GE132+Natural: Novel promising dietetic supplement with antiproliferative influence on prostate, colon, and breast cancer cells.

PURPOSE: Natural products have been investigated for promising new leads in pharmaceutical development. The purpose of this study was to analyze the biological effect of GE132+Natural, a novel supplement consisting of 5 compounds: Resveratrol, Ganoderma lucidum, Sulforaphane, Lycopene and Royal jelly. METHODS: The antiproliferative activity of GE132+Natural was tested on 3 different human cancer cell lines: MCF7 (breast cancer cells), PC3 (prostate cancer cells), and SW480 (colon cancer cells), as well as on EA.hy 926 (normal human endothelial cell line). In addition, the cytotoxicity of GE132+- Natural on the proliferation of primary human mesenchymal stem cells isolated from dental pulp (DP=MSC), along with its in vitro impact on different peripheral blood parameters, was determined. RESULTS: The results revealed high antiproliferative activity of GE132+Natural on all tested cancer cell lines (PC3, MCF7 and SW480), as well as on the EA.hy 926 endothelial cell line in a dose-dependent manner. However, applied in a wide range of concentrations GE132+Natural did not affect both the proliferation of primary mesenchymal stem cells and the peripheral blood cells counts. CONCLUSION: The data obtained demonstrated that GE132+Natural is effective in inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, indicating its potential beneficial health effects. In addition, the results pointed that adult mesenchymal stem cells might be valuable as a test system for evaluating the toxicity and efficacy of new medicines or chemicals.

Homeostatic modulation of stimulation-dependent plasticity in human motor cortex.

Since recently, it is possible, using noninvasive cortical stimulation, such as the protocol of paired associative stimulation (PAS), to induce the plastic changes in the motor cortex, in humans that mimic Hebb's model of learning. Application of TMS conjugated with peripheral electrical stimulation at strictly coherent temporal manner lead to convergence of inputs in the sensory-motor cortex, with the consequent synaptic potentiation or weakening, if applied repetitively. However, when optimal interstimulus interval (ISI) for induction of LTP-like effects is applied as a single pair, Motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude inhibition is observed, the paradigm known as short-latency afferent inhibition (SLAI). Aiming to resolve this paradox, PAS protocols were applied, with 200 repetitions of TMS pulses paired with median nerve electrical stimulation, at ISI equal to individual latencies of evoked response of somatosensory cortex (N(20)) (PAS(LTP)), and at ISI of N(20) shortened for 5 msec (PAS(LTD)) - protocols that mimic LTP-like changes in the human motor cortex. MEP amplitudes before, during and after interventions were measured as an indicator based on output signals originating from the motor system. Post-intervention MEP amplitudes following the TMS protocols of PAS(LTP) and PAS(LTD) were facilitated and depressed, respectively, contrary to MEP amplitudes during intervention. During PAS(LTP) MEP amplitudes were significantly decreased in case of PAS(LTP), while in the case of PAS(LTD) an upward trend was observed. In conclusions, a possible explanation for the seemingly paradoxical effect of PAS can be found in the mechanism of homeostatic modulation of plasticity. Those findings indicate the existence of complex relationships in the development of plasticity induced by stimulation, depending on the level of the previous motor cortex excitability.

Alumina/silica supported K2CO3 as a catalyst for biodiesel synthesis from sunflower oil.

The new type of catalyst for fatty acid methyl esters (FAME or biodiesel) synthesis with K(2)CO(3) as active component on alumina/silica support was synthesized using sol-gel method. Corresponding catalyst (xerogel) was prepared by 12h drying the wet gel in air at 300 degrees C, 600 degrees C or 1000 degrees C at atmospheric pressure. The catalysts activity in the methanolysis of sunflower oil was compared to the activity of the pure K(2)CO(3). The effects of various reaction variables on the yield of FAME were investigated. It was found that the temperature of 120 degrees C and methanol to oil molar ratio of 15:1, are optimal conditions for FAME synthesis with synthesized catalyst. Repeated use of same amount of catalyst indicated that effect of potassium leaching obviously existed leading to decrease of catalyst activity.

Fractal analysis of STM images of photochemical polymer of coniferyl alcohol.

Fractal analysis was applied to images of photochemical lignin polymer obtained using scanning tunneling microscope. We studied the polymer obtained in vitro by ionic mechanism through UV radiation--induced polymerization. The analysis showed the regularity of the lignin-like polymer at different levels of organization. At the 95% confidence level, there was no significant difference in the fractal dimension between images representing different organizational levels of photochemical lignin. That means that lignin produced in in vitro conditions by photochemical mechanism of synthesis, has a fractal structural organization. The obtained values of the fractal dimension are in good agreement with the theoretically predicted value for the polyaddition and polycondensation mechanism of polymerization, known as the bulk model.

