The expression of the tumor suppressor p53 can influence the bioactivation of, and DNA damage induced by, the environmental carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene, indicating a role for p53 in its cytochrome P450 (CYP)‐mediated biotransformation. The carcinogen 2‐amino‐1‐methyl‐6‐phenylimidazo[4,5‐b]pyridine (PhIP), which is formed during the cooking of food, is also metabolically activated by CYP enzymes, particularly CYP1A2. We investigated the potential role of p53 in PhIP metabolism in vivo by treating Trp53(+/+), Trp53(+/−) and Trp53(−/−) mice with a single oral dose of 50 mg/kg body weight PhIP. N‐(Deoxyguanosin‐8‐yl)‐2‐amino‐1‐methyl‐6‐phenylimidazo[4,5‐b]pyridine (PhIP‐C8‐dG) levels in DNA, measured by liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry, were significantly lower in liver, colon, forestomach and glandular stomach of Trp53(−/−) mice compared to Trp53(+/+) mice. Lower PhIP‐DNA adduct levels in the livers of Trp53(−/−) mice correlated with lower Cyp1a2 enzyme activity (measured by methoxyresorufin‐O‐demethylase activity) in these animals. Interestingly, PhIP‐DNA adduct levels were significantly higher in kidney and bladder of Trp53(−/−) mice compared to Trp53(+/+) mice, which was accompanied by higher sulfotransferase (Sult) 1a1 protein levels and increased Sult1a1 enzyme activity (measured by 2‐naphthylsulfate formation from 2‐naphthol) in kidneys of these animals. Our study demonstrates a role for p53 in the metabolism of PhIP in vivo, extending previous results on a novel role for p53 in xenobiotic metabolism. Our results also indicate that the impact of p53 on PhIP biotransformation is tissue‐dependent and that in addition to Cyp1a enzymes, Sult1a1 can contribute to PhIP‐DNA adduct formation.

AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate the implant stability of Bredent Sky Blue implants of different diameters following one stage sinus lift procedure. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study included 9 male patients with an existing indication for unilateral or bilateral sinus lift procedure. As grafting materials, combination of allograft material MinerOss® cortical & cancellous and Ossceram nano were used. RESULTS All implants were considered successful and ISQ levels were measured by Osstell ISQ device. The ISQ values were from 68 to 84. The mean values of stability of Bredent Sky Blue implants of different diameters following one stage sinus lift procedure were 77.73 ± 2.93 (MD) and 77.98 ± 2.72 (VO).

Although thermoplastic materials are mostly derived from petro-chemicals, it would be highly desirable, from a sustainability perspective, to produce them instead from renewable biopolymers. Unfortunately, biopolymers exhibiting thermoplastic behaviour and which preserve their mechanical properties post processing are essentially non-existent. The robust sucker ring teeth (SRT) from squid and cuttlefish are one notable exception of thermoplastic biopolymers. Here we describe thermoplastic processing of squid SRT via hot extrusion of fibres, demonstrating the potential suitability of these materials for large-scale thermal forming. Using high-resolution in situ X-ray diffraction and vibrational spectroscopy, we elucidate the molecular and nanoscale features responsible for this behaviour and show that SRT consist of semi-crystalline polymers, whereby heat-resistant, nanocrystalline β-sheets embedded within an amorphous matrix are organized into a hexagonally packed nanofibrillar lattice. This study provides key insights for the molecular design of biomimetic protein- and peptide-based thermoplastic structural biopolymers with potential biomedical and 3D printing applications. Sucker ring teeth from squid and cuttlefish represent rare examples of thermoplastic biopolymers. Here, the authors demonstrate how these materials may be processed for implementation in biomedical and 3D printing applications.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most commonly used drugs worldwide. NSAIDs are used for a variety of conditions including pain, rheumatoid arthritis, and musculoskeletal disorders. The beneficial effects of NSAIDs in reducing or relieving pain are well established, and other benefits such as reducing inflammation and anticancer effects are also documented. The undesirable side effects of NSAIDs include ulcers, internal bleeding, kidney failure, and increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Some of these side effects may be due to the oxidative stress induced by NSAIDs in different tissues. NSAIDs have been shown to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in different cell types including cardiac and cardiovascular related cells. Increases in ROS result in increased levels of oxidized proteins which alters key intracellular signaling pathways. One of these key pathways is apoptosis which causes cell death when significantly activated. This review discusses the relationship between NSAIDs and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and the role of NSAID-induced ROS in CVD.

