Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is affected by numerous clinical variables, including disease activity, damage, fibromyalgia, depression and anxiety. However, these associations have not yet ...been described in Mexican patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
To evaluate the relationship between disease activity, damage, depression and fibromyalgia and HRQOL measured by the LupusQoL-instrument in Mexican patients with SLE.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in women fulfilling the 1997 ACR classification criteria for SLE. HRQOL was evaluated using a disease-specific instrument for SLE, the LupusQoL (validated for the Spanish-speaking population). Patients were evaluated clinically to determine the degree of disease activity and damage using the Mexican Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (Mex-SLEDAI) and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics-Damage Index (SLICC), respectively. Fibromyalgia and depression were assessed using the ACR criteria and the CES-D scale, respectively. The relationship between HRQOL and these variables was measured using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis.
A total of 138 women with SLE, age 40.3±11 years, disease duration 8.8±6.4 years, with disease activity in 51.4%, depression in 50%, damage in 43% and fibromyalgia in 19.6% were included. Poorer HRQOL correlated with depression (r = -0.61; p< 0.005), fibromyalgia (r = -0.42; p< 0.005), disease activity (r = -0.37; p < 0.005) and damage (r = -0.31; p < 0.005). In the multivariate linear regression analysis, damage (β = -3.756, p<0.005), fibromyalgia (β = -0.920, p<0.005), depression (β = -0.911, p<0.005) and disease activity (β = -0.911, p<0.005) were associated with poor HRQOL.
SLE disease activity, damage, fibromyalgia and depression were associated with poor HRQOL in our sample of Mexican SLE patients.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The combined element-specific X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) study of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) capped with organic molecules confirms the occurrence ...of intrinsic ferromagnetic-like (FML) behavior up to room temperature (HTFM). Zn K-edge XMCD measurements reveal the coexistence of two different magnetic contributions: a paramagnetic response from the core of the NP, and a ferromagnetic-like contribution stemming from the interface formed between the ZnO core of the NP and the organic molecule. The extent and conformation of this interface depends on the capping molecule, and as demonstrated in ZnO/ZnS heterostructures, the FML behavior is reinforced when neat interfaces are formed.
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) use bacteria to convert the chemical energy of a particular substrate contained in wastewater into electrical energy. This is achieved when bacteria transfer electrons to ...an electrode rather than directly to an electron acceptor. Their technical feasibility has recently been proven and there is great enthusiasm in the scientific community that MFCs could provide a source of “green electricity” by exploiting domestic and industrial waste to generate power. By using organic matter in wastewater as a fuel, contaminants are removed from water while generating electricity. The design of new materials has led to increased levels of power being generated, particularly when compared with the levels possible using common materials. Moreover, the use of inexpensive materials, such as ceramic membranes or non-platinum catalysts, makes it possible to obtain a feasible device to produce electricity. However, it is necessary to improve the performance of MFCs before they can be scaled up since, to date, their practical implementation is not feasible. Therefore, the global objective pursued by researchers is the development and evaluation of low cost catalysts (non-precious metals) for improving electron acceptor reduction (new cathodes), new biocompatible anodes and membranes, and novel configurations which improve the power and the wastewater treatment efficiency of MFCs, while reducing their cost. This review is intended to provide a critical and global vision of recent advances in microbial fuel cells and the potential applications of this technology. In this article, an overview over all aspects concerning MFC technology is provided, including issues such as new anode and cathode materials, types of membranes, MFC configurations, their application in the treatment of different types of wastewaters, bioenergy production, modeling and future perspectives.
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•· MFCs are a potentially promising technology for bioelectricity production.•Recent advances in MFC materials have contributed to enhancing their performance.•Power improvement and cost reduction of MFCs enlarge their range of application.•Modeling is a useful tool for microbial fuel cell optimization.
Multilocus Sequence Typing has become a useful tool for the study of the genetic diversity and population structure of different organisms. In this study, a MLST approach with seven loci (CP47, MS5, ...MS9, MSC6-7, TP14, and gp60) was used to analyze the genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium hominis and Cryptosporidium parvum isolated from 28 Colombian patients. Five Cryptosporidium species were identified: C. hominis, C. parvum, Cryptosporidium felis, Cryptosporidium meleagridis, and Cryptosporidium suis. Unilocus gp60 analysis identified four allelic families for C. hominis (Ia, Ib, Id, and Ie) and two for C. parvum (IIa and IIc). There was polymorphic behavior of all markers evaluated for both C. hominis and C. parvum, particularly with the CP47, MS5, and gp60 markers. Phylogenetic analysis with consensus sequences (CS) of the markers showed a taxonomic agreement with the results obtained with the 18S rRNA and gp60 gene. Additionally, two monophyletic clades that clustered the species C. hominis and C. parvum were detected, with a higher number of subclades within the monophyletic groups compared to those with the gp60 gene. Thirteen MLG were identified for C. hominis and eight for C. parvum. Haplotypic and nucleotide diversity were detected, but only the latter was affected by the gp60 exclusion from the CS analysis. The gene fixation index showed an evolutionary closeness between the C. hominis samples and a less evolutionary closeness and greater sequence divergence in the C. parvum samples. Data obtained in this work support the implementation of MLST analysis in the study of the genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium, considering the more detailed information that it provides, which may explain some genetic events that with an unilocus approach could not be established. This is the first multilocus analysis of the intra-specific variability of Cryptosporidium from humans in South America.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
This work aimed to study the changes in starch and isolated starch resulting from the conversion of corn to tortilla, focusing on the orthorhombic crystal structure and its association with resistant ...starch. Scanning electron microscopy images show whole, partially, and completely damaged starch granules in nixtamalized corn, masa, and tortillas. More importantly, whole isolated starch granules were found in nixtamal, masa, and tortillas. Transmission electron microscopy shows the presence of nanocrystals with orthorhombic structures in isolated starch. Some of them remained almost undamaged during the nixtamalization process. The X-ray patterns showed orthorhombic crystals in nixtamal, masa, and tortilla and their isolated starches. The RS increased from 2.61 to 5.31 % from corn to tortilla and from 2.52 to 5.61 % for isolated starches from corn and tortilla during the traditional nixtamalization process. The results suggest that the nanocrystals in corn to tortilla are part of RS2.
