Search

This study aimed to compare the effects of two extraction techniques (conventional n-hexane and supercritical CO 2 ) on the oil extraction yields, fatty acids profile, anti-hyaluronidase activity, oxidative stability, and in vitro bioactivities of oils from Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis). Higher oil extraction yield (99 %) was achieved using the SC-CO 2 , although similar fatty acids profiles were depicted between both treatments (p < 0.05). The SC-CO 2 oil presented higher anti-hyaluronidase (31 %) activity, but lower oxidative stability (5.05 h) compared to the solvent extraction (10 %, and 5.3 h, respectively). In vitro assays further revealed that the best human normal colon cells (FHC) cell viability (100 %), anti-inflammatory (50 % lower NO production), and antioxidant (20 % ROS reduction) activities were consistently observed in both extraction treatments at concentrations of 50 μg/mL and higher. These findings highlight the potential of supercritical CO 2 extraction in yielding Sacha Inchi oil with enhanced bioactive properties without the disadvantages of the use of organic solvents extraction., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Starphenes are structurally appealing three-fold symmetric polycyclic aromatic compounds with potential interesting applications in molecular electronics and nanotechnology. This family of star-shaped polyarenes can be regarded as three acenes that are connected through a single benzene ring. In fact, just like acenes, unsubstituted large starphenes are poorly soluble and highly reactive molecules under ambient conditions making their synthesis difficult to achieve. Herein, we report two different synthetic strategies to obtain a starphene formed by 19 cata-fused benzene rings distributed within three hexacene branches. This molecule, which is the largest starphene that has been obtained to date, was prepared by combining solution-phase and on-surface synthesis. [19]Starphene was characterized by high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS) showing a remarkable small HOMO-LUMO transport gap (0.9 eV)., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Whether cirrhotic patients with Streptococcus bovis bacteremia have an increased risk of colorectal neoplasm is uncertain. A multicentric retrospective cohort study was conducted investigating associations between S. bovis biotype and species, cirrhosis, and colorectal neoplasm. Out of 779 patients with S. bovis bacteremia, 69 (8.7%) had cirrhosis. No differences were found in the prevalence of colorectal neoplasm between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients undergoing colonoscopy. Among cirrhotic patients, prevalence of colorectal neoplasms was higher in S. bovis biotype I (S. gallolyticus) bacteremia (80%) than in S. bovis biotype II (33.3%; p < 0.007). In conclusion, risk of colorectal neoplasm is high among cirrhotic patients with S. gallolyticus bacteremia., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Magnetism is typically associated with d- or f-block elements, but can also appear in organic molecules with unpaired π-electrons. This has considerably boosted the interest in such organic materials with large potential for spintronics and quantum applications. While several materials showing either d/f or π-electron magnetism have been synthesized, the combination of both features within the same structure has only scarcely been reported. Open-shell porphyrins (Pors) incorporating d-block transition metal ions represent an ideal platform for the realization of such architectures. Herein, the preparation of a series of open-shell, π-extended Pors that contain magnetically active metal ions (i.e., Cu II , Co II , and Fe II ) through a combination of in-solution and on-surface synthesis is reported. A detailed study of the magnetic interplay between π- and d-electrons in these metalloPors has been performed by scanning probe methods and density functional theory calculations. For the Cu and FePors, ferromagnetically coupled π-electrons are determined to be delocalized over the Por edges. For the CoPor, the authors find a Kondo resonance resulting from the singly occupied Co II d z 2 orbital to dominate the magnetic fingerprint. The Fe derivative exhibits the highest magnetization of 3.67 μ B (S≈2) and an exchange coupling of 16 meV between the π-electrons and the Fe d-states., (© 2022 The Authors. Advanced Science published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

