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Covering period: up to 2019Water-soluble natural products constitute a relevant group of secondary metabolites notably known for presenting potent biological activities. Examples are aminoglycosides, β-lactam antibiotics, saponins of both terrestrial and marine origin, and marine toxins. Although extensively investigated in the past, particularly during the golden age of antibiotics, hydrophilic fractions have been less scrutinized during the last few decades. This review addresses the possible reasons on why water-soluble metabolites are now under investigated and describes approaches and strategies for the isolation of these natural compounds. It presents examples of several classes of hydrosoluble natural products and how they have been isolated. Novel stationary phases and chromatography techniques are also reviewed, providing a perspective towards a renaissance in the investigation of water-soluble natural products.

Acute iodide sialadenitis is a rare adverse reaction to iodinated contrast that causes self-limited salivary gland swell-ing. Its pathogenesis is still unclear, although kidney failure may be a risk factor. The diagnosis is initially clinical but angioedema, infections and lithiasis should be included in the differential diagnosis. No treatment or prophylaxis was proven to be beneficial. Although its prognosis is benign, associated complications have been reported. We report a case of 68-year-old man with swelling of the submandibular salivary glands after the administration of iodine-based contrast media during an abdominal computed tomography examination. Because of the widespread use of iodinated contrast enhanced imaging and interventional techniques, clinicians should be aware of this issue.

The development of patterned surfaces to induce different wettability behavior on industrial components has recently gained attention due to their potential applications, for example anti-icing, anticondensation and superoleophobicity, among others. However, limited semi empirical studies have been reported on the study of a general predictive formula that considers all possible wetting states of a droplet. This study is focused on validating a theoretical expression as a predictive tool for future wettability modification based solely on the surface topography variation using experimental data. Understanding the effects of surface modifications, produced by direct ultrashort laser texturing on the wettability properties of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is wanted. The present study is a preliminary work that will be as an introduction for future studies regarding the wettability modification of different thermoplastics.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), remains a global public health crisis. The reduced efficacy of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), such as omicron BA.5 subvariants, has underlined the need to explore a novel spectrum of antivirals that are effective against existing and evolving SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. To address the need for novel therapeutic options, we applied cell-based high-content screening to a library of natural products (NPs) obtained from plants, fungi, bacteria, and marine sponges, which represent a considerable diversity of chemical scaffolds. The antiviral effect of 373 NPs was evaluated using the mNeonGreen (mNG) reporter SARS-CoV-2 virus in a lung epithelial cell line (Calu-3). The screening identified 26 NPs with half-maximal effective concentrations (EC

This perspective article is focused on the presentation of the latest advances in NMR methods and applications that are behind the exciting achievements in the understanding of glycan receptors in molecular recognition events. Different NMR-based methodologies are discussed along with their applications to scrutinize the conformation and dynamics of glycans as well as their interactions with protein receptors.

Comunicació presentada al Congrés européen de démographie, 1991

25 p.-7 fig. Carbohydrate Chemistry: Chemical and Biological Approaches.Volume 44. Editors: Amélia Pilar Rauter, Thisbe K Lindhorst, Yves Queneau, This chapter is dedicated to the presentation of different examples of the application of solution NMR to the study of conformation, dynamics of sugar molecules (oligo and polysaccharides, glycopeptides and glycomimetics) including the investigation of glycanrelated molecular recognition events. It is not our intention to be exhaustive, rather to highlight diverse examples since 2016. They are presented depending on the chemical nature of the saccharide molecule, and on the different methodologies that can be employed., We thank MINECO (Spain, Projects) and the European Union (Project RECGLYCANMR and BACTIVAX) for financial support. AF also thanksMINECO for Juan de la Cierva contract.

