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Porphyrins have multiple roles in living and nonliving systems because of their exceptional tunable chemical and physical properties. They are interesting macrocyclic compounds that could be modified in a number of ways. The structural diversity of porphyrinoids make them a unique choice for functional devices exhibiting photo‐ and electrochemical properties. Their properties can be modified or altered by either protonating the nitrogen atoms or by inducing charge transfer to the metal center. Structural changes induced by flattening and planar distortions, redox reactions, solvents, and porphyrin aggregations also influence the photo‐ and electro‐chemical properties of porphyrinoids. This review gives a brief explanation on the effects of structural orientation, molecular structure, and charge on the properties of porphyrinoids. The review also illustrates the correlation between the geometrical features and the photo‐ and electrochemical behavior of porphyrinoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.04.024 Byline: Rebecca K. Simmons (a), Gita Singh (b), Noreen Maconochie (a), Pat Doyle (a), Judith Green (a) Keywords: UK; National Women's Health Study; Miscarriage; Women's narratives; Medicalisation Abstract: Miscarriage is the most common adverse outcome in pregnancy. For many women it is a traumatic experience. Previous research has identified shortcomings in the emotional and social support provided for miscarriage sufferers but personal accounts of pregnancy loss remain relatively under-explored. The UK National Women's Health Study (NWHS) is a nationally representative survey of women's reproductive histories. It provided an opportunity to study accounts of miscarriage written in response to an invitation for further comments on the survey questionnaire. In conjunction with quantitative findings from the NWHS, we thematically analysed 172 detailed narratives that facilitated qualitative exploration of a characteristically private event. Analysis of the narratives suggested that few women who had planned their pregnancy were satisfied with fatalistic explanations of miscarriage. Those who were not given medical explanations for their loss engaged in complex searches for meaning, often linked to accounts of their moral deservedness as mothers. The narratives highlighted tensions between biomedical and lay understandings of pregnancy loss. There were reports of inappropriate medicalisation and a perceived lack of emotional support, but also a desire for medical validation of the reality of miscarriage and investigations to identify medical causes. Professionals' reported behaviour played a key role in women's accounts. These findings remind providers that: women do not experience miscarriage as a routine complication; medicalisation is both resisted and desired; and, for some women, more support and information is needed to assist their search for meaning. Author Affiliation: (a) London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK (b) McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont., Canada

Abstract Background There is ample evidence that residential neighbourhoods can influence mental well-being (MWB), with most studies relying on census or similar data to characterize communities. Few studies have actively investigated local residents’ perceptions. Methods Concept mapping was conducted with residents from five Toronto neighbourhoods representing low income and non-low income socio-economic groups. These residents participated in small groups and attended two sessions per neighbourhood. The first session (brainstorming) generated neighbourhood characteristics that residents felt influenced their MWB. A few weeks later, participants returned to sort these neighbourhood characteristics and rate their relative importance in affecting residents’ ‘good’ and ‘poor’ MWB. The data from the sorting and rating groups were analyzed to generate conceptual maps of neighbourhood characteristics that influence MWB. Results While agreement existed on factors influencing poor MWB (regardless of neighbourhood, income, gender and age), perceptions related to factors affecting good MWB were more varied. For example, women were more likely to rank physical beauty of their neighbourhood and range of services available as more important to good MWB, while men were more likely to cite free access to computers/internet and neighbourhood reputation as important. Low-income residents emphasized aesthetic attributes and public transportation as important to good MWB, while non-low-income residents rated crime, negative neighbourhood environment and social concerns as more important contributors to good MWB. Conclusion These findings contribute to the emerging literature on neighbourhoods and MWB, and inform urban planning in a Canadian context.

