Integrating metalloporphycenes into p-type NiO-based dye-sensitized solar cells

In the current work, we have explored a novel synthetic route towards metalated porphycenes and their use in p-type NiO-based dye-sensitized solar cells. Particular emphasis is placed on the influence that the relative positioning of the anchoring group exerts on the DSSC performance

The Star Formation History in a SMC field: IAC-star/IAC-pop at work

We present a progress report of a project to study the quantitative star formation history (SFH) in different parts of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). We use the information in [(B-R), R] color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs), which reach down to the oldest main-sequence turnoffs and allow us to retrieve the SFH in detail. We show the first results of the SFH in a SMC field located in the Southern direction (at $\thicksim$1 kpc from the SMC center). This field is particularly interesting because in spite of being located in a place in which the HI column density is very low, it still presents a recent enhancement of star formation.Comment: Poster presented at: Stellar Populations as Building Blocks of Galaxies, Proceedings IAU Symposium No. 241, 200

Microbiota-Dependent Immune Responses to Intestinal Parasites

The digestive tract plays a central role in nutrient acquisition and harbors a vast and intricate community of bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites, collectively known as the microbiota. In recent years, there has been increasing recognition of the complex and highly contextual involvement of this microbiota in the induction and education of host innate and adaptive immune responses under homeostasis, during infection and inflammation. The gut passage and colonization by unicellular and multicellular parasite species present an immense challenge to the host immune system and to the microbial communities that provide vital support for its proper functioning. In mammals, parasitic nematodes induce distinct shifts in the intestinal microbial composition. Vice versa, the commensal microbiota has been shown to serve as a molecular adjuvant and immunomodulator during intestinal parasite infections. Moreover, similar interactions occur within insect vectors of deadly human pathogens. The gut microbiota has emerged as a crucial factor affecting vector competence in Anopheles mosquitoes, where it modulates outcomes of infections with malaria parasites. In this review, we discuss currently known involvements of the host microbiota in the instruction, support or suppression of host immune responses to gastrointestinal nematodes and protozoan parasites in mice, as well as in the malaria mosquito vector. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying microbiota-dependent modulation of host and vector immunity against parasites in mammals and mosquitoes is key to a better understanding of the host-parasite relationships and the identification of more efficient approaches for intervention and treatment of parasite infections of both clinical and veterinary importance

Sialoglycoproteins and N-Glycans from Secreted Exosomes of Ovarian Carcinoma Cells

Exosomes consist of vesicles that are secreted by several human cells, including tumor cells and neurons, and they are found in several biological fluids. Exosomes have characteristic protein and lipid composition, however, the results concerning glycoprotein composition and glycosylation are scarce. Here, protein glycosylation of exosomes from ovarian carcinoma SKOV3 cells has been studied by lectin blotting, NP-HPLC analysis of 2-aminobenzamide labeled glycans and mass spectrometry. An abundant sialoglycoprotein was found enriched in exosomes and it was identified by peptide mass fingerprinting and immunoblot as the galectin-3-binding protein (LGALS3BP). Exosomes were found to contain predominantly complex glycans of the di-, tri-, and tetraantennary type with or without proximal fucose and also high mannose glycans. Diantennary glycans containing bisecting N-acetylglucosamine were also detected. This work provides detailed information about glycoprotein and N-glycan composition of exosomes from ovarian cancer cells, furthermore it opens novel perspectives to further explore the functional role of glycans in the biology of exosomes.EU Joint Programme JPND/0003/2011, FCT grant: Pest-OE/EQB/LA0004/2011, FCT PhD fellowship

Effects of butter oil and whey proteins addition on viscoelastic properties of confectionary Dulce de leche

The effect of butter oil and whey proteins addition on viscoelastic properties of confectionary Dulce de Leche was evaluated. A two factors experimental design (0-8 % p/v of butter oil and 0-1 % p/v of whey proteins) was analysed. Frequency sweep tests were carried out and for all formulations studied a weak gel like behavior was observed. Therefore, results were interpreted using a weak gel model for foods. It was observed that the rheological behavior of the sample with addition of whey proteins and butter oil is significantly different than the others because rheological units interact with greater strength. Even more, the sample without butter oil and with whey proteins addition is composed by less rheological units than the others. It is concluded that the whole addition of butter oil and whey proteins generates a stronger gel matrix, more appropriate for use in confectionary.Fil: Olivares, María Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Pauletti, Miguel Sebastian. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Costa, Silvia Claudia. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: de Piante Vicin, Daniel Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Rubiolo, Amelia Catalina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; Argentin