In the last two decades, ultrasound has been fully implemented in the diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis. Several studies have been published that have demonstrated better availability of this technique in the identification of elementary inflammatory joint and tendon injuries, as joint and tendon sheath synovial hypertrophy, joint effusion, and Power Doppler signal. Ultrasonography has good properties to identify changes with different treatments, have predictive value for relapse in patients in clinical remission and in structural damage. Furthermore, ultrasound tools have been developed that allow prospective evaluation of patients. Joint and tendon ultrasound evaluation indexes have been used for disease diagnosis and monitoring. Initially, indexes have been integrated only for joint, but more recently have appeared mixed indexes, integrated for ultrasound evaluation and other types of variables. There are still important objectives to be achieved to complete the development of ultrasound in rheumatoid arthritis, which makes ultrasound a great aid tool in decision-making in clinical practice.

Tetracyanobuta-1,3-diene (TCBD) is a powerful and versatile electron-acceptor moiety widely used for the preparation of electroactive conjugates. While many reports addressing its electron-accepting capability have appeared in the literature, significantly scarcer are those dealing with its chemical modification, a relevant topic which allows to broaden the chemical space of this interesting functional unit. Here, we report on the first example of a high-yielding cyano-Diels-Alder (CDA) reaction between TCBD, that is, where a nitrile group acts as a dienophile, and an anthryl moiety, that is, acting as a diene. The resulting anthryl-fused-TCBD derivative, which structure was unambiguously identified by X-ray diffraction, shows high thermal stability, remarkable electron-accepting capability, and interesting electronic ground- and excited-state features, as characterized by a thorough theoretical, electrochemical, and photophysical investigation. Moreover, a detailed kinetic analysis of the intramolecular CDA reaction transforming the anthryl-TCBD-based reactant into the anthryl-fused-TCBD product was carried out at different temperatures., (© 2021 The Authors. Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Porphyrin nanotapes (Por NTs) are promising structures for their use as molecular wires thanks to a high degree of π-conjugation, low HOMO-LUMO gaps, and exceptional conductance. Such structures have been prepared in solution, but their on-surface synthesis remains unreported. Here, meso-meso triply fused Por NTs have been prepared through a two-step synthesis on Au(111). The diradical character of the on-surface formed building block PorA 2 , a phenalenyl π-extended Zn II Por, facilitates intermolecular homocoupling and allows for the formation of laterally π-extended tapes. The structural and electronic properties of individual Por NTs are addressed, both on Au(111) and on a thin insulating NaCl layer, by high-resolution scanning probe microscopy/spectroscopy complemented by DFT calculations. These Por NTs carry one unpaired electron at each end, which leads to magnetic end states. Our study provides a versatile route towards Por NTs and the atomic-scale characterization of such tapes., (© 2021 The Authors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

On-surface synthesis has emerged as a powerful tool for the construction of large, planar, π-conjugated structures that are not accessible through standard solution chemistry. Among such solid-supported architectures, graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) hold a prime position for their implementation in nanoelectronics due to their manifold outstanding properties. Moreover, using appropriately designed molecular precursors, this approach allows the synthesis of functionalized GNRs, leading to nanostructured hybrids with superior physicochemical properties. Among the potential "partners" for GNRs, porphyrins (Pors) outstand due to their rich chemistry, robustness, and electronic richness, among others. However, the use of such π-conjugated macrocycles for the construction of GNR hybrids is challenging and examples are scarce. Herein, singly and doubly Por-capped GNR segments presenting a commensurate and triply-fused GNR-Por heterojunction are reported. The study of the electronic properties of such hybrid structures by high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy, scanning tunneling spectroscopy, and DFT calculations reveals a weak hybridization of the electronic states of the GNR segment and the Por moieties despite their high degree of conjugation., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Organic open-shell compounds are extraordinarily attractive materials for their use in molecular spintronics thanks to their long spin-relaxation times and structural flexibility. Porphyrins (Pors) have widely been used as molecular platforms to craft persistent open-shell structures through solution-based redox chemistry. However, very few examples of inherently open-shell Pors have been reported, which are typically obtained through the fusion of non-Kekulé polyaromatic hydrocarbon moieties to the Por core. The inherent instability and low solubility of these radical species, however, requires the use of bulky substituents and multistep synthetic approaches. On-surface synthesis has emerged as a powerful tool to overcome such limitations, giving access to structures that cannot be obtained through classical methods. Herein, we present a simple and straightforward method for the on-surface synthesis of phenalenyl-fused Pors using readily available molecular precursors. In a systematic study, we examine the structural and electronic properties of three surface-supported Pors, bearing zero, two ( PorA 2 ), and four ( PorA 4 ) meso -fused phenalenyl moieties. Through atomically resolved real-space imaging by scanning probe microscopy and high-resolution scanning tunneling spectroscopy combined with density functional theory calculations, we unambiguously demonstrate a triplet ground state for PorA 2 and a charge-transfer-induced open-shell character for the intrinsically closed-shell PorA 4 .