Abstract Background There is a growing body of evidence that where you live is important to your health. Despite numerous previous studies investigating the relationship between neighbourhood deprivation (and structure) and residents' health, the precise nature of this relationship remains unclear. Relatively few investigations have relied on direct observation of neighbourhoods, while those that have were developed primarily in US settings. Evaluation of the transferability of such tools to other contexts is an important first step before applying such instruments to the investigation of health and well-being. This study evaluated the performance of a systematic social observational (SSO) tool (adapted from previous studies of American and British neighbourhoods) in a Canadian urban context. Methods This was a mixed-methods study. Quantitative SSO ratings and qualitative descriptions of 176 block faces were obtained in six Toronto neighbourhoods (4 low-income, and 2 middle/high-income) by trained raters. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted with the quantitative SSO ratings. Content analysis consisted of independent coding of qualitative data by three members of the research team to yield common themes and categories. Results Factor analysis identified three factors (physical decay/disorder, social accessibility, recreational opportunities), but only 'physical decay/disorder' reflected previous findings in the literature. Qualitative results (based on raters' fieldwork experiences) revealed the tool's shortcomings in capturing important features of the neighbourhoods under study, and informed interpretation of the quantitative findings. Conclusions This study tested the performance of an SSO tool in a Canadian context, which is an important initial step before applying it to the study of health and disease. The tool demonstrated important shortcomings when applied to six diverse Toronto neighbourhoods. The study's analyses challenge previously held assumptions (e.g. social 'disorder') regarding neighbourhood social and built environments. For example, neighbourhood 'order' has traditionally been assumed to be synonymous with a certain degree of homogeneity, however the neighbourhoods under study were characterized by high degrees of heterogeneity and low levels of disorder. Heterogeneity was seen as an appealing feature of a block face. Employing qualitative techniques with SSO represents a unique contribution, enhancing both our understanding of the quantitative ratings obtained and of neighbourhood characteristics that are not currently captured by such instruments.

Background: There is ample evidence that residential neighbourhoods can influence mental well-being (MWB), with most studies relying on census or similar data to characterize communities. Few studies have actively investigated local residents' perceptions. Methods: Concept mapping was conducted with residents from five Toronto neighbourhoods representing low income and non-low income socio-economic groups. These residents participated in small groups and attended two sessions per neighbourhood. The first session (brainstorming) generated neighbourhood characteristics that residents felt influenced their MWB. A few weeks later, participants returned to sort these neighbourhood characteristics and rate their relative importance in affecting residents' 'good' and 'poor' MWB. The data from the sorting and rating groups were analyzed to generate conceptual maps of neighbourhood characteristics that influence MWB. Results: While agreement existed on factors influencing poor MWB (regardless of neighbourhood, income, gender and age), perceptions related to factors affecting good MWB were more varied. For example, women were more likely to rank physical beauty of their neighbourhood and range of services available as more important to good MWB, while men were more likely to cite free access to computers/internet and neighbourhood reputation as important. Low-income residents emphasized aesthetic attributes and public transportation as important to good MWB, while non-low-income residents rated crime, negative neighbourhood environment and social concerns as more important contributors to good MWB. Conclusion: These findings contribute to the emerging literature on neighbourhoods and MWB, and inform urban planning in a Canadian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zestra for Women is a botanical feminine massage oil formulated to enhance female sexual pleasure and arousal when applied to the vulva. We conducted this randomized, double-blinded, crossover study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Zestra for Women compared to placebo oil in 10 women with and 10 women without female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) in conditions of home use it, conjunction with sexual activities. Subjects were screened by physical examination, sex therapist interviews, and questionnaires. We randomized qualified subjects to treatment paths and gave them 5 doses of test article and diaries to use at home. At Visit 2, we assessed them by questionnaires and gave them 5 doses of crossover test article and diaries to use at home. At the final visit, we assessed then, with questionnaires. We assessed safety by adverse event reports and primary efficacy by responses to a diary question regarding satisfaction with arousal. Secondary efficacy instruments included remaining diary questions, recall-based questionnaires. global assessment questions, and a consumer-testing questionnaire. All 20 subjects completed the study. Three subjects reported single incidences of mild genital burning sensations lasting 5--30 rain after use of Zestra for Women. Both normal and FSAD women showed statistically significant improvements, relative to placebo, in level of arousal, level of desire, satisfaction with arousal, genital sensation, ability to have orgasms, and sexual pleasure. Although FSAD women showed greater magnitude of response, the presence of FSAD had no effect on response rates. Zestra for Women was just as effective in women using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants as in women not using antidepressants. Zestra for Women improved sexual function in normal and FSAD women under conditions of home use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic there is still a need for vaccines to effectively control the spread of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants and associated cases of severe disease. Here we report a messenger RNA vaccine directly encoding for a nanoparticle displaying 60 receptor binding domains (RBDs) of SARS-CoV-2 that acts as a highly effective antigen. A construct encoding the RBD of the Delta variant elicits robust neutralizing antibody response, and also provides protective immunity against the Delta variant in a widely used transgenic mouse model. We ultimately find that the proposed mRNA RBD nanoparticle-based vaccine provides a flexible platform for rapid development and will likely be of great value in combatting current and future SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern., Competing Interests: PB and JH are the founders and owners of Phylex BioSciences, Inc., the company that holds IP related to RBD-NP; PB is a named inventor on several RBD-NP vaccine patents; AD is employed by BTS Research; GS and H-KL are employed by Abeomics, Inc.; AS was employed by Aldevron LLC. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Brandys, Montagutelli, Merenkova, Barut, Thiel, Schork, Trüeb, Conquet, Deng, Antanasijevic, Lee, Valière, Sindhu, Singh and Herold.)

