover, the abundance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) was characterized by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (T-RFLP) of PCR ammonia monooxygenase α-subunit (amoA) gene products. Conventional and ecological systems of hop production were able to affect soil microbial state in different seasonal manner. Favorable effect on soil microbial activity met under ecological, was more probably due to livestock-based manure and fermented plant extracts application. No negative influence on conventional hopyard soil was revealed. Both type of production fulfilled fertilizing demands. Under ecological production it was due to livestock-based manure fertilizers and fermented plant extracts application.     

Extracts of phenolic compounds from seeds of three wild grapevines-comparison of their antioxidant activities and the content of phenolic compounds

Phenolic compounds were extracted from three wild grapevine species: Vitis californica, V. riparia and V. amurensis seeds using 80% methanol or 80% acetone. The total content of phenolic compounds was determined utilizing the Folin-Ciocalteu’s phenol reagent while the content of tannins was assayed with the vanillin and BSA precipitation methods. Additionally, the DPPH free radical scavenging activity and the reduction power of the extracts were measured. The RP-HPLC method was applied to identify the phenolic compounds in the extracts, such as phenolic acids and catechins. The seeds contained large amounts of tannins, catechins and gallic acid and observable quantities of p-coumaric acid. The total content of phenolic compounds and tannins was similar in the extracts from V. californica and V. riparia seeds. However, the total content of total phenolic compounds and tannins in the extracts from V. californica and V. riperia seeds were about two-fold higher than that in the extracts from V. amurensis seeds. Extracts from seeds of the American species (V. californica and V. riparia) contained similarly high concentrations of tannins, whereas extracts from seeds of V. amurensis had approximately half that amount of these compounds. The content of catechin and epicatechin was similar in all extracts. The highest DPPH^• anti-radical scavenging activity was observed in the acetonic and methanolic extracts of V. californica and V. riparia seeds— while the acetonic extract from the V. californica seeds was the strongest reducing agent.     

Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Properties of Bisquaternary Ammonium Bromides of Different Spacer Length

A group of cationic gemini surfactants (bisquaternary ammonium bromides) with different spacer chain lengths (8–6–8, 8–7–8, 8–8–8, 8–9–8) was investigated, paying special attention to antimicrobial and the cytotoxic properties as well as their antimicrobial activity during long‐term storage. It was shown that the compounds investigated exhibit excellent antimicrobial activity against Gram‐positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram‐negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) as well as antifungal properties (Candida albicans). The gemini surfactants tested had the differential level of cytotoxicity against normal lymphocytes. It was shown that the spacer chain length plays an important role in antibacterial activity and influences the cytotoxicity. The gemini surfactants with shorter spacer chain length, that had higher critical micelle concentration, showed generally weaker antibacterial properties, but on the other hand, these exhibited lower level of cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the aqueous solution of gemini surfactants exhibited the same antimicrobial activity even after 3 months.     

Measurement of Transient Fluid Temperature in a Pipeline

The aim of this paper is to develop a method of determining the heat transfer coefficients on the inner surface of the pipeline and outer surface of the thermometer used to measure the temperature of a fluid flowing under high pressure. The method is based on the solutions to the inverse heat conduction problems for the thermometer and the pipeline wall. The heat transfer coefficients are determined based on the measurement of the temperature of a cylindrical metal thermometer and the temperature of the wall of a cylindrical pipeline. The temperature sensor is located in the pipeline wall close to the inner surface. The correlations for the Nusselt numbers used to determine heat transfer coefficients on the outer surface of the thermometer and the inner surface of the pipeline contain unknown coefficients which are found using the least squares method. The unknown coefficients are selected so that the sum of the squares of differences between the fluid temperature determined based on the measurement of the temperature of the pipeline wall and the fluid temperature obtained from measurements inside the thermometer, calculated for several dozen set time points, is as small as possible.     

