The rs2516839 Polymorphism of the USF1 Gene May Modulate Serum Triglyceride Levels in Response to Cigarette Smoking

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the USF1 gene (upstream stimulatory factor 1) influence plasma lipid levels. This study aims to determine whether USF1 SNPs interact with traditional risk factors of atherosclerosis to increase coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. In the present study serum lipid levels and USF1 gene polymorphisms (rs2516839 and rs3737787) were determined in 470 subjects: 235 patients with premature CAD and 235 controls. A trend of increasing triglycerides (TG) levels in relation to the C allele dose of rs2516839 SNP was observed. The synergistic effect of cigarette smoking and C allele carrier state on CAD risk was also found (SIM = 2.69, p = 0.015). TG levels differentiated significantly particular genotypes in smokers (1.53 mmol/L for TT, 1.80 mmol/L for CT and 2.27 mmol/L for CC subjects). In contrast, these differences were not observed in the non-smokers subgroup (1.57 mmol/L for TT, 1.46 mmol/L for CT and 1.49 mmol/L for CC subjects). In conclusion, the rs2516839 polymorphism may modulate serum triglyceride levels in response to cigarette smoking. Carriers of the C allele seem to be particularly at risk of CAD, when exposed to cigarette smoking.     

Effects of Atmospheric Pressure Plasmas on Isolated and Cellular DNA—A Review

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (APP) is being used widely in a variety of biomedical applications. Extensive research in the field of plasma medicine has shown the induction of DNA damage by APP in a dose-dependent manner in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. Recent evidence suggests that APP-induced DNA damage shows potential benefits in many applications, such as sterilization and cancer therapy. However, in several other applications, such as wound healing and dentistry, DNA damage can be detrimental. This review reports on the extensive investigations devoted to APP interactions with DNA, with an emphasis on the critical role of reactive species in plasma-induced damage to DNA. The review consists of three main sections dedicated to fundamental knowledge of the interactions of reactive oxygen species (ROS)/reactive nitrogen species (RNS) with DNA and its components, as well as the effects of APP on isolated and cellular DNA in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.     

Development of a Method Based on Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents for Extraction of Flavonoids from Food Samples

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) are promising green solvents for the extraction of compounds from natural products. This is the first study to use a sample preparation method based on NADES for the extraction of flavonoids (rutin, hesperidin, neohesperidin, naringenin, naringin, quercetin, hesperetin, and chrysin) from fruits, vegetables, and spices. In total, 17 types of NADES based on choline chloride, acetylcholine chloride, choline tartrate, betaine, and carnitine with different compositions were tailored to test their extraction efficiency. Operational conditions such as water content in NADES and liquid/solid ratios were also studied. A response surface methodology was used for multivariate optimization of some extraction parameters. Efficient recovery of extracted flavonoids (higher than 70%) was achieved using a 30% water solution of acetylcholine chloride/lactic acid ratio (2:1) as an extraction solvent. Other conditions for SLE-NADES were as follows: liquid/solid ratio 3:1, extraction temperature 60 °C, extraction time 30 min, and stirring speed 1400 rpm. Each extract was analyzed by UHPLC with UV and MS/MS detection. The developed method was applied for analysis of flavonoids in fruits (cranberry, fruits of Lycium barbarum L., grape, plum, and orange peel), vegetables (onion and broccoli), and spices (mustard, rosemary, and black pepper).     

Quality assessment of ZnO-based varistors by 1/f noise

Noise has been used as a diagnostic tool of surge arrester varistor structures comprising of ZnO grains of various type and size. The physical and electrical properties of the measured samples have been described. In the experimental study, the applied measurement system and the results of noise measurements for the selected structures of varistors designed for the continuous working voltage 280 V, 440 V and 660 V have been presented. Noise properties are related to electrical characteristics of the measured specimens giving more distinctive results than their voltage–current characteristics. It is suggested that the proposed procedure can be applied as an effective non-destructive testing method focused on defects and structural heterogeneity detection in the tested objects to assess their preparation processes.     

Synthesis of solid epoxy resins base on BPC II and bisphenol A using conventional heating equipment and microwave

New solid state epoxy resins based on diglycidyl ether of 1,1‐dichloro‐2,2 bis (4‐hydroxyphenyl), ethylene (BPC) and BPA epoxy resins in the reaction with BPC and BPA were developed. Solid epoxy resins were synthesised by the use of two different heating methods: conventional and microwave reactor. The use of microwave radiation as novel heating medium as an alternative to the conventional methods, which provide a quicker and more effective synthesis. The solid epoxies have high melting points higher than 100°C and the polycondensation degree remains between n = 4–12. Epoxy value stays low and occurs around 0,02–0,1. BPA epoxy resins and diglycidylether of BPC II were compared in terms of reaction speed. It can be seen that the reaction of BPC diglycidylether occurs approximately 20% quicker given the same reaction conditions of temperature, and balance of catalyst. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 3850–3854, 2006     

Multiplexed lipid dip-pen nanolithography on subcellular scales for the templating of functional proteins and cell culture

Molecular patterning processes taking place in biological systems are challenging to study in vivo because of their dynamic behavior, subcellular size, and high degree of complexity. In vitro patterning of biomolecules using nanolithography allows simplification of the processes and detailed study of the dynamic interactions. Parallel dip-pen nanolithography (DPN) is uniquely capable of integrating functional biomolecules on subcellular length scales due to its constructive nature, high resolution, and high throughput. Phospholipids are particularly well suited as inks for DPN since a variety of different functional lipids can be readily patterned in parallel. Here DPN is used to spatially pattern multicomponent micro- and nanostructured supported lipid membranes and multilayers that are fluid and contain various amounts of biotin and/or nitrilotriacetic acid functional groups. The patterns are characterized by fluorescence microscopy and photoemission electron microscopy. Selective adsorption of functionalized or recombinant proteins based on streptavidin or histidine-tag coupling enables the semisynthetic fabrication of model peripheral membrane bound proteins. The biomimetic membrane patterns formed in this way are then used as substrates for cell culture, as demonstrated by the selective adhesion and activation of T-cells.     

