Age is the most important risk factor in degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA), which is associated with the accumulation of senescent cells in the joints. Here, we aimed to assess the ...impact of senescence on the therapeutic properties of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from human fat mesenchymal stromal cells (ASCs) in OA. We generated a model of DNA damage-induced senescence in ASCs using etoposide and characterized EVs isolated from their conditioned medium (CM). Senescent ASCs (S-ASCs) produced 3-fold more EVs (S-EVs) with a slightly bigger size and that contain 2-fold less total RNA. Coculture experiments showed that S-ASCs were as efficient as healthy ASCs (H-ASCs) in improving the phenotype of OA chondrocytes cultured in resting conditions but were defective when chondrocytes were proliferating. S-EVs were also impaired in their capacity to polarize synovial macrophages towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype. A differential protein cargo mainly related to inflammation and senescence was detected in S-EVs and H-EVs. Using the collagenase-induced OA model, we found that contrary to H-EVs, S-EVs could not protect mice from cartilage damage and joint calcifications, and were less efficient in protecting subchondral bone degradation. In addition, S-EVs induced a pro-catabolic and pro-inflammatory gene signature in the joints of mice shortly after injection, while H-EVs decreased hypertrophic, catabolic and inflammatory pathways. In conclusion, S-EVs are functionally impaired and cannot protect mice from developing OA.
In this paper, we obtain maps of the spatial tunnel barrier variations in self-assembled monolayers of organosulfurs on Au(111). Maps down to the sub-nanometer scale are obtained by combining ...topographic scanning tunneling microscopy images with dI/dz spectroscopy. The square root of the tunnel barrier height is directly proportional to the local work function and the dI/dz signal. We use ratios of the tunnel barriers to study the work function contrast in various decanethiol phases: the lying-down striped β phase, the dense standing-up φ phase, and the oxidized decanesulfonate λ phase. We compare the induced work function variations too: the work function contrast induced by a lying-down striped phase in comparison to the modulation induced by the standing-up φ phase, as well as the oxidized λ phase. By performing these comparisons, we can account for the similarities and differences in the effects of the mechanisms acting on the surface and extract valuable insights into molecular binding to the substrate. The pillow effect, governing the lowering of the work function due to lying-down molecular tails in the striped low density phases, seems to have quite a similar contribution as the surface dipole effect emerging in the dense standing-up decanethiol phases. The dI/dz spectroscopy map of the nonoxidized β phase compared to the map of the oxidized λ phase indicates that the strong binding of molecules to the substrate is no longer present in the latter.
Irvingia gabonensis, also known as 'bush mango', is a multipurpose fruit tree, native to tropical Africa. It is a priority indigenous fruit tree in western and central Africa since its wood is used ...for making utensils and fruits are mostly used as food and medicine. The objective of this work is to provide an updated review of the available knowledge about physicochemical characteristics of I. gabonensis fruit in order to evaluate its potential use in the food industry. The fruit mesocarp contains various phytochemicals and ascorbic acid concentration higher than some vitamin C rich fruits, then it is consumed fresh or dried, used to produce juice and wine, or as a flavourant. I. gabonensis fruit kernel is rich in oil (63%-69% crude fat), mainly composed of myristic and lauric acids. Its triacylglycerol composition and, resultantly, melting curve and polymorphism indicate an aptitude for diverse applications, as it is solid at room temperature. Forty-one phenolic compounds were identified in the seeds and derived extracts and supplements, being ellagic acid and its derivates the most present. This review enhances our knowledge about nutritional content and health benefits of I. gabonensis whole fruit, especially its pulp and seed, evidencing the need for safer and more efficient production of value-added products.
The modification of surfaces with multiple ligands allows the formation of platforms for the study of multivalency in diverse processes. Herein we use this approach for the implementation of a ...photosensitizer (PS)‐nanocarrier system that binds efficiently to siglec‐10, a member of the CD33 family of siglecs (sialic acid (SA)‐binding immunoglobulin‐like lectins). In particular, a zinc phthalocyanine derivative bearing three SA moieties (PcSA) has been incorporated in the membrane of small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs), retaining its photophysical properties upon insertion into the SUV's membrane. The interaction of these biohybrid systems with human siglec‐10‐displaying supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) has shown the occurrence of weakly multivalent, superselective interactions between vesicle and SLB. The SLB therefore acts as an excellent cell membrane mimic, while the binding with PS‐loaded SUVs shows the potential for targeting siglec‐expressing cells with photosensitizing nanocarriers.
