Antigenotoxic effects of the phytoestrogen pelargonidin chloride and the polyphenol chlorogenic acid

Pelargonidin (PEL), a common anthocyanidin with estrogenic activity, was tested in HL-60 cells for its genotoxicity and possible antigenotoxic effects against 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (NQO), a potent mutagen and carcinogen which induces oxidative stress. To take into account potential interactions between phytochemicals within normal human nutrition, we evaluated a combination of PEL with the nonestrogenic phytochemical chlorogenic acid (CLA), one of the most abundant polyphenols in the human diet. PEL (< or = 2 microM) and CLA (< or = 800 microM) were nongenotoxic in the micronucleus test. We observed significant antigenotoxic effects against NQO with both compounds, but no additive interaction of PEL and CLA. Comet assay results showed a nonsignificant reduction in NQO-induced DNA damage with both compounds and their combination. Flow cytometric analysis of oxidative stress revealed significant protection against NQO-induced oxidative stress by PEL, CLA, and their combination. Furthermore, PEL and CLA prevented the NQO-induced reduction in GSH level. This could be a mechanism for the observed reduction in genotoxicity. In conclusion, the phytoestrogen PEL revealed antioxidative and antigenotoxic properties in HL-60 cells, but no significant additive interaction with the abundant nutritional polyphenol CLA under the tested conditions.     

Isomere Monoensäuren in Pflanzenölen

Isomeric Monoenoic Acids in Vegetable Oils In the scope of systematic studies the fatty acids of oils from seed and fruits of 38 plants are investigated for presence of isomeric monoenoic acids with 16, 18 and 20 C-atoms. All analyzed oils contain between 2 and 4 hexadecenoic, octadecenoic and icosenoic acids with different position of the double bound. Vaccenic acid, the cis-11-octadecenoic acid, is always found in low quantities. Its share depends within certain limits on the content of the oils of cis-9-hexadecenoic acid, the so-called palmitoleic acid. Petroselinic acid, cis-6-octadecenoic acid, is found in apiaceae oils and also in the seed oil of some other plant families. Besides, 14 of the investigated oils contain low quantities of ω5-monoenoic acids.     

Einfluß der Segmentstruktur und der Vernetzung auf den Glasübergang Tg. Möglichkeiten der Vorausberechnung von Tg über die Kohäsionsenergie Ecoh

Linear polymers, particularly polyesters, and crosslinked epoxide systems were studied to determine the relationship between glass transition, T_g, and cohesive energy, E_coh, which was calculated from incremental values as described by Fedors. In the case of thermoplastics having no side chains and in the absence of pronounced intermolecular interactions, it was found that standardization of E_coh with reference to the number of structural elements capable of rather independent motions leads to a linear relationship between T_g, and E_coh from which T_g, can be predicted. Without modifying our equation to suit the polymer, the influence of substituents and side chains can as yet only be assessed when they form a small part of the total segment. In the case of crosslinked epoxide systems, addition of the contribution made by crosslinking to the value of T_g, for the uncured polymer calculated from E_coh results in a shift to higher T_g, values. In linear aliphatic polyamides and other polymers with analogous structure the formation of hydrogen bonds leads to an increase in T_g, comparable to the effect of chemical crosslinking. Reinforcing fillers also act as multifunctional crosslinks between the macromolecules and increase T_g. Just as E_coh can be used to calculate T_g, experimentally readily ascertainable T_g values can be used to calculate E_coh. This approach provides information on material properties like flexural strength at the yield point and torsional adhesive strength as well as on the effect of reinforcing fillers.     

Process monitoring with disposable chemical sensors fit in the framework of process analysis technology (PAT) for innovative pharmaceutical development and quality assurance

The innovative principle of enzymatic sensors applied to monitor the feeding process in disposable bioreactors is described. Innovative is the type of enzyme immobilized within the 'paste' to monitor L-glutamate. Innovative is the application of the miniaturized disposable sensor developed at C-CIT AG for continuous monitoring. The sensor allows the amount of the digested nutrient to be estimated from the amperometric signal. Innovative is the wireless signal transduction between the sensor mounted to the bioreactor and the signal receiver. An example of a process control run is given and, also, the biocompatibility and the specifications of the biosensors. The comparison of results evaluated by different analytical methods is discussed.     

鲁尔：一部区域规划的简史

本文根据鲁尔区的产业发展总结了这一地区在20世纪的区域规划。自1871年统一为德意志帝国后,鲁尔区是德国最重要的经济地区之一,直至第一次世界大战(1914-1918)结束这里经历了经济发展的第一个阶段,二战(1939-1945)后又经历了第二个经济增长阶段。在这一时期形成的基础产业煤炭和钢铁生产在1970年代逐渐失去了发展动力,而此时在各地区都出现了新技术发展和新经济增长地区的形成。为了扭转衰败局面,鲁尔区以新规划思想为基础制定了新规划,利用了现有的最初是为工业地区组织的景观结构,并将其重新构造为后工业区域的景观系统。     

Congruence in the performance of model nitrifying activated sludge plants located in Germany,Scotland and Spain

A laboratory model nitrifying activated sludge plant treating OECD synthetic sewage was designed and constructed by each of three laboratories in Germany, Scotland and Spain in order to produce a sludge inoculum for 5 rapid toxicity bioassays. The plants were run for 3 years and produced sludge for the microbially based bioassays Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence, ATP luminescence and respiration, and, nitrification and enzyme inhibition. Although the initial sludge inoculum for the plants differed, as did some of the running conditions such as temperature regime, the sludge produced within the different countries had similar characteristics with respect to sludge age, total suspended solids and volatile suspended solids. Nitrification was generally maintained over the 3-year period although there were occasions when the process was inconsistent. Nitrification recovery was afforded by reseeding with a nitrifying sludge from a local wastewater treatment works (WWTW) or imposition of starvation conditions for a period of time. The sludge produced was used to carry out toxicity testing and results compared well with those using sludge from a WWTW. Overall, the use of sludge generated in the laboratory could be used for toxicity testing negating the need to resort to the use of natural WWTW sludge, which may contain a range of toxic substances due to uncontrolled industrial and domestic inputs and an unbalanced microbial consortium.