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Link Between Excess Free Radicals, Oxidative Stress and Fibromyalgia

FACTSHEET 3.0: The Link Between

Excess Free Radicals, Oxidative Stress and Fibromyalgia

and How Can C[60] Hydrated Fullerenes Help? (v2)

 

 If you have fibromyalgia, or chronic fatigue syndrome you may want to consider drinking Carbon [60] Hydrated Fullerene Water Solution to scavenge  / neutralise excess free radicals (oxidative stress) in the body that may cause fibromyalgia.

What the medical literature says:

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome  (Fibromyalgia) and Oxidative Stress

Free radicals and antioxidants in primary fibromyalgia: an oxidative stress disorder?

Rheumatol Int. 2005 Apr;25(3):188-90. Epub 2003 Dec 20.

Bagis S¹, Tamer L, Sahin G, Bilgin R, Guler H, Ercan B, Erdogan C.

Author information ¹Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Mersin University Medical School, Mersin, Turkey. [email protected]

Abstract

The role of free radicals in fibromyalgia is controversial. In this study, 85 female patients with primary fibromyalgia and 80 age-, height-, and weight-matched healthy women were evaluated for oxidant/antioxidant balance. Malondialdehyde is a toxic metabolite of lipid peroxidation used as a marker of free radical damage. Superoxide dismutase is an intracellular antioxidant enzyme and shows antioxidant capacity. Pain was assessed by visual analog scale. Tender points were assessed by palpation. Age, smoking, body mass index (BMI), and duration of disease were also recorded. Malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher and superoxide dismutase levels significantly lower in fibromyalgic patients than controls. Age, BMI, smoking, and duration of disease did not affect these parameters. We found no correlation between pain and number of tender points. In conclusion, oxidant/antioxidant balances were changed in fibromyalgia. Increased free radical levels may be responsible for the development of fibromyalgia. These findings may support the hypothesis of fibromyalgia as an oxidative disorder.

 

This is for nutritional /general information only and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure. See  your doctor for specific medical advise.

Contact Walter  Derzko at 416-819-9667 or [email protected] or [email protected] for more information

 

Safety of Hydrated Fullerenes C[60] HyFns

Safety of Carbon [60] Hydrated Fullerenes –An Overview

Many fullerenes with chemical tails called fullerene derivatives or functionalized fullerenes are indeed toxic but our pristine fullerenes or C[60] hydrated fullerenes discovered by Ukrainian scientists show no toxicity and no medical contra-indications after 20 years of preclinical and clinical studies. In 2012, a study at the University of Paris showed that fullerenes almost double the lifespan of rats with no toxic effects.

Safety and Toxicity
Moussa et al. (1996–7)[58][59] studied the in vivo toxicity of C60 after intra-peritoneal administration of large doses. No evidence of toxicity was found and the mice tolerated a dose of 5 g/kg of body weight.

Mori et al. (2006)[60] could not find toxicity in rodents for C60 and C70 mixtures after oral administration of a dose of 2 g/kg body weight and did not observe evidence of genotoxic or mutagenic potential in vitro. Other studies could not establish the toxicity of fullerenes: on the contrary, the work of Gharbi et al. (2005)[61] suggested that aqueous C60 suspensions failing to produce acute or subacute toxicity in rodents could also protect their livers in a dose-dependent manner against free-radical damage.

In 2012, it was revealed that oral administration prolonged the lifespan of rats by nearly 100% without showing toxic effects.[62] In a more recent video interview filmed in October 2012 and placed online, Professor Moussa states that pure C60 is not toxic.[63]

A comprehensive and recent review on fullerene toxicity is given by Kolosnjaj et al. (2007).[64][65] These authors review the works on fullerene toxicity beginning in the early 1990s to present, and conclude that very little evidence gathered since the discovery of fullerenes indicate that C60 is toxic.

