S. east coast continental shelf featured surface maxima that decreased in magnitude moving east toward Bermuda, reflecting declining

inputs from Cu-enriched coastal waters and North American aerosols. Free Cu (Cu2+) concentrations were tightly controlled by organic complexation and scavenging across the section with values varying between 1.54 fM and 1.07 pM. These results provide the first evidence that Cu2+ concentrations are strongly complexed throughout the water column, even in boundary zones where dissolved Cu concentrations are elevated because of local sources. Strong organic ligands (L) acted as a buffer for Cu2+, restricting concentrations to a narrow range (10-100 ABT-263 fM) throughout most of the water

column. Cu2+ and dissolved Cu were strongly scavenged by suspended particulate matter within several benthic nepheloid layers and a hydrothermal plume above the Trans-Atlantic Geotraverse (TAG) vent field on the Mid-Atlantic https://www.selleckchem.com/products/mln-4924.html Ridge (MAR). (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Macrophages as inflammatory cells are involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis that today is recognized as an inflammatory disease. Activation of coagulation leads to the late complication of atherosclerosis, namely atherothrombosis with its clinical manifestations stroke, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death. Thus inflammation and coagulation play fundamental roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We show that the coagulation enzyme thrombin up-regulates oncostatin M (OSM), a pleiotropic cytokine implicated in the pathophysiology of vascular disease, in human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) up to 16.8-fold. A similar effect was seen in human peripheral blood monocytes and human plaque

macrophages. In MDMs, the effect of thrombin on OSM was abolished by PPACK and mimicked by a PAR-1-specific peptide. Thrombin induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 in MDMs. The ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 blocked the effect of thrombin on OSM production in MDMs, STI571 whereas the p38 inhibitor SB202190 had no effect. Thrombin induced translocation of c-fos and c-jun to the nucleus of MDMs. Using OSM promoter-luciferase reporter constructs transfected into MDMs, we show that a functional AP-1 site is required for promoter activation by thrombin. We present another link between coagulation and inflammation, which could impact on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. (Blood. 2009; 114: 2812-2818)”
“Naturally selected atrazine-resistant (AR) weeds possessing a Ser(264) -> Gly D1 protein encoded by a mutant psbA allele in the chloroplast-DNA have increased photosensitivity and lower fitness. The D1 mutant lines of S.

27 and P = 0.11, respectively). Distance to gas wells was also the most significant factor for Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses (P < 0.01). For ethane concentrations, distance to gas wells was

the only statistically significant factor (P < 0.005). Isotopic signatures (delta C-13-CH4, delta C-13-C2H6, and delta H-2-CH4), hydrocarbon ratios (methane to ethane and propane), and the ratio of the noble gas He-4 to CH4 in groundwater were characteristic of a thermally postmature Marcellus-like source in some cases. Overall, our data suggest that some homeowners living Bafilomycin A1 < 1 km from gas wells have drinking water contaminated with stray gases.”
“Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignancy and cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Approximately half of the patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer ultimately die of the condition. Death from colorectal cancer can be prevented by early detection, but unfortunately presentation is often late, with a worse prognosis. Screening by fecal occult blood testing reduces disease-specific mortality, but there is a need for sensitive and specific noninvasive biomarkers to facilitate detecting the disease, staging it, and predicting the best therapeutic options. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNA sequences that have a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression. They have significant regulatory

functions in basic cellular processes, such as cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Evidence suggests that miRNAs may function as both tumor suppressors and ICG-001 oncogenes. The main mechanism for changes in the function of miRNAs in cancer cells is due to aberrant gene expression. Accurate discrimination of miRNA profiles between tumor and normal mucosa in colorectal cancer allows definition of specific expression patterns of miRNAs, giving good potential as diagnostic and therapeutic targets. MiRNAs expressed in colorectal cancers are also abundantly present and stable in stool and plasma samples. Their extraction from these three sources is feasible and reproducible.

