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•Cu° electrocrystallizes on glassy carbon by a 3D progressive nucleation mechanism.•The electroactive Cu2+- Cu/GC system regenerates in situ.•The system is highly sensitive for ...indirect detection of glyphosate.•An adsorptive effect of surface coordinated amine inhibits the oxidation current.•Current drop arises from an adsorbed glyphosate layer, preventing Cu2+ diffusion.
Cu° electrocrystallization onto glassy carbon (GC) at potentials between −0.4 V and −0.7 V is consistent with a 3D progressive nucleation mechanism and diffusion-controlled growth. Cu/GC electrode prepared at −0.6 V is applied to the detection of a widely used herbicide such as glyphosate (Glyp). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) methods are applied in the Glyp determination in acetic acid buffer aqueous solution (ABS) at pH 5 or pH 6. Optimal herbicide detection properties are found for this electrode, arising from Cu°/Cu+ and Cu+/Cu2+ couples. An interesting phenomenon is detected by the DPV method, with Cu/GC electrode in presence of (0.03–0.2 mM) Cu2+ into the ABS at pH 6, when glyphosate is added. For an oxidation potential of −0,015 V vs. Ag/AgCl for Cu°/Cu+ couple (DPV), the current peak is sensitively affected by glyphosate concentration. A strong adsorptive effect between 6 and 30 μM of analyte leads to a linear decrease in the current peak at pH 6. This phenomenon is related to the formation of a barrier of adsorbed glyphosate molecules, which prevent Cu2+ ions diffusion towards the electrode’s surface. CVs and DPVs for Cu/GC electrode system in the presence of Glyp and Cu2+ ions are consistent with the transfer of one electron from Cu2+ to Cu+ and from Cu+ to Cu0, which is limited by diffusion of Cu2+ ions. A quantification limit (LOQ) for Glyp of (0.62 ± 0.02) μM (105 ± 3) μg L–1, and a low determination limit (LOD) of (0.186 ± 0.004) μM (31 (μg L–1) (31g/L)) are obtained from Cu/GC system into ABS pH 6 and 0.1 mM Cu2+ ions. Glyp Determinations for Cu2+-Cu/GC in the presence of interfering cations and in drinking water demonstrated similar sensitivity and stability as in pure systems.
Obesity is now the most prevalent chronic disease in the United States, which amounts to an estimated $147 billion in health care spending annually. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) enacted in 2010 ...included provisions for private and public health insurance plans that expanded coverage for lifestyle/behavior modification and bariatric surgery for the treatment of obesity. Pharmacotherapy, however, has not been included despite their evidence-based efficacy. We set out to investigate the coverage of Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for obesity within Medicare, Medicaid and ACA-established marketplace health insurance plans.
We examined coverage for phentermine, diethylpropion, phendimetrazine, Benzphentamine, Lorcaserin, Phentermine/Topiramate (Qysmia), Liraglutide (Saxenda) and Buproprion/Naltrexone (Contrave) among Medicare, Medicaid and marketplace insurance plans in 34 states.
Among 136 marketplace health insurance plans, 11% had some coverage for the specified drugs in only nine states. Medicare policy strictly excludes drug therapy for obesity. Only seven state Medicaid programs have drug coverage.
Obesity requires an integrated approach to combat its public health threat. Broader coverage of pharmacotherapy can make a significant contribution to fighting this complex and chronic disease.
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•Opuntia ficus-indica (OPU) extract was loaded within PEG- crosslinked chitosan films.•The prepared films showed swelling and vapor transmission rate suitable as wound dressings.•At a ...given composition, the Young’s modulus of films is close to that of human skin.•Release of OPU was higher from films at low OPU load.•Low OPU content films showed the best tissue repairing activity.
In the present study, chitosan-based wound dressings loaded with the extract of Opuntia ficus-indica (OPU) were prepared. OPU is known for its capability to accelerate skin injury repair. Chitosan (Ch) was crosslinked with a low molecular weight diepoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) (diePEG), and hydrogel films with different Ch/PEG composition and OPU content were prepared by casting. The occurrence of crosslinking reaction was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. FTIR and DSC analysis suggested that ionic interactions occur between chitosan and OPU. Tensile tests evidenced that the crosslinking caused a decrease of Young’s modulus, which approaches the value of the human skin modulus. Swelling characteristics, water vapor transmission rate, and release kinetics demonstrated that these films are adequate for the proposed application. Finally, a scratch test on a keratinocytes monolayer showed that the rate of cell migration in the presence of OPU-loaded samples is about 3-fold higher compared to unloaded films, confirming the repairing activity of OPU.
