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RuNPs stabilised by amino‐decorated imidazolium‐based polymer immobilized ionic liquids catalyse the dimethylamine borane mediated reduction of quinolines to 1,2‐dihydroquinoline (DHQ) and 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoline (THQ). Partial reduction of 3‐substituted quinolines to the corresponding 1,2‐dihydroquinoline was achieved with 100 % selectivity in toluene under mild conditions. This is the first report of the selective partial reduction of 3‐substituted quinolines to the corresponding 1,2‐dihydroquinolines with a heterogeneous nanoparticle‐based catalyst. A wide range of substituted quinolines have also been reduced to the corresponding 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoline with high selectivity and good yields by adjusting the reaction time. The 1,2‐dihydroquinolines readily release dihydrogen in toluene at 60 °C in the absence of catalyst with no evidence for disproportionation and as such are potential organo‐hydride reagents. The initial TOF of 610 mol quinoline converted mol Ru−1 h−1 for the reduction of quinoline is among the highest to be reported for a metal nanoparticle‐based catalyst and the conversion of 96 % obtained after 4 h at 65 °C is significantly higher than its platinum nanoparticle counterpart PtNP@NH2‐PEGPIILS as well as 5 wt/% Ru/C, which only reached 9 % and 11 % conversion, respectively, at the same time. Hot filtration experiments showed that the active species was heterogeneous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a precedent in using calpain inhibitors II and XII against SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro.8 BDA-410 (Mitsubishi Pharma) is a cysteine protease inhibitor that was originally developed as a relatively selective inhibitor of calpain-1 cysteine protease activity. Of note, our demonstration of BDA-410 as a potent inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 cysteine protease activity and viral replication was originally peer reviewed prior to the disclosure of nirmatrelvir as a cysteine protease inhibitor. Keywords: BDA-410; Calpain-1; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2 EN BDA-410 Calpain-1 COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 5095 5098 4 10/13/22 20221001 NES 221001 Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel highly virulent coronavirus that causes severe illness and mortality in certain patients. BDA-410 inhibits SARS-CoV-2 main protease activity and viral replication in mammalian cells. [Extracted from the article]

Platinum nanoparticles stabilized by imidazolium‐based phosphine‐decorated Polymer Immobilized Ionic Liquids (PPh2‐PIIL) catalyze the hydrolytic evolution of hydrogen from sodium borohydride with remarkable efficiency, under mild conditions. The composition of the polymer influences efficiency with the catalyst based on a polyethylene glycol modified imidazolium monomer (PtNP@PPh2‐PEGPIILS) more active than its N‐alkylated counterpart (PtNP@PPh2‐N‐decylPIILS). The maximum initial TOF of 169 moleH2.molcat−1.min−1 obtained at 30 °C with a catalyst loading of 0.08 mol% is among the highest to be reported for the aqueous phase hydrolysis of sodium borohydride catalyzed by a PtNP‐based system. Kinetic studies revealed that the apparent activation energy (Ea) of 23.9 kJ mol−1 for the hydrolysis of NaBH4 catalyzed by PtNP@PPh2‐PEGPIILS is significantly lower than that of 35.6 kJ mol−1 for PtNP@PPh2‐N‐decylPIILS. Primary kinetic isotope effects kH/kD of 1.8 and 2.1 obtained with PtNP@PPh2‐PEGPIILS and PtNP@PPh2‐N‐decylPIILS, respectively, for the hydrolysis with D2O support a mechanism involving rate determining oxidative addition or σ‐bond metathesis of the O−H bond. Catalyst stability and reuse studies showed that PtNP@PPh2‐PEGPIILS retained 70 % of its activity across five runs; the gradual drop in conversion appears to be due to poisoning of the catalyst by the accumulated metaborate product as well as the increased viscosity of the reaction mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has led to an unprecedented global health crisis, resulting in a critical need for effective vaccines that generate protective antibodies. Protein subunit vaccines represent a promising approach but often lack the immunogenicity required for strong immune stimulation. To overcome this challenge, it is first demonstrated that advanced biomaterials can be leveraged to boost the effectiveness of SARS‐CoV‐2 protein subunit vaccines. Additionally, it is reported that oxygen is a powerful immunological co‐adjuvant and has an ability to further potentiate vaccine potency. In preclinical studies, mice immunized with an oxygen‐generating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) cryogel‐based vaccine (O2‐CryogelVAX) exhibit a robust Th1 and Th2 immune response, leading to a sustained production of highly effective neutralizing antibodies