This article gives a scientific description and comparative analysis of 3D models of Wang Temple's altar in Karpacz. Two software's were used to create 3D models from photographs: Agisoft Photoscan ...and Context Capture. It was important to follow a few rules during obtaining photo data: keeping 60% coverage between two photographs, taking photographs parallel to each other and avoiding camera rotation. In order to create 3D models both software performs fallowing actions align photos/aerotriangulation, build dense point cloud, build mesh. The difference being the detailed algorithms and succession of operations. Point clouds from terrestrial Z+F laser scanner were used as a base, due to its decisively smaller coordinates error. Bentley Pointools software was used for comparing point clouds. Three aspects were taken into consideration: stretches, that occur at the edges of objects, the accuracy of point placement in the model and scale of the model.
Iodine deficiency is the main environmental factor leading to thyroid cancer. At the same time iodine excess may also contribute to thyroid cancer. Potassium iodate (KIO3), which is broadly used in ...salt iodization program, may increase oxidative damage to membrane lipids (lipid peroxidation, LPO) under experimental conditions, with the strongest damaging effect at KIO3 concentration of ~10 mM (corresponding to physiological iodine concentration in the thyroid). Melatonin and indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) are effective antioxidative indoles, each of which protects against KIO3-induced LPO in the thyroid. The study aims to check if melatonin used together with IPA (in their highest achievable in vitro concentrations) reveals stronger protective effects against KIO3-induced LPO in porcine thyroid homogenates than each of these antioxidants used separately. Homogenates were incubated in the presence of KIO3 (200; 100; 50; 25; 20; 15; 10; 7.5; 5.0; 2.5; 1.25; 0.0 mM) without/with melatonin (5 mM) or without/with IPA (10 mM) or without/with melatonin + IPA, and then, to further clarify the narrow range of KIO3 concentrations, against which melatonin + IPA reveal cumulative protective effects, the following KIO3 concentrations were used: 20; 18.75; 17.5; 16.25; 15; 13.75; 12.5; 11.25; 10; 8.75; 7.5; 0.0 mM. Malondialdehyde + 4-hydroxyalkenals (MDA + 4-HDA) concentration (LPO index) was measured spectrophotometrically. Protective effects of melatonin + IPA were stronger than those revealed by each antioxidant used separately, but only when LPO was induced by KIO3 in concentrations from 18.75 mM to 8.75 mM, corresponding to physiological iodine concentration in the thyroid. In conclusion, melatonin and indole-3-propionic acid exert cumulative protective effects against oxidative damage caused by KIO3, when this prooxidant is used in concentrations close to physiological iodine concentrations in the thyroid. Therefore, the simultaneous administration of these two indoles should be considered to prevent more effectively oxidative damage (and thereby thyroid cancer formation) caused by iodine compounds applied in iodine prophylaxis.
Not only iodine deficiency, but also its excess may contribute to thyroid cancer. Potassium iodate (KIO3), which is broadly used in the salt iodization program, can increase oxidative damage to ...membrane lipids (lipid peroxidation, LPO) under experimental conditions, with the strongest damaging effect at KIO3 concentration of ~10 mM (corresponding to physiological iodine concentration in the thyroid). Melatonin is an effective antioxidant, which protects against KIO3-induced LPO in the thyroid. This study aimed to compare the protective effects of melatonin, used in the highest achievable in vitro concentration, against KIO3-induced oxidative damage to membrane lipids in various porcine tissues (thyroid, ovary, liver, kidney, brain, spleen, and small intestine). Homogenates were incubated in the presence of KIO3 (20; 15; 10; 7.5; 5.0; 0.0 mM) without/with melatonin (5 mM). The malondialdehyde + 4-hydroxyalkenals (MDA + 4-HDA) concentration (LPO index) was measured spectrophotometrically. KIO3 increased the LPO in all examined tissues; in the thyroid, the damaging effect of KIO3 (10; and 7.5 mM) was lower than in other tissues and was not observed for the lowest concentration of 5 mM. Melatonin reduced LPO induced by KIO3 (10, 7.5, and 5 mM) in all tissues, and in the thyroid it was also protective against as high a concentration of KIO3 as 15 mM; the LPO level resulting from KIO3 + melatonin treatment was lower in the thyroid than in other tissues. In conclusion, the thyroid is less sensitive tothe pro-oxidative effects of KIO3 compared to other tissues. The strongest protective effect of melatonin was observed in the thyroid, but beneficial effects were significant also in other tissues. Melatonin should be considered to avoid the potential damaging effects of iodine compounds applied in iodine prophylaxis.
