Tetrahedrality and hydrogen bonds in water.

We carried out extensive calculations of liquid water at different temperatures and pressures using the BK3 model suggested recently [P. T. Kiss and A. Baranyai, J. Chem. Phys. 138, 204507 (2013)]. In particular, we were interested in undercooled regions to observe the propensity of water to form tetrahedral coordination of closest neighbors around a central molecule. We compared the found tetrahedral order with the number of hydrogen bonds and with the partial pair correlation functions unfolded as distributions of the closest, the second closest, etc. neighbors. We found that contrary to the number of hydrogen bonds, tetrahedrality changes substantially with state variables. Not only the number of tetrahedral arrangements increases with lowering the pressure, the density, and the temperature but the domain size of connecting tetrahedral structures as well. The difference in tetrahedrality is very pronounced between the two sides of the Widom line and even more so between the low density amorphous (LDA) and high density amorphous (HDA) phases. We observed that in liquid water and in HDA, the 5th water molecule, contrary to ice and LDA, is positioned between the first and the second coordination shell. We found no convincing evidence of structural heterogeneity or regions referring to structural transition.

Evaluation of multixenobiotic resistance in dreissenid mussels as a screening tool for toxicity in freshwater sediments.

The multixenobiotic defense mechanism (MXR) in aquatic organisms was recognized as a first-line defense system, and its potential use as an early biomarker of exposure to environmental stress has raised attention in the last two decades. To evaluate the relevance of this biomarker in the freshwater mussel Dreissena polymorpha, we studied its responsiveness within laboratory exposures to contaminants sequestered in freshwater sediments affected by moderate anthropogenic impact. The effectiveness of this biomarker was assessed by comparing the MXR-transporter activities determined in bivalves first with toxicity scores recorded with the D. rerio embryo developmental assay. Both bioassays were applied in the sediment contact test format. As a second evaluation approach, MXR activities determined in exposed mussels were compared with sediment-contamination data integrated into toxic units on the basis of acute toxicity to Daphnia magna. In D. polymorpha subjected to acute exposure with moderately polluted sediments, we detected limited (22-33 %) but statistically significant induction of MXR activity. Mean MXR activities significantly correlated with TU values computed for test sediments. MXR activities in mussels showed strong positive correlation with the metal load of sediments and proved to be unrelated to the contamination with polycyclic aromatic compounds. MXR activity in laboratory-exposed mussels showed low variability within treatments and thus reliably reflected even low contaminant differences between the negative reference and moderately polluted harbor sediments. The strong correlation found in this study between the MXR-transporter activity in exposed mussels and environmentally realistic sediment contamination underscores the fairly good sensitivity of this biomarker in laboratory testing conditions to signal the bioavailability of sediment bound contaminants, and it may also anticipate even the incidence of toxicity to biota.

Anti-inflammatory properties of Gö 6850: a selective inhibitor of protein kinase C.

Protein kinase C (PKC) regulates a variety of signal transduction events implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammation, including the biosynthesis of inflammatory cytokines and superoxide and the activation of phospholipase A2. Because of the significant role of PKC in these inflammatory processes, we evaluated a specific and potent inhibitor of C kinase for efficacy in several in vitro and in vivo murine models of inflammation. Unlike the relatively nonspecific kinase inhibitor staurosporine, the bisindolylmaleimide 3-[1-[-3-(dimethylaminopropyl]-1H-indol-3-yl]- 4-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione monohydrochloride (Gö 6850) demonstrated increased selectivity for C kinase in purified enzyme assays (respective IC50 values (microM) for Gö 6850 and staurosporine: protein kinase C (0.032, 0.009); myosin light-chain kinase (0.6, 0.01); protein kinase G (4.6, 0.018); protein kinase A (33, 0.04); tyrosine kinase1 (94, 0.4); tyrosine kinase2 (> 100, > 1)). Topically applied Gö 6850 inhibited phorbol myristate acetate-induced edema, neutrophil influx and vascular permeability in murine epidermis in a dose- and time-dependent manner at levels comparable to indomethacin. In a murine model of delayed type hypersensitivity, Gö 6850 inhibited dinitrofluorobenzene-induced contact dermatitis with and ID50 value of 150 micrograms/ear. Cellular studies in mouse peritoneal macrophages demonstrated that Gö 6850 was a potent inhibitor of phorbol myristate acetate-induced prostaglandin E2 production. Superoxide production in phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated murine neutrophils was also inhibited by Gö 6850 (IC50 = 88 nM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inhibition of E-selectin-, ICAM-1-, and VCAM-1-mediated cell adhesion by benzo[b]thiophene-, benzofuran-, indole-, and naphthalene-2-carboxamides: identification of PD 144795 as an antiinflammatory agent.