A series of transition metal phosphides (Ni sub(2)P, Co sub(2)P and MoP) have been synthesized by temperature programmed reduction of the corresponding metal phosphate precursors loaded over ...mesostructured Al-SBA-15, mesoporous gamma -Al sub(2)O sub(3) (m-Al sub(2)O sub(3)) and ordered mesoporous carbon (CMK-3). Both the dispersion and metal phosphide phases attained are strongly influenced by the support features, such as their acidic and textural properties. XRD, TEM and H sub(2) chemisorption results revealed that the MoP phase was probably formed but it underwent a fast re-oxidation in air. On the other hand, metal phosphide formation was hindered over m-Al sub(2)O sub(3) as only metallic Ni and Co were detected. All the materials prepared have been evaluated as catalysts in hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) using phenol as a bio-oil model compound. The highest phenol conversions were attained with the catalysts based on the acidic supports (Al-SBA-15 and m-Al sub(2)O sub(3)). Nevertheless, Co sub(2)P/Al-SBA-15, Ni sub(2)P/m-Al sub(2)O sub(3) and Co sub(2)P/m-Al sub(2)O sub(3) yielded cyclohexanol as the main product denoting very low HDO efficiency. In contrast, Ni sub(2)P/Al-SBA-15 showed remarkable catalytic properties, being the only catalyst that provided almost full phenol conversion and extremely high HDO efficiency, with cyclohexane selectivity higher than 90%. This may be due to a synergetic effect between the high electron deficiency, generated by the Ni alpha + (0 < alpha < 1) species owing to an electron transfer from Ni to P and the different acidic sites present in the catalyst.
Solid tumour growth is the consequence of a complex interplay between cancer cells and their microenvironment. Recently, a new global transcriptomic immune classification of solid tumours has ...identified six immune subtypes (ISs) (C1–C6). Our aim was to specifically characterise ISs in colorectal cancer (CRC) and assess their interplay with the consensus molecular subtypes (CMSs).
Clinical and molecular information, including CMSs and ISs, were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) (N = 625). Immune cell populations, differential gene expression and gene set enrichment analysis were performed to characterise ISs in the global CRC population by using CMSs.
Only 5 ISs were identified in CRC, predominantly C1 wound healing (77%) and C2 IFN-γ dominant (17%). CMS1 showed the highest proportion of C2 (53%), whereas C1 was particularly dominant in CMS2 (91%). CMS3 had the highest representation of C3 inflammatory (7%) and C4 lymphocyte depleted ISs (4%), whereas all C6 TGF-β dominant cases belonged to CMS4 (2.3%). Prognostic relevance of ISs in CRC substantially differed from that reported for the global TCGA, and ISs had a greater ability to stratify the prognosis of CRC patients than CMS classification. C2 had higher densities of CD8, CD4 activated, follicular helper T cells, regulatory T cells and neutrophils and the highest M1/M2 polarisation. C2 had a heightened activation of pathways related to the immune system, apoptosis and DNA repair, mTOR signalling and oxidative phosphorylation, whereas C1 was more dependent of metabolic pathways.
The correlation of IS and CMS allows a more precise categorisation of patients with relevant clinical and biological implications, which may be valuable tools to improve tailored therapeutic interventions in CRC patients.
•Consensus molecular subtypes (CMSs) show substantial heterogeneity in the distribution of immune subtypes (ISs) with relevant clinical and biological implications and a significant impact on patients' survival.•Profound biological differences observed among ISs could be translated into heterogeneous drug responses to conventional cytotoxic drugs and to novel strategies such as immunotherapies.•These results are highly relevant and should be taken into account for the design of future therapeutic strategies that may eventually improve the fate of CRC patients.
Obesity is growing at an alarming rate in Latin America. Lifestyle behaviours such as physical activity and dietary intake have been largely associated with obesity in many countries; however studies ...that combine nutrition and physical activity assessment in representative samples of Latin American countries are lacking. The aim of this study is to present the design rationale of the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health/Estudio Latinoamericano de Nutrición y Salud (ELANS) with a particular focus on its quality control procedures and recruitment processes.
The ELANS is a multicenter cross-sectional nutrition and health surveillance study of a nationally representative sample of urban populations from eight Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Perú and Venezuela). A standard study protocol was designed to evaluate the nutritional intakes, physical activity levels, and anthropometric measurements of 9000 enrolled participants. The study was based on a complex, multistage sample design and the sample was stratified by gender, age (15 to 65 years old) and socioeconomic level. A small-scale pilot study was performed in each country to test the procedures and tools.
This study will provide valuable information and a unique dataset regarding Latin America that will enable cross-country comparisons of nutritional statuses that focus on energy and macro- and micronutrient intakes, food patterns, and energy expenditure.
