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In this work, were determined some radiation shielding and dosimetric parameters of three types of bricks for photons energy from 1 keV to 100 GeV photons using the Phy-X/PSD software, and for comparison also has been calculated the same parameters for NBS concrete. The parameters calculated are the linear attenuation coefficients (LAC), effective atomic numbers (Zeff), half value layers (HVL), the energy absorption buildup factors (EABF) and the exposure buildup factors (EBF), as well as the coefficients to use the geometric progression (G-P) fitting method. Obtained results show that the three types of bricks can be used safely for the design of medical facilities housing mammography units (less than 30 keV)., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Acetaminophenol, commonly recognized as paracetamol (considered safer than aspirin) is formed by nitration of phenol (4-nitrophenol (4-NP)) for its conversion to 4-aminophenol (4-AP), followed by the acetylation for the final product. As 4-NP is an intermediate product in acetaminophenol (paracetamol) production from phenol the dynamic analysis of acetylation of amine group is important. This study focuses on the feasibility of spectroscopic studies to monitor the removal of 4-NP using sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ) probe reaction in the presence of silver, gold, and bimetallic Ag/Au nanoparticles. UV-visible absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy measurements reveal the formation of 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ), hydroquinone (HQ), and phenol (Ph) as the final products, in addition to the formation of typically reported 4-AP. The intermediates of NaBH 4 seem to play a significant role in the formation of BQ, which converts to HQ in the basic medium followed by the formation of phenol in an acidic medium. Complete kinetic analysis with respect to spectroscopic studies of the standard compounds is presented. Similar results were obtained with 4-NP spiked river and seawater samples. The present findings may lead to catalytic benchmarking that can differ from most of the current practices and highlight the importance of adopting a holistic approach towards the fundamental understanding of 4-NP catalytic reduction that must take into account the concentration of NaBH 4 and pH interdependencies., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Current agricultural practices for vegetable production are unsustainable, and the use of certain nanomaterials has shown significant potential for either plant growth promotion or defense induction in crop species. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the possible effects of two SBA nano-structured silica materials differing in morphology; SBA-15, with porous structure in parallel and with a highly ordered hexagonal array and SBA-16, with spheric nano-cages located in cubic arrays, as plant growth promoters/eustressors on chili pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.) during cultivation under greenhouse conditions. The study was carried out at three foliarly applied concentrations (20, 50 and 100 ppm) of either SBA materials to determine effects on seed germination, seedling growth, plant performance and cold tolerance under greenhouse. Phytotoxicity tests were carried out using higher concentrations (100, 1000 and 200 ppm) applied by dipping or spraying onto chili pepper plants. Deionized water controls were included. The results showed that the SBA materials did not affect seed germination; however, SBA-15 at 50 ppm and 100 ppm applied by imbibition significantly increased seedling height (up to 8-fold) and provided enhanced growth performance in comparison with controls under select treatment regimes. Weekly application of SBA-15 at 20 ppm significantly increased stem diameter and cold tolerance; however, SBA-16 showed significant decreases in plant height (20 ppm biweekly applied) and stem diameter (20, 50 and 100 ppm biweekly applied). The results demonstrate that both SBA materials provided hormetic effects in a dose dependent manner on chili pepper production and protection to cold stress. No phytotoxic response was evident. These findings suggested the nanostructured mesoporous silica have potential as a sustainable amendment strategy to increase crop production under stress-inducing cultivation conditions., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Emphysematous cystitis and emphysematous pyelonephritis are rare entities, difficult to diagnose and with high morbidity and mortality. The non-specificity of the medical history and the little usefulness of laboratory tests contribute to diagnostic delay, which increases the possibility of therapeutic failure. We present 2 cases, one of cystitis and another of emphysematous pyelonephritis, who attended the emergency room due to severe urinary sepsis. Despite severity of the symptoms, conservative management was performed with bladder drainage and antibiotic treatment, without interventions or surgeries, presenting a favorable evolution and resolution of the infectious process. Each case must be individualized to offer the best possible therapeutic alternative., (Copyright © 2021 SEGG. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate the predictive value of a bedside index in hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS)., Methods: We studied the association of leuko-platelet index (LPI: platelet count * leukocyte count/10 8 ) with risk of mortality, shock, or heart failure (combined end point-CEP), and with the response to antiplatelet therapy, measured by light transmission aggregometry., Results: In the derivation cohort we included 1100 patients with non STEM-ACS, GRACE score of 133 ± 52, Crusade score 24,3 ± 14, 66% male, 65 + 11 years. LPI was 17 (12-24). LPI was higher (19 (13-25)) in patients with MI than in patients with unstable angina (16 (12-22) in (p < 0.001)). A total of 115 patients (10.5%) had the CEP. CEP was associated to LPI (OR 1.04 (1.002-1.08), p = 0.03), age (OR 1.01 (0.97-1.05), p = 0.62) and GRACE>140 (OR 8.1 (2.2-29), p = 0.02). LPI (OR 1.04 (1.004-1.07) p = 0.03) and GRACE score (OR 1.02 (1.01-1.03) p < 0.01) were associated to cardiovascular mortality. We confirmed these results in the validation cohort #1 (686 patients, 61 + 11 years old, 47% nonST-ACS, 53% ST-ACS, 21% had CEP) and in validation cohort #2 (218 patients, 56.8% males, 73 + 7 years old, 79% nonST-ACS, GRACE score 136 + 30) and 8.3% with CEP. We used the cutoff points of LPI obtained in the derivation cohort (>24)., Conclusions: LPI > 24 was associated to CEP (OR (1.7-5.2), p 0.01), independently of age (OR 1 (0.98-1.02), p = 0.8), and GRACE score (OR 1.01 (0.99-1.01), p 0.69), and It was associated to antiplatelet resistance (OR 1.03 (95% CI 1.00-1.06) p = 0.05)., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare none conflict of Interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease among adults worldwide. It is characterised by the death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and, in some cases, presence of intracytoplasmic inclusions of α-synuclein, called Lewy bodies, a pathognomonic sign of the disease. Clinical diagnosis of PD is based on the presence of motor alterations. The treatments currently available have no neuroprotective effect. The exact causes of PD are poorly understood. Therefore, more precise preclinical models have been developed in recent years that use induced pluripotent stem cells. In vitro studies can provide new information on PD pathogenesis and may help to identify new therapeutic targets or to develop new drugs., (Copyright © 2021 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, are fundamental health concerns all around the world. The development of novel treatments and new techniques to address these disorders, are being actively studied by researchers and medical personnel. In the present review we will discuss the application of induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) for cell-therapy replacement and disease modelling. The aim of iPSCs is to restore the functionality of the damaged tissue by replacing the impaired cells with competitive ones. To achieve this objective, iPSCs can be properly differentiated into virtually any cell fate and can be strongly translated into human health via in vitro and in vivo disease modeling for the development of new therapies, the discovery of biomarkers for several disorders, the elaboration and testing of new drugs as novel treatments, and as a tool for personalized medicine., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2020 The Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.)

