Synthesis and Properties of Multiblock Terpoly(Ester-Aliphatic- Amide) and Terpoly(Ester-Ether-Amide) Thermoplastic Elastomers with Various Chemical Compositions of Ester Block

Two series of thermoplastic elastomers with various chemical compositions of ester block were prepared via the reaction of α,ω-dicarboxylic oligo(laurolactam) (PA12, Mw≈2000 g/mol) with oligo(oxytetramethylene)diol (PTMO, Mw≈1000 g/mol) or linoleic alcohol dimer (DLAol) and with dimethyl terephthalate and a low molecular weight glycol (forming during the synthesis of the ester block). The degree of polycondensation (DPGT) of poly(multi-methylene terephtalate) equals to DPGT=2. The influence of the number of carbons separating the terephtalate groups, as well as the effect of meta- or para- positions of the ester groups in the benzene ring of other blocks, on the synthesis, properties and structure of these elastomers have been evaluated. A nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to carbon (13C NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used to confirm their assumed chemical structure. The influence of chemical compositions of ester block on the functional properties and on the values of phase transition temperatures of the products have been determined. The thermal properties and the phase separation of obtained systems were defined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), wide-angle x-ray diffraction (WAXS) and other standard physical methods. The mechanical and elastic properties of obtained polymers were evaluated

The fatal protozoans of the genus Plasmodium. Is there any chance to overcome the parasite?

This thesis refers to parasitic protozoans of the genus Plasmodium, representing the Apicomplexa type, which cause human malaria. Their vector is the female of Anopheles mosquito. Malaria is found in one hundred and eleven countries, mostly in the tropical and subtropical zone.The history of cognition dates back to the far off days (2700 BC). Scientists who were active in malariology were given a Nobel Prize four times, in the field of medicine.Mentioned protozoans have complex life cycle with two hosts- the definitive host – mosquito and the intermediate host human.Many ways are used to fight with malaria (chemicals, mechanical protection, medicament). A great hope to eliminate malaria is conected with a new method of destroying apicoplasts- plastids, which lost their original function, but they are still necessary to the protoozoan`s life.Niniejsza praca dotyczy pasożytniczych pierwotniaków z rodzaju Plasmodium, (zarodziec malarii) reprezentujących typ Apicomplexa, wywołujących u człowieka malarię. Ich wektorem jest samica komara z rodzaju Anopheles. Malaria występuje w stu jedenastu krajach, głównie strefy tropikalnej i subtropikalnej.Historia poznania choroby sięga odległych czasów (2700 r. p.n.e.). Czterokrotnie przyznawana została Nagroda Nobla w dziedzinie medycyny uczonym, zajmującym się malariologią.Wspomniane pierwotniaki przechodzą skomplikowany cykl życiowy z udziałem dwóch żywicieli, z których ostatecznym jest komar a pośrednim człowiek.Istnieje wiele sposobów wykorzystywanych w walce z malarią (środki chemiczne, ochrona mechaniczna, leki, szczepionki). Wielkie nadzieje na całkowite wyeliminowanie malarii budzi opracowywana ostatnio metoda niszczenia apikoplastów- plastydów, które utraciły swą pierwotną funkcję, ale są niezbędne pierwotniakowi do życia

