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El artículo se centra en el caso de las trabajadoras domésticas inmigrantes (criadas, niñeras y cuidadoras) en Grecia y en el impacto del trabajo doméstico en su integración en la sociedad griega/Grecia. Según los resultados de las entrevistas en profundidad, basadas en las conclusiones del proyecto "Voices of Immigrant Women" (VIW) (Erasmus+ 2020-1-ES01-KA203-082364), las mujeres migrantes están atrapadas en un marco de condiciones laborales invisibles y de explotación y se enfrentan a la discriminación en el trabajo. Son múltiples los casos en los que el empleador trata a las trabajadoras domésticas migrantes de forma inhumana, gritando y gesticulando, ejerciendo abusos físicos y verbales, así como contratándolas con contratos falsos o contratos de trabajo que la trabajadora nunca ha leído, lo que las hace vulnerables y susceptibles de sufrir diversas formas de explotación. La situación se agrava aún más por el control que se ejerce sobre la empleada, dificultando su acceso a otras ocupaciones y prolongando así su permanencia en el trabajo doméstico. En este contexto laboral, la mayoría de las mujeres migrantes son indiferentes a la colectividad y a la solidaridad y están aisladas de sus compatriotas y de otros trabajadores. La servidumbre les deja limitadas las oportunidades de empoderamiento para la movilidad social ascendente, siendo escasos los casos en los que la salida del trabajo doméstico ha supuesto un aumento de las oportunidades de las mujeres para convertirse en agentes principales de sus propias vidas y salvaguardarse de la explotación y de los trabajos informales y mal pagados, para vivir en libertad e independencia.

This publication is the third product of the Erasmus + Project entitled Voices of Immigrant Women (Project Number: 2020-1-ES01-KA203-082364). The e-learning package is aimed at university students from different disciplines, research staff, Higher Education professors and professionals who work in the field to address the social inclusion of migrant women with a gender perspective from Human Rights, an intersectional approach and interdisciplinary. The general objective of this resource is to improve the training of the different social agents who work or will work in the near future in migration and thus help combat discrimination, segregation, racism, harassment and violence, assuming the triple role that universities must carry out both in research, training and in social commitment. The contents are organized in 8 modules and each module has a double dimension: one transnational and one national. Training is based on theory and practice.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an acute or chronic inflammatory disease of the liver caused by an immune response of unknown origin. It affects people from all ethnic groups irrespective of age or sex. AIH is characterized by hyperglobulinemia, presence of circulating autoantibodies, and liver inflammation. The clinical picture of the disease varies from asymptomatic or mild to severe acute hepatitis or liver failure. A timely and prompt diagnosis is of utmost importance to prevent progression to advanced liver disease by immediate initiation of immunosuppressive treatment. So far, several diagnostic scoring systems have been proposed, which incorporated demographic data as well as biochemical, clinical, and histological characteristics of the disease. However, due to the high heterogeneity of the disease presentation, diagnosis of AIH remains challenging. Most patients initially respond to first‑ line treatment, which consists of corticosteroids combined with azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil. However, insufficient response to the treatment and intolerance due to side effects are common, so a significant proportion of patients require second- and / or third‑ line therapies. Herein, we review the challenges and recent advances in AIH diagnosis and management.

This publication is the third product of the Erasmus + Project entitled Voices of Immigrant Women (Project Number: 2020-1-ES01-KA203-082364). This product is based on a set of policy recommendations that provides practical guidance on intervention proposals to those with political responsibilities in governance on migration management and policies for integration and social inclusion, as well as to policy makers in the governance of training in Higher Education (University) at all levels. This is intended to promote the development of practical strategies that allow overcoming the obstacles encountered by migrant women during the integration process, favoring the construction of institutions, administrations and, ultimately, more inclusive societies. The content presented in this book proposes recommendations and intervention proposals oriented to practice to: - Improve Higher Education study plans by promoting the training of students as future active protagonists who are aware of social interventions. This will promote equity, diversity and the integration of migrant women. - Strengthen cooperation and creation of networks between academic organizations, the third sector and public administrations that are responsible for promoting the integration and inclusion of migrant women. - Promote dialogue and the exchange of knowledge to, firstly, raise awareness of human mobility and gender in Europe and, secondly, promote the participation and social, labor and civic integration of the migrant population. All this is developed through 4 areas in which this book is articulated. The first area entitled "Migrant women needs and successful integration interventions"; the second area entitled "Promoting University students awareness and civic and social responsibility towards migrant women integration"; the third area entitled "Cooperation between Higher Education institutions and third sector"; the fourth and last area, entitled "Inclusive Higher Education".

