An assessment of the genotoxic effects of landfill leachates using bacterial and plant tests.

Two bacterial tests (the Ames test and the umu-test) and the Allium test were used to assess the genotoxicity of aqueous leachates from municipal solid waste landfill sites in Southern Poland. A comparison of the sensitivity of the applied tests was performed. None of the tested samples revealed genotoxic activity in the umu-test and thus did not appear to be sensitive enough for evaluations of leachates. Two out of 22 leachates were described as genotoxic in the Ames test and 3 out of 6 leachates in the Allium test. All of the analyzed leachates samples affected cell divisions. Two of the tests applied, the Allium and Ames test, revealed the high genotoxicity of leachate 4. Among the bioassays used in these studies, the Allium test proved to be more sensitive than bacterial tests for the investigation of leachate toxicity. The results suggest that the Allium cytogenetic bioassay is efficient and simple for genotoxicity studies of leachates. The potential correlations between the chemical characteristics and genotoxic effects is discussed. The biological effects of selected appeared to be related to chemical parameters. Leachates have a genotoxic potential and pose a risk to human health and the environment. A combination of biotests and chemical analyses is the best approach for the assessment of the risk or impact of leachates.

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of new quaternary ammonium chlorides.

Decyldimethylamine reacts readily with chloromethylalkyl ethers of sulfides, chloromethylbenzyl ethers or sulfides and chloromethylcycloalkyl ethers to give quaternary ammonium chlorides in very good yields. All the chlorides studied showed antimicrobial activity. The relationship between the chemical structure and antimicrobial activity was analyzed by rough sets.

Quantitative relation between surface active properties and antibiotic activity of 1-alkyl-3-alkylthiomethylimidazolium chlorides.

The critical micelle concentration (CMC) values were determined by surface tensiometry, and the hydrophobicity index (HI) was calculated. The quantitative relation between the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the CMC, and the HI was calculated.

[Actions of new iminium compounds against bacteria and fungi. 30. 3-alkoxymethyl-1-hexyl-, 3-alkylthiomethyl-1-hexyl-, 3-alkoxymethyl-1-octyl- and 3-alkylthiomethyl-1-octylbenzimidazolium chlorides]. / Wirkung neuer Iminiumverbindungen gegen Bakterien und Pilze, 30. Mitt.: 3-Alkoxymethyl-1-hexyl-,3-Alkylthiomethyl-1-hexyl-, 3-Alkoxymethyl-1-oktyl- und 3-Alkylthiomethyl-1-oktylbenzimidazoliumchloride.

Syntheses and antimicrobial activity of the title compounds are described. They were obtained by reaction of 1-hexyl- or 1-octylbenzimidazol with chloromethylalkyl ether or chloromethylalkyl sulfide. The antibacterial properties were tested on 13 strains of bacteria and fungi. The best antibacterial activity was exhibited by chlorides with octylthiomethyl and decyloxymethyl groups.

[Iminium compounds against bacteria and fungi. 29. 3-Alkoxymethyl-1-ethyl-, 3-alkylthiomethyl-1-ethyl-, 3-alkoxymethyl-1-butyl-, and 3-alkylthiomethyl-1-butylbenzimidazolium chloride]. / Iminiumverbindungen gegen Bakterien und Pilze, 29. Mitt.: 3-Alkoxymethyl-1-ethyl-, 3-Alkylthiomethyl-1-ethyl-, 3-Alkoxymethyl-1-butyl- und 3-Alkylthiomethyl-1-butylbenzimidazolium-chloride.

Syntheses and antimicrobial activity of 3-alkoxymethyl-1-ethyl-, 3-alkylthiomethyl-1-ethyl-, 3-alkoxymethyl-1-butyl-, and 3-alkylthiomethyl-1-butylbenzimidazolium chlorides are described. The compounds were obtained by reaction of 1-ethyl- or 1-butylbenzimidazole with chloromethylalkyl ethers or chloromethylalkyl sulfide. Antibacterial properties were tested on 13 strains of bacteria and fungi. 3-Dodecylthio-methyl-1-ethyl-benzimidazolium chloride exhibited the highest antibacterial activity.

[Activity of new iminium compounds against bacteria and fungi. 28. Synthesis of 1-ethyl-, 1-n-dodecyl-2-phenyl-3-(n-alkylthiomethyl)- and 1-ethyl-, 1-n-dodecyl-2-phenyl-3-(n-alkoxymethyl)imidazolium chlorides]. / Wirkung neuer Iminiumverbindungen agen Bakterien und Pilze. 28. Mitteilung: Synthese von 1-ethyl-, 1-n-dodecyl-2-phenyl-3-(n-alkylthiomethyl)- und 1-ethyl-, 1-n-dodecyl-2-phenyl-3-(n-alkoxymethyl)imidazolimchloriden.