En aquest treball s’hi pot trobar l’estudi i anàlisis dels pros i contres dels diferents sistemes de propulsió denominats convencionals i altres sistemes menys habituals que es poden trobar en la marina mercant. tanmateix l’autor dóna una visió clara de la situació actual que viu la marina mercant i posa especial èmfasi en la necessitat existent i latent que viu la indústria naval, fent menció de les normatives en clau de reducció d’emissions i en l’eficiència energètica del vaixell. l’autor mostra la incertesa que envolta el futur del sector mentre que en contraposició analitza les possibles energies del futur que aparentment semblen llunyanes, que no pas en el futur més pròxim. les energies que s’estudien es basen en els possibles combustibles, com poden ser l’hidrogen, l’amoníac, biocombustibles, entre altres. com també s’analitzen altres tipus de tecnologies com bateries, piles de combustibles, propulsor magnetohidrodinàmic o energies renovables. en la part central de l’estudi també engloba els mètodes de reduccions d’emissions i les mesures d’eficiència energètica, que aquestes mesures serviran per a realitzar un estudi d’eficiència energètica sobre un vaixell cisterna o químic. per concloure l’estudi l’autor a partir de diverses fonts dóna una perspectiva sobre una visió del futur en la propulsió marina desglossant-la en diferents factors condicionants.

We recently mapped the structural epitope of the capsular polysaccharide from type III Group B Streptococcus (GBSIII), a major cause of invasive disease in newborns, by using a dimer fragment obtained by depolymerization complexed with a protective mAb. While literature data had suggested a highly complex epitope contained in a helical structure composed of more than four repeating units, we showed that such dimer conjugated to a carrier protein with a high glycodensity elicited functional antibodies comparably to the full-length conjugated polysaccharide. Here, starting from the X-ray crystallographic structure of the polysaccharide fragment-mAb complex, we designed and synthesized a hexasaccharide comprising exclusively the relevant positions involved in binding. Combining competitive Surface Plasmon Resonance, Saturation Transfer Difference NMR and in silico modelling, we demonstrated that the synthetic hexasaccharide recognized the mAb similarly to the dimer and, conjugated to CRM197 (a mutant of diphtheria toxin), elicited a functional immune response non inferior to the conjugated polysaccharide, indicating to suffice as vaccine antigen

Identification of glycan functional epitopes is of paramount importance for rational design of glycoconjugate vaccines. We recently mapped the structural epitope of the capsular polysaccharide from type III Group B Streptococcus (GBSIII), a major cause of invasive disease in newborns, by using a dimer fragment (composed of two pentasaccharide repeating units) obtained by depolymerization complexed with a protective mAb. Although reported data had suggested a highly complex epitope contained in a helical structure composed of more than four repeating units, we showed that such dimer conjugated to a carrier protein with a proper glycosylation degree elicited functional antibodies comparably to the full‐length conjugated polysaccharide. Here, starting from the X‐ray crystallographic structure of the polysaccharide fragment–mAb complex, we synthesized a hexasaccharide comprising exclusively the relevant positions involved in binding. Combining competitive surface plasmon resonance and saturation transfer difference NMR spectroscopy as well as in‐silico modeling, we demonstrated that this synthetic glycan was recognized by the mAb similarly to the dimer. The hexasaccharide conjugated to CRM197, a mutant of diphtheria toxin, elicited a robust functional immune response that was not inferior to the polysaccharide conjugate, indicating that it may suffice as a vaccine antigen. This is the first evidence of an X‐ray crystallography‐guided design of a synthetic carbohydrate‐based conjugate vaccine., Deciphering the sugar glycocode: Starting from the X‐ray crystallographic structure of a fragment from Group B Streptococcus type III capsular polysaccharide in complex with a protective mAb complex, a hexasaccharide comprising exclusively the relevant positions involved in interactions was obtained. By structural and immunogenicity studies it was shown that the synthetic hexasaccharide recognized the mAb similarly to the polysaccharide fragment and, conjugated to a carrier protein, suffices as vaccine antigen.

