L-Ascorbic Acid and Curcumin prevents Brain Damage-induced via Lead Acetate in Rats: Possible Mechanisms

Lead acetate (lead ac.) is a widespread ecological toxicant that can cause marked neurotoxicity and decline in brain functions. This study aimed to evaluate the possible neuroprotective role of L-ascorbic (ASCR) and curcumin (CRCM) alone or together against lead ac.-induced neurotoxicity. Rats were injected with lead ac. then treated orally with ASCR and CRCM alone or in combination for seven days. Lead ac. caused elevation in brain tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), caspase-3, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, while superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH) as well as the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cAMP response element-binding (CREB) and Beclin1 were down-regulated. Expressions of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and mammalian Target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR) were upregulated in brain tissues matched with the control group. Histopathological examination supported the previously mentioned parameters, the administration of the antioxidants in question modulated all the altered previous parameters. The combination regimen achieved the superlative results in the antagonizing lead ac.-induced neurotoxicity via its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activities.

Cardiorespiratory Interaction and Autonomic Sleep Quality Improve during Sleep in Beds Made from Pinus cembra (Stone Pine) Solid Wood

Cardiorespiratory interactions (CRIs) reflect the mutual tuning of two important organismic oscillators—the heartbeat and respiration. These interactions can be used as a powerful tool to characterize the self-organizational and recreational quality of sleep. In this randomized, blinded and cross-over design study, we investigated CRIs in 15 subjects over a total of 253 nights who slept in beds made from different materials. One type of bed, used as control, was made of melamine faced chipboard with a wood-like appearance, while the other type was made of solid wood from stone pine (Pinus cembra). We observed a significant increase of vagal activity (measured by respiratory sinus arrhythmia), a decrease in the heart rate (as an indicator of energy consumption during sleep) and an improvement in CRIs, especially during the first hours of sleep in the stone pine beds as compared to the chipboard beds. Subjective assessments of study participants’ well-being in the morning and sub-scalar assessments of their intrapsychic stability were significantly better after they slept in the stone pine bed than after they slept in the chipboard bed. Our observations suggest that CRIs are sensitive to detectable differences in indoor settings that are relevant to human health. Our results are in agreement with those of other studies that have reported that exposure to volatile phytochemical ingredients of stone pine (α-pinene, limonene, bornyl acetate) lead to an improvement in vagal activity and studies that show a reduction in stress parameters upon contact with solid wood surfaces.

Hylocereus polyrhizus Peel Extract Increase Testosteron Levels of Balb/C Mice (Mus musculus) Exposed Lead Acetate

Lead is a heavy metal, the main polluting material in the environment, which comes from gasoline, batteries, paint, pipes, soil, cosmetics, household appliances, and decorations. Lead is a free radical causing oxidative stress. Lead can accumulate in the body due to its slow elimination process. Lead increases oxidative stress by forming reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide ion (O2-), hydroxil radical (OH-), and nitric oxide (NO), and direct suppression of antioxidant reserves such as Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase, and Glutathione Peroxide (GPx). Hylocereus polyrhizus peel is a natural antioxidant that can overcome the toxic effects of lead. The aim of this study was to analyze the treatment of Hylocereus polyrhizus peel extract orally once in a day for 40 days to increase testosteron levels of Balb/C mice (Mus musculus) exposed to lead acetate. The type of this study was true experimental study with Post Test Only Control Group design. Forty mice aged 8-10 weeks and the range of the body weight 30-40 grams were divided into 5 groups (each group of 8 mice). K- group was the control group without lead acetate and Hylocereus polyrhizus peel extract. K+, P1, P2 and P3 group was given 100 mg/kgBW lead acetate orally on the 1st day until day 14th. P1, P2 and P3 group was continued by giving Hylocereus polyrhizus peel extract orally on the 15th day until 39th day. P1 with dose 250 mg/KgBW, P2 with dose 500 mg/KgBW, and P3 with dose 1000 mg/KgBW. The results showed significant differences in testosterone levels between the K+ groups with P1 and P2. The conclusion of this study is Hylocereus polyrhizus peel extract can increase the testosteron levels of mice exposed to acetate lead.

