Introduction Treatment with pegylated interferon alpha (PEG-IFN-α) is associated with depression more frequently in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients than with other inflammatory diseases. ...Objectives To prospectively asses sex differences in the prevalence of depression in CHC patients during the PEG-IFN-α, as well as in the CHC group with no therapy. Methods Sample consisted of 103 subjects with CHC on the PEG-IFN-α and 103 subjects with CHC without interferon therapy. The diagnosis of depressive disorder was established by using Structured Clinical Interview and Criteria of International Classification Disorder. The severity of depression was assessed by using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD ≥ 8) prior to PEG-IFN-α (baseline) and at the follow-up visits (4th, 12th, 24th, 48th, 72nd week). Results During the course of PEG-IFN-α, 49.5% of subjects showed depressive symptomatology (HAMD ≥ 8). Except at baseline and in the 72nd week, on the all other follow-up visits the prevalence of depression was significantly higher in female subjects (*all P s < 0.05). The strongest difference was observed in the 12th week: of all the subjects with HAMD ≥ 8, 68.8% were female and 32.7% were male ( P < 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression model showed that female sex is a very strong predictor for the development of depression during the interferon treatment Exp (B) = 6.729. There were no significant sex differences in the prevalence of depression in the control group. Conclusions Our study (the longest study in this area) indicate that the prevalence of depression is significantly higher in female subjects with CHC during antiviral treatment.
A widely accepted paradigm is that equipartition (eqp) between the energy density of cosmic rays (CRs) and the energy density of the magnetic field cannot be sustained in supernova remnants (SNRs). ...However, our 3D hydrodynamic supercomputer simulations, coupled with a nonlinear diffusive shock acceleration model, provide evidence that eqp may be established at the end of the Sedov phase of evolution in which most SNRs spend the longest portions of their lives. We introduce the term "constant partition" for any constant ratio between the CR energy density and the energy density of the magnetic field in an SNR, while the term "equipartition" should be reserved for the case of approximately the same values of the energy density (also, it is constant partition in the order of magnitude) of ultra-relativistic electrons only (or CRs in total) and the energy density of the magnetic field. Our simulations suggest that this approximate constant partition exists in all but the youngest SNRs. We speculate that since evolved SNRs at the end of the Sedov phase of evolution can reach eqp between CRs and magnetic fields, they may be responsible for initializing this type of eqp in the interstellar medium. Additionally, we show that eqp between the electron component of CRs and the magnetic field may be used for calculating the magnetic field strength directly from observations of synchrotron emission from SNRs. The values of magnetic field strengths in SNRs given here are approximately 2.5 times lower than values calculated by Arbutina et al.
In spring, frogs from temperate regions are faced with arousal-induced oxidative stress and exposure to various xenobiotics from the environment. The question is whether pollutants can significantly ...modify the antioxidative defense system (AOS) response of hibernators during recovery from hibernation. If this assumption is true, we would then expect different patterns of seasonal variations in the AOS between individuals exposed to different levels of pollution. To examine this assumption, we determined the relationship between seasonal variations of accumulated metals and AOS parameters in the skin and muscle of two frog species from the Pelophylax esculentus complex (P. ridibundus and P. esculentus) inhabiting two localities (the Danube-Tisza-Danube canal and the Ponjavica River) with different levels of pollution during pre- and post-hibernation periods, respectively autumn and spring. Our results showed that even though there were differences in the concentrations of accumulated metals and AOS parameters between localities and species, the frogs displayed almost the same patterns of AOS variations during seasons, with a higher AOS response observed in spring. The parameters SH groups, GSH, GR and SOD had been contributed most rather than others. Our findings indicate that oxidative stress during the post-hibernation period was mainly caused by the organisms' recovery from hibernation, as the result of natural selection acting on the AOS, and that the accumulated metals did not significantly modify the AOS response. The present study provides new insight into the biological and physiological cellular responses of frogs to arousal stress.
•Antioxidant components in Barbus barbus and Pomphorhynchus laevis were studied.•Season modulated antioxidant responses in the fish and parasite.•Antioxidant defenes in the parasite correlated with ...the seasonal variations in the host.•Obtained effects must be taken into account in biomonitoring studies.