The ease and reliability of determining miRNA profiles in plasma or stool makes them potential molecular markers for colorectal cancer screening. This review summarizes the role miRNAs have in colorectal cancer, highlighting ACY-241 cell line particularly the potential diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications in the future treatment of the disease.”
“Background: Studies have shown that the presence of left atrial (LA) fibrosis can be assessed by LA delayed-enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (LA DE-CMR) and may be predictive of outcome after ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). We sought to test the hypothesis that the amount of LA fibrosis evaluated by DE-CMR correlates with the difficulty of complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAE) ablation.\n\nMethods: Twenty-two consecutive patients (86.

Slug immunopositivity in epithelial cells was correlated with clinicopathological parameters and disease prognosis over up to 7.5 years for ESCC patients. Results: Increased expression of Slug was observed in esophageal dysplasia [cytoplasmic, 24/61 (39.3%) cases, p = 0.001, odd's ratio (OR) = 4.7; nuclear, 11/61 (18%) cases, p smaller than 0.001, OR = 1.36] in comparison

with normal esophageal tissues. The Slug expression was further increased in ESCCs [cytoplasmic, 64/91 (70.3%) p smaller than 0.001, OR = 10.0; nuclear, 27/91 (29.7%) p smaller than 0.001, OR = 1.42]. Kaplan Meier survival analysis showed significant association of nuclear Slug accumulation with reduced disease free survival of ESCC patients (median disease AICAR research buy free survival (DFS) = 6 months, as compared to those that did not show overexpression, DFS = 18 months; p = 0.006). In multivariate Cox regression analysis nuclear Slug expression [p=0.005, Hazard's ratio (HR) = 2.269, 95% CI = 1.289 -3.996] emerged as the most significant independent CYT387 supplier predictor of poor

prognosis for ESCC patients. Conclusions: Alterations in Slug expression occur in early stages of development of ESCC and are sustained during disease progression. Slug may serve as a diagnostic biomarker and as a predictor of poor disease prognosis to identify ESCC patients that are likely to show recurrence of the disease.”
“Limb ischemia-reperfusion (LI/R) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, critical trauma survivors can present cognitive impairment. PLX3397 molecular weight Cognitive function, survival rate, oxidative stress and neuronal health were examined to elucidate (1) the magnitude of cognitive effects of prolonged reperfusion, (2) potential players in the mechanistic pathway mediating such effects, and (3) possible benefits of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment at Baihui (GV20), Yanglingquan (GB34), Taichong (LR3), Zusanli (ST36) and Xuehai (SP10) acupoints. LI/R was induced in rats by placing a rubber tourniquet on

each hind limb for 3 h, and the animals were evaluated periodically for 7 d after LI/R. Rats subjected to LI/R had significantly lower survival rates, and displayed evidence of brain injury and cognitive dysfunction (as determined by the Morris water maze test) 1 d and 3 d after reperfusion compared to sham-operated controls. LI/R also resulted in higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), microglial activation, and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity within Comu Ammonis area 1 (CA1) of the hippocampus. Depressed survival rates, microglial activation, oxidative damage, and histological changes, as well as cognitive dysfunction were partially or fully attenuated in rats that received 14 d of EA prior to LI/R.

Owing to the local anesthesia introduced to the periprostatic nerve bundle localization in levatores prostate area, the patients could tolerate the pain better.”
“History and presentation at admission: An 82-year-old male patient presented with a 3 week history Selleck BTSA1 of exercise-induced dyspnea, productive cough and left sided chest pain. Ivestigations: Computertomography of the chest revealed an occluding endobronchial tumor in the left main bronchus with enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes, mediastinal shift and post-stenotic peribronchitis. Treatment and course: The

tumor was removed completely with an optical forceps in rigid bronchoscopy. Histologically an endobronchial sialadenoma papilliferum was diagnosed. Conclusions: Benign tumors of the lower airways are rare. They cannot be distinguished reliably from malignant tumors by their endoscopic and radiologic appearance. Sialadenoma papilliferum is an extremely rare benign salivary gland tumor which is characterized by coexisting glandular and (pseudo) papillar formations. It occurs