A promising approach towards optically active biohybrid systems that selectively bind receptors of the sialic acid‐binding immunoglobulin‐like lectins (siglecs) family is described. To this end, siglec‐modified supported lipid bilayers act as cell membrane mimics that interact in a multivalent fashion with photosensitizer‐loaded vesicles, showing a potential for targeting siglec‐expressing cells with photosensitizing nanocarriers.
•The current study provides understanding of the factor structure of the EPDS, association of subscales of the EPDS, and demographic correlates of EPDS subscales.•Results suggest alternative use of ...the EPDS to track several mental health symptom categories for expectant and new mothers.•A 3-factor model (i.e. anxiety, depression, anhedonia) of the EPDS displayed the best fit to the current data.•Demographic correlates of EPDS subscales included history of depression, history of anxiety, race, and pregnancy status (i.e. first child or not).
The prevalence and negative effects of perinatal depression are well known. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a common screening tool for perinatal depression and it is recommended for use by several professional organizations. The current study tested competing EPDS factor structures and assessed EPDS change from intake to 6-week follow-up, and identified demographic correlates in an outpatient obstetric sample. Using a retrospective observational study design, medical records were coded for demographic, mental health, and EPDS patient data (n = 524). Confirmatory factor analysis, t-tests, and ANOVA were utilized. Findings included: (1) a 3-factor model (i.e. anxiety, depression, anhedonia) of the EPDS displayed the best fit to the current data; (2) small declines in all 3 subscales of the EPDS from intake to 6-week follow-up appointments and; (3) demographic correlates of EPDS subscales included history of depression, history of anxiety, race, and pregnancy status (i.e. first child or not). The 3-factor structure can be used in clinical practice to assess perinatal depression in a nuanced fashion. Given that history of depression and anxiety are risk factors for perinatal depression, a thorough assessment of these items in clinical practice is needed.
•We present a simple sigmoidal equation able to fit the compaction behavior (α - epsilon) of - epsilon) of porous metals under high strain rate compression.•The equation requires only 4 input ...parameters. Each of these parameters has a physical meaning.•Parameters can be determined by non linear regression analysis of simulations or experimental data.•Good agreement is found compared to molecular dynamics simulations of nano-scale porosity, as well as to data of dynamic collapse of micro-scale porosity available in the literature.•The equation can be used in macro-scale codes where nano-scale porosity cannot be modeled explicitly.
The high strain rate compression of porous materials is a problem that presents a series of difficulties to continuum-scale codes, its computational cost being a major one. Following previous contributions suggesting that compaction can be defined in terms of volumetric strain, we propose to model the compaction of porous metals by means of a sigmoidal equation. The definition requires only four parameters, each of them with a physical meaning. We tested the proposed equation against molecular dynamics simulations of high strain rate compression of closed-cell and open-cell foams, as well as micro-scale data available in the literature. The equation can be used in micro and macro-scale codes where nano-scale porosity cannot be modeled explicitly.
Abstract Noise exposure is known to affect auditory structures in living organisms. However, it should not be ignored that many of the effects of noise are extra-auditory. Previous findings of our ...laboratory demonstrated that noise was able to induce behavioral alterations that are mainly related to the cerebellum (CE) and the hippocampus (HC). Therefore, the aim of this work was to reveal new data about the vulnerability of developing rat HC to moderate noise levels through the assessment of potential histological changes and hippocampal-related behavioral alterations. Male Wistar rats were exposed to noise (95–97 dB SPL, 2 h daily) either for 1 day (acute noise exposure, ANE) or between postnatal days 15 and 30 (sub-acute noise exposure, SANE). Hippocampal histological evaluation as well as short (ST) and long term (LT) habituation and recognition memory assessments were performed. Results showed a mild disruption in the different hippocampal regions after ANE and SANE schemes, along with significant behavioral abnormalities. These data suggest that exposure of developing rats to noise levels of moderate intensity is able to trigger changes in the HC, an extra-auditory structure of the Central Nervous System (CNS), that could underlie the observed behavioral effects.
