Sulodexide Increases Glutathione Synthesis and Causes Pro-Reducing Shift in Glutathione-Redox State in HUVECs Exposed to Oxygen–Glucose Deprivation: Implication for Protection of Endothelium against Ischemic Injury

Sulodexide (SDX), a purified glycosaminoglycan mixture used to treat vascular diseases, has been reported to exert endothelial protective effects against ischemic injury. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain to be fully elucidated. The emerging evidence indicated that a relatively high intracellular concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH) and a maintenance of the redox environment participate in the endothelial cell survival during ischemia. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the hypothesis that SDX alleviates oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced human umbilical endothelial cells’ (HUVECs) injury, which serves as the in vitro model of ischemia, by affecting the redox state of the GSH: glutathione disulfide (GSSG) pool. The cellular GSH, GSSG and total glutathione (tGSH) concentrations were measured by colorimetric method and the redox potential (ΔEh) of the GSSG/2GSH couple was calculated, using the Nernst equation. Furthermore, the levels of the glutamate–cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLc) and the glutathione synthetase (GSS) proteins, a key enzyme for de novo GSH synthesis, were determined using enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). We demonstrated that the SDX treatment in OGD conditions significantly elevated the intracellular GSH, enhanced the GSH:GSSG ratio, shifting the redox potential to a more pro-reducing status. Furthermore, SDX increased the levels of both GCLc and GSS. The results show that SDX protects the human endothelial cells against ischemic stress by affecting the GSH levels and cellular redox state. These changes suggest that the reduction in the ischemia-induced vascular endothelial cell injury through repressing apoptosis and oxidative stress associated with SDX treatment may be due to an increase in GSH synthesis and modulation of the GSH redox system.     

High-Energy Proton-Beam-Induced Polymerization/Oxygenation of Hydroxynaphthalenes on Meteorites and Nitrogen Transfer from Urea: Modeling Insoluble Organic Matter?

Formation and structural modification of oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (oxyPAHs) by UV irradiation on minerals have recently been proposed as a possible channel of PAH transformation in astrochemical and prebiotic scenarios of possible relevance for the origin of life. Herein, it is demonstrated that high-energy proton-beam irradiation in the presence of various meteorites, including stony iron, achondrite, and chondrite types, promotes the conversion of two representative oxyPAH compounds, 1-naphthol and 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene, to complex mixtures of oxygenated and oligomeric derivatives. The main identified products include polyhydroxy derivatives, isomeric dimers encompassing benzofuran and benzopyran scaffolds, and, notably, a range of quinones and perylene derivatives. Addition of urea, a prebiotically relevant chemical precursor, expanded the range of identified species to include, among others, quinone diimines. Proton-beam irradiation of oxyPAH modulated by nitrogen-containing compounds such as urea is proposed as a possible contributory mechanism for the formation and processing of insoluble organic matter in meteorites and in prebiotic processes.     

Solving Nonlinear p-Adic Pseudo-differential Equations: Combining the Wavelet Basis with the Schauder Fixed Point Theorem

We consider the pointwise convergence problem for the solution of Schrödinger-type equations along directions determined by a given compact subset of the real line. This problem contains Carleson’s problem as the simplest case and was studied in general by Cho et al. We extend their result from the case of the classical Schrödinger equation to a class of equations which includes the fractional Schrödinger equations. To achieve this, we significantly simplify their proof by completely avoiding a time localization argument.     

Validation of temperature-controlled rheo-MRI measurements in a submillimeter-gap Couette geometry

A temperature-controlled submillimeter-gap (500 μm) rheo-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Couette cell has been developed to measure confined flow of soft structured materials under controlled temperature. The proposed setup enables performing rheo-MRI measurements using (i) a spatially uniform temperature control over the range 15°C to 40°C and (ii) a high spatial resolution up to 10 μm, as a consequence of the improved mechanical stability of the in-house developed rotating elements. Here, we demonstrate the performance of the cell for the rheo-MRI velocimetry study of a thixotropic fat crystal dispersion, a complex fluid commonly used in food manufacturing. The submillimeter-gap geometry and variable temperature capability of the cell enable observing the effects of shear- and temperature-induced fat recrystallization on both wall slip and shear banding under strongly confined flow. Our improved rheo-MRI setup opens new perspectives for the fundamental study of strongly confined flow, cooperative effects, and the underlying interparticle interactions and for ultimately aiding optimization of products involved in spreading/extrusion, such as cosmetics and foods.     