Studies that showed that fullerenes were toxic (2005 and 2006) proved to be flawed in design. Solvent residues in the experiments showed toxicity not the pristine fullerenes

Source: http://www.ask.com/wiki/Fullerene and  http://www.ipacom.com/index.php/en/fullerenes-and-water-left/73-about-non-toxicity-of-fullerenes

Safety Studies  of C60 HYFNs in 2009 (in English) http://www.ipacom.com/images/Articles/report_pre_clinical_pharm_en.pdf

In 2010, the Ministry of Healthcare of Ukraine approved the industrial use of Concentrate Solutions of Hydrated C₆₀ Fullerene as an antioxidant in food, fragrance and cosmetic, biotechnological and microbiological industries. Sanitary and hygienic conclusion of Ministry of Healthcare of Ukraine No 05.03.02-04/89993 d/d November 19, 2010.

Ukrainian Ministry of Health approval for C-60 HYFNs  (Russian with English translation) http://www.ipacom.com/images/Articles/fws1.pdf

Pumpkin Seed & Soy and Overactive Bladder

Published July 1, 2014

Nutraceutical: Pumpkin Seed & Soy

Indication: Overactive Bladder

Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 8, May 2014

Research: Overactive bladder (OAB) has become an increasing field of interest. Traditional use indicates that pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo L.) may be helpful in combating its symptoms. Additionally, soy isoflavones (Glycine max) are well-documented for hormonal imbalance related indications. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated efficacy and safety of Cucuflavone (containing extracts of pumpkin seed and soy germ) in 120 subjects suffering from OAB.

Results: After 12 weeks, subjects taking Cucuflavone experienced a significant reduction versus baseline, in 1) urination frequency, 2) urgency, 3) incontinence frequency, 4) maximum urgency score, 5) nocturnal urination frequency and 6) OAB-symptom scale. Placebo group reached significant differences for 1, 3 and 6. No adverse events or abnormal changes in safety parameters occurred, according to researchers.

Researchers concluded the combination of pumpkin seed and soy germ extract can be used as a natural alternative to relieve symptoms of OAB and to improve quality of life.

- See more at: http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/issues/2014-07/view_peer-reviewed-research/pumpkin-seed-soy-overactive-bladder/#sthash.VyuwwjXj.dpuf

Manipulating key protein in the brain holds potential against obesity and diabetes

 

DALLAS -- A protein that controls when genes are switched on or off plays a key role in specific areas of the brain to regulate metabolism, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found.

The research potentially could lead to new therapies to treat obesity and diabetes, since the transcription factor involved – spliced X-box binding protein 1 (Xbp1s) – appears to influence the body's sensitivity to insulin and leptin signaling. Insulin and leptin are hormones central to the body's regulation of food intake and sugar disposal, and obesity and diabetes are conditions under which the body develops resistance to their actions.

"This study identifies critical molecular mechanisms that link the brain and peripheral endocrine tissues and that ultimately contribute to the regulation of body weight and glucose metabolism," said Dr. Kevin Williams, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and co-first author of the study with Dr. Tiemin Liu, a postdoctoral research fellow in Internal Medicine.

Researchers found that over-expression of the gene Xbp1s in mice that were fed a high-fat diet protected them against obesity and diabetes, according to the recent study, published online in Cell Metabolism. On average, these mice were 30 percent leaner than mice fed the same food. The gene's actions took place in pro-opiomelanocortin (Pomc) neurons in the hypothalamic region of the brain. Elevated Xbp1s levels in Pomc neurons mimicked a "fed" signal, resulting in improved body weight, decreased blood glucose levels, and improved insulin sensitivity in the liver.

"Manipulating this one gene in the brain affected metabolism in the liver. This result shows that the brain is controlling glucose production by the liver," said Dr. Joel Elmquist, Director of the Division of Hypothalamic Research, Professor of Internal Medicine, Pharmacology, and Psychiatry, and holder of the Carl H. Westcott Distinguished Chair in Medical Research, and the Maclin Family Distinguished Professorship in Medical Science, in Honor of Dr. Roy A. Brinkley.

Dr. Elmquist was co-senior author of the study, along with Dr. Philipp Scherer, Director of the Touchstone Center for Diabetes Research, Professor of Internal Medicine and Cell Biology, and holder of the Gifford O. Touchstone, Jr. and Randolph G. Touchstone Distinguished Chair in Diabetes Research. No drug form of Xbp1s currently exists that could be used to test whether the gene is a target for the treatment of diabetes or obesity, though researchers see such a drug as a potential outgrowth of their research. Dr. Williams said other transcription factors involved in the same metabolic pathway will be studied to see if they have similar effects.

