Investigation on Crude and High-Temperature Heated Coffee Oil by ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy along with Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties

The coffee oil has a promising potential to be used in food industry, but an efficient use, especially in products that required high-temperature heating, depends on its chemical composition and the changes induced by processing. Since there is little information on this topic, the aim of our study was to investigate the crude green and roasted coffee oil (GCO, RCO) and heated (HGCO, HRCO) for 1 h at 200°C, by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and in terms of antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The results of FTIR spectroscopy revealed that no statistically significant differences (one-way ANOVA, p>0.05) in the oxidative status of GCO and RCO were found. The coffee oils heating induced significant spectral changes in the regions 3100–3600 cm^–1, 2800–3050 cm^–1 and 1680–1780 cm^–1 proved by the differences in the absorbance ratios A 3009 cm⁻¹/A 2922 cm⁻¹, A 3009 cm⁻¹/A 2853 cm⁻¹, A 3009 cm⁻¹/A 1744 cm⁻¹, A 1744 cm⁻¹/A 2922 cm⁻¹. These alterations were related to the reduction of the unsaturation degree due to primary and secondary oxidation processes of the lipid fraction. The radical scavenging ability of oils investigated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay revealed that the IC50 value of GCO was significantly lower than of RCO (p<0.05). The IC50 values of crude coffee oils were lower than those of heated samples. The antioxidant activity of oils was attributed to both antioxidant compounds with free-radical scavenging capacity and to lipids oxidation products generated by heating. In the first 6 h of incubation, the inhibitory activity of crude oils against E. coli and E. faecalis was not significantly different to the control (p>0.05). Also, HGCO and HRCO showed significantly different inhibitory potential related to the control (p<0.05). The heating induced statistically significant decreases in the effectiveness of coffee oils against the tested bacteria. GCO proved to be the most effective among investigated coffee oils against the tested bacteria.     

Hypertonicity primes malignant melanoma cells for apoptosis

The tumor environment critically influences responsiveness of cancer cells to chemotherapies, most of which activate the mitochondria-regulated (intrinsic) apoptotic cascade to kill malignant cells. Especially skin tumors encounter an environment with remarkable biophysical properties. Cutaneous accumulation of Na⁺ locally establishes osmotic pressure gradients in vivo (hypertonicity or hyperosmotic stress), but whether cutaneous hypertonicity is a factor that modulates the responsiveness of skin cancers to therapeutic apoptosis-induction has thus far not been investigated. Here, we show that hyperosmotic stress lowers the threshold for apoptosis induction in malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Hypertonic conditions enforce addiction to BCL-2-like proteins to prevent initiation of the mitochondria-regulated (intrinsic) apoptotic pathway. Essentially, hyperosmotic stress primes mitochondria for death. Our work identifies osmotic pressure in the tumor microenvironment as a cell extrinsic factor that modulates responsiveness of malignant melanoma cells to therapy.     

Type 2 MI induced by a single high dose of isoproterenol in C57BL/6J mice triggers a persistent adaptive immune response against the heart

Heart failure is the common final pathway of several cardiovascular conditions and a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Aberrant activation of the adaptive immune system in response to myocardial necrosis has recently been implicated in the development of heart failure. The ß-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol hydrochloride is used for its cardiac effects in a variety of different dosing regimens with high doses causing acute cardiomyocyte necrosis. To assess whether isoproterenol-induced cardiomyocyte necrosis triggers an adaptive immune response against the heart, we treated C57BL/6J mice with a single intraperitoneal injection of isoproterenol. We confirmed tissue damage reminiscent of human type 2 myocardial infarction. This is followed by an adaptive immune response targeting the heart as demonstrated by the activation of T cells, the presence of anti-heart auto-antibodies in the serum as late as 12 weeks after initial challenge and IgG deposition in the myocardium. All of these are hallmark signs of an established autoimmune response. Adoptive transfer of splenocytes from isoproterenol-treated mice induces left ventricular dilation and impairs cardiac function in healthy recipients. In summary, a single administration of a high dose of isoproterenol is a suitable high-throughput model for future studies of the pathological mechanisms of anti-heart autoimmunity and to test potential immunomodulatory therapeutic approaches.     

Probiotics--an alternative treatment for various diseases

Modulating the microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract through probiotics is an alternative to the conventional treatment of various diseases, based on synthetic drugs. The lifestyle, nutrition and stress of the present modern society could be among the factors responsible for modifications in the intestinal microbiota, correlated with specific diseases. The present study describes the positive effects of probiotics use, with special reference to the yeasts use in several frequently encountered diseases, such as hypercholesterolemia, the irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis and several uro-genital disorders.     

Neuroprotective role of the Reaper-related serine protease HtrA2/Omi revealed by targeted deletion in mice

The serine protease HtrA2/Omi is released from the mitochondrial intermembrane space following apoptotic stimuli. Once in the cytosol, HtrA2/Omi has been implicated in promoting cell death by binding to inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) via its amino-terminal Reaper-related motif, thus inducing caspase activity, and also in mediating caspase-independent death through its own protease activity. We report here the phenotype of mice entirely lacking expression of HtrA2/Omi due to targeted deletion of its gene, Prss25. These animals, or cells derived from them, show no evidence of reduced rates of cell death but on the contrary suffer loss of a population of neurons in the striatum, resulting in a neurodegenerative disorder with a parkinsonian phenotype that leads to death of the mice around 30 days after birth. The phenotype of these mice suggests that it is the protease function of this protein and not its IAP binding motif that is critical. This conclusion is reinforced by the finding that simultaneous deletion of the other major IAP binding protein, Smac/DIABLO, does not obviously alter the phenotype of HtrA2/Omi knockout mice or cells derived from them. Mammalian HtrA2/Omi is therefore likely to function in vivo in a manner similar to that of its bacterial homologues DegS and DegP, which are involved in protection against cell stress, and not like the proapoptotic Reaper family proteins in Drosophila melanogaster.     

