An adsorptive transfer technique coupled with brdicka reaction to reveal the importance of metallothionein in chemotherapy with platinum based cytostatics

The drugs based on platinum metals represent one of the oldest, but also one of the most effective groups of chemotherapeutic agents. Thanks to many clinical studies it is known that resistance of tumor cells to drugs is a frequent cause of chemotherapy failure. With regard to platinum based drugs, multidrug resistance can also be connected with increased expression of low-molecular weight protein metallothionein (MT). This study aimed at investigating the interactions of MT with cisplatin or carboplatin, using the adsorptive transfer technique coupled with differential pulse voltammetry Brdicka reaction (AdTS DPV Brdicka reaction), and a comparison of in vitro results with results obtained in vivo. The results obtained from the in vitro study show a strong affinity between platinum based drugs and MT. Further, we analyzed extracts of neuroblastoma cell lines treated with cisplatin or carboplatin. It is clear that neuroblastoma UKF-NB-4 cisplatin-resistant and cisplatin-sensitive cell lines unlikely respond to the presence of the platinum-based cytostatics cisplatin and carboplatin. Finally, we determined the level of MT in samples from rabbits treated with carboplatin and patients with retinoblastoma treated with the same drug.     

Relationship between chemical and rheological properties of two asphalts of different origins

The chemical and rheological properties of two asphalts selected from different sources (Urals, Russia; Cold Lake, Canada) were investigated. Analyses of chemical (elemental composition, fractional composition, molecular weights) and physical properties (complex viscosity, loss tangent, shear compliance) were performed on all original and aged (rolling thin film oven test, RTFOT; pressurized aging vessel, PAV) samples. The analyses of the chemical properties of both asphalts revealed higher asphaltene content, higher heteroatom content, and lower aging susceptibility of the Cold Lake asphalt (less significant changes in group composition). Based on its chemical composition, the Cold Lake asphalt was expected to perform better in the rheological tests than the Urals asphalt. The rheological tests confirmed this hypothesis and revealed better low- and high-temperature properties of the Cold Lake asphalt and a slower deterioration of its physical properties upon oxidative aging.     

Elimination of irreversible effects during first charging of lithium battery anodes

The irreversible capacity of negative electrode in a lithium-ion cell is a widely described the phenomenon. Irreversible capacity losses are connected with formation of a solid electrolyte interface layer. This layer is growing on the electrode-electrolyte interface during first several charging cycles. The layer is indispensable for proper functioning of a lithium-ion cell. However, during this layer formation, the atoms of lithium are consumed in a range from 18 to 45% of the total amount of lithium atoms presented in cell. Demonstration of possibilities to suppress this phenomenon that occurs on a negative electrode interface is the main aim of this paper.     

Ultrathin hydroxyapatite coating on pure magnesium substrate prepared by pulsed electron ablation technique

Magnesium (Mg) as a potential material for biodegradable implants is attractive due to its mechanical similarity to the bone tissue and nontoxic corrosion products. However, the rapid corrosion rate of bare magnesium is associated with hydrogen release, which may complicate the healing process. The corrosion rate may be reduced by suitable alloying, but concurrently the biocompatibility of such alloy might be deteriorated. Another way of reduction of the corrosion rate is coating. Hydroxyapatite (HA)-based coating is considered to improve biocompatibility as well as decrease the corrosion rate by the barrier effect. In this study, ultrathin (150 nm) HA and HA containing Sr coatings are deposited via pulsed electron ablation technique on pure Mg. The microstructure of the coating was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. Electrochemical methods were used to investigate the corrosion properties of prepared coatings. The materials covered by this layer were characterized by superior corrosion behavior, with corrosion rates of coated samples up to five times lower as compared with the uncoated ones. Such coating is the thinnest coating found in the literature sources.     

Ordinary Gasoline Emissions Induce a Toxic Response in Bronchial Cells Grown at Air-Liquid Interface

