Photostability of synthetic pyrethroids on treated grain

Summary The kinetics of the photodegradation of synthetic pyrethroids (permethrin, cypermethrin and deltamethrin) on the surface of treated grain were investigated. Pyrethroids are quickly degraded if spread in a thin layer on a glass plate and photodecomposition proceeds more slowly on UV-irradiated grain. Moreover, in the latter case the degradation of pyrethroids was incomplete. The residual levels of all compounds after 15 min UV-irradiation depended on the storage time which elapsed between treatment of the grain and irradiation. The results indicate that the synthetic pyrethroids are able to penetrate inside the grain and that the UV-irradiation technique could be a tool to study this penetration.

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Die Photostabilität der synthetischen Pyrethroide auf Getreide

Zusammenfassung Die Kinetik der Zersetzung durch Licht synthetischer Pyrethroide (Permethrin, Cypermethrin und Deltamethrin) auf der Oberfläche von Getreidekörnern wurde untersucht. Pyrethroide, die in einer dünnen Schicht auf eine Glasplatte gesprüht sind, zerfallen schnell, ihre Zersetzung auf der Oberfläche des Getreidekornes erfolgt nach UV-Behandlung langsamer. Die Zersetzung der Pyrethroide war unter diesen Bedingungen unvollständig und der Gehalt an Rückstand hängt bei allen Pyrethroiden (nach 15 min UV-Belichtung) von der Zeit zwischen Körnerbehandlung und Belichtung ab. Diese Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, daß die synthetischen Pyrethroide ins Korninnere dringen können und daß die Technik der UV-Behandlung für die Untersuchung dieser Effekte verwendet werden kann.

     

Epoxy/poly(ɛ‐caprolactone) nanocomposites: Effect of transformations of structure on crystallization

The influence of morphology of the epoxy/poly(?‐caprolactone) (PCL) system and corresponding nanocomposites with organophilized layered silicate on PCL crystallization was studied by differential scanning calorimetry, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. The results obtained indicate a significant affecting of nonisothermal PCL crystallization by phase morphology brought about by the reaction‐induced phase separation (RIPS) influenced either by various nanoclay contents or the epoxy/PCL ratio. Dispersed morphology of PCL matrix with epoxy globules induces crystallization at higher temperatures. The inverse dispersed morphology of epoxy matrix with PCL inclusions causes crystallization at lower temperature. The co‐continuous morphology induces crystallization in both steps. Rate of the second crystallization step is substantially higher than that in the first step. No nucleation effect has been found in the nanocomposites with the added nanofiller. Multicomponent samples show retarded crystallization, i.e., lower crystallinities and lower overall crystallization rate compared with neat PCL. The results obtained suggest that it is primarily morphological/interfacial effects that play a decisive role in the crystallization behavior of PCL in the epoxy/PCL/clay system. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 3197–3204, 2013     

Water remediation by micelle-clay system: case study for tetracycline and sulfonamide antibiotics

Removal of tetracycline and sulfonamide antibiotics from water by micelles pre-adsorbed on montmorillonite was studied. Micelles of benzyldimethylhexadecylammonium (BDMHDA) were used. Batch experiments demonstrated that the micelle-clay complexes (1% w/w) removed 96-99.9% of antibiotics from their water solutions containing from 5 to 50 mg/L of pharmaceuticals. Column filters (25 cm) made of a mixture of quartz sand and BDMHDA micelle-clay complex at 100:1 w/w ratio removed 94-99.9% of above pharmaceuticals from initial solutions containing 10mg/L and 89% of sulfamethizole from an initial solution containing 10 microg/L of this antibiotic. These filters were also very efficient in the removal of antibiotics in the presence of dissolved soil organic matter removing 89-99% of tetracycline and sulfamethizol from initial solutions containing 10 mg/L of antibiotic in the presence of 8 mg/L of humic acid, or 9 mg/L of fulvic acid. These data indicate that micelle-clay complexes are very efficient for water purification from tetracycline and sulfonamide antibiotics.     

Oxidative Damage in Sporadic Colorectal Cancer: Molecular Mapping of Base Excision Repair Glycosylases MUTYH and hOGG1 in Colorectal Cancer Patients

Oxidative stress, oxidative DNA damage and resulting mutations play a role in colorectal carcinogenesis. Impaired equilibrium between DNA damage formation, antioxidant status, and DNA repair capacity is responsible for the accumulation of genetic mutations and genomic instability. The lesion-specific DNA glycosylases, e.g., hOGG1 and MUTYH, initiate the repair of oxidative DNA damage. Hereditary syndromes (MUTYH-associated polyposis, NTHL1-associated tumor syndrome) with germline mutations causing a loss-of-function in base excision repair glycosylases, serve as straight forward evidence on the role of oxidative DNA damage and its repair. Altered or inhibited function of above glycosylases result in an accumulation of oxidative DNA damage and contribute to the adenoma-adenocarcinoma transition. Oxidative DNA damage, unless repaired, often gives rise G:C > T:A mutations in tumor suppressor genes and proto-oncogenes with subsequent occurrence of chromosomal copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity. For instance, G>T transversions in position c.34 of a KRAS gene serves as a pre-screening tool for MUTYH-associated polyposis diagnosis. Since sporadic colorectal cancer represents more complex and heterogenous disease, the situation is more complicated. In the present study we focused on the roles of base excision repair glycosylases (hOGG1, MUTYH) in colorectal cancer patients by investigating tumor and adjacent mucosa tissues. Although we found downregulation of both glycosylases and significantly lower expression of hOGG1 in tumor tissues, accompanied with G>T mutations in KRAS gene, oxidative DNA damage and its repair cannot solely explain the onset of sporadic colorectal cancer. In this respect, other factors (especially microenvironment) per se or in combination with oxidative DNA damage warrant further attention. Base excision repair characteristics determined in colorectal cancer tissues and their association with disease prognosis have been discussed as well.     