Barbel (Barbus barbus) is the final host of the adult worm Pomphorhynchus laevis (Acanthocephala), one of the most abundant and widespread intestinal parasites of European freshwater fish. During the course of the present study, we analyzed the activities of the glutathione-dependent enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR) and the phase II biotransformation enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST) as well as the concentrations of total glutathione (GSH), sulfhydryl (SH) groups and vitamin E (Vit E) in the liver and intestine of B. barbus and in its intestinal parasite P. laevis. The fish were caught from the Danube River (Serbia) in spring and summer. We detected that GSH-Px activity in fish liver was higher in spring. GR activity was significantly higher in spring in all investigated samples, while GST activity was significantly higher in spring in fish liver and in the parasite. At that time, GST activity was ten times higher in the parasite than in fish tissues. The concentration of GSH was increased in barbel liver in spring. In summer, the concentration of SH groups was significantly increased, while the concentration of Vit E was significantly decreased in fish tissues and in the parasite. We performed Canonical Discriminant Analysis, which revealed differentiation among the examined tissues during both seasons based on the all measured antioxidant components. We found that the seasonal patterns of antioxidant defense in the parasite are closely correlated with seasonal variation and physiological change in the host and represent the parasite's adaptation to changes in the host's antioxidant system. The present investigation contributes to general knowledge and provides a basis for future studies of glutathione-dependent enzymes and non-enzymatic low molecular mass antioxidants as potential biomarkers for monitoring the influence of the environment on fishes and their parasites.
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•Rearrangements of the long-chains radicals and cations.•Monte Carlo simulation of the stabilization processes of 1-tridecyl radical.•Thermal and UV-photolytic conditions for LTA ...decarboxylation.•Ratios of homolytical rearrangements determined by Monte Carlo simulation.
Tetradecanoic acid was decarboxylated by means of lead(IV) acetate (LTA) under thermal (81°C) and photolytic (r.t.) conditions in benzene solution. The mixture of products, obtained in thermal reaction, consists of esters (acetoxyalkanes and carboxylates), tridecenes, tridecane and phenyltridecane. Additionally, tetradecane and hexacosane, under photolytic conditions, were formed. The classes of products and their distribution might be explained by presence of intermediate 1-tridecyl radical which can undergo intramolecular (result in formation of rearranged carbon centered radicals) and intermolecular stabilization pathways. Experimentally obtained results were used as input data for computational Monte Carlo simulation study of the reaction. On the basis of these results, radical rearrangements, as well as hydride shifts in tridecyl system are discussed.
Refractory coatings based on different refractory fillers (talc, cordierite, zircon and mullite) for application in Lost Foam casting process were investigated. Design and optimization of the ...coatings composition with controlled, rheological properties included, and consequently synthesis were achieved by application of different coating components, namely different suspension agents and fillers and by alteration of the coating production procedure. Morphologic and microstructural analysis of fillers was carried out by means of scanning electronic microscope. X-ray diffraction analysis by means of X-ray diffractometer was applied in determination and monitoring the phase composition changes of the refractory fillers. An analysis of the particle size and shape was carried out by means of the PC software application package OZARIA 2.5. To assess the effects of application of individual refractory coatings, a detailed investigation of structural and mechanical properties of the moldings obtained was performed. Highlight was placed on revealing and analyzing surface and volume defects present on moldings. Radiographic molding tests were carried out by means of the X-ray device SAIFORT type-S200. Attained results are essential for the synthesis of refractory coatings based on high-temperature fillers and their applications in Lost Foam casting process for manufacturing of moldings with in-advance-set properties.
Two molecular baskets 1 6–, each with three (S)-glutamic acids at its rim, were found (NMR, ITC) to complex diammonium alkanes 2 2+ –5 2+ (+H3N(CH2) n NH3 +, n = 7–10) giving ternary 2–5⊂1 210– ...assemblies (K = 107 –109 M–2). From the magnetic perturbation of proton nuclei (1H NMR, NICS), we deduced that each guest assumed a U shape within the binary complex, 2–5⊂14–. Two ammonium groups were bound in the “anionic nest” at the top of 1 6–, while the hydrocarbon chain resided in its nonpolar cavity. From detailed ITC analyses, we showed that the binary complex 2–5⊂14– forms first and then another 1 6– capped 2–5⊂14– to give 2–5⊂1 210–, via interactions of the carboxylates at the rims with ammoniums on the guest. Long-range NOEs revealed that U-shaped 2 2+ and 5 2+ coiled into highly strained twist–turn–twist formations, for the first time observed within an abiotic host while curiously resembling helix–turn–helix motif found in DNA binding proteins.
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