"We have studied one transcription factor out of many that participate in a large, complex cellular process," said Dr. Williams of Xbp1s and its role during times of cellular stress.

###

Other UT Southwestern researchers contributing to this study were co-first author Dr. Makoto Fukuda, a former postdoctoral researcher in Internal Medicine; Dr. Yingfeng Deng, Assistant Instructor of Internal Medicine; Dr. Eric Berglund, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and part of the Advanced Imaging Research Center; Dr. Jong-Woo Sohn, former postdoctoral researcher in Internal Medicine; Dr. Lin Jia, a postdoctoral researcher in Internal Medicine; Dr. Teppei Fujikawa, Instructor of Internal Medicine; Dr. Daisuke Kohno, former postdoctoral researcher in Internal Medicine; Dr. Syann Lee, Instructor of Internal Medicine; Charlotte Lee, a senior research scientist in Internal Medicine; and Dr. Kai Sun, Instructor of Internal Medicine.  The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

About UT Southwestern Medical Center

UT Southwestern, one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution's faculty includes many distinguished members, including six who have been awarded Nobel Prizes since 1985. Numbering more than 2,700, the faculty is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide medical care in 40 specialties to nearly 91,000 hospitalized patients and oversee more than 2 million outpatient visits a year.

Ebola Viral Disease Outbreak — West Africa, 2014

 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2014 Apr 18;63(15):334.

Ebola Viral Disease Outbreak — West Africa, 2014

On June 24, 2014, this report was posted as an MMWR Early Release on the MMWR website (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr).

 

Weekly

June 27, 2014 / 63(25);548-551

Meredith G. Dixon, MD1,2, Ilana J. Schafer, DVM1,2 (Author affiliations at end of text)

On March 21, 2014, the Guinea Ministry of Health reported the outbreak of an illness characterized by fever, severe diarrhea, vomiting, and a high case-fatality rate (59%) among 49 persons (1). Specimens from 15 of 20 persons tested at Institut Pasteur in Lyon, France, were positive for an Ebola virus by polymerase chain reaction (2). Viral sequencing identified Ebola virus (species Zaïre ebolavirus), one of five viruses in the genus Ebolavirus, as the cause (2). Cases of Ebola viral disease (EVD) were initially reported in three southeastern districts (Gueckedou, Macenta, and Kissidougou) of Guinea and in the capital city of Conakry. By March 30, cases had been reported in Foya district in neighboring Liberia (1), and in May, the first cases identified in Sierra Leone were reported. As of June 18, the outbreak was the largest EVD outbreak ever documented, with a combined total of 528 cases (including laboratory-confirmed, probable, and suspected cases) and 337 deaths (case-fatality rate = 64%) reported in the three countries. The largest previous outbreak occurred in Uganda during 2000–2001, when 425 cases were reported with 224 deaths (case-fatality rate = 53%) (3). The current outbreak also represents the first outbreak of EVD in West Africa (a single case caused by Taï Forest virus was reported in Côte d'Ivoire in 1994 [3]) and marks the first time that Ebola virus transmission has been reported in a capital city.

 

Assessment of potential zoonotic disease exposure and illness related to an annual bat festival--Idanre, Nigeria.

Vora NM, Osinubi M, Wallace RM, Aman-Oloniyo A, Gbadegesin YH, Sebastian YK, Saliman OA, Niezgoda M, Davis L, Recuenco S; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Abstract

Bats provide vital ecologic services that humans benefit from, such as seed dispersal and pest control, and are a food source for some human populations. However, bats also are reservoirs for a number of high-consequence zoonoses, including paramyxoviruses, filoviruses, and lyssaviruses. The variety of viruses that bats harbor might be related to their evolutionary diversity, ability to fly large distances, long lifespans, and gregarious roosting behaviors. Every year a festival takes place in Idanre, Nigeria, in which males of all ages enter designated caves to capture bats; persons are forbidden from entering the caves outside of these festivities. Festival participants use a variety of techniques to capture bats, but protective equipment rarely is used, placing hunters at risk for bat scratches and bites. Many captured bats are prepared as food, but some are transported to markets in other parts of the country for sale as bushmeat. Bats also are presented to dignitaries in elaborate rituals. The health consequences of contact with these bats are unknown, but a number of viruses have been previously identified among Nigerian bats, including lyssaviruses, pegiviruses, and coronaviruses. Furthermore, the caves are home to Rousettus aegyptiacus bats, which are reservoirs for Marburg virus in other parts of Africa.

