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Since biological applications and toxicity of graphene-based materials are structure dependent, studying their interactions with the biological systems is very timely and important. We studied short-term (1, 24, and 48 h) effects of ultrapure (GO) and Mn2+-contaminated (GOS) graphene oxide on normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) and adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549) using selected oxidative stress markers and cytokines: glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase (CAT) activity, total antioxidative capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, levels of vascular endothelial growing factor (VEGF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), and eotaxin. GOS induced higher levels of oxidative stress, measured with CAT activity, TAC, and MDA concentration than GO in both cell lines when compared to control cells. GR activity decreased in time in NHDF cells but increased in A549 cells. The levels of cytokines were related to the exposure time and graphene oxide type in both analyzed cell lines and their levels comparably increased over time. We observed higher TNF-α levels in NHDF and higher levels of VEGF and eotaxin in the A549 cell line. Both types of cells showed similar susceptibility to GO and GOS. We concluded that the short-time exposure to GOS induced the stronger response of oxidative stress markers without collapsing the antioxidative systems of analysed cells. Increased levels of inflammatory cytokines after GO and GOS exposure were similar both in NHDF and A549 cells.

Combination therapy is based on the beneficial effects of pharmacodynamic interaction (synergistic or additive) between combined drugs or substances. A considerable group of candidates for combined treatments are natural compounds (e.g., isothiocyanates) and their analogs, which are tested in combination with anticancer drugs. We tested the anticancer effect of the combined treatment of isothiocyanate 2-oxohexyl isothiocyanate and 5-fluorouracil in colon and prostate cancer cell lines. The type of interaction was described using the Chou-Talalay method. The cytostatic and cytotoxic activities of the most promising combined treatments were investigated. In conclusion, we showed that combined treatment with 5-fluorouracil and 2-oxohexyl isothiocyanate acted synergistically in colon cancer. This activity is dependent on the cytostatic properties of the tested compounds and leads to the intensification of their individual cytotoxic activity. The apoptotic process is considered to be the main mechanism of cytotoxicity in this combined treatment.

Increasing physical activity opportunities in schools has emerged as a global priority among school-aged youth. As a result, many countries have designed and implemented whole-of-school physical activity initiatives that seek to increase physical activity opportunities that are available to school-aged children before, during, and after school. Considering the comprehensive school physical activity program conceptual framework, this article includes a discussion of the initiatives from four countries: Finland (Finnish Schools on the Move), Ireland (Active School Flag), Poland (PE with Class), and the United States (Let's Move Active Schools). Background information, implementation strategies, best practices, development opportunities, and relevant research from each country will be presented. Exploring different perspectives sheds some light on the international landscape relative to whole-of-school physical activity promotion and provides direction for future and continued research and practice.

Background and Objectives: The goal was to evaluate the association of dynamic retinal vessel analysis (DVA) with echocardiographic parameters assessing systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle in hypertension (HT) patients with preserved left ventricle ejection fraction. Materials and Methods: This observational retrospective study recruited 36 patients with HT and 28 healthy controls. Retinal vessel diameter and reactions to flicker light were examined. Each patient was examined with echocardiography to assess left ventricular systolic and diastolic function. Results: Multivariate analysis revealed that hypertension was an independent factor associated with lower flicker-induced arterial vasodilatation (β = −0.31, p = 0.029). In the HT group, there was a significant positive association between left ventricular ejection fraction and flicker-induced arterial vasodilation (Rs = +0.31, p = 0.007). Additionally, end-diastolic left ventricular diameter negatively correlated with both arterial (Rs = −0.26, p = 0.02) and venous (Rs = −0.27, p = 0.02) flicker responses. Additionally, the echocardiographic characteristics of the left atrium (LA) remodeling in the course of HT, including the area of the LA and its antero-posterior dimension, were both negatively correlated with the arterial flicker response (Rs = −0.34, p = 0.003; Rs = −0.33, p = 0.004, respectively). From tissue Doppler parameters, the left ventricular filling index E/e’ negatively correlated with AVR (arteriovenous ratio) values (Rs = −0.36, p = 0.002). Conclusions: We revealed that systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle in hypertensive patients is associated with retinal microvascular function.

"The idea of power distance in Swedish didactic material as an example of best practice" The text contributes to a discussion on the phenomenon of social construction of inequalities by the system of education. The author, using Swedish textbooks, analyses their contents applying in the examination G. Hofstede’s theory on culture dimensions, focusing on one of these dimensions (power distance). This approach might be an inspiration as far as methodology of didactic materials is concerned, as well as practical ways of introducing equality-oriented contents into school textbooks.

