Perovskite as a High-Energy radiation detector

Treballs Finals de Grau de Física, Facultat de Física, Universitat de Barcelona, Curs: 2018, Tutors: Federico Sánchez , Lluís GarridoThis project is mainly focused on extracting interesting properties of the perovskite when working as a High-Energy radiation detector and afterwards, analysing them in order to understand better its behaviour. Furthermore, detecting single High-Energy photons with them has become a firm short-term objective

Studies of the Antiproliferative Activity of Ruthenium (II) Cyclopentadienyl-Derived Complexes with Nitrogen Coordinated Ligands

Four cationic ruthenium(II) complexes with the formula [Ru(η5-C5H5)(PPh3)2]+, with L = 5-phenyl-1H-tetrazole (TzH) 1, imidazole (ImH) 2, benzo[1,2-b;4,3-b′] dithio-phen-2-carbonitrile (Bzt) 3, and [5-(2-thiophen-2-yl)-vinyl]-thiophene-2-carbonitrile] (Tvt) 4 were prepared and characterized in view to evaluate their potentialities as antitumor agents. Studies by Circular Dichroism indicated changes in the secondary structure of ct-DNA. Changes in the tertiary structure of pBR322 plasmid DNA were also observed in gel electrophoresis experiment and the images obtained by atomic force microscopy (AFM) suggest strong interaction with pBR322 plasmid DNA; the observed decreasing of the viscosity with time indicates that the complexes do not intercalate between DNA base pairs. Compounds 1, 2, and 3 showed much higher cytotoxicity than the cisplatin against human leukaemia cancer cells (HL-60 cells)

DNA interaction and cytotoxicity studies of new ruthenium(II) cyclopentadienyl derivative complexescontaining heteroaromatic ligands

Four ruthenium(II) complexes with the formula [Ru(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(PP)L][CF(3)SO(3)], being (PP = two triphenylphosphine molecules), L = 1-benzylimidazole, 1; (PP = two triphenylphosphine molecules), L = 2,2'bipyridine, 2; (PP = two triphenylphosphine molecules), L = 4-Methylpyridine, 3; (PP = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphine) ethane), L = 4-Methylpyridine, 4, were prepared, in view to evaluate their potentialities as antitumor agents. The compounds were completely characterized by NMR spectroscopy and their crystal and molecular structures were determined by X-ray diffraction. Electrochemical studies were carried out giving for all the compounds quasi-reversible processes. The images obtained by atomic force microscopy (AFM) suggest interaction with pBR322 plasmid DNA. Measurements of the viscosity of solutions of free DNA and DNA incubated with different concentrations of the compounds confirmed this interaction. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1234 was much higher than that of cisplatin against human leukemia cancer cells (HL-60 cells). IC(50) values for all the compounds are in the range of submicromolar amounts. Apoptotic death percentage was also studied resulting similar than that of cisplatin. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Neurological causes of vomiting in childhood

O vômito, definido como a expulsão violenta e forçada do conteúdo gástrico, precedida ou não de náuseas, é uma resposta reflexa a vários estímulos coordenados pelo sistema nervoso central. Sua fisiopatologia está intrinsecamente ligada à etiologia do mesmo, a qual é dividida em neurológica e não neurológica. Entretanto, as causas neurológicas dos vômitos não devem ser negligenciadas, visto que o tempo decorrido entre o diagnóstico e o tratamento interfere no prognóstico, principalmente nos casos de tumores intracranianos. Além das neoplasias do sistema nervoso central, epilepsias, pseudotumor cerebral, metástases, hematomas cerebrais, uso de drogas - como anticolinérgicos, adrenérgicos, AINEs, quimioterápicos e radioterápicos - estão incluídos no grupo das causas neurológicas dos vômitos. Dessa forma, na presença de vômitos, associados ou não à cefaleia, mas sem déficits neurológicos e/ou queixas intestinais, deve-se levantar a suspeita de causas neurológicas._________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT: Vomiting, defined as the violent and forced expulsion of gastric contents, preceded or not by nausea, is a reflex answer to various stimuli coordinated by the central nervous system. Its physiopathology is intrinsically linked to the etiology os the symptom, wich is divided into neurologic and non-neurologic causes. Nevertheless, the neurologic causes of vomiting should not be neglected, since the period of time elapsed between diagnosis and onset of treatment interferes with the prognosis, particularly in cases of intracranial tumors. Besides tumors of the central nervous system, epilepsies, cerebral pseudotumors, metastases, cerebral hematomata, the use of drugs - such as anticolinergics, adrenergics, non-steroidal antiinflammatories, chemo and radiotherapy - are included in the group of neurologic causes of vomiting. Thus, in the presence of vomiting, associated or not to headaches, but without neurological deficits and/or intestinal complaints, the possibility of a neurological cause should be raised

