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Ag + -substituted hydroxyapatites (Ag-HAs) and Ag + /CO 3 2- -co-substituted hydroxyapatites (Ag-CHAs) with two different concentrations of silver ions were synthesized by the standard precipitation method. For comparison, pure hydroxyapatite (HA) and carbonated hydroxyapatite (CHA) were synthesized using the same method. The obtained powders were examined by various physicochemical methods, such PXRD, TEM, FTIR and ssNMR. Elemental analysis was provided by WD-XRF and ICP-MS methods. The strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the materials. The study demonstrates that the substituted samples are homogenous and poorly crystalline. Introducing carbonates into the crystal structure significantly affects the physicochemical properties of the silver containing hydroxyapatite, i.e., crystallinity, lattice parameters, crystal size and morphology or content of structural hydroxyl groups. Carbonate substitution leads to a significant increase in the contribution of the hydrated surface layer. Ag-CHA nanocrystals with an enhanced hydrated surface layer and higher solubility demonstrate an admirable antibacterial effect., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The functioning of heterotrimeric G protein α subunits in the transduction of hormonal signals to appropriate intracellular responses is well recognized. Much less is known about the distribution of isoforms and functions of G protein β subunits. Here, using specific antibodies, we documented that in plasma membranes of the thyroid cell line Nthy-ori 3-1 all Gβ isoforms-Gβ(1), Gβ(2), Gβ(3), Gβ(4) and Gβ(5) are present, while the Gβ(3) occurs in minute amount. In plasma membrane fraction isolated from pooled postoperative thyroids of patients with nodular goiter and Graves' disease, the Gβ(1), Gβ(2), Gβ(4) and Gβ(5) subunits were found, whereas Gβ(3) could not be detected. Competition studies revealed that the Gβ(2) is the principal Gβ subunit in membranes from cultured thyroid cells, originated from normal thyroid, as well as in membranes from patients' thyroids. This suggests that Gβ(2) subunit cooperates with Gα(s) subunit, the most active of the Gα variants, during stimulation of adenylate cyclase which constitutes the main route of physiological thyroid stimulation., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)