The prospects of achieving regeneration in the central nervous system (CNS) have changed, as most recent findings indicate that several species, including humans, can produce neurons in adulthood. ...Studies targeting this property may be considered as potential therapeutic strategies to respond to injury or the effects of demyelinating diseases in the CNS. While CNS trauma may interrupt the axonal tracts that connect neurons with their targets, some neurons remain alive, as seen in optic nerve and spinal cord (SC) injuries (SCIs). The devastating consequences of SCIs are due to the immediate and significant disruption of the ascending and descending spinal pathways, which result in varying degrees of motor and sensory impairment. Recent therapeutic studies for SCI have focused on cell transplantation in animal models, using cells capable of inducing axon regeneration like Schwann cells (SchCs), astrocytes, genetically modified fibroblasts and olfactory ensheathing glia cells (OECs). Nevertheless, and despite the improvements in such cell‐based therapeutic strategies, there is still little information regarding the mechanisms underlying the success of transplantation and regarding any secondary effects. Therefore, further studies are needed to clarify these issues. In this review, we highlight the properties of OECs that make them suitable to achieve neuroplasticity/neuroregeneration in SCI. OECs can interact with the glial scar, stimulate angiogenesis, axon outgrowth and remyelination, improving functional outcomes following lesion. Furthermore, we present evidence of the utility of cell therapy with OECs to treat SCI, both from animal models and clinical studies performed on SCI patients, providing promising results for future treatments.
Main Points
OECs ontogeny, physiological, morphological and molecular characteristics.
OECs properties making them suitable for neuroplasticity/neuroregeneration in SCI.
Promising results of OECs cell therapy for SCI (animal models and clinical studies).
•Surface and air samples from buses and subway trains were PCR-tested for SARS-CoV-2.•Evidence for fragments of viral RNA was found in 30 out of 82 samples.•The potential infectivity of these samples ...however is considered to be extremely low.•The data emphasise the importance of disinfection and hygiene in public transport.•Modelling in-bus infection probability shows forced ventilation greatly reduces risk.
Given the widespread concern but general lack of information over the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 infection in public transport, key issues such as passenger personal hygiene, efficient air circulation systems, and the effective disinfection of frequently touched surfaces need to be evaluated to educate the public and diminish the risk of viral transmission as we learn to live with the ongoing pandemic. In this context we report on a study involving the collection of 99 samples taken from inside Barcelona buses and subway trains in May to July 2020. From this sample group 82 (58 surface swabs, 9 air conditioning (a/c) filters, 3 a/c dust, 12 ambient air) were selected to be analysed by RT-PCR for traces of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Thirty of these selected samples showed evidence for one or more of 3 target RNA gene regions specific for this virus (IP2, IP4, E). Most (24) of these 30 samples showed positivity for only 1 of the 3 RNA targets, 4 samples yielded 2 targets, and 2 samples provided evidence for all 3 targets. RNA remnants were more common in surface swabs from support bars (23 out of 58) than in ambient air inside the vehicles (3 out of 12), with relatively higher concentrations of viral RNA fragments in buses rather than in trains. Whereas subway train a/c filters examined were all virus-free, 4 of the 9 bus a/c filter/dust samples yielded evidence for viral RNA. After nocturnal maintenance and cleaning most buses initially yielding positive results subsequently showed elimination of the RT-PCR signal, although signs of viral RNA remained in 4 of 13 initially positive samples. The presence of such remnant viral traces however does not demonstrate infectivity, which in the present study is considered unlikely given the fragmentary nature of the gene targets detected. Nevertheless, best practice demands that close attention to ventilation systems and regular vehicle disinfection in public transport worldwide need to be rigorously applied to be effective at eliminating traces of the virus throughout the vehicle, especially at times when COVID-19 cases are peaking. Additionally, infectivity tests should be implemented to evaluate the efficiency of disinfection procedures to complement the information resulting from RT-PCR analysis. Modelling the probability of infection whilst travelling in buses under different scenarios indicates that forced ventilation greatly reduces the risk.
