Among the most promising synthetic biopolymers to replace conventional plastics in numerous applications is MaterBi
(MB), a commercial biodegradable polymer based on modified starch and synthetic ...polymers. Actually, MB has important commercial applications as it shows interesting mechanical properties, thermal stability, processability and biodegradability. On the other hand, research has also focused on the incorporation of natural, efficient and low-cost active compounds into various materials with the aim of incorporating antimicrobial and/or antioxidant capacities into matrix polymers to extend the shelf life of foods. Among these is ellagic acid (EA), a polyphenolic compound abundant in some fruits, nuts and seeds, but also in agroforestry and industrial residues, which seems to be a promising biomolecule with interesting biological activities, including antioxidant activity, antibacterial activity and UV-barrier properties. The objective of this research is to develop a film based on commercial biopolymer Mater-Bi
(MB) EF51L, incorporating active coating from chitosan with a natural active compound (EA) at two concentrations (2.5 and 5 wt.%). The formulations obtained complete characterization and were carried out in order to evaluate whether the incorporation of the coating significantly affects thermal, mechanical, structural, water-vapor barrier and disintegration properties. From the results, FTIR analysis yielded identification, through characteristic peaks, that the type of MB used is constituted by three polymers, namely PLA, TPS and PBAT. With respect to the mechanical properties, the values of tensile modulus and tensile strength of the MB-CHI film were between 15 and 23% lower than the values obtained for the MB film. The addition of 2.5 wt.% EA to the CHI layer did not generate changes in the mechanical properties of the system, whereas a 5 wt.% increase in ellagic acid improved the mechanical properties of the CHI film through the addition of natural phenolic compounds at high concentrations. Finally, the disintegration process was mainly affected by the PBAT biopolymer, causing the material to not disintegrate within the times indicated by ISO 20200.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver tumor and is associated with high mortality rates. Approximately 80% of cases occur in cirrhotic livers, posing a significant challenge ...for appropriate therapeutic management. Adequate screening programs in high-risk groups are essential for early-stage detection. The extent of extrahepatic tumor spread and hepatic functional reserve are recognized as two of the most influential prognostic factors. In this retrospective multicenter study, we utilized machine learning (ML) methods to analyze predictors of mortality at the time of diagnosis in a total of 208 patients. The eXtreme gradient boosting (XGB) method achieved the highest values in identifying key prognostic factors for HCC at diagnosis. The etiology of HCC was found to be the variable most strongly associated with a poorer prognosis. The widely used Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) classification in our setting demonstrated superiority over the TNM classification. Although alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) remains the most commonly used biological marker, elevated levels did not correlate with reduced survival. Our findings suggest the need to explore new prognostic biomarkers for individualized management of these patients.
Supercritical impregnation was used to incorporate a natural compound with antibacterial activity into biopolymer-based films to develop active food packaging materials. Impregnation tests were ...carried out under two pressure conditions (9 and 12MPa), and three depressurization rates (0.1, 1 and 10MPamin−1) in a high-pressure cell at a constant temperature equal to 40°C. Cinnamaldehyde (Ci), a natural compound with proven antimicrobial activity, was successfully incorporated into poly(lactic acid) films (PLA) using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2), with impregnation yields ranging from 8 to 13% w/w. Higher pressure and slower depressurization rate seem to favor the Ci impregnation. The incorporation of Ci improved thermal, structural and mechanical properties of the PLA films. Impregnated films were more flexible, less brittle and more resistant materials than neat PLA films. The tested samples showed strong antibacterial activity against the selected microorganisms.
In summary, this study provides an innovative route to the development of antibacterial biodegradable materials, which could be used in a wide range of applications of active food packaging.
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•PLA films were impregnated with cinnamaldehyde using supercritical CO2.•Higher pressure and slower depressurization rate favored Ci impregnation.•Cinnamaldehyde improved thermo-mechanical properties of impregnated biopolymer films.•PLA films containing 13% of cinnamaldehyde presented strong antibacterial activity.