NRAS Q61R , BRAF V600E immunohistochemistry: a concomitant tool for mutation screening in melanomas

International audienceThe determination of NRAS and BRAF mutation status is a major requirement in the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma. Mutation specific antibodies against NRAS(Q61R) and BRAF(V600E) proteins could offer additional data on tumor heterogeneity. The specificity and sensitivity of NRAS(Q61R) immunohistochemistry have recently been reported excellent. We aimed to determine the utility of immunohistochemistry using SP174 anti-NRAS(Q61R) and VE1 anti-BRAF(V600E) antibodies in the theranostic mutation screening of melanomas. 142 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded melanoma samples from 79 patients were analyzed using pyrosequencing and immunohistochemistry. 23 and 26 patients were concluded to have a NRAS-mutated or a BRAF-mutated melanoma respectively. The 23 NRAS (Q61R) and 23 BRAF (V600E) -mutant samples with pyrosequencing were all positive in immunohistochemistry with SP174 antibody and VE1 antibody respectively, without any false negative. Proportions and intensities of staining were varied. Other NRAS (Q61L) , NRAS (Q61K) , BRAF (V600K) and BRAF (V600R) mutants were negative in immunohistochemistry. 6 single cases were immunostained but identified as wild-type using pyrosequencing (1 with SP174 and 5 with VE1). 4/38 patients with multiple samples presented molecular discordant data. Technical limitations are discussed to explain those discrepancies. Anyway we could not rule out real tumor heterogeneity. In our study, we showed that combining immunohistochemistry analysis targeting NRAS(Q61R) and BRAF(V600E) proteins with molecular analysis was a reliable theranostic tool to face challenging samples of melanoma

Identifying Prognostic Factors for Well-Differentiated Metastatic Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumours: A Retrospective International Multicentre Cohort Study

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (pNETs) represent rare neoplasms of all NETs often presenting without functional activity. Many sporadic non-functioning pNET patients are already metastatic at the time of diagnosis, and the therapeutic approach to such patients is mostly palliative. In this international, multicentre, retrospective cohort study, we assessed the prognostic value of a set of anthropometric, clinical, biochemical, radiological and pathological parameters at baseline and the impact of the therapeutic strategies on the survival of patients with sporadic grade 1/2, stage IV, non-functioning pNETs. Three hundred and twelve consecutive patients diagnosed between 1993 and 2010 were included. The median overall survival (OS) was 6.6 years and survival at 5 and 10 years was 62 and 34% respectively. On univariate analysis, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status > 2, grade 2, bilobar hepatic metastases, synchronous metastases, and high chromogranin A, alkalinephosphatase and lactic-dehydrogenase were associated with a significant reduction of OS. Palliative/curative surgery and loco-regional hepatic interventions were significant factors improving OS. On multivariate analysis, ECOG status >= 2, synchronous metastases, Ki-67 >= 10%, and high alkalinephosphatase correlated significantly with an increased risk of death. Both palliative/curative surgery and loco-regional hepatic interventions had a positive impact on OS. Although most parameters did not prove to be independent OS predictors at multivariate analysis, they showed a tendency towards that. Future prospective studies including larger patient populations may give greater clarity. We believe the integration of these parameters has the potential to provide a reliable prognostic score for the stratification of patients with sporadic well-differentiated metastatic non-functioning pNETs

A folding ADC based on switched capacitor circuits in 350 nm CMOS

Peer Reviewe

Surgical fixation compared with cast immobilisation for adults with a bicortical fracture of the scaphoid waist: the SWIFFT RCT

