Synthesis and characterization of iron oxide derivatized mutant cowpea mosaic virus hybrid nanoparticles

The enhanced local magnetic field strength was qualitatively analyzed by magnetic force microscopy (MFM), demonstrating a characteristic advantage for attaching derivatized magnetic iron oxide (IO) nanoparticles in an organic medium. the synthesis of 11 nm size IO nanoparticles was carried out under nitrogen atmosphere using standard schlenk technique. The biocompatible γ-Fe2O3-COOH nanoparticles were synthesized by thermal decomposition of Fe(CO)5 and surface modified. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to characterize structurally the as-synthesized IO nanoparticles on a silicon substrate. The histogram of the size distribution of the IO nanoparticles determined from 68 individual measurements on single IO nanoparticles exhibited a mean size of δ11 nm. MFM showed that the textured regions observed on each hybrid are indicative of IO nanoclusters decorating the surface of single virions

Chemical Addressability of Ultraviolet-Inactivated Viral Nanoparticles (VNPs)

. Thus, inactivation of the virus RNA genome is important for biosafety considerations, however the surface characteristics and chemical reactivity of the particles must be maintained in order to preserve chemical and structural functionality. were shown to maintain particle structure and chemical reactivity, and cellular binding properties were similar to CPMV-WT. applications

Lumazine Synthase Protein Nanoparticle-Gd(III)-DOTA Conjugate as a T1 contrast agent for high-field MRI

With the applications of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at higher magnetic fields increasing, there is demand for MRI contrast agents with improved relaxivity at higher magnetic fields. Macromolecule-based contrast agents, such as protein-based ones, are known to yield significantly higher r(1) relaxivity at low fields, but tend to lose this merit when used as T-1 contrast agents (r(1)/r(2) = 0.5 similar to 1), with their r(1) decreasing and r(2) increasing as magnetic field strength increases. Here, we developed and characterized an in vivo applicable magnetic resonance (MR) positive contrast agent by conjugating Gd(III)-chelating agent complexes to lumazine synthase isolated from Aquifex aeolicus (AaLS). The r(1) relaxivity of Gd(III)-DOTA-AaLS-R108C was 16.49 mM(-1)s(-1) and its r(1)/r(2) ratio was 0.52 at the magnetic field strength of 7 T. The results of 3D MR angiography demonstrated the feasibility of vasculature imaging within 2 h of intravenous injection of the agent and a significant reduction in T-1 values were observed in the tumor region 7 h post-injection in the SCC-7 flank tumor model. Our findings suggest that Gd(III)-DOTA-AaLS-R108C could serve as a potential theranostic nanoplatform at high magnetic field strength.open0

Impact of gastrointestinal side effects on patients’ reported quality of life trajectories after radiotherapy for prostate cancer: Data from the prospective, observational pros-it CNR study

Radiotherapy (RT) represents an important therapeutic option for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. The aim of the current study is to examine trajectories in patients’ reported quality of life (QoL) aspects related to bowel function and bother, considering data from the PROState cancer monitoring in ITaly from the National Research Council (Pros-IT CNR) study, analyzed with growth mixture models. Data for patients who underwent RT, either associated or not associated with androgen deprivation therapy, were considered. QoL outcomes were assessed over a 2-year period from the diagnosis, using the Italian version of the University of California Los Angeles-Prostate Cancer Index (Italian-UCLA-PCI). Three trajectories were identified for the bowel function; having three or more comorbidities and the use of 3D-CRT technique for RT were associated with the worst trajectory (OR = 3.80, 95% CI 2.04–7.08; OR = 2.17, 95% CI 1.22–3.87, respectively). Two trajectories were identified for the bowel bother scores; diabetes and the non-Image guided RT method were associated with being in the worst bowel bother trajectory group (OR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.06–2.67; OR = 2.57, 95% CI 1.70–3.86, respectively). The findings from this study suggest that the absence of comorbidities and the use of intensity modulated RT techniques with image guidance are related with a better tolerance to RT in terms of bowel side effects

Disease-specific and general health-related quality of life in newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients: The Pros-IT CNR study

Background: The National Research Council (CNR) prostate cancer monitoring project in Italy (Pros-IT CNR) is an observational, prospective, ongoing, multicentre study aiming to monitor a sample of Italian males diagnosed as new cases of prostate cancer. The present study aims to present data on the quality of life at time prostate cancer is diagnosed. Methods: One thousand seven hundred five patients were enrolled. Quality of life is evaluated at the time cancer was diagnosed and at subsequent assessments via the Italian version of the University of California Los Angeles-Prostate Cancer Index (UCLA-PCI) and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Results: At diagnosis, lower scores on the physical component of the SF-12 were associated to older ages, obesity and the presence of 3+ moderate/severe comorbidities. Lower scores on the mental component were associated to younger ages, the presence of 3+ moderate/severe comorbidities and a T-score higher than one. Urinary and bowel functions according to UCLA-PCI were generally good. Almost 5% of the sample reported using at least one safety pad daily to control urinary loss; less than 3% reported moderate/severe problems attributable to bowel functions, and sexual function was a moderate/severe problem for 26.7%. Diabetes, 3+ moderate/severe comorbidities, T2 or T3-T4 categories and a Gleason score of eight or more were significantly associated with lower sexual function scores at diagnosis. Conclusions: Data collected by the Pros-IT CNR study have clarified the baseline status of newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients. A comprehensive assessment of quality of life will allow to objectively evaluate outcomes of different profile of care

Temporal variation of air pollution in a geothermal area of central Italy: assessment by the biodiversity of epiphytic lichens

The results of a biomonitoring survey carried out in the geothermal area of Travale-Radicondoli (central Italy) are reported. The aim of the study was to evaluate the temporal variation of air pollution from 1992 to the present, based on the actual biodiversity of the epiphytic lichens compared with that of a previous study in the same area. Although instrumental measurements were not available, it was assumed that variations in the lichen biodiversity mostly reflected changes in the air pollution status. Furthermore, adopting a "before-after" strategy, the impact of a sansa oil extraction plant built in 1993 was also evaluated. The results showed that after 8 years, the geothermal area of Travale-Radicondoli is undergoing a gradual process of improvement, as clearly indicated by the colonization of some lichen species in areas previously affected by the "lichen desert". The surroundings of the geothermal power plants did not show evident changes from the previous study, as the biodiversity values remained low. The sansa oil extraction plant had a noticeable environmental impact that caused the air quality to worsen

VESCICOURETERAL REFLUX AND ADULT TRANSPLANTATED KIDNEY: A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE IMAGING MODALITIES FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND THE SURGICAL APPROACH

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