It was previously reported that 3-alkoxybenzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamides exemplified by 1, 5-methoxy-3-(1-methylethoxy)benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamide, decreased the adherence of neutrophils to activated endothelial cells by inhibiting the upregulation of the adhesion molecules E-selectin and ICAM-1 on the surface of the endothelium. This finding is extended here to a series of 3-thiobenzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamides and also heterocyclic analogs of 1, including benzofurans, indoles, and napthalenes. The compounds that inhibited the expression of E-selectin and ICAM-1 had the same effect on the expression of VCAM-1. PD 144795, 5-methoxy-3-(1-methylethoxy)benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamide 1-oxide (44), the sulfoxide analog of 1, was orally active in several models of inflammation. The in vitro and in vivo activity of PD 144795 resided predominately in the S-enantiomer.

The pharmacologic effects of 5-[3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4- hydroxyphenyl]-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2(3H)-thione, choline salt (CI-986), a novel inhibitor of arachidonic acid metabolism in models of inflammation, analgesia and gastric irritation.

CI-986 is a potent inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathway product biosynthesis from rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells. Because metabolites from these pathways have proinflammatory properties, CI-986 was evaluated in several acute and chronic models of inflammation and hyperalgesia. The compound inhibited swelling in the carrageenan footpad edema, Mycobacterium foot-pad edema and adjuvant arthritis models of inflammation with ID40 values of 1.0, 7.7., and 7.2 mg/kg, respectively. It was roughly equivalent in potency to the standard selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor, naproxen (ID40 = 0.7, 6.3, and 3.8 mg/kg, respectively). CI-986 was also evaluated in the acetic acid induced writhing hyperalgesia assay (ID50 = 0.23 mg/kg) and was approximately equipotent with indomethacin (ID50 = 0.87 mg/kg). Although the effects of CI-986 were similar to those of standard nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the inflammation models, its gastrointestinal profile was unique. CI-986 caused no gastrointestinal irritation at doses up to 200 mg/kg in acute and chronic studies. In contrast, standard NSAIDs caused ulcers at doses of 3.7-37 mg/kg after a single dose. Moreover, CI-986 inhibited the release of LTC4 and PGE2 by gastric mucosa and reduced mucosal and vascular damage induced by oral administration of absolute ethanol to rats. These results indicate that CI-986 is a potent nonulcerogenic antiinflammatory agent with novel pharmacologic properties.

The effects of adenosine agonists on human neutrophil function.

Adenosine is a potent physiologic substance with a variety of biologic activities. Many of the effects of adenosine appear to be mediated by two populations of cell-surface adenosine receptors (A1 and A2). We have examined the effects of several adenosine receptor agonists on human neutrophils stimulated with the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP). The results indicate that both superoxide anion generation and degranulation (as assessed by lysozyme release) are inhibited. Inhibition correlated most strongly with A2 receptor affinity for both parameters and was reversible by the adenosine receptor antagonist 8-phenyltheophylline. Because toxic oxygen metabolites and degradative enzymes are implicated in a variety of inflammatory disorders, adenosine agonists may be useful probes to help expand our knowledge of the role of these mediators in human disease.

[Unusual cases of adolescent suicide]. / Fiatalkori öngyilkosságok ritkább esetei

Two cases of hanging--boys of 11 and 14 years of age--are described. Investigation of the cases have thrown light on the antecedents. The first case was really suicide, but the second one was an accident. The young boy intended to "stretch" himself out, since he was short. He had tied the rope around his neck and the other end of it around the door-handle. Accidentally he strangulated himself. In connection with these cases author stresses the role of physicians in prevention of suicide and attempted suicide in youth.

[Forensic problems of fatal hand-inflicted injuries]. / A kézzel létrehozott, halált okozó súlyos testi sértések igazságügyi orvostani kérdéseiröl

In the last years in Hungary continual decrease of homicidal cases could be registered, however other forms of violence, severe injuries followed by the death of the victim are almost as high as formerly. Author in the last ten years performed autopsy of 14 such cases. On the base of them summarizes problems arising in connection with the medico-legal investigation of them. He concludes that among these problems-beside alcoholic intoxication-the most important is to reveal the natural disease-if any-of the victim. If there is a natural disease it may be accounted as a factor in the death. Then the crime can be evaluated as a praeterintentional one.

[Presence of foreign body in hand and foot, diagnosed too late]. / Késve felismert idegentest kézen, illetve lábon

On the basis of 7 years' material, the distribution of 73 foreign bodies - of non-metallic intensity - in the hand and the foot is discussed. The foreign bodies did not appear as new, fresh lesions, but they have been diagnosed after longer or shorter symptom-free state. In the case of fistulous process immediate removal has been performed, and in the case of closed cases - on the basis of the clinical picture - immediate removal - or removal after fixation for a few days was effective. In the author's opinion, fixation is - so long as acute symptoms are present - in all cases indispensable, - fixation is immediately followed by physicotherapy, in order to assure good functional results.