The dianionic aza crown ether-dtc N , N '-bis(dithiocarbamate)-1,10-diaza-18-crown-6 ( L 2- ) is a versatile ligand capable of yielding binuclear complexes with group 10 elements, also known as Ni-triade, [μ-(κ 2 -S,-S '- L )M 2 (PPh 3 ) 4 ]Cl 2 (M = Pd ( 1 ), Pt ( 2 )), [μ-(κ 2 -S,-S '-L)M 2 (PPh 3 ) 4 ](BPh 4 ) 2 (M = Pd ( 3 ), Pt ( 4 )), and μ-( κ-S,-S '-L)Ni 2 (PPh 3 ) 2 Cl 2 ( 5 ), and has proven to be an excellent option to the design of metal-based drugs able to provide multiple response to cell resistance. Palladium and platinum complexes, 1 and 2 , were tested for cytotoxicity in the human cervix carcinoma cell line HeLa-229, the human ovarian carcinoma cell line A2780, and the cisplatin-resistant mutant A2780 cis , finding significant activity toward all three cancer cell lines, with low micromolar IC 50 values, comparable to cisplatin. Markedly, against the cisplatin resistant cell line A2780 cis , compound 2 exhibits better cytotoxic activity than the clinical drug (IC 50 = 2.3 ± 0.2 μM for 2 versus 3.6 ± 0.5 μM for cisplatin). Moreover, an enhancement of the antitumor response is achieved when adding an equimolar amount of alkali metal chloride (NaCl or KCl) to the medium, for instance, testing compound 1 against the cisplatin-resistant A2780 cis cells, the IC 50 decreases from 9.3 ± 0.4 to 7.4 ± 0.3 and 5.4 ± 0.1 μM, respectively, after addition of the salt solution. For the platinum derivative 2 , the IC 50 improves by ca. 40% reaching 1.3 ± 0.1 μM when potassium chloride is added. Likewise, the resistant factor found for 2 (RF = 1) confirms that this complex circumvents cisplatin-resistance in A2780 cis and is improved with the addition of potassium chloride (RF = 0.65). The presence of the aza crown ether moiety as linker in the systems studied herein is a key point since, in addition to allowing and facilitating interaction with alkali metal ions, this unit is flexible enough to adapt to a variety of environments, as confirmed by the X-ray crystal structures described, where different conformations and ways to fold in are found. In order to gain insight into the electronic and structural facts involved in the interaction of complex 2 with the alkali metal ions, a DFT study was performed, and the description of the molecular electrostatic potentials (MEPs) is also presented.

