Flow analysis-solid phase extraction system and UHPLC-MS/MS analytical methodology for the determination of antiviral drugs in surface water.

An automated flow analysis-solid phase extraction (FA-SPE) system and methodology of ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) analysis were developed for the determination of selected antiviral drugs (acyclovir, amantadine, rimantadine, and oseltamivir) in water samples. The proposed FA-SPE approach enables the integration of various extraction stages and elimination of the sample evaporation step and offers individual customisation of SPE parameters, inter alia sample, and eluate flow rate and volume. Using the developed FA-SPE procedure, e.

Novel sample double dilution calibration method for determination of lithium in biological samples using automatic flow system with in-syringe reaction.

A novel sample double dilution calibration method (SDDCM) and an automatic flow system with in-syringe reaction and spectrophotometric detection were developed for determining lithium in biological samples. The method is based on the reaction of lithium with Thorin in an alkaline medium and the signal was measured at 480 nm. The reaction was performed simultaneously for both standards and samples in three syringes of the automatic flow system.

Association between the antioxidant properties of SESN proteins and anti-cancer therapies.

Since the beginning of SESN protein development, they have attracted highly progressive attention due to their regulatory role in multiple signalling pathways. Through their antioxidant activity and autophagy regulation implication, they can function as powerful antioxidants to reduce oxidative stress in cells. SESN proteins received special attention in the field of regulation of reactive oxygen species level in the cell and its interplay with signalling pathways determining energy and nutrient homeostasis.

Multiple Cytokine Analysis of Th1/Th2/Th9/Th17/Th22/Treg Cytokine Pathway for Individual Immune Profile Assessment in Patients with Psoriasis.

BACKGROUND Psoriasis is an autoimmune and autoinflammatory disorder that has a significant impact on patient quality of life. The aim of the study was to assess the immune profiles of patients with psoriasis with multiple cytokine analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifty-two male psoriatic patients and 24 healthy male volunteers were recruited.

Multidimensional assessment of the financial position of polish households and its regional diversity.

The article aims to present a multidimensional assessment of Polish households' financial position and its regional diversity in 2018. In the first stage of the assessment, the financial position was compared between voivodships in a one-dimensional approach, taking into account the level of equivalent disposable income and total expenditure, the savings rate, the shares of food, and housing expenditures. In the second stage, a multidimensional assessment of the financial position was performed, based on the value of the synthetic indicator constructed with the TOPSIS method.

MSCs as Tumor-Specific Vectors for the Delivery of Anticancer Agents-A Potential Therapeutic Strategy in Cancer Diseases: Perspectives for Quinazoline Derivatives.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are considered to be a powerful tool in the treatment of various diseases. Scientists are particularly interested in the possibility of using MSCs in cancer therapy. The research carried out so far has shown that MSCs possess both potential pro-oncogenic and anti-oncogenic properties.

Novel Integrated Flow-Based Steam Distillation and Titration System for Determination of Volatile Acidity in Wines.

Novel integrated flow-based steam distillation and titration system with spectrophotometric detection was developed for determination of volatile acidity in wines. Using the system, the distillation procedure was carried out in an automatic manner, starting with introducing into a heated steam distillation module a sample and subjecting it to steam distillation. Under selected conditions, all the analyte was transferred to the distillate; therefore, the system did not require calibration.

A Perspective of the Comprehensive and Objective Assessment of Analytical Methods Including the Greenness and Functionality Criteria: Application to the Determination of Zinc in Aqueous Samples.

The recently proposed concept of White Analytical Chemistry (WAC), referring to the Red-Green-Blue color model, combines ecological aspects (green) with functionality (red and blue criteria), presenting the complete method as "white". However, it is not easy to carry out an overall quantitative evaluation of the analytical method in line with the WAC idea in an objective manner. This paper outlines the perspective of the future development of such a possibility by attempting to answer selected questions about the evaluation process.

Comprehensive Assessment of Flow and Other Analytical Methods Dedicated to the Determination of Zinc in Water.

An original strategy to evaluate analytical procedures is proposed and applied to verify if the flow-based methods, generally favorable in terms of green chemistry, are competitive when their evaluation also relies on other criteria. To this end, eight methods for the determination of zinc in waters, including four flow-based ones, were compared and the Red-Green-Blue (RGB) model was exploited. This model takes into account several features related to the general quality of an analytical method, namely, its analytical efficiency, compliance with the green analytical chemistry, as well as practical and economic usefulness.

