Age- and Lifespan-Dependent Differences in GO Caused DNA Damage in Acheta domesticus

The rising applicability of graphene oxide (GO) should be preceded by detailed tests confirming its safety and lack of toxicity. Sensitivity to GO of immature, or with different survival strategy, individuals has not been studied so far. Therefore, in the present research, we focused on the GO genotoxic effects, examining selected parameters of DNA damage (total DNA damage, double-strand breaks—DSB, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine-8-OHdG, abasic site—AP sites), DNA damage response parameters, and global methylation in the model organism Acheta domesticus. Special attention was paid to various life stages and lifespans, using wild (H), and selected for longevity (D) strains. DNA damage was significantly affected by stage and/or strain and GO exposure. Larvae and young imago were generally more sensitive than adults, revealing more severe DNA damage. Especially in the earlier life stages, the D strain reacted more intensely/inversely than the H strain. In contrast, DNA damage response parameters were not significantly related to stage and/or strain and GO exposure. Stage-dependent DNA damage, especially DSB and 8-OHdG, with the simultaneous lack or subtle activation of DNA damage response parameters, may result from the general life strategy of insects. Predominantly fast-living and fast-breeding organisms can minimize energy-demanding repair mechanisms.     

The Role of CXCL16 in the Pathogenesis of Cancer and Other Diseases

CXCL16 is a chemotactic cytokine belonging to the α-chemokine subfamily. It plays a significant role in the progression of cancer, as well as the course of atherosclerosis, renal fibrosis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Since there has been no review paper discussing the importance of this chemokine in various diseases, we have collected all available knowledge about CXCL16 in this review. In the first part of the paper, we discuss background information about CXCL16 and its receptor, CXCR6. Next, we focus on the importance of CXCL16 in a variety of diseases, with an emphasis on cancer. We discuss the role of CXCL16 in tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis. Next, we describe the role of CXCL16 in the tumor microenvironment, including involvement in angiogenesis, and its significance in tumor-associated cells (cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF), microglia, tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), tumor-associated neutrophils (TAN), mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), myeloid suppressor cells (MDSC), and regulatory T cells (T_reg)). Finally, we focus on the antitumor properties of CXCL16, which are mainly caused by natural killer T (NKT) cells. At the end of the article, we summarize the importance of CXCL16 in cancer therapy.     

Garcinol—A Natural Histone Acetyltransferase Inhibitor and New Anti-Cancer Epigenetic Drug

Garcinol extracted from Garcinia indica fruit peel and leaves is a polyisoprenylated benzophenone. In traditional medicine it was used for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Several studies have shown anti-cancer properties of garcinol in cancer cell lines and experimental animal models. Garcinol action in cancer cells is based on its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but also on its potency to inhibit histone acetyltransferases (HATs). Recent studies indicate that garcinol may also deregulate expression of miRNAs involved in tumour development and progression. This paper focuses on the latest research concerning garcinol as a HAT inhibitor and miRNA deregulator in the development and progression of various cancers. Garcinol may be considered as a candidate for next generation epigenetic drugs, but further studies are needed to establish the precise toxicity, dosages, routes of administration, and safety for patients.     

Antioxidant properties of apple slices stored in starch-based films

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant properties of apple slices stored in edible starch films enriched with white and green tea extracts. All results were compared to that obtained for apple slices stored in polyethylene films. The use of starch films, as carrier of antioxidants, prolonged the storage life and improved quality of fresh-cut apples at the end of storage; however, deteriorated their lightness and increased their browning. Apple slices coated in starch films enriched with tea extracts exhibited higher antioxidant properties than those without these additives, as well as those in polyethylene films.     

Biocompatible surface modification of poly(ethylene terephthalate) focused on pathogenic bacteria: Promising prospects in biomedical applications

Poly(ethylene terephthalate)—PET, is one of the most common polyesters, widely used in biomedical applications ranging from catheters to stents, vascular grafts, heart valves, sutures, and scaffolds. PET surface modification is necessary to impart desired properties for biomedical applications, making the polymer biocompatible, noncytotoxic and antibacterial that can preferably resist biofilm formation caused by pathogenic bacteria. A novel approach to anticorrosive wet chemical surface modification of PET by insertion of alkyl and hydroxyl groups was achieved by using Grignard reagents and confirmed by several different characterization methods including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), water contact angle (WCA) measurement, free surface energy (FSE) measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). High antibacterial efficiency against four different types of biofilm active, pathogenic bacterial strains namely: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was established on the modified PET surface. Biocompatibility higher than 84% of the modified samples has been proved. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44990.     

Psychological Determinants of Using Facebook: A Research Review

In recent years, Facebook has become the most popular of social networking sites (SNSs). Due to its increasing popularity and rising number of its users, the phenomenon of Facebook has aroused academic interest as well. There has been a growing number of studies on this subject. The aim of this article is to present the main trends in Facebook research and to provide an overview of major empirical findings. Among the most intensively explored topics in Facebook research, studies that concentrate on personality and individual differences among users, the role of self-efficacy, and motivation for using that specific SNS were identified. There is also a growing trend in empirical studies that focuses on testing advanced theoretical models of Facebook usage determinants. Technology acceptance model, presented in this article, is one of the most often used among them. This kind of approach may serve as a suggestion for a methodological conceptualization in the future confirmatory research on Facebook.     

Studies of selected synthesis procedures of the conducting LiFePO4-based composite cathode materials for Li-ion batteries

In this paper technological aspects of a synthesis of phospho-olivine LiFePO₄ based composite cathode materials for lithium batteries are presented. An effective synthesis route yielding a highly conductive composite cathode material was developed. The structural, electrical and electrochemical properties of these materials were investigated. It was shown that the enhanced conductivity of the cathode material is due to the presence of a thin layer of the reduced material which has metallic properties, which is formed on the grain surfaces of the phospho-olivine. We propose a synthesis route yielding LiFePO₄/Fe₂P composite material.     

Molecular Basis of Essentiality of Early Critical Steps in the Lipopolysaccharide Biogenesis in Escherichia coli K-12: Requirement of MsbA,Cardiolipin, LpxL,LpxM and GcvB

To identify the physiological factors that limit the growth of Escherichia coli K-12 strains synthesizing minimal lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we describe the first construction of strains devoid of the entire waa locus and concomitantly lacking all three acyltransferases (LpxL/LpxM/LpxP), synthesizing minimal lipid IV_A derivatives with a restricted ability to grow at around 21 °C. Suppressors restoring growth up to 37 °C of Δ(gmhD-waaA) identified two independent single-amino-acid substitutions—P50S and R310S—in the LPS flippase MsbA. Interestingly, the cardiolipin synthase-encoding gene clsA was found to be essential for the growth of ΔlpxLMP, ΔlpxL, ΔwaaA, and Δ(gmhD-waaA) bacteria, with a conditional lethal phenotype of Δ(clsA lpxM), which could be overcome by suppressor mutations in MsbA. Suppressor mutations basS A20D or basR G53V, causing a constitutive incorporation of phosphoethanolamine (P-EtN) in the lipid A, could abolish the Ca⁺⁺ sensitivity of Δ(waaC eptB), thereby compensating for P-EtN absence on the second Kdo. A single-amino-acid OppA S273G substitution is shown to overcome the synthetic lethality of Δ(waaC surA) bacteria, consistent with the chaperone-like function of the OppA oligopeptide-binding protein. Furthermore, overexpression of GcvB sRNA was found to repress the accumulation of LpxC and suppress the lethality of LapAB absence. Thus, this study identifies new and limiting factors in regulating LPS biosynthesis.