Development of Fish Immunity and the Role of β-Glucan in Immune Responses

Administration of β-glucans through various routes, including immersion, dietary inclusion, or injection, have been found to stimulate various facets of immune responses, such as resistance to infections and resistance to environmental stress. β-Glucans used as an immunomodulatory food supplement have been found beneficial in eliciting immunity in commercial aquaculture. Despite extensive research involving more than 3000 published studies, knowledge of the receptors involved in recognition of β-glucans, their downstream signaling, and overall mechanisms of action is still lacking. The aim of this review is to summarize and discuss what is currently known about of the use of β-glucans in fish.     

Response surface methodology for modelling and determination of catechin in Pistachio green hull using surfactant-based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by UV–Vis spectrophotometry

A rapid and simple approach for the preconcentration and determination of catechin from pistachio green hull samples has been proposed by surfactant-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by UV–Vis spectrophotometry (SADLLME/UV–Vis). This method involved the formation of a catechin complex with cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) as cationic surfactant, and subsequently, DLLME was applied to extract the catechin–CPC complex into chloroform. Different parameters affected the extraction efficiency were optimized by central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM). In optimum condition, the calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.4–5 µg mL^??1 of catechin with correlation coefficient of 0.9982. The relative standard deviation based on five replicated analyses of 1 µg mL^??1 catechin was 1.85%. The proposed method was successfully applied for preconcentration and determination of trace amounts of catechin in pistachio hull samples.     

Electrospinning of Nanofibers Based on Chitosan/Gelatin Blend for Antibacterial Uses

Chitosan/gelatin blend nanofibers were electrospun and the focus of this study was on the chitosan and gelatin concretions and on morphology of resulting nanofibers. The morphology of electrospun chitosan/gelatin blend nanofibers were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The miscibility of blend was determined using a SEM and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer/attenuated total reflectance (FTIR/ATR). Antibacterial property and stability of samples was also investigated. Water contact angle measurement (WCA) was employed to investigate the wettability of nanofibers.     

Release of prostaglandin E(1) from N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide copolymer conjugates by bone cells

Bone-targeting N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer-PGE(1) conjugates, containing cathepsin K sensitive spacers, were incubated with induced osteoclasts and osteoblasts, their precursors, and control non-skeletal cells. The release of PGE(1) was monitored by an HPLC assay. In both murine and human cell lines, osteoclasts appeared to be the most active cells in the cleavage (PGE(1) release). Incubation with osteoblasts also resulted in fast PGE(1) release, whereas precursor and control cells released PGE(1) with a substantially slower rate than bone cells (apparently through ester bond cleavage). Experiments in the presence of inhibitors revealed that other enzymes, in addition to cathepsin K, were participating in the cleavage of the conjugate. Confocal fluorescence studies exposed internalization of the conjugate by endocytosis with ultimate localization in the lysosomal/endosomal compartment.     

Hydrogallierungsreaktionen mit den Monoalkinen H5C6‐C≡C‐SiMe3 und H5C6‐C≡C‐CMe3 – cis/trans‐Isomerie und Substituentenaustausch

Hydrogallation Reactions Involving the Monoalkynes H₅C₆‐C≡C‐SiMe₃ and H₅C₆‐C≡C‐CMe₃ – cis/trans Isomerisation and Substituent Exchange Phenyl‐trimethylsilylethyne, H₅C₆‐C≡C‐SiMe₃, reacted with different dialkylgallium hydrides, R₂Ga‐H (R = Me, Et, nPr, iPr, tBu), by the addition of one Ga‐H bond to its C≡C triple bond (hydrogallation). The gallium atoms attacked selectively those carbon atoms, which were also attached to trimethylsilyl groups. The cis arrangement of Ga and H across the resulting C=C double bonds resulted only for the sterically most shielded di(tert‐butyl)gallium derivative, while in all other cases spontaneous cis/trans rearrangement occurred with the quantitative formation of the trans addition products. The diethyl compound Et₂Ga‐C(SiMe₃)=C(H)‐C₆H₅ ( 2 ) gave by substituent exchange the secondary products EtGa[C(SiMe₃)=C(H)‐C₆H₅]₂ ( 7 , Z,Z) and Ga[C(SiMe₃)=C(H)‐C₆H₅]₃ ( 8 ). Interestingly, compound 8 has two alkenyl groups with a Z configuration, while the third C=C double bond has the cis arrangement of Ga and H (E configuration). The reversibility of the cis/trans isomerisation of hydrogallation products was observed for the first time. tert‐Butyl‐phenylethyne gave the simple addition product, R₂Ga(C₆H₅)=C(H)‐CMe₃ ( 9 ), only with di(n‐propyl)gallium hydride.     

