Why Should Growth Hormone (GH) Be Considered a Promising Therapeutic Agent for Arteriogenesis? Insights from the GHAS Trial

Despite the important role that the growth hormone (GH)/IGF-I axis plays in vascular homeostasis, these kind of growth factors barely appear in articles addressing the neovascularization process. Currently, the vascular endothelium is considered as an authentic gland of internal secretion due to the wide variety of released factors and functions with local effects, including the paracrine/autocrine production of GH or IGF-I, for which the endothelium has specific receptors. In this comprehensive review, the evidence involving these proangiogenic hormones in arteriogenesis dealing with the arterial occlusion and making of them a potential therapy is described. All the elements that trigger the local and systemic production of GH/IGF-I, as well as their possible roles both in physiological and pathological conditions are analyzed. All of the evidence is combined with important data from the GHAS trial, in which GH or a placebo were administrated to patients suffering from critical limb ischemia with no option for revascularization. We postulate that GH, alone or in combination, should be considered as a promising therapeutic agent for helping in the approach of ischemic disease

Intelligent Management of Hydroponic Systems Based on IoT for Agrifood Processes

[EN] There are a wide variety of new microprocessors that are easy to program and configure to perform complex tasks, and with the right features, sensors, and additional mechanisms, we can prepare them to monitor and take care of the crops with automated processes. Soil moisture, air temperature, humidity, CO2, and water level are some of the most basic parameters to monitor with sensors, but any type of sensor can be added if the signal is adapted so that the microprocessor can read it. The data read from the sensors allow us to control and automate processes using relays connected to a variety of external components like illumination, refrigeration, and irrigation systems. We present a solution to the environmental monitoring hydroponic system based on IoT. The developed device is a low powered, and the data obtained is transmitted via Zigbee to a central system where we can configure and control all the devices paired, so it is relatively easy to implement and escalate.This work was supported by the I+D+i Program of the Generalitat Valenciana, Spain (AEST/2018/010).Hostalrich, D.; Pelegri-Sebastia, J.; Sogorb Devesa, T.; Pellicer, V. (2022). Intelligent Management of Hydroponic Systems Based on IoT for Agrifood Processes. Journal of Sensors. 2022:1-11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/9247965111202

Accuracy of a method based on atomic absorption spectrometry to determine inorganic arsenic in food : Outcome of the collaborative trial IMEP-41

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Tribocorrosion behavior of beta titanium biomedical alloys in phosphate buffer saline solution

[EN] The tribo-electrochemical behavior of different β titanium alloys for biomedical applications sintered by powder metallurgy has been investigated. Different mechanical, electrochemical and optical techniques were used to study the influence of the chemical composition, Sn content, and the electrochemical conditions on the tribocorrosion behavior of those alloys Ti30NbxSn alloys (where x is the weight percentage of Sn content, 2% and 4%). Sn content increases the active and passive dissolution rate of the titanium alloys, thus increasing the mechanically activated corrosion under tribocorrosion conditions. It also increases the mechanical wear of the alloy. Prevailing electrochemical conditions between 1 and 2 V influences the wear accelerated corrosion by increasing it with the applied potential and slightly increases the mechanical wear of Ti30Nb4Sn. Wear accelerated corrosion can be predicted by existing models as a function of electrochemical and mechanical parameters of the titanium alloys.The authors would like to thank the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion of the Spanish government for the financial support under the project MAT2011-22481.Guiñón Pina, V.; Dalmau, A.; Devesa, F.; Amigó Borrás, V.; Igual Muñoz, AN. (2015). Tribocorrosion behavior of beta titanium biomedical alloys in phosphate buffer saline solution. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials. 46:59-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2015.02.016S59684

Electrochemical behavior of near-beta titanium biomedical alloys in phosphate buffer saline solution

The electrochemical behavior of three different near-β titanium alloys (composed by Ti, Nb and Sn) obtained by powder metallurgy for biomedical applications has been investigated. Different electrochemical and microscopy techniques were used to study the influence of the chemical composition (Sn content) and the applied potential on themicrostructure and the corrosion mechanisms of those titaniumalloys. The addition of Sn below4wt.% to the titanium powder improves the microstructural homogeneity and generates an alloy with high corrosion resistancewith lowelasticmodulus, beingmore suitable as a biomaterial.When the Sn content is above 4%, the corrosion resistance considerably decreases by increasing the passive dissolution rate; this effect is enhanced with the applied potential.The authors would like to thank the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion of the Spanish Government for the financial support under the project MAT2011-22481.Dalmau Borrás, A.; Guiñón Pina, V.; Devesa Albeza, F.; Amigó Borrás, V.; Igual Muñoz, AN. (2015). Electrochemical behavior of near-beta titanium biomedical alloys in phosphate buffer saline solution. Materials Science and Engineering: C. 48:55-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2014.11.036S55624