mainly in the oral cavity. The relapse rate is 10-15%. MX69 Apoptosis inhibitor In single cases a malignant transformation may appear.”
“ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to perform a longitudinal evaluation of blood flow patterns in the ductus arteriosus (DA) during the perioperative period in fetal myelomeningocele (MMC) surgical patients. MethodSerial fetal echocardiograms were reviewed in 10 MMC

cases where mothers received indomethacin and intravenous and inhaled anesthesia. One-way analysis of variance was utilized to evaluate for differences in peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity (EDV), time-averaged mean velocity selleck chemical (TAMV), and Pulsatility Index (PI) throughout the monitoring period. Regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between PI and maternal hemodynamics and medications. ResultsThe DA TAMV and EDV increased between baseline and inhaled anesthesia and decreased between inhaled anesthesia and postoperative day 2. PI decreased to a nadir during inhaled anesthesia and then increased through postoperative day 2. Three distinct ductal flow patterns, characterizing degree of ductal constriction, were observed. Two fetuses exhibited a severely constricted ductal flow pattern with concurrent moderate tricuspid insufficiency and right ventricular dysfunction during inhaled anesthesia. ConclusionAbnormal DA flow patterns culminating in significant DA constriction occurred during fetal MMC repair. Limiting maternal exposure to indomethacin, supplemental oxygen, and inhaled anesthesia may reduce the incidence and severity of DA constriction and perhaps reduce fetal cardiac dysfunction during open fetal surgery. (c) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.”
“Chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)/pectin ternary film was prepared by solution casting method in this study.

Methods: Patients with recent-onset arthritis of

at least 1 peripheral joint of the hands and/or the feet were consecutively included in this study. Clinical examination, laboratory tests, the Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28), and the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) classification criteria for RA were assessed for all patients. Medication with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs was recorded. Ultrasound assessment was performed at the following anatomical sites: wrists, metacarpophalangeal joints 2 to 5, and metatarsophalangeal joints 2 to 5 for assessing the presence/absence of synovial hypertrophy, the presence/absence of power Doppler signal, DMH1 research buy and the presence/absence Alvespimycin order of bone erosions. The US features of inflammation and

bone damage were analyzed in comparison with the DAS28, with the presence/absence of rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide, with the fulfillment of the new 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria, and with the initiated disease-modifying antirheumatic drug. The prescription of methotrexate was considered a marker of an aggressive disease. Results: The US features of inflammation and bone damage correlated with the activity scores measured by the DAS28. The presence of US bone erosions overlapped with the

presence of rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated antibodies. Synovial hypertrophy, intra-articular power Doppler signal, and bone erosions detected in at least 1 anatomical site were seen in patients fulfilling (77.7%) and in patients not fulfilling (72.7%) the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for RA. Synovial hypertrophy was found in at least 1 site in 83.3% and 58.8% of patients in whom methotrexate was prescribed and in whom methotrexate was not prescribed, respectively (P = 0.01). Momelotinib cost The US features were not correlated with the initiation of sulfasalazine or hydroxychloroquine. The patients presenting bone erosions received in significantly higher percentages the indication for methotrexate (50%) compared with sulfasalazine (20%), P = 0.03, or hydroxychloroquine (26%), P = 0.05. Conclusions: The US features of inflammation might be of help in classifying early arthritis patients despite the presence of the immune markers for RA. Together with the US features of bone damage, these might be used as an indicator of a more aggressive disease. The absence of correlation between the US findings of RA and the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria indicates a possible independent contribution of US in the understanding of the future evolution of these patients.

Kiran, A. K. Kandalam, R. Rallabandi, P. Koirala, X. Li, X. Tang, Y. Wang, H. Fairbrother, G. Gantefoer, and K. Bowen, J. Chem. Phys. 136(2), 024317 (2012)]. In spite of the noticeable energy band gap Sapitinib (similar to 2 eV), a relatively high tunneling current for (PbS)(32) is predicted affirming the observed bright images for (PbS)(32). The calculated I-V characteristics of (PbS)(32) are predicted to be substrate-dependent; (PbS)(32) on the Au (001) exhibits the molecular diode-like behavior and the unusual negative differential resistance effect, though this is not the case with (PbS)(32)

on the Au (110). Appearance of the conduction channels associated with the hybridized states of quantum dot and substrate together with their asymmetric distribution at the Fermi level seem to determine the tunneling characteristics of the system. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.”
“Postpartum smoking contributes to child health problems and is a barrier to breastfeeding, which promotes child health. There is a risk of postpartum smoking relapse for smokers and they are less likely to breastfeed. Understanding of smoking-breastfeeding associations must be improved. Enhancing smoking cessation advice simultaneously with breastfeeding

