Profiling of Volatile Organic Compounds in Exhaled Breath As a Strategy to Find Early Predictive Signatures of Asthma in Children

Wheezing is one of the most common respiratory symptoms in preschool children under six years old. Currently, no tests are available that predict at early stage who will develop asthma and who will be a transient wheezer. Diagnostic tests of asthma are reliable in adults but the same tests are difficult to use in children, because they are invasive and require active cooperation of the patient. A non-invasive alternative is needed for children. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) excreted in breath could yield such non-invasive and patient-friendly diagnostic. The aim of this study was to identify VOCs in the breath of preschool children (inclusion at age 2–4 years) that indicate preclinical asthma. For that purpose we analyzed the total array of exhaled VOCs with Gas Chromatography time of flight Mass Spectrometry of 252 children between 2 and 6 years of age. Breath samples were collected at multiple time points of each child. Each breath-o-gram contained between 300 and 500 VOCs; in total 3256 different compounds were identified across all samples. Using two multivariate methods, Random Forests and dissimilarity Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis, we were able to select a set of 17 VOCs which discriminated preschool asthmatic children from transient wheezing children. The correct prediction rate was equal to 80% in an independent test set. These VOCs are related to oxidative stress caused by inflammation in the lungs and consequently lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, we showed that VOCs in the exhaled breath predict the subsequent development of asthma which might guide early treatment.     

Children and marital satisfaction in a non-Western sample: having more children increases marital satisfaction among the Igbo people of Nigeria

Previous research has demonstrated that having more children decreases marital satisfaction among parents. However, the universality of these findings is limited since the vast majority of the studies have been conducted in Western countries. In the present study, 374 people from the Igbo ethnic group (Nigeria) were assessed for levels of marital satisfaction and the number of children. In contrast to almost all previous findings, we found a positive relationship between the number of children and marital satisfaction among parents. Number of children was the strongest predictor of marital satisfaction even when compared to other variables like wealth and education. Our results suggest that the negative relationship between the number of children and marital satisfaction is not culturally universal and probably only characterizes developed, individualistic Western countries. We discuss our findings from a sociocultural and evolutionary perspective.     

Night shift work and osteoporosis among female blue-collar workers in Poland - a pilot study

ABSTRACT

Osteoporosis is an important public health problem worldwide. Although a number of factors that affect bone structure have been described; thus far, the current knowledge of occupational factors that may have an influence on bone tissue metabolism is strongly limited. Published studies indicate night shift work and the related circadian rhythm disruption may be considered as plausible underlying factors. The aim of the present study was to assess the potential association between night shift work and bone mineral density (BMD) among female blue-collar workers in Poland. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 194 female blue-collar workers >40 years of age employed in industrial plants. The operating system of work consisted of three work shifts clockwise rotation: morning (06:00–14:00 h), afternoon (14:00–22:00 h), and night (22:00–06:00 h), with five consecutive shifts per week followed by a free weekend. A questionnaire survey, based on a Polish version of The European vertebral osteoporosis study (EVOS) questionnaire, a validated instrument, was administered. Data on current job characteristics, job seniority, and lifetime duration of night shift work were also collected. BMD of the lumbar spine and hip (both total femur and femoral neck) was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Multivariate linear regression models were run, with bone mineralization parameters as dependent variables, as well as night work characteristics and important confounders. Statistical analysis was performed separately for premenopausal and postmenopausal women. The analyses adjusted for confounders did not reveal any significant differences between current or lifetime experience of night shift work and BMD among both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. However, the outcomes supported the well-established correlation with factors, such as age, BMI, and menopausal status. BMD at the three sites measured was significantly associated with BMI (p < .001) and inversely associated with age (p < .001) in the total study population. Postmenopausal women had significantly lower BMD than did premenopausal women (p < .001). The study findings indicate that in the population of Polish female blue-collar workers, the system of work does not seem to be associated with the development of osteoporosis.     

The current state of knowledge on the neuroactive compounds that affect the development,mating and reproduction of spiders (Araneae) compared to insects

The neuroendocrine system of insects, including the presence of the main neuroactive compounds, and their role in ontogenesis are probably best understood of all the arthropods. Development, metamorphosis, the maturation of the gonads, vitellogenesis and egg production are regulated by hormones (juvenile hormones, ecdysteroids) and neuropeptides. However, knowledge about their presence and functions in spiders is fragmentary. In this paper, we present a summary of the current data about the juvenile hormones, ecdysteroids and neuropeptides in selected groups of arthropods, with particular emphasis on spiders. This is the first article that takes into account the occurrence, action and role of hormones and neuropeptides in spiders. In addition, the suggestions for possible ways to study these compounds in Araneomorphae spiders are unique and cannot be found in the arachnological literature.     