Technical coordination: Rais, Carlo (Pixel Associazione - Italy); Martellini, Lorenzo (Pixel Associazione - Italy) Collaborating team: Esteban-Ibañez, Macarena (Pablo de Olavide University - Spain); Macias Gómez-Esthern, Beatriz (Pablo de Olavide University - Spain) Monreal Gimeno, Carmen (Pablo de Olavide University - Spain) Moreno Amador, Gracia (Pablo de Olavide University - Spain) Pérez-de-Guzmán-Puya, Victoria (Pablo de Olavide University - Spain), This publication is the third product of the Erasmus + Project entitled Voices of Immigrant Women (Project Number: 2020-1-ES01-KA203-082364). This product is based on a set of policy recommendations that provides practical guidance on intervention proposals to those with political responsibilities in governance on migration management and policies for integration and social inclusion, as well as to policy makers in the governance of training in Higher Education (University) at all levels. This is intended to promote the development of practical strategies that allow overcoming the obstacles encountered by migrant women during the integration process, favoring the construction of institutions, administrations and, ultimately, more inclusive societies. The content presented in this book proposes recommendations and intervention proposals oriented to practice to: - Improve Higher Education study plans by promoting the training of students as future active protagonists who are aware of social interventions. This will promote equity, diversity and the integration of migrant women. - Strengthen cooperation and creation of networks between academic organizations, the third sector and public administrations that are responsible for promoting the integration and inclusion of migrant women. - Promote dialogue and the exchange of knowledge to, firstly, raise awareness of human mobility and gender in Europe and, secondly, promote the participation and social, labor and civic integration of the migrant population. All this is developed through 4 areas in which this book is articulated. The first area entitled "Migrant women needs and successful integration interventions"; the second area entitled "Promoting University students awareness and civic and social responsibility towards migrant women integration"; the third area entitled "Cooperation between Higher Education institutions and third sector"; the fourth and last area, entitled "Inclusive Higher Education"., Pixel, Institut De Recherche Pour Le Développement, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, University of Florence, European Public Law Organization, The Peace Institute, Emet Arco Iris Foundation, Universidad Pablo de Olavide

HBV RNA is considered as a promising predictor in patients who discontinue nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs). We determined HBV RNA levels in non-cirrhotic HBeAg-negative patients who discontinued NAs and assessed their predictability for 12-month outcomes. Fifty-seven patients of DARING-B study were included. HBV RNA levels were determined in stored monthly serum samples drawn at 0-3 months after end of therapy (EOT). Other markers previously determined in the same cohort including hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) were also assessed. HBV RNA at EOT was detectable in 7% of patients, who developed virological/clinical relapse and required retreatment at month 2; in patients with undetectable EOT HBV RNA, 12-month cumulative rates of virological relapse, clinical relapse and retreatment were 68%, 28% and 21%, respectively (p ≤ 0.008). HBV RNA at month-1 after EOT was detectable in 19% of patients being associated with higher probability only of virological relapse (p = 0.001). HBV RNA levels correlated significantly to HBV DNA, HBcrAg, ALT and interferon-induced protein-10, but not HBsAg levels. Combined EOT HBV RNA and HBcrAg detection and/or HBsAg1000 IU/ml was associated only with higher probability of retreatment having higher sensitivity and lower specificity than HBV RNA alone. In conclusion, serum HBV RNA is detectable in a minority of non-cirrhotic HBeAg-negative patients under effective long-term NAs therapy offering low sensitivity but 100% specificity for early retreatment due to severe clinical relapses after NA discontinuation. The combinations of EOT HBV RNA with HBcrAg and/or high HBsAg levels increase sensitivity but decrease specificity for prediction of retreatment after NAs withdrawal.