Most electroanalytical detection schemes for DNA markers require considerable time and effort from expert personnel to thoroughly follow the analysis and obtain reliable outcomes. This work aims to ...present an electrochemical assay performed inside a small card-based platform powered by microfluidic manipulation, requiring minimal human intervention and consumables. The assay couples a sample/signal dual amplification and DNA-modified magnetic particles for the detection of DNA amplification products. Particularly, the sul1 and sul4 genes involved in the resistance against sulfonamide antibiotics were analyzed. As recognized by the World Health Organization, antimicrobial resistance threatens global public health by hampering medication efficacy against infections. Consequently, analytical methods for the determination of such genes in environmental and clinical matrices are imperative. Herein, the resistance genes were extracted from E. coli cells and amplified using an enzyme-assisted isothermal amplification at 37 °C. The amplification products were analyzed in an easily-produced, low-cost, card-based set-up implementing a microfluidic system, demanding limited manual work and small sample volumes. The target amplicon was thus captured and isolated using versatile DNA-modified magnetic beads injected into the microchannel and exposed to the various reagents in a continuously controlled microfluidic flow. After the optimization of the efficiency of each phase of the assay, the platform achieved limits of detections of 44.2 pmol L−1 for sul1 and 48.5 pmol L−1 for sul4, and was able to detect down to ≥500-fold diluted amplification products of sul1 extracted from E. coli living cells in around 1 h, thus enabling numerous end-point analyses with a single amplification reaction.
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•A reusable and low-cost microfluidic card for DNA detection was developed.•Versatile and automatable DNA magneto-assay demanding limited manual work.•Target DNA isolation with magnetic microparticles in a controlled microfluidic flow.•Isothermal DNA amplification at 37 °C coupled to enzymatic signal enhancement.•Detection of sulfonamide resistance genes using <0.3 μL genome from E. coli cells.
We aimed to explore the role of interleukin (IL)‐6, interferon‐gamma (IFNγ), IL‐10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) as predictors of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) clinical and serological ...activity, and their correlation with the treatment received. We performed a retrospective analysis of 77 patients with SLE according to the 2012 Systemic Lupus International Collaborative Clinics (SLICC) criteria. The outcomes were serological activity (SA), active disease (AD), complete remission (CR), the low‐disease activity state (LDAS), and immunosuppressive treatment. SA was present in 17.1%, AD in 17.3%, CR in 13%, and LDAS in 64.9% of patients. IL‐6 values were higher in patients in SA, in AD, in those receiving steroids alone, and in patients without CR or LDAS (p < 0.05). IFNγ was associated with anti‐double stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies positivity and immunosuppression, whereas IL‐10 values were higher in patients with CR (p < 0.05). The IL6‐IFN product was able to predict anti‐double stranded DNA (anti‐dsDNA) antibodies positivity (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve AUC‐ROC = 0.705, 95% confidence interval CI 0.563–0.847), SA (AUC‐ROC = 0.720, 95% CI 0.542–0.899), AD (AUC‐ROC = 0.701, 95% CI 0.520–0.882), steroid treatment (AUC‐ROC = 0.751, 95% CI 0.622–0.879), and the absence of LDAS (AUC‐ROC = 0.700, 95% CI 0.558–0.834). The IL6‐IFN/IL10 ratio predicted AD (AUC‐ROC = 0.742, 955 CI 0.540–0.944), steroid treatment (AUC‐ROC = 0.721, 95% CI 0.572–0.870), and the absence of LDAS (AUC‐ROC = 0.694, 95% CI 0.536–0.853). In conclusion, IL‐6, IL‐10, and IFNγ might help to assess SLE serological and clinical activity. Their combination in the IL‐6‐IFN product and the IL‐6xIFN to IL‐10 ratio results in novel tools to determine and predict SA, AD, and LDAS. Prompt detection of SLE activity might allow a rapid intervention to avoid established or chronic damage.