Introduction: This article presents the analysis of the correlation between the category and health status of calves and the results of their rearing and levels of selected blood parameters.

A series of new 3-amino-6-chloro-7-(azol-2 or 5-yl)-1,1-dioxo-1,4,2-benzodithiazine derivatives 5a–j have been synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their antiproliferative activity at the U.S. National Cancer Institute. The most active compound 5h showed significant cytotoxic effects against ovarian (OVCAR-3) and breast (MDA-MB-468) cancer (10% and 47% cancer cell death, respectively) as well as a good selectivity toward prostate (DU-145), colon (SW-620) and renal (TK-10) cancer cell lines. To obtain a deeper insight into the structure-activity relationships of the new compounds 5a–j QSAR studies have been applied. Theoretical calculations allowed the identification of molecular descriptors belonging to the RDF (RDF055p and RDF145m in the MOLT-4 and UO-31 QSAR models, respectively) and 3D-MorSE (Mor32m and Mor16e for MOLT-4 and UO-31 QSAR models) descriptor classes. Based on these data, QSAR models with good robustness and predictive ability have been obtained.

Rapid technological progress focuses on lowering costs, labor and time. Thus, in order to minimize the expenses of bioactive compound production, great effort is undertaken to optimize the extraction of these compounds. Green extraction is popular and relatively inexpensive. However, the same extraction method does not always work for all types of matrixes due to the biological diversity of the tissue. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the optimal green extraction method of açai berries (ultrasound or microwaves) able to isolate extracts containing the highest possible number of phenolic compounds with the highest antioxidant activity. The results show that the highest content of total phenolic compounds in the extracts was obtained after the application of a temperature of 45 °C, using ultrasound for 25 min and 45 min, microwaves for 3.16 min and a water bath for 25 min. Ultrasound turned out to be the most effective method of flavonoid extraction. In turn, the highest anthocyanin content was obtained for microwave extraction. Additionally, the application of microwaves for 4.33 min (45 °C) guaranteed the highest ferric-reducing antioxidant activity (FRAP) among the extracts. The results show that the use of microwaves shortens the açai extraction time and ensures both a high content of total phenolic compounds and strong antioxidant activity in the extract.

The aim of this paper was the analysis of the heating and cooling of a two-story office building located in northeastern Poland, which leads to making practical conclusions. The main part of the work focuses on determining the projected heat loss as well as heat profits of the building under scrutiny, in which the information serves as initial data for the selection of devices of the systems under analysis. For the analysis, we assess the installation of fan coils—underfloor—which heat or cool a room and the installation of radiators for heat, and the multi-split air conditioner for cooling. For every variant, we estimated the investment costs and the operating costs. The comparison enabled to present conclusions and advice concerning the heating and cooling of small office buildings. In the summary, the reader will be able to familiarize with conclusions concerning the price and comfort of the implementation of solutions.

Cold conditions are obligatory for mushrooms storage. However, in most cases, the cold chain is interrupted at various stages. Thus, is of great importance to propose a packaging system capable of inhibiting the detrimental effect of high temperature on mushrooms’ quality. The study evaluates the effect of high oxygen atmosphere (80% O2) in conjunction with films of different levels of microperforations (polysulfon (PSF) films, low: PSF_1000, PSF_2000; medium: PSF_3500; and high: PSF_7000) on antioxidant capacity, volatile compounds profile, sensory acceptance, and quality of mushrooms stored at 20 °C. Results showed that high O2 atmosphere inhibits the respiration rate of mushrooms. Application of high O2 atmosphere and film of high level of microperforations preserved desired color and profile of volatile compounds, ensured consumers color and overall acceptance. In turn, the single effect of the perforation level of the applied film was observed for antioxidant capacity, weight loss, vitamin C, malonylodialdehyde (MDA), and phenolics content. Packaging in low microperforated films led to the least amount of phenolics, highest MDA content, and poor antioxidant capacity in mushrooms. In turn, packaging with films of a medium level of perforation contributed to the highest vitamin C and phenolic content. There was no effect of treatment on texture, maturity index, protein content, and percentage of open capped mushrooms.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of genotype and slaughter age on the mineral content and fatty acid profile of beef. The experiment was performed on 72 crossbred bulls produced by crossing Polish Holstein-Friesian (PHF) cows with bulls of three beef breeds: Hereford (HH), Limousin (LM), and Charolais (CH), slaughtered at 15, 18, and 21 months of age. Samples of the longissimus thoracis muscle were collected to determine their mineral (potassium—K, sodium—Na, magnesium—Mg, zinc—Zn, and iron—Fe) and fatty acid composition. The meat of PHF × LM crosses had a lower (p ≤ 0.01) content of K and Mg, compared with the remaining crossbred bulls. The Fe content per kg of meat was 4 mg higher (p ≤ 0.01) in bulls slaughtered at 21 months of age than in those slaughtered at 15 months of age. The content of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) in intramuscular fat was 2.77% higher in bulls slaughtered at 21 months of age than in those slaughtered at 15 months of age. The n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) ratio did not exceed 4.0, and it was most desirable in PHF × LM crosses (2.84) and in the oldest bulls (2.92).

Breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer among women worldwide. There are several recommended methods of breast cancer prevention, including chemoprevention. There are several approved drugs used to prevent breast cancer occurrence or recurrence and metastasizing. There are also a number of new substances undergoing clinical trials and at the stage of initial study. Studies suggest that dietary factors play a crucial role in breast cancer etiology. Epidemiological studies indicate that in particular vegetables from the Brassicaceae family are a rich source of chemopreventive substances, with sulforaphane (SFN) being one of the most widely studied and characterized. This review discusses potential applicability of SFN in breast cancer chemoprevention. A comprehensive review of the literature on the impact of SFN on molecular signalling pathways in breast cancer and breast untransformed cells is presented. The presented results of in vitro and in vivo studies show that this molecule has a potential to act as a preventive molecule either to prevent disease development or recurrence and metastasizing, and as a compound protecting normal cells against the toxic effects of cytostatics. Finally, the still scanty attempts to develop an improved analog are also presented and discussed.

Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule required that nursing homes (NHs) develop an infection control program that includes an antibiotic stewardship component and employs a trained infection preventionist (IP). The objectives of this study were to provide a baseline assessment of (1) NH facility and infection control program characteristics associated with having an infection control deficiency citation and (2) associations between IP training and the presence of antibiotic stewardship policies, controlling for NH characteristics. A cross-sectional survey of 2514 randomly sampled US NHs was conducted to assess IP training, staff turnover, and infection control program characteristics (ie, frequency of infection control committee meetings and the presence of 7 antibiotic stewardship policies). Responses were linked to concurrent Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reporting data, which contain information about NH facility characteristics and citations. Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression analyses were conducted to account for NH characteristics. Surveys were received from 990 NHs; 922 had complete data. One-third of NHs in this sample received an infection control deficiency citation. The NHs that received deficiency citations were more likely to have committees that met weekly/monthly versus quarterly ( P < .01). The IPs in 39% of facilities had received specialized training. Less than 3% of trained IPs were certified in infection control. The NHs with trained IPs were more likely to have 5 of the 7 components of antibiotic stewardship in place (all P < .05). The IP training, although infrequent, was associated with the presence of antibiotic stewardship policies. Receiving an infection control citation was associated with more frequent infection control committee meetings. Training and support of IPs is needed to ensure infection control and antibiotic stewardship in NHs. As the CMS rule becomes implemented, more research is warranted. There is a need for increase in trained IPs in US NHs. These data can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the CMS final rule on infection management processes in US NHs.

A series of novel N-acyl-4-chloro-5-methyl-2-(R1-methylthio)benzenesulfonamides 18–47 have been synthesized by the reaction of N-[4-chloro-5-methyl-2-(R1-methylthio) benzenesulfonyl]cyanamide potassium salts with appropriate carboxylic acids. Some of them showed anticancer activity toward the human cancer cell lines MCF-7, HCT-116 and HeLa, with the growth percentages (GPs) in the range from 7% to 46%. Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) studies on the cytotoxic activity of N-acylsulfonamides toward MCF-7, HCT-116 and HeLa were performed by using topological, ring and charge descriptors based on the stepwise multiple linear regression technique (MLR). The QSAR studies revealed three predictive and statistically significant models for the investigated compounds. The results obtained with these models indicated that the anticancer activity of N-acylsulfonamides depends on topological distances, number of ring system, maximum positive charge and number of atom-centered fragments. The metabolic stability of the selected compounds had been evaluated on pooled human liver microsomes and NADPH, both R1 and R2 substituents of the N-acylsulfonamides simultaneously affected them.

Background: The purpose of the research was to check opinions of students of various stages of education in the Pomeranian province about the attractiveness of Nordic Walking in comparison with other activities.

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