Gallstone ileus is a rare and potentially serious complication of cholelithiasis. It is defined as a mechanical intestinal obstruction secondary to the presence of a gallstone in the intestinal luz. The most frequent cause is impaction of the calculus in the ileum after passing through a bilioenteric fístula. It has a high morbidity and mortality rate, mainly due to the difficulty and delay in its diagnosis. A retrospective study is presented of 4 cases of gallstone ileus treated between 2013 and 2017 in the Hospital Nuestra Señora del Prado. An analysis was performed on the clinical characteristics, diagnostic tests, and surgical treatment., (Copyright © 2019 SEGG. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Water pollution by heavy metals represents several health risks. Conventional technologies employed to eliminate lead ions from residual or drinking water are expensive, therefore an efficient and low-cost technique is required and adsorption processes are a good alternative. In this work, the goal was to determine the adsorption capacity of a Disordered Mesoporous Silica 1 material (DMS-1) functionalized with amino groups, for Pb(II) ions removal. DMS-1 was prepared by sol-gel method and the incorporation of amino groups was performed by ex-situ method. As the source of amine groups, (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) was used and three different x NH 2 /DMS-1 molar ratios (0.2, 0.3, 0.4) were evaluated. In order to evaluate the incorporation of the amino group into the mesopore channels, thermal and structural analysis were made through Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), nitrogen adsorption-desorption at 77 K by Specific Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (SBET) method, Fourier Transfer Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The higher Pb(II) ions removal was achieved with the 0.3 molar proportion of x NH 2 /DMS-1 reaching 99.44% efficiency. This result suggests that the functionalized material can be used as an efficient adsorbent for Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution.

Tridimensional cubic mesoporous silica, SBA-16, functionalized with aminopropyl groups, were employed as adsorbents for Pb 2+ ion removal from aqueous solution. The adsorption capacity was investigated for the effect of pH, contact time, temperature, and concentration of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) employed for adsorbent functionalization. The textural properties and morphology of the adsorbents were evaluated by N 2 physisorption, small-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The functionalization of the SBA-16 was evaluated by elemental analysis (N), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Batch adsorption studies show that the total Pb 2+ ions removal was archived on adsorbent having an optimized amount of aminopropyl groups (2N-SBA-16). The maximum of Pb 2+ ions removal occurred at optimized adsorption conditions: pH = 5-6, contact time 40 min, and at a low initial lead concentration in solution (200 mg L -1 ). Under the same adsorption conditions, the amino-functionalized SBA-16 with cubic 3D unit cell structure exhibited higher adsorption capability than its SBA-15 counterpart with uniform mesoporous channels.