On-surface synthesis offers a versatile approach to prepare novel carbon-based nanostructures that cannot be obtained by conventional solution chemistry. Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) have potential for a variety of applications. A key issue for their application in molecular electronics is in the fine-tuning of their electronic properties through structural modifications, such as heteroatom doping or the incorporation of non-benzenoid rings. In this context, the covalent fusion of GNRs and porphyrins (Pors) is a highly appealing strategy. Herein we present the selective on-surface synthesis of a Por-GNR hybrid, which consists of two Pors connected by a short GNR segment. The atomically precise structure of the Por-GNR hybrid has been characterized by bond-resolved scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and noncontact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM). The electronic properties have been investigated by scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS), in combination with DFT calculations, which reveals a low electronic gap of 0.4 eV., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Cyclopenta[hi]aceanthrylenes (CPAs) have been functionalized at two of the peripheral positions with electronically inert trimethylsilylethynyl (1), as well as with electron-donating 4-ethynyl-N,N-dimethylaniline (2), ethynyl Zn II phthalocyanine (3), and ethynyl Zn II porphyrin (4) units. Consistent with X-ray crystal structures of 2 and 4, analyses of absorption and fluorescence of 2-4 point to strong electronic communication between the CPA and the peripheral units, affording quadrupolar electron donor-acceptor-donor charge-transfer conjugates. By virtue of their quadrupolar/dipolar charge-transfer characters in the excited state, 2-4 exhibit fluoro-solvatochromism. Transient absorption spectroscopy confirmed delocalized quadrupolar ground states and formation of weakly solvent stabilized quadrupolar singlet excited states. The latter transform into strongly stabilized dipolar excited states before deactivating to the ground state in 2 and give rise to a fully charge separated state in 3 and 4., (© 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Background: There are few data on the epidemiology of infections caused by Streptococcus bovis (Sb). Some studies suggest that both residence in rural areas and contact with livestock could be potential risk factors., Methods: We performed a retrospective study for the period 2005-2016 of all cases of bacteremia caused by Sb in Galicia (a region in the northwest of Spain). The association between the incidence rate of Sb bacteremia and the number of cattle by province and district was analyzed., Results: 677 cases were included with a median age of 76 years, 69.3% males. The most frequent infections were endocarditis (234 cases, 34.5%), primary bacteremia (213 cases, 31.5%) and biliary infection (119 cases, 17.5%). In 252 patients, colon neoplasms were detected (37.2%). S. gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus was the predominant species (52.3%). Mortality was 15.5% (105 cases). The annual incidence rate was 20.2 cases/10 6 inhabitants and was correlated with the density of cattle (p < 0.001), but not with rurality. When comparing the two provinces with a strong predominance of rural population, but with important differences in the number of cattle, such as Orense and Lugo, with 6% and 47.7% of Galician cattle, respectively, the rates were very different: 15.8 and 43.6 cases/10 6 , respectively, with an RR of 2.7 (95% CI, 2.08-3.71). Some districts of the province of Lugo had rates higher than 100 cases/10 6 inhabitants., Conclusions: Our study shows a significant correlation between the rates of Sb bacteremia and cattle density, suggesting a possible transmission of Sb from cows to people.