The synthesis of quaternary imidazolium compounds was performed by reaction of 1-ethyl- or 1-n-dodecyl-2-phenylimidazole with chloromethyl-n-alkyl ether or chloromethyl-n-alkyl sulfid. The antibacterial properties of the compounds obtained were tested on 13 strains of bacteria and fungi. 1-Ethyl-2-phenyl-3-(n-decylthiomethyl)-, 1-ethyl-2-phenyl-3-(n-dodecylthiomethyl)imidazolium chloride and 1-n-dodecyl-2-phenyl-3-(n-butylthiomethyl)-, 1-n-dodecyl-2-phenyl-3-(n-hexylthiomethyl)imidazolium chloride indicated the best antibacterial activity.

[Actions of new iminium compounds on bacteria and fungi. 27. Synthesis of 1-n-decyl-2-phenyl-3-(n-alkylthiomethyl)- and 1-n-decyl-2-phenyl-3-(n-alkoxymethyl)imidazolium chlorides]. / Wirkung neuer Iminiumverbindungen gegen Bakterien und Pilze, 27. Synthese von 1-n-decyl-2-phenyl-3-(n-alkylthiomethyl)- und 1-n-decyl-2-phenyl-3-(n-alkoxymethyl)imidazoliumchloriden.

The imidazolium compounds 1-3 were prepared by quaternization of 1-decyl-2-phenylimidazole with the pertinent chloromethyl-n-alkyl ethers. 1-3 were tested for their antibacterial and antimycotic efficacies.

Immunoregulatory effect of T cell subsets on PWM-induced IgG synthesis by blood lymphocytes in lung cancer.

The mechanism of pokeweed mitogen (PWM) dependent decreased IgG production by blood lymphocytes from lung cancer patients was studied in comparison to control patients and blood donors. It has been shown that the depletion of monocytes has some influence on IgG synthesis but is not a decisive factor. Also, quantitative alterations in the CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte subsets do not significantly influence the PWM stimulation index for IgG synthesis. The assessment of T lymphocyte suppressor activity in lung cancer patients was performed by means of a co-culture with blood mononuclear cells, while helper activity was evaluated through co-culture with donor B lymphocytes. It has been found that lung cancer patient T lymphocytes have no increased suppressor activity, however, especially in the CD4 subset, display the decrease of helper function for B lymphocytes in PWM-induced IgG synthesis. The weakened helper function of CD4 lymphocytes may explain the suppression of specific antibody synthesis do novo which is evident in patients with lung cancer.

[Synthesis and action of 1-n-hexyl-2-phenyl-3-(n-alkoxymethyl)- and 1-n-hexyl-2-phenyl-3-(6-n-alkylthiomethyl)imidazolium chlorides]. / Synthese und Wirkung von 1-n-Hexyl-2-phenyl-3-(n-alkoxymethyl)-und 1-n-Hexyl-2-phenyl-3-(n-alkylthiomethyl)imidazoliumchloriden.

The synthesis of quaternary imidazolium chlorides was performed by reaction of 1-n-hexyl-2-phenyl-imidazole with chloromethylalkyl ether or chlormethylalkyl sulfide. The antibacterial properties of the compounds obtained was tested on 13 strains of bacteria and fungi. Chlorides with octyl- and decylthiomethyl moiety indicated the best antibacterial activity.

Surface antigens and cytotoxic natural killer cell (NK) activity of blood lymphocytes in heavy cigarette smokers.

Surface phenotypes of lymphocytes and the assessment of cytotoxic NK activity were determined in peripheral blood leukocytes in a group of heavy smokers and respective non-smoking people control group. Cell phenotypes were evaluated by a panel of monoclonal antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence on cell sediments. Cytotoxic activity was assessed by single cell cytotoxic assay on target K 562 cells. There were no significant differences in T cell (CD 3+) as well as in CD 43+ ones (large sialoglycoprotein) per cent values. The cells possessing receptor for sheep red blood cell (CD 2+) were however more numerous in smokers as compared to non-smokers. Per cent value of B lymphocytes in the former group was significantly decreased vs control one. There was no difference in per cent values of activated and immature cells in both examined groups. Per cent values of NK cell activity were higher in non-smokers in relation to smokers. It was reflected by an increase of cytotoxicity of effector cells, while frequency of incidence of NK cells was comparable in both groups examined.

[Effectiveness of new quarternary ammonium chloride compounds against selected bacteria and fungi. XXI. Synthesis of alkoxymethyl-3,4-dimethyl- pyridine and 1-ethyloxymethyl-3-alkylthiomethylimidazole chlorides]. / Badania nad skutecznoscia dzialania nowych czwartorzedowych chlorków amoniowych wobec wybranych szczepów bakterii i grzybów. XXI. Synteza chlorków alkoksymetylo-3,4-dimetylopirydyniowych i chlorków 1-etyloksymetylo-3-alkilotiometyloimidazoliowych.