This study sets out to evaluate the effect on the leaching of prosulfocarb through packed soil columns of applying green compost (GC) as an organic amendment (20% w/w), herbicide ageing over 28 days in the soil (incubation vs. no incubation), and two different irrigation regimes (saturated or saturated-unsaturated flows). Peak concentrations decreased after herbicide incubation in the columns for both unamended (S) and amended (S + GC) soils under both flow regimes. The leached amounts decreased when the herbicide was incubated for 28 days in S (2.1 and 1.9 times) and S + GC (2.9 and 1.6 times), under saturated or saturated-unsaturated flow, respectively. In the S columns, the total amounts retained (43.3%-60.8%) were lower than the ones obtained for the S + GC columns under saturated flow (77.4%-85.2%), suggesting a stronger interaction between the herbicide and the GC-amended soil. This behaviour was not observed under saturated-unsaturated flow, as the total amounts retained were similar in both the S and S + GC columns. Prosulfocarb was primarily retained in the first segment of the S (>28%) and S + GC (>43%) columns under all conditions. Incubation time did not greatly affect the herbicide retention, but it significantly increased the mineralized amount under saturated flow. The total balances of 14 C-prosulfocarb were >73% and >80% in the S and S + GC columns, respectively, indicating that amendment decreased prosulfocarb loss by volatilization. Several factors, such as amendment, herbicide ageing and water flow, proved to be important for controlling the leaching of this herbicide through the soil profile., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Adding organic amendments to soil could modify the bioavailability of herbicides and lead to changes in the microbial community's activity and structure. The objective here was to study the dissipation and total mass balance of 14 C-labeled prosulfocarb applied at two rates (4 and 10 mg kg -1 ) in unamended and green compost (GC)-amended soil. Soil dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profile analysis were determined to evaluate the effect of herbicide residues on microbial community's activity and structure over the dissipation period. The dissipation rate of prosulfocarb decreased after soil amendment due to higher herbicide adsorption by the amended soil. The 50% dissipation time (DT 50 ) increased 1.7 times in the unamended soil when the concentration of prosulfocarb increased 2.5 times. The mass balance results indicate that the sum of water and organic extractable fractions represented the highest amounts up to the dissipation of 50% 14 C-prosulfocarb. The 14 C-herbicide was then mainly mineralized (up to 11%-31%) or formed non-extractable residues (up to 35%-44%). The amount of 14 C-prosulfocarb residues extracted with methanol was slightly higher in amended soils than in unamended ones. 14 C-prosulfocarb mineralization was higher in unamended soils than in amended ones. The formation of non-extractable residues was continuous, and increased over time. Soil DHA decreased in the unamended soil and was maintained in the GC-amended soil at the end of the assay. The microbial structure was barely disturbed over the prosulfocarb degradation process, although it was clearly influenced by the application of GC. The results obtained reveal the influence organic amendment has on herbicide bioavailability to decrease its biodegradation and buffer its impact on the soil microbial structure., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Fluorescent nitrogen-doped graphene oxide dots (NGODs) have been demonstrated as an on-off nanosensor for the detection of Hg 2+ , Au 3+ , and H 2 O 2 . As compared to l-cystine, where the luminescence signal recovery results from the detachment of Hg 2+ from the NGODs, signal recovery through l-ascorbic acid (turn-off-on model) has been attributed to the reduction of Hg 2+ to Hg 0 . The sustainable recovery of the photoluminescence signal is demonstrated using common citrus fruits containing vitamin C (l-AA), suggesting a promising practical usage of this sensing system. Additionally, the sensitivity of NGOD- and AA-originated signal recovery from the Hg(II)-NGODs mixture has been successfully tested in Hg 2+ ion-spiked tap water from three different places. Mimic devices were executed and verified on the basis of characteristic spectral changes, and the possible utility of this system in electronic security and memory element devices has also been demonstrated. Considering an easy synthesis process and excellent performance of NGODs, this investigation opens up new opportunities for preparing high-quality fluorescent NGODs to meet the requirements of many applications., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest.

The first total synthesis of the marine bromotyrosine purpurealidin I ( 1 ) using trifluoroacetoxy protection group and its dimethylated analog ( 29 ) is reported along with 16 simplified bromotyrosine derivatives lacking the tyramine moiety. Their cytotoxicity was evaluated against the human malignant melanoma cell line (A-375) and normal skin fibroblast cells (Hs27) together with 33 purpurealidin-inspired simplified amides, and the structure⁻activity relationships were investigated. The synthesized simplified analogs without the tyramine part retained the cytotoxic activity. Purpurealidin I ( 1 ) showed no selectivity but its simplified pyridin-2-yl derivative ( 36 ) had the best improvement in selectivity (Selectivity index 4.1). This shows that the marine bromotyrosines are promising scaffolds for developing cytotoxic agents and the full understanding of the elements of their SAR and improving the selectivity requires further optimization of simplified bromotyrosine derivatives.