Concentrations of Metals in Maxilla and Mandible Deciduous and Permanent Human Teeth

The study shows the results of research on the concentrations of metals (Cd, Pb, Mn, Cu, Cr, Fe, Zn, Na, K, Mg, and Ca) in deciduous and permanent teeth with respect to their location in the oral cavity (maxilla, mandible). It has been found that the concentrations of metals were significantly higher in the deciduous teeth than in permanent ones. Regression analysis and principal component analysis revealed an increased dynamics of the processes of binding the elements by the hydroxyapatite of deciduous teeth. Higher concentrations of the metals were found in the maxilla permanent and deciduous teeth than in the mandible ones.     

Prdx1 inhibits tumorigenesis via regulating PTEN/AKT activity

It is widely accepted that reactive oxygen species (ROS) promote tumorigenesis. However, the exact mechanisms are still unclear. As mice lacking the peroxidase peroxiredoxin1 (Prdx1) produce more cellular ROS and die prematurely of cancer, they offer an ideal model system to study ROS‐induced tumorigenesis. Prdx1 ablation increased the susceptibility to Ras‐induced breast cancer. We, therefore, investigated the role of Prdx1 in regulating oncogenic Ras effector pathways. We found Akt hyperactive in fibroblasts and mammary epithelial cells lacking Prdx1. Investigating the nature of such elevated Akt activation established a novel role for Prdx1 as a safeguard for the lipid phosphatase activity of PTEN, which is essential for its tumour suppressive function. We found binding of the peroxidase Prdx1 to PTEN essential for protecting PTEN from oxidation‐induced inactivation. Along those lines, Prdx1 tumour suppression of Ras‐ or ErbB‐2‐induced transformation was mediated mainly via PTEN.     

Interplay between Structure and Charge as a Key to Allosteric Modulation of Human 20S Proteasome by the Basic Fragment of HIV-1 Tat Protein

The proteasome is a giant protease responsible for degradation of the majority of cytosolic proteins. Competitive inhibitors of the proteasome are used against aggressive blood cancers. However, broadening the use of proteasome-targeting drugs requires new mechanistic approaches to the enzyme’s inhibition. In our previous studies we described Tat1 peptide, an allosteric inhibitor of the proteasome derived from a fragment of the basic domain of HIV-Tat1 protein. Here, we attempted to dissect the structural determinants of the proteasome inhibition by Tat1. Single- and multiple- alanine walking scans were performed. Tat1 analogs with stabilized beta-turn conformation at positions 4–5 and 8–9, pointed out by the molecular dynamics modeling and the alanine scan, were synthesized. Structure of Tat1 analogs were analyzed by circular dichroism, Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies, supplemented by molecular dynamics simulations. Biological activity tests and structural studies revealed that high flexibility and exposed positive charge are hallmarks of Tat1 peptide. Interestingly, stabilization of a beta-turn at the 8–9 position was necessary to significantly improve the inhibitory potency.     

Active polyphenolic compounds,nutrient contents and antioxidant capacity of extruded fish feed containing purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench.)

The growth of fish is directly dependent on feed composition and quality. Medicinal plants can be added to fish feed as adjuvant therapy for the prevention of fish diseases. The purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench.) has been reported to have multiple biological effects, including immunomodulatory and antioxidant activity. The most active compounds of E. purpurea are polyphenols - caffeic acid derivatives: caftaric acid, chlorogenic acid, cynarin, echinacoside and cichoric acid.Due to a relatively limited number of studies on the use of the purple coneflower as a nutritional supplement for fish feeding, extruded fish feed with addition of Echinacea roots was produced. In the feed total phenolic content, selected polyphenol contents, the energetic value, nutrient contents and antioxidant capacity were examined.The results indicate that fish feed with addition of the Echinacea has a great potential to be a good source of natural radical scavengers, for example polyphenols, and nutritive ingredients. Antioxidant properties of feed were well correlated with the coneflower content. The study findings confirmed that high-temperature extrusion-cooking process does not deactivate phenolic antioxidant compounds, which are present both in the Echinacea roots and in the final product. Fish feed with addition of E. purpurea can be used as a nutritional supplement in the prevention of fish diseases caused by oxidative stress.