Neutral pentafluorophenyl benzoquinolinyl Pt
Pt(bzq)(HC^N-κN)(C
F
) (1 a-g) complexes, bearing nonmetalated N-heterocyclic HC^N ligands HC^N=2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (Hoxd) a, ...2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine (dfppy) b, 2-phenylbenzodthiazole (pbt) c, 2-(4-bromophenyl)benzodthiazole (Br-pbt) d, 2-phenylquinoline (pq) e, 2-thienylpyridine (thpy) f, 1-(2-pyridyl)pyrene (pypy) g, and heteroleptic bis(cyclometalated) Pt
fac-Pt(bzq)(C^N)(C
F
)Cl (2 b-g, bzq: benzohquinolinyl) derivatives, generated by oxidation of 1 b-g with PhICl
, are reported. The oxidation reaction of 1 a evolved with formation of the bimetallic Pt
complex syn-Pt(bzq)(C
F
)Cl(μ-OH)
3. The crystal structures of 1 a,d,f, 2 b,d,e and 3 were corroborated by X-ray crystallography. A comparative study of the absorption and photoluminescence properties of the two series of complexes Pt
(1) and Pt
(2), supported by time-dependent DFT calculations (TD-DFT), is presented. The low-lying transitions (absorption and emission) of Pt
complexes 1 a-e solution and polystyrene (PS) films were assigned to the IL/MLCT mixture located on the cyclometalated Pt(bzq) unit, with minor IL'/ML'CT/LL'CT contributions involving the non-metalated ligand. Complex 1 g, bearing the more delocalized pyridyl pyrene (Hpypy) as an ancillary ligand, shows dual
ππ* and
ππ* (Hpypy) emission in fluid CH
Cl
and dual
IL/
MLCT Pt(bzq) and
ππ*, Hpypy phosphorescence at 77 K. Upon oxidation, Pt
complexes 2 b-f display (solution, PS) ligand-based phosphorescence that arises from the bzq in 2 b (
LC) or from the second C^N ligand in 2 c-f (
L'C) with some
LL'CT in 2 f. Despite metalation of the pyrenyl group, 2 g exhibits dual emission
ππ*/
ππ* located on the pypy chromophore.
Cyclometalated Pt
II complexes have drawn a lot of interest because they show interesting photoluminescence properties with potential applications in optical materials such as OLEDs and WOLEDs. ...Recently, heteropolymetallic cycloplatinated complexes have also been identified as systems of interest because they readily allow emission tuning by suitable choice of heterometal, cyclometalated groups and coligands. This review describes the synthetic routes, structural aspects and photoluminescence properties of heteropolynuclear complexes containing cycloplatinated fragments. In turn, cycloplatinated complexes have also been investigated as molecular sensors of ions via photoluminescence responses.
A convenient and general strategy for the synthesis of stable bis(cyclometalated) pentafluorophenyl Pt
complexes fac-Pt(C^N)
(C
F
)Cl (3 a-f) and mer-Pt(C^N)
(C
F
)(CN) (4 c,d) has been developed. ...Complexes 3 were selectively generated by low-temperature oxidation of the cyclometalated Pt
complexes Pt(C^N)(HC^N)(C
F
) 2 prepared from cis-Pt(C
F
)
(HC^N)
(1) intermediates with PhICl
and subsequent metalation of the pendant HC^N ligand. Complexes 3 a,b were also alternatively generated by irradiation (Hg lamp, 400 W) of complexes 2 a,b, respectively, in CH
Cl
. This latter reaction proceeds via the hydride Pt
species cis-Pt(C^N)
(C
F
)H, detected as the only intermediate species. The molecular structures of 1 a,d, 2 a, and 3 a,b,d,e were confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The substitution of Cl
by CN
in fac-Pt(C^N)
(C
F
)Cl C^N=2-phenylbenzothiazole (3 c), 2-(4-bromophenyl)benzothiazole (3 d) evolved with isomerization to give rise to the isomers (OC-6-42)-Pt(C^N)
(C
F
)(CN) (4 c, 4 d) having a mer disposition of the cyclometalated and C
F
groups (X-ray, 4 c). All the complexes are luminescent and their electronic spectra have been compared and interpreted with the aid of time-dependent DFT calculations.
Display omitted
•Sixteen OPEs were detected in different groups of beverages.•Tap water levels were significantly higher than packed water levels.•Added sugar drinks had statistically higher OPE ...content than sugar free beverages.•According to Spanish consumption, beverages intake was 2.52 ng/kg bw/day.•EHDPP showed the highest risk in regular cola drinks, but below safety limits.
Drinks are an essential part of human diet, which makes them a source of human exposure to plasticizers such as organophosphate esters (OPEs). The current study provides new information about sixteen OPE levels in 75 different samples (tap water, packed water, cola drinks, juice, wine and hot drinks). Tap water mean levels (40.9 ng/L) were statistically higher than packed water mean levels (4.82 ng/L), mainly due to the contribution of tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) and tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) that may come from PVC water pipes. Over 90% of samples presented at least one OPE, where regular cola drinks had the highest mean concentrations (2876 ng/L). There was a significantly higher presence of OPEs in added sugar beverages than sugar free drinks, especially for 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP), which might be related not only to packaging materials but to the added sugar content. Estimated daily intakes (EDIs) in normal and high-exposure scenarios were 2.52 ng/kg bw/day and 7.43 ng/kg bw/day, respectively. Human risk associated with beverages ingestion showed regular cola drinks, juice and tap water as the groups with the highest hazard quotients (HQs). Although OPE exposure was below to safety limits, it should be noted that EHDPP values for regular cola group must be cause of concern, and other routes of exposure such as food ingestion or air inhalation should be also considered.