A defined human system that supports bidirectional mismatch-provoked excision

Mismatch-provoked excision directed by a strand break located 3' or 5' to the mispair has been reconstituted using purified human proteins. While MutSalpha, EXOI, and RPA are sufficient to support hydrolysis directed by a 5' strand break, 3' directed excision also requires MutLalpha, PCNA, and RFC. EXOI interacts with PCNA. RFC and PCNA suppress EXOI-mediated 5' to 3' hydrolysis when the nick that directs excision is located 3' to the mispair and activate 3' to 5' excision, which is dependent on loaded PCNA and apparently mediated by a cryptic EXOI 3' to 5' hydrolytic function. By contrast, RFC and PCNA have only a limited effect on 5' to 3' excision directed by a 5' strand break.     

Effect of pre-exposure to beta rays of tritium on some biochemical parameters measured in organs of rats subsequently irradiated with fast neutrons

The experiment examined biological responses produced by combined sequential exposure to low-level tritium contamination, followed by challenging irradiation with fast neutrons. Modifications of endogenous antioxidant potential of different organs in rats were discussed in relation to tissue radiosensitivity. Rats pre-contaminated to 7 cGy and 35 cGy have been additionally irradiated to 1 Gy with fast neutrons. Lipid peroxide level was determined in liver, kidney, small intestine, spleen, bone marrow, and plasma. Reduced glutathione (GSH) level and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity were determined in erythrocytes. An in vitro thymidine uptake assay was performed in isolated bone marrow cells. The lipid peroxide level decreased significantly only in liver and kidney from rats pre-exposed to 35 cGy. For small intestine and spleen, tissues of comparatively higher radiosensitivity, no induced radioprotection was observed, as reflected in the homeostasis of the lipid peroxides. The same behavior was observed in bone marrow, the most radiosensitive tissue studied. However, the bone marrow thymidine-incorporation assay revealed a possible adaptive-type reaction in rats pre-exposed to 35 cGy. We conclude that for radiosensitive tissues pre-exposure to chronic low doses of low linear energy transfer (LET) irradiation has no protective effect on their antioxidant status, whereas a protective effect is observed in radioresistent tissues.     

Why conserve biodiversity? A multi-national exploration of stakeholders’ views on the arguments for biodiversity conservation

Given the concern about biodiversity loss, there are a number of arguments used for biodiversity conservation ranging from those emphasising the intrinsic value of biodiversity to those on the direct use value of ecosystems. Yet arguing the case for biodiversity conservation effectively requires an understanding of why people value biodiversity. We used Q methodology to explore and understand how different conservation practitioners (social and natural science researchers, environmental non-Governmental organisations and decision-makers) in nine European countries argue for conservation. We found that there was a plurality of views about biodiversity and its conservation. A moral argument and some arguments around the intrinsic and ecological value of biodiversity were held by all stakeholder groups. They also shared the view that species valuation does not justify the destruction of nature. However, there were also some differences within and between the groups, which primarily reflected the espousal of either ecocentric or anthropocentric viewpoints. Our findings suggest that moral arguments and those around biodiversity’s intrinsic and ecological value could potentially serve as a starting point for building consensus among conservation practitioners.     

Summer airborne mycoflora of Timişoara (Romania) and relationship to meteorological parameters

The present aeromycological investigation was undertaken to study atmospheric fungal spores in Timi?oara (western Romania). This study was carried out using a Hirst type volumetric sampler. The study revealed the existence of a rich airborne mycoflora. The atmospheric fungal spores were classified and evaluated into three groups (‘major’, ‘minor’ and ‘sporadic’) depending upon their catch percentage in the air. Cladosporium/Fusarium/Leptosphaeria-group, Alternaria, Helminthosporium airborne fungal spores and airborne fungal fragments regularly recorded (frequency 100% of days). Cladosporium accounted for 81.09% of the outdoor fungal spores. The airborne fungal fragments have been identified as abundant in our geographic area. Spearman’s correlations were applied to meteorological parameters and airborne fungal spore concentrations. In addition, correlations were calculated between the fungal spore concentrations and the meteorological variables from the previous day. A total of eleven weather factors were selected for this investigation. Following Spearman’s correlations, I identified two patterns of behaviour: most of the airborne fungal spores prefer cloudiness, lower near-surface soil temperature, lower atmospheric pressure, higher relative humidity and precipitation (pattern A) while other spore concentrations favour increased sunshine, higher near-surface soil temperature and dry conditions (pattern B). The behaviour of some fungal spores during the warm season has proven unclear (pattern C). This study demonstrates the need for investigations throughout the year and the evaluation with complementary statistical methods, regarding the correct interpretation of airborne mycoflora relationships with meteorological parameters.