Electrospinning processes are commonly conducted with direct-current voltage (DCV) but the fibers can also be electrospun using a pulsed voltage (PV). Although this method has been used in other ...electrostatic processes, there is little research on its application in nanofibers production. In this work, the voltage was supplied to the polymer solution in pulses with a given amplitude, frequency, and duration. Experiments were performed with two polymers (polyvinylpyrrolidone and polylactide) using both DCV and PV. The shape of the liquid jet formed at the nozzle tip was observed and linked to the structure of the polymer mats, including the diameters of the electrospun fibers and the sizes and the concentrations of spherical elements. Some differences in products electrospun using DCV and PV were observed both for polyvinylpyrrolidone and polylactide. The parameter that most strongly influenced the examined properties of the polymer mats was the pulse frequency. Moreover, for polylactide the PV method eliminates polymer clogging, providing greater stability of the electrospinning and changes the distribution of fiber diameters into a bimodal one. In general, PV gives better control over fiber diameters and bead sizes because of the possibility of more precise electric charge delivery due to a lower effective voltage.
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•Fibrous mats obtained in the electrospinning process with direct-current (DCV) and pulsed (PV) voltages are compared.•The solution shapes at the nozzle tip were observed and linked to the structures of the polymer mats.•The average fiber diameter, the bead size (in the bead-on-string type structure) and their concentration were determined.•Electrospinning with PV is possible and, in some cases, may result in more favorable effects than with DCV.•Preliminary predictions in the structure of electrospun products can be made by observing the meniscus at the nozzle tip.
Purpose
Iodine is an essential micronutrient required for thyroid hormone biosynthesis. However, overtreatment with iodine can unfavorably affect thyroid physiology. The aim of this review is to ...present the evidence that iodine—when in excess—can interfere with thyroid hormone synthesis and, therefore, can act as a potential endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC), and that this action, as well as other abnormalities in the thyroid, occurs—at least partially—via oxidative stress.
Methods
We reviewed published studies on iodine as a potential EDC, with particular emphasis on the phenomenon of oxidative stress.
Results
This paper summarizes current knowledge on iodine excess in the context of its properties as an EDC and its effects on oxidative processes.
Conclusion
Iodine does fulfill the criteria of an EDC because it is an exogenous chemical that interferes—when in excess—with thyroid hormone synthesis. However, this statement cannot change general rules regarding iodine supply, which means that iodine deficiency should be still eliminated worldwide and, at the same time, iodine excess should be avoided. Universal awareness that iodine is a potential EDC would make consumers more careful regarding their diet and what they supplement in tablets, and—what is of great importance—it would make caregivers choose iodine-containing medications (or other chemicals) more prudently. It should be stressed that compared to iodine deficiency, iodine in excess (acting either as a potential EDC or via other mechanisms) is much less harmful in such a sense that it affects only a small percentage of sensitive individuals, whereas the former affects whole populations; therefore, it causes endemic consequences.
Bicyclic peptides have attracted the interest of pharmaceutical companies because of their remarkable properties, putting them on a new path in medicine. Their conformational rigidity improves ...proteolytic stability and leads to rapid penetration into tissues via any possible route of administration. Moreover, elimination of renal metabolism is of great importance, for example, for people with a history of liver diseases. In addition, each ring can function independently, making bicyclic peptides extremely versatile molecules for further optimization. In this paper, we compared the potentiometric and spectroscopic properties studied by UV-vis, MCD, and EPR of four synthetic analogues of the bi-cyclic peptide c(PKKHP-c(CFWKTC)-PKKH) (BCL). In particular, we correlated the structural and spectral properties of complexes with coordinating abilities toward Cu(II) ions of MCL1 (Ac-PKKHPc(CFWKTC)PKKH-NH
) that contains the unbinding cycle and N- and C-terminal linear parts with two histidine residues, one per part; two monocyclic ligands containing one histidine residue, both in the N-terminal position, i.e., MCL2 (Ac-PKKHPc(CFWKTC)PKKS-NH
) and in the C-terminal position, i.e., MCL3 (Ac-PKKSPc(CFWKTC)PKKH-NH
), respectively; and the linear structure LNL (Ac-PKKHPSFWKTSPKKH-NH
). Potentiometric results have shown that the bicyclic structure promotes the involvement of the side chain imidazole donors in Cu(II) binding. On the other hand, the results obtained for the mono-cyclic analogues lead to the conclusion that the coordination of the histidine moiety as an anchoring group is promoted by its location in the peptide sequence further from the nonbinding cycle, strongly influencing the involvement of the amide donors in Cu(II) coordination.