Syntheses and antibacterial properties of alkoxymethyl-3,4-dimethylpyridinium chlorides and 1-ethyloxymethyl-3-alkylthiomethylimidazolium chlorides are described. Alkoxymetgyl-3,4-dimethylpyridinium chlorides were synthetized by reacting 3,4-dimethylpyridine with chloromethyl alkyl ethers, while 1-ethyloxymethyl-3-alkylthiomethylimidazolium chlorides were obtained in reactions of 1-ethyloxymethylimidazol with chloromethyl alkyl sulfides. Antibacterial properties of the obtained compounds were tested on 13 strains of bacteria and fungi. Strong bacteriostatic activity was found to be displayed by iminium chlorides with octyloxymethyl, decyloxymethyl, octylthiomethyl and decylthiomethyl groups.

Assessment of phenotype of blood lymphocyte subsets prior and after PWM stimulation in patients with lung carcinoma.

Surface phenotypes of peripheral blood lymphocytes of lung cancer patients and those of two control groups were assessed by means of indirect immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies, prior and after 10 day pokeweed mitogen (PWM) in vitro stimulation. There was no significant alteration in pan T cell per cent values prior and after mitogen stimulation in all groups tested. CD4+ cells in lung cancer group were however significantly decreased as compared to blood donor group (37.3% vs 44.9%, p less than 0.05). This decline was even more pronounced in III/IVo stage of tumour progression according to TNM classification (36.8%, p less than 0.05). These changes, however were not cancer specific, because similar decrease of CD4+ cells was seen in a group of patients with nonneoplastic lung conditions (35.7%, p less than 0.01). Following 10 day PWM culture per cent values of CD4+ cells did not change significantly. The assessment of CD8+ lymphocytes has shown marked differences in two subgroups of lung cancer, namely in II (17.4%) and III/IV (26.2%) of tumour progression (p less than 0.05), which returned to normal values following PWM culture. CD4/CD8 ratio was distinctly depressed in cancer patients in relation to donors. The evaluation of surface markers of B lymphocytes activated cells and monocytes did not show significant alterations in all groups examined. Per cent of HNK1+ cells was heightened in cancer group, especially in III/IV stage of tumour progression in relation to donors (21.7% and 22.8% vs 17.3%, p less than 0.05 respectively). PWM stimulation resulted in marked fall of HNK1+ cells to values corresponding to those in donor group. This study indicates some alterations in per cent values of blood lymphocytes subpopulations belonging mainly to T cell lineage in lung cancer patients linked to tumour staging which only partially return to normal following PWM stimulation.

Incidence of alloantibodies and immune complexes in bronchial secretions of lung cancer patients.

Bronchial secretions may accumulate immunoglobulins (Igs) produced by lymphocytes infiltrating tumor and its vicinity, and tumor associated antigens to higher degree than cancer patient serum. All three classes of Igs were increased in bronchial secretions from lung cancer patients as compared to control patients. Similar relationships were found for IgG and IgA/albumin ratios and IgG and IgA indices. The level of alloantibodies to fetal cells (measured by immunoradiometric--IRMA--assay) and immune complexes (IC, measured by IRMA--Clq and ELISA--anti C3) were significantly higher in lung cancer patients versus control patients in bronchial secretions. The differences were similar in sera but they were not significant. On the contrary, alloantibody binding to tumor cells was higher in control group. Absorption experiments with normal cells abolished antitumor and antifetal activity, what indicates natural character of these alloantibodies. Significant correlations between alloantibody to fetal cells and IC levels indicate that fetal antigens may contribute to antigenic component of IC. These findings suggest the link of alloantibodies and IC levels in bronchial secretions with neoplastic growth.

[Effect of new quaternary imino compounds against selected bacterial and fungal strains. 11. Synthesis of 1-methyl- and 1-ethyl-3-(n-alkoxymethyl)imidazolium chlorides]. / Wirkung neuer quartärer Iminiumverbindungen gegen ausgewählte Bakterien- und Pilzstämme. Teil 11: Synthese von 1-Methyl- und 1-Ethyl-3-(n-alkoxymethyl)imidazoliumchloriden.

Syntheses and antibacterial activity of the imidazolium compounds are described. Syntheses of the imidazolium chlorides were performed by reaction of 1-alkylimidazole with chloromethylalkyl ether. Antibacterial properties of obtained compounds was tested on 13 strains of bacteria and fungi. Chlorides with n-dodecaoxymethyl radical indicated the best antibacterial activity.