Effects of anthocyanins and their gut metabolites on adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet activation and their aggregation with monocytes and neutrophils

Accumulating evidence suggests that anthocyanins play an important role in the cardioprotective effects associated with consumption of anthocyanin-rich foods. These benefits may partly be attributed to their effects on platelets, significant contributors to cardiovascular disease development. This study aimed to investigate the impact of physiologically relevant concentrations of anthocyanins and their metabolites on platelet activation and platelet-leukocyte aggregation. Whole blood from seven healthy volunteers was treated with anthocyanins: cyanidin-3-arabinoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-galactoside, delphinidin-3-glucoside and peonidin-3-glucoside at 0.1 mu M concentration or gut metabolites: 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, protocatechuic, vanillic, ferulic and hippuric acids at 0.5 mu M, 0.2 mu M, 2 mu M, 1 mu M, 2 mu M concentration, respectively. Markers of adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet activation (P-selectin and GPIIb-IIIa expression) and platelet-monocyte and platelet-neutrophil aggregation were analyzed using flow cytometry. Cyanidin-3-arabinoside, delphinidin-3-glucoside, and peonidin-3-glucoside decreased agonist-induced P-selectin expression, while cyanidin-3-galactoside and cyanidin-3-arabinoside reduced platelet-neutrophil aggregation. Hippuric and protocatechuic acids inhibited P-selectin expression, ferulic acid reduced platelet-monocyte aggregation, while 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde affected P-selectin expression, platelet-neutrophil and monocyte aggregation. Only cyanidin-3-glucoside and protocatechuic acid decreased GPIIb-IIIa expression. These results demonstrate the bioactivity of anthocyanins and their gut metabolites at physiologically relevant concentrations on platelet function and interaction with leukocytes, presenting mechanisms by which they contribute to the beneficial effects of habitual consumption of anthocyanin-rich foods on cardiovascular health

Effect of crop density on yield and quality of alfalfa forage from combined use (forage-seed)

In Serbia, alfalfa is the most important perennial forage legume that is grown at 180-200 thousand hectares. Except for the classic production of forage, alfalfa is very important for seed production. In our conditions Alfalfa seed are produced from the second cut of alfalfa. Higher seed yields are achieved in larger distances between rows. In this system of production first and third cut are used for fodder. This trial tests three different densities and four varieties in order to determine the impact on yield and quality of forage dry matter. In the year of establishment, cultivars from the treatment A1 achieved higher yields of dry matter for 2.3 t ha-1 in relation to the treatment A2. In the second year, yield was higher by 1.4 t ha-1, and in the third higher for 3.1 t ha-1. Treatment A1 compared to A3 treatment had a higher yield of 3.5 t ha-1 (52%). In the second year treatment A1 achieved higher yields of forage then treatment A3 for 3.8 t ha-1 (44%), and in the third year for 4.6 t ha-1 (56%). Cultivars were also significantly affected the yield of forage dry matter at all densities. Influence of density and variety to the chemical composition of forage and the content of macro elements in the forage had no significant effect

Determination of the structural and chemisorption characteristics of granulated active charcoal on the basis of coconut shell

Wastewater purification and the acquirement of drinking water from water streams that are in most cases recipients of various industrial plants, present a significant problem nowadays. The structural characteristics of granulated active charcoal (GAC) obtained by the carbonization of coconut shells and activated by steam are presented in this paper. The established kinetics of suspending cyanide from aqueous solution using GAC impregnated with copper(II) acetate were studied and a mathematical model estabkusged by a regression - correlation analysis

Influence of gelatin on corrosion behavior of copper in acid media

This paper presents the results of gelatin and benzotriazole (BTA) inhibitory action on copper in the acid medium by the method of weight loss. The investigation was carried out in the citric acid solution (1, 5 and 20%) at the temperature of 293 K. Under such conditions, the gelatin showed higher efficiency of corrosion protection in comparison to BTA. The results, obtained through the Gibbs and Langmuir adsorption isotherm, show that gelatin adsorption on copper surface obey the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model, as well as that the adsorption is a spontaneous process. The polarization measurements show the potential of full passivation shift towards more negative values, and the increase of corrosion current in both cases but being more pronounced with the BTA. The results obtained in this paper indicate that the inhibition gelatin can be used as the BTA substitute for the copper corrosion protection

The optimization of zinc dialkyldithiocarbamates synthesis and determination of their antioxidant activity