Technical coordination: Rais, Carlo (Pixel Associazione - Italy); Martellini, Lorenzo (Pixel Associazione - Italy) Collaborating team: Díaz-Jiménez, Rosa (Universidad Pablo de Olavide - Spain); Esteban-Ibañez, Macarena (Universidad Pablo de Olavide - Spain); Monreal Gimeno, Carmen (Universidad Pablo de Olavide - Spain); Pérez-de-Guzmán-Puya, Victoria (Universidad Pablo de Olavide - Spain)., This publication is the third product of the Erasmus + Project entitled Voices of Immigrant Women (Project Number: 2020-1-ES01-KA203-082364). The e-learning package is aimed at university students from different disciplines, research staff, Higher Education professors and professionals who work in the field to address the social inclusion of migrant women with a gender perspective from Human Rights, an intersectional approach and interdisciplinary. The general objective of this resource is to improve the training of the different social agents who work or will work in the near future in migration and thus help combat discrimination, segregation, racism, harassment and violence, assuming the triple role that universities must carry out both in research, training and in social commitment. The contents are organized in 8 modules and each module has a double dimension: one transnational and one national. Training is based on theory and practice., Esta publicación es el tercer producto del Proyecto Erasmus+ Voces de Mujeres Inmigrantes (Número de Proyecto: 2020-1-ES01-KA203-082364). El paquete de e-learning está dirigido a estudiantes universitarios de diferentes disciplinas, personal investigador, docentes de Educación Superior y profesionales que trabajan en el campo para abordar la inclusión social de las mujeres migrantes con una perspectiva de género desde los Derechos Humanos, un enfoque interseccional e interdisciplinar. El objetivo general de este recurso es mejorar la formación de los diferentes agentes sociales que trabajan o trabajarán en un futuro próximo en el ámbito migratorio y así contribuir a combatir la discriminación, la segregación, el racismo, el acoso y la violencia, asumiendo el triple papel que debe desempeñar la universidad, tanto en investigación, formación como en compromiso social. Los contenidos están organizados en 8 módulos y cada módulo tiene una doble dimensión: una transnacional y otra nacional. La formación se basa en la teoría y la práctica., Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Pixel, European Public Law Organization, The Peace Institute, University of Florence, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Emet Arco Iris Foundation, Institut De Recherche Pour Le Développement

Purpose To evaluate the antitumor efficacy of Ag3Au1Trp1:2NPs in a SCID mouse cancer model, with respect to their effect on tumor growth, on tumor's metastatic potential and the underlying molecular mechanism. Subjects and methods Ag3Au1Trp1:2NPs were radiolabeled with Gallium-68 and the biodistribution was studied in Swiss mice without tumors and in SCID mice bearing tumors. SCID mice received intratumoral Ag3Au1Trp1:2NPs and tumor size was measured using calipers. Lung and liver tissues were extracted and studied microscopically for the detection of any metastatic sites. Changes in the Caspase-3 and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) were also investigated using real-time PCR and Western blot techniques, respectively. Results In the 4T1 tumor-bearing SCID mice, Ag3Au1Trp1:2NPs showed quick passive accumulation at tumor sites at 30 mins post-injection. Mice that received the highest dose of NPs (5.6mg/mL) demonstrated a 1.9-fold lower tumor volume compared to that of the control group at 11 days post-injection, while mice that did not receive NPs showed metastatic sites in liver and lung. Extracted tumor tissue of treated mice revealed increased Casp-3 mRNA levels as well as elevated TRAIL protein levels. Conclusion Based on our results, Ag3Au1Trp1:2NPs express anti-tumor and anti-metastatic effects in vivo. Ag3Au1Trp1:2NPs also reach tumor site via the enhancement and retention effect which results in the apoptotic death of cancerous cells selectively via the extrinsic TRAIL-dependent pathway.

