Label-Free Study of the Global Cell Behavior during Exposure to Environmental Radiofrequency Fields in the Presence or Absence of Pro-Apoptotic or Pro-Autophagic Treatments

It remains controversial whether exposure to environmental radiofrequency signals (RF) impacts cell status or response to cellular stress such as apoptosis or autophagy. We used two label-free techniques, cellular impedancemetry and Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM), to assess the overall cellular response during RF exposure alone, or during co-exposure to RF and chemical treatments known to induce either apoptosis or autophagy. Two human cell lines (SH-SY5Y and HCT116) and two cultures of primary rat cortex cells (astrocytes and co-culture of neurons and glial cells) were exposed to RF using an 1800 MHz carrier wave modulated with various environmental signals (GSM: Global System for Mobile Communications, 2G signal), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, 3G signal), LTE (Long-Term Evolution, 4G signal, and Wi-Fi) or unmodulated RF (continuous wave, CW). The specific absorption rates (S.A.R.) used were 1.5 and 6 W/kg during DHM experiments and ranged from 5 to 24 W/kg during the recording of cellular impedance. Cells were continuously exposed for three to five consecutive days while the temporal phenotypic signature of cells behavior was recorded at constant temperature. Statistical analysis of the results does not indicate that RF-EMF exposure impacted the global behavior of healthy, apoptotic, or autophagic cells, even at S.A.R. levels higher than the guidelines, provided that the temperature was kept constant.     

The Role of mTOR and eIF Signaling in Benign Endometrial Diseases

Adenomyosis, endometriosis, endometritis, and typical endometrial hyperplasia are common non-cancerous diseases of the endometrium that afflict many women with life-impacting consequences. The mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway interacts with estrogen signaling and is known to be dysregulated in endometrial cancer. Based on this knowledge, we attempt to investigate the role of mTOR signaling in benign endometrial diseases while focusing on how the interplay between mTOR and eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs) affects their development. In fact, mTOR overactivity is apparent in adenomyosis, endometriosis, and typical endometrial hyperplasia, where it promotes endometrial cell proliferation and invasiveness. Recent data show aberrant expression of various components of the mTOR pathway in both eutopic and ectopic endometrium of patients with adenomyosis or endometriosis and in hyperplastic endometrium as well. Moreover, studies on endometritis show that derangement of mTOR signaling is linked to the establishment of endometrial dysfunction caused by chronic inflammation. This review shows that inhibition of the mTOR pathway has a promising therapeutic effect in benign endometrial conditions, concluding that mTOR signaling dysregulation plays a critical part in their pathogenesis.     

HXT5 expression is determined by growth rates in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, hexose transporter (Hxt) proteins transport glucose across the plasma membrane. The Hxt proteins are encoded by a multigene family with 20 members, of which Hxt1-4p and Hxt6-7p are the major hexose transporters. The remaining Hxt proteins have other or unknown functions. In this study, expression of HXT5 under different experimental set-ups is determined. In glucose-grown batch cultures, HXT5 is expressed prior to glucose depletion. Independent of the carbon source used in batch cultures, HXT5 is expressed after 24 h of growth and during growth on ethanol or glycerol, which indicates that growth on glucose is not necessary for expression of HXT5. Increasing the temperature or osmolarity of the growth medium also induces expression of HXT5. In fed-batch cultures, expression of HXT5 is only observed at low glucose consumption rates, independent of the extracellular glucose concentration. The only common parameter in these experiments is that an increase of HXT5 expression is accompanied by a decrease of the growth rate of cells. To determine whether HXT5 expression is determined by the growth rate, cells were grown in a nitrogen-limited continuous culture, which enables modulation of only the growth rate of cells. Indeed, HXT5 is expressed only at low dilution rates. Therefore, our results indicate that expression of HXT5 is regulated by growth rates of cells, rather than by extracellular glucose concentrations, as is the case for the major HXTs. A possible function for Hxt5p and factors responsible for increased expression of HXT5 upon low growth rates is discussed.     

Chromium remediation or release? Effect of iron(II) sulfate addition on chromium(VI) leaching from columns of chromite ore processing residue

Chromite ore processing residue (COPR), derived from the so-called high lime processing of chromite ore, contains high levels of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) and has a pH between 11 and 12. Ferrous sulfate, which is used for remediation of Cr(VI) contamination in wastewater and soils via reduction to Cr(III) and subsequent precipitation of iron(III)/chromium(III) hydroxide, has also been proposed for remediation of Cr(VI) in COPR. Instead, however, addition of FeSO4 to the infiltrating solution in column experiments with COPR greatly increased leaching of Cr(VI). Leached Cr(VI) increased from 3.8 to 12.3 mmol kg(-1) COPR in 25 pore volumes with 20 mM FeSO4, reaching solution concentrations as high as 1.6 mM. Fe(II) was ineffective in reducing Cr(VI) to Cr(III) because it precipitated when it entered the column due to the high pH of COPR, while Cr(VI) in solution was transported away with the infiltrating solution. The large increase in leaching of Cr(VI) upon infiltration of sulfate, either as FeSO4 or Na2SO4, was caused by anion exchange of sulfate for chromate in the layered double hydroxide mineral hydrocalumite, a process for which scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis provided direct evidence.     

