Search

Biodegradable films are an excellent alternative to using non-biodegradable materials. Plant extracts are rich in antioxidant and antimicrobial components and can be used as components in active packaging to improve food preservation. This study demonstrated that the ethyl acetate fraction of the crude bark extract of Euphorbia umbellata presented high amounts of phenolic compounds (515.81 ± 29.61 mg of galic acid per gram of fraction) with concentration-dependent antioxidant potential (DPPH•—IC50 1.95 ± 0.01 μg/ml; ABTS•+—IC50 1.40 ± 0.15 µg/ml; FRAP–2,680.05 ± 0.02 µmol of trolox per gram of fraction), and antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (inhibition halo diameter larger than 8 mm). The addition of this fraction into biodegradable starch-based films allowed the formation of an active matrix, with minor mechanical changes when the ethyl acetate fraction was used at 2.5 and 5.0% (w/w), registering tensile strength results of 29.5 ± 4.0 MPa for inert film; 29.5 ± 4.0 MPa for 2.5% (w/w) of E. umbellata ethyl acetate extract, and 25.1 ± 1.9 MPa for 5% (w/w) of E. umbellata ethyl acetate extract. A heterogeneous microstructure in the presence of ethyl acetate extract resulted in lack of homogeneity and rough surface of the films, maintaining important antioxidant and antibacterial activities. This material can be considered as an alternative for production and application as biodegradable and active food packaging.

Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from patients with invasive pneumococcal disease has been subjected to laboratory-based surveillance in Latin American and Caribbean countries since 1993. Invasive pneumococcal diseases remain a major cause of death and disability worldwide, particularly in children. We therefore aimed to assess the direct effect of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) on the distribution of pneumococcal serotypes causing invasive pneumococcal disease in children younger than 5 years before and after PCV introduction.We did a multicentre, retrospective observational study in eight countries that had introduced PCV (ie, PCV countries) in the Latin American and Caribbean region: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Cuba and Venezuela were also included as non-PCV countries. Isolate data for Streptococcus pneumoniae were obtained between 2006 and 2017 from children younger than 5 years with an invasive pneumococcal disease from local laboratories or hospitals. Species' confirmation and capsular serotyping were done by the respective national reference laboratories. Databases from the Sistema Regional de Vacunas (SIREVA) participating countries were managed and cleaned in a unified database using Microsoft Excel 2016 and the program R (version 3.6.1). Analysis involved percentage change in vaccine serotypes between pre-PCV and post-PCV periods and the annual reporting rate of invasive pneumococcal diseases per 100 000 children younger than 5 years, which was used as a population reference to calculate percentage vaccine type reduction.Between 2006 and 2017, 12 269 isolates of invasive pneumococcal disease were collected from children younger than 5 years in the ten Latin American and Caribbean countries. The ten serotypes included in ten-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) decreased significantly (p0·0001) after any PCV introduction, except for the Dominican Republic. The percentage change for the ten vaccine serotypes in PCV10 countries was -91·6% in Brazil (530 [72·9%] of 727 before, 27 [6·1%] of 441 after); -85·0% in Chile (613 [72·6%] of 844 before, 44 [10·9%] of 404] after); -84·7% in Colombia (231 [63·1%] of 366 before, 34 [9·7%] of 352 after); and -73·8% in Paraguay (127 [77·0%] of 165 before, 22 [20·2%] of 109 after). In the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) countries, the percentage change for the 13 vaccine serotypes was -59·6% in Argentina (853 [85·0%] of 1003 before, 149 [34·3%] of 434 after); -16·5% in the Dominican Republic (95 [80·5%] of 118 before, 39 [67·2%] of 58 after); -43·7% in Mexico (202 [73·2%] of 276 before, 63 [41·2%] of 153 after); and -45·9% in Uruguay (138 [80·7%] of 171 before, 38 [43·7%] of 87 after). Annual reporting rates showed a reduction from -82·5% (6·21 before vs 1·09 after per 100 000, 95% CI -61·6 to -92·0) to -94·7% (1·15 vs 0·06 per 100 000, -89·7 to -97·3) for PCV10 countries, and -58·8% (2·98 vs 1·23 per 100 000, -21·4 to -78·4) to -82·9% (7·80 vs 1·33 per 100 000, -76·9 to -87·4) for PCV13 countries. An increase in the amount of non-vaccine types was observed in the eight countries after PCV introduction together with an increase in their percentage in relation to total invasive strains in the post-PCV period.SIREVA laboratory surveillance was able to confirm the effect of PCV vaccine on serotypes causing invasive pneumococcal disease in the eight PCV countries. Improved monitoring of the effect and trends in vaccine type as well as in non-vaccine type isolates is needed, as this information will be relevant for future decisions associated with new PCVs.None.For the Portuguese and Spanish translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Background New-onset chest pain occurs in around 20% of patients with long COVID syndrome (LCS). Being the vascular endothelium one of the targets of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, we hypothesized that new onset anginal symptoms in LCS could be due to endothelium dysfunction and other non-obstructive causes of myocardial ischaemia. Methods We investigated 11 consecutive patients who developed new onset anginal chest pain, suggestive of myocardial ischaemia, after documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. Intracoronary assessment included endothelium-dependent evaluation with acetylcholine testing (Ach), and endothelium-independent assessment with coronary flow reserve (CFR) and microcirculatory resistance (MR). Criteria for positiveness of these tests and medical treatment recommendation were obtained from 2019 ESC guidelines and 2020 EAPCI consensus document on ischaemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA). Results Mean patient age was 56 years (SD ± 15); 10 (91%) were female. In the acute COVID-19 phase, 4 patients (36%) had had pulmonary infiltrates and 2 (18%) required hospitalization. Conclusive non-invasive tests were obtained in 7 (64%), showing exercise-related myocardial ischaemia in 6 (86%). Coronary angiography ruled out obstructive epicardial stenoses in all the patients. Ach testing revealed abnormal endothelium-dependent responses in 9 (82%) patients: 5 (56%) had epicardial vessel and 4 (44%) microvascular spasm. Endothelium-independent assessment was abnormal in 6 (54%) cases, with abnormal CFR in 2 (33%), abnormal MR in 2 (33) and both abnormal CFR and MR in 2 (33%) patients. The most frequent endotype was combined endothelium dependent- and independent abnormalities (6/9, 67%). Stratified medical treatment according to endotype led to significant improvement in Seattle Angina Scores for angina frequency (+22 points, p=0.013) and a notable trend towards angina stability (+25 points, p=0.093) at a mean follow-up time of 222 days. Conclusions Myocardial ischaemia of non-obstructive origin is common in patients with chest pain and LCS. Vasomotor abnormalities related to endothelial dysfunction occurred in 82% of patients, frequently associated to impaired microvascular vasodilation or high microvascular resistance. Stratified medical treatment led to significant improvement in angina stability and frequency. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-29T08:30:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-07-01 BACKGROUND: Croton oil (CO) is used by dermatologists and plastic surgeons in deep chemical peels. It is mixed with phenol, water, and a soap in Baker-Gordon's or Hetter's formulas. There is controversy as to whether CO or phenol is the active agent in the dermal effect of deep chemical peels. OBJECTIVE: To better clarify the role of CO in deep peels, by identification of active compounds in commercially available CO in the United States and biological effects in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry on CO and a domestic pig model experiment using 3 different formulas: G1: 5% Septisol (SEP), G2: 1.6% croton oil in 35% phenol with 5% SEP, and G3: 35% phenol with 5% SEP. RESULTS: Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry indicated the presence of phorbol esters. G1 was null overall. Extent of the coagulative necrosis: G2 > G3. Vascular ectasia: G2 > G3. Inflammation pattern: intense neutrophilic inflammatory band in G2 versus mild, sparse, perivascular mononuclear cell infiltrate in G3. Neocollagenesis: pronounced in G2, negligible in G3. CONCLUSION: Coagulative necrosis of the epidermis, superficial fibroblasts, and vasculature can be attributed to the action of phenol. Phorbol esters on CO could be responsible for the dense deep acute inflammation and the distinctive neocollagenesis. Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences Medicine Dentistry Laboratory of Research of SEBISA State University of Ponta Grossa Laboratory Fenn of Massachusetts Spectrometry Federal University of Paraná Department of Dermatology Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Department of Dermatology and Radiotherapy Sao Paulo State University (UNESP) Department of Dermatology and Radiotherapy Sao Paulo State University (UNESP)