Electron Microscopy of In-Plaque Phage T3 Assembly: Proposed Analogs of Neurodegenerative Disease Triggers

Increased knowledge of virus assembly-generated particles is needed for understanding both virus assembly and host responses to virus infection. Here, we use a phage T3 model and perform electron microscopy (EM) of thin sections (EM-TS) of gel-supported T3 plaques formed at 30 °C. After uranyl acetate/lead staining, we observe intracellular black particles, some with a difficult-to-see capsid. Some black particles (called LBPs) are larger than phage particles. The LBP frequency is increased by including proflavine, a DNA packaging inhibitor, in the growth medium and increasing plaque-forming temperature to 37 °C. Acidic phosphotungstate-precipitate (A-PTA) staining causes LBP substitution by black rings (BRs) that have the size and shape expected of hyper-expanded capsid containers for LBP DNA. BRs are less frequent in liquid cultures, suggesting that hyper-expanded capsids evolved primarily for in-gel (e.g., in-biofilm) propagation. BR-specific A-PTA staining and other observations are explained by α-sheet intense structure of the major subunit of hyper-expanded capsids. We hypothesize that herpes virus triggering of neurodegenerative disease occurs via in-gel propagation-promoted (1) generation of α-sheet intense viral capsids and, in response, (2) host production of α-sheet intense, capsid-interactive, innate immunity amyloid protein that becomes toxic. We propose developing viruses that are therapeutic via detoxifying interaction with this innate immunity protein.

Chemical Composition and Safety of Unrecorded Grain Alcohol (Bai Jiu) Samples from Three Provinces in China

About 20% of spirits consumed in China are “unrecorded”, where these spirits are produced in small-scale distilleries and sold outside the systems of taxation and quality control. Researchers visited small distilleries in rural Yunnan, Hubei and Anhui and purchased 56 samples of unrecorded bai jiu. Seven samples of the recorded bai jiu were purchased as reference samples. An independent laboratory conducted a blind analysis of the samples. Results were compared to the standards for unrecorded alcohol adopted by the European Commission’s Alcohol Measures for Public Health Research Alliance (AMPHORA). No samples exceeded the AMPHORA guidelines for methanol, ethyl acetate, lead and cadmium; one sample exceeded 1000 g/hL of combined higher alcohols; one sample exceeded 100 mg/L of arsenic; and three samples exceeded 50g/hL of acetaldehyde, but only by relatively small amounts. Low-priced unrecorded bai jiu averaged 9.8 RMB/jin (500 mL), compared to 10.7 RMB/jin for inexpensive recorded bai jiu. The low-priced unrecorded bai jiu samples had a mean alcohol-by-volume of 51.8%, compared to 50.1% for the recorded bai jiu samples. The results did not raise any critical safety issues with unrecorded bai jiu, but there may be long-term health risks related to ethanol, acetaldehyde and arsenic. The social ties between the bai jiu makers and the people who consume their product are a deterrent to adulteration; but when bai jiu is sold outside of the social circle, the deterrent disappears.

Alkylation of Bromobenzene with Allyl Acetate on Zeolite H-USY: Catalytic Testing and Reaction Modeling

The alkylation of bromobenzene with allyl acetate on zeolite H-USY (Si/Al 30) was studied in liquid phase conditions, at 150 °C. Reactions were performed at different space velocities (LHSV = 60, 120, 240 and 480 h-1) in tubular plug flow reactors using a high-throughput frontal analysis setup. Besides the desired alkylation products, cis-propenyl bromobenzene (cis-PBB) and trans-propenyl bromobenzene (trans-PBB) and a dialkylated product, light and heavy side products were formed. Polymerization reactions starting from allyl acetate lead to blocking of the zeolite pores, and result in catalyst deactivation. Based on the experimental data, several molecular kinetic models were proposed, and implemented in a reactor model, accounting for axial dispersion, mass transfer into the catalyst crystals, competitive adsorption effects and catalyst deactivation. Model discrimination revealed the underlying reaction mechanisms.

The Role of Precursor Chemistry in the Ferroelectric Properties of Donor Doped Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 Thin Films

Modified sol-gel processes have been developed for the preparation of precursor solutions of undoped, La and Ta doped PZT (25/75). These processes use different solvents (methoxyethanol, butoxyethanol) and different lead sources (lead acetate, lead oxide). Due to variations in the structure and in the composition of the solutions, significantly different thermal decomposition behaviors were found. These inevitably affected texture and microstructure of the sol-gel derived thin films, demonstrating the important role of precursor chemistry in the improvement of film properties. In the case of tantalum doped Pt/PZT/Pt ferroelectric capacitors a rectangular hysteresis loop, featuring high Pr, was obtained for one specific precursor chemistry.