Photoresponsive Porphyrin Nanotubes of Meso-tetra(4-Sulfonatophenyl)Porphyrin and Sn(IV) meso-tetra(4-pyridyl)porphyrin

Porphyrin macrocycles and their supramolecular nanoassemblies are being widely explored in energy harvesting, sensor development, catalysis, and medicine because of a good tunability of their light-induced charge separation and electron/energy transfer properties. In the present work, we prepared and studied photoresponsive porphyrin nanotubes formed by the self-assembly of meso-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin and Sn(IV) meso-tetra(4-pyridyl)porphyrin. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed that these tubular nanostructures were hollow with open ends and their length was 0.4–0.8 μm, the inner diameter was 7–15 nm, and the outer diameter was 30–70 nm. Porphyrin tectons, H4TPPS42- : Sn(IV)TPyP4+, self-assemble into the nanotubes in a ratio of 2:1, respectively, as determined by the elemental analysis. The photoconductivity of the porphyrin nanotubes was determined to be as high as 3.1 × 10−4 S m−1, and the dependence of the photoconductance on distance and temperature was investigated. Excitation of the Q-band region with a Q-band of SnTPyP4+ (550–552 nm) and the band at 714 nm, which is associated with J-aggregation, was responsible for about 34 % of the photoconductive activity of the H4TPPS42--Sn(IV)TPyP4+ porphyrin nanotubes. The sensor properties of the H4TPPS42-- Sn(IV)TPyP4+ nanotubes in the presence of iodine vapor and salicylate anions down to millimolar range were examined in a chemiresistor sensing mode. We have shown that the porphyrin nanotubes advantageously combine the characteristics of a sensor and a transducer, thus demonstrating their great potential as efficient functional layers for sensing devices and biomimetic nanoarchitectures

Vaginal microbiota composition based on the results of real-time PCR in women with inflammatory type smear

The article considers the composition of vaginal microbiota based on the results of the real-time polymerase chain reaction and light microscopy. The study group included 333 women with microscopic sings of aerobic vaginitis. Vaginal dysbiosis associated with the prevalence of facultative anaerobes was determined in 9% (30) of the examined patients by means real-time PCR. In all other cases, dysbiosis of different genesis was revealedВ статье рассмотрена структура микробиоценоза влагалища по результатам полимеразной цепной реакции в режиме реального времени (ПЦР-РВ) и микроскопии урогенитального отделяемого. В исследуемую группу вошли 333 женщины с микроскопическими признаками аэробного вагинита. По результатам ПЦР-РВ дисбиоз влагалища, обусловленный преобладанием факультативно- анаэробной микрофлоры, был идентифицирован только у 9 % (30) обследованных. Во всех остальных случаях был выявлен дисбиоз различного генеза

The real-time PCR detection of Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile in infant, child, and adult feces

The toxigenic strains of C. perfringens and C. difficile can cause foodborne illnesses and antibiotic-associated diarrhea, including pseudomembranous colitis. The latter needs to be treated with the specific antibiotics, metronidazole or vancomycin, which are effective against C. difficile. Both C. difficile and C. perfringens are the anaerobic bacteria and difficult to cultivate. The most reliable method for the detection of these bacteria in the clinical samples is real-time PCR. We evaluated the frequency of C. perfringens and C. difficile PCR detection in feces from 225 outpatients (Colonoflor-16 kit, Alphalab, Russia). C. perfringens and C. difficile were detected in 36 (16.0%) and 17 (7.6%) samples, respectively. The results were stratified by age. There was statistically significant difference between age groups in the frequency of C. difficile detection and no statistically significant difference in frequency of C. perfringens detection. The amounts of C. difficile were significantly higher in children younger than 2 years in comparison with adults.Токсигенные штаммы C. perfringens и C. difficile могут вызывать развитие пищевых инфекций и антибиотико-ассоциированных диарей, включая псевдомембранозный колит. Для лечения последнего используют специальные антибиотики: клиндамицин и метранидазол, активные в отношении C. difficile. C. perfringens и C. difficile являются облигатно анаэробными микроорганизмами, что затрудняет проведение культурального исследования. Наиболее надежным методом для рутинного обнаружения данных клостридий в клинических образцах является ПЦР в реальном времени (ПЦР-РВ). Мы оценили частоту обнаружения C. perfringens и C. difficile методом ПЦР-РВ в кале у 225 амбулаторных больных (набор Колонофлор-16, Альфлаб, Россия). C. perfringens и C. difficile были идентифицированы в 36 (16.0%) и 17 (7.6%) образцах соответственно. Обнаружили статистически значимые различия по частоте обнаружения C. difficile в различных возрастных группах, тогда как C. perfringens обнаруживали с сопоставимой частотой у пациентов всех возрастов. Количество C. difficile было достоверно выше у детей младше 2 лет по сравнению с взрослыми

The relationship between the microbiota of the mother and child, depending on the method of delivery (review)

The article presents a review of domestic and foreign literature on the relationship between the microbiota of mother and child, depending on the method of delivery. The species composition and comparison of the microbiota of the body of children born naturally and by caesarean section are presented.В статье представлен обзор отечественной и зарубежной литературы по взаимосвязи микробиоты матери и ребенка в зависимости от способа родоразрешения. Представлен видовой состав и сравнение микробиоты организма детей, рождённых естественным способом и посредством кесарева сечения

The association between total bacterial load, the amount and proportion of lactobacillus in vaginal and endometrial samples

