BACKGROUND: Resistance to chemical insecticides plus high morbidity rates have lead to rising interest in fungi as candidates for biocontrol agents of mosquito vectors. In most studies fungal ...infections have been induced by exposure of mosquitoes to various surfaces treated with conidia. In the present study eight Mexican strains of Beauveria bassiana were assessed against Aedes aegypti by direct exposure of females to 6 × 10⁸ conidia ml⁻¹ on a filter paper, afterwards, the transmission of the least and most virulent isolates was evaluated by mating behavior from virgin, fungus-contaminated male to females, to examine this ethological pattern as a new approach to deliver conidia against the dengue vector. METHODS: In an exposure chamber with a filter paper impregnated with 6 × 10⁸ conidia ml⁻¹ of the least and most virulent strains of B. bassiana, 6-8 day old males of A. aegypti were exposed for 48 hours, and then transferred individually (each one was a replicate) to another chamber and confined with twenty healthy females of the same age. Clean males were used in controls. Survival, infection by true mating (insemination) or by mating attempts (no insemination) and fecundity were daily registered until the death of last female. Data analysis was conducted with proc glm for unbalanced experiments and means were separated with the Ryan test with SAS. RESULTS: All strains were highly virulent with LT₅₀ ranging from 2.70 (± 0.29) to 5.33 (± 0.53) days. However the most (Bb-CBG2) and least virulent (Bb-CBG4) isolates were also transmitted by mating behavior; both killed 78-90% of females in 15 days after being confined with males that had previously been exposed for 48 hours to fungi. Of these mortality rates, 23 and 38% respectively, were infections acquired by copulations where insemination occurred. The LT₅₀ for sexually-infected females were 7.92 (± 0.46) and 8.82 (± 0.45) days for both strains, while the one in control was 13.92 (± 0.58). Likewise, fecundity decreased by 95% and 60% for both Bb-CBG2 and Bb-CBG4 isolates in comparison with control. The role of mating attempts in this delivery procedure of B. bassiana is discussed. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report about transmission of B. bassiana by mating behavior from virgin, fungus-contaminated males to females in A. aegypti. Fungal infections acquired by this route (autodissemination) infringed high mortality rates (90%) in mated or approached females. However, prior to releasing virgin, fungus-contaminated males to spread B. basasiana among females of A. aegypti, this novel alternative needs further investigations.
To understand the role of eggshell organic matrix on the biomineralization process, we have tested the influence of different purified fractions of the eggshell organic matrix on calcium carbonate ...(CaCO
3) precipitation. Purification was carried out after successive anion-exchange chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography and gel filtration chromatography of two different prepurified eggshell extracts (A) and (B); the purified fractions (named
g,
h, n and
r) and (
c′,
g′,
i′,
k′) respectively were diluted to 50
μg/ml before being tested
in vitro and analysed by the sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) procedure and mass spectrometry. The precipitation experiments were carried out by the method of vapour diffusion on
crystallization mushrooms. Each purified fraction showed a different effect on CaCO
3 precipitation. Some of them exhibited a strong inhibitory effect on nucleation, thus suppressing the precipitation of CaCO
3 almost totally while the others did not produce any notable effect. However, all fractions favoured the precipitation of calcite over the other CaCO
3 polymorphs. Additionally, all fractions modified in a different manner the size and morphology of the precipitated calcite crystals.
The treatment of vulnerable populations must be prioritized to accomplish the WHO HCV elimination goals by 2030, including patients with mental health disorders, incarcerated patients or homeless ...patients. Simplifying the treatment cascade and rapid treatment start is key to achieving this goal, even more so in the COVID-19 era. Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) is a protease inhibitor-free, pangenotypic, panfibrotic, single duration, single tablet regimen, to be taken without regards to food and with limited drug-drug interactions, allowing treatment simplification. Purpose: This real world data (RWD) analysis evaluates the effectiveness and safety of SOF/VEL for 12 weeks in a heterogeneous HCV population who suffer a mental health disorder, are incarcerated, or homeless.
33 clinical cohorts across Australia, Canada, Europe & USA included 1,888 patients, 280 of them (from 6 clinical cohorts) were treated in Canada and overall managed following local standards of care. Adults were included if SOF/VEL for 12 weeks was started before November 2019 and completed while suffering a mental health disorder, being incarcerated or homeless, irrespective of genotype (GT), presence of compensated cirrhosis (CC) or treatment experience. Exclusion criteria were history of decompensation, prior NS5A-inhibitor exposure, treatment duration >12 weeks or addition of ribavirin. Sustained virological response (SVR; ≥12 weeks after end-of-treatment) and time to treatment initiation were assessed.