Display omitted
•Resistance to the idea of COVID-19 aerosol transmission is rooted in medical history.•Modern bioaerosol science teaches that epidemic pathogens are commonly airborne.•The human ...“Great Acceleration” is causing the emergence of new zoonotic diseases.•Future health and urban planning need to concentrate on indoor air quality issues.•The impacts of the COVID-19 “anthropause” on environmental policy may be far-reaching.
Ongoing uncertainty over the relative importance of aerosol transmission of COVID-19 is in part rooted in the history of medical science and our understanding of how epidemic diseases can spread through human populations. Ancient Greek medical theory held that such illnesses are transmitted by airborne pathogenic emanations containing particulate matter (“miasmata”). Notable Roman and medieval scholars such as Varro, Ibn al-Khatib and Fracastoro developed these ideas, combining them with early germ theory and the concept of contagion. A widely held but vaguely defined belief in toxic miasmatic mists as a dominant causative agent in disease propagation was overtaken by the science of 19th century microbiology and epidemiology, especially in the study of cholera, which was proven to be mainly transmitted by contaminated water. Airborne disease transmission came to be viewed as burdened by a dubious historical reputation and difficult to demonstrate convincingly. A breakthrough came with the classic mid-20th century work of Wells, Riley and Mills who proved how expiratory aerosols (their “droplet nuclei”) could transport still-infectious tuberculosis bacteria through ventilation systems. The topic of aerosol transmission of pathogenic respiratory diseases assumed a new dimension with the mid-late 20th century “Great Acceleration” of an increasingly hypermobile human population repeatedly infected by different strains of zoonotic viruses, and has taken centre stage this century in response to outbreaks of new respiratory infections that include coronaviruses. From a geoscience perspective, the consequences of pandemic-status diseases such as COVID-19, produced by viral pathogens utilising aerosols to infect a human population currently approaching 8 billion, are far-reaching and unprecedented. The obvious and sudden impacts on for example waste plastic production, water and air quality and atmospheric chemistry are accelerating human awareness of current environmental challenges. As such, the “anthropause” lockdown enforced by COVID-19 may come to be seen as a harbinger of change great enough to be preserved in the Anthropocene stratal record.
Display omitted
•Structures of group 10 metal-cyanide compounds are arranged on the basis of x: M(CN)x.•Luminescent properties and applications of mono- and poly-nuclear complexes are ...overviewed.•Coordination polymers (CPs) of diverse dimensionality and properties are discussed.•Magnetic properties of group 10 metal-cyanide building blocks are highlighted.•Catalytic activities, nanoscale ensembles, and bioactive materials based on CN-CPs are presented.
To date, group 10 metal-cyanide scaffolds as promising candidates in the form of discrete organometallic complexes or one-, two- and three-dimensional coordination polymers have been attracted considerable attention due to their interesting properties and potential applications in many fields from medicine to materials science. In this review, cyanide compounds, according to structural, physical, chemical, and optical properties, were classified and various applications, based on the number of connected cyanide ligands to these metals, such as luminescence, porosity, halogen or hydrogen-bond acceptors, negative thermal expansion, nanostructures, magnetism, catalyst, and medicine were discussed.
Aim
This study will compare how falls can be reduced in non‐institutionalized older Spanish adults aged 65–80 years by providing group or individual exercise sessions using the Otago Exercise ...Programme.
Background
The Otago Exercise Programme is a progressive home‐based exercise programme, where trained health professionals help people engage in strength, balance and endurance exercises. Its format is based on the evidence from four clinical trials. The benefits of the Otago Exercise Programme are the same for people who have and have not suffered falls and it can also be used for visually impaired people.
Design
A multicentre, simply blinded, randomized, non‐inferiority clinical trial, with two arms—group training and individual training—that started in January 2017 and will continue until December 2019.
Methods
Each study group has 364 subjects, who will take part in four individual or group sessions delivered mainly by nurses over an 8‐week period, with a reinforcement session 6 months later. Data will be collected at baseline and after 6 and 12 months. The fall percentage will be the most relevant clinical variable and we will also consider safety, viability, compliance, economic analysis and therapeutic value.
Approval and funding was granted in December 2016 for this 3‐year study by the Spanish Health Research Fund (PI16CIII/00031).
Discussion
Older people from 65–80 years old tend to be more isolated and tackling worries about falls can improve social activities and independence. It has been shown that group training provides better adherence to exercise than individual training and this study will test that hypothesis for the Otago Exercise Programme.
PDF
