Bioinspired Underwater Bonding and Debonding on Demand

Mussel glue: Bioinspired underwater chemical bonding with the possibility of phototriggered debonding is reported. A four-arm star-poly(ethyleneglycol) end-functionalized by nitrodopamine was synthesized. The nitrodopamine offered the reactivity of catechol and the chemistry of the photocleavable o-nitrophenyl ethyl group (see picture)

Antibacterial Strategies from the Sea: Polymer-Bound Cl-Catechols for Prevention of Biofilm Formation

Inspired by the amino acid 2-chloro-4,5-dihydroxyphenylalanine (Cl-DOPA), present in the composition of the proteinaceous glue of the sandcastle worm Phragmatopoma californica, a simple strategy is presented to confer antifouling properties to polymer surfaces using (but not releasing) a bioinspired biocide. Cl-Dopamine is used to functionalize polymer materials and hydrogel films easily, to prevent biofilm formation on themThe authors thank Uwe Rietzler from the Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung for the SFM-based thickness measurements

Cell viability in the presence of PTX derivatives at different concentrations.

<p>(<b>A</b>) HeLa cells were incubated with PTX and caged PTX derivatives at concentrations between 0.01 and 10 µM. After 48 hours cultivation, cells were stained with PrestoBlue™ reagent. Metabolically active cells reduce the cell permeable dye resazurin into fluorescent resorufin, providing a quantitative measure of viable cells (see “<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0043657#s2" target="_blank">Materials and Methods</a>” section for details). (<b>B</b>) The viability of cells incubated with pre-irradiated solutions of 2′,7-bisNvoc-PTX.</p

Effect of the presence of PTX and caged PTXs on the microtubule cytoskeleton of living cells.

<p>Fluorescence microscopy images of HeLa cells stably expressing GFP-tubulin imaged after 1 h (<b>A</b>) and 24 h (<b>B</b>) incubation in medium containing DMSO, PTX and caged derivatives at the indicated concentrations. White arrows indicate the cell edge deprived of microtubules. Scale bars: 20 µm. See <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0043657#pone.0043657.s009" target="_blank">Fig. S5</a> for images of assays with pre-irradiated compounds.</p

Photolytic studies.

<p>(<b>A</b>) HPLC monitoring of the photoreaction and the changes in the composition of a 1 mM solution of 2′,7-bisNvoc-PTX after irradiation at 360 nm (2.7 mW/cm²) with increasing dose. (<b>B</b>) Time course of the quantified molar composition of the solution, as obtained from the HPLC data.</p

Exploring the Association Between Emphysema Phenotypes and Low Bone Mineral Density in Smokers with and without COPD

Rationale: Emphysema and osteoporosis are tobacco-related diseases. Many studies have shown that emphysema is a strong and independent predictor of low bone mineral density (BMD) in smokers; however, none of them explored its association with different emphysema subtypes. Objective: To explore the association between the different emphysema subtypes and the presence of low bone mineral density in a population of active or former smokers with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: One hundred and fifty-three active and former smokers from a pulmonary clinic completed clinical questionnaires, pulmonary function tests, a low-dose chest computed tomography (LDCT) and a dual-energy absorptiometry (DXA) scans. Subjects were classified as having normal BMD or low BMD (osteopenia or osteoporosis). Emphysema was classified visually for its subtype and severity. Logistic regression analysis explored the relationship between the different emphysema subtypes and the presence of low BMD adjusting for other important factors. Results: Seventy-five percent of the patients had low BMD (78 had osteopenia and 37 had osteoporosis). Emphysema was more frequent (66.1 vs 26.3%, p=<0.001) and severe in those with low BMD. Multivariable analysis adjusting for other significant cofactors (age, sex, FEV1, and severity of emphysema) showed that BMI (OR=0.91, 95% CI: 0.76–0.92) and centrilobular emphysema (OR=26.19, 95% CI: 1.71 to 399.44) were associated with low BMD. Conclusion: Low BMD is highly prevalent in current and former smokers. BMI and centrilobular emphysema are strong and independent predictors of its presence, which suggests that they should be considered when evaluating smokers at risk for low BMD

Chronic rhinosinusitis is associated with prolonged SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding in upper respiratory tract samples: A case-control study

Abstract. Recalde-Zamacona B, Tomas-Vel azquez A, Campo A, Satrustegui-Alzugaray B, Fern andez- Alonso M, Inigo M, Rodr ~ ıguez-Mateos M, Di Frisco M, Felgueroso C, Berto J, Mar ın-Oto M, Alcaide AB, Zulueta JJ, Seijo L, Landecho MF (Clinica Universidad de Navarra; Health Center of San Juan, Pamplona, Spain). Chronic rhinosinusitis is associated with prolonged SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding in upper respiratory tract samples: A case-control study. J Intern Med 2021; 289: 921– 925. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.13237 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 pro- longed viral shedding and compared them with 36 sex-matched randomly selected controls. Demo- graphic, treatment and clinical data were system- atically 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 rhinosi- nusitis 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). Mul- tivariate 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 prospec- tive trials, this finding might have clinical implica- tions for quarantine duration due to increased risk of pandemic spread

Exploring the Association Between Emphysema Phenotypes and Low Bone Mineral Density in Smokers with and without COPD

Rationale: Emphysema and osteoporosis are tobacco-related diseases. Many studies have shown that emphysema is a strong and independent predictor of low bone mineral density (BMD) in smokers; however, none of them explored its association with different emphysema subtypes. Objective: To explore the association between the different emphysema subtypes and the presence of low bone mineral density in a population of active or former smokers with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: One hundred and fifty-three active and former smokers from a pulmonary clinic completed clinical questionnaires, pulmonary function tests, a low-dose chest computed tomography (LDCT) and a dual-energy absorptiometry (DXA) scans. Subjects were classified as having normal BMD or low BMD (osteopenia or osteoporosis). Emphysema was classified visually for its subtype and severity. Logistic regression analysis explored the relationship between the different emphysema subtypes and the presence of low BMD adjusting for other important factors. Results: Seventy-five percent of the patients had low BMD (78 had osteopenia and 37 had osteoporosis). Emphysema was more frequent (66.1 vs 26.3%, p=<0.001) and severe in those with low BMD. Multivariable analysis adjusting for other significant cofactors (age, sex, FEV1, and severity of emphysema) showed that BMI (OR=0.91, 95% CI: 0.76–0.92) and centrilobular emphysema (OR=26.19, 95% CI: 1.71 to 399.44) were associated with low BMD. Conclusion: Low BMD is highly prevalent in current and former smokers. BMI and centrilobular emphysema are strong and independent predictors of its presence, which suggests that they should be considered when evaluating smokers at risk for low BMD