Background: Scaphoid fractures account for 90% of carpal fractures and occur predominantly in young men. Immediate surgical fixation of this fracture has increased. Objective: To compare clinical and cost-effectiveness of surgical fixation with cast treatment and early fixation of those that fail to unite for scaphoid waist fractures in adults. Design: Multicentre, pragmatic, open-label, parallel two-arm randomised controlled trial with an economic evaluation and nested qualitative study. Setting: Orthopaedic departments of 31 hospitals in England and Wales recruited from July 2013 with final follow-up in September 2017. Participants: Adults (aged ≥ 16 years), presenting within two weeks of injury with a clear bicortical fracture of the scaphoid waist on plain radiographs. Interventions: Early surgical fixation using CE marked headless compression screws. Below elbow cast immobilisation for six to ten weeks, and urgent fixation of confirmed non-union. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome and end-point was the Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) total score at 52 weeks, with a clinically relevant difference of six points. Secondary outcomes included PRWE pain and function subscales, Short Form 12-item questionnaire (SF-12), bone union, range of movement, grip strength, complications and return to work. Results: The mean age of 439 participants was 33 years, 363 were male (83%) and 269 had an undisplaced fracture (61%). The primary analysis was on 408 participants providing valid PRWE outcome data for at least one post-randomisation time-point (surgery n=203 of 219; cast n=205 of 220). There was no clinically relevant difference in the total PRWE at 52 weeks: cast group mean 14.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) 11.3 to 16.6] and surgery group mean 11.9 (95% CI 9.2 to 14.5); adjusted mean difference of -2.1 in favour of surgery (95% CI -5.8 to 1.6, p=0.27). Non-union rate was low (surgery group n=1; cast group n=4). Eight participants in the surgery group had 11 re-operations, and one participant in the cast group required a re-operation for non-union. The base-case economic analysis at 52 weeks found the cost of surgery was £1,295 more per patient (95% CI £1,084 to £1,504) than cast treatment. The base-case analysis of a lifetime extrapolated model confirmed that the cast treatment pathway was the most cost-effective option. The nested qualitative study identified patients desire to have a “sense of recovering” which surgeons should address at the outset. Limitation: There were 17 participants who had initial cast treatment and surgery for confirmed non-union, 14 within six months from randomisation and three after six months. Three of four participants in the cast group, who had a non-union at 52 weeks, were not offered surgery. Conclusions: Adult patients with an undisplaced or minimally displaced scaphoid waist fracture should have cast immobilisation and suspected non-unions immediately confirmed and urgently fixed. Future work: Patients will be followed-up at five years to investigate the effect of partial union, degenerative arthritis, malunion and screw problems on their quality of life

Extended 2D myotube culture recapitulates postnatal fibre type plasticity

Background: The traditional problems of performing skeletal muscle cell cultures derived from mammalian or avian species are limited myotube differentiation, and transient myotube persistence which greatly restricts the ability of myotubes to undergo phenotypic maturation. We report here on a major technical breakthrough in the establishment of a simple and effective method of extended porcine myotube cultures (beyond 50 days) in two-dimension (2D) that recapitulates key features of postnatal fibre types. Results: Primary porcine muscle satellite cells (myoblasts) were isolated from the longissimus dorsi of 4 to 6 weeks old pigs for 2D cultures to optimise myotube formation, improve surface adherence and characterise myotube maturation. Over 95 % of isolated cells were myoblasts as evidenced by the expression of Pax3 and Pax7. Our relatively simple approach, based on modifications of existing surface coating reagents (Maxgel), and of proliferation and differentiation (Ultroser G) media, typically achieved by 5 days of differentiation fusion index of around 80 % manifested in an abundance of discrete myosin heavy chain (MyHC) slow and fast myotubes. There was little deterioration in myotube viability over 50 days, and the efficiency of myotube formation was maintained over seven myoblast passages. Regular spontaneous contractions of myotubes were frequently observed throughout culture. Myotubes in extended cultures were able to undergo phenotypic adaptation in response to different culture media, including the adoption of a dominant postnatal phenotype of fast-glycolytic MyHC 2x and 2b expression by about day 20 of differentiation. Furthermore, fast-glycolytic myotubes coincided with enhanced expression of the putative porcine long intergenic non-coding RNA (linc-MYH), which has recently been shown to be a key coordinator of MyHC 2b expression in vivo. Conclusions: Our revised culture protocol allows the efficient differentiation and fusion of porcine myoblasts into myotubes and their prolonged adherence to the culture surface. Furthermore, we are able to recapitulate in 2D the maturation process of myotubes to resemble postnatal fibre types which represent a major technical advance in opening access to the in vitro study of coordinated postnatal muscle gene expression