Nanostructured PbS-doped inorganic film synthesized by sol-gel route

IV-VI semiconductor quantum dots embedded into an inorganic matrix represent nanostructured composite materials with potential application in temperature sensor systems. This study explores the optical, structural, and morphological properties of a novel PbS quantum dots (QDs)- doped inorganic thin film belonging to the Al2O3 -SiO2 -P2O5 system. The film was synthesized by the sol-gel method, spin coating technique, starting from a precursor solution deposited on a glass substrate in a multilayer process, followed by drying of each deposited layer. Crystalline PbS QDs embedded in the inorganic vitreous host matrix formed a nanocomposite material. Specific investigations such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical absorbance in the ultraviolet (UV)-visible (Vis)-near infrared (NIR) domain, NIR luminescence, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy– energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to obtain a comprehensive characterization of the deposited film. The dimensions of the PbS nanocrystallite phase were corroborated by XRD, SEM-EDX, and AFM results. The luminescence band from 1400 nm follows the luminescence peak of the precursor solution and that of the dopant solution. The emission of the PbS-doped film in the NIR domain is a premise for potential application in temperature sensing systems.This study was funded by a grant of the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research and Innovation, CCCDI–UEFISCDI, project ERANET-MANUNET-TEMSENSOPT, MNET20/ NMCS3732, within PNCDI III, contract 213/02.12.2020; Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization (MRID), Core Program, contracts no. 16N/2019, 18N/2019 and 21N/2019; MRID through Program I—Development of the National R & D System, Subprogram 1.2–Institutional Performance– Projects for Excellence Financing in RDI, contracts no. 13PFE/2021, 18PFE/2021 and 35PFE/2021; CCCDI-UEFISCDI project PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2021-2541. Support from the Public University of Navarre for Research Groups is also acknowledged

Proceedings of the 24th Paediatric Rheumatology European Society Congress: Part three

From Springer Nature via Jisc Publications Router.Publication status: PublishedHistory: collection 2017-09, epub 2017-09-0

Molecular Pathology and Targeted Therapies for Personalized Management of Central Nervous System Germinoma

Intracranial germinomas are rare tumours, usually affecting male paediatric patients. They frequently develop in the pineal and suprasellar regions, causing endocrinological disturbances, visual deficits, and increased intracranial pressure. The diagnosis is established on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers, and tumour stereotactic biopsy. Imaging techniques, such as susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), T2* (T2-star) gradient echo (GRE) or arterial spin labelling based perfusion-weighted MRI (ASL-PWI) facilitate the diagnosis. Germinomas are highly radiosensitive tumours, with survival rates >90% in the context of chemoradiotherapy. However, patients with resistant disease have limited therapeutic options and poor survival. The aim of this review is to highlight the genetic, epigenetic, and immunologic features, which could provide the basis for targeted therapy. Intracranial germinomas present genetic and epigenetic alterations (chromosomal aberrations, KIT, MAPK and PI3K pathways mutations, DNA hypomethylation, miRNA dysregulation) that may represent targets for therapy. Tyrosine kinase and mTOR inhibitors warrant further investigation in these cases. Immune markers, PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1) and PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1), are expressed in germinomas, representing potential targets for immune checkpoint inhibitors. Resistant cases should benefit from a personalized management: genetic and immunological testing and enrolment in trials evaluating targeted therapies in intracranial germinomas

Nanostructured PbS-Doped Inorganic Film Synthesized by Sol-Gel Route

IV-VI semiconductor quantum dots embedded into an inorganic matrix represent nanostructured composite materials with potential application in temperature sensor systems. This study explores the optical, structural, and morphological properties of a novel PbS quantum dots (QDs)-doped inorganic thin film belonging to the Al2O3-SiO2-P2O5 system. The film was synthesized by the sol-gel method, spin coating technique, starting from a precursor solution deposited on a glass substrate in a multilayer process, followed by drying of each deposited layer. Crystalline PbS QDs embedded in the inorganic vitreous host matrix formed a nanocomposite material. Specific investigations such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical absorbance in the ultraviolet (UV)-visible (Vis)-near infrared (NIR) domain, NIR luminescence, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to obtain a comprehensive characterization of the deposited film. The dimensions of the PbS nanocrystallite phase were corroborated by XRD, SEM-EDX, and AFM results. The luminescence band from 1400 nm follows the luminescence peak of the precursor solution and that of the dopant solution. The emission of the PbS-doped film in the NIR domain is a premise for potential application in temperature sensing systems

