Hydrolysis of cyclosporin A: Identification of 1,11 seco-cyclosporin A and 4,5 secoisoCyclosporin A by FAB-MS/MS

We have previously reported that treatment of CsA with aqueous HCl gives rise to the formation of a number of water-soluble compounds. Two of these were identified from their FAB-MS/MS spectra as open-chain nona- and decapeptides. We describe here the identification of two other main compounds deriving from the same treatment. Identification was rendered possible from the comparison of their FAB-MS/MS spectra with those of methyl and acetyl derivatives. The two compounds are water-soluble, open-chain undecapeptides corresponding to 1,11 seco-CsA and of 4,5 seco-isoCsA, respectively.     

Insulin Mimetic Effect of Tungsten Compounds on Isolated Rat Adipocytes

Investigations of effective, orally active, and safe antidiabetic metallopharmaceuticals have been carried out during the last two decades. It has been reported that tungsten compounds mimic the action of insulin in intact cell systems. As insulin mimetics, the most investigated tungsten compound was sodium tungstate (ST), rarely investigated was tungstophosphoric acid (WPA), but never alanine complex of tungstophosphoric acid (WPA-A). In this study, the insulin mimetic activity of three different tungsten compounds, ST, WPA, and WPA-A, was evaluated by means of in vitro measurements of the glucose uptake and inhibition of free fatty acids release from epinephrine-treated isolated rat white adipocytes. We investigated the influence of concentration (lower and higher, 0.1 and 1.0 mM, respectively) and solvent: isotonic salt solution—saline (0.9% w/v of NaCl) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO; 2% v/v), on the biological effect of tested compounds. Our experimental data showed that all of the three investigated tungsten compounds possess insulin mimetic activity in vitro on the isolated adipocytes. Influence of concentration and solvents on insulin mimetic effect for the certain tungsten compounds were: WPA was shown effect independently of concentration and solvents; higher concentration and DMSO were significant decreasing insulin mimetic effect of ST; lower concentration and saline led to decreasing effect of WPA-A. Generally, there were no differences in insulin mimetic effect of three tungsten compounds in lower concentration and dissolved in DMSO. When saline was used as solvent, it was needed higher concentration of investigated compounds to accomplish the same effect. In conclusion, our results suggest that low concentration (0.1 mM) of ST, WPA, and WPA-A dissolved in 2% DMSO could be the good candidates for in vivo investigation of their antidiabetic properties.     

THE CYST-THECA RELATIONSHIP IN CALCIODINELLUM OPEROSUM EMEND. (PERIDINIALES, DINOPHYCEAE) AND A NEW APPROACH FOR THE STUDY OF CALCAREOUS CYSTS

The paratabulate calcareous cyst of Calciodinellum operosum Deflandre was recorded in a sediment trap sample collected in the Bay of Naples (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). The germination of this resting stage produced a phototrophic vegetative cell that had the typical plate pattern of a Scrippsiella species. The cyst morphotypes, observed in a clonal culture of this species, ranged from cysts with well-developed paratabulation to cysts in which the paratabulation was barely visible, to cysts covered by irregularly shaped crystals. The analysis of thin sections of the calcareous cysts using the polarized light microscope equipped with crossed nicols and a gypsum plate showed that the optical orientation of the calcite crystals was tangential in all the morphotypes examined. We suggest that the crystallographic method we describe might provide insights for calcareous cyst taxonomy and phylogeny .     

Lead soaps formation and biodiversity in a XVIII Century wax seal coloured with minium

A multidisciplinary approach was carried out in order to study the biodeterioration and the associated microbiome of a XVIII Century wax seal coloured with minium. A small wax seal fragment was observed by scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive spectroscopy in non-destructive mode. The same object was analysed by Raman and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The identification of the microbiota growing on the seal was performed with both a culture-dependent strategy, combined with hydrolytic assays, and high-throughput sequencing using the MinION platform. The whole bacterial 16S rRNA gene and the fungal markers ITS and 28S rRNA were targeted. It was observed that the carnauba wax coloured with lead tetroxide (minium) was covered by a biofilm consisting of a network of filaments and other structures of microbial origin. The culture-dependent and culture-independent investigations showed the presence of a complex microbiota composed mainly by fungal members, which demonstrated interesting properties related to lipids and lead processing. The formation of lead soaps and secondary biogenic minerals was also described.     

