ON THE INCIDENCE OF THE DIFFERENT FORMS OF PRIMARY GLAUCOMA

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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

Investigation of the efficiency and selectivity of some herbicides applied on cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.)

The main goal of the present paper was to study the possibilities for application of herbicides during vegetation of cape gooseberry. Herbicides Afalon 100 and 150 ml/da and Agil 85 and 150 ml/da were applied at the moment of the beginning of bud formation on the Plovdiv variety. The control was not treated, but it was hoed. Twenty days later, species, number and weight of weeds; number of dead cape gooseberry plants; weight, diameter and length of fruits (in botanical maturity) were investigated. Productivity and chemical components were determined. The highest effectiveness, lowest weed number and weight were observed when using Afalon 150 ml/da which controls annual dicotyledon weeds. Total weeds weight decreased mainly due to Afalon. The highest percentage of dead plants was established after application of 150 ml/da Afalon. The highest productivity was established in control. Investigated herbicides, Afalon and Agil, did not demonstrate satisfactory selectivity in cape gooseberry

The Advantages of Polymer Composites with Detonation Nanodiamond Particles for Medical Applications

ISBN 978-953-307-271-

Evaluation of the yield and the yield stability of perspective lines of barley

The study was carried out in the Experimental field of the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding-Agricultural University, Plovdiv during the period 2009-2011. New breeding lines were investigated using block design with 4 replications and 20 m2 plot size. The aim of the investigation was to estimate barley lines by yield, stability and some important traits, using Obzor as a standard. Applying biometrical and cluster analysis and index of yield stability, it has been established that some breeding lines: numbers 21411003, 21401409 and 21001008, respectively, had better traits in comparison with the standard cultivar "Obzor" as well as stable yields regardless of differences in the climatic conditions over the years. These lines can be certified as new cultivars according to the government's requirements for cultivar testing

Empirical Investigation on Agile Methods Usage: Issues Identified from Early Adopters in Malaysia

Agile Methods are a set of software practices that can help to produce products faster and at the same time deliver what customers want. Despite the benefits that Agile methods can deliver, however, we found few studies from the Southeast Asia region, particularly Malaysia. As a result, less empirical evidence can be obtained in the country making its implementation harder. To use a new method, experience from other practitioners is critical, which describes what is important, what is possible and what is not possible concerning Agile. We conducted a qualitative study to understand the issues faced by early adopters in Malaysia where Agile methods are still relatively new. The initial study involves 13 participants including project managers, CEOs, founders and software developers from seven organisations. Our study has shown that social and human aspects are important when using Agile methods. While technical aspects have always been considered to exist in software development, we found these factors to be less important when using Agile methods. The results obtained can serve as guidelines to practitioners in the country and the neighbouring regions

Evaluation of the yield and the yield stability of perspective lines of barley

The study was carried out in the Experimental field of the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding – Agricultural University, Plovdiv during the period 2009-2011. New breeding lines were investigated using block design with 4 replications and 20 m2 plot size. The aim of the investigation was to estimate barley lines by yield, stability and some important traits, using Obzor as a standard. Applying biometrical and cluster analysis and index of yield stability, it has been established that some  breeding lines: numbers 21411003, 21401409 and 21001008, respectively, had better traits in comparison with the standard cultivar “Obzor” as well as stable yields regardless of differences in the climatic conditions over the years. These lines can be certified as new cultivars according to the government’s requirements for cultivar testing

Vibrational circular dichroism signature of hemiprotonated intercalated four-stranded i-DNA

Abstract The four-stranded intercalated DNA structure exemplified by the oligonucleotide 5V-d(CCCCCCCCCCCC) (d(C) 12 ) was studied at acidic pH by infrared absorption (IR) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy and compared with spectra of the same oligonucleotide at neutral pH to establish distinct VCD markers for the intercalation motif. The most striking feature is a new absorption at 1694 cm À 1 and its corresponding VCD couplet with reversed sign. These are unique for the intercalated structure and have not been observed for other parallel stranded duplexes. Significant characteristic features resulting from the spatial arrangement of the sugar-phosphate backbone are also clearly present for d(C) 12 at acidic pH. An extensive network of CH. . .O bonds twists the backbone such that multiple through-space vibrational coupling occurs among neighbouring sugar-phosphate residues resulting in unusual VCD signals.

UPON THE ETIOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF BACTERIAL NONGONOCOCCAL URETHRITIS

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