A Nanocomposite Sol-Gel Film Based on PbS Quantum Dots Embedded into an Amorphous Host Inorganic Matrix

In this study, a sol-gel film based on lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dots incorporated into a host network was synthesized as a special nanostructured composite material with potential applications in temperature sensor systems. This work dealt with the optical, structural, and morphological properties of a representative PbS quantum dot (QD)-containing thin film belonging to the Al2O3–SiO2–P2O5 system. The film was prepared using the sol-gel method combined with the spin coating technique, starting from a precursor solution containing a suspension of PbS QDs in toluene with a narrow size distribution and coated on a glass substrate in a multilayer process, followed by annealing of each deposited layer. The size (approximately 10 nm) of the lead sulfide nanocrystallites was validated by XRD and by the quantum confinement effect based on the band gap value and by TEM results. The photoluminescence peak of 1505 nm was very close to that of the precursor PbS QD solution, which demonstrated that the synthesis route of the film preserved the optical emission characteristic of the PbS QDs. The photoluminescence of the lead sulfide QD-containing film in the near infrared domain demonstrates that this material is a promising candidate for future sensing applications in temperature monitoring

Joint and tendon involvement predict disease progression in systemic sclerosis: A EUSTAR prospective study

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether joint synovitis and tendon friction rubs (TFRs) can predict the progression of systemic sclerosis (SSc) over time. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study that included 1301 patients with SSc from the EUSTAR database with disease duration 643 years at inclusion and with a follow-up of at least 2 years. Presence or absence at clinical examination of synovitis and TFRs was extracted at baseline. Outcomes were skin, cardiovascular, renal and lung progression. Overall disease progression was defined according to the occurrence of at least one organ progression. RESULTS: Joint synovitis (HR: 1.26, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.59) and TFRs (HR: 1.32, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.70) were independently predictive of overall disease progression, as were also the diffuse cutaneous subset (HR: 1.30, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.61) and positive antitopoisomerase-I antibodies (HR: 1.25, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.53). Regarding skin progression, joint synovitis (HR: 1.67, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.64) and TFRs (HR: 1.69, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.77) were also independently predictive of worsening of the modified Rodnan skin score. For cardiovascular progression, joint synovitis was predictive of the occurrence of new digital ulcer(s) (HR: 1.45, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.96) and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (HR: 2.20, 95% CI 1.06 to 4.57); TFRs were confirmed to be an independent predictor of scleroderma renal crisis (HR: 2.33, 95% CI 1.03 to 6.19). CONCLUSIONS: Joint synovitis and TFRs are independent predictive factors for disease progression in patients with early SSc. These easily detected clinical markers may be useful for the risk stratification of patients with SSc

A gender gap in primary and secondary heart dysfunctions in systemic sclerosis: A EUSTAR prospective study

Objectives. In agreement with other autoimmune diseases, systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with a strong sex bias. However, unlike lupus, the effects of sex on disease phenotype and prognosis are poorly known. Therefore, we aimed to determine sex effects on outcomes. Method. We performed a prospective observational study using the latest 2013 data extract from the EULAR scleroderma trials and research (EUSTAR) cohort. We looked at (i) sex influence on disease characteristics at baseline and (ii) then focused on patients with at least 2 years of follow-up to estimate the effects of sex on disease progression and survival. Results. 9182 patients with SSc were available (1321 men) for the baseline analyses. In multivariate analysis, male sex was independently associated with a higher risk of diffuse cutaneous subtype (OR: 1.68, (1.45 to 1.94); p<0.001), a higher frequency of digital ulcers (OR: 1.28 (1.11 to 1.47); p<0.001) and pulmonary hypertension (OR: 3.01 (1.47 to 6.20); p<0.003). In the longitudinal analysis (n=4499), after a mean follow-up of 4.9 (±2.7) years, male sex was predictive of new onset of pulmonary hypertension (HR: 2.66 (1.32 to 5.36); p=0.006) and heart failure (HR: 2.22 (1.06 to 4.63); p=0.035). 908 deaths were recorded, male sex predicted deaths of all origins (HR: 1.48 (1.19 to 1.84); p<0.001), but did not significantly account for SSc-related deaths. Conclusions. Although more common in women, SSc appears as strikingly more severe in men. Our results obtained through the largest worldwide database demonstrate a higher risk of severe cardiovascular involvement in men. These results raise the point of including sex in the management and the decisionmaking process