Role of Distinct Macrophage Populations in the Development of Heart Failure in Macrophage Activation Syndrome

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is one of the few entities in rheumatology with the potential to quickly cause multiple organ failure and loss of life, and as such, requires urgent clinical intervention. It has a broad symptomatology, depending on the organs it affects. One especially dangerous aspect of MAS’s course of illness is myocarditis leading to acute heart failure and possibly death. Research in recent years has proved that macrophages settled in different organs are not a homogenous group, with particular populations differing in both structure and function. Within the heart, we can determine two major groups, based on the presence of the C-C 2 chemokine receptor (CCR2): CCR2+ and CCR2−. There are a number of studies describing their function and the changes in the population makeup between normal conditions and different illnesses; however, to our knowledge, there has not been one touching on the matter of changes occurring in the populations of heart macrophages during MAS and their possible consequences. This review summarizes the most recent knowledge on heart macrophages, the influence of select cytokines (those particularly significant in the development of MAS) on their activity, and both the immediate and long-term consequences of changes in the makeup of specific macrophage populations—especially the loss of CCR2− cells that are responsible for regenerative processes, as well as the substitution of tissue macrophages by the highly proinflammatory CCR2+ macrophages originating from circulating monocytes. Understanding the significance of these processes may lead to new discoveries that could improve the therapeutic methods in the treatment of MAS.     

Downregulation of MMP-9 Enhances the Anti-Migratory Effect of Cyclophosphamide in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Metastasis is one of the most urgent issues in breast cancer patients. One of the factors necessary in the migration process is the remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Metalloproteinases (MMPs) can break down the elements of the ECM, which facilitates cell movement. Many highly aggressive tumors are characterized by high levels of MMPs. In the case of breast cancer, the association between MMP-9 and the migration potential and invasiveness of cells has been demonstrated. In addition, reports indicating increased migration of breast cancer cells after the administration of the commonly used cytostatic cyclophosphamide (CP) are particularly disturbing. Hence, our research aimed to assess the effect of CP treatment on MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells and how this response is influenced by the downregulation of the MMP-9 level. The obtained results suggest that CP causes a decrease in the survival of breast cancer cells of various invasiveness, and the downregulation of MMP-9 enhances this effect, mainly by inducing apoptosis. Moreover, in the group of MMP-9 siRNA-transfected CP-treated cells, a more severe reduction in invasion and migration of cells of both lines was observed, as indicated by the migration and invasion transwell assays and Wound healing assay. Hence, we suggest that CP alone may not result in satisfactory therapeutic effects. On the other hand, the use of combination therapy targeting MMP-9, together with the CP, could improve the effectiveness of the treatment. Additionally, we confirmed a relationship between the levels of MMP-9 and cytokeratin 19 (CK19).     

Proximate composition and vitamin E levels in egg yolk: losses by cooking in a microwave oven

The proximate composition, fatty acid and tocopherol levels of egg yolk were determined in raw eggs and after different cooking processes: boiling for 3 and 10 min, heating in a microwave oven, and frying. Of the protein, lipid, ash and moisture contents, only the last decreased with microwave cooking. The predominant fatty acid was oleic (18:1) (36.10–42.6%), followed in decreasing amounts by palmitic (16:0), linoleic (18:2), linolenic (18:3) = arachidonic(20:4) = docosanoic (22:0), docosahexanoic (22:6) and myristic acid (14:0). Of the polyunsaturated fatty acids, 18:2, 18:3, 20:4 and 22:6 decreased in the samples subjected to microwaves. α-Tocopherol (6.1–2.9 mg per 100g) was the predominant isomer in all the samples followed by (β + γ)-tocopherol and δ-tocopherol, while α-tocotrienol was detected in trace amounts. All these tocopherols were reduced during cooking by up to 50% in omelettes and microwave treatments. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Conductive blends of polyaniline with plasticized poly(methyl methacrylate)

Polyaniline (PANI) protonated with camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) and three different poly(alkylene phosphates) (PAPs) (where alkylene = pentylene, hexylene, or nonylene) was used in the fabrication of conductive polyaniline–poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blends. The lowest percolation threshold (f_p = 0.041 wt %) was obtained for the PANI(CSA)_0.5–PMMA blend plasticized with 35 wt % of dibutyl phtalate (DBPh). This blend is also very resistant against the deprotonation of its conductive phase in basic solutions of pH = 9. In the case of blends prepared with the use of PAPs as PANI dopants, the percolation threshold strongly depends on the length of the hydrophobic spacer (alkylene group) in the dopant. The percolation threshold decreases in the order PPP > PHP > PNP, whereas the resistance against deprotonation in basic solutions decreases in the following inverse order: PNP > PHP > PPP. This last observation can be rationalized by increasing contribution of hydrophobic segments in the polymeric dopant, when going from PPP to PNP, which renders polyaniline more resistance toward the penetration by aqueous basic solutions. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 471–479, 1999