The glycan structures of the receptor binding domain of the SARS‐CoV2 spike glycoprotein expressed in human HEK293F cells have been studied by using NMR. The different possible interacting epitopes have been deeply analysed and characterized, providing evidence of the presence of glycan structures not found in previous MS‐based analyses. The interaction of the RBD 13C‐labelled glycans with different human lectins, which are expressed in different organs and tissues that may be affected during the infection process, has also been evaluated by NMR. In particular, 15N‐labelled galectins (galectins‐3, ‐7 and ‐8 N‐terminal), Siglecs (Siglec‐8, Siglec‐10), and C‐type lectins (DC‐SIGN, MGL) have been employed. Complementary experiments from the glycoprotein perspective or from the lectin's point of view have permitted to disentangle the specific interacting epitopes in each case. Based on these findings, 3D models of the interacting complexes have been proposed., Unprecedent structural details of the glycans of the RBD of SARS‐CoV‐2 spike glycoprotein have been revealed by NMR spectroscopy. Unexpected and non‐previously reported glycoepitopes have been detected. The interaction of the RBD glycoprotein with diverse human lectins has been scrutinised by exploiting the NMR signature of the 13C‐glycans. Our analysis permitted to identify the corresponding glycan epitopes responsible for the interaction with each lectin.

Chemical investigation of the aqueous fraction of the ethanol extract from the Brazilian endemic marine sponge Clathria (Clathria) nicoleae Vieira de Barros, Santos & Pinheiro, 2013, Microcionidae, sampled from a 55 m deep rhodolith bed at the Amazon River mouth, led to the isolation of a new hexapeptide, clathriamide (1). HP-20 resin was used to capture compound 1 from the aqueous fraction, which was purified by additional chromatographic steps. The absolute configuration of the amino acids of 1 was determined by advanced Marfey’s analysis using 5-fluoro-2,4-dinitrophenyl-Nα-l-tryptophanamide. The amino acid derivatives analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometry using a C8 column enabled a good chromatographic resolution of l-Ile and l-allo-Ile, previously unfeasible using C18 column. Keywords: Porifera, Peptide, Advanced marfey’s analysis, Rhodolith bed, Aqueous extract

Objectives To evaluate the utility of virtual cystoscopy (VC) performed with CT urography in patients being studied under gross hematuria or patients being followed-up after a previous bladder cancer and compare the results with those obtained with gold standard technique (optical cystoscopy). Methods Retrospective study of 117 patients who were referred for VC by the Urology Department between May 2014 and May 2015. Those patients presented with gross hematuria or they were previously treated patients from bladder cancer being followed up. These patients were evaluated with MDCT and virtual cystoscopy after distending the bladder with air. The results were compared with those obtained with optical cystoscopy which was performed no more than a week after. Results The global sensitivity and specificity of VC were 81.8 and 92.1 per cent. Additional findings detected in CT urography were an aortic dissection, urinary lithiasis and colonic metastasis. Conclusion VC seems an useful technique in the diagnosis and follow-up for bladder cancer with a good correlation with OC. The main limitations are the impossibility of biopsy during the procedure and the detection of erythematous lesions. Collateral findings can be detected performed with CT urography although the high radiation exposure does not recommend their combined use.