A two-step optimized laboratory synthetic method of zinc dialkyldithiocarbamates is presented. In the course of the first phase, a sodium salt of dialkyldithiocarbamic acid has been synthesized from the dialkylamines, carbon disulfide and sodium hydroxide. The synthesis of zinc dialkyldithiocarbamates was achieved by the precipitation from sodium dialkyldithiocarbamic acid by zinc sulfate under the optimized conditions. The synthesized products have been characterized by FTIR, 1H and 13C NMR, AAS spectroscopic methods, as well as by elemental analysis and melting points. Kinetic studies of the motor oil oxidation inhibited by synthesized compounds have been tested using a standard method

A synthesis of N-alkyl and N,N-dialkyl O-ethyl thiocarbamates from diethyl dixanthogenate using different oxidants

A novel synthesis of N-alkyl and N,N-dialkyl O-ethyl thiocarbamates from diethyl dixanthogenate and primary and secondary amines, using three oxidizing systems, has been developed on the laboratory scale, and the method using sodium hypochlorite has been applied on a semi-industrial scale. The effect of the oxidizing agents, sodium hypochlorite, in-situ-generated peracetic acid, and the manganese(II) acetate/oxygen system on product purity and yield was studied. The results obtained by use of these three methods were compared with those obtained by reaction of sodium ethyl xanthogenacetate and amines, and of sodium ethyl xanthate with amines in the presence of sulfated nickel zeolite catalyst. The reaction mechanism of sodium hypochlorite oxidation has been established on the basis of isolation of reaction intermediates and determination of their structure by use of Fourier-transform infrared, (1)H and (13)C NMR, and mass spectrometric methods. The suggested sodium hypochlorite and manganese(II) acetate/oxygen systems have many advantages in comparison with commercial and catalytically promoted synthetic methods, because they are new ecologically friendly syntheses

Syntheses of N-alkyl, N,N-dialkyl, and N-(4-substituted phenyl) O-ethyl thioncarbamates: a kinetic study

The kinetics of the syntheses of N-alkyl, N,N-dialkyl, and N-(4-substituted phenyl) O-ethyl thioncarbamates from sodium ethyl xanthogenacetate, ten alkylamines, and eight substituted anilines were studied at 25, 30, 35, and 40 A degrees C. The reactions were found to follow second-order kinetics. The kinetic (Arrhenius) parameters, such as the activation energy and the frequency factor, as well as the Eyring parameters, such as the standard entropy, the standard Gibbs energy, and the standard enthalpy of activation, were calculated from the second-order rate constants. The mechanism of the reaction was postulated based on the kinetic studies presented and the optimization of the reaction mechanism using the MOPAC PM6 semi-empirical method

The feasibility of sentinel lymph node biopsy for gastric cancer: the experience from Serbia

Purpose: The prediction of outcome for patients with gastric cancer is determined largely by the presence of lymph node metastases, which could be detected by sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy (SLNB). The purpose of this work was to determine the feasibility of SLNB in patients with gastric cancer for the assessment of regional lymph node status, including performing immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of SLN tissue. Methods: We reviewed 137 consecutive patients with operable gastric cancer over a 10-year period using a retrospective (to examine skip metastases) and prospective (to evaluate successful mapping) study design. SLNs were mapped, biopsied and subsequently explored by routine hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining and by IHC staining using a cytokeratin 8/18 antibody. Results: The retrospective study showed a low incidence of skip metastases (3.7%). Mapping of SLNs in the prospective study was highly successful (98.2%). During the prospective study, IHC examination of SLNs from 56 patients showed statistically significant change in disease stage. Conclusion: This study demonstrated highly successful mapping and biopsy of SLNs (98.2%), as well as highest specificity (100%), sensitivity (100%) and accuracy (100%) to predict metastasis in the surrounding lymph nodes of gastric carcinoma. In addition, we believe that IHC study might enable "ultra staging" and additional selection of patients for further cancer treatment

Improving energy efficiency in compressed air systems - practical experiences

This paper presents practical experiences of savings within compressed air systems with the special attention to the compressed air end uses, particularly in pneumatic control systems. Firstly, the systematic approach to energy savings is presented. Following, various energy-saving measures have been reviewed. They encompassed system analysis and harmonization of production and consumption, minimisation of loses (leak prevention strategy, identification and quantification of leakages), possibilities for reducing pressure drop on filters, and three methods for optimization of pneumatic control: by-pass control, PWM control, and usage of exhaust air. Finally, energy conservation of a complex robotic cell with installed electric and pneumatic devices is shown