BACKGROUND Patients undergoing cardiac surgery particularly those with comorbidities and frailty, experience frequently higher rates of post-operative morbidity, mortality and prolonged hospital length of stay. Muscle mass wasting seems to play important role in prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV) and consequently in intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay. AIM To investigate the clinical value of skeletal muscle mass assessed by ultrasound early after cardiac surgery in terms of duration of MV and ICU length of stay. METHODS In this observational study, we enrolled consecutively all patients, following their admission in the Cardiac Surgery ICU within 24 h of cardiac surgery. Bedside ultrasound scans, for the assessment of quadriceps muscle thickness, were performed at baseline and every 48 h for seven days or until ICU discharge. Muscle strength was also evaluated in parallel, using the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale. RESULTS Of the total 221 patients enrolled, ultrasound scans and muscle strength assessment were finally performed in 165 patients (patients excluded if ICU stay < 24 h). The muscle thickness of rectus femoris (RF), was slightly decreased by 2.2% [(95% confidence interval (CI): - 0.21 to 0.15), n = 9; P = 0.729] and the combined muscle thickness of the vastus intermedius (VI) and RF decreased by 3.5% [(95%CI: - 0.4 to 0.22), n = 9; P = 0.530]. Patients whose combined VI and RF muscle thickness was below the recorded median values (2.5 cm) on day 1 (n = 80), stayed longer in the ICU (47 ± 74 h vs 28 ± 45 h, P = 0.02) and remained mechanically ventilated more (17 ± 9 h vs 14 ± 9 h, P = 0.05). Moreover, patients with MRC score ≤ 48 on day 3 (n = 7), required prolonged MV support compared to patients with MRC score ≥ 49 (n = 33), (44 ± 14 h vs 19 ± 9 h, P = 0.006) and had a longer duration of extracorporeal circulation was (159 ± 91 min vs 112 ± 71 min, P = 0.025). CONCLUSION Skeletal quadriceps muscle thickness assessed by ultrasound shows a trend to a decrease in patients after cardiac surgery post-ICU admission and is associated with prolonged duration of MV and ICU length of stay.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection incidence is increasing in Europe, accounting for the majority of acute hepatitis cases. We investigated the prevalence and clinical characteristics of acute hepatitis E (AHE) in patients with acute non-A/B/C hepatitis from central Greece, their differences from acute autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) patients and the molecular similarity of human strains to local HEV strains in wild boars.Sera from 20 patients with non-A/B/C acute hepatitis (2015-2017) were tested prospectively for anti-HEV IgM, IgG antibodies and HEV-RNA. Sera from patients diagnosed with acute AIH (2000-2015; n=56) were tested retrospectively. Liver tissue samples from 40 wild boars were tested for HEV-RNA. Positive wild boar and patients' samples were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed.Twelve of the 76 (16%) patients were diagnosed with AHE: HEV-RNA 11.5x10Approximately one sixth of patients with acute non-A/B/C hepatitis had autochthonous HEV infection with AIH features. Therefore, a careful workup to exclude HEV should be carried out in all acute hepatitis cases before a definite diagnosis of AIH is established. Wild boars seem to be an important reservoir of HEV in Greece.

This publication is one of the second product of the Erasmus + Project entitled Voices of Immigrant Women (Project Number: 2020-1-ES01-KA203-082364). This product is a Multilingual Glossary where different terms related to Migration, Gender and Inclusion are presented. It analyzes from a gender perspective the different concepts linked to the theme. You will find all the terms in five different languages: English, Greek, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese. The added value of this product is its multilingual nature and the gender approach that is the backbone of the entire analysis.