against the virus. Even with a single immunization, O2‐CryogelVAX achieves high antibody titers within 21 days, and both binding and neutralizing antibody levels are further increased after a second dose. Engineering a potent vaccine system that generates sufficient neutralizing antibodies after one dose is a preferred strategy amid vaccine shortage. The data suggest that this platform is a promising technology to reinforce vaccine‐driven immunostimulation and is applicable to current and emerging infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic affirms an urgent global need for effective vaccines as second and third infection waves are spreading worldwide and generating new mutant virus strains, it has also revealed the importance of mitigating the transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 through the introduction of restrictive social practices. Here, it is demonstrated that an architecturally‐ and chemically‐diverse family of nanostructured anionic polymers yield a rapid and continuous disinfecting alternative to inactivate coronaviruses and prevent their transmission from contact with contaminated surfaces. Operating on a dramatic pH‐drop mechanism along the polymer/pathogen interface, polymers of this archetype inactivate the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus, as well as a human coronavirus surrogate (HCoV‐229E), to the minimum detection limit within minutes. Application of these anionic polymers to frequently touched surfaces in medical, educational, and public‐transportation facilities, or personal protection equipment, can provide rapid and repetitive protection without detrimental health or environmental complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ultrasound is the imaging method of choice in gynecology. The quality and diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound depends on the skills of the individual performing the scan. Evaluation of ultrasound practice has received limited attention.Methods: A video recording device was connected to an ultrasound machine in gynecology clinics in a teaching hospital. To minimize the observer effect, all staff were notified through email in advance. Data were collected over a 3-week period. Anonymous recordings of both patients and user were compared with current guidelines, and practice was categorized as: compliant, partially compliant, or non-compliant.Results: Observations (n = 43) were categorized and the results described as percentage frequencies (%). Image optimization was compliant in 23.3% of recorded observations, 11.6% was partially compliant, and 65.1% was noncompliant. The study also found that global examination on gynecology was 20.9% compliant, 18.6% partially compliant, and 60.47% noncompliant. Images were annotated in appropriately 41.9% of instances, and 25.6% of end-users examined bladder, vagina, and cervix when indicated.Conclusion: The pilot evaluation showed that ultrasound practice among end-users did not reflect current guidelines, suggesting a need for improvement. Accuracy and performance of ultrasound examination remains highly operator-dependent although video evaluation can be an effective tool for assessing such skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A recent pilot audit found that the quality of transvaginal ultrasound practice in a teaching hospital did not reflect current guidelines. This was a concern given the frequency and importance of ultrasound examinations in approaching a diagnosis. Interventional measures involved ad hoc training sessions coincident with installation of updated equipment. A reaudit was performed to assess any changes in the standard of ultrasound practice.Methods: Data were collected by random direct observation. To minimize the Hawthorne effect, staffs were not made aware of when active data collection took place. Observations of both patients and end user were compared with current guidelines. Data collected maintained the anonymity of users throughout. Practice was graded as: compliant, partially-compliant, or noncompliant. Descriptive statistics were used to demonstrate any change post-intervention.Results: Observations (n = 48) of completed gynecology ultrasound practice were recorded, and results described as percentage frequencies (%). Image optimization noncompliant rates declined in the reaudit from 65.1% to 41.67% (P = .07) and noncompliant rates of global examination of gynecology decreased from 60.47% to 14.58% (P < .05). Substantial improvements were seen in terms of image annotations (initial audit, 41.9% vs reaudit, 66.67%), and end user examination of bladder, vagina and cervix when indicated (initial audit, 25.6% vs reaudit, 77.08%).Conclusion: Regular audit, ad hoc ultrasound training sessions and updated ultrasound equipment resulted in considerably improved compliance of transvaginal ultrasound practice in gynecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]