La bronconeumonía por Staphylococcus aureus es una patología infrecuente y grave, especialmente si se trata de un germen multirresistente. Este microorganismo suele afectar frecuentemente la piel y los tejidos blandos por lo que difícilmente se aísla en otros tejidos. En abril del 2017 se presentó en el Hospital Provincial de Cienfuegos un paciente con una bronconeumonía grave estafilocócica. El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo describir el manejo clínico de la bronconeumonía severa estafilocócica a partir del estudio de un caso. Se concluyó que es una entidad infrecuente, con rápida evolución y mal pronóstico.

We have developed a new version of the MARY (MAmmogRaphY) pixel detector with its custom readout integrated circuit (IC) optimized for electron collection in semiconductor detectors such as CdZnTe (CZT), CdTe, a-Se and GaAs. This new pixel detector and readout IC, the MARY-N50, is essentially comprised of a 192 x 384 array of channels at a 50 μm x 50 μm pitch, which can be flip-chip bump-bonded with a matching detector pixel array. A 100 μm pitch pixel detector, the MARY-N100, was also developed, with a 64 x 192 pixel array. Standard features of both versions of MARY-N include: TDI (Time Delay Integration) or “staring” CCD readout capability; low noise and wide dynamic range; internal clock drivers; fat zero input; overflow control; multiple independent readout stages (24 for MARY-N50, 8 for MARY-N100) to accommodate large charge collection due to direct conversion.

