Novel Selective and Low-Toxic Inhibitor of CPB2.8ΔCTE (CPB) One Important Cysteine Protease for Virulence.

Leishmaniasis is a highly prevalent, yet neglected disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus . In the search for newer, safer, and more effective antileishmanial compounds, we herein present a study of the mode of action in addition to a detailed structural and biological characterization of [-benzoyl-'-benzyl-″-(4-tertbutylphenyl)guanidine]. X-ray crystallography and extensive NMR experiments revealed that nearly exclusively adopts the conformation stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen bond.

Application of a pharmacokinetic model in characterizing sources of polychlorinated biphenyl exposure and determining threshold daily intakes for adverse health effects in infants and toddlers.

Characterization of PCB exposure sources for vulnerable population groups is essential to minimize the health effects of PCB exposure. At the same time, it is important to consolidate the knowledge on threshold intakes of PCBs for infants and toddlers to prevent health effects. We estimated total PCB concentrations from birth to 2 years of age in children from Slovak and Czech populations, which continue to have high PCB concentrations in breast milk.

Polyphenol oxidase and enzymatic browning in apricot ( L.): Effect on phenolic composition and deduction of main substrates.

In this study, we investigate the effect of enzymatic browning on the phenolic composition of apricot and . The browning was caused by the recombinant latent apricot polyphenol oxidase (L-PPO). Successful heterologous expression of PPO in yielded substantial amounts of enzyme containing both copper ions in the catalytic active site.

Synthesis and dopamine receptor binding of dihydrexidine and SKF 38393 catecholamine-based analogues.

Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter that regulates numerous essential functions, including cognition and voluntary movement. As such, it serves as an important scaffold for synthesis of novel analogues as part of drug development effort to obtain drugs for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease. To that end, similarity search of the ZINC database based on two known dopamine-1 receptor (D1R) agonists, dihydrexidine (DHX) and SKF 38393, respectively, was used to predict novel chemical entities with potential binding to D1R.

Pre- and postnatal polychlorinated biphenyl exposure and cognitive and behavioral development at age 45 Months in a cohort of Slovak children.

Evidence of associations of pre- and postnatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with cognitive development beyond early childhood is inconsistent. A previous report from this cohort observed adverse associations between early life PCB exposures and infant Bayley scores at age 16 months. The present study examines pre- and postnatal PCB exposures in relation to both behavior and cognitive development at age 45 months.

PBDE serum concentration and preschool maturity of children from Slovakia.

Polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) are persistent organic pollutants (POPs), they are considered endocrine disruptors and can bioaccumulate in nature, and in living tissue. Human exposure to and the presence of PBDEs in human samples is of concern due to their potential health risks. Young children are one of the most vulnerable populations to PBDE's potential health effects.

A Birth Cohort Study of Maternal and Infant Serum PCB-153 and DDE Concentrations and Responses to Infant Tuberculosis Vaccination.

Background: Reasons for the highly variable and often poor protection conferred by the Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine are multifaceted and poorly understood.

Objectives: We aimed to determine whether early-life exposure to PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and DDE [1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene] reduces 6-month infant BCG vaccine response.

Methods: Data came from families participating in a prospective birth cohort in eastern Slovakia.

Polychlorinated biphenyls and selected organochlorine pesticides in serum of Slovak population from industrial and non-industrial areas.

The concentrations of indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs No. 28, 52, 101, 138, 153 and 180) and organochlorine pesticides (HCB, p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDT) in 121 blood serum specimens collected from non-occupationally exposed adults living in contaminated and comparison areas were determined using high-resolution gas chromatography/electron capture detection (HRGC/ECD). The sum of the serum concentrations of the three most abundant PCB congeners (No.

PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs and OCPs in sediments from selected areas in the Slovak Republic.

Within our research project, 34 river bottom sediments were collected in 2006-2007 at five areas across Slovakia with industrial sources of persistent organic pollutants (Košice, Krompachy, Nemecká, Šala, Nováky) and one background area (Starina). Sediments were analyzed for seven 2,3,7,8-substituted polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and 10 dibenzofurans (PCDFs), 12 dioxin-like and 6 indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and 1,1,1,-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (p,p'-DDT) with 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p,p'-DDE). Analytical procedure based on accelerated solvent extraction followed by a semi-automated clean-up and fractionation was used.

Anthropometric, socioeconomic, and maternal health determinants of placental transfer of organochlorine compounds.

The aim of this study was to relate placental transfer, quantified by the cord to maternal serum concentration ratio (C/M), of five organochlorine pesticides (OCP) hexachlorobenzene (HCB), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH) , p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE and 15 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners (28, 52, 101, 105, 114, 118, 123(+149), 138(+163), 153, 156(+171), 157, 167, 170, 180, and 189) to anthropometric, socioeconomic, and maternal health characteristics. We included into the study 1,134 births during the period 2002-2004 from two districts in eastern Slovakia with high organochlorine concentrations relative to other areas of the world. Only concentrations >LOD were taken into account.

PCDDs, PCDFs, dioxin-like PCBs and indicator PCBs in soil from five selected areas in Slovakia.

There is a lack of information regarding persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in soil from Slovakia. This paper reports the concentrations of 17 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), 12 dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) and 6 indicator PCBs associated with 32 soil samples collected in 2007 from areas in the vicinity up to several kilometres from four selected industrial PCDD/F sources in Slovakia and one background area. The results show that the total WHO(1998)-PCDD/F/dl-PCB-TEQ concentrations varied from 0.

PCDD/PCDF, dl-PCB and PBDE serum levels of Slovak general population.

Blood serum specimens from 81 non-occupationally exposed adults residing in four areas close to municipal and waste incinerators as well as metallurgical industry plant and 44 adult subjects coming from control area of Slovakia were analysed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs). The concentration of total WHO(98)TEQ PCDD/F/dl-PCBs in whole group of donors from areas where known sources causing dioxin contamination are present was significantly higher than in control group of donors (p<0.001).

Maternal and early postnatal polychlorinated biphenyl exposure in relation to total serum immunoglobulin concentrations in 6-month-old infants.

Animal data indicate that developmental tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin exposure alters immune function; however, the potential immunotoxicity of dioxin-like and non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the developing infant is an understudied area. The aim of the current study is to examine the association between maternal and early postnatal PCB concentrations in relation to total infant serum immunoglobulin concentrations determined at 6-months-of-age. We selected 384 mother-infant pairs participating in a birth cohort study in Eastern Slovakia.

Half-lives of serum PCB congener concentrations in environmentally exposed early adolescents.

The aim was to determine half-life of six most abundant PCB congeners in the body of early adolescents. In 304 environmentally exposed children, PCB serum concentration was determined at the age of 8 and 12years. Half-life was determined for each child assuming exponential decrease or for the whole cohort using multiple regression.

A cohort study of developmental polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure in relation to post-vaccination antibody response at 6-months of age.

Background: Extensive experimental data in animals indicate that exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during pregnancy leads to changes in offspring immune function during the postnatal period. Whether developmental PCB exposure influences immunologic development in humans has received little study.

Methods: The study population was 384 mother-infant pairs recruited from two districts of eastern Slovakia for whom prospectively collected maternal, cord, and 6-month infant blood specimens were available.