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International Journal of Molecular... May 2024Biodegradable (BP) poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PDLLA) membranes are widely used in tissue engineering. Here, we investigate the effects of varying concentrations of...
Biodegradable (BP) poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PDLLA) membranes are widely used in tissue engineering. Here, we investigate the effects of varying concentrations of PDLLA/gelatin membranes electrospun in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP; CHFO) solvent on their mechanical and physical properties as well as their biocompatibility. Regardless of the environmental conditions, increasing the gelatin content resulted in elevated stress and reduced strain at membrane failure. There was a remarkable difference in strain-to-failure between dry and wet PDLLA/gelatin membranes, with wet strains consistently higher than those of the dry membranes because of the hydrophilic nature of gelatin. A similar wet strain (ε = 2.7-3.0) was observed in PDLLA/gelatin membranes with a gelatin content between 10 and 40%. Both dry and wet stresses increased with increasing gelatin content. The dry stress on PDLLA/gelatin membranes (σ = 6.7-9.7 MPa) consistently exceeded the wet stress (σ = 4.5-8.6 MPa). The water uptake capacity (WUC) improved, increasing from 57% to 624% with the addition of 40% gelatin to PDLLA. PDLLA/gelatin hybrid membranes containing 10 to 20 wt% gelatin exhibited favorable wet mechanical properties (σ = 5.4-6.3 MPa; ε = 2.9-3.0); WUC (337-571%), degradability (11.4-20.2%), and excellent biocompatibility.
Topics: Biocompatible Materials; Gelatin; Materials Testing; Membranes, Artificial; Polyesters; Stress, Mechanical; Tissue Engineering; Water
PubMed: 38732241
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25095022 -
ELife Aug 2023Rodent premotor cortex (M2) integrates information from sensory and cognitive networks for action planning during goal-directed decision-making. M2 function is regulated...
Rodent premotor cortex (M2) integrates information from sensory and cognitive networks for action planning during goal-directed decision-making. M2 function is regulated by cortical inputs and ascending neuromodulators, including norepinephrine (NE) released from the locus coeruleus (LC). LC-NE has been shown to modulate the signal-to-noise ratio of neural representations in target cortical regions, increasing the salience of relevant stimuli. Using rats performing a two-alternative forced choice task after administration of a β-noradrenergic antagonist (propranolol), we show that β-noradrenergic signaling is necessary for effective action plan signals in anterior M2. Loss of β-noradrenergic signaling results in failure to suppress irrelevant action plans in anterior M2 disrupting decoding of cue-related information, delaying decision times, and increasing trial omissions, particularly in females. Furthermore, we identify a potential mechanism for the sex bias in behavioral and neural changes after propranolol administration via differential expression of β2 noradrenergic receptor RNA across sexes in anterior M2, particularly on local inhibitory neurons. Overall, we show a critical role for β-noradrenergic signaling in anterior M2 during decision-making by suppressing irrelevant information to enable efficient action planning and decision-making.
Topics: Female; Animals; Rats; Motor Cortex; Propranolol; Locus Coeruleus; Neurons; Norepinephrine
PubMed: 37606362
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.85590 -
Turkish Journal of Chemistry 2023In this study, mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) composed of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and porous ZSM-5 zeolite are thoroughly investigated for concentrating alcohols of...
In this study, mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) composed of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and porous ZSM-5 zeolite are thoroughly investigated for concentrating alcohols of ethanol and n-propanol via dewatering pervaporation. The effects of the zeolite content (10-30 wt.%), feed composition (5-30 wt.% water), and feed temperature (50-90 °C) on the pervaporation flux/separation factor and component permeance/selectivity of these MMMs are examined in detail. These MMMs achieve higher separation efficiency and pervaporation flux than their pure PVA counterparts as expected, even if the dehydration results strongly depend on the pervaporation conditions. The disparity in pervaporation performances acquired for different alcohol solutions may be understood in terms of polarity and molecular size, which differ among these alcohol molecules. The PVA/zeolite MMM of 20 wt.% ZSM-5 zeolite content performs substantially stably at 60 °C for the feed with 80 wt.% alcohol while maintaining separation factors of 660 or 820 and total fluxes of 970 or 825 g/mh for dewatering water/ethanol and water/n-propanol, respectively. Thus, our membranes appear to be technically feasible for practical alcohol dehydration uses.
PubMed: 38544706
DOI: 10.55730/1300-0527.3622 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023A facile and efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of C3-difluoromethyl carbinol-containing imidazo[1,2-]pyridines at room temperature via the...
1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoro-2-Propanol-Promoted Friedel-Crafts Reaction: Metal-Free Synthesis of C3-Difluoromethyl Carbinol-Containing Imidazo[1,2-]pyridines at Room Temperature.
A facile and efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of C3-difluoromethyl carbinol-containing imidazo[1,2-]pyridines at room temperature via the HFIP-promoted Friedel-Crafts reaction of difluoroacetaldehyde ethyl hemiacetal and imidazo[1,2-]pyridines. This strategy could be applied to the direct C(sp)-H hydroxydifluoromethylation of imidazo[1,2-]pyridines and afford a series of novel difluoromethylated carbinols in good to satisfactory yields with 29 examples. Furthermore, gram-scale and synthetic transformation experiments have also been achieved, demonstrating its potential applicable value in organic synthesis. This green protocol has several advantages, including being transition metal- and oxidant-free, being carried out at room temperature, having high efficiency, and having a wide substrate scope.