Synthesis and study of properties of new oligoesters based on soybean oil as potential poly(vinyl chloride) plasticizers

New compounds as potential poly(vinyl chloride) plasticizers based on soybean oil and oligoesters of adipic acid and different glycols by one-pot transesterification are synthesized. In the first step of the plasticizer synthesis oligoesters of adipic acid and diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, or dipropylene glycol are synthesized, and then in situ in the second step, a defined amount of soybean oil is introduced. By degradation of soybean oil with oligoesters, and transesterification reaction, different compounds are obtained. Their physicochemical properties are determined by NMR, SEC, DSC, TGA, and volatility analyses. The properties of synthesized plasticizers are compared with commercial products: monomeric (DEHP) and aliphatic oligoster of adipic acid and 1,3-butanediol (H-1).     

Proteomic Profiling of Ectosomes Derived from Paired Urothelial Bladder Cancer and Normal Cells Reveals the Presence of Biologically-Relevant Molecules

Protein content of extracellular vesicles (EVs) can modulate different processes during carcinogenesis. Novel proteomic strategies have been applied several times to profile proteins present in exosomes released by urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) cells. However, similar studies have not been conducted so far on another population of EVs, i.e., ectosomes. In the present study we used a shotgun nanoLC–MS/MS proteomic approach to investigate the protein content of ectosomes released in vitro by T-24 UBC cells and HCV-29 normal ureter epithelial cells. In addition, cancer-promoting effects exerted by UBC-derived ectosomes on non-invasive cells in terms of cell proliferation and migratory properties were assessed. In total, 1158 proteins were identified in T-24-derived ectosomes, while HCV-29-derived ectosomes contained a lower number of 259 identified proteins. Qualitative analysis revealed 938 proteins present uniquely in T-24-derived ectosomes, suggesting their potential applications in bladder cancer management as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. In addition, T-24-derived ectosomes increased proliferation and motility of recipient cells, likely due to the ectosomal transfer of the identified cancer-promoting molecules. The present study provided a focused identification of biologically relevant proteins in UBC-derived ectosomes, confirming their role in UBC development and progression, and their applicability for further biomarker-oriented studies in preclinical or clinical settings.     

Calorimetric and Electromotive Force Measurements of Al-Li-Zn Liquid Solutions

The solution calorimetry and electromotive force methods were used for the study of the mixing enthalpy and partial excess Gibbs energy of the Al-Li-Zn liquid solutions. Calorimetric investigations were conducted for solutions with the ratio of X _Li/X _Al and X _Li/X _Zn = 0.8/0.2 and at the temperatures of 942 and 978 K, respectively. The electromotive force studies were performed at two temperatures: 873 and 923 K by the titration technique and for dilute solutions. Based on the data of the mixing enthalpy change and the partial excess Gibbs energy of Li available in the literature, together with that obtained in these studies, the ternary interaction parameters were elaborated. The comparative analysis of the experimental mixing enthalpy change generally showed a good agreement with the values calculated based on different models. The observed deviations between the experimental and the calculated values were, for most of the experimental data, lower than 1 kJ/mol. The experimental partial excess Gibbs energy of Li showed a satisfactory agreement with that modeled on the basis of the ternary parameters elaborated in this work.     

LPEATs Tailor Plant Phospholipid Composition through Adjusting Substrate Preferences to Temperature

Acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylethanolamine acyltransferases (LPEATs) are known as enzymes utilizing acyl-CoAs and lysophospholipids to produce phosphatidylethanolamine. Recently, it has been discovered that they are also involved in the growth regulation of Arabidopsis thaliana. In our study we investigated expression of each Camelina sativa LPEAT isoform and their behavior in response to temperature changes. In order to conduct a more extensive biochemical evaluation we focused both on LPEAT enzymes present in microsomal fractions from C. sativa plant tissues, and on cloned CsLPEAT isoforms expressed in yeast system. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that CsLPEAT1c and CsLPEAT2c originated from Camelina hispida, whereas other isoforms originated from Camelina neglecta. The expression ratio of all CsLPEAT1 isoforms to all CsLPEAT2 isoforms was higher in seeds than in other tissues. The isoforms also displayed divergent substrate specificities in utilization of LPE; CsLPEAT1 preferred 18:1-LPE, whereas CsLPEAT2 preferred 18:2-LPE. Unlike CsLPEAT1, CsLPEAT2 isoforms were specific towards very-long-chain fatty acids. Above all, we discovered that temperature strongly regulates LPEATs activity and substrate specificity towards different acyl donors, making LPEATs sort of a sensor of external thermal changes. We observed the presented findings not only for LPEAT activity in plant-derived microsomal fractions, but also for yeast-expressed individual CsLPEAT isoforms.