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This article focused on the content of lycopene in fresh and dried tomatoes and tomato pomace, as well as in tomato paste at different harvest times (harvest 1 – August and harvest 2 – September). The lycopene content of tomatoes and tomato products was evaluated by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that the highest content of lycopene was estimated in the tomato paste independent of the time of harvest (211.73 mg/100 g dm in August and 184.29 mg/100 g dm in September) and the lowest content in fresh pomace (20.45 and 16.11 mg/100 g dm in August and September, respectively). Good sources of lycopene are tomato by-products, in particularly dried tomato pomace (25.11 mg/100 g dm – harvest 1 and 19.30 mg/100 g dm – harvest 2). This study showed that tomato waste can be considered as a promising source of lycopene for the production of functional foods.

The aim of the study was to verify the hypothesis that β-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C administered individually or in combination may differently modify their levels in blood plasma being also markers of the oxidative stress. Male Wistar rats were supplemented antioxidants per os (α-to-copherol - 2 mg/d, ascorbic acid - 12 mg/d, β-carotene - 1 mg/d), both individually or in combination of 2 or 3, for 14 days. During experiment, half of the animals in each group (n=8) were subjected to treadmill exercise for 15 min at the speed of 20 m/min, to induce oxidative stress. Vitamins in rat plasma were assessed by the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results suggest that vitamin E and C supplemented simultaneously may provide some benefit during physical exercise. The significant influence of administered α-tocopherol acetate and physical exercise on the level of α-tocopherol in the plasma was observed. Thus only the concentration of α-tocopherol in blood may be treated as a marker of oxidative stress.

Water resources are increasingly degraded due to the discharge of waste generated in municipal, industrial and agricultural areas. Therefore, the search for new materials enabling the effective treatment of drinking water and sewage is currently of great interest. This paper deals with the adsorption of organic and inorganic pollutants on the surface of carbonaceous adsorbents prepared by thermochemical conversion of common pistachio nut shells. The influence of the direct physical activation with CO2 and chemical activation with H3PO4 on parameters, such as elemental composition, textural parameters, acidic–basic character of the surface as well as electrokinetic properties of the prepared carbonaceous materials was checked. The suitability of the activated biocarbons prepared as the adsorbents of iodine, methylene blue and poly(acrylic acid) from the aqueous solutions was estimated. The sample obtained via chemical activation of the precursor turned out to be much more effective in terms of all the tested pollutants adsorption. Its maximum sorption capacity toward iodine was 1059 mg/g, whereas in relation to methylene blue and poly(acrylic acid) 183.1 mg/g and 207.9 mg/g was achieved, respectively. For both carbonaceous materials, a better fit to the experimental data was achieved with a Langmuir isotherm than a Freundlich one. It has also been shown that the efficiency of organic dye, and especially anionic polymer adsorption from aqueous solutions, is significantly affected by solution pH and temperature of the adsorbate–adsorbent system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apigenin, a non-toxic and non-mutagenic flavonoid, is an alternative to classical drugs that interact with membranes. Hence, the objects of the study were to examine its effects on liposomes made of egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (EYPC) with the use of ¹H NMR, four-electrode BLM, and EPR techniques, and to determine its activity on lipids and proteins of human cervix carcinoma (HeLa) cells. In addition, its protective efficacy against H2O2-induced oxidative shock was investigated. FTIR spectroscopy was applied to study molecular interactions with membrane lipids and proteins of HeLa cells. Microscopic techniques (SEM, light, and fluorescence), flow cytometer analysis, and NR assays were employed to reveal apigenin involvement in apoptosis in different cell conditions. Apigenin affected mainly the region of choline head groups and the hydrophobic core below this area. Simultaneously, the ordering effect was shown. The fingerprint region of lipids in the HeLa cells was found as a target for apigenin. Furthermore, in the amide I and amide II regions, a decrease in β-sheets and an increase in turns, loops, and unordered structures were noted. Apigenin reduced the viability of cells and induced apoptosis. SEM observations revealed characteristic changes in the morphology of the examined cells. Pretreatment of HeLa cells with apigenin protected them against H2O2-induced oxidative stress by the increase in glutathione content as well as superoxide dismutase and catalase levels. The consequences of molecular changes related to membranes and cancer cells make apigenin a unique and very interesting bio-compound with great significance for medical and biological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Metastatic disease can be observed in nearly 25% of all renal cell carcinoma cases (RCC). This can present in the skin as a late symptom of the disease or as a manifestation of an undetected, asymptomatic RCC. Aim: To review the literature and present a case study of cutaneous metastasis in primary genitourinary malignancy, especially RCC in order to broaden the related knowledge. Material and methods: The first stage of our work was focused on presenting the results of the literature review about cutaneous metastasis in the patients with renal cell carcinoma. Next, taking into account that this type of metastasis associated with RCC is relatively rare, we have decided to present a patient aged 68 with incidentally detected skin metastases of RCC located on the scalp. Results: It was diagnosed as a primary manifestation of advanced disease. Computed tomography scans showed a solid mass in the left kidney. Following surgical excision of the skin lesion, a left-side nephrectomy was performed. Conclusions: Cutaneous metastases of RCC present an unfavourable prognosis, however, remission is possible subsequent to early diagnosis and appropriate surgical excision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]