Antiproliferative Activity of Natural Flavonoid Fustin Isolated from the Heartwood of Cotinus Coggygria Scop. Against Breast and Colon Cancer Cell Lines

Background and objective: Cotinus coggygria Scop. is a valuable medicinal plant species with pronounced pharmacological potential due to its numerous biological activities. The herb is characterized by a high content of polyphenols among which is fustin. The anticancer activities of fustin, however, are extremely weakly studied. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro antiproliferative potential of fustin isolated from the heartwood of C. coggygria against cell lines originating from two of the most common cancer types – breast (MDA-MB-231 and MCF7), and colon cancer (Colon 26). Materials and methods: Cell growth inhibitory properties of fustin were examined by MTT assay. Subsequently, phase-contrast and fl uorescence microscopy analysis as well as colonyforming assay were carried out on the most sensitive to the cytostatic action of the fustin cell line. Results: The obtained results showed that fustin reduced the proliferation of all studied cell lines. The highest cytostatic eff ect was registered towards breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 56.02 μg/ ml followed by colon cancer cells with an IC50 of 78.07 μg/ml. MCF7 cell proliferation was least aff ected with a calculated IC50 of 187.8 μg/ml. Further investigations on breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells indicated decreased density of cell monolayer and some morphological alterations, signifi cant attenuation in the number of viable cells, and diminished clonogenic ability of cells after fustin exposure. Conclusion: It could be concluded that fustin isolated from the heartwood of medicinal plant C. coggygria possesses marked antiproliferative properties against breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 which will be a subject of our more detailed future investigations

Bioconversion of apigenin-7-O-β-glucoside in aqueous two-phase system

The study is concerned with the conversion of apigenin-7-O-β-glucoside into apigenin in polyethylene glycol 6000 / dextran 20000 aqueous two-phase system by β-glucosidase. Apigenin was separated from apigenin-7-O-β-glucoside and β-glucosidase by their partition into opposite phases. In 14% PEG / 22.5% DEX aqueous two-phase system obtained yield of apigenin in top phase was 108%

Camomile autofermentation in polyethylene glycol/dextran two-phase system

The objective of this study was the investigation of the extractive bioconversion of apigenin-7-O-β-glucoside in camomile ligulate flowers into apigenin by autofermentation in polyethylene glycol 6000/dextran 200000 two-phase system. In 22.5% polyethylene glycol/14% dextran aqueous two-phase system the obtained yield of apigenin in the top phase was 96.5%. In the presence of plant material that partiotioned to the interphase, the yield of apigenin in the top phase was 3.5 times higher in comparison to the model system

Swarming Behavior in Plant Roots

Interactions between individuals that are guided by simple rules can generate swarming behavior. Swarming behavior has been observed in many groups of organisms, including humans, and recent research has revealed that plants also demonstrate social behavior based on mutual interaction with other individuals. However, this behavior has not previously been analyzed in the context of swarming. Here, we show that roots can be influenced by their neighbors to induce a tendency to align the directions of their growth. In the apparently noisy patterns formed by growing roots, episodic alignments are observed as the roots grow close to each other. These events are incompatible with the statistics of purely random growth. We present experimental results and a theoretical model that describes the growth of maize roots in terms of swarming

Reperfusion therapy for ST elevation acute myocardial infarction 2010/2011: current status in 37 ESC countries

Aims Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the preferred reperfusion therapy in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We conducted this study to evaluate the contemporary status on the use and type of reperfusion therapy in patients admitted with STEMI in the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) member countries. Methods and results A cross-sectional descriptive study based on aggregated country-level data on the use of reperfusion therapy in patients admitted with STEMI during 2010 or 2011. Thirty-seven ESC countries were able to provide data from existing national or regional registries. In countries where no such registries exist, data were based on best expert estimates. Data were collected on the use of STEMI reperfusion treatment and mortality, the numbers of cardiologists, and the availability of PPCI facilities in each country. Our survey provides a brief data summary of the degree of variation in reperfusion therapy across Europe. The number of PPCI procedures varied between countries, ranging from 23 to 884 per million inhabitants. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention and thrombolysis were the dominant reperfusion strategy in 33 and 4 countries, respectively. The mean population served by a single PPCI centre with a 24-h service 7 days a week ranged from 31 300 inhabitants per centre to 6 533 000 inhabitants per centre. Twenty-seven of the total 37 countries participated in a former survey from 2007, and major increases in PPCI utilization were observed in 13 of these countries. Conclusion Large variations in reperfusion treatment are still present across Europe. Countries in Eastern and Southern Europe reported that a substantial number of STEMI patients are not receiving any reperfusion therapy. Implementation of the best reperfusion therapy as recommended in the guidelines should be encourage

Electrothermal desorption in an annular-radial flow - ACFC adsorber - Mathematical modeling

A mathematical model of an annular, radial-flow adsorber with the possibility of electroresistive heating of the adsorbent bed has been postulated. The model consists of a set of coupled nonlinear PDEs, ODEs and algebraic equations (material and energy balances for the gas and solid in the adsorbent bed and for the gas in the inlet and in the outlet tube, plus equilibrium relation, criterial equations etc.). The model was solved numerically, using the method of orthogonal collocation for space discretization. It can be used for simulation of adsorption, desorption and TSA processes (cyclic adsorption-desorption). The simulation was used for investigation of the influence of the main process parameters and optimization of the TSA process

Digitalization of Engineering Education: From E-Learning to Smart Education

© 2019, Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature. Digitalization of all scopes of activities along with the rapid accumulation of information, development of technologies and the processes’ intellectualization pose global challenges in both the economy and education. Information technologies become an integral part of the human living space, causing the emergence of a new digital (networking) generation of people, for whom a mobile phone, a computer, and the Internet are the natural elements of their life. A universal approach to Smart Education is needed. Business requires engineers who can design, create and operate complex technical systems. At the same time, principles of sustainable development and minimization of negative environmental impacts must be observed. Educational system should ensure the quality of training engineers, who are needed by business and society. To realize this goal, there are opportunities associated with the use of such educational technologies as modeling, simulators, augmented and virtual reality. Ways to improve educational process with use of simulators and a virtual reality, as well as examples of using such training technologies to increase students’ motivation when training them for the automotive company are presented in the article

Dynamic calibration of a sensor gas calorimeter for measurement of heat generation rates during kinetic of adsorption experiments

A procedure for dynamic calibration of a sensor gas calorimeter, resulting with a calibration transfer function, instead with a calibration line, is presented. The main factors influencing the calibration transfer function have been assessed. The calibration transfer function enables measurement of the heat generation rates during adsorption, necessary for obtaining a complete picture about adsorption kinetics