Fractal analysis of STM images of lignin polymer obtained by in vitro synthesis.

Lignin, the structural polymer of the plant cell walls, is produced by free radical polymerization of phenolic alcohols, catalyzed by different peroxidases. The mechanism and the structural organization of lignin in the cell have not been completely understood. In this study we applied fractal analysis to images of lignin polymer obtained using scanning tunneling microscope. The analysis showed the regularity of the polymer at different levels of organization. According to the results obtained, at the 95% confidence level, there is no significant difference in the fractal dimension between images representing different organizational levels of lignin. In other words, lignin produced in in vitro conditions has fractal structural organization and, consequently the polymer can be expected to be regular in in vivo conditions. The value of the fractal dimension 1.929 +/- 0.021 is in good agreement with the theoretically predicted value for polyaddition and polycondensation mechanism of polymerization. The mechanism of in vivo lignin synthesis is discussed in terms of various experimental and theoretical evidences. In this paper, we could show that fractal analysis of the lignin polymer is a useful complementary approach to the experimental data collection in structural and phenomenological studies.

[The personality of soldiers with inappropriate behavior patterns at the end of military service]. / Licnost vojnika sa neprilagodenim oblicima ponasanja na kraju vojnog roka.

The end of military service is the turning point in young man's life. After the organized way of living in military environment, he is expected to enter the regular life duties for which he is not prepared to. The aim of this investigation was to study the basic features of soldier's personality that contribute to the maladapted behavioral patterns in frustrating situations occurring at the end of military service, as well as the close inspection of the behavioural changes in such persons, which occurred in that period. Thirty-three soldiers who came to the neuropsychiatric examination between the 10th and 12th month of compulsory military service (72.72% for the first time since joining the Army) were examined. The soldier's personality in EPI (Emotion Profile Index) test was characterized by: lower incorporation and reproduction, but raised level of destructiveness and aggressiveness. The graphic representation of personality profile in the circle of segment values demonstrates the similarity of structurality level to the average profile of emotionally immature person and in certain segments to the persons who attempted suicide. Manifested behavioural patterns in soldiers had the features of Short timer's syndrome. The results of our investigation have shown that the problems of maladapted behaviour in soldiers at the end of military service are dominantly associated with the poor personality integration preexisting chronic problems of the immediate family and differing starting positions after the discharge as well as the poorer organization of living and work of soldiers in the unit due to the inadequate leadership.

[Adaptation problems of soldiers to the military environment]. / Problemi adaptacije vojnika na vojni kolektiv.

Sixty six conscripts were examined during the first 30 days of military service, in the period of adaptation to the military environment. Out of total number of the examined soldiers, 83.33% of them enlisted with previous problems from the civilian life. Two thirds of the examined soldiers experience difficulties enduring the conditions of the soldiers' life, and 2/3 of the examined soldiers encountered problems in interpersonal relations in the unit. The most frequent diagnosis was emotionally immature personality (39.39%), then intellectual deficiency (24.14%). 43.94% of soldiers were referred to the Military Medical Board with the recommendation of 'temporary disability' and 28.79% with the recommendation of 'permanent disability' for the military service, while 21.21% of soldiers were returned to their units are 'capable' for the military service.

A study of lignin formation at the molecular level by scanning tunneling microscopy.

A scanning tunneling microscope (STM) was used to observe the temporal formation and organization of dehydrogenative polymer (DHP) synthesized from coniferyl alcohol. The images obtained elucidate this structure for the first time. The structure of DHP, as seen from STM images, shows long-range order. It appears that DHP consists of building units or modules assembled into larger assemblies called supermodules. Supermodules are interconnected into the overall lattice-like polymer structure with or without spherical regions. One module consists of about 20 monomers, while the supermodule contains about 500 monomers. Calculated molecular weights for modules and supermodules agree with DHP molecular weight distribution peaks. Samples prepared at two different pH values, 6.4 and 7.6, have the same characteristics. The results presented demonstrate that the process of lignification, even in in vitro conditions, is highly ordered, and as such contribute to our understanding of the structure of lignin, a significant constitutive and functional element of cell walls.

Adrenocorticotropin binding activity of B16/C3 melanoma cells.

The binding of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to B16/C3 murine melanoma cells was found to be specific and saturable. The binding capacity of the cells changed as a function of the age of the culture. Scatchard analysis revealed one class of high-affinity ACTH binding sites. The specificity of ACTH binding to the cells was tested by displacement experiments with human leukocyte interferon (alpha-IFN) and alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) as the competitors. Structure-activity relationship of ACTH, alpha-MSH and alpha-IFN was discussed.