Technical coordination: Rais, Carlo (Pixel Associazione - Italy); Martellini, Lorenzo (Pixel Associazione - Italy) Collaborating team: Díaz-Jiménez, Rosa (Universidad Pablo de Olavide - Spain); Esteban-Ibañez, Macarena (Universidad Pablo de Olavide - Spain); Monreal Gimeno, Carmen (Universidad Pablo de Olavide - Spain); Pérez-de-Guzmán-Puya, Victoria (Universidad Pablo de Olavide - Spain), This publication is one of the second product of the Erasmus + Project entitled Voices of Immigrant Women (Project Number: 2020-1-ES01-KA203-082364). This product is a Multilingual Glossary where different terms related to Migration, Gender and Inclusion are presented. It analyzes from a gender perspective the different concepts linked to the theme. You will find all the terms in five different languages: English, Greek, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese. The added value of this product is its multilingual nature and the gender approach that is the backbone of the entire analysis., Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Emet Arco Iris Foundation, The Peace Institute, European Public Law Organization, University of Florence, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Institut De Recherche Pour Le Développement, Pixel

ObjectiveAIH is a chronic liver disease of unknown aetiology with favourable response to immunosuppression. Little is known about the impact of methylation modifications on disease pathogenesis.Design10 patients with AIH at diagnosis (time-point 1; tp1), 9 with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and 10 healthy controls (HC) were investigated. 8/10 AIH patients were also investigated following biochemical remission (time-point 2; tp2). Peripheral CD19(+)- and CD4(+)-cells were isolated to study global DNA methylation (5mC)/hydroxymethylation (5hmC) by ELISA and mRNA of DNA methylation (DNMT1/3A/3B)/hydroxymethylation enzymes (TET1/2/3) by quantitative RT-PCR. Epigenome wide association study (EWAS) was performed in CD4(+)-cells (Illumina HumanMethylation 850K array) in AIH and HC. Differences in total 5mC/5hmC state between AIH-tp1 and HC were also assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on paraffin embedded liver sections.ResultsReduced TET1 and increased DNMT3A mRNA levels characterized CD19(+) and CD4(+) lymphocytes from AIH-tp1 patients compared to HC and PBC respectively, without affecting global DNA 5mC/5hmC. In AIH-tp1, CD4(+) DNMT3A expression was negatively correlated with serum IgG (p=0.03). In remission (AIH-tp2), DNMT3A decreased in both CD19(+) and CD4(+)-cells (p=0.02, p=0.03, respectively). EWAS in CD4(+)-cells from AIH patients confirmed important modifications in genes implicated in immune responses (HLA-DP, TNF, lnRNAs and CD86). IHC confirmed increased 5hmC staining of periportal infiltrating lymphocytes in AIH-tp1.ConclusionAltered expression of TET1 and DNMT3A, characterizes peripheral immune cells in AIH. DNMT3A is associated with disease activity and decreased following therapeutic response. Gene specific DNA methylation modifications affect immunologic pathways that may play an important role in AIH pathogenesis.Summary boxWhat is already known?Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a non-resolving chronic liver disease of unknown aetiology and favourable response to immunosuppression. Since the interplay between the genetic background and the environment seems to be fundamental for AIH pathogenesis, epigenetic modifications may be of particular importance.What are the new findings?We found characteristic alterations of DNA methylation in peripheral immune cells of AIH patients, which were associated with disease activity and modified by immunosuppressive treatment.How might it impact on clinical practice in the foreseeable future?These results provide the first evidence that epigenetics play a role in AIH pathogenesis, which may have therapeutic implications for the management of the disease.