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•Impact of processing conditions was studied on plant-based shakes.•Processing affected microstructure, and lipid and protein digestion kinetics.•High pressure homogenisation improved ...protein solubility in plant-based shakes.•The presence and size of protein aggregates affected lipid digestion kinetics.•Oil droplet size did not influence protein digestion kinetics.
In this work, plant-based shakes were prepared (5% oil, 6% protein, 1% lecithin, 88% water) (w/w) using two processing techniques (i) only mixing versus (ii) mixing followed by high pressure homogenisation, as well as two processing sequences (i) adding all ingredients together versus (ii) stepwise addition of ingredients. Shakes only mixed consisted of large, irregular particles (1–100 µm). Eventually, this resulted in a relatively low lipid and protein digestion extent after 2 h of gastric pre-digestion (9% and < 1%, respectively). In contrast, shakes that were subjected to high pressure homogenisation displayed small, homogeneous particles (<10 µm). Besides, lipids and proteins were digested to a high extent in the stomach (40% and 10%, respectively). The small intestinal digestion kinetics indicated a significant impact of proteins on lipid digestion kineticsbutno significant effect of lipids on protein digestion kinetics. The results highlighted the relevance of food processing on macronutrient (micro)structure and further gastrointestinal functionality.
The airborne transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) via respiratory fluids and droplets suggests that mouthwashes containing substances with virucidal activity ...can help reduce viral spread. We conducted a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial to assess the virucidal activity of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) mouthwashes. Outpatients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection with or without symptoms were randomized to perform washes and gargles for 1 min with 15 mL of either colored distilled water or 0.07% CPC (Vitis CPC Protect) mouthwash. The study outcomes were the SARS-CoV-2 log10 viral RNA load and the nucleocapsid protein levels, both in saliva at 1 and 3 h after the intervention. In total, 118 patients were enrolled and randomized (mean SD, age 46 14 y). Thirteen of 118 participants (11%) did not complete follow-up or had insufficient sample volume for testing and were excluded from the analysis. The assessment of the viral load showed no significant differences between groups at any of the investigated points. However, the levels of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein of lysed viruses were significantly higher in the CPC group compared with the control group at 1 h (adjusted difference 269.3 pg/mL; 95% confidence interval CI, 97.1–441.5) and at 3 h postintervention (561.1 pg/mL; 95% CI, 380.0–742.2). In nonhospitalized patients with asymptomatic or mild symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, a 0.07% CPC mouthwash, compared to placebo, was associated with a significant increase of nucleocapsid protein levels in saliva, indicating enhanced disruption of viral particles.
The environmental pollution caused by the excess of human energy consumption and the foreseeable depletion of fossil fuels underline the need for new eco-friendly, sustainable and cost effective ...energy sources. Recent research works on microalgae have identified this new bio-material as a promising technology for bioenergy production, wastewater treatment, the development of high value added products and CO2 capture. Microalgae can be used to produce biodiesel, bioethanol, methane or hydrogen. However, one of the newest applications of this bio-material is its use in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The resulting microalgae-MFC systems can produce electricity using the electrons released to the anode during microalgae degradation. Furthermore, microalgae can be grown in the cathode chamber, capturing the CO2 therein and using light as power source.
This critical review presents an overview of new applications of microalgae for bioenergy production. It includes as a novelty the use of microalgae for electricity generation in microalgae-MFCs and capturing the CO2 emissions of these systems, their advantages, limitations and future prospects.
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•Microalgae as an environmentally friendly source for bioenergy production•Renewable substrate for biodiesel, bioethanol, biohydrogen or methane production•Microalgae-MFCs for simultaneous electricity generation and wastewater treatment•Microalgae to capture de CO2 emissions in microbial fuel cells
Electric-field control of magnetism has remained a major challenge which would greatly impact data storage technology. Although progress in this direction has been recently achieved, reversible ...magnetization switching by an electric field requires the assistance of a bias magnetic field. Here we take advantage of the novel electronic phenomena emerging at interfaces between correlated oxides and demonstrate reversible, voltage-driven magnetization switching without magnetic field. Sandwiching a non-superconducting cuprate between two manganese oxide layers, we find a novel form of magnetoelectric coupling arising from the orbital reconstruction at the interface between interfacial Mn spins and localized states in the CuO2 planes. This results in a ferromagnetic coupling between the manganite layers that can be controlled by a voltage. Consequently, magnetic tunnel junctions can be electrically toggled between two magnetization states, and the corresponding spin-dependent resistance states, in the absence of a magnetic field.
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