Gasoline engine emissions have been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans and represent a significant health risk. In this study, we used MucilAir™, a three-dimensional (3D) model of the human airway, and BEAS-2B, cells originating from the human bronchial epithelium, grown at the air-liquid interface to assess the toxicity of ordinary gasoline exhaust produced by a direct injection spark ignition engine. The transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), production of mucin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and adenylate kinase (AK) activities were analyzed after one day and five days of exposure. The induction of double-stranded DNA breaks was measured by the detection of histone H2AX phosphorylation. Next-generation sequencing was used to analyze the modulation of expression of the relevant 370 genes. The exposure to gasoline emissions affected the integrity, as well as LDH and AK leakage in the 3D model, particularly after longer exposure periods. Mucin production was mostly decreased with the exception of longer BEAS-2B treatment, for which a significant increase was detected. DNA damage was detected after five days of exposure in the 3D model, but not in BEAS-2B cells. The expression of CYP1A1 and GSTA3 was modulated in MucilAir™ tissues after 5 days of treatment. In BEAS-2B cells, the expression of 39 mRNAs was affected after short exposure, most of them were upregulated. The five days of exposure modulated the expression of 11 genes in this cell line. In conclusion, the ordinary gasoline emissions induced a toxic response in MucilAir™. In BEAS-2B cells, the biological response was less pronounced, mostly limited to gene expression changes.     

Chemistry and Toxicology of Major Bioactive Substances in Inocybe Mushrooms

Mushroom poisoning has always been a threat to human health. There are a large number of reports about ingestion of poisonous mushrooms every year around the world. It attracts the attention of researchers, especially in the aspects of toxin composition, toxic mechanism and toxin application in poisonous mushroom. Inocybe is a large genus of mushrooms and contains toxic substances including muscarine, psilocybin, psilocin, aeruginascin, lectins and baeocystin. In order to prevent and remedy mushroom poisoning, it is significant to clarify the toxic effects and mechanisms of these bioactive substances. In this review article, we summarize the chemistry, most known toxic effects and mechanisms of major toxic substances in Inocybe mushrooms, especially muscarine, psilocybin and psilocin. Their available toxicity data (different species, different administration routes) published formerly are also summarized. In addition, the treatment and medical application of these toxic substances in Inocybe mushrooms are also discussed. We hope that this review will help understanding of the chemistry and toxicology of Inocybe mushrooms as well as the potential clinical application of its bioactive substances to benefit human beings.     

Editorial

This editorial provides an overview of a special issue dedicated to the 7th conference on Process Integration, Modeling and Optimization for Energy Saving and Pollution Reduction—PRES 2004. Eight papers have been selected and peer-reviewed covering various subjects of heat transfer engineering, focusing on the recent development of various features of heat transfer equipment design and optimization. This is the fourth special issue of Heat Transfer Engineering dedicated to selected contributions from PRES conferences [1 Kleme?, J. and Stehlík, P. Heat Transfer Engineering. PRES Conference—Challenges in Complex Process Heat Transfer. vol. 23, pp.1–2. no. 6 [Google Scholar], 2 Stehlík, P. and Kleme?, J. Heat Transfer Engineering. Selected Papers from the PRES 2002 Conference. vol. 25, pp.1–3. no. 5 [Google Scholar], 3 Kleme?, J. and Stehlík, P. Heat Transfer Engineering. Selected Papers from the PRES 2003 Conference. vol. 26, pp.1–3. no. 5 [Google Scholar]].     

置换通风空调房间室内空气品质研究

本文选用一应用置换通风方式的典型办公室房间作为研究对象，应用数值模拟方法，从室内空气温度分布、速度场、PMV-PPD及空气龄几方面模拟研究了置换通风条件下室内空气品质。结果表明置换通风方式下空调房间具有较好的热舒适环境和良好的室内空气品质。     

Analysis of the reaction mechanism and substrate specificity of haloalkane dehalogenases by sequential and structural comparisons

Haloalkane dehalogenases catalyse environmentally importantdehalogenation reactions. These microbial enzymes representobjects of interest for protein engineering studies, attemptingto improve their catalytic efficiency or broaden their substratespecificity towards environmental pollutants. This paper presentsthe results of a comparative study of haloalkane dehalogenasesoriginating from different organisms. Protein sequences andthe models of tertiary structures of haloalkane dehalogenaseswere compared to investigate the protein fold, reaction mechanismand substrate specificity of these enzymes. Haloalkane dehalogenasescontain the structural motifs of /ß-hydrolases and epoxidaseswithin their sequences. They contain a catalytic triad withtwo different topological arrangements. The presence of a structurallyconserved oxyanion hole suggests the two-step reaction mechanismpreviously described for haloalkane dehalogenase from Xanthobacterautotrophicus GJ10. The differences in substrate specificityof haloalkane dehalogenases originating from different speciesmight be related to the size and geometry of an active siteand its entrance and the efficiency of the transition stateand halide ion stabilization by active site residues. Structurallyconserved motifs identified within the sequences can be usedfor the design of specific primers for the experimental screeningof haloalkane dehalogenases. Those amino acids which were predictedto be functionally important represent possible targets forfuture site-directed mutagenesis experiments.