Discovery of Long Non-Coding RNA MALAT1 Amplification in Precancerous Colorectal Lesions

A colorectal adenoma, an aberrantly growing tissue, arises from the intestinal epithelium and is considered as precursor of colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we investigated structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations in adenomas, hypothesizing that chromosomal instability (CIN) occurs early in adenomas. We applied array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) to fresh frozen colorectal adenomas and their adjacent mucosa from 16 patients who underwent colonoscopy examination. In our study, histologically similar colorectal adenomas showed wide variability in chromosomal instability. Based on the obtained results, we further stratified patients into four distinct groups. The first group showed the gain of MALAT1 and TALAM1, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). The second group involved patients with numerous microdeletions. The third group consisted of patients with a disrupted karyotype. The fourth group of patients did not show any CIN in adenomas. Overall, we identified frequent losses in genes, such as TSC2, COL1A1, NOTCH1, MIR4673, and GNAS, and gene gain containing MALAT1 and TALAM1. Since long non-coding RNA MALAT1 is associated with cancer cell metastasis and migration, its gene amplification represents an important event for adenoma development.     

Conjugates of Methylene Blue with Cycloalkaneindoles as New Multifunctional Agents for Potential Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disease

The development of multi-target-directed ligands (MTDLs) would provide effective therapy of neurodegenerative diseases (ND) with complex and nonclear pathogenesis. A promising method to create such potential drugs is combining neuroactive pharmacophoric groups acting on different biotargets involved in the pathogenesis of ND. We developed a synthetic algorithm for the conjugation of indole derivatives and methylene blue (MB), which are pharmacophoric ligands that act on the key stages of pathogenesis. We synthesized hybrid structures and performed a comprehensive screening for a specific set of biotargets participating in the pathogenesis of ND (i.e., cholinesterases, NMDA receptor, mitochondria, and microtubules assembly). The results of the screening study enabled us to find two lead compounds (4h and 4i) which effectively inhibited cholinesterases and bound to the AChE PAS, possessed antioxidant activity, and stimulated the assembly of microtubules. One of them (4i) exhibited activity as a ligand for the ifenprodil-specific site of the NMDA receptor. In addition, this lead compound was able to bypass the inhibition of complex I and prevent calcium-induced mitochondrial depolarization, suggesting a neuroprotective property that was confirmed using a cellular calcium overload model of neurodegeneration. Thus, these new MB-cycloalkaneindole conjugates constitute a promising class of compounds for the development of multitarget neuroprotective drugs which simultaneously act on several targets, thereby providing cognitive stimulating, neuroprotective, and disease-modifying effects.     

Vitamin D as a Possible COVID-19 Prevention Strategy

Vitamin D is no longer considered an agent only affecting calcium phosphate metabolism. A number of studies over the past few years have demonstrated its role in immunomodulation and its influence on the development and functioning of the brain and nervous system. In the current epidemiological crisis caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the immunoprotective role of vitamin D has been discussed by some authors regarding whether it contributes to protection against this serious disease or whether its use does not play a role. Non-standard approaches taken by laboratories in examining the serum levels of the vitamin D metabolite calcidiol have contributed to inconsistent results. We examined the serum of 60 volunteers in the spring and autumn of 2021 who declared whether they were taking vitamin D at the time of sampling. Furthermore, the tested participants noted whether they had experienced COVID-19. A newly developed liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was used to measure calcidiol levels. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) model of Statgraphics Centurion 18 statistical software from Statgraphics Technologies was used for calculations. The results of this study showed that those who took vitamin D suffered significantly less often from COVID-19 than those who did not take vitamin D.     

GENETIC CONTROL OF THIAMINE EXCRETION AND OF ITS SUPPRESSION IN SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE

Three non-linked loci were found to be involved in thiamine excretion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, i.e. thi2 which is complementary with thi3 and thi4, the latter two being substitutable mutually but acting also together. Mutation thi3 was present already in strain Nα, which produced relatively high frequencies of excreters after UV treatment. Non-excreting ‘revertants’ of unstable excreters derived from another haploid strain contained recessive mutation thi2, so that mutation thi3 can be substituted also by the metabolic or physiological disorders ruling after UV treatment. Mutations thi2 were found also in all 43 analysed stable excreting mutants obtained by UV treatment of strain Nα which indicates that they are either inevitable for the excretion or are specifically selected by the selection method used. At least one suppressor locus of thiamine excretion was present in that strain of S. cerevisiae, which did not produce thiamine excreters after UV treatment in spite of its ability to synthetise thiamine.     

Effect of clay treatment on structure and mechanical behavior of elastomer-containing polyamide 6 nanocomposite

The effect of clay organophilization on mechanical behavior and structure of PA6/EPR blends was studied. It has been shown that the modification of clay affected simultaneously the degree of PA6 matrix reinforcement, size and structure of dispersed EPR. The localization of clay with less polar treatment in the interfacial area brought an important new effect consisting intensification of toughening effect of dispersed elastomer by formation of “core-shell” particles. Basic aspects governing formation of this advantageous structure are reported.The best balanced mechanical behavior was achieved when combining two differently modified clays, whereas the clay with less polar treatment is preblended with EPR. In this way, a high degree of matrix reinforcement (exfoliation of clay with more polar treatment) was combined with favorable size and structure of dispersed EPR phase. Additionally, at lower clay content, synergy between clay and elastomer phase, monitoring itself by enhancement of toughness, was found.