Biodegradable PEG–dendritic block copolymers: synthesis and biofunctionality assessment as vectors of siRNA

One important drawback of most of the currently used dendrimers for biomedical applications is their high stability under physiological conditions that can result in cytotoxicity or complications induced by the accumulation of non-degradable synthetic materials in the organism. Particularly in the gene therapy field, vector stability can further hinder the intracellular release of the nucleic acid from the dendriplex, consequently leading to low transfection efficiencies. Therefore, biodegradable cationic dendritic structures have been eagerly awaited. However, the development of these dendritic nanocarriers is challenging because of the undesired and/or premature degradation observed during their synthesis and/or application. Here, we report new hybrid-biodegradable, biocompatible, non-toxic, and water-soluble azide-terminated PEG–GATGE dendritic block copolymers, based on a gallic acid (GA) core and triethylene glycol (TG) butanoate arms, incorporating ester bonds (E) at the dendritic arms/shell. Their successful functionalization by “click” chemistry with unprotected alkynated amines allowed complexation and delivery of siRNA. The hydrophobic character of the GATGE building unit confers to these hydrolyzable dendritic bionanomaterials a great ability to complex, protect and mediate the cellular internalization of siRNA. Moreover, the localization of the degradation points at the dendritic periphery, close to the complexed siRNA, was found to be important for nucleic acid release from the nanoparticles, rendering a significant improvement of the transfection efficiency compared to their hydrolytically stable PEG–GATG copolymer counterparts. The present study puts forward these biodegradable PEG–dendritic block copolymers not only as suitable vectors for nucleic acids, but also as new avenues for further developments exploring their use in theranosticsThe authors would like to acknowledge the FEDER funds through the Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade – COMPETE and the Portuguese funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (PTDC/CTM-NAN/112428/2009 and PTDC/CTM-NAN/3547/2014) that supported this work and the FCT / MEC through National Funds and, when applicable, co-financed by the FEDER via the PT2020 Partnership Agreement under the 4293 Unit I&D. V. Leiro acknowledges the support by FCT (SFRH/BPD/69110/2010) and by the project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000012, financed by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). P.M.D. Moreno acknowledges the support from the Marie Curie Actions of the European Community’s Seventh Framework Program (PIEF-GA-2011-300485) and FCT fellowship (SFRH/BPD/108738/2015). This work was also financially supported by the Spanish Government (MINECO: CTQ2012-34790, CTQ2012-33436) and the Xunta de Galicia (CN2011/037)S

Towards optimal cut-off trough levels of adalimumab and etanercept for a good therapeutic response in rheumatoid arthritis. Results of the INMUNOREMAR study

Article en format correspondènciaWe read with great interest the paper by Chen et al1 analysing the relationship between therapeutic response to adalimumab and etanercept and serum drug trough levels in 70 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ..

Oncogenic activity of SOX1 in glioblastoma

Glioblastoma remains the most common and deadliest type of brain tumor and contains a population of self-renewing, highly tumorigenic glioma stem cells (GSCs), which contributes to tumor initiation and treatment resistance. Developmental programs participating in tissue development and homeostasis re-emerge in GSCs, supporting the development and progression of glioblastoma. SOX1 plays an important role in neural development and neural progenitor pool maintenance. Its impact on glioblastoma remains largely unknown. In this study, we have found that high levels of SOX1 observed in a subset of patients correlate with lower overall survival. At the cellular level, SOX1 expression is elevated in patient-derived GSCs and it is also higher in oncosphere culture compared to differentiation conditions in conventional glioblastoma cell lines. Moreover, genetic inhibition of SOX1 in patient-derived GSCs and conventional cell lines decreases self-renewal and proliferative capacity in vitro and tumor initiation and growth in vivo. Contrarily, SOX1 over-expression moderately promotes self-renewal and proliferation in GSCs. These functions seem to be independent of its activity as Wnt/beta-catenin signaling regulator. In summary, these results identify a functional role for SOX1 in regulating glioma cell heterogeneity and plasticity, and suggest SOX1 as a potential target in the GSC population in glioblastoma

