Prospects of paramagnetic lanthanide complexes for magnetic resonance imaging, local thermosensing and diagnosing

The features of the paramagnetic properties of lanthanide (Ln) containing complexes with crown ethers, pivaloyltrifluoracetonato, and EDTA have been studied by 1H and 19F NMR techniques. These complexes are of interest due to the prospect of using some of them as sensors for biology and medicine. The temperature dependencies of the lanthanide-induced shifts revealed that Ln complexes might have practical importance for 1H and 19F NMR temperature control in solutions. It was shown in vitro (using NMR spectrometers and MRI scanners) that these complexes can serve as special NMR thermo-sensitive contrast reagents

Compression Deformation and Fracture Behavior of Additively Manufactured Ti–6Al–4V Cellular Structures

Corresponding research was carried out to assess if the porous structures with modified diamond-shaped lattice cells can provide better integrity of the constructions in the case of overloading. The aim of the study is designing the structures with high porosity for the biomedical applications (implants) having good load bearing capacity. Studied lattice structures are based on the modified tetrahedral beam-based cells with spherical reinforcements at the beam joints and variable beam diameter. Samples with a porosity of 50–80% were studied in present research. Structures were additively manufactured from a titanium alloy Ti–6Al–4V using SLM. Sample compression tests were carried out according to the ISO 13314 standard. Loading experiments were carried out and critical parameters extracted from the stress-strain curves. Finite element modeling was carried out for the analysis of the stress and assessment of the potential failure mechanisms. Corresponding hypothesis explaining the appearance of shear bands in porous structures under compression is formulated. Obtained results show that when the sample porosity rises from 50% to 80%, corresponding plateau stress decreases by 13 times, first maximum compressive strength decreases by 12 times, and compression offset stress decreases by 12 times, while the plateau end does not change significantly. The experiments revealed the barrel distortion of the samples geometry, which corresponds to the general knowledge how the friction between the solid compressing surfaces (anvils of the compression testing machine) and the lattice affects the sample deformation. Compression experiments also revealed the formation of shear bands during sample deformation. The stochastic nature of their development suggests that the main reason of shear bands appearing is the initial inhomogeneity of the boundary conditions of the experiment. Suggested modifications of the basic cells show a good potential for achieving regular beam-based lattice structures with high porosity and increased load bearing capacity. More experiments are needed for statistical analysis, and improvements of the loading experiments methodology for better failure mode analysis are planned for the future. © 2021 The Authors.The research was carried out within the state assignment of Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, grant number 0836-2020-0020

NMR metabolic profiling of the liver following administrationof alcohol andthemushroom Ganoderma lucidum in rats

We have evaluated the efficiency of a metabonomic approach to metabolic phenotyping and detection of early metabolic changes under a toxic influence. For this purpose, a metabolic profiling of rat liver was performed with 1H NMR spectroscopy. Rat tissues from animals in three groups were analyzed. Group C consisted of control animals; animals in group A received alcohol repeatedly (15 % ethanol); and animals in group A+ R received alcohol in combination with a hepatoprotective herbal medicine (Reishi, Ganoderma lucidum) repeatedly. Noteworthy, alcohol consumption did not cause pathological changes, but stimulated hepatocyte proliferation. Our data suggest that changes in metabolite concentrations in A represent a typical metabolic response to alcohol consumption, namely decrease in glycine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, choline and lactate content, and increase in TMAO content. Treatment with Reishi (A+ R) had positive effects, in that it restored the levels of glycine, valine and TMAO. Furthermore, increase in NAD, ATP, UTP, succinate, pyranose, and acetate concentrations was observed in A+ R. A correlation was found between the valine, isoleucine, lactate, cho­line, and pyranose content and the num­ber of binuclear hepatocytes. Binuclear hepatocytes indicate proliferative activity, and the concentration of the metabolites participating in the formation of new hepatic cells decreases. Thus, the study of liver tissues by 1H NMR spectroscopy allows for detection of early changes in metabolite concentra­tions following chronic consumption of alcohol at insignificant doses. Consequently, 1H NMR spectro­scopy can serve as a promising approach to detecting alcohol-related liver pathologies and assessing the efficiency of the therapy used

Характеристика клинического течения автохтонного гепатита Е в Центральном регионе России