Overall analysis includes 1,888 (71.3% male) patients (1,422 with a mental health disorder, 526 incarcerated, 153 homeless) aged 50 years, 24.4% were taking antipsychotic drugs and 52.2% of patients had former or current intravenous drug use. 43.2% patients had HCV GT1, 11.6% GT2, 36.3% GT3, 5.9% GT4-6, and 3.0% mixed/unknown GT. 19.0% patients had CC and 12.4% were treatment-experienced. In 257 patients (13.6%), SVR was not evaluated due to non-virological or unknown reasons; 79.9% of those were lost to follow-up (LTFU). When SVR was measured, 98.0% (n=1598/1631) achieved SVR, with 97.6%, 98.9% and 100% in patients with a mental health disorder, incarcerated or homeless patients, respectively. SVR was 98.5% in non-cirrhotic and 95.4% in CC patients. SVR remained >95% under antipsychotic use or coexistence of two negative factors of non-response such as GT3 plus active drug use or psychiatric disorder. SVR was similar, irrespective of time from diagnosis to treatment. Detailed analysis of the Canadian cohort data will be presented at the conference.
A test-and-treat strategy, easily implemented with SOF/VEL, and supported by the AASLD/ALEH/APASL/EASL joint call to action, could further enhance the population-level efficacy of HCV therapy by reducing the rate of non-virologic failure due to LTFU and related factors.
Light-chain deposition disease (LCDD) is an uncommon condition in which monoclonal light chains are deposited in different organs causing varying degrees of tissue damage. We report the case of a ...56-year-old male with progressive renal failure as the first manifestation of LCDD without initial evidence of monoclonal immunoglobulin protein in either serum or urine. The patient later developed severe systemic disease with rapid multiple organ involvement. Finally, he died 2 months after diagnosis, despite steroid and cyclophosphamide therapy.
Among patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), prognosis is impacted by nutritional status, but the influence of the nutritional risk index (NRI) is unknown. Here we ...calculated the NRI to determine the prevalence and prognostic impact in terms of mortality of malnutrition in TAVR patients.
This retrospective multicenter study included 941 patients who underwent TAVR between 2008 and 2016 (mean age, 80.7 ± 6.5 years; 57% female). The NRI was calculated as 1.519 × albumin (g/L) + 41.7 × (real weight kg / ideal weight kg). The mean NRI was 98.1 ± 7.0%. The patients were stratified into the following groups based on malnutrition risk: severe (NRI < 83.5; n = 83; 8.82%), moderate (83.5 ≥ NRI < 97.5; n = 370; 39.32%), mild (97.5 ≥ NRI < 100; n = 102; 10.84%), and no risk (NRI ≥ 100; n = 386; 41.02%). During the follow-up period (2.1 ± 1.1 years), 186 patients died, representing 19.8% of the total cohort. Cox regression models were used to analyze the relationship between NRI and mortality during follow-up. Compared to patients with no or mild nutritional risk, those with moderate or severe nutritional risk had a 45% greater risk of mortality during follow-up (adjusted HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.05–1.99; P = 0.021).
Malnutrition is common among TAVR patients. Our present data indicated that the NRI was independently associated with increased risk of death during long-term follow-up after TAVR. Based on its potential to improve risk prediction, NRI appears to be a promising tool for the clinical assessment of patients who are candidates for TAVR.
•Malnutrition, assessed by the NRI, is common among TAVR patients.•NRI was independently associated with mortality during long-term follow-up after TAVR.•NRI as a tool for detection of malnutrition should be included in the evaluation process of TAVR patients.
The effect of the substrate temperature (Ts) on the growth of Cu2-xTe films using the RF sputtering technique has been studied through a structural assessment of the different trigonal (space group ...P3m1) phases encountered in the range 100–350 °C. A new stoichiometric Cu7Te4 phase (δ′) with Z = 1 is proposed, and it is present in all the temperatures studied. Low-angle peaks (2θ < 20°) of Glancing Incidence X-ray Diffraction (GIXD) patterns are consistent with the formation of commensurate phases (forms α′) through variations in the c parameter whose value can be as large as 25.47 Å. The base modulation vector is the c parameter of the unit-cell of phase δ′ that, in this work, resulted in a value of 3.61 Å. The origin of the observed commensurate phases has been ascribed to an occupancy-wave modulation. Whereas at high temperatures (Ts > 250 °C), the major phase is δ' (Cu7Te4 or Cu2-xTe with x = 0.25), the predominant phase, for Ts < 250 °C, is the commensurate superstructure 7C with higher Cu/Te ratio (x < 0.25). The transition between these two thermal regimes is stated at a temperature of about 250 °C. Maintaining a constant global composition, the devaluation of Cu in films, with the temperature above the transition range, is explained in terms of diffusion of copper downward the film and towards its edges.
•Dominant crystalline phases were obtained depending on substrate temperature.•Commensurately modulated lattices in Cu2-xTe films are reported for the first time.•Simple and robust method for Cu2-xTe film growth and phase control is provided.•Crystalline structures of Cu2-xTe.
