Fibronectin Molecular Status in Plasma of Women with Endometriosis and Fertility Disorders

The diagnosis of endometriosis and fertility disorders is difficult; therefore, it is necessary to look for reliable biomarkers. Analysis of the molecular status of fibronectin as a key player in repair and wound healing processes, as well as in coagulation and fibrinolysis pathways, is justified. ELISA and SDS-agarose immunoblotting were applied to determine the fibronectin concentration and presence and occurrence of soluble FN-fibrin complexes in the blood plasma of women with endometriosis (n = 38), fertility disorders (n = 28) and the healthy group (n = 25). The concentration of fibronectin in the blood plasma of women with endometriosis (292.61 ± 96.17 mg/L) and fertility disorders (287.53 ± 122.68 mg/L) was significantly higher than in the normal group (226.55 ± 91.98 mg/L). The presence of FN-fibrin complexes of 750, 1000, 1300, 1600 and 1900 kDa in the plasma of women with endometriosis and fertility disorders was shown. The presence of FN-fibrin complexes with a molecular mass of more than 1300 kDa in women with endometriosis and infertility and the complete absence of these complexes in healthy women may indicate an increased and chronic activation of coagulation mechanisms in these patients. The presence of complexes of high molecular mass may be one of the biomarkers of fertility disorders in women.     

Disorders of the Cholinergic System in COVID-19 Era—A Review of the Latest Research

The appearance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus initiated many studies on the effects of the virus on the human body. So far, its negative influence on the functioning of many morphological and physiological units, including the nervous system, has been demonstrated. Consequently, research has been conducted on the changes that SARS-CoV-2 may cause in the cholinergic system. The aim of this study is to review the latest research from the years 2020/2021 regarding disorders in the cholinergic system caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. As a result of the research, it was found that the presence of the COVID-19 virus disrupts the activity of the cholinergic system, for example, causing the development of myasthenia gravis or a change in acetylcholine activity. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein has a sequence similar to neurotoxins, capable of binding nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). This may be proof that SARS-CoV-2 can bind nAChR. Nicotine and caffeine have similar structures to antiviral drugs, capable of binding angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE 2) epitopes that are recognized by SARS-CoV-2, with the potential to inhibit the formation of the ACE 2/SARS-CoV-2 complex. The blocking is enhanced when nicotine and caffeine are used together with antiviral drugs. This is proof that nAChR agonists can be used along with antiviral drugs in COVID-19 therapy. As a result, it is possible to develop COVID-19 therapies that use these compounds to reduce cytokine production. Another promising therapy is non-invasive stimulation of the vagus nerve, which soothes the body’s cytokine storm. Research on the influence of COVID-19 on the cholinergic system is an area that should continue to be developed as there is a need for further research. It can be firmly stated that COVID-19 causes a dysregulation of the cholinergic system, which leads to a need for further research, because there are many promising therapies that will prevent the SARS-CoV-2 virus from binding to the nicotinic receptor. There is a need for further research, both in vitro and in vivo. It should be noted that in the functioning of the cholinergic system and its connection with the activity of the COVID-19 virus, there might be many promising dependencies and solutions.     

4-Pyridone-3-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribonucleoside (4PYR)—A Novel Oncometabolite Modulating Cancer-Endothelial Interactions in Breast Cancer Metastasis

The accumulation of specific metabolic intermediates is known to promote cancer progression. We analyzed the role of 4-pyridone-3-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribonucleoside (4PYR), a nucleotide metabolite that accumulates in the blood of cancer patients, using the 4T1 murine in vivo breast cancer model, and cultured cancer (4T1) and endothelial cells (ECs) for in vitro studies. In vivo studies demonstrated that 4PYR facilitated lung metastasis without affecting primary tumor growth. In vitro studies demonstrated that 4PYR affected extracellular adenine nucleotide metabolism and the intracellular energy status in ECs, shifting catabolite patterns toward the accumulation of extracellular inosine, and leading to the increased permeability of lung ECs. These changes prevailed over the direct effect of 4PYR on 4T1 cells that reduced their invasive potential through 4PYR-induced modulation of the CD73-adenosine axis. We conclude that 4PYR is an oncometabolite that affects later stages of the metastatic cascade by acting specifically through the regulation of EC permeability and metabolic controls of inflammation.     

