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•A chelate porphyrin-silica particle was successfully prepared under mild conditions.•SiNTPP shows excellent adsorption ability towards Pb(II) compared to others sorbents.•Fast, ...spontaneous and homogeneous coordination was achieved after 25min.•A low cost and high regenerable material was developed to remove toxic metal ions.•The new organic-inorganic hybrid proved to be efficient in aqueous solutions.
The pollution of water resources due to the disposal of toxic heavy metals has been a growing global concern for the last decades. For this purpose, the search for effective and economic material based adsorbents is required, due to the efficiency of the process. In this work, a novel inorganic-organic hybrid material based on silica chemically modified with a porphyrin (SiNTPP), with a high metal removal efficiency, was developed. The new material was characterized using a set of suitable techniques such as 13C NMR of the solid state, elemental analysis, FTIR, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm, BET surface area, BJH pore sizes and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The new material surface exhibits good chemical and thermal stability based on the obtained thermogravimetric curves (TGA). An adsorption study was accomplished to investigate the effect of porphyrin-silica hybrid on the removal of Pb(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Cu(II) from aqueous solutions using a batch method. The effect of various parameters, such as initial metal concentration, pH, temperature, as well as the kinetics and thermodynamics for sorption on SiNTPP were investigated. The studies demonstrate that adsorption is fast, as proved by the equilibrium achievement within 25min. The metals removal from aqueous solution are better adapted to the Langmuir isotherm model than to the Freundlich model. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS°) disclose that the process was endothermic and spontaneous in nature, and the adsorption process follows a pseudo-second order kinetics. The adsorbent can be regenerated continuously without affecting its extraction percentage. Its effectiveness is highly justified compared to previous described materials.
We study the spreading of SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil based on official data available since March 22, 2020. Calculations are done via an adaptive susceptible–infected–removed (SIR) model featuring ...dynamical recuperation and propagation rates. We are able reproduce the number of confirmed cases over time with less than 5% error and also provide with short- and long-term predictions. The model can also be used to account for the epidemic dynamics in other countries with great accuracy.
•SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil based on official data available since March 22, 2020.•Adaptive susceptible–infected–removed (SIR) model can reproduce the number of confirmed cases over time.•It is possible to predict the epidemic progression in the near future.
This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to compare surgical and endoscopic treatment for pancreatic pseudocyst (PP).
The researchers did a search in Medline, EMBASE, Scielo/Lilacs, and Cochrane ...electronic databases for studies comparing surgical and endoscopic drainage of PP s in adult patients. Then, the extracted data were used to perform a meta-analysis. The outcomes were therapeutic success, drainage-related adverse events, general adverse events, recurrence rate, cost, and time of hospitalization.
There was no significant difference between treatment success rate (risk difference RD -0.09; 95% confidence interval CI 0.20,0.01; P = .07), drainage-related adverse events (RD -0.02; 95% CI -0.04,0.08; P = .48), general adverse events (RD -0.05; 95% CI -0.12, 0.02; P = .13) and recurrence (RD: 0.02; 95% CI -0.04,0.07; P = .58) between surgical and endoscopic treatment.Regarding time of hospitalization, the endoscopic group had better results (RD: -4.23; 95% CI -5.18, -3.29; P < .00001). When it comes to treatment cost, the endoscopic arm also had better outcomes (RD: -4.68; 95% CI -5.43,-3.94; P < .00001).
There is no significant difference between surgical and endoscopic treatment success rates, adverse events and recurrence for PP. However, time of hospitalization and treatment costs were lower in the endoscopic group.
Achalasia is a primary esophageal motor disorder with a variety of causes. It is most common in Central and South America, where Chagas disease is endemic. In addition to the infectious etiology, ...achalasia can be idiopathic, autoimmune, or drug induced. It is an incurable, progressive condition that destroys the intramural nerve plexus, causing aperistalsis of the esophageal body and impaired relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. The literature on the treatment of achalasia comparing pneumatic dilation (PD) and laparoscopic Heller's myotomy (LHM) shows conflicting results. Therefore, a systemic review and meta-analysis are needed. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of PD and LHM, based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses recommendations, was presented. The primary outcome was symptom remission based on the Eckardt score. Secondary outcomes were lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP), gastroesophageal reflux (GER), and perforation. A total of four studies were included in this analysis. The total number of patients was 404. Posttreatment symptom remission rates did not differ significantly between LHM and PD at 2 years (RD = 0.03, 95% CI -0.05, 0.12, P = 0.62), or 5 years (RD = 0.13, 95% CI -0.12, 0.39, P = 0.32). The posttreatment perforation rate was lower for LHM (RD = 0.04, 95% CI -0.08, -0.01, P = 0.03). There was no significant difference in terms of LESP or GER. For the treatment of esophageal achalasia, LHM and PD were found to be similar in terms of their long-term efficacy, as well as in terms of the posttreatment GER rates. However, the perforation rate appears to be lower when LHM is employed.
Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is used to support small-scale agriculture and handle seasonal water availability, especially in regions where populations are scattered or the costs to develop surface or ...groundwater resources are high. However, questions may arise as whether this technique can support larger-scale irrigation projects and in complement help the struggle against wildfires in agro-forested watersheds. The issue is relevant because harvested rainwater in catchments is usually accumulated in small-capacity reservoirs created by small-height dams. In this study, a RWH site allocation method was improved from a previous model, by introducing the dam wall height as evaluation parameter. The studied watershed (Sabor River basin) is mostly located in the Northeast of Portugal. This is a rural watershed where agriculture and forestry uses are dominant and where ecologically relevant regions (e.g., Montezinho natural park) need to be protected from wildfires. The study aimed at ranking 384 rainfall collection sub-catchments as regards installation of RWH sites for crop irrigation and forest fire combat. The height parameter was set to 3m because this value is a reference to detention basins that hold sustainability values (e.g., landscape integration, environmental protection), but the irrigation capacity under these settings was smaller than 10ha in 50% of cases, while continuous arable lands in the Sabor basin cover on average 222ha. Besides, the number of sub-catchments capable to irrigate the average arable land was solely 7. When the dam wall height increased to 6 and 12m, the irrigation capacity increased to 46 and 124 sub-catchments, respectively, meaning that more engineered dams may not always ensure all sustainability values but warrant much better storage. The limiting parameter was the dam wall height because 217 sub-catchments were found to drain enough water for irrigation and capable to store it if proper dam wall heights were used.
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•Improved rainwater harvesting suitability model is presented.•The harvested rainwater is to be used in irrigation or wildfire combat.•The model differs from others because it uses dam wall height as evaluation parameter.•The use of small height dam walls can greatly limit irrigable area.•More engineered dams are more suited for larger-scale agro-forestry uses.
Background
Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) patients present a high risk of developing skin cancer and other complications at an early age. This disease is characterized by mutations in the genes related ...to the DNA repair system.
Objectives
To describe the clinical and molecular findings in a cohort of 32 Brazilian individuals who received a clinical diagnosis of XP.
Methods
Twenty‐seven families were screened for germline variants in eight XP‐related genes.
Results
All patients (N = 32) were diagnosed with bi‐allelic germline pathogenic or potentially pathogenic variants, including nine variants previously undescribed. The c.2251‐1G>C XPC pathogenic variant, reported as the founder mutation in Comorian and Pakistani patients, was observed in 15 cases in homozygous or compound heterozygous. Seven homozygous patients for POLH/XPV variants developed their symptoms by an average age of 7.7 years. ERCC2/XPD, DDB2/XPE and ERCC5/XPG variants were found in a few patients. Aside from melanoma and non‐melanoma skin tumours, a set of patients developed skin sebaceous carcinoma, leiomyosarcoma, angiosarcoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, gastric adenocarcinoma and serous ovarian carcinoma.
Conclusions
We reported a high frequency of XPC variants in 32 XP Brazilian patients. Nine new variants in XP‐related genes, unexpected non‐skin cancer lesions and an anticipation of the clinical manifestation in POLH/XPV cases were also described.
Skin cancer is one of the cancers that registers the highest number of new cases annually. Among all forms of skin cancer, melanoma is the most invasive and deadliest. The resistance of this form of ...cancer to conventional treatments has led to the employment of alternative/complementary therapeutic approaches. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) appears to be a promising alternative to overcome the resistance of melanoma to conventional therapies. PDT is a non-invasive therapeutic procedure in which highly reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated upon excitation of a photosensitizer (PS) when subjected to visible light of an adequate wavelength, resulting in the death of cancer cells. In this work, inspired by the efficacy of tetrapyrrolic macrocycles to act as PS against tumor cells, we report the photophysical characterization and biological assays of isobacteriochlorins and their corresponding chlorins and porphyrins against melanoma cancer cells through a photodynamic process. The non-tumoral L929 fibroblast murine cell line was used as the control. The results show that the choice of adequate tetrapyrrolic macrocycle-based PS can be modulated to improve the performance of PDT.
