Various series of permalloy thin films were grown by dc-sputtering on Si (100) and glass substrates at room temperature and different argon pressure values using a Fe 20 Ni 80 target. The increase of ...argon pressure leads to a decrease of the Fe concentration in the films from 17 at.% to 15 at.%, an increase of the root mean square roughness of film surfaces, and a decrease of the sharpness of the crystalline texture of the samples. The increase of the film thickness leads to an increase of the coercive field. The transition to the "transcritical" state was observed at a critical thickness that decreases from 220 to 50 nm as the argon pressure in the chamber increases. This state was confirmed by the characteristic shapes of hysteresis loops, rotatable magnetic anisotropy, and the appearance of stripe domains.
Abstract Background Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) maintenance therapy for 3 yr following BCG induction can reduce the progression of urothelial bladder carcinoma versus BCG induction alone, but is ...associated with high toxicity. Objective To investigate whether a modified 3-yr BCG maintenance regimen following induction therapy is more effective than standard BCG induction therapy alone and exhibits a low toxicity profile. Design, setting, and participants Patients from the outpatient clinics of the participating centres with high-risk non–muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma (NMIBC) were randomised between October 1999 and April 2007. Intervention Participants received BCG induction once-weekly for 6 wk (no maintenance arm) or BCG induction followed by one BCG instillation every 3 mo for 3 yr (maintenance arm). Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Primary endpoints were disease-free interval (DFI) and time to progression (TTP). Secondary endpoints included survival duration and toxicity. Differences between treatment arms were tested using Student's t test and χ2 and log-rank tests. Results and limitations A total of 397 patients were randomised, 195 to the no-maintenance and 202 to the maintenance arm. A median time to recurrence was not reached in either treatment arm. DFI was similar between the arms (hazard ration HR 0.83; 95% CI 0.61–1.13; p = 0.2) with disease relapse at 5 yr of 33.5% and 38.5%, respectively. TTP was also similar between the treatment arms (HR 0.79; 95% CI 0.50–1.26; p = 0.3), with a progression rate at 5 yr of 16% and 19.5%, respectively. There were no significant differences between the treatment groups for overall survival and cancer-specific survival at 5 yr. Twenty and five patients in the maintenance and no-maintenance arms, respectively, stopped treatment because of toxicity. The most common local side effects were frequency (65% of patients), dysuria (63%), and haematuria (43%); the most frequent systemic side effects were general malaise (7.2%) and fever (34%). Conclusions In NMIBC patients treated with maintenance therapy comprising a single BCG instillation every 3 mo for 3 yr following standard induction BCG, we did not observe a decrease in recurrence and progression rates versus induction therapy alone. Patient summary Patients who undergo surgery to remove bladder cancer are usually treated with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) for 6 wk if there is a high risk of disease recurrence. Extending BCG therapy by 3 yr can further minimise disease recurrence and progression, but is associated with more side effects. We report that a modified 3-yr BCG treatment regimen showed low toxicity, but seemed to be no more effective than 6-wk treatment. Trial registration CUETO 98013
Ferric hexacyanoferrate, Fe4 Fe(CN)63 · xH2O, known as Prussian blue (PB), has proven its effectiveness as an antidote in cases of accidental poisoning or poisoning caused by radioactive materials ...such as cesium (Cs) and thallium (Tl); which due to their solubility in water, when absorbed by the human body, cause serious damage to vital organs. The local development of a drug with PB as an active ingredient arises as a response to the civil and military needs established within the Ministry's pharmacy request for national defense. This fact contemplates the circumstances related to public health protection in the nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical (NRBQ) of the emergency institutions in health and national security. In this paper and by using various analytical techniques, the characterization of the locally synthesized PB with pharmaceutical quality has been described, as a first step to predict its behavior in the preparation of a drug that contains it as an active ingredient.
The research findings demonstrate that locally synthesized PB is suitable for use in oral dosage forms, enabling the local development of drug formulations incorporating PB, thus being able to potentially become a main resource in the treatment of Cs and Tl poisoning in any accidental or intended of the population. This development opens up the possibility of creating drug formulations that incorporate PB at a local level, making it a potentially significant resource in the treatment of Cs and Tl poisoning. The ability to locally produce and utilize PB in oral dosage forms could be crucial in addressing cases of accidental or intentional exposure within the population. This advancement not only contributes to the scientific understanding of PB but also holds promising implications for practical applications in public health and emergency situations.
