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Camellia japonica (CJ) has oil-rich seeds, but the study of these oils has received little attention and has mainly focused only on their health properties. In the present work the relative composition of the fatty acid (FA) components of the triglycerides in cold-pressed oil from CJ is studied by ¹H-NMR. The results obtained were: 75.75%, 6.0%, 0.17% and 18.67%, for oleic, linoleic, linolenic and saturated FA respectively. Levels of C18 unsaturated FA found in CJ oil were similar to those reported for olive oils. We also checked the possibility of using 13C-NMR spectroscopy; however, the results confirmed the drawback of 13C over ¹H-NMR for the study of FA components of CJ triglycerides due to its low gyromagnetic ratio and its very low natural abundance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of interferon-beta in multiple sclerosis is modest and many patients do not respond to treatment. To date, no single biomarker reliably correlates with responsiveness to interferon-beta in multiple sclerosis. In the present study, genome-wide expression profiling was performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 47 multiple sclerosis patients treated with interferon-beta for a minimum of 2 years and classified as responders and non-responders based on clinical criteria. A validation cohort of 30 multiple sclerosis patients was included in the study to replicate gene-expression findings. Before treatment, interferon-beta responders and non-responders were characterized by differential expression of type I interferon-induced genes with overexpression of the type interferon-induced genes in non-responders. Upon treatment the expression of these genes remained unaltered in non-responders, but was strongly upregulated in responders. Functional experiments showed a selective increase in phosphorylated STAT1 levels and interferon receptor 1 expression in monocytes of non-responders at baseline. When dissecting this type I interferon signature further, interferon-beta non-responders were characterized by increased monocyte type I interferon secretion upon innate immune stimuli via toll-like receptor 4, by increased endogenous production of type I interferon, and by an elevated activation status of myeloid dendritic cells. These findings indicate that perturbations of the type I interferon signalling pathway in monocytes are related to lack of response to interferon-beta, and type I interferon-regulated genes may be used as response markers in interferon-beta treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. We report the emergence and spread of metallo-ß-lactamases (MBLs) among enterobacterial isolates at Ramón y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid, Spain). Methods and results. During the period from March 2005 through September 2006, 25 patients (52% of whom were in the intensive care unit) were infected and/or colonized with single or different MBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates (Klebsiella pneumoniae, 14 patients; Enterobacter cloacae, 12 patients; Escherichia coli, 1 patient; and/or Klebsiella oxytoca, 1 patient). Clonal analysis (XbaI pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) revealed that all K. pneumoniae isolates belonged to the same clone, but 6 patterns were found among the E. cloacae isolates. Carbapenems were affected to different degrees (minimum inhibitory concentration, ≤1 to >8 μg/mL), as were aminoglycosides and ciprofloxacin. The blaVIM-1 MBL gene was present in all isolates; in addition, the blaSHV-12 extended-spectrum b-lactamase gene was detected in K. pneumoniae and E. coli isolates. The blaVIM-1 gene was detected within a 4.0-kb class 1 integron (blaVIM-1-aacA4-dfrII-aadA1-catB2) in K. pneumoniae and E. coli and in a 2.5-kb class 1 integron (blaVIM-1-aacA4-aadA1) in E. cloacae and K. oxytoca isolates. The blaVIM-1 gene was transferable (filter-mating) in 14 of 14 K. pneumoniae isolates, 4 of 11 E. cloacae isolates, and 1 of 1 E. coli isolate. A 60-kb plasmid belonging to the IncI1 group was detected in the epidemic VIM-1-K. pneumoniae clone. Plasmids of 300- or 435-kb belonging to IncH12 group were found among E. cloacae isolates. Conclusions. K. pneumoniae-MBL monoclonal epidemics coexisted with E. cloacae-MBL multiclonal epidemics in our hospital. The spread of the blaVIM-1 gene among Enterobacteriaceae was driven by clonal spread associated with intergeneric plasmid transfer with different class I integron platforms. Such complex epidemiology might anticipate endemicity and should be considered for the design of containment epidemiology strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The yellow-legged Asian hornet (Vespa velutina Lepeletier 1836 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)) is naturally distributed in China, Southeast Asia, and India; however, recently it has been detected outside of its native area, confirmed as being established in South Korea, Europe, and Japan. Health risks and deaths caused by the invasive Vespa velutina stings have become a public health concern, being the most common cause of anaphylaxis due to hymenopterans in some European regions. This in turn has led to increased demand from medical practitioners and researchers for Vespa velutina venom for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. In this study, a straightforward, quick, and inexpensive method for obtaining Vespa velutina venom by electric stimulation is described. The venom extracts were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR). The availability of Vespa velutina venom will lead to improved diagnostic and therapeutic methods, mainly by venom immunotherapy (VIT), in patients allergic to this invasive species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transaction Cost Theory (TCT) has been acknowledged as a valid tool for dealing with institutionalist decisions. However, it should be pointed out that the basic analysis layout put forward by Oliver E. Williamson shows certain limitations in its