AG-881 counseling could increase smoking abstinence and breastfeeding rates. A low income sample of 31 volunteer maternal smokers and ex-smokers were recruited for this pilot intervention in an urban hospital’s postpartum unit. Following pre-intervention interview, participants received either smoking relapse prevention plus breastfeeding counseling, or smoking relapse prevention only counseling. At one-month follow-up, we hypothesized

that breastfeeding duration would positively relate to 7-day point prevalence abstinence rates and days to relapse and explored prenatal care and pregnancy smoking behavior associations with postpartum smoking and breastfeeding. Of the mothers, 75% completed follow-up. Days to LY3023414 inhibitor relapse was related to duration of breastfeeding (r = 0.92, p = 0.08); however, counseling group differences in one-month smoking status were not significant. Earlier prenatal care initiation was associated with smoking abstinences at one month postpartum (chi(2) = 4.87, p <= 0.05). Early prenatal care and breastfeeding is associated with postpartum smoking abstinence.”
“Vanadium-containing mesoporous molecular sieves have been prepared by hydrothermal treatment at 373 K. These materials showed spherical morphology with a narrow particle size distribution between 2 and 4 mu m. The techniques used for their physicochemical characterization were: XRD, AAS, N-2 physisorption, SEM, TEM and DR-UV-Vis spectroscopy. All the materials presented high specific surface area (> 900 m(2)/g), characteristic of MCM-41 materials.

To identify regulators associated with the stationary phase-dependent activation of SPI1, the effects of selected regulatory genes, including relA/spoT (ppGpp), luxS, ihfB, hfq, and arcA, on the expression of hilA and invF were compared under shaking R406 conditions. Mutations in the hfq and arcA genes caused a reduction in hilA and invF expression (more than 2-fold) in the early stationary phase only, whereas the lack of ppGpp and IHF decreased hilA and invF gene expression during the entire stationary phase. We also found that hfq and arcA mutations caused a reduction of hilD expression upon entry into the stationary phase under shaking culture conditions. Taken together,

these results suggest that Hfq and ArcA regulate the hilD promoter, causing an accumulation of HilD, which can trigger a stationary phase-dependent

activation of SPI1 genes under shaking culture conditions.”
“The novel monomer, vinyl trifluorobutyrate (VTFBu), when polymerized in a controlled fashion by RAFT/MADIX polymerization with a xanthate transfer agent, yields poly(vinyl ester)s with improved solubility in supercritical carbon dioxide. The thermodynamic parameters controlling the solubility of VTFBu/vinyl acetate statistical copolymers are discussed based on ab initio calculations, glass transition temperatures of the copolymers, and surface tension measurements. The enhanced solubility THZ1 of this new class of CO2-philic polymer combined with its good chemical stability render it attractive for the preparation of next-generation macromolecular surfactants for the formation of waterscCO(2) emulsions.”
“Paleontologists have investigated brain morphology of extinct birds with little information on post-hatching Galardin purchase changes in avian brain morphology. Without the knowledge of ontogenesis, assessing brain morphology in fossil taxa could lead to misinterpretation of the phylogeny or neurosensory development of extinct species. Hence,

it is imperative to determine how avian brain morphology changes during post-hatching growth. In this study, chicken brain shape was compared at various developmental stages using three-dimensional (3D) geometric morphometric analysis and the growth rate of brain regions was evaluated to explore post-hatching morphological changes. Microscopic MRI (mu MRI) was used to acquire in vivo data from living and post-mortem chicken brains. The telencephalon rotates caudoventrally during growth. This change in shape leads to a relative caudodorsal rotation of the cerebellum and myelencephalon. In addition, all brain regions elongate rostrocaudally and this leads to a more slender brain shape. The growth rates of each brain region were constant and the slopes from the growth formula were parallel.