Canopy-forming seaweeds sustain critical ecosystem services in coastal habitats. Around the world, many of these seaweeds are suffering strong declines, mainly attributed to the progressive increase in sea surface temperature, in combination with other stressors due to current global changes. The southernmost part of the NE Atlantic is among those areas most affected by climate change. In this study, we estimated the distributional contractions of seven of the most conspicuous seaweeds from the Atlantic coasts of the Iberian Peninsula using an “Extent of Occurrence” methodology. Overall, during the last three decades, range shifts have been more pronounced east of the Cantabrian Sea than along the western coast of the Iberian Peninsula. In particular, regions with a semi-permanent summer upwelling seem to be critical to the persistence of brown seaweeds, fucoids and kelps. Range contractions of the cold-temperate fucoids were estimated to be ca. 21% and 45% for Himanthalia elongata and Fucus serratus, respectively; and for the kelps Saccharina latissima and Laminaria hyperborea, 6% and 14%, respectively. Range contractions for warm-temperate kelps were estimated to be ca. 13% and 10% for Saccorhiza polyschides and L. ochroleuca, respectively. Finally, a decline in the warm-temperate red algae Gelidium corneum occurred only in the easternmost area of the Cantabrian Sea (Basque Country), leading to a distributional contraction of 7%. We recommend conservation actions to better manage the remnant populations of these canopy-forming seaweeds, and their inclusion in national and regional catalogues of endangered species and on international Red Lists., Sí

Los suelos, las aguas y los sedimentos de la cuenca amazónica son importantes compartimentos del ciclo de carbono, el cual se encuentra parcialmente almacenado en los bosques inundables y en los lagos de inundación de la región (20% de la superficie total de la cuenca). Estudiar los procesos de sedimentación lacustres a diferentes escalas espaciales y de tiempo permite mejorar le estimación del balance biogeoquímico del carbono (uno de los gases de efecto Invernadero responsable del cambio climático actual, el CO2). Las tasas de sedimentación en las áreas de inundación dependen de varios factores, como el tipo de agua de los lagos y del tipo de conexión que tienen con los ríos. El análisis en laboratorio de muestras de sedimentos, que mantienen la secuencia de deposición, sirve para determinar las condiciones geológicas, meteorológicas, los cambios en el ecosistema e incluso acciones de origen humano que pueden haber afectado los regímenes de sedimentación y la composición de los sedimentos a lo largo del tiempo. Les sols, les eaux et les sédiments du bassin amazonien sont des compartiments importants du cycle du carbone, qui est partiellement stocké dans les forêts et les lacs inondés dans la région (20% de la superficie totale du bassin). Connaître les processus de sédimentation lacustres à différentes échelles spatiales et temporelles permet d'améliorer l'estimation de l'équilibre biogéochimique du carbone (un des gaz responsables du changement climatique actuel, CO2). Les taux de sédimentation dans la plaine inondable dépendent de plusieurs facteurs, y compris le type d'eau des lacs et le type de connexion avec les rivières. Les analyses de laboratoire des échantillons de sédiments, qui maintiennent la séquence de dépôt, sont utilisées pour déterminer les caractéristiques géologiques, les conditions météorologiques, les changements dans l'écosystème et même les actions humaines qui peuvent avoir une incidence sur les régimes de sédimentation et la composition des sédiments au fil du temps. The soils, waters and sediments of the Amazon basin are important compartments of the carbon cycle, which are partially stored in flooded forests and lakes of flooding in the region (20% of the total basin area). The study of lacustrine sedimentation processes at different spatial and temporal scales allows improving the estimation of biogeochemical carbon balance (one of the greenhouse gases responsible for the current climate change, CO2). Sedimentation rates in flood areas depend on several factors, such as the type of water from lakes and the type of connection this water has with rivers. The laboratory analysis of sediment samples, which maintain the deposition sequence, is used to determine geological and meteorological conditions; as well as changes in the ecosystem, even actions arising from humans that may have affected the sedimentation regimes and sediment composition along the time.