Prediction of improvement in skin fibrosis in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis: A EUSTAR analysis

none194Dobrota, Rucsandra; Maurer, Britta; Graf, Nicole; Jordan, Suzana; Mihai, Carina; Kowal-Bielecka, Otylia; Allanore, Yannick; Distler, Oliver; Cerinic, Marco Matucci; Guiducci, Serena; Walker, Ulrich; Lapadula, Giovanni; Iannone, Florenzo; Becvar, Radim; Sierakowsky, Stanislaw; Cutolo, Maurizio; Sulli, Alberto; Valentini, Gabriele; Cuomo, Giovanna; Vettori, Serena; Riemekasten, Gabriela; Siegert, Elise; Rednic, Simona; Nicoara, Ileana; Kahan, André; Vlachoyiannopoulos, P.; Montecucco, C.; Caporali, Roberto; Carreira, Patricia E.; Novak, Srdan; Czirják, László; Varju, Cecilia; Chizzolini, Carlo; Kucharz, Eugene J.; Kotulska, Anna; Kopec-Medrek, Magdalena; Widuchowska, Malgorzata; Cozzi, Franco; Rozman, Blaz; Mallia, Carmel; Coleiro, Bernard; Gabrielli, Armando; Farge, Dominique; Wu, Chen; Marjanovic, Zora; Faivre, Helene; Hij, Darin; Dhamadi, Roza; Airò, Paolo; Hesselstrand, Roger; Wollheim, Frank; Wuttge, Dirk M.; Andréasson, Kristofer; Martinovic, Duska; Balbir-Gurman, Alexandra; Braun-Moscovici, Yolanda; Trotta, F.; Monaco, Andrea Lo; Hunzelmann, Nicolas; Pellerito, Raffaele; Mauriziano, Ospedale; Bambara, Lisa Maria; Caramaschi, Paola; Black, Carol; Denton, Christopher; Damjanov, Nemanja; Henes, Jörg; Santamaria, Vera Ortiz; Heitmann, Stefan; Krasowska, Dorota; Seidel, Matthias; Burkhardt, Harald; Himsel, Andrea; Salvador, Maria J.; Da Silva, José Antonio Pereira; Stamenkovic, Bojana; Stankovic, Aleksandra; Tikly, Mohammed; Ananieva, Lidia P.; Denisov, Lev N.; Müller-Ladner, Ulf; Frerix, Marc; Tarner, Ingo; Scorza, Raffaella; Engelhart, Merete; Strauss, Gitte; Nielsen, Henrik; Damgaard, Kirsten; Mendoza, Antonio Zea; de la Puente, Carlos; Giraldo, Walter A. Sifuentes; Midtvedt, Øyvind; Reiseter, Silje; Hachulla, Eric; Launay, David; Valesini, Guido; Riccieri, Valeria; Ionescu, Ruxandra Maria; Opris, Daniela; Groseanu, Laura; Cornateanu, Roxana Sfrent; Ionitescu, Razvan; Gherghe, Ana Maria; Soare, Alina; Gorga, Marilena; Bojinca, Mihai; Schett, Georg; Distler, Jörg H.W.; Beyer, Christian; Meroni, Pierluigi; Ingegnoli, Francesca; Mouthon, Luc; Keyser, Filip De; Smith, Vanessa; Cantatore, Francesco P.; Corrado, Ada; Pozzi, Maria R.; Eyerich, Kilian; Hein, Rüdiger; Knott, Elisabeth; Wiland, Piotr; Szmyrka-Kaczmarek, Magdalena; Sokolik, Renata; Morgiel, Ewa; Madej, Marta; Krummel-Lorenz, Brigitte; Saar, Petra; Aringer, Martin; Günther, Claudia; Westhovens, Rene; de Langhe, Ellen; Lenaerts, Jan; Anic, Branimir; Baresic, Marko; Mayer, Miroslav; Radominski, Sebastião C.; de Souza Müller, Carolina; Azevedo, Valderílio F.; Agachi, Svetlana; Groppa, Liliana; Chiaburu, Lealea; Russu, Eugen; Popa, Sergei; Zenone, Thierry; Stebbings, Simon; Highton, John; Stamp, Lisa; Chapman, Peter; O'Donnell, John; Solanki, Kamal; Doube, Alan; Veale, Douglas; O'Rourke, Marie; Loyo, Esthela; Li, Mengtao; Rosato, Edoardo; Amoroso, Antonio; Gigante, Antonietta; Tanaseanu, Cristina-Mihaela; Popescu, Monica; Dumitrascu, Alina; Tiglea, Isabela; Foti, Rosario; Chirieac, Rodica; Ancuta, Codrina; Villiger, Peter; Adler, Sabine; de la Peña Lefebvre, Paloma García; Rubio, Silvia Rodriguez; Exposito, Marta Valero; Sibilia, Jean; Chatelus, Emmanuel; Gottenberg, Jacques Eric; Chifflot, Hélène; Litinsky, Ira; Venalis, Algirdas; Butrimiene, Irena; Venalis, Paulius; Rugiene, Rita; Karpec, Diana; Saketkoo, Lesley Ann; Lasky, Joseph A.; Kerzberg, Eduardo; Montoya, Fabiana; Cosentino, Vanesa; Limonta, Massimiliano; Brucato, Antonio Luca; Lupi, Elide; Spertini, François; Ribi, Camillo; Buss, Guillaume; Pasquali, Jean