Background
SARS‐CoV‐2, the COVID‐19 causative agent, has infected millions of people and killed over 1.6 million worldwide. A small percentage of cases persist with prolonged positive RT‐PCR on ...nasopharyngeal swabs. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for prolonged viral shedding amongst patient’s basal clinical conditions.
Methods
We have evaluated all 513 patients attended in our hospital between 1 March and 1 July. We have selected all 18 patients with prolonged viral shedding and compared them with 36 sex‐matched randomly selected controls. Demographic, treatment and clinical data were systematically collected.
Results
Global median duration of viral clearance was 25.5 days (n = 54; IQR, 22–39.3 days), 48.5 days in cases (IQR 38.7–54.9 days) and 23 days in controls (IQR 20.2–25.7), respectively. There were not observed differences in demographic, symptoms or treatment data between groups.
Chronic rhinosinusitis and atopy were more common in patients with prolonged viral shedding (67%) compared with controls (11% and 25% respectively) (P < 0.001 and P = 0.003). The use of inhaled corticosteroids was also more frequent in case group (P = 0.007). Multivariate analysis indicated that CRS (odds ratio OR, 18.78; 95% confidence interval 95%CI, 3.89–90.59; P < 0.001) was independently associated with prolonged SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA shedding in URT samples, after adjusting for initial PCR Ct values.
Conclusion
We found that chronic rhinosinusitis and atopy might be associated with increased risk of prolonged viral shedding. If confirmed in prospective trials, this finding might have clinical implications for quarantine duration due to increased risk of pandemic spread.
Summary
Orobanche cumana is a weed that grows as a root parasite on sunflower. In general, the O. cumana–sunflower parasitic system is regarded to follow the gene‐for‐gene model, although this has ...never been demonstrated at the genetic level in O. cumana. The Or5 dominant gene in sunflower confers resistance to O. cumana race E, but not to race F. The objective of this research was to study the inheritance of avirulence/virulence in crosses between plants of O. cumana lines classified as races E and F. Four race E and three race F lines were developed, from which four race E × race F cross‐combinations were made, in three cases including reciprocals. In all cases, F1 seeds did not have the ability to parasitise sunflower line P‐1380 carrying the Or5 gene, indicating dominance of race E avirulence allele(s). Five F2 populations comprising a total of 387 F2:3 families were evaluated on sunflower line P‐1380. In all cases, one‐fourth of the F2:3 families did not possess the ability to parasitise P‐1380 plants, suggesting that race E avirulence and race F virulence on P‐1380 are allelic and controlled by a single locus. This study demonstrated the gene‐for‐gene interaction in the O. cumana–sunflower parasite system and provided useful information to identify genes involved in O. cumana virulence. The approach followed in this research can contribute to define precisely races of the parasite on the basis of the presence of avirulence genes.
Abstract
Background
Although the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on emotional health are evident, little is known about its impact on patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Methods
...One hundred and twenty-seven patients with OCD who attended a specialist OCD Clinic in Barcelona, Spain, were assessed by phone from April 27 to May 25, 2020, during the early phase of the pandemic, using the Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and a structured interview that collected clinical and sociodemographic information. Results were compared with those for 237 healthy controls from the same geographic area who completed an online survey.
Results
Although 65.3% of the patients with OCD described a worsening of their symptoms, only 31.4% had Y-BOCS scores that increased >25%. The risk of getting infected by SARS-CoV2 was reported as a new obsession by 44.8%, but this only became the main obsessive concern in approximately 10% of the patients. Suicide-related thoughts were more frequent among the OCD cohort than among healthy controls. The presence of prepandemic depression, higher Y-BOCS scores, contamination/washing symptoms, and lower perceived social support all predicted a significantly increased risk of OCD worsening.
