Photoinduced Birefringence and Liquid Crystal Orientation on Polymers with Different Azobenzene Content in the Main Chain.

In this paper, we give an overview of novel main-chain azobenzene-based fluorinated poly(arylene ether)s with different content of azo groups, aiming at providing a better understanding of the link between a number of N═N bonds and the macroscopic response of the material. We discuss chemical synthesis and molecular structure and report on a comprehensive analysis of the polymer properties, thermal behavior, and mechanical strength. We show that a higher content of azobenzene moieties reduces the mechanical strength of the polymer materials.

[Structural and functional changes in rat liver mitochondria under calcium ion loading in the absence and presence of flavonoids].

The aim of the present work was to elucidate the mechanisms of calcium ion-induced impairments of the ultrastructure and functional activity of isolated rat liver mitochondria in the absence and presence of a number of flavonoids in vitro. In the presence of exogenous Ca²⁺ (20-60 μM), mitochondrial heterogeneity in size and electron density markedly increased: most organelles demonstrated a swollen electron-light matrix, bigger size, elongated cristae and a reduced their number, a damaged native structure of the inner membrane up to its detachment, and some mitochondria showed a more electron-dense matrix (condensed mitochondria). The calcium-induced opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pores (MPTP) resulted in the ultrastructural disturbances and in the effective inhibition of the respiratory activity of rat liver mitochondria.

Induction of A549 Nonsmall-Cell Lung Cancer Cells Proliferation by Photoreleased Nicotine.

Caged compounds comprise the group of artificially synthesized, light-sensitive molecules that enable in situ derivation of biologically active constituents capable of affecting cells, tissues and/or biological processes upon exposure to light. Ruthenium-bispyridine (RuBi) complexes are photolyzed by biologically harmless visible light. In the present study, we show that RuBi-caged nicotine can be used as a source of free nicotine to induce proliferation of A549 nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells by acting on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors expressed in these cells.

Double-twisted nematic director configurations in cylindrical capillaries with a photocontrollable angle of twist.

The orientational configurations of thermotropic nematic liquid crystal in cylindrical capillaries with nondegenerated planar surface anchoring are investigated. The boundary conditions were determined by a photoaligning coating on the inner wall of the capillary treated with a linearly polarized UV light while rotating the capillary around its long axis, thus providing the easy alignment axis perpendicular to the polarization direction of illuminating light. By changing the angle between the incident light polarization and the capillary axis, this procedure allows us to realize axially symmetric twisted structure with any angle of twist, ranging from a trivial axial alignment with zero twist (when the UV polarization is perpendicular to the capillary axis) to the 180^{∘}-twisted configuration (when the UV polarization is along the capillary).

Mesenchymal Bone Marrow-derived Stem Cells Transplantation in Patients with HCV Related Liver Cirrhosis.

Background And Aims: To evaluate the effect of intraparenchymal transplantation of mesenchymal bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver cirrhosis (LC).

Methods: Mononuclear cells were isolated from patient bone marrow and were passaged several times in vitro in order to reach the required volume. Attributes of the BMSCs were evaluated by the presence of the surface markers CD105+, CD90+, and CD73+.