INTRODUCTION: The Covid-19 pandemic affected food systems in many countries and emphasized a lot of already existing social, economic and environmental agri-food problems. Alternative food networks (AFNs), praised for their ability to improve the food systems, were under stress, however, at the same time, the changed conditions may have opened new possibilities. In this paper we address the importance of AFNs during the pandemic and investigate how households have changed their participation in AFNs. Our research is novel by simultaneously focusing on both market and non-market AFNs which are often studied separately. METHODS: A representative questionnaire study of Czech households was carried out in Autumn 2021 to provide a case study of food and consumption behavior of the European country after several waves of Covid-19. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Based on the responses of 515 participants, the results show that 68% of Czech households participate in some form of AFNs, be it shopping or food self-provisioning, i.e., non-market food procurement in the form of gardening. Focusing on the market AFNs, farmers' markets and farm gate sales are the most popular. Covid-19 and 2021 emerging economic pressures led to a decrease of consumption of organic food (22% of respondents) as well as fresh fruit and vegetables in general (10% of respondents) and a noticeable occurrence of food insecurity (18% of households). Based on these findings, the paper discusses the ability of AFNs to support food and nutritional resilience. Problems which may endanger market-oriented AFNs are discussed as well. CONCLUSION: By addressing both market and non-market AFNs, the paper brings new knowledge into the food environment and agri-food policies research.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Objectives. Objective of this study/thesis/work was to analyse the level of free time physical activity and its specifics on a sample of the adolescent population. To goal was to analyze the historical factor in each proband and its effect on the activity development. The analysis included information spanning from the initial experience with organized physical activity. The results of the survey are further compared with the conclusions of previous studies on the issue. Methods. A total of 563 respondents (235 boys and 328 girls) from grammar schools in Prague participated in the research. Data were obtained using a questionnaire survey (computer assisted web interviewing – CAWI) based on preliminary research and evaluated using MS Excel, GraphPad Prism and mathematical software R. Results. The preference of just one sport (63.8%) was found in the examined population. Predominant frequency of trainings was 2 to 4 per week (61.2%). The vast majority (93.6%) stated that they participated in fundamental movement training at a younger school age. More than half (61%) experienced pain or injury during physical activity, especially in the lower limbs (61.9%). The main factor in the termination of physical activity were psychosocial reasons (76.9%). Increasing age has not been shown as a factor leading to reduction of physical activity in children. On the contrary, the frequency of activity increased as the children aged (p = 0.02). There was no significant dependence of the current activity on the completion of fundamental movement training (p = 0.08), nor was the confirmation of a general trend of higher activity of boys compared to girls (p = 0.64).
Mebendazole (MBZ) was developed as a broad-spectrum anthelmintic but has recently shown efficacy as an anticancer agent. The use of MBZ for cancer, however, is challenging due to its poor solubility leading to poor bioavailability. Herein, we developed a prodrug approach with various N-linked promoieties including acyloxymethyl, aminoacyloxymethyl, and substituted phosphonooxymethyl in attempt to improve these characteristics. Compound 12, containing an (((((isopropoxycarbonyl)oxy)methoxy)phosphoryl)oxy)methyl promoiety, showed a >10 000-fold improvement in aqueous solubility. When evaluated in mice, 12 displayed a 2.2-fold higher plasma AUC0- t and a 1.7-fold improvement in brain AUC0- t with a calculated oral bioavailability of 52%, as compared to 24% for MBZ-polymorph C (MBZ-C), the most bioavailable polymorph. In dogs, 12 showed a 3.8-fold higher plasma AUC0- t with oral bioavailability of 41% compared to 11% for MBZ-C. In summary, we have identified a prodrug of MBZ with better physicochemical properties and enhanced bioavailability in both mice and dog.
