Kinetic regularities, catalyst deactivation and reactivation

Funding text 1 The research is funded from Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Program No. 075–03–2021–287/6 (Russia). Funding text 2 XPS measurements were carried out at the Central laboratories of Tomsk Polytechnic University (Analytical Center). HRTEM was carried out at the Innovation centre for Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies of Tomsk Polytechnic University. The ICP-OES analysis was carried out using the core facilities of “Physics and Chemical methods of analysis” of Tomsk Polytechnic University. Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia for Scientific Employment Stimulus Institutional Call (CEECINST/00102/2018), UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/50006/2020 (LAQV), UIDB/00100/2020 and UIDP/00100/2020 (Centro de Química Estrutural).Betulin, being a pentacyclic triterpene alcohol and an extractive from birch bark, along with its oxo-derivatives, has a broad range of physiological properties of interest for synthesis of pharmaceuticals. Instead of oxidizing betulin with strong and toxic oxidizing agents the present study shows a possibility of using liquid-phase oxidation of betulin with air over supported Ag NPs catalysts as an alternative method for synthesis of its oxo-derivatives. Based on catalytic studies, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, the evolution of the surface of nanosilver catalysts during the catalysis was demonstrated, as well as under the impact of reactant gas composition. The kinetic regularities and causes of deactivation of supported Ag NPs catalysts were revealed. An approach to the regeneration of silver catalysts was proposed. Kinetic analysis with numerical data fitting was performed resulting in an adequate description of the concentration dependencies.publishersversionpublishe

Активация аутофагии в клетках рака молочной железы in vitro после воздействия ингибиторами PI3K/AKT/mTOR

Introduction. Current chemotherapy of breast cancer has a wide range of disadvantages, in particular, the development of therapy-related infections and hormonal imbalance. Combination of main cytostatic with glucocorticoids allows to broaden its therapeutic interval and to decrease the total toxicity of the treatment. However, long-term treatment with glucocorticoids leads to the development of severe side effects via activation of multiple molecular mechanisms. Thus, glucocorticoids activate prosurvival mTOR-dependent autophagy. Therefore, the evaluation of PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinases) / Akt (protein kinase B) / mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) inhibitors as adjuvants for breast cancer therapy is important for optimization of treatment protocol.Aim. Analysis of the effects of PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitors, rapamycin, wortmannin and LY-294002 in combination with glucocorticoids in breast cancer cell lines of different subtypes.Materials and methods. We demonstrated the inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling and the autophagy induction after the treatment of breast cancer cells with rapamycin, wortmannin and LY-294002 by Western blotting analysis of Beclin-1, phospho-Beclin-1 (Ser93 and Ser30).Conclusion. PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitors in combination with Dexamethasone cooperatively inhibited mTOR signaling and activated autophagy in breast cancer cells in vitro.Введение. Химиотерапия рака молочной железы имеет широкий спектр недостатков, в частности развитие сопутствующих инфекций и гормональных нарушений. Комбинация с синтетическими глюкокортикоидами позволяет расширить терапевтический интервал и снизить общую токсичность препаратов основной линии терапии. Однако длительное применение глюкокортикоидов способствует развитию ряда побочных эффектов, которые могут реализовываться за счет различных молекулярных механизмов. Так, глюкокортикоиды могут инициировать индукцию аутофагии, ведущую к выживанию опухолевых клеток. Запуск механизма аутофагии является mTOR-зависимым, в связи с чем актуальной является оценка возможности введения в качестве адъювантов в терапию рака молочной железы ингибиторов сигнального пути PI3K (фосфоинозитид-3‑киназа) / Akt (протеинкиназа B) / mTOR (мишень рапамицина млекопитающих).Цель работы – анализ действия ингибиторов PI3K / Akt / mTOR рапамицина, вортманнина и LY-294002 в комбинации с глюкокортикоидами на запуск аутофагии в клеточных линиях рака молочной железы различного гистогенеза.Материалы и методы. Методом Вестерн-блоттинга было показано, что рапамицин, вортманнин и LY-294002 ингибируют активность сигнального пути PI3K / Akt / mTOR и индуцируют аутофагию в клетках рака молочной железы, о чем судили по повышению уровня ключевого белка макроаутофагии, Beclin-1, и его фосфорилированных форм phospho-Beclin-1 по остаткам серина Ser93 и Ser30.Заключение. В ходе работы было показано, что ингибиторы сигнального пути PI3K / Akt / mTOR в комбинации с дексаметазоном кооперативно подавляют сигнальный путь mTOR и активируют аутофагию в клетках РМЖ in vitro