Inhibition or Reversal of the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Gastric Cancer: Pharmacological Approaches.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) constitutes one of the hallmarks of carcinogenesis consisting in the re-differentiation of the epithelial cells into mesenchymal ones changing the cellular phenotype into a malignant one. EMT has been shown to play a role in the malignant transformation and while occurring in the tumor microenvironment, it significantly affects the aggressiveness of gastric cancer, among others. Importantly, after EMT occurs, gastric cancer patients are more susceptible to the induction of resistance to various therapeutic agents, worsening the clinical outcome of patients.

Novel Approach to Sample Preconcentration by Solvent Evaporation in Flow Analysis.

A preconcentration module operated in flow mode and integrated with a sequential injection system with spectrophotometric detection was developed. Using the system, preconcentration was performed in continuous mode and was based on a membraneless evaporation process under diminished pressure. The parameters of the proposed system were optimized and the system was tested on the example of the spectrophotometric determination of Cr(III).

Novel Approach to Automated Flow Titration for the Determination of Fe(III).

A novel approach to automated flow titration with spectrophotometric detection for the determination of Fe(III) is presented. The approach is based on the possibility of strict and simultaneous control of the flow rates of sample and titrant streams over time. It consists of creating different but precisely defined concentration gradients of titrant and analyte in each successively formed monosegments, and is based on using the calculated titrant dilution factor.

The function of miR-200 family in oxidative stress response evoked in cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Since the beginning of the discovery of microRNAs (miRs), these molecules have attracted highly progressive attention due to their powerful regulatory roles in a broad spectrum of biological processes, including proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and carcinogenesis. With regard to carcinogenesis, the miRs regulatory potency has been associated with cancer onset, progression, metastasis, diagnosis and therapeutic response. In this review we discuss the impact of miR-200 family on drug resistance development during anti-cancer therapy.

Interactions between microRNA-200 family and Sestrin proteins in endometrial cancer cell lines and their significance to anoikis.

In the present study, we intend to determine whether Sestrin proteins 1, 2, and 3 (SESN1-3) are targets of microRNA-200 family (miR-200) in endometrial cancer (EC) Ishikawa, AN3CA, KLE, and RL 95-2 cell lines and to investigate how these potential interactions influence anoikis resistance of EC cell lines. The luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR, and western blotting assays were used to verify whether SESN1-3 are direct targets of miR-200. Moreover, the anoikis assay and transient transfections of miR-200 mimics or inhibitors into EC cell lines were performed to evaluate the modulatory role of miR-200 and SESN proteins on anoikis resistance.

Sequential injection system with in-line solid phase extraction and soil mini-column for determination of zinc and copper in soil leachates.

A sequential injection (SI) system equipped with in-line solid phase extraction column and in-line soil mini-column is proposed for determination of zinc and copper in soil leachates. The spectrophotometric determination (560 nm) is based on the reaction of both analytes with 1-(2-Pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN). Zinc is determined after retaining copper on a cationic resin (Chelex100) whereas copper is determined from the difference of the absorbance measured for both analytes, introduced into the system with the use of a different channel, and zinc absorbance.

A guide for endometrial cancer cell lines functional assays using the measurements of electronic impedance.

Endometrial cancer cell lines are critical tools to investigate the molecular mechanism of tumorigenesis using the end point cell-based assay such as proliferation, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, anoikis or migration and invasion. The proper assay optimization and performance is essential for physiologically relevant results interpretation. In this study we use label-free real-time cell analysis platform (xCELLigence) to optimize growing conditions for proliferation and migration experiments of two types of endometrial cancer cell lines HEC-1-B, HEC-1-A, KLE, and Ishikawa.

New approach to H-point standard addition method for detection and elimination of unspecific interferences in samples with unknown matrix.

A novel method for correction of unknown unspecific (additive) interferences was developed in sequential injection analysis (SIA) using a Lab on Valve module (LOV) with spectrophotometric detection. The method implements a novel idea to calibrate by the standard addition method in several different chemical conditions created in such a way to measure different signal for an analyte and unchanged signal for interferents causing additive effect. This approach, being an enhancement of the H-point standard addition method (HPSAM), enables to quantify unbiased concentration of an analyte in the presence of unknown interferences.