A large proportion of mediastinal and perirenal visceral fat of Siberian adult people is formed by UCP1 immunoreactive multilocular and paucilocular adipocytes

Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry - Many deleterious consequences for health of excessive fat accumulation are due to visceral fat. Browning of visceral fat is mainly cold dependent and has...     

Protected areas and prime hoverfly areas: Safe haven for hoverflies or not?

The efficiency of protected areas (PAs) has often been questioned due to global decline of biodiversity. Invertebrates, especially insects, have been historically underrepresented in conservation studies. Our study focuses on hoverflies, an important group of insect pollinators and proven to be good bioindicators. Research was focused in Serbia, one of Europe's hotspots of hoverfly diversity, with a long tradition of hoverfly research, which provided sufficient information for achieving our aims: identifying areas of high hoverfly diversity, evaluating the efficiency of PAs and prime hoverfly areas (PHAs) in the conservation of hoverflies, determining how well they cover the distribution of hoverfly species, especially those of conservation concern, and testing the importance of the size of the area for conservation of hoverfly diversity. We applied weighting of the species to help stress the importance of species of conservation concern. The results indicated that PHAs cover the areas with high hoverfly diversity better than PA networks, especially when it comes to species of conservation concern. Generalized linear model results showed that the area size was a significant predictor of number of species in both PA and PHA. This indicates that area size is key when designating new areas important for conservation, but there are also other factors that need to be taken into account, such as habitat quality or suitability. Studies like this are useful in aiding designation of new areas important for conservation of certain species and in identifying sampling gaps, which could potentially aim future research in that direction.     

Characterization,Toxicity, and Optimization for the Growth and Production of Bacteriocin-like Substances by Lactobacillus curvatus

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - This study aimed to characterize, evaluate toxicity and optimize the conditions for the growth and production of bacteriocin-like substances by Lactobacillus...     

The investigation of structure–activity relationship of polyamine-targeted synthetic compounds from different chemical groups

Amino Acids - The polyamine (PA) metabolism is involved in cell proliferation and differentiation. Increased cellular PA levels are observed in different types of cancers. Products of PA oxidation...     

Obsolescence in LCA–methodological challenges and solution approaches

Purpose

Obsolescence, as premature end of use, increases the overall number of products produced and consumed, and thereby can increase the environmental impact. Measures to decrease the effects of obsolescence by altering the product or service design have the potential to increase use time (defined as the realized active service life) of devices, but can themselves have (environmental) drawbacks, for example, because the amount of material required for production increases. As such, paying special attention to methodological choices when assessing such measures and strategies using life cycle assessment (LCA) needs is crucial.

Methods

Open questions and key aspects of obsolescence, including the analysis of its effects and preventative measures, are discussed against the backdrop of the principles and framework for LCA given in ISO 14040/44, which includes guidance on how to define a useful functional unit and reference flow in the context of real-life use time.

Results and discussion

The open and foundational requirements of ISO 14040/14044 already form an excellent basis for analysis of the phenomenon obsolescence and its environmental impact in product comparisons. However, any analysis presumes clear definition of the goal and scope phase with special attention paid to aspects relevant to obsolescence: the target product and user group needs to be placed into context with the analysed “anti-obsolescence” measures. The reference flow needs to reflect a realized use time (and not solely a technical lifetime when not relevant for the product under study). System boundaries and types of data need to be chosen also in context of the anti-obsolescence measure to include, for example, the production of spare parts to reflect repairable design and/or manufacturer-specific yields to reflect high-quality manufacturing.

Conclusions

Understanding the relevant obsolescence conditions for the product system under study and how these may differ across the market segment or user types is crucial for a fair and useful comparison and the evaluation of anti-obsolescence measures.