Superelastic conducting fibers with improved properties and functionalities are needed for diverse applications. Here we report the fabrication of highly stretchable (up to 1320%) sheath-core ...conducting fibers created by wrapping carbon nanotube sheets oriented in the fiber direction on stretched rubber fiber cores. The resulting structure exhibited distinct short- and long-period sheath buckling that occurred reversibly out of phase in the axial and belt directions, enabling a resistance change of less than 5% for a 1000% stretch. By including other rubber and carbon nanotube sheath layers, we demonstrated strain sensors generating an 860% capacitance change and electrically powered torsional muscles operating reversibly by a coupled tension-to-torsion actuation mechanism. Using theory, we quantitatively explain the complementary effects of an increase in muscle length and a large positive Poisson's ratio on torsional actuation and electronic properties.
Tetracationic porphyrin derivatives against human breast cancer Gamelas, Sara R.D.; Moura, Nuno M.M.; Habraken, Yvette ...
Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology,
September 2021, 2021-09-00, 20210901, 2021-09, Letnik:
222
Journal Article, Web Resource
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an approved therapeutic approach and an alternative to conventional chemotherapy for the treatment of several types of cancer with the advantages of reducing the side ...effects and developing resistance mechanisms. Here, was evaluated the photosensitization capabilities of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis4-(pyridinium-1-yl-methyl)phenylporphyrin (3), its N-confused isomer (4) and of the neutral precursors (1) and (2) and the results were compared with the ones obtained with the cationic 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin (TMPyP). Both regular porphyrin derivatives 1 and 3 showed higher efficiency to generate singlet oxygen than TMPyP. The PDT assays towards MCF-7 cells under red light irradiation (λ > 640 nm, 23.7 mW cm−2) demonstrated that the cationic porphyrin 3 is an efficient photosensitizer to kill MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The study of the cell death mechanisms induced by the photodynamic process showed that the studied porphyrin 3 and TMPyP caused cell death by autophagic flux and necrosis.
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•Synthetic pathway improvement allows reducing reaction time from hours to minutes.•meso-tetrakis4-(pyridinium-1-yl-methyl)phenylporphyrin 3 is a good 1O2 producer.•Porphyrin 3 is an effective PS at low concentration against MCF-7 cells.•Autophagic flux and necroptosis processes are induced by the cationic porphyrin 3.
Abstract
Background and study aims
Achalasia can be classified as either primary (idiopathic) achalasia or secondary achalasia, which is a consequence of another systemic disease. Peroral endoscopic ...myotomy (POEM) is an effective and safe treatment for achalasia. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of POEM in patients with Chagasic achalasia compared to idiopathic achalasia.
Patients and methods
We evaluated POEM procedures performed at a single institution from November 2016 to January 2018. Demographic data, Eckardt score, lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure, body mass index, post-operative erosive esophagitis, adverse events, length of hospital stay, and procedure-related parameters were analyzed.
Results
Fifty-one patients underwent POEM as a treatment for achalasia in this period (20 patients with Chagasic and 31 with Idiopathic etiology). The overall clinical success rate was 92.1 %, with no statistical difference between groups (90 % in the Chagasic group vs. 93.5 % in the Idiopathic group,
P
= 0.640). Both groups had significant reduction in Eckardt score and in LES pressure, and increase in bodey mass index (BMI) at 1-year follow-up. There was no statistical difference between groups regarding Eckardt score (
P
= 0.439), LES pressure (p = 0.507), BMI (
P
= 0.254), post erosive esophagitis (35 % vs. 38.7 %,
P
= 0.789), adverse events (30 % vs. 12 %,
P
= 0.163,) length of hospital stay (3.75 days vs. 3.58 days,
P
= 0.622), and operative time (101.3 min vs. 99.1 min,
P
= 0.840).
Conclusion
POEM is an effective and safe treatment for patients with achalasia. There is no difference in POEM outcomes for those patients with Chagasic or Idiopathic achalasia.
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