Metabolism and toxicity of arsenic in human urothelial cells expressing rat arsenic (+3 oxidation state)-methyltransferase

The enzymatic methylation of inorganic As (iAs) is catalyzed by As(+3 oxidation state)-methyltransferase (AS3MT). AS3MT is expressed in rat liver and in human hepatocytes. However, AS3MT is not expressed in UROtsa, human urothelial cells that do not methylate iAs. Thus, UROtsa cells are an ideal null background in which the role of iAs methylation in modulation of toxic and cancer-promoting effects of this metalloid can be examined. A retroviral gene delivery system was used in this study to create a clonal UROtsa cell line (UROtsa/F35) that expresses rat AS3MT. Here, we characterize the metabolism and cytotoxicity of arsenite (iAsIII) and methylated trivalent arsenicals in parental cells and clonal cells expressing AS3MT. In contrast to parental cells, UROtsa/F35 cells effectively methylated iAsIII, yielding methylarsenic (MAs) and dimethylarsenic (DMAs) containing either AsIII or AsV. When exposed to MAsIII, UROtsa/F35 cells produced DMAsIII and DMAsV. MAsIII and DMAsIII were more cytotoxic than iAsIII in UROtsa and UROtsa/F35 cells. The greater cytotoxicity of MAsIII or DMAsIII than of iAsIII was associated with greater cellular uptake and retention of each methylated trivalent arsenical. Notably, UROtsa/F35 cells were more sensitive than parental cells to the cytotoxic effects of iAsIII but were more resistant to cytotoxicity of MAsIII. The increased sensitivity of UROtsa/F35 cells to iAsIII was associated with inhibition of DMAs production and intracellular accumulation of MAs. The resistance of UROtsa/F35 cells to moderate concentrations of MAsIII was linked to its rapid conversion to DMAs and efflux of DMAs. However, concentrations of MAsIII that inhibited DMAs production by UROtsa/F35 cells were equally toxic for parental and clonal cell lines. Thus, the production and accumulation of MAsIII is a key factor contributing to the toxicity of acute iAs exposures in methylating cells

Glutathione–enriched baker’s yeast: production, bioaccessibility and intestinal transport assays

AIMS: a glutathione (GSH) yeast-based biomass (S. cerevisiae) was used to investigate GSH stability, solubilization during gastrointestinal digestion and GSH intestinal transport. METHODS AND RESULTS: a post-growing procedure was applied to improve intracellular GSH yeast content. The presence of adenine (ADE) in the biotransformation solution (CYS-GLY-GLU mixture) and alternatively, a glucose shot after 4 h incubation, allowed to obtain cells containing about GSH 1.6-1.7% dcw (dry cell weight) (control 0.5%). Yeast samples were subjected to in vitro gastro-intestinal digestion and absorption assays employing Caco-2 and HT29-MTX cell lines in different proportions (100/0, 70/30 and 50/50). Trials were also performed to verify intestinal cell viability. CONCLUSIONS: at least 87% of ingested GSH is available in reduced form for intestinal absorption. In vitro GSH transport assays indicated that GSH is poorly absorbed (<20%). Nevertheless, studies in response to oxidative stress induced by H2 O2 demonstrated a protective role of the GSH-enriched biomass towards intestinal cell viability. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: an enriched GSH yeast-based biomass has been obtained using a post-growing procedure. Although GSH present in enriched yeasts is poorly absorbed by intestinal cells, this biomass showed an intestinal local protective effect, improving cells viability when a simulated oxidative stress was applied

Characteristics, management and outcome of a large necrotising otitis externa case series: need for standardised case definition