Pre-therapeutical tumor stage and involvement of mesorectal fascia

were assessed by MRI and were compared with the pathological findings of the rectal specimens. Furthermore, tumor regression grades, acute side-effects, and surgical complications were analysed. Results: Using selective nRCT, 62 out of 72 patients (86%) with mrCRM+ had tumor-negative pathological CRM. Reduction of T category was observed in 62% and of N category in 88% of patients. Lymph node metastasis was found by pathology in only 21% of all irradiated patients. Histologically complete tumor regression (ypT0ypN0) was observed in 15% and intermediate regression GW-572016 price (more than 25%, but not complete) in 67% of patients. Fifteen percent of patients suffered from grade 3 toxicity, but no grade 4 toxicity occurred. nRCT did not adversely influence surgical morbidity. Conclusion: Despite the negative selection of locally advanced rectal cancer cases for nRCT, impressive rates of tumor down-staging and SBE-β-CD datasheet eradication of tumor from the mesorectal fascia were achieved. The rate of complete regression is comparable to that in the literature. Moreover, the selective use of nRCT spared a considerable percentage of patients with stage II/III rectal cancer severe irradiation toxicity.”
“Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) associates with a tissue signature for high transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta signaling but

is often caused by heterozygous www.selleckchem.com/products/LBH-589.html mutations in genes encoding positive effectors of TGF-beta signaling, including either subunit of the TGF-beta receptor or SMAD3, thereby engendering controversy regarding the mechanism of disease. Here, we report heterozygous mutations or deletions in the gene encoding the TGF-beta 2 ligand for a phenotype within the LDS spectrum and show upregulation of TGF-beta signaling in aortic tissue from affected individuals. Furthermore, haploinsufficient Tgfb2(+/-) mice have aortic root aneurysm and biochemical evidence of increased canonical and noncanonical TGF-beta signaling. Mice that harbor both a mutant Marfan syndrome (MFS) allele (Fbn1(C1039G/+)) and Tgfb2 haploinsufficiency show increased TGF-beta signaling

and phenotypic worsening in association with normalization of TGF-beta 2 expression and high expression of TGF-beta 1. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that compensatory autocrine and/or paracrine events contribute to the pathogenesis of TGF-beta-mediated vasculopathies.”
“Iterative reconstruction algorithms are becoming increasingly important in electron tomography of biological samples. These algorithms, however, impose major computational demands. Parallelization must be employed to maintain acceptable running times. Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) have been demonstrated to be highly cost-effective for carrying out these computations with a high degree of parallelism. In a recent paper by Xu et al.

Simultaneous measurement of [Ca(2+)](i) and I(m) in voltage-clamped gonadotrophs revealed that GnRH stimulates an increase in [Ca(2+)](i) that precedes outward I(m), and that activates two kinetically distinct currents identified, using specific toxin inhibitors, as small conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (S(K)) current (I(SK)) and large (big) conductance voltage-and Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK) current (I(BK)). We show that the apamin-sensitive current has an IC(50) of 69 pM, consistent with the SK2 channel subtype and confirmed by immunocytochemistry. this website The magnitude of the SK current response to GnRH was attenuated by 17 beta-estradiol (E(2)) pretreatment. Iberiotoxin,

an inhibitor of BK channels, completely blocked the residual apamin-insensitive outward I(m), substantiating that I(BK) is a component of the GnRH-induced outward I(m). In contrast

to its suppression of I(SK), E(2) pretreatment augmented peak I(BK). SK or BK channel inhibition modulated GnRH-stimulated LH secretion, implicating a role for these channels in gonadotroph function. In summary, in mouse gonadotrophs the GnRH-stimulated increase in [Ca(2+)] i activates I(SK) and I(BK), which are differentially regulated by E(2) and which may be targets for E(2) positive feedback in LH secretion. (Endocrinology 150: 2264-2272, 2009)”
“The purpose of this study was to provide a culture method for an effective expansion of human CD 34 positive hematopoietic progenitor cells GSK923295 mw (CD 34 (+) HCs) utilizing low molecular selleck products weight heparin/protamine microparticles (LH/P MPs) which can be stably coated onto plastic