Louis; Martin, Thierry; Gorse, AudreyDobrota, Rucsandra; Maurer, Britta; Graf, Nicole; Jordan, Suzana; Mihai, Carina; Kowal Bielecka, Otylia; Allanore, Yannick; Distler, Oliver; Cerinic, Marco Matucci; Guiducci, Serena; Walker, Ulrich; Lapadula, Giovanni; Iannone, Florenzo; Becvar, Radim; Sierakowsky, Stanislaw; Cutolo, Maurizio; Sulli, Alberto; Valentini, Gabriele; Cuomo, Giovanna; Vettori, Serena; Riemekasten, Gabriela; Siegert, Elise; Rednic, Simona; Nicoara, Ileana; Kahan, André; Vlachoyiannopoulos, P.; Montecucco, Carlomaurizio; Caporali, Roberto; Carreira, Patricia E.; Novak, Srdan; Czirják, László; Varju, Cecilia; Chizzolini, Carlo; Kucharz, Eugene J.; Kotulska, Anna; Kopec Medrek, Magdalena; Widuchowska, Malgorzata; Cozzi, Franco; Rozman, Blaz; Mallia, Carmel; Coleiro, Bernard; Gabrielli, Armando; Farge, Dominique; Wu, Chen; Marjanovic, Zora; Faivre, Helene; Hij, Darin; Dhamadi, Roza; Airò, Paolo; Hesselstrand, Roger; Wollheim, Frank; Wuttge, Dirk M.; Andréasson, Kristofer; Martinovic, Duska; Balbir Gurman, Alexandra; Braun Moscovici, Yolanda; Trotta, F.; Monaco, Andrea Lo; Hunzelmann, Nicolas; Pellerito, Raffaele; Mauriziano, Ospedale; Bambara, Lisa Maria; Caramaschi, Paola; Black, Carol; Denton, Christopher; Damjanov, Nemanja; Henes, Jörg; Santamaria, Vera Ortiz; Heitmann, Stefan; Krasowska, Dorota; Seidel, Matthias; Burkhardt, Harald; Himsel, Andrea; Salvador, Maria J.; Da Silva, José Antonio Pereira; Stamenkovic, Bojana; Stankovic, Aleksandra; Tikly, Mohammed; Ananieva, Lidia P.; Denisov, Lev N.; Müller Ladner, Ulf; Frerix, Marc; Tarner, Ingo; Scorza, Raffaella; Engelhart, Merete; Strauss, Gitte; Nielsen, Henrik; Damgaard, Kirsten; Mendoza, Antonio Zea; de la Puente, Carlos; Giraldo, Walter A. Sifuentes; Midtvedt, Øyvind; Reiseter, Silje; Hachulla, Eric; Launay, David; Valesini, Guido; Riccieri, Valeria; Ionescu, Ruxandra Maria; Opris, Daniela; Groseanu, Laura; Cornateanu, Roxana Sfrent; Ionitescu, Razvan; Gherghe, Ana Maria; Soare, Alina; Gorga, Marilena; Bojinca, Mihai; Schett, Georg; Distler, Jörg H. W.; Beyer, Christian; Meroni, Pierluigi; Ingegnoli, Francesca; Mouthon, Luc; Keyser, Filip De; Smith, Vanessa; Cantatore, Francesco P.; Corrado, Ada; Pozzi, Maria R.; Eyerich, Kilian; Hein, Rüdiger; Knott, Elisabeth; Wiland, Piotr; Szmyrka Kaczmarek, Magdalena; Sokolik, Renata; Morgiel, Ewa; Madej, Marta; Krummel Lorenz, Brigitte; Saar, Petra; Aringer, Martin; Günther, Claudia; Westhovens, Rene; de Langhe, Ellen; Lenaerts, Jan; Anic, Branimir; Baresic, Marko; Mayer, Miroslav; Radominski, Sebastião C.; de Souza Müller, Carolina; Azevedo, Valderílio F.; Agachi, Svetlana; Groppa, Liliana; Chiaburu, Lealea; Russu, Eugen; Popa, Sergei; Zenone, Thierry; Stebbings, Simon; Highton, John; Stamp, Lisa; Chapman, Peter; O'Donnell, John; Solanki, Kamal; Doube, Alan; Veale, Douglas; O'Rourke, Marie; Loyo, Esthela; Li, Mengtao; Rosato, Edoardo; Amoroso, Antonio; Gigante, Antonietta; Tanaseanu, Cristina Mihaela; Popescu, Monica; Dumitrascu, Alina; Tiglea, Isabela; Foti, Rosario; Chirieac, Rodica; Ancuta, Codrina; Villiger, Peter; Adler, Sabine; de la Peña Lefebvre, Paloma García; Rubio, Silvia Rodriguez; Exposito, Marta Valero; Sibilia, Jean; Chatelus, Emmanuel; Gottenberg, Jacques Eric; Chifflot, Hélène; Litinsky, Ira; Venalis, Algirdas; Butrimiene, Irena; Venalis, Paulius; Rugiene, Rita; Karpec, Diana; Saketkoo, Lesley Ann; Lasky, Joseph A.; Kerzberg, Eduardo; Montoya, Fabiana; Cosentino, Vanesa; Limonta, Massimiliano; Brucato, Antonio Luca; Lupi, Elide; Spertini, François; Ribi, Camillo; Buss, Guillaume; Pasquali, Jean Louis; Martin, Thierry; Gorse, Audre