Oncogenic activity of SOX1 in glioblastoma

Glioblastoma remains the most common and deadliest type of brain tumor and contains a population of self-renewing, highly tumorigenic glioma stem cells (GSCs), which contributes to tumor initiation and treatment resistance. Developmental programs participating in tissue development and homeostasis re-emerge in GSCs, supporting the development and progression of glioblastoma. SOX1 plays an important role in neural development and neural progenitor pool maintenance. Its impact on glioblastoma remains largely unknown. In this study, we have found that high levels of SOX1 observed in a subset of patients correlate with lower overall survival. At the cellular level, SOX1 expression is elevated in patient-derived GSCs and it is also higher in oncosphere culture compared to differentiation conditions in conventional glioblastoma cell lines. Moreover, genetic inhibition of SOX1 in patient-derived GSCs and conventional cell lines decreases self-renewal and proliferative capacity in vitro and tumor initiation and growth in vivo. Contrarily, SOX1 over-expression moderately promotes self-renewal and proliferation in GSCs. These functions seem to be independent of its activity as Wnt/beta-catenin signaling regulator. In summary, these results identify a functional role for SOX1 in regulating glioma cell heterogeneity and plasticity, and suggest SOX1 as a potential target in the GSC population in glioblastoma

MOTIVAÇÃO À PRÁTICA DE ATIVIDADES FÍSICAS EM MULHERES PRATICANTES DE HIDROGINÁSTICA EM CUIABÁ-MT

This research analyzed the motivation for the physical activity in women practicing water-based exercise. The instrument used was the Inventory of Motivation to Practice Physical Activities (IMPRAF-54). The dimension with the highest average was "health", which is significantly different from the other dimensions. Aesthetics and competitiveness do not motivate the participants. With regard to motivation to practice water activities specifically, the highest score was observed for safety, closely followed by pleasure, climate and health. We conclude that the main reason for a physical activity practice for water-based activities practitioners is the health, and the safety inherent to the activity, as well as the pleasure and climate of the region are specific factors that are also relevant.Esta investigación analizó la motivación para practicar actividades físicas em mujeres que practican aeróbicos acuáticos. Se utilizó el Inventario de Motivación para la Práctica de Actividades Físicas (IMPRAF-54). La dimensión con mayor promedio fue “salud”, la cual se diferencia significativamente de las demás dimensiones. La estética y la competitividad no motivan a los participantes. En cuanto a la motivación para la práctica de actividades acuáticas en concreto, la mayor puntuación la obtuvo la seguridad, seguida de cerca por el placer, el clima y la salud. Se concluyó que el principal motivo de la práctica de actividad física en practicantes de hidrogimnasia fue la búsqueda de la salud, y la seguridad inherente a la actividad, así como el placer y el clima de la región son factores específicos que también son relevantes.Essa pesquisa analisou a motivação para a prática de atividades físicas em mulheres praticantes de hidroginástica. Foi utilizado Inventário de Motivação a Prática de Atividades Físicas (IMPRAF-54). A dimensão com maior média foi “saúde”, sendo essa significativamente diferente das demais dimensões. Estética e competitividade motivam pouco as participantes. No que diz respeito à motivação à prática de atividades aquáticas especificamente, a maior pontuação foi observada para a segurança, seguida de perto pelo prazer, clima e saúde. Concluiu-se que o principal motivo para a prática de atividade física em praticantes de hidroginástica foi a busca por saúde, sendo que a segurança inerente à atividade, bem como o prazer e o clima da região são fatores específicos que também são relevantes