In this paper, we report the combination of two metal oxides (TiO 2 ZnO) that allows mixed density of states to reduce band gap energy, facilitating the photo-oxidation of Congo red dye under visible light. For the oxidation, a possible mechanism is proposed after analyzing the intermediates by GC-MS, and it is consistent with Density Functional Theory (DFT). The nanohybrids were characterized comprehensibly by several analytical techniques such as X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). For the addition of ZnO to TiO 2 , a dominance of anatase phase was found rather than other phases (rutile or brookite). A broad band (∼550 nm) is observed in UV-Visible spectra for TiO 2 ZnO/Ag NPs nm because of Surface Plasmon properties of Ag NPs. The band gap energy was calculated for TiO 2 ZnO/Ag system, and then it has been further studied by DFT in order to show why the convergence of two semiconductors allows a mixed density of states, facilitating the reduction of the energy gap between occupied and unoccupied bands; ultimately, it improves the performance of catalysts under visible light. Significantly, the interaction of crystal planes (0 0 Ī) of TiO 2 anatase and (0 0 1) of ZnO crucially plays as an important role for the reduction of energy band-gap. Additionally, TiO 2 ZnOAg NPs were used recognize Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells by con-focal fluorescence microscope, showing that it develops bright bio-images for the cells; while for TiO 2 or ZnO or TiO 2 ZnO NPs, no fluorescent response was seen within the cells., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Education is a major health determinant and one of the main independent outcome predictors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The use of the Internet by patients has grown exponentially in the last decade., Objective: To assess the characteristics, legibility and quality of the information available in Spanish in the Internet regarding to rheumatoid arthritis., Material and Methods: The search was performed in Google using the phrase rheumatoid arthritis. Information from the first 30 pages was evaluated according to a pre-established format (relevance, scope, authorship, type of publication and financial objective). The quality and legibility of the pages were assessed using two validated tools, DISCERN and INFLESZ respectively. Data extraction was performed by senior medical students and evaluation was achieved by consensus., Results: The Google search returned 323 hits but only 63% were considered relevant; 80% of them were information sites (71% discussed exclusively RA, 44% conventional treatment and 12% alternative therapies) and 12.5% had a primary financial interest. 60% of the sites were created by nonprofit organizations and 15% by medical associations. Web sites posted by medical institutions from the United States of America were better positioned in Spanish (Arthritis Foundation 4th position and American College of Rheumatology 10th position) than web sites posted by Spanish speaking countries., Conclusions: There is a risk of disinformation for patients with RA that use the Internet. We identified a window of opportunity for rheumatology medical institutions from Spanish-speaking countries to have a more prominent societal involvement in the education of their patients with RA., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and Sociedad Española de Reumatología y Colegio Mexicano de Reumatología. All rights reserved.)

Introduction and Objectives: There are few reports of the appearance of pulmonary arterial hypertension following arterial switch surgery in the neonatal period to correct transposition of the great arteries. We assessed the frequency and clinical pattern of this complication in our series of patients., Methods: Our database was reviewed to select patients with transposition of the great arteries corrected by neonatal arterial switch at our hospital and who developed pulmonary hypertension over time., Results: We identified 2 (1.3%) patients with transposition of the great arteries successfully repaired in the first week of life who later experienced pulmonary arterial hypertension. The first patient was a 7-year-old girl diagnosed with severe pulmonary hypertension at age 8 months who did not respond to medical treatment and required lung transplantation. The anatomic pathology findings were consistent with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension. The second patient was a 24-month-old boy diagnosed with severe pulmonary hypertension at age 13 months who did not respond to medical therapy., Conclusions: Pulmonary hypertension is a rare but very severe complication that should be investigated in all patients with transposition of the great arteries who have undergone neonatal arterial switch, in order to start early aggressive therapy for affected patients, given the poor therapeutic response and poor prognosis involved., (Copyright © 2016 Sociedad Española de Cardiología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to assess the changes in the characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis information on the Internet over a 15-year period and the positioning of Web sites posted by universities, hospitals, and medical associations. We replicated the methods of a 2001 study assessing rheumatoid arthritis information on the Internet using WebCrawler. All Web sites and pages were critically assessed for relevance, scope, authorship, type of publication, and financial objectives. Differences between studies were considered significant if 95 % confidence intervals did not overlap. Additionally, we added a Google search with assessments of the quality of content of web pages and of the Web sites posted by medical institutions. There were significant differences between the present study's WebCrawler search and the 2001-referent study. There were increases in information sites (82 vs 36 %) and rheumatoid arthritis-specific discussion pages (59 vs 8 %), and decreases in advertisements (2 vs 48 %) and alternative therapies (27 vs 45 %). The quality of content of web pages is still dispersed; just 37 % were rated as good. Among the first 300 hits, 30 (10 %) were posted by medical institutions, 17 of them in the USA. Regarding readability, 7 % of these 30 web pages required 6 years, 27 % required 7-9 years, 27 % required 10-12 years, and 40 % required 12 or more years of schooling. The Internet has evolved in the last 15 years. Medical institutions are also better positioned. However, there are still areas for improvement, such as the quality of the content, leadership of medical institutions, and readability of information.

In the title compound, C33H38N2O2, each of the cyclo-hexyl rings adopts a chair conformation. The two planes involving carbonyl groups, C-(C=O)-N and N-(C=O)-N, are oriented at a dihedral angle of 62.28 (10)°. In the crystal, two neighboring mol-ecules are linked by a pair of N-H⋯O inter-actions, generating an inversion dimer. The dimers are inter-connected by C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds into a supra-molecular chain along the a-axis direction.