- MeSH
- anthelmintika metabolismus MeSH
- aplikace orální MeSH
- biologická dostupnost MeSH
- dusík chemie MeSH
- mebendazol metabolismus MeSH
- myši MeSH
- prekurzory léčiv aplikace a dávkování chemie metabolismus farmakokinetika MeSH
- psi MeSH
- rozpustnost MeSH
- stabilita léku MeSH
- tkáňová distribuce MeSH
- voda chemie MeSH
- vztahy mezi strukturou a aktivitou MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- myši MeSH
- psi MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
4-Carboxy-α-[3-(hydroxyamino)-3-oxopropyl]-benzenepropanoic acid 1 is a potent hydroxamate-based inhibitor of glutamate carboxypeptidase II. In an attempt to improve its poor oral pharmacokinetics, we synthesized a series of prodrugs by masking its hydrophilic hydroxamate group. Prodrugs were evaluated for oral availability in mice and showed varying degree of plasma exposure to 1. Of these, para-acetoxybenzyl-based, 4-(5-(((4-acetoxybenzyl)oxy)amino)-2-carboxy-5-oxopentyl)benzoic acid, 12, provided 5-fold higher plasma levels of 1 compared to oral administration of 1 itself. Subsequently, para-acetoxybenzyl-based prodrugs with additional ester promoiety(ies) on carboxylate(s) were examined for their ability to deliver 1 to plasma. Isopropyloxycarbonyloxymethyl (POC) ester 30 was the only prodrug that achieved substantial plasma levels of 1. In vitro metabolite identification studies confirmed stability of the ethyl ester of benzoate while the POC group was rapidly hydrolyzed. At oral daily dose-equivalent of 3 mg/kg, 12 exhibited analgesic efficacy comparable to dose of 10 mg/kg of 1 in the rat chronic constrictive injury model of neuropathic pain.
- MeSH
- analgetika chemie farmakokinetika farmakologie terapeutické užití MeSH
- aplikace orální MeSH
- esterifikace MeSH
- glutamátkarboxypeptidasa II antagonisté a inhibitory metabolismus MeSH
- inhibitory enzymů chemie farmakokinetika farmakologie terapeutické užití MeSH
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- kyseliny hydroxamové chemie farmakokinetika farmakologie terapeutické užití MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- neuralgie farmakoterapie enzymologie MeSH
- objevování léků MeSH
- potkani Sprague-Dawley MeSH
- prekurzory léčiv chemie farmakokinetika farmakologie terapeutické užití MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Nanoparticle-cell interactions begin with the cellular uptake of the nanoparticles, a process that eventually determines their cellular fate. In the present work, we show that the morphological features of nanodiamonds (NDs) affect both the anchoring and internalization stages of their endocytosis. While a prickly ND (with sharp edges/corners) has no trouble of anchoring onto the plasma membrane, it suffers from difficult internalization afterwards. In comparison, the internalization of a round ND (obtained by selective etching of the prickly ND) is not limited by its lower anchoring amount and presents a much higher endocytosis amount. Molecular dynamics simulation and continuum modelling results suggest that the observed difference in the anchoring of round and prickly NDs likely results from the reduced contact surface area with the cell membrane of the former, while the energy penalty associated with membrane curvature generation, which is lower for a round ND, may explain its higher probability of the subsequent internalization.
Noncovalent molecular interactions between helquats, a new class of dicationic helical extended diquats, and several chiral acidic aromatic drugs and catalysts have been investigated using partial-filling affinity capillary electrophoresis (PF-ACE). Helquats dissolved at 1mM concentration in the aqueous background electrolyte (40mM Tris, 20mM acetic acid, pH 8.1) were introduced as ligand zones of variable length (0-130mm) into the hydroxypropylcellulose coated fused silica capillary whereas 0.1mM solutions of negatively charged chiral drugs or catalysts (warfarin, ibuprofen, mandelic acid, etodolac, binaphthyl phosphate and 11 other acidic aromatic compounds) were applied as a short analyte zone at the injection capillary end. After application of electric field, analyte and ligand migrated against each other and in case of their interactions, migration time of the analyte was increasing with increasing length of the ligand zone. From the tested compounds, only isomers of those exhibiting helical chirality and/or possessing conjugated aromatic systems were enantioselectively separated through their differential interactions with helquats. Some compounds with conjugated aromatic groups interacted with helquats moderately strongly but non-enantiospecifically. Small compounds with single benzene ring exhibited no or very weak non-enantiospecific interactions. PF-ACE method allowed to determine binding constants of the analyte-helquat complexes from the changes of migration times of the analytes. Binding constants of the weakest complexes of the analytes with helquats were less than 50L/mol, whereas binding constants of the strongest complexes were in the range 1 000-1 400L/mol.