International audience; Reliable predictors of outcomes after treatment discontinuation in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients have not been established. We investigated the role of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP10) and hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) serum levels as predictors of HBsAg loss, relapse and retreatment in noncirrhotic HBeAg-negative CHB patients who discontinued long-term antiviral therapy. All HBsAg-positive (n = 57) patients of the prospective DARING-B study were included and followed monthly for 3 months, every 2/3 months until month-12 and every 3/6 months thereafter. HBsAg, IP10 and HBcrAg levels were measured by enzyme immunoassays, and SCALE-B score was calculated. Twelve patients achieved HBsAg loss before retreatment with 18-month cumulative incidence of 25%. Independent predictors of HBsAg loss were baseline HBsAg and month-1 IP10 levels. Of 10 patients with baseline HBsAg ≤100 IU/mL, 70% cleared HBsAg and 10% required retreatment. Of 23 patients with baseline HBsAg >1000 IU/mL, 4% cleared HBsAg and 43% required retreatment. Of 24 patients with intermediate baseline HBsAg (100-1000 IU/mL), 17% cleared HBsAg and 21% required retreatment; in this subgroup, month-1 IP10 was significantly associated with HBsAg loss, which occurred in 30% and 7% of cases with IP10 >150 and ≤150 pg/mL, respectively. Baseline HBcrAg was undetectable in all patients who cleared HBsAg and was associated with retreatment. SCALE-B was associated with HBsAg loss but not with relapse or retreatment. In conclusion, HBsAg, IP10 and HBcrAg serum levels can be useful for the decisions and management of treatment discontinuation in noncirrhotic Caucasian patients with HBeAg-negative CHB.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most commonly diagnosed conditions in children. It refers to symptoms such as inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity that intervene in child's behavior and performance in school and home as well. ADHD is a frequently diagnosed mental disorder in children and adolescents. The aim of this research is to study teachers' knowledge of ADHD issue. Quantitative analysis was carried out for the purpose of this survey with the use of a questionnaire. Results showed that teachers are more familiar with the symptoms and definition of ADHD and less with its management at school. However, teachers' knowledge of ADHD seems to be adequate. Finally, the findings of this research point out that it is essential for teachers to be trained in terms of causes and intervention for this specific disorder. Article visualizations

To investigate the anti-cancer efficacy of hyperthermic Ag and Au Fe3O4 core nanoparticles via cytotoxicity study (MTT assay) and the underlying molecular mechanism of action (changes in gene expression via quantitive real time PCR (qRT-PCR).HEK293, HCT116, 4T1 and HUH7 human cell lines and 4T1 musculus mammary gland cell line were incubated with Fe3O4 core Ag(Au) shell nanoparticles (NPs) prior to a hyperthermia session. MTT assay was performed to estimate the cytotoxic effects of these NPs. RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis followed so as to quantify mRNA fold change of hsp-70, p53, bcl-2 and casp-3 via qRT-PCR.Fe3O4 core Au shell (concentrations of 400 and 600μg/mL) produced the greatest reduction of viability on HCT116 and 4T1 cells while Fe3O4 core Ag shell (200, 400 and 600μg/mL) reduce viability on HUH7 cells. Hsp-70, p53 and casp-3 were up-regulated while bcl-2 was downregulated in most cases.Fe3O4 core Ag (Au) shell induced apoptosis on cancer cells (HCT116 and HUH7) via the p53/bcl-2/casp-3 pathway. 4T1 cells also underwent apoptosis via a p53-independent pathway.

BACKGROUND Patients undergoing cardiac surgery particularly those with comorbidities and frailty, experience frequently higher rates of post-operative morbidity, mortality and prolonged hospital length of stay. Muscle mass wasting seems to play important role in prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV) and consequently in intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay. AIM To investigate the clinical value of skeletal muscle mass assessed by ultrasound early after cardiac surgery in terms of duration of MV and ICU length of stay. METHODS In this observational study, we enrolled consecutively all patients, following their admission in the Cardiac Surgery ICU within 24 h of cardiac surgery. Bedside ultrasound scans, for the assessment of quadriceps muscle thickness, were performed at baseline and every 48 h for seven days or until ICU discharge. Muscle strength was also evaluated in parallel, using the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale. RESULTS Of the total 221 patients enrolled, ultrasound scans and muscle strength assessment were finally performed in 165 patients (patients excluded if ICU stay < 24 h). The muscle thickness of rectus femoris (RF), was slightly decreased by 2.2% [(95% confidence interval (CI): - 0.21 to 0.15), n = 9; P = 0.729] and the combined muscle thickness of the vastus intermedius (VI) and RF decreased by 3.5% [(95%CI: - 0.4 to 0.22), n = 9; P = 0.530]. Patients whose combined VI and RF muscle thickness was below the recorded median values (2.5 cm) on day 1 (n = 80), stayed longer in the ICU (47 ± 74 h vs 28 ± 45 h, P = 0.02) and remained mechanically ventilated more (17 ± 9 h vs 14 ± 9 h, P = 0.05). Moreover, patients with MRC score ≤ 48 on day 3 (n = 7), required prolonged MV support compared to patients with MRC score ≥ 49 (n = 33), (44 ± 14 h vs 19 ± 9 h, P = 0.006) and had a longer duration of extracorporeal circulation was (159 ± 91 min vs 112 ± 71 min, P = 0.025). CONCLUSION Skeletal quadriceps muscle thickness assessed by ultrasound shows a trend to a decrease in patients after cardiac surgery post-ICU admission and is associated with prolonged duration of MV and ICU length of stay. © The Author(s) 2020. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.

