Methods for rapid screening and isolation of bacteria producing acidic lipase: feasibility studies and novel activity assay protocols

Acidic lipase finds its commercial values in medical applications and bioremediation of food wastes. In this work, approaches for rapid screening of lipase-producing bacteria were developed and the feasibility assessment of the screening methods was performed. From food waste samples, the proposed screening procedures allowed isolation of sixteen pure bacterial strains expressing higher lipase activity at acidic pH (pH 6.0) than at alkaline pH (pH 9.0). To enhance the accuracy of lipase activity determination under acidic conditions, a novel assay procedure was also developed by deactivating lipase activity by microwave treatment prior to back titration. This additional step could minimize interferences arising from residual lipase activity during conventional direct back-titration methods in measuring lipase activity at acidic pH. Using the four strategies proposed in this work, the best acidic-lipase-producing isolate was obtained by strategy C (SSC) and was identified as Aeromonas sp. C14, displaying an optimal lipase activity of 0.7 U/ml at an acidic pH of 6.0.     

Dicoumarol derivatives: Green synthesis and molecular modelling studies of their anti-LOX activity

Dicoumarol derivatives were synthesized in the InCl₃ catalyzed pseudo three-component reactions of 4-hydroxycoumarin with aromatic aldehydes in excellent yields. The reactions were performed in water under microwave irradiation. All synthesized compounds were characterized using NMR, IR, and UV–Vis spectroscopy, as well as with TD-DFT. Obtained dicoumarols were subjected to evaluation of their in vitro lipid peroxidation and soybean lipoxygenase inhibition activities. It was shown that five of ten examined compounds (3e, 3h, 3b, 3d, 3f) possess significant potential of antilipid peroxidation (84–97%), and that compounds 3b, 3e, 3h provided the highest soybean lipoxygenase (LOX-Ib) inhibition (IC₅₀ = 52.5 µM) and 3i somewhat lower activity (IC₅₀ = 55.5 µM). The bioactive conformations of the best LOX-Ib inhibitors were obtained by means of molecular docking and molecular dynamics. It was shown that, within the bioactive conformations interior to LOX-Ib active site, the most active compounds form the pyramidal structure made of two 4-hydroxycoumarin cores and a central phenyl substituent. This form serves as a spatial barrier which prevents LOX-Ib Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ ion activity to generate the coordinative bond with the C13 hydroxyl group of the α-linoleate. It is worth pointing out that the most active compounds 3b, 3e, 3h and 3i can be candidates for further examination of their in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity and that molecular modeling study results provide possibility to screen bioactive conformations and elucidate the mechanism of dicoumarols anti-LOX activity.     

Composite Technique for Regional Neurochemical Studies: Measurement of Energy and Neurotransmitter Metabolites in Single Tissue Sample

A combined method is described for the determination of various metabolites from a single tissue sample of the brain. It comprises a quick inactivation of cerebral enzymes by microwave irradiation, easy separation of the desired brain regions, and perchloric acid extraction of tissue substances, which are assayed either by specific enzymatic techniques or by HPLC with electrochemical detection. The obtained values of most energy and neurotransmitter metabolites in the brain are in agreement with those reported using other methods. However, this technique, in contrast to the brain freezing in vitro or freeze-blowing, provides a more efficient procedure for rapid arrest of cerebral metabolism even in the deep brain structures and is therefore suitable for detection of early changes particularly those occurring in experimental pathological conditions such as ischemia.     

Microwave irradiation increases recovery of neuropeptides from brain tissues

The effect of focused high energy microwave treatment (MW) on brain concentrations and molecular forms of substance P, neurokinin A, neuropeptide Y, neurotensin, galanin and calcitonin gene-related peptide was investigated. Groups of rats were treated as follows: 1) MW, storage for 60 min at 22°C, 2) Decapitation, storage for 60 min at 22°C, 3) Decapitation, storage for 60 min at 22°C, MW treatment, 4) MW, decapitation, storage for 2 min at 22°C and 5) Decapitation, storage for 2 min at 22°C. Peptide concentrations were in all instances highest in the MW sacrificed groups. MW increased the concentration of intact peptides by rapid inhibition of peptidase activity and increase in peptide solubility/extractability.     

Interrelationships between water and cell metabolism in Artemia cysts X. Microwave dielectric studies

Artemia cysts are composed of an inner mass of about 4000 cells surrounded by an acellular shell. This system can undergo cycles of hydration-dehydration without viability loss, and is a useful model for the study of intracellular water. We have measured the relative permittivity (ε′) of these cysts as a function of water content over the frequency range 0.8–70 GHz. Detailed analysis of the data for cysts containing close to 1 g H₂O/g dry weight indicates that a significant fraction of the total water in this system exhibits dielectric behavior different from that of pure water: the distribution parameter (α) for the dispersion analyzed by the Cole-Cole equation deviates from zero, and the permittivity of cyst water appears to be significantly lower than that of pure liquid.     