Phenotypes Determined by Cluster Analysis and Their Survival in the Prospective European Scleroderma Trials and Research Cohort of Patients With Systemic Sclerosis

Objective Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a heterogeneous connective tissue disease that is typically subdivided into limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) and diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) depending on the extent of skin involvement. This subclassification may not capture the entire variability of clinical phenotypes. The European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) database includes data on a prospective cohort of SSc patients from 122 European referral centers. This study was undertaken to perform a cluster analysis of EUSTAR data to distinguish and characterize homogeneous phenotypes without any a priori assumptions, and to examine survival among the clusters obtained. Methods A total of 11,318 patients were registered in the EUSTAR database, and 6,927 were included in the study. Twenty-four clinical and serologic variables were used for clustering. Results Clustering analyses provided a first delineation of 2 clusters showing moderate stability. In an exploratory attempt, we further characterized 6 homogeneous groups that differed with regard to their clinical features, autoantibody profile, and mortality. Some groups resembled usual dcSSc or lcSSc prototypes, but others exhibited unique features, such as a majority of lcSSc patients with a high rate of visceral damage and antitopoisomerase antibodies. Prognosis varied among groups and the presence of organ damage markedly impacted survival regardless of cutaneous involvement. Conclusion Our findings suggest that restricting subsets of SSc patients to only those based on cutaneous involvement may not capture the complete heterogeneity of the disease. Organ damage and antibody profile should be taken into consideration when individuating homogeneous groups of patients with a distinct prognosis