Purpose: To evaluate the antitumor efficacy of Ag3Au1Trp1:2NPs in a SCID mouse cancer model, with respect to their effect on tumor growth, on tumor’s metastatic potential and the underlying molecular mechanism. Subjects and Methods: Ag3Au1Trp1:2NPs were radiolabeled with Gallium-68 and the biodistribution was studied in Swiss mice without tumors and in SCID mice bearing tumors. SCID mice received intratumoral Ag3Au1Trp1:2NPs and tumor size was measured using calipers. Lung and liver tissues were extracted and studied microscopically for the detection of any metastatic sites. Changes in the Caspase-3 and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) were also investigated using real-time PCR and Western blot techniques, respectively. Results: In the 4T1 tumor-bearing SCID mice, Ag3Au1Trp1:2NPs showed quick passive accumulation at tumor sites at 30 mins post-injection. Mice that received the highest dose of NPs (5.6mg/mL) demonstrated a 1.9-fold lower tumor volume compared to that of the control group at 11 days post-injection, while mice that did not receive NPs showed metastatic sites in liver and lung. Extracted tumor tissue of treated mice revealed increased Casp-3 mRNA levels as well as elevated TRAIL protein levels. Conclusion: Based on our results, Ag3Au1Trp1:2NPs express anti-tumor and anti-metastatic effects in vivo. Ag3Au1Trp1:2NPs also reach tumor site via the enhancement and retention effect which results in the apoptotic death of cancerous cells selectively via the extrinsic TRAIL-dependent pathway. © 2020 Katifelis et al.

Au/Ag bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs) exhibit a wide range of excellent electronic, chemical, biological, mechanical and thermal properties due to synergistic effects. However, critical questions regarding stability, biocompatibility and their cytotoxic effects remain to be answered. In this study, Ag/Au BNPs have been synthesized as "alloy" via a chemical reduction method using double molar excess of tryptophan [ν(M):ν(Trp) = 1:2]. We then estimated their toxicity in HCT116, 4T1, HUH7 and HEK293 cell lines in monocellular and spheroid cultures. Ag/Au nanoparticles with metal ratio 3:1, had the maximal antitumor effect in cancer cell lines, while the toxicity was found significantly decreased in non-cancerous cell lines. Our results were also compared to previous data regarding Ag/Au using single molar excess of tryptophan [ν(M):ν(Trp) = 1:1], suggesting that tryptophan has a protective effect on HEK293 and not in cancer cells. Aiming to investigate the molecular mechanism behind nanopartricles cytotoxicity, we studied the expression of cell cycle and apoptosis related genes on HCT116, 4T1, and HUH7 monocellular culture. Hence, we showed that bimetallic cytotoxicity is mediated via the caspase and the p53/Bax/Bcl-2 apoptotic pathway. In conclusion, our study suggests tryptophan ratio along with metal ratio used in Ag/Au BNPs as a successful way to control the toxicity in cancer cells towards non-cancerous cells, underlying the potency of bimetallic nanoparticles as selective anti-tumor agents.