Sectoral Productivity and Real Exchange Rate Appreciation: Much Ado about Nothing?

Using panel data for selected national economies, we estimate relative price changes stemming from fluctuations in sectoral productivity. Subsequently, we calculate the cross-country CPIinflation differentials implied by sectorally unbalanced productivity growth, taking into account country-specific weights of non-tradables in consumption (value added) and assuming there are no adjustments in nominal exchange rates. We find that sectoral productivity developments have a statistically significant impact on relative prices in the EU countries and also in the Czech Republic, but the magnitude of the impact is not as strong as the Balassa-Samuelson Effect (BSEF) would predict. The final impact of relative productivity on inflation (on the real exchange rate) is even weaker, and moreover, in the case of the Czech Republic the impact is negligible. Thus, contrary to the prevailing view, we question the meaning of the BSEF as a plausible explanatory variable of (equilibrium) real exchange rate determination in the Czech Republic. The same situation we simulate for the future, should productivity growth in the traded sector not accelerate dramatically.Balassa-Samuelson Effect, cross-country inflation differentials, nominal and real convergence, real exchange rates.

A cyclometallated IrIII complex conjugated to a coumarin derivative is a potent photodynamic agent against prostate differentiated and tumorigenic cancer stem cells

A cyclometalated IrIII complex conjugated to a far-red-emitting coumarin, IrIII-COUPY (3), was recently shown as a very promising photosensitizer suitable for photodynamic therapy of cancer. Therefore, the primary goal of this work was to deepen knowledge on the mechanism of its photoactivated antitumor action so that this information could be used to propose a new class of compounds as drug candidates for curing very hardly treatable human tumors, such as androgen resistant prostatic tumors of metastatic origin. Conventional anticancer chemotherapies exhibit several disadvantages, such as limited efficiency to target cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are considered the main reason for chemotherapy resistance, relapse, and metastasis. Herein, we show, using DU145 tumor cells, taken as the model of hormone-refractory and aggressive prostate cancer cells resistant to conventional antineoplastic drugs, that the photoactivated conjugate 3 very efficiently eliminates both prostate bulk, differentiated and prostate, hardly treatable CSCs simultaneously and with a similar efficiency. Notably, the very low toxicity of IrIII-COUPY conjugate in the prostate DU145 cells in the dark and its pronounced selectivity for tumor cells compared with noncancerous cells could result in low side effects and reduced damage of healthy cells during the photoactivated therapy by this agent. Moreover, the experiments performed with the 3D spheroids formed from DU145 CSCs showed that conjugate 3 can penetrate the inner layers of tumorspheres, which might markedly increase its therapeutic effect. Also interestingly, this conjugate induces apoptotic cell death in prostate cancer DU145 cells associated with calcium signaling flux in these cells and autophagy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating that a photoactivatable metal-based compound is an efficient agent capable of killing even hardly treatable CSC

Ruthenium(II)-Tris-pyrazolylmethane Complexes Inhibit Cancer Cell Growth by Disrupting Mitochondrial Calcium Homeostasis

While ruthenium arene complexes have been widely investigated for their medicinal potential, studies on homologous compounds containing a tridentate tris(1-pyrazolyl)methane ligand are almost absent in the literature. Ruthenium(II) complex 1 was obtained by a modified reported procedure; then, the reactions with a series of organic molecules (L) in boiling alcohol afforded novel complexes 2-9 in 77-99% yields. Products 2-9 were fully structurally characterized. They are appreciably soluble in water, where they undergo partial chloride/water exchange. The antiproliferative activity was determined using a panel of human cancer cell lines and a noncancerous one, evidencing promising potency of 1, 7, and 8 and significant selectivity toward cancer cells. The tested compounds effectively accumulate in cancer cells, and mitochondria represent a significant target of biological action. Most notably, data provide convincing evidence that the mechanism of biological action is mediated by the inhibiting of mitochondrial calcium intake

Modern Russian textbooks for schools in Czech Republic: advantages and disadvantages

The article analyses the current state of the Russian language teaching materials in the Czech secondary and high school. The Russian language is taught at Czech schools as the second and third foreign language. This naturally influences aims, contents and methodological concept of study packs used in the foreign language teaching. The authors point out the requirements for modern Russian language school textbooks, fundamental criteria for assessing them, the particularities of learning Russian in a closely-related language environment. Among the so-called coursebooks of a “new type” the authors determine electronic and interactive versions of textbooks which started to appear in classrooms recently. However, not all of them meet modern requirements. The article analyses the study packs used in Czech Republic in order to reveal their advantages and disadvantages. The conclusions are proved by the results of the survey carried out among Russian language teachers at Czech schools