Clinical Trials NCT02226627.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
MicroRNAs (miRs), a class of small noncoding RNAs that act as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, have attracted increasing attention as critical regulators of organogenesis, cancer, ...and disease. Interest has been spurred by development of a novel class of synthetic RNA oligonucleotides with excellent drug-like properties that hybridize to a specific miR, preventing its action. In kidney disease, a small number of miRs are dysregulated. These overlap with regulated miRs in nephrogenesis and kidney cancers. Several dysregulated miRs have been identified in fibrotic diseases of other organs, representing a "fibrotic signature," and some of these fibrotic miRs contribute remarkably to the pathogenesis of kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease, affecting ∼10% of the population, leads to kidney failure, with few treatment options. Here, we will explore the pathological mechanism of miR-21, whose pre-eminent role in amplifying kidney disease and fibrosis by suppressing mitochondrial biogenesis and function is established. Evolving roles for miR-214, -199, -200, -155, -29, -223, and -126 in kidney disease will be discussed, and we will demonstrate how studying functions of distinct miRs has led to new mechanistic insights for kidney disease progression. Finally, the utility of anti-miR oligonucleotides as potential novel therapeutics to treat chronic disease will be highlighted.
AbstractMicrobially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is a promising biocementation process that can improve the geotechnical properties of granular soils through the precipitation of calcite. In ...this study, a large-scale biocementation experiment was completed to evaluate differences in improvement obtained using a bioaugmentation approach with S. pasteurii and a biostimulation approach, which stimulated native ureolytic microorganisms to complete the process. Two identical 1.7-m-diameter soil tank specimens containing a 0.3-m-thick layer of sand were treated using three wells at a well-to-well spacing of 1.2 m. Treatments were applied daily over 12 days and were designed to evaluate differences between tanks by creating a nonuniform spatial distribution of improvement. During treatment, shear wave velocity and biogeochemical changes were monitored spatially and temporally. Post-treatment, cone penetration tests were completed to assess improvement, and samples were obtained for calcite content measurements. Similar final improvement was observed between tanks, with highly cemented regions achieving shear wave velocities over 960 m/s and increases in tip resistances of over 419%. Results suggest that biostimulation may enable comparable biocementation improvement at the meter scale.
Carbon capture using amine-modified porous sorbents is one of the main proposed technologies to reduce the CO2 atmospheric concentration. In this work, a wide series of inexpensive clays have been ...selected to assess their role as supports of amine-containing sorbents for CO2 capture. Montmorillonite, bentonite, saponite, sepiolite and palygorskite have been hydrated and functionalized by three routes: (a) grafting with aminopropyl (AP) and diethylenetriamine (DT) organosilanes; (b) impregnation with polyethyleneimine (PEI); and (c) double functionalization by impregnating previously grafted samples. XRD, FTIR and N2 adsorption-desorption analyses along with nitrogen content and CO2 adsorption properties (thermogravimetry and fixed bed) have been evaluated for bare and functionalized clays. Under dry conditions (45 °C, 1 bar), grafted and impregnated samples yielded CO2 uptakes as high as 61.3 and 67.1 mg CO2/g ads (for Sepi-DT and Paly-PEI, respectively), with the latter being the best-performing sample in terms of CO2 uptake. On the contrary, double-functionalized samples displayed poor CO2 adsorption properties, probably due to pore-blocking problems related to their high organic loading. The presence of 5% H2O in the feed gas resulted in CO2 uptake increments from 17 to 27%. The adsorption performance of AP, DT and PEI-containing samples was maintained after three adsorption-desorption cycles.
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•Five unexpensive clays were considered.•23 different amino-modified sorbents were synthesised by grafting and impregnation.•CO2 adsorption was studied observing the effect of dilution, moisture, and cycles.•Samples were tested for CO2 capture with volumetric and fixed-bed equipment.•CO2 uptake increased by 17–27% in moisture-containing streams.
Fibrotic disease is associated with matrix deposition that results in the loss of organ function. Pericytes, the precursors of myofibroblasts, are a source of pathological matrix collagens and may be ...promising targets for treating fibrogenesis. Here, we have shown that pericytes activate a TLR2/4- and MyD88-dependent proinflammatory program in response to tissue injury. Similarly to classic immune cells, pericytes activate the NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to IL-1β and IL-18 secretion. Released IL-1β signals through pericyte MyD88 to amplify this response. Unexpectedly, we found that MyD88 and its downstream effector kinase IRAK4 intrinsically control pericyte migration and conversion to myofibroblasts. Specific ablation of MyD88 in pericytes or pharmacological inhibition of MyD88 signaling by an IRAK4 inhibitor in vivo protected against kidney injury by profoundly attenuating tissue injury, activation, and differentiation of myofibroblasts. Our data show that in pericytes, MyD88 and IRAK4 are key regulators of 2 major injury responses: inflammatory and fibrogenic. Moreover, these findings suggest that disruption of this MyD88-dependent pathway in pericytes might be a potential therapeutic approach to inhibit fibrogenesis and promote regeneration.
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