Introduction: Meningitis is a serious infection that in order to be treated efficiently needs a quick diagnosis. The current diagnosis is based on molecular biology and other microbiological techniques such as bacterial culture, which requires a lot of time and makes it difficult for an early diagnosis. For this reason, a new biomarker is sought especially in bacterial meningitis, since they are the ones that show a worse evolution in patient. We are looking for a specific and sensitive biomarker for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples that give us relevant information for infections of the central nervous system (CNS). It has been shown that serum procalcitonin (PCT) is a protein that increases quantitatively in the presence of a bacterial infection. Objectives: To assess the use of PCT as a meningitis biomarker in CSF samples comparing it with other existing specific biomarkers: PCT in serum and lactate in CSF. Methods: From the clinical laboratory of the Hospital Universitari Doctor Josep Trueta for a period of six months, we collected data of PCT in serum and LCR, lactate, count of the cells and leukocyte, proteins and glucose in LCR of 48 patients with clinical suspicion of meningitis. We included patients with bacterial meningitis, either acquired in the community or post-surgical, viral meningitis and a control group without a disease and we compared the use of the biomarkers with ROC curves and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: The average concentration of PCT in CSF for the different groups studied was: 0.16 ng/mL (IQR=0.12, SD=0.13) for the bacterial meningitis group (n=7), 0.147 ng/mL (IQR=0, SD=NA) for the group of viral meningitis (n=1) and 0.52 ng/mL (IQR=0.11, SD=2.05) for the noninfectious group (n=37). The median differences (95%) between the bacterial and non-infectious group presented a p-value of: 0.7949 at PCT levels in CSF, 0.06184 at serum PCT levels and 0.008075 at levels of lactate in CSF. The results of the ROC curves comparing the bacterial group to the non-infectious group resulted in an AUC 0.9063 (95%, IC:0.7591-1.0534) for PCT in plasma, an AUC 0.5336 (95%, IC:0.287-0.7797) for PCT in CSF and an AUC 0.9167 (95%, CI:0.7661-1.0672) for lactate in CSF. Conclusions: It is suggested that PCT in LCR is not a good biomarker for the diagnosis of meningitis compared to the PCT in serum and lactate. In contrast, it is suggested that lactate is a valid biomarker for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis

The StarClose(®) arterial device (Abbot Vascular Devices, Abbot Laboratories, Redwood City, CA, USA) rapidly seals a femoral artery puncture by means of a nitinol clip in the adventitia of the artery. It is a safe and effective device, with advantages as regards manual compression, but is not free of complications. We present two cases with complications after using a StarClose(®) vascular device.

The acyclic 4,9-bis(4-tolylsulfonyl)-4,9-diazadodeca-1,11-dien-6-yne (1) and 4,9-bis(4-tolylsulfonyl)-4,9-diazatrideca-1,(E)-6-dien-11-yne (2), which differ in the sequence of the two ene and one yne functions in the chain, have been reacted with 1 and 2 equiv of Ni(cod)2. The reaction with 1 equiv of Ni(cod)2 affords the mononuclear trigonal-planar nickel(0) complexes 3 and 5. These react with a further 1 equiv of Ni(cod)2 by addition of a Ni(cod) entity to give the dinuclear derivatives 4 and 6. While 3 forms a mixture of isomers C2-3 and Cs-3 in solution, C2-3 is exclusively present in the crystal, where it is packed in parallel columns. Complex 6 crystallizes as a spherulite. Complexes 3-6 have been characterized by NMR and single-crystal X-ray structure analysis, and a detailed conformational analysis is given We thank Mrs. D. Bartels for recording and evaluating the NMR spectra of 2, 5, and 6 and Mrs. W. Gamrad for skillful technical assistance. The project was funded by the program Acciones Integradas Hispano-Alemanas between Germany (DAAD, BMBF) and Spain (MICINN, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, project AIB2010DE-00262). Financial support from the MICINN (project CTQ2011-23121) and the Generalitat de Catalunya (project 2009SGR637) is also gratefully acknowledged

To evaluate the utility of virtual cystoscopy (VC) performed with CT urography in patients being studied under gross hematuria or patients being followed-up after a previous bladder cancer and compare the results with those obtained with gold standard technique (optical cystoscopy).Retrospective study of 117 patients who were referred for VC by the Urology Department between May 2014 and May 2015. Those patients presented with gross hematuria or they were previously treated patients from bladder cancer being followed up. These patients were evaluated with MDCT and virtual cystoscopy after distending the bladder with air. The results were compared with those obtained with optical cystoscopy which was performed no more than a week after.The global sensitivity and specificity of VC were 81,8 and 92,1%. Aditional findings detected in CT urography were an aortic dissection, urinary lithiasis and colonic metastasis.VC seems an useful technique in the diagnosis and follow-up for bladder cancer with a good correlation with OC. The main limitations are the impossibility of biopsy during the procedure and the detection of erythematous lesions. Collateral findings can be detected performed with CT urography although the high radiation exposure does not recommend their combined use.