Факторы формирования поверхностного притока к озерам антарктического оазиса Холмы Ларсеманн

The study aims to identify formation factors of water inflow to the Antarctic lakes of the Larsemann Hills oasis (East Antarctica). The objects of study are 11 lakes of the oasis. The analysis was performed based on the expeditionary data of the Russian Antarctic Expedition (RAE): 63rd season (23 December 2017 – 3 February 2018), 64th season (12 January 2019 – 27 February 2019), 65th season (2 November 2019 – 24 March 2020). Data of lakes water level observations, aerial photography of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and route surveys are given, the results of identifying the boundaries of the lakes catchments are presented. The factors that determine the formation of water inflow to the lakes in this region were identified based on the analysis of the materials. The most significant are the meteorological conditions, the presence of perennial snowfields and glacial areas in the catchments, and the presence of lakes that can cause outburst flood. The seasonally thawed layer also has an impact on the formation of the inflow to the lakes. The vegetation cover is not so important for inflow formation in this region due to the physical and geographical conditions. As for anthropogenic activity, it mainly affects the environmental situation of the catchments and water quality, while the anthropogenic influence on the formation of water inflow to the lakes in the oasis is limited to the territories of polar stations. The factors identified should be taken into account in the further study of hydrological processes, the creation of models that describe them, and the organization of field observations.Объектами исследования являются 11 водоемов антарктического оазиса Холмы Ларсеманн. Работа выполнена по материалам сезонных работ 63 — 65-й РАЭ: используются наблюдения за уровнем воды озер, аэрофотосъемки БПЛА, маршрутные обследования, приведены результаты выделения границ водосборных площадей озер. Наиболее значимыми выявленными факторами, определяющими формирование притока воды к озерам, являются метеорологические условия (количество твердых осадков, ветровой режим, температура воздуха), наличие многолетних снежников и ледниковых участков на водосборах, прорыв верхнего в системе озера. Сезонно-талый слой рыхлых отложений регулирует склоновый сток по мере протаивания и промерзания. Особенностью оазиса является то, что на формирование стока практически не влияют растительный покров и антропогенная деятельность

Строение приповерхностной части ледника в районе бухты Тала (Восточная Антарктида) по результатам георадарных работ сезона 2018/19 г.

The paper discusses the results of the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey carried out in February 2019 in the area of Thala Bay (Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica). Thala Bay is one of the strategic facilities of the Russian Antarctic Expedition (RAE) in the Progress station area as since 2019 heavy cargo has been unloaded here intended for the construction of new facilities at the Vostok station. Transportation of goods to the point of formation of logistic traverses takes place on ice tracks, whose safety must be evaluated taking into account the expanded system of crevasses. In addition, the current track is characterized by a significant slope of the terrain, which also complicates the relocation of heavy equipment.In February 2019, a GPR survey was carried out within the Thala Bay area to assess the possibility of organizing an alternative section of the route within it. According to the visual observations, this area was characterized by an extensive system of crevasses, the width of which at the surface reached 20-30 cm, and the prevailing longitudinal direction coincided with the direction of the route. The task of the geophysical survey was to map the crevasses not identified by visual inspection and to determine their morphology. According to the GPR data, it was shown that the crevasses within the site are located to the firn layer and are characterized by an irregular shape, significantly expanding at the deeper levels and reaching a width of 6 m. The results of the survey are illustrated with the scheme of the firn thickness which shows location of the crevasses. According to the recommendations of the authors, the section of the glacier is suitable for operation provided the glaciological situation using the GPR method is monitored annualy.В настоящей работе обсуждаются результаты георадиолокационных исследований, выполненных в районе российской антарктической станции Прогресс (оазис Холмы Ларсеманн, Восточная Антарктида) в сезон 64-й Российской антарктической экспедиции (РАЭ) в 2018/19 г. Изыскания проводились с целью оценки безопасности участка ледника в районе пункта разгрузки судов в бухте Тала для проложения в его пределах трассы передвижения тяжелой санно-гусеничной техники. По итогам георадарного профилирования в пределах исследуемого района выявлена сеть трещин, развитых в снежно-фирновой толще и достигающих максимальной ширины 6 м. Результаты работ проиллюстрированы схемой мощности снежно-фирновой толщи по участку работ и их распространения по состоянию на февраль 2019 г

Строение снежно-ледовых перемычек прорывных озёр полуострова Брокнес (оазис Холмы Ларсеманн, Восточная Антарктида) по данным георадиолокации