Effects of phenytoin derivatives of methyl acetate on leukemia cells

Hydantoiny są heterocyklicznymi związkami organicznymi, których pochodną jest fenytoina. Hydantoiny są związkami od dawna stosowanymi w medycynie, jednak istnieje niewiele doniesień naukowych na temat ich potencjału przeciwnowotworowego. Nowe pochodne fenytoiny są wciąż syntezowane w celu poszukiwania związkówo potencjalnym przeciwnowotworowym działaniu.Celem pracy było zbadanie wpływu trzech fenytoinowych pochodnych octanu metylu: 2-(1-(3-bromopropylo)-5,5-difenylohydantoin-3-ylo)octanu metylu(FPP), 2-(1-(3-bromobutylo)-5,5-difenylohydantoin-3-ylo)octanu metylu (FPB), 2-(1-(3-bromooktylo)-5,5-difenylohydantoin-3-ylo)octanu metylu (FPO) na komórki ludzkiej białaczki promielocytowej HL-60. Analizowano czasowe zmiany aktywności metabolicznej z wykorzystaniem testu MTT oraz objętość i liczebność komórek HL-60 przy użyciu elektronicznego licznika Beckman Coulter. Wyznaczono wartość IC50 dla FPP, FPO i FPB na podstawie ekstynkcji roztworu formazanu.Wykonane badania wykazały cytotoksyczny wpływ fenytoinowych pochodnych octanu metylu na komórki leukemiczne HL-60. Zaobserwowany toksyczny efekt zależał danej pochodnej fenytoiny, jej stężenia oraz czasu ekspozycji komórek na FPO,FPP,FPB. Po zastosowaniu FPOM zaobserwowano czasowe zmiany aktywności metabolicznej,objętości i liczby komórek HL-60. Zaobserwowano zmienny potencjał przeciwnowotworowy fenytoinowych pochodnych octanu metylu na komórki HL-60. FPP i FPB wykazały silniejszy cytotoksyczny efekt na badane komórki niż FPO. Strukturalne modyfikacje cząsteczki fenytoiny odpowiedzialne były za różny efekt działania FPP, FPB i FPO na komórki HL-60.Hydantoin is a heterocyclic organic compound, and phenytoin is one of its analogs. Hydantoin derivatives are widely used in medicine. Nevertheless, hydantoin compounds have recently been studied intensively. However, there are not many studies that investigate their anticancer properties. In the search for new potential anticancer agents, new derivatives of phenytoin have been synthesized.The present study was undertaken to assess and compare the effects of three phenytoin derivatives: 2-(1-(3-bromopropylo)-5,5-difenylohydantoin-3-ylo) methyl acetate (FPP), 2-(1-(3-bromobutylo)-5,5-difenylohydantoin-3-ylo) methyl acetate (FPB) i 2-(1-(3-bromooktylo)-5,5-difenylohydantoin-3-ylo) methyl acetate (FPO) on human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. The research was conducted using the spectrophotometric MTT assay and the electronic Beckman Coulter method. The cytotoxic influence of EPP, EPB, and EPO on HL-60 cells was observed. Temporary changes in the leukemia cell viability, size, and count were found. The antileukemic potential towards HL-60 cells depended on the agent tested and its concentration, and the time intervals after the application of phenytoin derivatives of methyl acetate. The different antileukemic potential of the three phenytoin derivatives of methyl acetate was shown. Among the phenytoin derivatives, FPP, FPB appeared to be more active in HL-60 cells than FPO. The structural modifications of phenytoin were responsible for the various in vitro activities of FPP, FPB, FPO against the human leukemia HL-60 cells

Synthesis and mechanical and thermal properties of multiblock terpoly(ester-ether-amide) thermoplastic elastomers with variable mole ratio of ether and amide block

A series of the terpolymers of poly[(trimethylene terephthalate)-block-(oxytetramethylene)-block-laurolactam] with a variable molar ratio of ether and amide block and constant molecular weights of PA12 = 2000 g/mole and PTMO = 1000 g/mole have been obtained. The infl uence of changes of these molar ratios on the functional properties and the values of phase change temperatures of the products have been determined. The thermal properties and the phase separation of obtained systems were defi -ned by DSC, DMTA and WAXS methods. The chemical structure of obtained materials was studied by FT-IR and 13C NMR methods. The mechanical and elastic properties of these polymers were evaluated

Water line – a special place of the Southern Baltic Sea for free-living nematodes

This paper presents the structural and functional characteristics of nematofauna assemblages inhabiting the sediments along the water line in the southern Baltic Sea. The nematodes were identified to the genus level and assigned to appropriate trophic group. The density of free-living nematoda varied from 10.52 ± 9.82 ind./10 cm 2 to 124.49 ± 76.39 ind./10 cm 2 . Ascolaimus was the most abundantly represented genus, accounting for from 45% to 74% of the total number of nematofauna. A total of 7 nematode genera were identified. Ascolaimus, Axonolaimus, Enoplolaimus and Daptonema were considered essential elements of nematofauna. In terms of functionality, non-selective deposit feeders were predominant, individuals with unarmed buccal cavity, represented by nematodes of the genera Ascolaimus, Axonolaimus, Theristus and Daptonema

First record of brown colouration of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua, L.) from the North Sea

This paper reports the biological characterisation of a specimen of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) with a unique brown colour, which is the first fish of this species with such a colouration recorded from European waters. It was caught in the coastal zone of the North Sea in June 2011. This ‘brown’ cod fish weighed 1074.3 g and had an overall length of 422 mm

Meiobenthic communities of the Pomeranian Bay (southern Baltic): effects of proximity to river discharge Meiobenthos Baltic Sea Estuary River discharge Organic enrichment