The radiation detection efficiency and spectral resolution of mercuric iodide detectors can be improved significantly by increasing the volume of the detectors and by using a pixellated anode structure. Detector bodies with a thickness of nominally 10 mm and an active area of approximately 14 mm x 14 mm have been used for these experiments. The detectors were cut from single crystals grown by the physical vapor transport method. The cut surfaces were polished and etched using a string saw and potassium iodide solutions. The Palladium contacts were deposited by magnetron sputtering through stainless steel masks. The cathode contact is continuous; the anode contacts consist of an array of 11 x 11 pixels surrounded by a guard ring. The resistance between a pixel and its surrounding contacts should be larger than 0.25 Gohm. The detector is mounted on a substrate that makes it possible to connect the anode pixels to an ASIC, and is conditioned so that it is stable for all pixels at a bias of -3000 Volts. Under these conditions the spectral resolution for Cs-137 gamma rays (662 keV) is approximately 5% FWHM. When depth sensing correction methods are applied, the resolution improves to about 2% FWHM or better. It is expected that the performance of the devices can be improved by the careful selection of crystal parts that are free of structural defects. Details of the fabrication technologies will be described. The effects of material inhomogeneities and transport properties of the charge carriers will be discussed.

There is increasing interest in the use of conductive polymeric adhesives as a replacement for soldering technology in electronic packaging applications. Relatively low cost, lower toxicity, reworkability and ease of processing make them an attractive alternative. To date, however, most conductive adhesives have certain critical limitations that inhibit their utility in many applications. We report on the development of new, low-temperature sintering adhesives that combine ease of processing of polymeric bonding materials with performance characteristics closer to solder. These new formulations incorporate novel fluxing polymeric resins in combination with a blend of metal alloy filler particles. During the cure process, the metal filler particles sinter together and are capable of forming "solder-like" metallurgical connections to a variety of metal surfaces resulting in lower and more stable thermal contact resistance values. These materials have both high electrical and thermal conductivity-closer to solder materials than most polymer-based materials but with the processing advantages of the best polymeric adhesives.

The variability in esterases of the entomogenous fungus Metarhizium anisopliae was determined electrophoretically on 8.5% polyacrylamide gel. Ten isolates from diverse taxonomic groups of insects were analyzed. The electrophoretic analysis showed differences and similarities between these isolates and it was possible to distinguish six different patterns. The results obtained show a great polymorphism for the esterase system of M. anisopliae.

Resonance Raman spectra of vapor molecules formed by reacting gaseous aluminum chloride with solid PdCl2 and CuCl2 have been measured in the temperature range from 500 to 900 K and at total pressures up to 30 atm. The main features of the Raman spectra of the Pd–Al–Cl gaseous molecule are three polarized bands at 298, 176, and 84.5 cm−1. The excitation profiles of these bands exhibit minima in the vicinity of the maximum Pd(II) ligand field absorption, thus suggesting the presence of a center of symmetry in the molecule. A D2h molecular symmetry is proposed for the PdAl2Cl8 vapor complex having Pd(II) as a central atom in square planar coordination. The Raman spectra of the Cu–Al–Cl vapors are interpreted to account for two different molecular species. Three polarized bands at 281, 174.5, and 84.5 cm−1 are assigned to preresonance enhanced A1 fundamentals of the CuAl2Cl8 molecule. Two strong bands at 448 and 291.5 cm−1 and their combinations and ovetones are assigned to resonance enhanced A1 fundamentals ...

The reaction of solid palladium(II) bromide with gaseous aluminum(III) bromide to form a ceramic-rod vapor complex has been investigated by spectrophotometry and by Raman spectroscopy at temperatures ranging from 550 to 900 K and total pressures up to approx. 2 atm. The electronic absorption spectra of the complexes show an intense d ..-->.. d band at approx. 1.96 ..mu..m/sup -1/ and a charge-transfer band at approx. 3.55 ..mu..m/sup -1/. The spectrophotometric data led to the conclusion that one predominant complex exists in the vapor formed by the reaction PdBr/sub 2/(s) + Al/sub 2/Br/sub 6/(g) in equilibrium PdAl/sub 2/Br/sub 8/(g) with ..delta..H = 8.27 kcal/mol and ..delta..S = 8.04 cu. Raman spectra of the equilibrium vapor mixtures PdAl/sub 2/Br/sub 8/--Al/sub 2/Br/sub 6/--AlBr/sub 3/ and Al/sub 2/Br/sub 6/--AlBr/sub 3/ were obtained at different temperatures. The main features of the Raman spectra of the PdAl/sub 2/Br/sub 8/ gaseous molecule are three polarized bands at 180, 114, and approx. 50 cm/sup -1/. The excitation profiles of these bands exhibit minima in the vicinity of the maximum Pd(II)d ..-->.. d absorption. The electronic absorption and Raman spectra of the complex were interpreted in terms of a D/sub 2h/ symmetry for the vapor complex PdAl/sub 2/Br/submore » 8/, where Pd(II) is in a square-planar coordination. 5 figures, 5 tables.« less