Analytical and Theoretical Studies of Antioxidant Properties of Chosen Anthocyanins; A Structure-Dependent Relationships

The relationship between the structure and the antiradical and antioxidant activities of three anthocyanidins, namely peonidin, petunidin, and delphinidin, and their glucosides was investigated in this study. The ability of anthocyanins to scavenge free radicals was determined using DPPH^● assay, whereas the inhibition of peroxidation in liposomes in relation to a model membrane that imitated the composition of a lipid membrane in tumor cells was specified using the fluorimetric method. To explore this issue at the atomistic level, density functional theory studies were applied. It was shown that glycosides performed better than anthocyanidins in protecting membranes against oxidation. The highest redox potential was demonstrated by anthocyanidins with the highest number of hydroxyl groups in the B ring in the order as follows: (Dp > Pt > Pn), and the same relationship was proven for their glucosides. The majority of the compounds studied here proved to be better antioxidants than ascorbic acid. They showed consistent electrodonating properties and though the f-HAT mechanism became more feasible with each consecutive deprotonation. Glycosylation did not have a direct impact on reactivity, apart from peonidin and petunidin in the study of which it was found that this process was responsible for lifting off steric hindrance between B and C rings and rendering certain pathways more feasible. Kinetic and molecular dynamics are essential to properly describe the membrane’s lipid oxidation.     

Surface Chemical and Morphological Analysis of Chitosan/1,3-β-d-Glucan Polysaccharide Films Cross-Linked at 90 °C

The cross-linking temperature of polymers may affect the surface characteristics and molecular arrangement, which are responsible for their mechanical and physico-chemical properties. The aim of this research was to determine and explain in detail the mechanism of unit interlinkage of two-component chitosan/1,3-β-d-glucan matrices gelled at 90 °C. This required identifying functional groups interacting with each other and assessing surface topography providing material chemical composition. For this purpose, various spectroscopic and microscopic approaches, such as attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), were applied. The results indicate the involvement mainly of the C-C and C-H groups and C=O⋯HN moieties in the process of biomaterial polymerization. Strong chemical interactions and ionocovalent bonds between the N-glucosamine moieties of chitosan and 1,3-β-d-glucan units were demonstrated, which was also reflected in the uniform surface of the sample without segregation. These unique properties, hybrid character and proper cell response may imply the potential application of studied biomaterial as biocompatible scaffolds used in regenerative medicine, especially in bone restoration and/or wound healing.     

The Benefits of Using Saccharose for Photocatalytic Water Disinfection

In this work, the characteristics of saccharose (sucrose)-modified TiO₂ (C/TiO₂) photocatalysts obtained using a hydrothermal method at low temperature (100 °C) are presented. The influence of C/TiO₂ on survivability and enzyme activity (catalase and superoxide dismutase) of Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (ATCC 29425) and Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 49461) under UV-A and artificial solar light (ASL) were examined. The obtained TiO₂-1%-S-100 photocatalysts were capable of total E. coli and S. epidermidis inactivation under ASL irradiation in less than 1 h. In addition, the impacts of sugars on the photocatalytic activity and disinfection performance are discussed.     

Influence of feeding state and frozen storage temperature on the lipid stability of Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus)

Lipid deterioration of mackerel caught in Icelandic waters was studied, as affected by different frozen storage temperatures (?18 °C vs. ?25 °C) and seasonal variation (August vs. September). The lipid stability was investigated by analyses of hydroperoxide value (PV), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), free fatty acids, as well as changes in fatty acid composition. Results showed significant lipid deterioration with extended storage time, where the lower storage temperature showed significantly more protective effects. Furthermore, a higher lipid oxidation level was recorded for fish caught in September than in August, although lipid hydrolysis occurred to be greater for fish in August than in September. Moreover, results indicated a rather stable level of omega‐3 fatty acid during the whole frozen storage period. The analysis indicated that both lipid oxidation and hydrolysis were affected by the frozen storage temperature and the stability differed with regard to season of catch.