*************

Cytotoxic and antiviral properties of fullerene C60 in the culture of animal cells

Zinaida Klestova, Dr., Ph.D.*, Yuriy Prylutskiy, Dr., Ph.D.,** Marina Marchenko Ph.D. Student ***

*State Scientific-Control Institute of Biotechnology and Strains of Microorganisms (Donetskaya St, 30,Kyiv-151, Ukraine);

**National Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Volodymyrska Str. 64, 01601 Kyiv, Ukraine

***The Institute of Veterinary Medicine of NAAS (Donetskaya St. 30, Kyiv-151, Ukraine)

 

One of the urgent problems of modern veterinary biotechnology is to solve the complex task that lies at the intersection of chemistry, physics, materials science, biology, veterinary medicine is focused design, synthesis and study of the functional properties of nanomaterials which characterized by high bioavailability and biocompatibility, low toxicity and high specific biological activity.

In our studies, was used C60 fullerene - fullerene in water-soluble form. This compound molecule is nearly spherical, with a diameter of 0.72 nm , the surface of which consists of 60 carbon atoms connected by single or double chemical called " links. Considered that C60- fullerenes are potential pharmaceutical compounds. However, along with a broad perspective on the use of such substances for the prevention and treatment of diseases, there are certain precautions, particularly with regard to the possible toxic effects on biological objects, including on cell.

Therefore, our research started with the determination of cytotoxic properties of C60 fullerene - on cell line BHK -21, which is continuous line origin from Syrian hamster and which is used in many medical and biological research.

In experiments used at least ten holes in plates with cell culture for each drug dilution in culture medium. The plates with cell culture incubated at +37˚ C with 5% СО2 for 96 hours.

Thus, we have found the maximum cytotoxic concentration of compound that was 0,0375 ±0,003 mg/ml (n=3,).

Determined the antiviral activity of C60 - fullerene, using as a biological model coronovirus (virus of transmissible gastroenteritis of swine). Coronoviruses affect both animals and humans, leading in many cases to a high degree of mortality. Investigation of antiviral activity of fullerene on transmissible gastroenteritis virus of swine in the system in vitro, n = 5 (each concentration: 0,15 , 0,075, 0,0375, 0,019, 0,009, 0,005 was tested in 10 holes).

We found that C60-fullerene reduced the infectious properties of the virus by 2.0 TCID 50/ml which is a significant result.

Therefore, preliminary data suggest recommend this compound for further preclinical and clinical studies.

 

Source:  Lviv Nanotechnology Conference August 2014 http://www.iop.kiev.ua/~nanotwinning/conference2/

 

PRISTINE C60 fullerenes inhibit THE RATE OF TUMOR GROWTH AND METASTASIS

 

Exp Onc Vol. 33, No. 3 :

• Short communications

• http://exp-oncology.com.ua/article/1776/pristine-c60-fullerenes-inhibit-the-rate-of-tumor-growth-and-metastasis

PRISTINE C60 fullereneS inhibit THE RATE OF TUMOR GROWTH AND METASTASIS

Ritter U.¹, Scharff P., Prylutska S.V.², Burlaka A.P.³, Prylutskyy Yu.I.⁴

• ¹Chemical Laboratory, Institute of Physics, Technical University of Ilmenau, Ilmenau 09684, Germany
• ²Kyiv National Shevchenko University, Kyiv, Ukraine
• ³
• ⁴T. Shevchenko Kyiv National University, Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine

Summary. Aim: To estimate the impact of C60 fullerene aqueous solution (C60FAS) on the rate of transplanted malignant tumor growth and metastasis. Methods: Lewis lung carcinoma was transplanted into С57Bl/6J male mice. Conventional methods for the evaluation of antitumor and antimetastatic effects have been used. Results: The C60FAS at low single therapeutic dose of 5 mg/kg inhibited the growth of transplanted malignant tumor (antitumor effect) and metastasis (antimetastatic effect): the maximum therapeutic effect was found to be of 76.5% for the tumor growth inhibition; the increase of animal life span by 22% was found; the metastasis inhibition index was estimated as 48%. Conclusion: It was found that water-soluble pristine С60 fullerenes efficiently inhibit the transplanted malignant tumor growth and metastasis

 

 

Oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease and C[60] Hydrated Fullerenes

Hydrated Fullerenes or Carbon [60] HYFNs (from Kharkiv, Ukraine) neutralizes excess free radicals that causes oxidative stress-Walter Derzko

 

Oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease.

Neurosci Bull. 2014 Apr;30(2):271-81. doi: 10.1007/s12264-013-1423-y. Epub 2014 Mar 24.

Chen Z¹, Zhong C.

Author information

• ¹Department of Neurology,      Zhongshan Hospital; The State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology,      Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.

Abstract

Oxidative stress plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a devastating disease of the elderly. The brain is more vulnerable than other organs to oxidative stress, and most of the components of neurons (lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids) can be oxidized in AD due to mitochondrial dysfunction, increased metal levels, inflammation, and β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides. Oxidative stress participates in the development of AD by promoting Aβ deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation, and the subsequent loss of synapses and neurons. The relationship between oxidative stress and AD suggests that oxidative stress is an essential part of the pathological process, and antioxidants may be useful for AD treatment.

PMID:

24664866

[PubMed - in process]

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24664866

Molecular snapshots of oxygen formation in photosynthesis

 

[2014-07-10] Researchers from Umeå University have explored two different ways that allow unprecedented experimental insights into the reaction sequence leading to the formation of oxygen molecules in photosynthesis. The two studies have been published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

 

"The new knowledge will help improving present day synthetic catalysts for water oxidation, which are key components for building artificial leaf devices for the direct storage of solar energy in fuels like hydrogen, ethanol or methanol," says Johannes Messinger, Professor in Biological Chemistry and leader of the Artificial photosynthesis research group at Umeå University.

Every child learns at school that the oxygen we breathe is produced by photosynthesis in plants and by cyanobacteria that live in lakes and the oceans. However, exactly how that happens is still under intense research.

Oxygen formation in photosynthesis occurs in a reaction sequence that is completed within one thousandth of a second. Thus, it is not surprising that it has been so difficult to prove experimentally how precisely a catalyst consisting of four manganese ions and one calcium ion (Mn₄Ca cluster) performs this reaction sequence in photosystem II. Almost all molecular details we presently ‘know’ about the last critical steps are based on calculations. Johannes Messinger and his research group at Umeå University have now explored two different ways for obtaining experimental insight into the mechanism of oxygen formation.

In the first study, the researchers slowed down the reaction sequence more than 40-times by exchanging the calcium of the cluster against strontium, and a nearby chloride ion against an iodide ion.

"We could show that in the last short-lived intermediate state before oxygen formation, the two water molecules are ‘arrested’, meaning that they are more than 1000-times more tightly bound to the Mn₄Ca cluster than in all earlier states of the reaction. This stabilization is thought to be caused by a previously reported loss of a proton and to reflect a highly ordered arrangement that is required for the fast and energy efficient formation of oxygen from water."

The result was obtained using oxygen isotopic labelling and time-resolved membrane inlet mass spectrometry.

In the second study, Johannes Messinger and his collaborators used a X-ray free electron laser, Linac Coherent Light Source (Menlo Park, USA), that produces ultra-short  high-intensity x-ray pulses (10−15 of a second) to perform simultaneous x-ray crystallography and x-ray emission spectroscopy on suspensions of micrometer sized photosystem II crystals.

"With this technique we studied the same reaction sequence and we obtained ‘snap shots’ of the structure of the atoms for the different states of the cluster, including the short lived state investigated in the first study."