Testicular microlithiasis (TM) is an uncommonurologic condition incidentally diagnosed byscrotal ultrasound. It has been associated with differentdiseases, such as Klinefelter`s syndrome, testicular atrophy,cryptorchidism, testicular torsion, and infertility.However, it can also present in healthy males that haveno associated risk factors. Currently, TM is most oftendetected thanks to the superior resolution of today's ultrasoundequipment, compared with former models. In the1990s, TM was considered a benign condition with noimportant clinical relevance, but later reports associatedit with the development of testicular neoplasias andinfertility. Thus, many authors recommended periodic surveillance with tumor markers and ultrasound imaging,with some even promoting the use of testicular biopsy.The aim of this article is to clearly and specifically presentcurrent information about testicular microlithiasis, toestablish both diagnostic and follow-up indications.

Introduction and Objective: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is the first-line treatment in the majority of cases of upper urinary tract stones. Since its introduction, attempts have been made to establish the ideal accompanying analgesic method to enable the application of shock waves of adequate duration and intensity for efficacious stone fragmentation. An open, randomized, prospective, longitudinal, comparative, and experimental clinical study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of subcostal nerve block with lidocaine, comparing it in combination with tramadol or diclofenac for pain control during ESWL., Materials and Methods: Seventy patients of both sexes were included in the study. Thirty-five were men and 35 were women, all above 18 years of age, with kidney stones or ureteral stones smaller than 20 mm. The patients were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: Group 1 (24 patients) Twelfth subcostal nerve block with 10 ml of lidocaine 2%, 5 min before ESWL. Group 2 (25 patients) Twelfth subcostal nerve block with 10 ml lidocaine 2% + intramuscular diclofenac sodium 45 min before ESWL. Group 3 (21 patients) Twelfth subcostal nerve block with 10 ml of lidocaine 2% + tramadol at 1 mg/Kg of weight, 45 min before ESWL. The visual analog scale (VAS) for pain was applied at minutes 10, 20, and 30 of the procedure., Results: No statistically significant differences were reported by the ANOVA test for comparing the mean pain values between the three groups at minutes 10, 20, and 30 of the ESWL. There were no adverse effects., Conclusions: Even though there were no statistically significant differences between the three groups, the analgesic regimen of twelfth subcostal nerve block with lidocaine 2%, alone, was as efficacious as its combination with other analgesics and therefore can be used as a sole analgesic method during ESWL.

Postoperative endophthalmitis is one of the most serious potential complications of ocular lens surgery. Its incidence can be reduced by means of antibiotic prophylaxis. Although the prophylactic use of intracameral cefuroxime has been extended, other drugs, such as moxifloxacin, have arisen as alternatives. We performed a systematic literature review on the effectiveness and efficiency of intracameral cefuroxime and moxifloxacin for the prophylaxis of postoperative endophthalmitis after cataract surgery. Several bibliographic databases were searched up to October 2010 and were updated up to January 2013. Outcomes were the onset of endophthalmitis after surgery and the cost-effectiveness ratio of using both antibiotic prophylaxis alternatives. The following were included: a clinical trial reported in two papers, six observational studies, and an economic evaluation. All studies assessed cefuroxime compared with another antibiotic prophylaxis or no prophylaxis. The only randomized controlled trial performed by the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery found that intracameral cefuroxime is significantly more effective than not using prophylaxis or the use of a topical antibiotic. The observational studies support these results. The economic evaluation compared different prophylaxis regimens and concluded that intracameral cefuroxime showed the best cost-effectiveness ratio. Both the observational studies and the economic evaluation have methodological limits that reduce their validity. This review confirmed that cefuroxime can prevent endophthalmitis after cataract surgery. Further randomized controlled trials, with large sample sizes, are required to compare different antibiotic prophylaxis regimens.