Curs 2015-2016, El treball que es presenta a continuació pretén cercar una fonamentació teòrica i conceptual al voltant de les persones sense llar. Uns fonaments que aporten coneixement a l’autora i contingut a la posterior intervenció socioeducativa dissenyada, aplicada i avaluada com a proposta formativa als estudis del Grau d’Educació Social de la Universitat de Vic. Dins el treball es pot observar un marc teòric que conceptualitza el fenomen dins l’exclusió social, diferència i fa un recorregut en l’evolució de la terminologia, presenta la mirada social estigmatitzada cap a les persones sense llar i aprofundeix en la realitat i els rostres dels i les protagonistes. Seguidament es detalla la intervenció socioeducativa en format taller portada a terme dins l’assignatura Tallers Monogràfics del quart curs del Grau d’Educació Social de la Universitat de Vic., This study aims to find theoretical and conceptual basis of homelessness. The research done in this investigation provides knowledge to the author and a conceptual point of view to design, apply and evaluate the subsequent educational proposal for the Degree in Social Education by the Universitat de Vic. In this study, the reader will find a theoretical framework that conceptualizes homelessness within population suffering social exclusion. Exposes the differences and evolution of terminology used towards these people. Reader also will find exposed the stigma towards homelessness and also take a close look at faces and realities of people living this situation. Part of the study is a detailed explanation of social and educational workshop done as part of the course named Monographic Workshops, coursed in the last year of Degree in Social Education by the Universitat de Vic.

Pyridazinones are organic compounds that are commonly found in drugs, pesticides, and natural products with biological activity. To date, a considerable number of synthetic routes to obtain pyridazinones have been published although only a few have described efficient pathways to prepare N-arylated pyridazinones. In contrast to methods found in literature in which strong reaction conditions or metallic catalysts are employed, this study proposes a new route to obtain N-arylated pyridazinones using aryldiazonium salts and furan derivatives in mild reaction conditions with water as the solvent. Diazonium salts are highly reactive compounds and so their use results in an important gain in terms of the efficiency of the process. The reaction mechanism is elucidated by DFT calculations and confirmed by empirical test Les piridazinones són compostos orgànics que es troben en molts fàrmacs, en pesticides i en productes naturals amb activitat biològica. Fins al moment, s’ha publicat un nombre considerable de rutes sintètiques sobre l’obtenció de piridazinones, tot i que sols unes poques descriuen formes eficients de preparar piridazinones N-arilades. A diferència dels mètodes publicats a la bibliografia, en què se solen utilitzar condicions de reacció dràstiques o catalitzadors metàl·lics, el present treball proposa una nova ruta per a l’obtenció de piridazinones N-arilades mitjançant l’ús de sals d’arildiazoni i derivats de furan sota condicions de reacció suaus, incloent-hi l’aigua com a dissolvent. Les sals de diazoni són compostos de gran reactivitat, la qual cosa representa un avantatge important pel que fa a l’eficiència del procés. L’elucidació del mecanisme de la reacció s’ha dut a terme emprant càlculs DFT i s’ha confirmat amb la realització de proves empíriques Voldríem agrair el suport financer rebut des del Ministeri d’Economia i Competitivitat (MINECO, CTQ2014-54306-P) i des de la Generalitat de Catalunya (2014SGR931 i les beques predoctorals FI a Daniel Cassú i Ouissam El Bakouri)