The records of total 123 patients with hepatitis E on treatment in the infectious diseases hospital in the city of Belgorod were reviewed. Diagnosis – «acute hepatitis E» was based on the generally accepted criteria: biochemical analysis, etiological interpretation (identification of antibodies to hepatitis E of the IgM and IgG, HEV RNA with the exception of the etiologic role of other hepatotropic viruses, including Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus). HEV RNA was determined by PCR, genotyping was performed by standard methods based on the results of sequencing. The study of clinical manifestations in patients with acute hepatitis E allowed to establish some specific features of hepatitis E: predominantly occurrence in adults at the age 30 years and more; frequent complaints of arthralgia in the prejaundice period, the lack of improvement after jaundice development; pronounced dyspeptic symptoms and long bilirubinemia combined with mild transaminase elevation, hepatomegaly with no concomitant increase in the spleen. The data on the fulminant forms of hepatitis E are presented. Herein we describe the case of fulminant course of infection with a fatal outcome. Analysis of cases of severe hepatitis E have revealed the following risk factors: heart disease, chronic biliary disease, obesity, diabetes mellitus, chronic alcohol intoxication. The analysis of specific clinical manifestations of this infection is needed to select the right strategy of patient following, to set integrated differential diagnostic approach in the management of patients with middle and old age with the presence of jaundice and patients with hepatitis of unknown etiology. The inclusion of hepatitis E markers to the diagnostic algorithm is necessary for such patients.Изучены истории болезни 123 больных гепатитом Е, находящихся на лечении в инфекционной больнице города Белгорода. Диагноз «Острый гепатит Е» ставился на основании общепринятых критериев: биохимических исследований, этиологической расшифровки (определение антител к вирусу гепатита Е классов IgM и IgG, РНК ВГЕ с исключением этиологической роли других гепатотропных вирусов, в том числе Эпштейна – Барр и цитомегаловируса). РНК ВГЕ определяли ПЦР, генотипирование проводили по общепринятым методикам по результатам секвенирования. Изучены клинические проявления у больных острым гепатитом Е. Установлены некоторые особенности течения гепатита Е: преимущественно болеют взрослые от 30 лет; в пpeджeлтушном периоде частые жалобы на артралгии; отсутствие улучшения самочувствия больного при появлении желтухи; выраженные диспептические симптомы и длительная билирубинемия при нерезко выраженной активности трансаминаз; характерна гепатомегалия без сочетанного увеличения селезенки. Представлены данные о фульминантных формах гепатита Е. Описан случай фульминантного течения инфекции с летальным исходом. Результаты изучения тяжелых случаев гепатита Е выявили наличие факторов риска: болезни сердца, хронические заболевания билиарной системы, ожирение, сахарный диабет, хроническую алкогольную интоксикацию. Учет особенностей клинических проявлений этой инфекции необходим: для выбора правильной стратегии оказания медицинской помощи; комплексного дифференциально-диагностического подхода в ведении больных пожилого и старческого возраста с наличием желтухи и пациентов с гепатитами неясной этиологии. Обязательно включение в алгоритм обследования маркеров гепатита Е этих больных

Pd-based bimetallic catalysts for parahydrogen-induced polarization in heterogeneous hydrogenations

Production of hyperpolarized catalyst-free gases and liquids by heterogeneous hydrogenation with parahydrogen can be useful for various technical as well as biomedical applications, including in vivo studies, investigations of mechanisms of industrially important catalytic processes, enrichment of nuclear spin isomers of polyatomic gases, and more. In this regard, the wide systematic search for heterogeneous catalysts effective in pairwise H2 addition required for the observation of parahydrogen-induced polarization (PHIP) effects is crucial. Here in this work we demonstrate the competitive advantage of Pd-based bimetallic catalysts for PHIP in heterogeneous hydrogenations (HET-PHIP). The dilution of catalytically active Pd with less active Ag or In atoms provides the formation of atomically dispersed Pd1 sites on the surface of Pd-based bimetallic catalysts, which are significantly more selective toward pairwise H2 addition compared to the monometallic Pd. Furthermore, the choice of the dilution metal (Ag or In) has a pronounced effect on the efficiency of bimetallic catalysts in HET-PHIP, as revealed by comparing Pd-Ag and Pd-In bimetallic catalysts.</p