The Parr 1341 plain jacket calorimeter was assembled and calibrated with certificated benzoic acid pellets (NIST Standard Material Reference 39j), the energy equivalent, ε(calor) = (9930.1 ± 2.2) J K
...−1
, was obtained from five standardization tests. The static bomb adiabatic calorimeter in the oxygen atmosphere was tested with acetanilide and after was used to calculate the standard molar enthalpies of formation in solid phase at 298.15 K, of 4,4'-methylenedi(phenylene isocyanate) and of three polyamide-imides chemically synthesized.
Extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD), one of three mammalian SOD isoforms, is the sole extracellular enzymatic defense against superoxide. A known human single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in ...the matrix-binding domain of EC-SOD characterized by an arginine-to-glycine substitution at position 213 (R213G) redistributes EC-SOD from the matrix into extracellular fluids. We previously reported that knock-in mice harboring the human R213G SNP (R213G mice) exhibited enhanced resolution of inflammation with subsequent protection against fibrosis following bleomycin treatment compared with wild-type (WT) littermates. Herein we set out to determine the underlying pathways with RNA-Seq analysis of WT and R213G lungs 7 days post-PBS and bleomycin. RNA-Seq analysis uncovered significant differential gene expression changes induced in WT and R213G strains in response to bleomycin. Ingenuity Pathways Analysis was used to predict differentially regulated up- and downstream processes based on transcriptional changes. Most prominent was the induction of inflammatory and immune responses in WT mice, which were suppressed in the R213G mice. Specifically, PKC signaling in T lymphocytes, IL-6, and NFΚB signaling were opposed in WT mice when compared with R213G. Several upstream regulators such as IFNγ, IRF3, and IKBKG were implicated in the divergent responses between WT and R213G mice. Our data suggest that the redistributed EC-SOD due to the R213G SNP attenuates the dysregulated inflammatory responses observed in WT mice. We speculate that redistributed EC-SOD protects against dysregulated alveolar inflammation via reprogramming of recruited immune cells toward a proresolving state.
In this work, we report the synthesis and characterization of a bimetallic Prussian blue analogue containing Co and Mn as outer‐sphere metals (CoMnHCF). The material was a solid solution and its ...characterization revealed a chemical composition of Co2.05Mn0.95Fe(CN)62 ⋅ 12H2O. The electrochemistry of this novel material showed the existence of two redox waves displaying quasi‐reversible kinetics, as expressed by the larger peak‐to‐peak separation upon increasing the potential sweep rate. Interestingly, the CoMnHCF solid exhibited high electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of hydrogen peroxide, thus representing an appealing scaffold for the construction of biosensors. As a proof of concept, cholesterol oxidase was immobilized at the electrode surface by using a sol‐gel method, and the cyclic voltammograms were recorded at increasing concentrations of cholesterol. The biosensor showed a detection limit of 30 μM and two linear ranges with excellent sensitivity of 385 mA cm−2 M−1 between 50 and 150 μM, and an adequate sensitivity of 80 mA cm−2 M−1 between 150 and 1 mM. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first biosensor application of a pre‐synthesized bimetallic hexacyanometallate, thus exploiting its potential as an H2O2 electrooxidation catalyst.
Cholesterol sensor: A bimetallic analogue of Prussian blue containing Co2+ and Mn2+ is fabricated through chemical co‐precipitation, yielding the following composition: Co2.05Mn0.95Fe(CN)62 ⋅ 12H2O. This material exhibits excellent electrocatalytic properties towards hydrogen peroxide oxidation and is implemented as an electrochemical transducer in a highly sensitive biosensor for the determination of cholesterol.
The longevity of metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) joint replacements, in which a polished CoCr component articulates with a polyethylene liner, may be restricted by mechanical instability or inflammation ...resulting from osteolysis caused by polyethylene wear debris. Recently, laser surface texturing (LST) has emerged as an effective method to improve the tribological performance of lubricated friction pairs. The present work reports a microstructural and tribological study of surface microtextured CoCr alloy discs, modified by the LST method using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser, tested against Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) cylindrical pins. Four different texturing patterns varying laser parameters such as peak power, pulse width, repetition rate and travel speed were investigated. An untextured set of CoCr alloy discs was used as reference. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the microtextured CoCr alloy discs were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, profilometry and nanoindentation test. The coefficient of friction and wear of the UHMWPE pins were determined by means of a pin-on-disc tribometer under lubricated sliding conditions. The microstructural analysis on the laser microtextured CoCr alloy revealed a grain refinement of secondary phases with absence of typical carbides resulting in an increased nanohardness. In addition, all texturing patterns on the CoCr alloy discs promoted a reduction on the coefficient of friction, compared against untextured CoCr alloy discs. Furthermore, it was found that UHMWPE wear was reduced when articulating against dimple textured CoCr alloy discs.
•Laser surface texturing LST allows generating microtextures patterns on CoCr alloy.•Laser microtextured CoCr alloy presented a grain refinement resulting in a hardness increased.•Boundary mixed and hydrodynamic lubrication was superior on textured samples.•Dimple patterns improved the effect on hydrodynamic lubrication and wear.
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