The global spreading of multidrug resistance has motivated the search for new antibiotic classes including different types of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Computational methods for predicting activity in terms of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of AMPs can facilitate "in silico" design and reduce the cost of synthesis and testing. We have used an original method for separating training and test data sets, both of which contain the sequences and measured MIC values of non-homologous anuran peptides having the Rana-box disulfide motif at their C-terminus. Using a more flexible profiling methodology (sideways asymmetry moment, SAM) than the standard hydrophobic moment, we have developed a two-descriptor model to predict the bacteriostatic activity of Rana-box peptides against Gram-negative bacteria--the first multilinear quantitative structure-activity relationship model capable of predicting MIC values for AMPs of widely different lengths and low identity using such a small number of descriptors. Maximal values for SAMs, as defined and calculated in our method, furthermore offer new structural insight into how different segments of a peptide contribute to its bacteriostatic activity, and this work lays the foundations for the design of active artificial AMPs with this type of disulfide bridge.

Work Group 1 (WG1) of COST Action TU1404 entitled “Testing of cement based materials” deals with determination of different properties of early age and hardened cement based materials with the following main objectives: (1) to recommend new advanced standard techniques which have been developed during the last years to become standard in the (near) future, (2) to test the ability of using different waste, recycled, and by-products as raw materials to design sustainable concrete mixture, and (3) to prepare a database of concrete mixtures which could serve designers and engineers to better predict lifespan, durability, and serviceability of concrete mixtures and structures. The paper describes organization and strategic view of WG1, presents its main objectives and gives important details about Round Robin Test, as a main tool that will be employed within WG1.

In this paper we present and elaborate one example when bauxite was the main target of investigation. During reprocessing and reinterpreting original input data from locality “Crvene stijene” near Jajce in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was established that bauxite hanging wall and footwall rocks in fact present even more valuable mineral resources, dimension stone. This paper presents results of reprocessing and reinterpretation of original data with focus not only on primary resource, but on resources that are developed in footwall and hanging wall. Final goal of the research was to optimize the ratio between research and exploration cost and total profit by exploration of all available mineral resources in the area. For that purpose, new method of bauxite (primary resource) and associated deposits is developed and named “integrated approach”. Integrated, joint evaluation of bauxite and associated deposits (dimension stone), would give far greater significance to whole area. Finally, with this new method, the ratio between overall profit and cost will be maximized.

Fiscal rules have been the centre of economic debate in European Union Member States. They indicate the direction in which policymakers aim to evolve public finances. In recent years the public finances of European Union Member States have been affected by two major changes in economic and institutional settings. These are the establishment of Economic and Monetary Union and progressive fiscal decentralisation in a significant number of European Union Member States. In order to support the fiscal decentralisation process European Union Member States need to have appropriate fiscal policy rules. They can stimulate policy coordination between different levels of government depending on their institutional coverage. The aim of this paper is to present an analysis of the fiscal rule index and fiscal rule strength index in European Union Member States, with special emphasis on Croatia. The Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs methodology was used in analysing the fiscal rule index and fiscal rule strength index by type and government sectors in the period from 2003-2013 in European Union Member States. Based on our results, the fiscal rule index for Croatia, from the period 2003-2013, is continually on the rise from -1.01 in 2008 to a high 1.43 in 2013.