Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the vapor phase above an industrial sample of sodium polyacrylate were investigated under various temperature conditions using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry combined with headspace analysis (HS-GC-MS), with the aim of identifying impurities and thermal degradation products. Conditions ensuring effective chromatographic separation of the degradation products mixture with acceptable resolution of major and minor component peaks were proposed. The sodium polyacrylate samples were thermostated at temperatures simulating operational (30 and 60°C) and extreme technological (190°C) conditions, both with and without air purging. The absence of VOCs in the original industrial sample after thermostating at temperatures up to 60°C was established. At 190°C, nine thermal degradation products and impurities were identified for the first time in the vapor phase, including propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, nonanal, dimethyl glutarate, alkyl acetals, bicyclic terpenes (cedrene, longifolene), and 2,6-di-tert-butylquinone (antioxidant degradation product). It was demonstrated that short-term purging of the sample with air at 190°C leads to a significant (by an order of magnitude) reduction in the concentrations of all identified VOCs. Based on an analysis of published toxicological data, it was concluded that the identified VOCs pose a low inhalation risk. The obtained results are important for developing safety measures for the high-temperature processing of sodium polyacrylate and confirm its status as a low-hazard material.
BackgroundLong-living adults often maintain cognitive function despite neuropathological changes, which is often attributed to cognitive resilience (CR)—a combined effect of cognitive and cerebral reserves. CR is influenced by genetic, clinical, sociodemographic, and environmental factors.Materials and methodsWe investigated genetic, clinical, and environmental predictors of CR in 198 dementia-free long-living adults via two neuropsychological examinations over a 2-year period, a geriatric assessment, and a genome-wide association study (GWAS).ResultsLimited mobility, reduced walking, hearing impairment, depression, anemia, lower quality of life, and decreased BMI were key accelerators of CI. Depression, hypercholesterolemia, and lack of hobbies increased the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI)-to-dementia progression. GWAS identified CR-associated genetic variants, including a missense mutation in SYNGAP1 (Ile1115Thr) not previously linked to cognitive disorders.ConclusionOur findings corroborated established risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and identified population-specific patterns, with APOE ε4 showing no significant association. Both protein-coding regions and non-coding elements were implicated in CI, suggesting that it is underlain by complex regulatory mechanisms.
Tenuazonic acid (TeA), a mycotoxin produced by Alternaria spp., is a common food contaminant whose potential immunomodulatory effects remain insufficiently characterized. This study investigated changes in circulating cytokine and routine hematological profiles following repeated oral TeA exposure in rats and comparatively reanalyzed a previously reported acute-exposure dataset to explore Orthogonal Implicit Projection (OIP) for multivariate interpretation of correlated biomarker responses. The repeated-dose experiment included 24 male Wistar rats (0, 0.36, and 1.55 mg/kg for 14 days; n = 8 per group), whereas the previously reported acute-exposure dataset comprised 30 rats (vehicle, purified TeA at 30 mg/kg, or an Alternaria alternata extract containing an equivalent TeA dose; n = 10 per group). Repeated TeA administration was associated with marked cytokine alterations, including increased IL-1β at the highest dose and intermediate-dose peaks of TNF-α, IL-2, IL-10, IL-13, and IL-17A, indicating monotonic and non-monotonic response patterns. Acute exposure to purified TeA and the A. alternata extract produced broadly similar cytokine profiles, with increased IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17A, MCP-1, MIP-1α, and TNF-α, reduced IL-10, and lower IL-10/IL-17A ratios compared with controls. Routine hematological indices showed only modest changes. Exploratory OIP analysis complemented conventional statistical methods by facilitating interpretation of coordinated biomarker responses. Overall, repeated oral TeA exposure was associated with marked cytokine alterations, while comparative reanalysis of the acute-exposure dataset demonstrated a distinct cytokine response under acute exposure conditions. Further studies are needed to clarify the underlying biological mechanisms and their relevance to dietary exposure.
Purpose. To compare IOL power calculation accuracy for the Argos and IOLMaster 700 biometers using formulas included in the ESCRS calculator. Material and methods. The study included 75 eyes of 75 patients (49 women — 65.33%) after implantation of the Clareon AutonoMe CNA0T0 IOL (Alcon, USA). The average age was 73±8 years (range 52–89 years). Biometry was performed using the Argos (Alcon, USA) and IOLMaster 700 (Zeiss, Germany) biometers. IOL power was prospectively calculated based on Argos data using the formulas: Barrett Universal II, Cooke K6, EVO (2.0), Hill-RBF (3.0), Hoffer QST, Kane, and Pearl DGS. A retrospective calculation was performed using the same formulas based on biometric parameters on the IOLMaster 700. Phacoemulsification with IOL implantation was performed using the standard technique. The follow-up period was one month. The formulas were ranked by root mean square error (RMSE). Results. All biometric parameters differed significantly between the Argos and IOL Master 700. With Argos, the mean error was significantly closer to zero for all formulas (except Hoffer QST) than with the IOLMaster 700. When switching from the IOLMaster 700 to Argos, accuracy metrics significantly improved for the Pearl DGS and Cooke K6 formulas. For the Argos biometer, the Pearl DGS, EVO, and Cooke K6 formulas demonstrated the highest accuracy, while for the IOLMaster 700, the Hoffer QST, Kane, and Hill-RBF formulas were the most accurate in predicting postoperative refraction. Conclusion. The Argos biometer, combined with the Pearl DGS formula, demonstrated the highest accuracy in predicting postoperative refraction.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms of genes involved in various cell defense systems play an important role in the mechanisms of formation of the body's radiosensitivity and determine its individual variability. The study of the mechanisms of formation of individual radio sensitivity is extremely important for assessing the risks to the health and professional fitness of workers engaged in work under ionizing radiation conditions at nuclear energy facilities. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms of the Rho signaling pathway genes with an increased frequency of chromosomal aberrations in employees of an atomic energy facility who were exposed to long-term technogenic occupational exposure to ionizing radiation. The study used genotyping methods using DNA chips and standard cytogenetic analysis of blood lymphocytes. The association of 5,773 single nucleotide polymorphisms of the Rho signaling pathway genes with an increased frequency of chromosomal aberrations in the blood lymphocytes of 100 employees of an atomic energy facility who were exposed to prolonged occupational technogenic ionizing radiation at doses of 100-500 mSv was evaluated. No statistically significant differences were found among all the types of chromosomal aberrations studied. After applying the Bonferroni correction (p=0.00002), the analysis results showed no significant correlation with the increased frequency of chromosomal aberrations. However, a trend-level association was found for the rs6801499 ARHGEF3 gene with an increased frequency of ring chromosomes (p=0.00009). These results highlight the importance of conducting additional in-depth studies to confirm the link between the genes of the Rho signaling pathway and the increased frequency of chromosomal aberrations.