Conclusions
Most patients with OCD appear to be capable of coping with the emotional stress of the COVID-19 outbreak and its consequences during the initial phase of the pandemic. Nevertheless, the current crisis constitutes a risk factor for a significant worsening of symptoms and suicidal ideation. Action is needed to ensure effective and individualized follow-up care for patients with OCD in the COVID-19 era.
Bacteria anchor to their host cells through their adhesive pili, which must resist the large mechanical stresses induced by the host as it attempts to dislodge the pathogens. The pili of ...gram-positive bacteria are constructed as a single polypeptide made of hundreds of pilin repeats, which contain intramolecular isopeptide bonds strategically located in the structure to prevent their unfolding under force, protecting the pilus from degradation by extant proteases and oxygen radicals. Here, we demonstrate the design of a short peptide that blocks the formation of the isopeptide bond present in the pilin Spy0128 from the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes, resulting in mechanically labile pilin domains. We use a combination of protein engineering and atomic-force microscopy force spectroscopy to demonstrate that the peptide blocks the formation of the native isopeptide bond and compromises the mechanics of the domain. While an intact Spy0128 is inextensible at any force, peptide-modified Spy0128 pilins readily unfold at very low forces, marking the abrogation of the intramolecular isopeptide bond as well as the absence of a stable pilin fold. We propose that isopeptide-blocking peptides could be further developed as a type of highly specific antiadhesive antibiotics to treat gram-positive pathogens.
Lupus anticoagulant (LA) can be a cause of thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidities, producing antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). An increase in thrombin generation (TG) is correlated with prothrombotic ...status. Several changes in TG-derived parameters have been reported in APS patients.
Evaluate whether the TG phenotype of APS can also be described in LA subjects without clinical manifestations of APS, and to investigate the possible influence of both LA potency and antiphospholipid (aPL) profile on it.
TG was analyzed in 153 cases of LA and 41 healthy controls. We have observed prolongation of both lag time (3.7 min vs 2.32 min, p < 0.001) and time to peak (6.48 min vs 5.27 min, p < 0.001), increased peak height (221.7 nM vs 182.7 nM, p < 0.001), slightly higher ETP (221.7 nM·min vs 182.7 nM·min, p = 0.041), and higher velocity index (100.7 nM/min vs 74.53 nM/min, p = 0.001) in LA subjects compared to controls. After adding thrombomodulin (TM), ETP%inh was significantly lower in LA group (37.90% vs 59.90%, p < 0.001) showing resistance to TM/activated protein C (APC). Significant differences were found in lag time, time to peak and ETP%inh according to the potency and aPL profile.
Previously described differences in TG-derived parameters in APS patients have been confirmed in incidental LA subjects: prolonged lag time and time to peak, slightly higher ETP, higher peak height, and less sensitivity to TM/APC. High LA potency and triple-positive aPL profile enhance differences in lag time, time to peak and, especially, increase APC resistance, but no effect in ETP was observed.
•Thrombin generation phenotype of LA individuals not meeting APS criteria is yet to be determined.•TG changes described in APS have been confirmed in incidental LA: higher lag time and time to peak, APC resistance and similar ETP.•These changes are seen in LA with and without prolonged APTT, but are more pronounced if APTT is prolonged (ratio >1.3).•High LA potency and triple-positivity enhance variations in lag time, time to peak and APC resistance, but have no effect in ETP.
Graphene has attracted a great deal of scientific interest in latter years owing to its unique properties, with many prospective applications being actively investigated at present. However, the ...actual implementation of graphene in technological uses will depend critically on the development of appropriate methodologies for its mass production. In this regard, one of the most promising approaches is based on the exfoliation and reduction of graphite oxide. Graphenes derived from graphite oxide can be prepared at low cost and high throughput, can be further processed in a number of solvents, and are chemically versatile, among other attractive features. In an environment-conscious world, the availability of green approaches toward graphene production would also constitute an added advantage. During the last year, different environmentally friendly methods for the production of graphene from graphite oxide have emerged, which we highlight here. These are based on solvothermal and electrochemical processes, as well as on the use of green reductants. Several open questions and possible future directions for this research topic are also discussed.
The recent emergence of environmentally friendly methods for the production of graphene from graphite oxide is highlighted.
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