Background: Necrotising otitis externa (NOE) is a severe ear infection for which there are no established diagnostic or treatment guidelines. Objective: Describe clinical characteristics, management and outcomes for patients managed as NOE at a UK tertiary referral centre. Methods: Retrospective case series. Results: 58 (63%) patients were classified as definite NOE cases, 31 (34%) as probable and 3 (3%) as possible cases. Median duration of intravenous and oral antimicrobial therapy was 6.0 weeks (0.49-44.9). 6% of patients relapsed a median of 16.4 weeks (IQR 23-121) after stopping antimicrobials. 28% of cases had complex disease. These patients were older (p=0.042), had a longer duration of symptoms prior to imaging (p= 0.0001) and higher CRP at diagnosis (p=0.005). Despite longer courses of intravenous antimicrobials (23 days v 14 days; p=0.032), complex cases were more likely to relapse (p=0.016). Conclusion: A standardised case-definition of NOE is needed to optimise diagnosis, management and research

Mechanical characterization of Ti-Nb alloys by ball on three balls test

[EN] Nowadays titanium and titanium alloys are increasingly being used in the industry. Particularly ß-Ti alloys that stand out for having great strength properties and low elastic modulus compared to Ti c.p. or Ti-6Al-4V. Among Ti alloys, Ti-Nb alloys with high contents of alloying elements are widely used. In this work Ti-Nb alloys have been obtained using conventional powder metallurgy. It has been studied the evolution of properties of these alloys as a function of the percentage of niobium. It can be noted the ball on three balls test used in order to characterize the samples.[ES] En la actualidad, cada vez, son más importantes en la industria las aleaciones de titanio. En especial las aleaciones tipo-ß, que destacan por tener buenas propiedades resistentes y bajos módulos elásticos, en comparación con el Ti c.p. o el Ti-6Al-4V. Dentro de estas aleaciones cabe destacar las Ti-Nb con altos contenidos en elementos aleantes. En este trabajo se han obtenido, mediante pulvimetalurgia convencional, una serie de aleaciones Ti-Nb, en el rango del 20-40 % de niobio. Se ha obtenido la evolución de las propiedades de dichas aleaciones en función del porcentaje de niobio, mediante la utilización del ensayo de flexión biaxial con tres apoyos (three ball test)Los autores agradecen al Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación por la financiación de esta investigación a través del proyecto TRACE PET2008_0158_02.Benavente Martínez, E.; Devesa, F.; Amigó, V. (2010). Caracterización mecánica de aleaciones Ti-Nb mediante ensayos de flexión biaxial. Revista de Metalurgia. 46:19-25. https://doi.org/10.3989/revmetalmadrid.02.1XIIPMSS19254

Identification of a novel quinoxaline-isoselenourea targeting the STAT3 pathway as a potential melanoma therapeutic

The prognosis for patients with metastatic melanoma remains very poor. Constitutive signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation has been correlated to metastasis, poor patient survival, larger tumor size, and acquired resistance against vemurafenib (PLX-4032), suggesting its potential as a molecular target. We recently designed a series of isoseleno- and isothio-urea derivatives of several biologically active heterocyclic scaffolds. The cytotoxic effects of lead isoseleno- and isothio-urea derivatives (compounds 1 and 3) were studied in a panel of five melanoma cell lines, including B-RAFV600E-mutant and wild-type (WT) cells. Compound 1 (IC50 range 0.8–3.8 µM) showed lower IC50 values than compound 3 (IC50 range 8.1–38.7 µM) and the mutant B-RAF specific inhibitor PLX-4032 (IC50 ranging from 0.4 to >50 µM), especially at a short treatment time (24 h). These effects were long-lasting, since melanoma cells did not recover their proliferative potential after 14 days of treatment. In addition, we confirmed that compound 1 induced cell death by apoptosis using Live-and-Dead, Annexin V, and Caspase3/7 apoptosis assays. Furthermore, compound 1 reduced the protein levels of STAT3 and its phosphorylation, as well as decreased the expression of STAT3-regulated genes involved in metastasis and survival, such as survivin and c-myc. Compound 1 also upregulated the cell cycle inhibitor p21. Docking studies further revealed the favorable binding of compound 1 with the SH2 domain of STAT3, suggesting it acts through STAT3 inhibition. Taken together, our results suggest that compound 1 induces apoptosis by means of the inhibition of the STAT3 pathway, non-specifically targeting both B-RAF-mutant and WT melanoma cells, with much higher cytotoxicity than the current therapeutic drug PLX-4032