Objective: To systematically summarise the available evidence concerning the rate of folic acid supplement use pre- and periconceptionally, to identify those characteristics associated with low rates of use and to assess whether folic acid public awareness campaigns are associated with higher folic acid use., Design: Systematic overview., Setting: Survey studies., Population: Women of reproductive age, most of whom were currently or recently pregnant., Methods: Two investigators searched MEDLINE, Embase and Nutriotiongate databases between 1990 and 2003. Bibliographies of retrieved references were scanned for other relevant publications, and authors were contacted if necessary. Studies were included that evaluated the rate of folic acid supplement use either before conception or in early pregnancy., Main Outcome Measures: Rate of preconceptional and/or periconceptional folic acid use, rate of planned pregnancy in each study, as well as significant characteristics differentiating non-users from users of folic acid, including the effect of folic acid awareness campaigns., Results: A total of 52 studies were included. In 34 studies, reported preconceptional folic acid use varied from 0.9% to 50%. In 49 studies, the reported rate of periconceptional supplement use ranged from 0.5% to 52%. Significant predictors of reduced periconceptional folic acid use were a low level of formal education, immigrant status, young maternal age, lack of a partner and an unplanned pregnancy. Four studies examined the effect of mass media campaigns on periconceptional folic acid use; the reported rates increased significantly, by a factor of 1.7 to 7.2, but in no study was the post-campaign rate above 50%., Conclusions: In many countries, fewer than 50% of women take periconceptional folic acid supplements. Consideration should be given to the practical advantages of folic acid fortification of centrally processed foods, such as wheat, corn and rice flour, while further promoting vitamin tablet supplement use and planned pregnancy.

B-cell lymphomas express tumor-specific immunoglobulin, the variable regions of which [idiotype (Id)] can serve as a target for active immunotherapy. Promising results have been obtained in clinical studies of Id vaccination using Id proteins.However, Id protein is laborious and time-consuming to produce. DNA vaccination is an attractive alternative for delivering Id vaccines, because Id DNA can be rapidly isolated by PCR techniques. DNA coding for lymphoma Id can provide protective immunity in murine models. In the present study, we performed a Phase I/II clinical trial to study the safety and immunogenicity of naked DNA Id vaccines in 12 patients with follicular B-cell lymphoma. The DNA encoded a chimeric immunoglobulin molecule containing variable heavy and light chain immunoglobulin sequences derived from each patient's tumor, linked to the IgG2a and kappa mouse immunoglobulin (MsIg) heavy- and light-chain constant regions chains, respectively. Patients in remission after chemotherapy received three monthly i.m. injections of the DNA in three dose escalation cohorts of four patients each (200, 600, and 1800 micro g). After vaccination, 7 of 12 patients mounted either humoral (n = 4) or T-cell-proliferative (n = 4) responses to the MsIg component of the vaccine. In one patient, a T-cell response specific to autologous Id was also measured. Anti-Id antibodies were not detectable in any patient. A second series of vaccinations was then administered using a needle-free injection device (Biojector) to deliver 1800 micro g both i.m. and intradermally (i.d.); 9 of 12 patients had humoral (n = 6) and/or T-cell (n = 4) responses to MsIg. Six of 12 patients exhibited humoral and/or T-cell anti-Id responses; yet, these were cross-reactive with Id proteins from other patient's tumors. Subsequently, a third series of vaccinations was carried out using 500 micro g of human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor DNA mixed with 1800 micro g of Id DNA. The proportion of patients responding to MsIg remained essentially unchanged (8 of 12), although humoral or T-cell responses were boosted in some cases. Throughout the study, no significant side effects or toxicities were observed. Despite the modest level of antitumor immune responses in this study, DNA vaccine technology retains potential advantages in developing anti-Id immunotherapies. Additional studies are warranted to optimize vaccine dose, routes of administration, vector designs, and prime-boost strategies. These results will help guide the design of such future DNA vaccine trials.