Purpose: Combined treatment based on cisplatin-loaded Poly(D,L-lactic-co-glicolic)acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (NP-C) plus the NSAID piroxicam was used as novel treatment for mesothelioma to reduce side effects related to cisplatin toxicity., Methods: PLGA nanoparticles were prepared by double emulsion solvent evaporation method. Particle size, drug release profile and in vitro cellular uptake were characterized by TEM, DLS, LC/MS and fluorescence microscopy. MSTO-211H cell line was used to analyse NP-C biological efficacy by FACS and protein analysis., Results: Cisplatin was encapsulated in 197 nm PLGA nanoparticles with 8.2% drug loading efficiency and 47% encapsulation efficiency. Cisplatin delivery from nanoparticles reaches 80% of total encapsulated drug in 14 days following a triphasic trend. PLGA nanoparticles in MSTO-211H cells were localized in the perinuclear space NP-C in combination with piroxicam induced apoptosis using a final cisplatin concentration 1.75 fold less than free drug. Delivered cisplatin cooperated with piroxicam in modulating cell cycle regulators as caspase-3, p53 and p21., Conclusions: Cisplatin loaded PLGA nanoparticles plus piroxicam showed a good efficacy in exerting cytotoxic activity and inducing the same molecular apoptotic effects of the free drugs. Sustained cisplatin release allowed to use less amount of drug, decreasing toxic side effects. This novel approach could represent a new strategy for mesothelioma treatment.

3-Hydroxyflavonate-diphenyltin(IV) chloride (Ph(2)Sn(Ofl)Cl) was prepared and characterized structurally by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound possesses high fluorescence (λ(max) 464 nm with excitation at 400 nm) in neutral aqueous solutions containing 5 mM cetyltrimethylammonium chloride and does not lose the flavonol ligand even at high dilution. The fluorescence is selectively quenched by pyrophosphate (PPi) (linear range 0-5 μM, detection limit 0.1 μM). Determination of 1 μM PPi tolerates the presence of 100-fold excess of AMP, ADP, inorganic phosphate and acetate, and 10-fold excess of ATP. From concentration profiles of the quenching effect it is concluded that quenching occurs due to formation of the complex (Ph(2)Sn(Ofl))(3)PPi, which is transformed at higher PPi concentrations to a simple 1 : 1 complex Ph(2)Sn(Ofl)(PPi). No flavonol ligand exchange with PPi is observed. A series of related organotin(IV) complexes were prepared in situ by reacting 3-hydroxyflavone with Me(2)SnCl(2), PhSnCl(3) and n-BuSnCl(3). The derivatives of Me(2)SnCl(2) and PhSnCl(3) behave similarly to Ph(2)Sn(Ofl)Cl but with lower sensitivity to PPi. However, the n-butyltin(IV) derivative tentatively of the composition n-BuSn(Ofl)(2) undergoes fluorescence enhancement rather than quenching in the presence of PPi in the μM concentration range. The results of this study demonstrate that the use of metal flavonol complexes as optical sensors for anions is a promising approach.

The M(w) of a Lactobacillus sakei intracellular esterase, determined by gel filtration, was compared to those obtained from SDS-PAGE or MALDI-TOF, pointing to a dimeric structure. Its N-terminal sequence and peptide mass fingerprint suggest that it is the putative LSA044 protein from L. sakei 23K genome., (Copyright © 2011 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

An extracellular sterol esterase from Ophiostoma piceae efficiently hydrolyzes sterol esters, triglycerides and p-nitrophenol esters. cDNA was screened with a probe obtained by PCR using as primers oligonucleotides corresponding to the N-terminal and internal mature enzyme sequences and complete sequence was obtained by 3' rapid amplification of cDNA end (RACE) and inverse PCR. The O. piceae esterase gene had a length of 1.8 kbp and lacked introns. A search for proteins with related amino acid sequences revealed around 40% identity with lipases from Candida rugosa and Geotrichum candidum. Modelling the O. piceae enzyme, using the crystal structures of Lip1 and Lip3 from C. rugosa as templates, revealed a similar substrate-binding site, but some changes affecting the flap zone and the aromatic region of the tunnel may be responsible for the wide substrate specificity of this interesting sterol esterase. The ability of the new fungal esterase to hydrolyze triglycerides and esters of p-nitrophenol and cholesterol was compared with those of commercial lipases and cholesterol esterases showing the new enzyme the highest efficiency hydrolyzing triglycerides and sterol esters in the conditions assayed (in presence of Genapol X-100). Finally, the O. piceae gene was successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris, as a model organism to express fungal enzymes, resulting in higher levels of esterase activity than those obtained in the O. piceae cultures. In spite of its higher glycosylation degree, the recombinant enzyme was able to hydrolyze more efficiently than native enzyme the assayed substrates.