Objective
To evaluate the effectiveness of 200 mg of daily vaginal natural progesterone to prevent preterm birth in women with preterm labour.
Design
Multicentre, randomised, double‐blind, ...placebo‐controlled trial.
Setting
Twenty‐nine centres in Switzerland and Argentina.
Population
A total of 385 women with preterm labour (240/7 to 336/7 weeks of gestation) treated with acute tocolysis.
Methods
Participants were randomly allocated to either 200 mg daily of self‐administered vaginal progesterone or placebo within 48 hours of starting acute tocolysis.
Main outcome measures
Primary outcome was delivery before 37 weeks of gestation. Secondary outcomes were delivery before 32 and 34 weeks, adverse effects, duration of tocolysis, re‐admissions for preterm labour, length of hospital stay, and neonatal morbidity and mortality. The study was ended prematurely based on results of the intermediate analysis.
Results
Preterm birth occurred in 42.5% of women in the progesterone group versus 35.5% in the placebo group (relative risk RR 1.2; 95% confidence interval 95% CI 0.93–1.5). Delivery at <32 and <34 weeks did not differ between the two groups (12.9 versus 9.7%; RR 1.3; 95% CI 0.7–2.5 and 19.7 versus 12.9% RR 1.5; 95% CI 0.9–2.4, respectively). The duration of tocolysis, hospitalisation, and recurrence of preterm labour were comparable between groups. Neonatal morbidity occurred in 44 (22.8%) cases on progesterone versus 35 (18.8%) cases on placebo (RR: 1.2; 95% CI 0.82–1.8), whereas there were 4 (2%) neonatal deaths in each study group.
Conclusion
There is no evidence that the daily administration of 200 mg vaginal progesterone decreases preterm birth or improves neonatal outcome in women with preterm labour.
The diversity, dynamics and activity of Castelmagno PDO cheese microbiota were studied in three batches produced in a floor valley farm, in the Grana Valley (northwest Italy), during the wintertime. ...Samples of milk, curd and cheese (core and subsurface) at different ripening time were submitted to both culture-dependent and -independent analysis. In particular, DNA and RNA directly extracted from the matrices were studied by PCR-
Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and
reverse transcription (RT)-PCR-DGGE. Culture-dependent methods highlighted the initial dominance of a thermophilic streptococcal population with the species
Streptococcus thermophilus and
S. agalactiae. Then, mesophilic lactococci occurred among isolates during manufacturing, with
Lactococcus lactis which was also well represented in the first month of Castelmagno PDO ripening. At this point and throughout the ripening, lactobacilli prevailed in cheese samples, represented from
Lactobacillus plantarum and
Lb. casei. Culture-independent analysis underlined the undoubted role of
L. lactis, actively involved in both Castelmagno PDO manufacturing and ripening. Despite
Lb. helveticus was never isolated on selective media, a DGGE band referred to this microorganism was detected, at RNA level, in samples from ripened cheeses. On the other hand,
Lb. plantarum was widely isolated from the plates, among lactobacilli, but never detected by direct analysis. Due to the importance of microbiota in the sensory richness and properties of traditional cheeses, new information have been added, in this work, on microbial diversity of Castelmagno PDO cheese.
The skeleton of most Porifera species consists of siliceous spicules that, after the sponge death, persist for a long time in the sediment. The reduced suspension occurring within the meadows of the ...seagrass Posidonia oceanica makes these habitats a stable deposit for sponge spicules. Spicules trapped into the network of rhizomes progressively buried, named "matte", represent a sedimentary sequence interpretable on a temporal scale. By means of a vertical corer we collected samples of sediment at 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 m depth along the matte profile in order to quantify the amount of biogenic silica used to assess past dynamics of the sponge community in four P. oceanica meadows of the Ligurian sea. The content in biogenic silica was determined by spectrophotometric analysis of the sediments. While at Prelo Bay the values are constant in the core sample, a general decreasing trend with depth was observed in the meadows of Punta Pedale, while in the site of Punta Manara the major amount of silica was found deeper in the matte. The temporal variations of sponge abundance were probably due to historical anthropogenic factors. In the meadow of Bergeggi, BSi concentrations, significantly lower compared to all other sites, were likely caused from inputs from the close Savona harbor and strong bottom currents avoiding spicule deposition.
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