surfaces and cytokines. CD 34 (+) HCs optimally proliferated on LH/P MP-coated plates in the presence of stem cell factor (SCF; 5 ng/ml), thrombopoietin (Tpo; 10 ng/ml), and Flt-3 ligand (Flt-3; 10 ng/ml) in hematopoietic progenitor growth medium (HPGM). After 6 days, the total cells expanded 16.5-fold. Those cytokines were shown to be partially immobilized on the LH/P MP-coated plates, and the immobilized cytokines were gradually released into the medium with half releasing time of 3-4 days. Since flow cytometry analyses revealed that 90% of initial cells and 44.5% of expanded cells were CD 34 positive, CD 34 (+) HCs were estimated to have increased 8.0-fold after 6 days, and to have increased to over 31.9-fold after 12 days. In contrast, cultured CD 34 (+) HCs on non-coated tissue culture plates increased only 2.9-fold in the identical medium after 6 days, and only 5.2-fold after 12 days. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Malarial infection is associated with complex immune and erythropoietic responses in the host. A quantitative understanding of these processes is essential to help inform malaria therapy and for the design of effective vaccines.

(C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://0-dx.doi.org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1063/1.4747841]“
“Background:

Studies of disinfection by-products in drinking water and measures of adverse fetal growth have often been limited by exposure assessment lacking data on individual water use, and therefore failing to reflect individual variation in DBP exposure.\n\nMethods: Pregnant women recruited to the Born in Bradford cohort study completed a questionnaire GSI-IX which covers water exposure. Information was collected on water consumption, showering, bathing and swimming. Water exposure data from a subset of 39 women of the cohort are described here.\n\nResults: Mean total tap water intake was 1.8 l/day, and women on average spent 146 minutes per week showering and bathing. Most tap water intake occurred at home (100% for unemployed, 71.8% for employed).

Differences between age groups were observed for total tap water intake overall (p = 0.02) and at home (p = 0.01), and for bottled water intake (p = 0.05). There were differences between ethnic groups for tap water intake at home (p = 0.02) and total tap water intake at work (p = 0.02). Total tap water intake at work differed by income category (p = 0.001). Duration per shower was inversely correlated with age (Spearman’s correlation -0.39, p = 0.02), and differed according to employment status (p = 0.04), ethnicity (p = 0.02) and income (p = 0.02).\n\nConclusion: This study STI571 provides estimates of water exposure in pregnant women in a multi-ethnic population in the north of England and suggests differences related to age, employment, income

and ethnicity. The findings are valuable to inform exposure assessment in studies assessing the relationship between DBPs and adverse birth outcomes.”
“The biodegradability, morphology, and mechanical properties of composite materials consisting of acrylic acid-grafted poly(butylene succinate adipate) (PBSA-g-AA) and agricultural residues (rice husk, RH) were evaluated. Composites containing acrylic acid-grafted PBSA (PBSA-g-AA/RH) exhibited www.selleckchem.com/products/VX-770.html noticeably superior mechanical properties compared with those of PBSA/RH due to greater compatibility with RH. The dispersion of RH in the PBSA-g-AA matrix was highly homogeneous as a result of ester formation, and the consequent creation of branched and cross-linked macromolecules, between the carboxyl groups of PBSA-g-AA and hydroxyl groups in RH. Each composite was subject to biodegradation tests in an Azospirillum brasilense BCRC 12270 liquid culture medium. The bacterium completely degraded both the PBSA and the PBSA-g-AA/RH composite films. Morphological observations indicated severe disruption of the film structure after 20-40 days of incubation. The PBSA-g-AA/RH (20 wt%) films were not only more biodegradable than those made of PBSA but also exhibited lower molecular weight and intrinsic viscosity, implying a strong connection between these characteristics and biodegradability.