The Role of Cytochrome P450 1B1 in Dibenzo[ a,l ]pyrene-induced Carcinogenesis

In human cells, the most carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon dibenzo[ a,l ]pyrene (DB[ a,l ]P) forms high levels of DNA adducts through formation of the ( m )- anti -(11 R ,12 S )-diol (13 S ,14 R )-epoxide (DB[ a,l ]PDE) and its metabolic precursor, the ( m )-(11 R ,12 R )-diol. Generation of these adducts results from the catalytic activity of cytochrome P450 (P450) 1A1 and 1B1. Additional adducts such as (+)- syn -DB[ a,l ]PDE-DNA or more polar DNA adducts were detected only after increasing exposure doses of the parent compound or in cells that express P450 1A1. At low concentrations (·;100 nM) exclusively ( m )- anti -DB[ a,l ]PDE-DNA adducts were formed by P450 1B1, which is constitutively expressed in many mammalian tissues. Measurement of DNA binding and mutagenicity of DB[ a,l ]P in V79 cells expressing human P450 enzymes revealed a higher activity of P450 1B1 compared to 1A1 at low concentrations. Treatment of P450 1B1 knockout mice and DNA binding studies with fibroblasts isolated from these animals provided further evidence for the central role of P450 1B1-catalyzed formation of ( m )- anti -DB[ a,l ]PDE-DNA adducts in DB[ a,l ]P-induced carcinogenesis.     

trans fatty acids, 5. Fatty acid composition of lipids of the brain and other organs in suckling piglets

The effects of dietarytrans fatty acids on the fatty acid composition of the brain in comparison with other organs were studied in 3-wk-old suckling piglets. In Experiment (Expt.) 1 the piglets were delivered from sows fed partially hydrogenated fish oil (PHFO) (28%trans), partially hydrogenated soybean oil (PHSBO) (36%trans) or lard (0%trans). In Expt. 2 the piglets were delivered from sows fed PHFO, hydrogenated fish oil (HFO) (19%trans) or coconut fat (CF) (0%trans) with two levels of dietary linoleic acid (1 and 2.7%) according to factorial design. In both experiments the mother's milk was the piglets' only food. The level of incorporation oftrans fatty acids in the organs was dependent on the levels in the diets and independent of fat source (i.e., PHSBO, PHFO or HFO). Incorporation oftrans fatty acids into brain PE (phosphatidylethanolamine) was non-detectable in Expt. 1. In Expt. 2, small amounts (less than 0.5%) of 18∶1trans isomers were found in the brain, the level being slightly more on the lower level of dietary linoleic acid compared to the higher. In the other organs the percentage of 18∶1trans increased in the following order: heart PE, liver mitochondria PE, plasma lipids and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Small amounts of 20∶1trans were found in adipose tissue and plasma lipids. Other very long-chain fatty acids from PHFO or HFO (i.e., 20∶1cis and 22∶1cis+trans) were found in all organ lipids except for brain PE. Dietarytrans fatty acids increased the percentage of 22∶5n−6 in brain PE. Except for the brain and the heart, dietarytrans fatty acids reduced the percentage of saturated fatty acids and increased the percentage of monoenoic acids (includingtrans). The overall conclusion was that dietarytrans fatty acids had no noticeable effect on the brain PE composition but slight to moderate effects on the fatty acid profile of other organs of suckling piglets.     

Improved magnetic particle tracking technique in dense gas fluidized beds

Noninvasive monitoring of multiphase flow is rapidly gaining increased interest. More specifically noninvasive particle tracking techniques have received a lot of attention in recent years to study dense granular flow. However, these techniques are usually quite expensive and require strict safety measures. An improved magnetic particle tracking (MPT) technique for dense granular flow will be presented in this article. The improvements of the analysis technique for MPT will be demonstrated and rigorously tested with a three‐dimensional system and two‐dimensional sensor system. The strengths and limitations of the MPT technique will also be reported. Finally, the results of the MPT are compared with data obtained from a combined particle image velocimetry and digital image analysis technique. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 3133–3142, 2014     

Synthesis,structural and optical properties of ZnS,CdS and HgS nanoparticles from dithiocarbamato single molecule precursors

Dithiocarbamate complexes of Zn(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II) were synthesize and characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, UV–Vis, FTIR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. The complexes were thermolyzed at 180°C to prepare HDA-capped ZnS, CdS and HgS nanoparticles. The optical properties of the nanoparticles showed absorptions that are blue shifted with respect to the bulk and narrow emissions. The ZnS nanoparticles are in the cubic phase with average crystallite sizes of 3–5 nm. The CdS nanoparticles consist of a mixture of cubic and hexagonal phases with particle sizes of 8–22 nm, while the HgS nanoparticles are in the cubic phase with average crystallite sizes of 7–14 nm.     

The Expression of Active CD11b Monocytes in Blood and Disease Progression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Monocytes expressing the inflammation suppressing active CD11b, a beta2 integrin, may regulate neuroinflammation and modify clinical outcomes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this single site, retrospective study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 38 individuals living with ALS and 20 non-neurological controls (NNC) were investigated using flow cytometry to study active CD11b integrin classical (CM), intermediate (IM) and non-classical (NCM) monocytes during ALS progression. Seventeen ALS participants were sampled at the baseline (V1) and at two additional time points (V2 and V3) for longitudinal analysis. Active CD11b+ CM frequencies increased steeply between the baseline and V3 (ANOVA repeated measurement, p < 0.001), and the V2/V1 ratio negatively correlated with the disease progression rate, similar to higher frequencies of active CD11b+ NCM at the baseline (R = −0.6567; p = 0.0031 and R = 0.3862; p = 0.0168, respectively). CD11b NCM, clinical covariates and neurofilament light-chain plasma concentration at the baseline predicted shorter survival in a multivariable and univariate analysis (CD11b NCM—HR: 1.05, CI: 1.01–1.11, p = 0.013. Log rank: above median: 43 months and below median: 21.22 months; p = 0.0022). Blood samples with the highest frequencies of active CD11b+ IM and NCM contained the lowest concentrations of soluble CD11b. Our preliminary data suggest that the levels of active CD11b+ monocytes and NCM in the blood predict different clinical outcomes in ALS.