Iodine deficiency is the main environmental factor leading to thyroid cancer. At the same time iodine excess may also contribute to thyroid cancer. Potassium iodate (KIO
), which is broadly used in ...salt iodization program, may increase oxidative damage to membrane lipids (lipid peroxidation, LPO) under experimental conditions, with the strongest damaging effect at KIO
concentration of ~10 mM (corresponding to physiological iodine concentration in the thyroid). Melatonin and indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) are effective antioxidative indoles, each of which protects against KIO
-induced LPO in the thyroid. The study aims to check if melatonin used together with IPA (in their highest achievable in vitro concentrations) reveals stronger protective effects against KIO
-induced LPO in porcine thyroid homogenates than each of these antioxidants used separately. Homogenates were incubated in the presence of KIO
(200; 100; 50; 25; 20; 15; 10; 7.5; 5.0; 2.5; 1.25; 0.0 mM) without/with melatonin (5 mM) or without/with IPA (10 mM) or without/with melatonin + IPA, and then, to further clarify the narrow range of KIO
concentrations, against which melatonin + IPA reveal cumulative protective effects, the following KIO
concentrations were used: 20; 18.75; 17.5; 16.25; 15; 13.75; 12.5; 11.25; 10; 8.75; 7.5; 0.0 mM. Malondialdehyde + 4-hydroxyalkenals (MDA + 4-HDA) concentration (LPO index) was measured spectrophotometrically. Protective effects of melatonin + IPA were stronger than those revealed by each antioxidant used separately, but only when LPO was induced by KIO
in concentrations from 18.75 mM to 8.75 mM, corresponding to physiological iodine concentration in the thyroid. In conclusion, melatonin and indole-3-propionic acid exert cumulative protective effects against oxidative damage caused by KIO
, when this prooxidant is used in concentrations close to physiological iodine concentrations in the thyroid. Therefore, the simultaneous administration of these two indoles should be considered to prevent more effectively oxidative damage (and thereby thyroid cancer formation) caused by iodine compounds applied in iodine prophylaxis.
•Curcumin diminished cell viability and proliferation, and induced apoptosis in human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells.•Curcumin cytotoxicity was observed at low micromolar concentrations.•Curcumin ...stimulated intracellular superoxide production.•Curcumin affected nucleolar activity.•Curcumin-mediated changes in nucleolus may be a result of global DNA hypermethylation.
Curcumin, the major yellow-orange pigment of turmeric derived from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, is a highly pleiotropic molecule with the potential to modulate inflammation, oxidative stress, cell survival, cell secretion, homeostasis and proliferation. Curcumin, at relatively high concentrations, was repeatedly reported to be a potent inducer of apoptosis in cancer cells and thus considered a promising anticancer agent. In the present paper, the effects of low concentrations of curcumin on human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells were studied. We found curcumin-mediated decrease in the cell number and viability, and increase in apoptotic events and superoxide level. In contrast to previously shown curcumin cytotoxicity toward different cervical cancer lines, we observed toxic effects when even as low as 1μM concentration of curcumin was used. Curcumin was not genotoxic to HeLa cells. Because argyrophilic nucleolar protein (AgNOR protein) expression is elevated in malignant cells compared to normal cells reflecting the rapidity of cancer cell proliferation, we evaluated curcumin-associated changes in size (area) and number of silver deposits. We showed curcumin-induced decrease in AgNOR protein pools, which may be mediated by global DNA hypermethylation observed after low concentration curcumin treatment. In summary, we have shown for the first time that curcumin at low micromolar range may be effective against HeLa cells, which may have implications for curcumin-based treatment of cervical cancer in humans.
•Capsaicin exerted cytostatic rather than cytotoxic effect.•Capsaicin did not provoke apoptosis in DU145 and A549 cells when used up to 250μM.•Capsaicin stimulated intracellular reactive oxygen ...species production.•Capsaicin promoted DNA double strand breaks and chromosomal damage.•Capsaicin-induced genotoxicity may result in its limited cytotoxicity against cancer cells.
Capsaicin is the major pungent component of the hot chili peppers of the genus Capsicum, which are consumed worldwide as a food additive. More recently, the selective action of capsaicin against cancer cells has been reported. Capsaicin was found to induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation of a wide range of cancer cells in vitro, whereas being inactive against normal cells. As data on capsaicin-induced genotoxicity are limited and the effects of capsaicin against human lung A549 and DU145 prostate cancer cells were not explored in detail, we were interested in determining whether capsaicin-associated genotoxicity may also provoke A549 and DU145 cell death. Capsaicin-induced decrease in metabolic activity and cell proliferation, and changes in the cell cycle were limited to high concentrations used (≥100μM), whereas, at lower concentrations, capsaicin stimulated both DNA double strand breaks and micronuclei production. Capsaicin was unable to provoke apoptotic cell death when used up to 250μM concentrations. Capsaicin induced oxidative stress, but was ineffective in provoking the dissipation of the mitochondrial inner transmembrane potential. A different magnitude of p53 binding protein 1 (53BP1) recruitment contributed to diverse capsaicin-induced genotoxic effects in DU145 and A549 cells. Capsaicin was also found to be a DNA hypermethylating agent in A549 cells. In summary, we have shown that genotoxic effects of capsaicin may contribute to limited susceptibility of DU145 and A549 cancer cells to apoptosis in vitro, which may question the usefulness of capsaicin-based anticancer therapy, at least in a case of lung and prostate cancer.
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