PubMed: 38005245
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28227522 -
Infection Control and Hospital... Apr 2024The gold standard for hand hygiene (HH) while wearing gloves requires removing gloves, performing HH, and donning new gloves between WHO moments. The novel strategy of... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
OBJECTIVE
The gold standard for hand hygiene (HH) while wearing gloves requires removing gloves, performing HH, and donning new gloves between WHO moments. The novel strategy of applying alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) directly to gloved hands might be effective and efficient.
DESIGN
A mixed-method, multicenter, 3-arm, randomized trial.
SETTING
Adult and pediatric medical-surgical, intermediate, and intensive care units at 4 hospitals.
PARTICIPANTS
Healthcare personnel (HCP).
INTERVENTIONS
HCP were randomized to 3 groups: ABHR applied directly to gloved hands, the current standard, or usual care.
METHODS
Gloved hands were sampled via direct imprint. Gold-standard and usual-care arms were compared with the ABHR intervention.
RESULTS
Bacteria were identified on gloved hands after 432 (67.4%) of 641 observations in the gold-standard arm versus 548 (82.8%) of 662 observations in the intervention arm ( < .01). HH required a mean of 14 seconds in the intervention and a mean of 28.7 seconds in the gold-standard arm ( < .01). Bacteria were identified on gloved hands after 133 (98.5%) of 135 observations in the usual-care arm versus 173 (76.6%) of 226 observations in the intervention arm ( < .01). Of 331 gloves tested 6 (1.8%) were found to have microperforations; all were identified in the intervention arm [6 (2.9%) of 205].
CONCLUSIONS
Compared with usual care, contamination of gloved hands was significantly reduced by applying ABHR directly to gloved hands but statistically higher than the gold standard. Given time savings and microbiological benefit over usual care and lack of feasibility of adhering to the gold standard, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization should consider advising HCP to decontaminate gloved hands with ABHR when HH moments arise during single-patient encounters. NCT03445676.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Child; Decontamination; Ethanol; Hand Hygiene; Hand; Health Personnel; 2-Propanol; Hand Disinfection
PubMed: 37994538
DOI: 10.1017/ice.2023.243 -
International Journal of Molecular... Sep 2023Cardiac K4.3 channels contribute to the transient outward K current, I, during early repolarization of the cardiac action potential. Two different isoforms of K4.3 are...
Cardiac K4.3 channels contribute to the transient outward K current, I, during early repolarization of the cardiac action potential. Two different isoforms of K4.3 are present in the human ventricle and exhibit differential remodeling in heart failure (HF). Cardioselective betablockers are a cornerstone of HF with reduced ejection fraction therapy as well as ventricular arrhythmia treatment. In this study we examined pharmacological effects of betablockers on both K4.3 isoforms to explore their potential for isoform-specific therapy. K4.3 isoforms were expressed in Xenopus oocytes and incubated with the respective betablockers. Dose-dependency and biophysical characteristics were examined. HEK 293T-cells were transfected with the two K4.3 isoforms and analyzed with Western blots. Carvedilol (100 µM) blocked K4.3 L by 77 ± 2% and K4.3 S by 67 ± 6%, respectively. Metoprolol (100 µM) was less effective with inhibition of 37 ± 3% (K4.3 L) and 35 ± 4% (K4.3 S). Bisoprolol showed no inhibitory effect. Current reduction was not caused by changes in K4.3 protein expression. Carvedilol inhibited K4.3 channels at physiologically relevant concentrations, affecting both isoforms. Metoprolol showed a weaker blocking effect and bisoprolol did not exert an effect on K4.3. Blockade of repolarizing K4.3 channels by carvedilol and metoprolol extend their pharmacological mechanism of action, potentially contributing beneficial antiarrhythmic effects in normal and failing hearts.
Topics: Humans; Metoprolol; Bisoprolol; Carvedilol; Heart; Heart Failure; Protein Isoforms
PubMed: 37762145
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813842 -
Journal of Agricultural and Food... Sep 2023Although the relationship between gut microbiota and flavan-3-ol metabolism differs greatly between individuals, the specific metabolic profiles, known as metabotypes,...
Although the relationship between gut microbiota and flavan-3-ol metabolism differs greatly between individuals, the specific metabolic profiles, known as metabotypes, have not yet been clearly defined. In this study, fecal batch fermentations of 34 healthy donors inoculated with (-)-epicatechin were stratified into groups based on their conversion rate of (-)-epicatechin and their quali-quantitative metabolic profile. Fast and slow converters of (-)-epicatechin, high producers of 1-(3'-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(2″,4″,6″-trihydroxyphenyl)-propan-2-ol (3-HPP-2-ol) and 5-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-γ-valerolactone (3,4-DHPVL) were identified. Fecal microbiota analysis revealed that fast conversion of (-)-epicatechin was associated with short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, such as spp. and spp., and higher levels of acetate, propionate, butyrate, and valerate were observed for fast converters. Other bacteria were associated with the conversion of 1-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(2″,4″,6″-trihydroxyphenyl)-propan-2-ol into 3-HPP-2-ol ( UCG-010 spp.) and 3,4-DHPVL (). Such stratification sheds light on the mechanisms of action underlying the high interindividual variability associated with the health benefits of flavan-3-ols.