Ruthenium(II) complexes are currently considered attractive alternatives to the widely used platinum-based drugs. We present herein the synthesis and characterization of half-sandwich ruthenium ...compounds formulated as Ru(p-cymene)(L)ClCF3SO3 (L = 1,1-bis(methylenediphenylphosphano)ethylene, 1; L = 1,1-bis(diphenylphosphano)ethylene, 2), which were characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, 1H and 31P{1H} NMR, UV–vis and IR spectroscopy, conductivity measurements and cyclic voltammetry. The molecular structures for both complexes were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Their cytotoxic activity was evaluated using the MTT assay against human tumor cells, namely ovarian (A2780) and breast (MCF7 and MDA-MB-231). Both complexes were active against breast adenocarcinoma cells, with complex 1 exhibiting a quite remarkable cytotoxicity in the submicromolar range. Interestingly, at concentrations equivalent to the IC50 values in the MCF7 cancer cells, complexes 1 and 2 presented lower cytotoxicity in normal human primary fibroblasts. The antiproliferative effects of 1 and 2 in MCF7 cells might be associated with the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to a combined cell death mechanism via apoptosis and autophagy. Despite the fact that in vitro a partial intercalation between complexes and DNA was observed, no MCF7 cell cycle delay or arrest was observed, indicating that DNA might not be a direct target. Complexes 1 and 2 both exhibited a moderate to strong interaction with human serum albumin, suggesting that protein targets may be involved in their mode of action. Their acute toxicity was evaluated in the zebrafish model. Complex 1 (the most toxic of the two) exhibited a lethal toxicity LC50 value about 1 order of magnitude higher than any IC50 concentrations found for the cancer cell models used, highlighting its therapeutic relevance as a drug candidate in cancer chemotherapy.
Around 15 million premature babies are born annually, requiring specialized care. Incubators are vital for maintaining their body temperature, which is crucial for their well-being. Ensuring optimal ...conditions in incubators, including constant temperature, oxygen control, and comfort, is essential for improving the care and survival rates of these infants.
To address this, an IoT-based monitoring system was developed in a hospital setting. The system comprised hardware components such as sensors and a microcontroller, along with software components including a database and a web application. The microcontroller collected data from the sensors, which was then transmitted to a broker via WiFi using the MQTT protocol. The broker validated and stored the data in the database, while the web application provided real-time access, alerts, and event recording.
Two certified devices were created, employing high quality components. The system was successfully implemented and tested in both the biomedical engineering laboratory and the neonatology service of the hospital. The results of the pilot test supported the concept of IoT-based technology, demonstrating satisfactory responses in temperature, humidity, and sound variables within the incubators.
The monitoring system facilitated efficient record traceability, allowing access to data over various timeframes. It also captured event records (alerts) related to variable problems, providing information on duration, date, hour, and minutes. Overall, the system offered valuable insights and enhanced monitoring capabilities for neonatal care.
The yes-associated protein (YAP) and the transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) are transcriptional coactivators, members of the Hippo signaling pathway, which play a critical role ...in cell growth regulation, embryonic development, regeneration, proliferation, and cancer origin and progression. The mechanism involves the nuclear binding of the un-phosphorylated YAP/TAZ complex to release the transcriptional enhanced associate domain (TEAD) from its repressors. The active ternary complex is responsible for the aforementioned biological effects. Overexpression of YAP/TAZ has been reported in cancer stem cells and tumor resistance. The resistance involves chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. This review provides an overview of YAP/TAZ pathways' role in carcinogenesis and tumor microenvironment. Potential therapeutic alternatives are also discussed.
Purpose
To compare the efficacy and safety of mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mini-PCNL) versus retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for treatment of 10–20 mm lower pole renal stones.
Methods
A ...comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science was conducted to identify all studies comparing mini-PCNL and RIRS for 10–20 mm lower pole renal stones before March 2019. Article selection proceeded according to the search strategy based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The meta-analysis was performed with the R program version 3.5.1.
Results
A total of five studies were included (two randomized controlled trials and three case-controlled trials) with a total of 587 patients included. The success rate was significantly higher in the mini-PCNL group (OR 1.67; 95% CI
p
= 0.05). Operative and fluoroscopy times were similar for both groups (MD 2.45; 95% CI
p
= 0.87 and MD 2.11; 95% CI
p
= 0.09, respectively). Concerning the hospital stay and overall complication rates, there were no differences between the two procedures (MD 41.94; 95% CI
p
= 0.18 and OR 1.76; 95% CI
p
= 0.11).
Conclusion
Our analysis showed that both procedures are safe for treatment of 10–20 mm lower pole renal stones with similar complication rates, operative times, fluoroscopy times and length of hospital stay, but mini-PCNL was significantly superior in effectiveness with a higher success rate. Based on these results, mini-PCNL may be included in the guidelines as a safe and effective alternative treatment for 10–20 mm lower pole stones.
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