explanations of dynamic situations in both time and space. This lack of dynamism may be overcome by including new explanatory factors (socio-political-cultural factors) or reconsidering the treatment of certain basic premises of the Theory (unit of analysis). In our bid to surmount the static nature of TCT, the paper proposes a reflection on this analytic tool in order to identify the gaps generated by these limitations, and thus enables us to propose the required extensions or corrections. These modifications are inspired by the suggestions put forward by other disciplines, such as the Relational Exchange Theory (RET), the Institutional Isomorphism Theory (IIT), the Institutional Economic Theory (IET) or evolutionist theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report an environmentally friendly, rapid, and convenient one-pot ultrasoundpromoted synthesis of 5-amino-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-substituted phenyl-8,8a-dihydro-7H-(1,3,4) thiadiazolo(3,2-α)pyrimidine-6-carbonitrile derivatives. The in-vitro anticancer activities of these compounds were evaluated against four human tumor cell lines. Among all the synthesized derivatives, compound 4i, which has substituent 3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl is found to have the highest GI50 value of 32.7 μM, 55.3 μM, 34.3 μM, 28.9 μM for MCF-7, K562, HeLa and PC-3 cancer cell lines respectively. A docking study of the newly synthesized compounds were performed, and the results showed good binding mode in the active site of thymidylate synthase enzyme. ADME properties of synthesized compounds were also studied and showed good drug like properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epidemiology of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in Spain is largely unknown because systematic reporting is not compulsory. The aim of our study was to describe the frequency and diversity of NTM species in our region and their distribution according to the source sample, gender, and age of the patients. We performed a multicenter study of all NTM isolated in 24 public hospitals in Madrid from 2013 to 2017. A total of 6.923 mycobacteria were isolated: 4535 (65.5%) NTM, and 2.388 (34.5%) Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTB). Overall, 61 different NTM species were identified. The most frequently isolated species were Mycobacterium avium complex (47.7%), M. lentiflavum (12.2%), M. gordonae (9.2%), M. fortuitum (8.9%), and M. abscessus (3.9%). Whereas MTB cases were stable during the study period, the number of NTM isolates increased considerably from 930 isolates in 2013 to 1012 in 2017; a sharp increase occurred in the last year. The rise in NTM isolates was mostly due to M. lentiflavum, M. kansasii, and M. abscessus mainly isolated from respiratory specimens in patients older than 60. The increase in isolation rate of NTM in our region is consistent with the increasing rates reported worldwide in the last decades. The rise in NTM isolates was mainly attributed to M. lentiflavum but it also should be noted the increasing of species with high pathogenic potential such as M. kansasii and M. abscessus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new family of ionic liquids (ILs) with a common cation, 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium, the popular [BMIM]+ (also written C 4 C 1 Im+) and a variety of anionic complexes (also called adducts) based in thiocyanate (SCN)−: one blank compound, BMIM(SCN), and ten doped with metals having different oxidation states: Al+3, Mn+2, Fe+3, Cr+3, Ni+2, Hg+2, Zn+2, Co+2, Cd+2 and Cu+, forming, respectively, [BMIM] 3 [Al(SCN) 6 ], [BMIM] 4 Mn(SCN) 6 , [BMIM] 3 Fe(SCN) 6 , [BMIM] 3 Cr(SCN) 6 , [BMIM] 4 Ni(SCN) 6 , [BMIM] 2 Hg(SCN) 4 , [BMIM] 2 Zn(SCN) 4 , [BMIM] 2 Co(SCN) 4 , [BMIM] 2 Cd(SCN) 4 and [BMIM] 3 Cu(SCN) 4. All of them were synthesized by us, except the blank IL and the Co thiocyanate, which are commercial. Obtained products have been characterized by NMR, and also by electrospray ionization, MS-ES, which allows the determination of the new ILs purities. Then, compounds have been analyzed using FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy. In addition, magnetic susceptibility and refractive index measurements were performed in some of the compounds studied, as well as thermal characterization using DSC and TGA. Finally, experimental measurements of density on all those ILs have been performed, and for some of the samples in a broad temperature range (about 100 K). In spite of being very similar compounds from the chemical point of view, they present quite different physical properties, including optical, thermal and magnetic ones... Also, they show different oxidation states (one with +1, six with +2 and other three with +3). We guess that this family of ILs will have interesting applications, mainly for photonic devices. • We present a new family of metal thiocyanate ionic liquids [BMIM] n-z M+z(SCN) n , with n being 4 or 6. • Metal cations used where: Al+3, Mn+2, Fe+3, Cr+3, Ni+2, Hg+2, Zn+2, Co+2, Cd+2 and Cu+; and also a blank one: [BMIM](SCN). • Obtained products have been characterized by NMR, MS-ES, FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy. • In addition, magnetic, optical and thermal characterization were performed on the samples. • Volumetry shows that molar volume does not depend on the metal nature, but on the kind of metal-thiocyanate complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report spectroscopic, structural, optical and magnetic characterization of tetra(1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium)hexaisothiocyanatonickelate. This paramagnetic ionic liquid exhibits reversible and continuous thermochromism from 298 K up to 400 K and it is solar responsive resisting numerous heating–cooling cycles. Its appearance changes from pale blue to grass green from 298 K to 343 K. Well above these temperatures it becomes brown and gray. Thermochromism is observed both in the solid and liquid phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]