The syntheses, structure, and inclusion properties of trinuclear boron compounds having a calix-like shape are described. The compounds have been obtained via self-assembly reactions between salicylaldehyde derivatives and 3-aminophenylboronic acid, whereby the formation of three N --> B coordination bonds favored the oligomerization. The products have high melting points (>370 degrees C), are stable to moisture, and have good solubility in organic solvents; the latter property is useful for host-guest recognition experiments. The structural analysis by X-ray diffraction revealed that diverse conformations are possible because of the presence of two different units of aromatic rims. A cone-cone (double-cone) conformation is observed for three of these compounds, while the remaining one has a cone-partial cone conformation. An analysis of the molecular packing showed that the molecules are stacked in columns in two different orientations in relation to the organization of the macrocycles when referred to the N-B bonds. The inclusion properties toward primary amines and ammonium chlorides were analyzed by titration experiments and monitored by UV spectroscopy, whereby association constants on the order of 10(2)-10(3) M(-1) were determined.

Infinite chains of spirocyclic water hexamers are included in the crystal lattice of a tin complex with a curved, hydrophobic surface and only weak intermolecular bonding interactions between the host molecules, so that the enclosed water clusters might be reminiscent of the solvation sphere in solution.

The one pot reaction of salicylaldehyde 1, beta-amino alcohols 2a-2c, and di-n-butyltin(IV) oxide 3a or diphenyltin(IV) oxide 3b produced five diorganotin(IV) compounds, 4a-4c, 5a, and 5c, in good yields. All compounds were characterized by IR, (1)H, (13)C, and (119)Sn NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis; furthermore, compounds 4b, 4c, 5a, and 5c were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. After the structural characterization, all of the compounds were tested in vitro against Bacillus subtilis (Gram-positive, strain ATCC 6633), Escherichia coli (Gram-negative, strain DH5alpha), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative, strain BH3), Desulfovibrio longus (strain DSM 6739), and Desulfomicrobium aspheronum (strain DSM 5918) to assess their antimicrobial activity. Compounds 4 and 5 demonstrated a wide range of bactericidal activities against the tested aerobic (one Gram-positive and two Gram-negative subtypes) and anaerobic bacteria (two sulfate-reducing bacteria, SRB). Compound 5 had better bactericidal performances than compound 4. For all of the compounds, the acute toxicity was measured using luminescent bacteria toxicity (LBT-Microtox) tests to track their further environmental impact. According to these results and in order to fulfill environmental regulations, the toxicity of the compounds studied herein can be modulated through the proper selection of the disubstituted tin(IV) moiety.

Thermal and microwave reactions between [PcSn(IV)Cl2] (1) and the potassium salts of eight fatty acids (2 a-h) led to cis-[(RCO2)2Sn(IV)Pc] compounds (3 a-h) in yields ranging from 54 to 90 %. Compounds 3 a-h were fully characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopy (IR, UV/Vis, multinuclear NMR), and seven X-ray diffraction structures, whereby two different allotropes were observed in two cases. The two carboxylates in 3 have a cis anisobidentate binding mode, octacoordination of the tin atoms with square-antiprismatic geometry, and pi-electron-rich nanocap shapes. On account of the latter characteristics, 3 a-h compounds have anticorrosion properties. LPR and Tafel electrochemical methods were used to characterize the behavior of these derivatives in naturally aerated sour brine, which is a common environment in petroleum production and refinery operations. The measurement of the corrosion rate of carbon steel AISI 1018 in the presence of 3 a-h (500 ppm) gave efficiencies of 61-87 % for the inhibitor performance. Of the different derivatives examined, compounds 3 e and 3 h were the most effective corrosion inhibitor prototypes.

The simple condensation reaction of 3,5-di-tert-butyl salicylaldehyde and 3-aminophenylboronic acid leads to a trimeric macrocyclic compound. The ability of this molecule to include small organic molecules was in a first approximation analyzed by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.

Two PcSn(IV) dicarboxylate molecules were obtained through efficient microwave methodology with the aim to test them as corrosion inhibitors in the oil industry. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-vis, (1)H, (13)C NMR, and X-ray diffraction. The relative configuration of the two carboxylates is cis, placing the fatty acid moieties on the same face of the phthalocyanine macrocycle. In the solid-state the tin atoms possess square antiprismatic octacoordinated geometries. Both tin phthalocyanines were tested as corrosion inhibitors for hydrogen sulfide corrosive media showing a chemisorption process of the nanocap motifs on the metallic surface. Apparently, the length of the hydrophobic chain contributes significantly to the inhibition efficiency, in the sense that shorter chains increase the efficiency.

