Development of Synthetic Platelet‐Activating Hydrogel Matrices to Induce Local Hemostasis

Several hemostatic strategies rely on the use of blood components such as fibrinogen and thrombin, which suffer from high cost and short shelf‐life. Here, a cost‐effective synthetic biomaterial is developed for rapid local hemostasis. Instead of using thrombin, thrombin‐receptor‐agonist‐peptide‐6 (TRAP6) is covalently engineered in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels. Soluble PVA‐TRAP6 is first prepared by covalent attachment of cysteine‐containing TRAP6 onto the backbone of PVA‐norbornenes (PVA‐NB) through photoconjugation. Cytotoxicity studies using C2C12 myoblasts indicate that PVA‐NB and PVA‐TRAP6 are nontoxic. Thromboelastography reveals that hemostatic activity of TRAP6 is retained in conjugated form, which is comparable to free TRAP6 solutions with equal concentrations. A 0.1% PVA‐TRAP6 solution can shorten the clotting time (CT) to ca. 45% of the physiological CT. High platelet‐activating efficiency is further confirmed by platelet aggregation assay and flow cytometry (FACS). For potential clinical applications, TRAP6‐presenting hydrogel particulates (PVA‐TRAP6‐P) are developed for local platelet activation and hemostasis. PVA‐TRAP6‐P is prepared by biofunctionalization of photopolymerized PVA‐NB hydrogel particulates (PVA‐NB‐P) with TRAP6. It is demonstrated that PVA‐TRAP6‐P can effectively shorten the CT to ca. 50%. FACS shows that PVA‐TRAP6‐P can activate platelets to a comparable extent as soluble TRAP6 control. Altogether, PVA‐TRAP6‐P represents a promising class of biomaterials for safe hemostasis and wound healing.     

Detection of Starch Transformation Under γ-Irradiation by Small-angle X-Ray Scattering

The small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was used to examine structural changes of starches after γ-irradiation with 10, 20, 30 kGy doses. The diminution of intensity of small-angle reflexion relating to 100 A spacing indicates destruction of long-range ordering in granules after γ-irradiation. It was observed as well in the case of irradiation of dry pure starches as a starch contained in potatoes. The method suggests possibility of quick identification of irradiated foodstuffs.     

The Reaction of Malononitrile with Enamines of some cyclic β-Keto acid anilides and amidines

The reaction of enamines 1 derivatives of cyclohexanon- or cycloheptanon-2-carboxylic acid anilides with malononitrile gave in the first step 2-phenylcarbamoyl-cycloalkylideno-malononitriles 3 , which in turn were converted into 1-oxo-2-phenyl-3-amino-4-cyano-cycloalkenoisoquinolines 4 . Enamines containing an adjacent diphenylamidino group 6 reacted with malononitrile giving 1-phenylimino-2-phenyl-3-amino-4-cyano-cycloalkenoisoquinolines 7 . The alkaline hydrolysis of 7 yielded 1-phenylamino-3-oxo-4-cyano-cycloalkenoisoquinoline 8 .     

Combustion of volatile organic compounds in two-component mixtures over monolithic perovskite catalysts

Activity of monolithic perovskite catalysts in oxidation of selected hydrocarbons and oxy-derivatives, oxidized individually and in two-component mixtures, as well as the reaction selectivity were investigated. One bulk perovskite (LaMn₂O₃) catalyst and two catalysts based on LaMn₂O₃ with addition of silver (25 at.%) coated on cordierite support were prepared for the study. The efficiency of oxy-derivatives oxidation was higher than that of hydrocarbon oxidation, but some by-products (first of all aldehydes) were detected in the flue gases. Addition of silver to the active phase improved catalyst activity and selectivity to CO₂ and water. The “mixture effect” on catalyst activity and selectivity depended on composition of the reaction mixture and the catalyst used. The presence of oxy-derivative in the reaction mixture inhibited oxidation of hydrocarbons. Toluene inhibited the process of oxy-derivatives conversion and increased the concentration of incomplete oxidation products.     

Induction of Oxidative Stress by Sunflower Phytotoxins in Germinating Mustard Seeds

The aim of this study was to investigate the phytotoxic effect of sunflower on physiological and biochemical processes during germination of mustard seeds (Sinapis alba L. cv. Nakielska). To exclude the involvement of osmotic stress in seed reaction to phytotoxic compounds, we compared the effect of 10% (w/v) water extract from sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Ogrodowy) leaves and 28.4% (w/v) polyethylene glycol (PEG) 8000 solution characterized by an equal Ψ = −1 MPa. We evaluated (1) the amount of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂); (2) activities of antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione reductase; (3) membrane permeability; and (4) level of malondialdehyde (MDA). Both, sunflower compounds and PEG solutions inhibited mustard seed germination, but only phytotoxins caused an increase in the cell membrane permeability, MDA level, H₂O₂ concentration, and alterations in activities of antioxidant enzymes. Our results demonstrate that despite the activation of the antioxidant system by sunflower phytotoxins, reactive oxygen species accumulation caused cellular damage, which resulted in the decrease of germinability and gradual loss of seed vigor. It seems that the negative effect of sunflower on germination of mustard seeds is mostly because of its toxicity and not to its contribution to osmotic potential.     

Nutritional evaluation of meat–soya bean protein product blends

The nutritive value of protein of blends consisting of meat and soya bean protein products, which replaced either 20 or 40 % of protein of meat, were determined in rat feeding experiments. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) and net protein utilisation (NPU) were significantly lower (P<0.05) in blends containing either 20% protein from soya isolate or 40% protein from soya concentrate or soya flakes than blends containing sirloin only. However, there were no significant differences in PER and NPU when model meat (consisting of 70 and 30% protein from sirloin and connective tissue, respectively) was replaced by up to 20% protein from soya isolate or up to 40% protein from soya concentrate.     

SOLID PHASE EXTRACTION FOR PRECONCENTRATION AND SEPARATION OF SELENIUM SPECIES

ABSTRACT

There is sufficient evidence today that selenium is both an essential and toxic element for animal and man. This review article intends to show the involvement of selenium in the environment and in biology. Attention is paid to its occurrence, distribution, sampling and storage and also recent developments for selenium determination reported in analytical literature. Special emphasis is placed on the application of solid sorbents for preconcentration and separation of inorganic and organic selenium species. Published data for these procedures are critically discussed.