In vitro and in vivo activity of miR-92a-Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA)-Inhibitor against endometrial cancer.

Background: Endometrial cancer is the most common cancer of the female reproductive tract. Based on our previous studies we speculated that miR-92a exhibited pro-oncogenic properties in endometrial cancer, and therefore its inhibition could be used as a therapeutic measure in this disease. Therefore in the present study we aimed to investigate both in vitro and in vivo if inhibition of miR-92a in endometrial cancer would limit cancer cells proliferation.

Locked nucleic acid-inhibitor of miR-205 decreases endometrial cancer cells proliferation in vitro and in vivo.

Pathogenesis of endometrial cancer has been connected with alterations of microRNA expression and in particular miR-205 up-regulation was consistently reported in this carcinoma. Presented study aimed to investigate if inhibition of miR-205 expression using LNA-modified-nucleotide would attenuate endometrial cancer cells proliferation in vitro and in vivo.In the course of the study we found that the proliferation of endometrial cancer cells (HEC-1-B, RL-95, KLE, Ishikawa) transfected with LNA-miR-205-inhibitor and evaluated using real time cell monitoring as well as standard cell proliferation assay, was significantly decreased.

Synthesis, in vitro and in vivo studies, and molecular modeling of N-alkylated dextromethorphan derivatives as non-competitive inhibitors of α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

9 N-alkylated derivatives of dextromethorphan are synthesized and studied as non-competitive inhibitors of α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). In vitro activity towards α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is determined using a patch-clamp technique and is in the micromolar range. Homology modeling, molecular docking and molecular dynamics of ligand-receptor complexes in POPC membrane are used to find the mode of interactions of N-alkylated dextromethorphan derivatives with α3β4 nAChR.

An automatic, vigorous-injection assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction technique for stopped-flow spectrophotometric detection of boron.

A novel automatic vigorous-injection assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction procedure based on the use of a modified single-valve sequential injection manifold (SV-SIA) was developed and applied for determination of boron in water samples. The major novelties in the procedure are the achieving of efficient dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction by means of single vigorous-injection (250 µL, 900 µL s(-1)) of the extraction solvent (n-amylacetate) into aqueous phase resulting in the effective dispersive mixing without using dispersive solvent and after self-separation of the phases, as well as forwarding of the extraction phase directly to a Z-flow cell (10 mm) without the use of a holding coil for stopped-flow spectrophotometric detection. The calibration working range was linear up to 2.

Solenoid micropump-based flow system for generalized calibration strategy.

Generalized calibration strategy (GCS) is one of the innovative approaches aimed at verification and improvement of accuracy of analytical determinations. It combines in a single procedure the interpolative and the extrapolative calibration approaches along with stepwise dilution of a sample with the use of a dedicated flow system. In the paper a simple solenoid micropump-based flow system designed for implementation of GCS has been described.

Sub-anesthetic concentrations of (R,S)-ketamine metabolites inhibit acetylcholine-evoked currents in α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

The effect of the (R,S)-ketamine metabolites (R,S)-norketamine, (R,S)-dehydronorketamine, (2S,6S)-hydroxynorketamine and (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine on the activity of α7 and α3β4 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors was investigated using patch-clamp techniques. The data indicated that (R,S)-dehydronorketamine inhibited acetylcholine-evoked currents in α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, IC(50) = 55 ± 6 nM, and that (2S,6S)-hydroxynorketamine, (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine and (R,S)-norketamine also inhibited α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor function at concentrations ≤ 1 μM, while (R,S)-ketamine was inactive at these concentrations. The inhibitory effect of (R,S)-dehydronorketamine was voltage-independent and the compound did not competitively displace selective α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ligands [(125)I]-α-bungarotoxin and [(3)H]-epibatidine indicating that (R,S)-dehydronorketamine is a negative allosteric modulator of the α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Tyrosinase biosensor for benzoic acid inhibition-based determination with the use of a flow-batch monosegmented sequential injection system.

Amperometric tyrosinase based biosensor for benzoic acid determination with the use of a flow-batch monosegmented sequential injection system is proposed. The functioning of the biosensor is based on the inhibition effect of benzoic acid on the biocatalytic activity of tyrosinase, polyphenol oxidase. In the biosensor, tyrosinase is entrapped in titania gel modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and Nafion.