Constructing the Cubus simus and the Dodecaedron simum via paper folding

The archimedean solids Cubus simus (snub cube) and Dodecaedron simum (snub dodecahedron) cannot be constructed by ruler and compass. We explain that for general reasons their vertices can be constructed via paper folding on the faces of a cube, respectively dodecahedron, and we present explicit folding constructions. The construction of the Cubus simus is particularly elegant. We also review and prove the construction rules of the other Archimedean solids.     

Biological Activity of an Epilobium angustifolium L. (Fireweed) Infusion after In Vitro Digestion

The biological activity of an in vitro digested infusion of Epilobium angustifolium (fireweed) was examined in a model system of intestinal epithelial and colon cancer tissues. The content of selected phenolic compounds in the digested aqueous extract of fireweed was determined using HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. Biological activity was examined using the human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines HT-29 and CaCo-2 and the human colon epithelial cell line CCD 841 CoTr. Cytotoxicity was assessed by an MTT assay, a Neutral Red uptake assay, May-Grünwald-Giemsa staining, and a label-free Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing cytotoxicity assay. The effect of the infusion on the growth of selected intestinal bacteria was also examined. The extract inhibited the growth of intestinal cancer cells HT-29. This effect can be attributed to the activity of quercetin and kaempferol, which were the most abundant phenolic compounds found in the extract after in vitro digestion. The cytotoxicity of the fireweed infusion was dose-dependent. The highest decrease in proliferation (by almost 80%) compared to the control was observed in HT-29 line treated with the extract at a concentration of 250 μg/mL. The fireweed infusion did not affect the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria, but it did significantly inhibit E. coli. The cytotoxic effect of the fireweed extract indicates that it does not lose its biological activity after in vitro digestion. It can be concluded that the fireweed infusion has the potential to be used as a supporting agent in colon cancer therapy.     

The Effect of Filtration on Physical and Chemical Properties of Osmo-Dehydrated Material

Osmotic dehydration (OD) performed in concentrated fruit juices used as osmotic solution (OS) comes with some limitations resulting from the material cell structure and is not entirely recognized at the moment. Filtration of the juice could provide some insight into the phenomena occurring throughout the OD. Therefore, the main aim of the study was to recognize the mechanism of selective penetration during OD and evaluate the effect of filtration on physical and chemical properties of osmo-dehydrated material. For this purpose, OD of pumpkin in non-filtrated and filtrated (filters 0.2, 0.45, 0.8, 1.2, 3, 5 and 8 μm) concentrated chokeberry juice was carried out in the study. Moreover, scanning electron microscope (SEM) images were provided. Total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity measured by Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Potential (FRAP) and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC ABTS) of OS and the material were determined. It was found that even though filtration of osmotic solution had a moderate influence on the mass transfer, it greatly affected the chemical composition of dehydrated material. The best option, considering both chemical and physical properties of the dehydrated material, is the use of non-filtrated solution. However, when shorter time of OD is considered, much better results are obtained for filtrated solutions.     

Implication and Inhibition Boolean Logic Gates Mimicked with Enzyme Reactions

The enzyme system mimicking Implication (IMPLY) and Inhibition (INHIB) Boolean logic gates has been designed. The same enzyme system was used to operate as the IMPLY or INHIB gate simply by reformulating the input signals. The optical analysis of the logic operation confirmed the output generation as expected for the studied logic gates. The conceptual approach to the IMPLY and INHIB logic gates allows their construction with many other enzymes operating in a similar way.     

The first guaian-12-oic acid glucopyranosyl ester and other constituents from Picris rhagadioloides (L.) Desf. (Asteraceae)

The first guaian-12-oic acid glucopyranosyl ester was isolated from the roots of Picris rhagadioloides (L.) Desf. (Asteraceae), in addition to five costuslactone-type guaianolides, four germacranolides and three phenolic compounds. This is the first time that the known phenolics syringaldehyde and syringaresinol, as well as the known sesquiterpene lactones glucozaluzanin C, cichorioside C and hypochoeroside A have been described from a Picris species. The compounds were characterized on the basis of physicochemical, 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic, and mass spectrometric data.