Topics: Humans; Catechin; 2-Propanol; Butyrates; Clostridiales; Feces
PubMed: 37683128
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c05491 -
Medicine Sep 2023Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is associated with autonomic dysfunction and sympathetic nervous system mediated by the alpha receptor. However, limited data exist...
Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is associated with autonomic dysfunction and sympathetic nervous system mediated by the alpha receptor. However, limited data exist regarding the effects of the beta-blocker (BB) carvedilol on arrhythmia and urologic outcomes in BPH patients. Our database of patients diagnosed with BPH from 2015 to 2020 was used to obtain echocardiography and electrocardiogram data. Inclusion criteria were BPH patients taking BBs. International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaire were used to evaluate the urinary symptoms and quality of life. Among 448 patients with BPH (69.2 ± 10.9 years) taking BBs, 219 patients took carvedilol (48.9%) and 229 patients took a non-carvedilol BB (51.1%; bisoprolol, 184 patients, 80% or nebivolol, 45 patients, 20%). Difference in the baseline characteristics was not observed. During the median 36-month follow-up, a lower incidence of arrhythmic events (P = .029), total urologic events (P < .001), and less use of additive alpha-blocker was observed in the carvedilol group (P = .022). In multivariate analysis, less carvedilol use (P = .019), heart failure (P < .001), stroke (P < .001), and cardiomyopathy (P = .046) were independent risk factors for arrhythmic events. In addition, less carvedilol use (P = .009) and older age (P = .005) were independent risk factors for urologic events based on BB type at the median 36-month follow-up. The use of carvedilol was associated with less arrhythmic events in BPH patients with palpitation and decreased the incidence of urologic events in BPH compared with the use of non-carvedilol BBs in long-term follow-up.
Topics: Male; Humans; Carvedilol; Prostatic Hyperplasia; Prostate; Quality of Life; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Hypertrophy
PubMed: 37682158
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000035008 -
Communications Chemistry Jul 2023Recently discovered phosphate-derived Ni catalysts have opened a new pathway towards multicarbon products via CO electroreduction. However, understanding the influence...
Recently discovered phosphate-derived Ni catalysts have opened a new pathway towards multicarbon products via CO electroreduction. However, understanding the influence of basic parameters such as electrode potential, pH, and buffer capacity is needed for optimized C product formation. To this end, rigorous catalyst evaluation and sensitive analytical tools are required to identify potential new products and minimize increasing quantification errors linked to long-chain carbon compounds. Herein, we contribute to enhance testing accuracy by presenting sensitive H NMR spectroscopy protocols for liquid product assessment featuring optimized water suppression and reduced experiment time. When combined with an automated NMR data processing routine, samples containing up to 12 products can be quantified within 15 min with low quantification limits equivalent to Faradaic efficiencies of 0.1%. These developments disclosed performance trends in carbon product formation and the detection of four hitherto unreported compounds: acetate, ethylene glycol, hydroxyacetone, and i-propanol.
PubMed: 37430001
DOI: 10.1038/s42004-023-00948-9 -
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2024Quail egg yolk oil (QEYO) has a rich history of medicinal use, showcasing heightened antioxidant and bioactive properties in our prior studies. This positions QEYO as a...
Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Quail Yolk Oil via Upregulation of Superoxide Dismutase 1 and Catalase Genes and Downregulation of EIGER and Unpaired 2 Genes in a Model.
Quail egg yolk oil (QEYO) has a rich history of medicinal use, showcasing heightened antioxidant and bioactive properties in our prior studies. This positions QEYO as a promising candidate for therapeutic and cosmetic applications. In this investigation, QEYO was extracted using ethanol/chloroform and 2-propanol/hexane solvents. GC-MS and FTIR analyses quantified 14 major bioactive compounds in the ethanol/chloroform fraction and 12 in the 2-propanol/hexane fraction. Toxicity evaluations in fruit flies, spanning acute, sub chronic, and chronic exposures, revealed no adverse effects. Negative geotaxis assays assessed locomotor activity, while biochemical assays using fly hemolymph gauged antioxidant responses. Real-time PCR revealed the relative expression levels of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory genes. FTIR spectra indicated diverse functional groups, and the GC-MS results associated bioactive compounds with the regulation of the anti-inflammatory genes and . While no significant change in SOD activities was noted, male flies treated with specific QEYO doses exhibited increased catalase activity and total antioxidant capacity, coupled with a significant decrease in their malondialdehyde levels. This study offers valuable insights into the bioactive compounds of QEYO and their potential regulatory roles in gene expression.
PubMed: 38247499
DOI: 10.3390/antiox13010075