Structural,theoretical and multinuclear NMR study of mercury(II) complexes of phosphorus ylides: Mono and binuclear complexes

Reaction of phosphorus ylide Ph₃PCHC(O)C₆H₄Cl (Y₁) with HgX₂ (X = Cl, Br and I) and ylide (p-tolyl)₃PCHC(O)CH₃ (Y₂) with HgI₂ in equimolar ratios using methanol as solvent leads to binuclear products. The bridge-splitting reaction of binuclear complex [(Y₁) · HgCl₂]₂ by DMSO yields a mononuclear complex containing DMSO as ligand. O-coordination of DMSO is revealed by single crystal X-ray analysis in mononuclear complex of [(Y₁) · HgCl₂ · DMSO]. C-coordination of ylides is confirmed by X-ray structure of binuclear complex [(Y₂) · HgI₂]₂. Characterization of the obtained compounds was also performed by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H, ³¹P, and ¹³C NMR. Theoretical studies on mercury(II) complexes of Y₁ show that formation of mononuclear complexes in DMSO solution in which DMSO acts as a ligand, energetically is more favorable than that of binuclear complexes.     

Sol‐Gel‐Derived Biosensor Based on Plant Tissue: The Inhibitory Effect of Atrazine on Polyphenol Oxidase Activity for Determination of Atrazine

This work presents a sol‐gel based biosensor for atrazine determination which has been obtained by introducing the enzyme polyphenol oxidase from apple tissue in a sol‐gel matrix. Apple tissue acts as a molecular recognition element. Atrazine is an inactive compound electrochemically; redox coupling of dopamine was used for studying atrazine behavior. Atrazine was determined by monitoring the inhibition power of polyphenol oxidase activity. The measurements were performed in 0.1 M KH₂PO₄‐NaOH buffer (pH 7.5). The effect of various experimental parameters such as pH, concentration of buffer, concentration of dopamine, incubation time and matrix composition has been investigated for optimum analytical performance. The biosensor consisted of 10.3% (w/w) of apple tissue. The bioelectrode exhibits a linear response for dopamine and atrazine concentrations in the range of 5.66 × 10^?6?2.27 × 10^?3M and 1 × 10^?5 ?1 × 10^?4 M with a detection limit of 4.2 × 10^?6 and 5.5 × 10^?6 M, respectively. A correlation coefficient of 0.9945 and a relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of 3.29% for dopamine, 0.9944 and 3.69% for a trazine were achieved.     

Bioglass thin films for biomimetic implants

Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method was used to obtain bioglass (BG) thin film coatings on titanium substrates. An UV excimer laser KrF* (λ = 248 nm, τ = 25 ns) was used for the multi-pulse irradiation of the BG targets with 57 or 61 wt.% SiO₂ content (and Na₂O-K₂O-CaO-MgO-P₂O₅ oxides). The depositions were performed in oxygen atmosphere at 13 Pa and for substrates temperature of 400 °C. The PLD films displayed typical BG of 2-5 μm particulates nucleated on the film surface or embedded in. The PLD films stoichiometry was found to be the same as the targets. XRD spectra have shown, the glass coatings obtained, had an amorphous structure. One set of samples, deposited in the same conditions, were dipped in simulated body fluids (SBFs) and subsequently extracted one by one after several time intervals 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days. After washing in deionized water and drying, the surface morphology of the samples and theirs composition were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), IR spectroscopy (FTIR) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). After 3-7 days the Si content substantially decreases in the coatings and PO₄³⁻ maxima start to increase in FTIR spectra. The XRD spectra also confirm this evolution. After 14-21 days the XRD peaks show a crystallized fraction of the carbonated hydroxyapatite (HAP). The SEM micrographs show also significant changes of the films surface morphology. The coalescence of the BG droplets can be seen. The dissolution and growth processes could be assigned to the ionic exchange between BG and SBFs.     

Synthesis of alkyl bis（dimethylamino）methylenecarbamodithioates from 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine,CS2 and oxiranes

An efficient synthesis of alkyl bis(dimethylamino)methylenecarbamodithioates via a one-pot reaction between 1,1,3,3- tetramethylguanidine,carbon disulfide and substituted oxiranes,in good yields,is described.