Background: Multiple pathways have been proposed for the course of adrenergic fibers to the penis and, although it is generally recognized that the pudendal nerve (PudN) is the most important, there is little quantitative information available., Methods: We used image analysis of catecholamine histofluorescence to quantify the effect of various nerve lesions on the adrenergic innervation of the rat penis. In addition to the denervation studies and as a direct test of whether penile adrenergic fibers traversed the pelvic plexus, penile neurons in the sympathetic chain were first labeled with a retrograde dye placed in the penis. The cavernous nerve of these animals was later exposed to another dye with different spectral characteristics., Results: Interruption of the sensory branch of the PudN reduced adrenergic innervation of cavernosal smooth muscle by 86% (+/- 2.5%). Vascular fibers of the deep penile and helicine arteries were also severely reduced but not entirely eliminated. Interruption of the motor branch of the PudN had a lesser and more variable effect on penile adrenergic innervation: a 21.2% (+/- 6.8%) decrease in cavernosal muscle innervation but no obvious affect on vasomotor fibers. Combining the nerve lesions with phenol degeneration of perivascular fibers of the pudendal vessels further reduced but did not entirely eliminate adrenergic fibers in the cavernosal muscle and penile vessels., Conclusions: The dramatic reduction of adrenergic innervation of the penis after section of the PudN, especially the sensory branch, and the absence of double-labeled neurons in the sympathetic chain suggest that the PudN nerve is the major, if not the exclusive, pathway by which adrenergic fibers reach penile erectile tissue of the rat.

To characterize further the injury response of autonomic ganglia, we have examined the effect of chronic denervation on perineuronal plexuses that are immunoreactive for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) or that stain for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) in the rat major pelvic ganglion, and their relationship to an identified sub-population of neurons in the ganglion (the penile neurons). Penile neurons contain VIP and NADPH diaphorase (NADPH-D) but lack TH. VIP-immunoreactive (VIP-IR) and TH-IR perineuronal plexuses (baskets) are rare in the rat major pelvic ganglion and those present are not associated with penile neurons. A small increase in VIP-IR baskets occurs 2 weeks after proximal interruption of the pelvic nerve, but TH-IR baskets increase five-fold. The emergent VIP-IR and TH-IR baskets enclose TH-negative neurons, none of which are penile ganglion cells. These changes remain up to 4 weeks after denervation. Interrupting the pelvic nerve nearer the margin of the major pelvic ganglion results in a rapid, more dramatic increase in VIP-IR, in cell bodies and beaded fibers, than that seen with the more proximal lesion. About 27% of neurons in the ventral pole of the ganglion are enveloped by NADPH-D perineuronal baskets. The incidence of NADPH-D baskets falls to less than 1% after acute interruption of the pelvic and hypogastric nerves, but their frequency returns to control levels in chronically denervated ganglia. The rapid, vigorous changes in peptide (VIP) fibers after the pelvic nerve is cut close to the major pelvic ganglion may be attributable to the interruption of axons of postganglionic neurons and to preganglionic nerve fibers, whereas the slowly developing changes in VIP-IR and TH-IR fibers after more proximal lesions may represent the more modest effects of true decentralization. The source and significance of the VIP-IR, TH-IR, and NADPH-D baskets that appear in chronically denervated ganglia remain unclear.

NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-D) activity and immunoreactivity for neural and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (nNOS and eNOS, respectively) were used to investigate nitric oxide (NO) regulation of penile vasculature. Both the histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques for NOS showed that all smooth muscles regions of the penis (dorsal penile artery and vein, deep penile vessels, and cavernosal muscles) were richly innervated. The endothelium of penile arteries, deep dorsal penile vein, and select veins in the crura and shaft were also stained for NADPH-D and eNOS. However, the endothelium of cavernous sinuses was unstained by both techniques. Fewer fibers were seen in the glans penis, those present being associated with small blood vessels and large nerve bundles near the trabecular walls. All penile neurons in the pelvic plexus, located by retrograde transport of a dye placed in the corpora cavernosa penis, were stained by the NADPH-D method. Essentially similar results were obtained with an antibody to nNOS. These data suggest that penile parasympathetic neurons comprise a uniform population, as all seem capable of forming nitric oxide. However, in contrast to the endothelium of penile vessels, the endothelium lining the cavernosal spaces may not be capable of nitric oxide synthesis.

Radiation therapy has been shown to be the most effective prophylactic measure against heterotopic ossification (HO) in surgically repaired hip fractures. Current research is seeking the minimum effective dose of radiation. The authors present four case reports and a review of the literature on HO.