The data show that no large scale structural changes (> 0.5·10⁻¹⁰ m) occur in the Mn₄Ca cluster and the rest of the photosystem II complex during oxygen formation. The simultaneously collected X-ray emission data confirm that the “arresting” of the two bound water molecules, as observed in the mass spectrometric experiments, is not due to a change in the charge (oxidation state) of the manganese ions of the Mn₄Ca cluster, nor to the formation of a first bond between the oxygen atoms of the two water molecules.

"The study suggests that small structural changes occur together with the proton release, but we still need to further improve the resolution of our data to see exactly what happens."

The first study was performed in collaboration with two French researchers. The second study was performed within an international team of more than 40 researchers.

Artificial photosynthesis:

In the search for a clean and renewable energy source researchers at Umeå University are studying photosynthesis with the purpose to create artificial photosynthesis devices. Their aim is to understand and model the complex reactions that take place in plant chloroplasts during photosynthesis in order to mimic natural photosynthesis in an “artificial leaf”, an integrated unit that connects all important processes. If successful, it will be possible to convert water with the help of sunlight directly into oxygen and environmentally friendly energy carriers, for example into hydrogen gas.

Original articles in Nature Communications:

Study 1

Study 2

For more information please contact:

Johannes Messinger, Department of Chemistry at Umeå University Telephone: +46 090-786 59 33 E-mail: [email protected] www.solarfuels.se

Editor: Ingrid Söderbergh

Link to news: http://www.teknat.umu.se/english/news//.cid237790

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Page Editor: Ingrid Söderbergh                       2014-07-10

A first direct glimpse of photosynthesis in action

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

11-Jul-2014

 Contact: Dr. John Wray [email protected] 49-622-148-6277 Max-Planck-Gesellschaft

Researchers visualize the processes by which photosynthetic proteins split water into hydrogen and oxygen

An international team of researchers, including scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg, has just a reported a major step in understanding photosynthesis, the process by which the Earth first gained and now maintains the oxygen in its atmosphere and which is therefore crucial for all higher forms of life on earth.

The researchers report the first direct visualization of a crucial event in the photosynthetic reaction, namely the step in which a specific protein complex, photosystem II, splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using energy provided by light. This is a catalytic process in which the molecules of photosystem II enable and promote the reaction without themselves being consumed. Given the very high sensitivity of photosystem II to radiation damage, the photosynthetic reaction cannot be followed by standard methods of structural investigation such as conventional time-resolved X-ray crystallography. It is, however, amenable to study using the very recently developed method of protein crystallography with free-electron lasers.

In this technique, exceedingly short but extremely intense pulses of X-rays are used to gather data from very small crystals. The pulses are so short, in fact, that they "outrun" most effects of radiation damage, including the complete annihilation of the sample that inevitably follows on much longer time scales. The technique is thus well suited for collecting data from highly sensitive systems such as this catalyzed splitting of water in photosynthesis. Crucial to the process is a special site within the photosystem-II-molecule that contains four manganese atoms and one calcium atom. The experimental measurements show large structural changes in this particular metal cluster, which elongates significantly.

The measurements were made at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Stanford, using the short and intense flashes from SLAC's X-ray laser, the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). The international team from 18 different institutions was led by Petra Fromme (Arizona State University) and included, in addition to the Heidelberg group, members from SLAC and the University of Hamburg. The Heidelberg team contributed expertise on injecting a thick slurry (suspension) of crystals as a micron-sized jet of particles to be intersected by the femtosecond X-ray pulses from the free electron laser. Crucial to this injection was the design, manufacture and operation of a temperature-controlled, anti-settling device to allow uninterrupted sample injection over the course of many hours.  

This work is significant not only for its direct relevance to understanding photosynthesis, but also because it directly proves the feasibility of performing dynamic X-ray diffraction measurements at room temperature - in particular using free-electron lasers - to study mechanisms of the fast enzyme reactions that are characteristic of so many processes in living organisms.