Platinum(IV) derivatives of [Pt(1S,2S-diaminocyclohexane)(5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)] with diclofenac ligands in the axial positions : a new class of potent multi-action agents exhibiting selectivity to cancer cells

The platinum(II) complex [Pt(1S,2S-diaminocyclohexane)(5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)]2+ (PtII56MeSS, 1) exhibits high potency across numerous cancer cell lines acting by a multimodal mechanism. However, 1 also displays side toxicity and in vivo activity; all details of its mechanism of action are not entirely clear. Here, we describe the synthesis and biological properties of new platinum(IV) prodrugs that combine 1 with one or two axially coordinated molecules of diclofenac (DCF), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory cancer-selective drug. The results suggest that these Pt(IV) complexes exhibit mechanisms of action typical for Pt(II) complex 1 and DCF, simultaneously. The presence of DCF ligand(s) in the Pt(IV) complexes promotes the antiproliferative activity and selectivity of 1 by inhibiting lactate transporters, resulting in blockage of the glycolytic process and impairment of mitochondrial potential. Additionally, the investigated Pt(IV) complexes selectively induce cell death in cancer cells, and the Pt(IV) complexes containing DCF ligands induce hallmarks of immunogenic cell death in cancer cells

The antibacterial effects of new N-alkylpyridinium salts on planktonic and biofilm bacteria

An increasing microbial resistance to known antibiotics raises a demand for new antimicrobials. In this study the antimicrobial properties of a series of new N-Alkylpyridinium quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) with varying alkyl chain lengths were evaluated for several nosocomial pathogens. The chemical identities of the new QACs were determined by NMR, LC-MS, and HRMS. All the planktonic bacteria tested were susceptible to the new QACs as evaluated by MIC and MBC assays. The antimicrobial effect was most pronounced against Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates. Live/dead staining CLSM was used to test the effectiveness of the QACs in biofilms. The effectiveness was up to 10-fold lower than in the plankton. When QACs were used as irrigants in Er:YAG – SSP photoacoustic steaming, their effectiveness significantly increased. The combined use of irrigants and photoacoustic streaming increased biofilm removal from the surface and increased the killing rate of the cells remaining on the surface. This may allow for a shorter chemical exposure time and lower dosage of QACs used in applications. The results demonstrate that the new QACs have potential to be applied as antibacterial compounds effective against planktonic and biofilm bacteria as well as irrigants in removal of difficult-to-reach biofilms

Discovery of selective, antimetastatic and anti-cancer stem cell metallohelices via post-assembly modification

Helicates and related metallofoldamers, synthesised by dynamic self-assembly, represent an area of chemical space inaccessible by traditional organic synthesis, and yet with potential for discovery of new classes of drug. Here we report that water-soluble, optically pure Fe(II)- and even Zn(II)-based triplex metallohelices are an excellent platform for post-assembly click reactions. By these means, the in vitro anticancer activity and most importantly the selectivity of a triplex metallohelix Fe(II) system are dramatically improved. For one compound, a remarkable array of mechanistic and pharmacological behaviours is discovered: inhibition of Na+/K+ ATPase with potency comparable to the drug ouabain, antimetastatic properties (including inhibition of cell migration, re-adhesion and invasion), cancer stem cell targeting, and finally colonosphere inhibition competitive with the drug salinomycin

Synthesis and Decontamination Effect on Chemical and Biological Agents of Benzoxonium-Like Salts

Benzoxonium chloride belongs to the group of quaternary ammonium salts, which have been widely used for decades as disinfectants because of their high efficacy, low toxicity, and thermal stability. In this study, we have prepared the C10-C18 set of benzoxonium-like salts to evaluate the effect of their chemical and biological decontamination capabilities. In particular, biocidal activity against a panel of bacterial strains including Staphylococcus aureus in biofilm form was screened. In addition, the most promising compounds were successfully tested against Francisella tularensis as a representative of potential biological warfare agents. From a point of view of chemical warfare protection, the efficiency of BOC-like compounds to degrade the organophosphate simulant fenitrothion was examined. Notwithstanding that no single compound with universal effectiveness was identified, a mixture of only two compounds from this group would be able to satisfactorily cover the proposed decontamination spectrum. In addition, the compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity as a basic safety parameter for potential use in practice. In summary, the dual effect on chemical and biological agents of benzoxonium-like salts offer attractive potential as active components of decontamination mixtures in the case of a terrorist threat or chemical or biological accidents