干扰素阴道胶囊联合微波治疗宫颈炎合并高危型HPV感染对外周血Th17和Treg细胞及炎症因子的影响

目的探讨干扰素阴道胶囊联合微波治疗宫颈炎合并高危型人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)感染对外周血Th17和Treg细胞及炎症因子的影响。方法随机选择2015年1月-2018年1月在本院就诊的慢性宫颈炎合并高危型HPV感染患者90例,按随机数字表法分为观察组和对照组,每组45例。对照组给予重组人干扰素α2b栓,观察组给予重组人干扰素α2b栓联合微波治疗,治疗3个月后,观察两组患者的症状改善情况、HPV转阴率、血清炎性因子水平以及Th17和Treg细胞水平。结果观察组总有效为41例,占91.1%,对照组为73.3%,观察组显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。治疗后观察组的白带量改善率、白带脓性改善率、高危型HPV转阴率均显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。治疗前两组患者的白介素17(IL17)、肿瘤坏死因子β(TNFβ)、白介素23(IL23)水平比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);治疗后两组患者的IL17、TNFβ、IL23水平均显著下降,且观察组下降更加显著(P<0.05)。治疗后观察组的Treg细胞、Th17细胞水平,Th17/Treg比值均较对照组低(P<0.05)。治疗前两组患者的滴虫、真菌、细菌性阴道炎、衣原体、解脲支原体感染人数比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),治疗后观察组的细菌性阴道炎、衣原体、解脲支原体感染显著降低,与对照组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论干扰素阴道胶囊联合微波治疗宫颈炎患者的治疗效果好,可显著改善患者症状,减轻体内炎症反应,增加HPV转阴率,调节Th17和Treg细胞,对预防宫颈癌有重要作用。     

Microwave-assisted Synthesis of Novel Thiazolocarbazoles and Evaluation as Potential Anticancer Agents. Part III

Novel 6-substituted thiazolocarbazole derivatives have been synthesized under microwave irradiation via the corresponding imino-1,2,3-dithiazoles. In vitro antitumor potential of these polyheterocyclic compounds was evaluated. Among all the tested thiazolocarbazoles, compound 10 is the most effective in inhibiting cell growth.     

Additional Evidence of Stable EMF-Induced Changes in Water Revealed by Fungal Spore Germination

Spore germination of some fungi was studied in EMF-tieated water samples. Water samples were exposed to 9.575 GHz microwave modulated with square waves of different pulse repetition frequencies. The study indicates varying inhibitory effects of different modulation frequencies on spore germination of Alternaria alternata, A. tenuissima, Fusarium udum, Helminthosorium oryzae, H. turcicumand Ustilago cynodontis. The pulse repetition frequency-dependent variation in spore germination caused by irradiated water illustrates that water may have the capability to store EMF frequency effects. EMF-treated water might have caused the effect by either changing the activities of and/or deactivating the spore enzymes.     

Preparation of Silica Nanoparticles Through Microwave-assisted Acid-catalysis

Microwave-assisted synthetic techniques were used to quickly and reproducibly produce silica nanoparticle sols using an acid catalyst with nanoparticle diameters ranging from 30-250 nm by varying the reaction conditions. Through the selection of a microwave compatible solvent, silicic acid precursor, catalyst, and microwave irradiation time, these microwave-assisted methods were capable of overcoming the previously reported shortcomings associated with synthesis of silica nanoparticles using microwave reactors. The siloxane precursor was hydrolyzed using the acid catalyst, HCl. Acetone, a low-tan δ solvent, mediates the condensation reactions and has minimal interaction with the electromagnetic field. Condensation reactions begin when the silicic acid precursor couples with the microwave radiation, leading to silica nanoparticle sol formation. The silica nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering data and scanning electron microscopy, which show the materials'' morphology and size to be dependent on the reaction conditions. Microwave-assisted reactions produce silica nanoparticles with roughened textured surfaces that are atypical for silica sols produced by Stöber''s methods, which have smooth surfaces.     

Tumour shape-dependent microwave hyperthermia using a novel coaxial micro-cut slot antenna

Given that the effectiveness of interstitial hyperthermia for cancer treatment is related to the temperature achieved during the ablation process, there is a need for an accurate understanding of the required temperature distribution which is affected by the physical shape and form of tumours. Although a maximum peak temperature value and minimum backward heating are desired, the temperature distribution needs to be not only high but also uniformly extended over a section instead of at one peak point, especially when a roughly oval-shaped tumour is aligned with the antenna. In this case, achieving a high temperature peak destroys only the central cancerous cells after the first minutes of ablation, leaving the cells on the side alive. In this paper, a complex model was extended for the study of the heat distribution of an antenna over a porous liver composed of blood, cancerous cells, and normal tissue. Three different types of antenna were analysed: single-slot, double-slot, and dipole-tip. A novel structure made up of the single-slot antenna with a micron cut, named the micro-cut slot (MCS) antenna, was proposed and analysed. Thanks to the new structure, high uniform temperature distribution with minimum backward heating was achieved. The extended model equations, which encompass a coupled nonlinear set of transient Maxwell's electromagnetic equations, extended Darcy–Brinkman equation, and local thermal non-equilibrium equations for porous medium approximation, were solved numerically using the novel alternating direction implicit, finite–difference time–domain approach. The results showed that each type of antenna could be useful if chosen according to the shape of the tumour. In comparison with previously used antennas, the MCS antenna presented a good combination of the required goals of achieving uniform high temperature distribution and minimum backward heating.