###

Original publication:

"Serial Time-resolved crystallography of photosystem II using a femtosecond X-ray laser"; Christopher Kupitz et al.; Nature, 2014; DOI: 10.1038/nature13453

Japanese gold leaf artists worked on a nano-scale - a non-destructive way to date artwork

Study demonstrates X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is a non-destructive way to date artwork

 

Ancient Japanese gold leaf artists were truly masters of their craft. An analysis of six ancient Namban paper screens show that these artifacts are gilded with gold leaf that was hand-beaten to the nanometer scale. Study leader Sofia Pessanha of the Atomic Physics Center of the University of Lisbon in Portugal believes that the X-ray fluorescence technique her team used in the analysis could also be used to date other artworks without causing any damage to them. The results are published in Springer’s journal Applied Physics A: Material Science and Processing.

 

 

Gold leaf refers to a very thin sheet made from a combination of gold and other metals. It has almost no weight and can only be handled by specially designed tools. Even though the ancient Egyptians were probably the first to gild artwork with it, the Japanese have long been credited as being able to produce the thinnest gold leaf in the world. In Japanese traditional painting, decorating with gold leaf is named Kin-haku, and the finest examples of this craft are the Namban folding screens, or byobu. These were made during the late Momoyama (around 1573 to 1603) and early Edo (around 1603 to 1868) periods.

 

 

Pessanha’s team examined six screens that are currently either part of a museum collection or in a private collection in Portugal. Four screens belong to the Momoyama period, and two others were decorated during the early Edo period. The researchers used various X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy techniques to test the thickness and characteristics of the gold layers. The method is completely non-invasive, no samples needed to be taken, and therefore the artwork was not damaged in any way. Also, the apparatus needed to perform these tests is portable and can be done outside of a laboratory.

 

 

The gilding was evaluated by taking the attenuation or weakening of the different characteristic lines of gold leaf layers into account. The methodology was tested to be suitable for high grade gold alloys with a maximum of 5 percent influence of silver, which is considered negligible.

 

 

The two screens from the early Edo period were initially thought to be of the same age. However, Pessanha’s team found that gold leaf on a screen kept at Museu Oriente in Lisbon was thinner,  hence was made more recently. This is in line with the continued development of the gold beating techniques carried out in an effort to obtain ever thinner gold leaf.

 

 

“This simple comparison allowed establishing a timeline between the manufacture of two pieces attributed to the same period, proving that X-ray fluorescence techniques can be an important asset in the dating of artworks,” says Pessanha.

 

 

Reference: Pessanha, S. et al (2014). Comparison of gold leaf thickness in Namban folding screens using X-ray fluorescence, Applied Physics A: Material Science and Processing. DOI 10.1007/s00339-014-8531-z

 

Services for Journalists: 

The full-text article is available to journalists on request.

Carbon 60 or Fullerenes -the template for life on Earth?

Fullerenes -the template for life on Earth?

 

Isr Med Assoc J. 2012 Oct;14(10):602-6.

Fullerene and the origin of life.

Goodman G¹, Gershwin ME, Bercovich D.

Author information

• ¹Human Molecular Genetics and Pharmacogenetics,      Migal Biotechnology Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel.

Abstract

The role of carbon in the development of life and as the structural backbone of all organisms is universally accepted and an essential part of evolution. However, the molecular basis is largely unknown and the interactions of carbon with nitrogen and oxygen in space are enigmatic. In 1985, the previously unknown form of carbon, coined fullerene, was discovered. We hypothesize that by virtue of the unique properties of fullerene, this hollow, ultra-robust, large, purely carbon molecule was the earliest progenitor of life. It acted as a stable universal biologic template on which small molecules spontaneously assembled and then formed, by further assembly, a surface mantle (here termed rosasome) of larger molecules. We submit that this process, by its inherent flexibility, initiated evolution, allowing the emergence of parallel diverse rosasome lines responding selectively to varying spatial environments. For example, rosasomal lines mantled with nucleotide and peptide layers are conceived as primordial forerunners of the ubiquitous ribosome. Moreover, the parallel independent and interdependent evolution of rosasome lines would be more rapid than sequential development, refute precedence of either DNA or RNA, and explain the evolution of integration of two subunits with different structures and functions in ribosomes and of the triplet nature of the codon. Based on recent astronomical data, this hypothesis supports the concept that life is not a singularity. This concept also suggests a potential vehicle for therapeutics, biotechnology and genetic engineering.