During the summer field season of the 65th Russian Antarctic Expedition a research aimed at studying the structure of the snow-­ice dams of the Lakes Progress and Discussion (Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica), which are characterized with annual outburst floods, was carried out. Survey was performed using ground­penetrating radar sounding complemented with non­core drilling and analysis of the aerial photo data acquired with unmanned aerial vehicle during the last field seasons. The results show that location of the waterways, which occur during the outbursts of the both lakes, does not change significantly year in year out and fits a linear depression in basement topography under the dam and a following flexure of the ice layer. During the winter period, the opened channels are being filled with snow, and thereby a natural soſtened zone is being formed. Further outburst flood propagates mainly within this zone. Monitoring survey of the snow­i-ce dam of the Progress Lake during the summer period showed that destruction of the dam does not happen rapidly when the outburst takes place, but begins a few weeks before it with gradual filtration within the snow layer.Приведены результаты изучения строения снежно-ледовых перемычек прорывоопасных озёр Прогресс и Дискашн (оазис Холмы Ларсеманн, Восточная Антарктида), выполненные методом георадиолокации. Дополнительно проведены бескерновое механическое бурение и аэрофотосъёмка с использованием беспилотного летательного аппарата. На примере изученных водоёмов установлены основные геолого-гляциологические тенденции формирования прорывных паводков ледниковых озёр

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the beta-coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that in 2020 has spread worldwide. In most severe patients, the clinical picture begins with respiratory failure further deteriorating up to multiple organ failure. Development of coagulopathy is the most adverse prognostic. Analyzing currently available clinical data revealed that 71.4 % and 0.6 % of survivors and fatal cases, respectively, demonstrated signs of overt disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Monitoring D-dimer level, prothrombin time, platelet count and fibrinogen content is important for determining indications for treatment and hospitalization in COVID-19 patients. In case such parameters deteriorate, a more pro-active “aggressive” intensive care should be applied. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) should be administered to all patients with diagnosed COVID-19 infection (including non-critical patients) requiring hospitalization, but having no contraindications to LMWH

Nutritional Sensor REDD1 in Cancer and Inflammation: Friend or Foe?

Regulated in Development and DNA Damage Response 1 (REDD1)/DNA Damage-Induced Transcript 4 (DDIT4) is an immediate early response gene activated by different stress conditions, including growth factor depletion, hypoxia, DNA damage, and stress hormones, i.e., glucocorticoids. The most known functions of REDD1 are the inhibition of proliferative signaling and the regulation of metabolism via the repression of the central regulator of these processes, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). The involvement of REDD1 in cell growth, apoptosis, metabolism, and oxidative stress implies its role in various pathological conditions, including cancer and inflammatory diseases. Recently, REDD1 was identified as one of the central genes mechanistically involved in undesirable atrophic effects induced by chronic topical and systemic glucocorticoids widely used for the treatment of blood cancer and inflammatory diseases. In this review, we discuss the role of REDD1 in the regulation of cell signaling and processes in normal and cancer cells, its involvement in the pathogenesis of different diseases, and the approach to safer glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-targeted therapies via a combination of glucocorticoids and REDD1 inhibitors to decrease the adverse atrophogenic effects of these steroids

Scaffold Chemical Model Based on Collagen—Methyl Methacrylate Graft Copolymers

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in aqueous collagen (Col) dispersion was studied in the presence of tributylborane (TBB) and p-quinone: 2,5-di-tert-butyl-p-benzoquinone (2,5-DTBQ), p-benzoquinone (BQ), duroquinone (DQ), and p-naphthoquinone (NQ). It was found that this system leads to the formation of a grafted cross-linked copolymer. The inhibitory effect of p-quinone determines the amount of unreacted monomer, homopolymer, and percentage of grafted poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The synthesis combines two approaches to form a grafted copolymer with a cross-linked structure—“grafting to” and “grafting from”. The resulting products exhibit biodegradation under the action of enzymes, do not have toxicity, and demonstrate a stimulating effect on cell growth. At the same time, the denaturation of collagen occurring at elevated temperatures does not impair the characteristics of copolymers. These results allow us to present the research as a scaffold chemical model. Comparison of the properties of the obtained copolymers helps to determine the optimal method for the synthesis of scaffold precursors—synthesis of a collagen and poly(methyl methacrylate) copolymer at 60 °C in a 1% acetic acid dispersion of fish collagen with a mass ratio of the components collagen:MMA:TBB:2,5-DTBQ equal to 1:1:0.015:0.25