Abstract The Pomeranian Bay (southern Baltic Sea) is a component of the river Oder (Odra) estuarine system. It receives the Oder's discharge once it has passed through the Szczecin Lagoon, a eutrophic and polluted water body. The discharge has been documented as affecting the hydrography of the pelagic domain as well as the sedimentary environments and the macrozoobenthos of the Bay. This study focused on the distribution of meiobenthic communities in the Bay as investigated with the use of a suite of uni-and multivariate analyses applied to data collected at 14 stations in September 1993. Meiobenthic community characteristics (composition and abundance) are presented in relation to sediment properties (grain size, silt/clay and organic matter content), changing with distance from the major riverine discharge site. The communities studied showed a clear distinction between those associated with organic matter-enriched sediments close to the discharge site and the assemblages living in clean sands, away from the discharge. We conclude that the meiobenthos can be regarded as another compartment of the Pomeranian Bay system responding to the River Oder discharge

A home away from home: a meiobenthic assemblage in a ship's ballast water tank sediment

The world-wide research on ship-aided dispersal of marineorganisms and invasions of non-indigenous species focuses primarilyon the plankters, which show the greatest potential for invadingnew areas and establishing viable populations in them, eitherin the water column (holoplankton) or on the bottom (meroplanktoniclarvae of benthic species settling on the sea floor). As meiobenthicanimals usually lack a pelagic larval stage in their life cycle,no biological invasion study has, to our knowledge, ever specificallytargeted marine transport as a means of meiofaunal dispersal.<br> Here we present a set of data showing that the sedimentdeposited in a ship's ballast water tank does support a viablemeiobenthic assemblage. We examined 0.015-dm³ aliquotsof a 1 dm³ sample from a c. 1.5-cm thick layerof sediment residue in the ballast tank of MS Donnington, broughtto the "Gryfia" Repair Shipyard in Szczecin (Poland). The sampleswere found to contain representatives of calcareous Foraminifera,hydrozoans, nematodes, turbellarians, harpacticoid copepods andtheir nauplii, and cladocerans, as well as meiobenthic-sizedbivalves and gastropods. Nematodes proved to be the most constantand most numerous component of the assemblage. The sediment portionsexamined revealed the presence of 1-11 individuals representing11 marine nematode genera. The viability of the meiobenthic assemblagewas evidenced by the presence of ovigerous females of both nematodesand harpacticoids.<br> Survival of the meiobenthos in shipborne ballast tank sedimentresidues may provide at least a partial explanation for the cosmopolitandistribution of meiobenthic taxa and may underlie the successfulcolonisation of new habitats by invasive meiofaunal species

Artificial solar radiation as a risk factor for skin tumor

Up to the ’70 one noticed mainly positive influence of solar radiation, and its component UV radiation. Only in next decade solar radiation was recognized as a main cause of many pathological skin changes, herein malicious tumor. At the same time there was a belief that using sun bathing beds is safe in relation to solar radiation. Nowadays in many countries it is recommended to popularize knowledge about the dangers of solariums, especially among youth. United States and Germany implemented restrictions forbidding under aged using sun beds without parental consent. Great Britain or Sweden are planning similar restrictions. Due to the latest scientific research published by the Lancet Oncology, starting using solarium sun bathing under 30 increases the skin cancer probability up to 70%. It was also proved that every solar radiation is carcinogenic, even though previously only UV-UVB was thought as carcinogenic.Do lat 70-tych XX wieku dostrzegano głównie pozytywne aspekty oddziaływania promieniowania słonecznego, w tym i jego składowej - promieniowania ultrafi oletowego (UV) na zdrowie, propagowano właściwości przeciwkrzywicze światła słonecznego w kontekście roli jaką odgrywa w produkcji witaminy D3. Dopiero w następnym dziesięcioleciu promieniowanie słoneczne zostało uznane za czynnik sprawczy wielu zmian patologicznych w obrębie skóry, w tym nowotworów złośliwych. Jednocześnie uznawano, iż korzystanie z łóżek opalających jest bezpieczne w relacji do promieniowania słonecznego. Obecnie w wielu krajach zaleca się upowszechnianie wiedzy o potencjalnym niebezpieczeństwie opalania w solariach, zwłaszcza wśród młodzieży. W Stanach Zjednoczonych i Niemczech już wprowadzono restrykcyjne zakazy uniemożliwiające korzystanie z łóżek opalających przez młodzież do 18 roku życia, bez zgody opiekunów. Podobne obostrzenia są planowane w innych krajach np. Wielkiej Brytanii, Szwecji. W świetle najnowszych doniesień naukowych opublikowanych w Lancet Oncology szacuje się iż u osób, które zaczynają korzystać z solarium przed ukończeniem 30-go roku życia, ryzyko zachorowania na raka skóry wzrasta do 70%. Wykazano ponadto, że wszystkie typy promieniowania ultrafioletowego są rakotwórcze, podczas gdy dotąd sądzono, że niebezpieczny jest tylko jeden typ promieniowania UV – UVB