The non-Lactobacillus dominated microbiota in the uterus cavity is associated with the higher risk of pelvic inflammatory diseases and unsuccessful IVF outcomes. It is questionable whether or not the vaginal microbiota examination is the useful tool for prediction of the state of endometrial microbiota. The vaginal and endometrial samples from 64 reproductive-age women were evaluated by real-time PCR. In each sample the total bacterial load and the amount of lactobacilli were determined, and the percentage of lactobacilli was calculated. The comparison of the data from vaginal and endometrial samples only revealed the weak positive correlation between the amounts of lactobacilli (Spearman’s rho=0,362, p=0,003). The rest of the data were not correlated between vaginal and endometrial samples.Отсутствие лактобацилл в эндометрии ассоциировано с повышенным риском развития воспалительной патологии верхних отделов репродуктивного тракта и неблагоприятных исходов ЭКО. Особый интерес представляет вопрос насколько информативно исследование состояния вагинальной микробиоты для прогнозирования состояния микробиоты эндометрия. Методом ПЦР-РВ были исследованы образцы вагинального отделяемого и аспираты эндометрия от 64 женщин репродуктивного возраста. В каждом образце определяли показатели общей бактериальной массы, количества и удельного веса лактобацилл. При сравнении данных показателей обнаружили только наличие слабой положительной корреляции (Spearman’s rho=0,362, p=0,003) между количествами лактобацилл в образцах вагинального отделяемого и эндометрия

Morphological changes in the liver forced by alcoholization of rats

The research showed that protracted forced alcoholization of rats is accompanied by the increase of alcohol in blood as well as by the structural changes in the liver. As for Mildronate it reduces the level of alcohol while not affecting the morphological changes in the liverИсследование показало, что длительная принудительная алкоголизация крыс сопровождается увеличением алкоголя в крови и структурными изменениями в печени. Милдронат снижает уровень алкоголя, но при этом не влияя на морфологические изменения в печен

The frequency of herpesviruses detection in vagina,cercix and endometrium by real-time pcr among reproductive age women

The PCR test for herpesviruses is recommended to women with obstetrics and gynecological pathology and to women who are planning to become pregnant due to the possibility of reproductive risks and intrauterine infection. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of detection of viruses belonging to the Herpesviridae family in different localizations among the reproductive age women by RT-PCR. We tested samples of endometrial aspirate, vaginal and cervical swabs from 50 reproductive age women. All samples were analyzed by real-time PCR. Herpesviruses were detected among 6 (12%) women. HSV type 1, 2 were detected in 2 (4%) endometrical samples, CMV was found in 1 (2%) vaginal sample. 3 (6%) women were positive for EBV. In one patient we registered simultaneous presence of EBV in vaginal and cervical samples. In 2 women EBV was found only in vaginal or cervical swabs.Проведение ПЦР на герпесвирусы рекомендовано женщинам с акушерско-гинекологической патологией и в рамках прегравидарной подготовки ввиду возможности возникновения репродуктивных рисков и внутриутробного инфицирования плода. Целью данного исследования было оценить частоту обнаружения отдельных представителей семейства Herpesviridae методом ПЦР-РВ в различных локализациях у женщин репродуктивного возраста. Было обследовано 50 женщин репродуктивного возраста. От каждой пациентки брали влагалищное отделяемое, содержимое цервикального канала, аспират эндометрия. Полученные пробы анализировали методом ПЦР-РВ.Герпесвирусы были обнаружены у 6 (12%) женщин в различных локализациях. ВПГ1,2 обнаружили в 2 (4%) образцах эндометрия, ЦМВ – в 1 (2%) пробе вагинального отделяемого. ВЭБ выявили у 3 (6%) женщин. При этом у одной пациентки фиксировали рисутствие ВЭБ во влагалище и шейке одновременно, у оставшихся двоих – только во влагалище или шейк

Modulation of the silica sol-gel composition for the promotion of direct electron transfer to encapsulated cytochrome

The direct electron transfer between indium-tin oxide electrodes (ITO) and cytochrome c encapsulated in different sol-gel silica networks was studied. Cyt c@silica modified electrodes were synthesized by a two-step encapsulation method mixing a phosphate buffer solution with dissolved cytochrome c and a silica sol prepared by the alcohol-free sol-gel route. These modified electrodes were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis spectroscopy, and in situ UV-vis spectroelectrochemistry. The electrochemical response of encapsulated protein is influenced by the terminal groups of the silica pores. Cyt c does not present electrochemical response in conventional silica (hydroxyl terminated) or phenyl terminated silica. Direct electron transfer to encapsulated cytochrome c and ITO electrodes only takes place when the protein is encapsulated in methyl modified silica networks.We gratefully acknowledge Jesus Yanez and Prof. Jose Miguel Martin-Martinez from the Laboratory of Adhesion and Adhesives (University of Alicante) for their assistance in the measurements of contact angle. We also acknowledge the Financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad and FEDER y Ciencia (MAT2010-15273), Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO2013/038), and the Fundacion Ramon Areces (CIVP16A1821). Alonso Gamero-Quijano is grateful to Generalitat Valenciana (Santiago Grisolia Program) for the funding of his research fellowship.Gamero-Quijano, A.; Huerta, F.; Morallón, E.; Montilla, F. (2014). Modulation of the silica sol-gel composition for the promotion of direct electron transfer to encapsulated cytochrome. Langmuir. 30(34):10531-10538. https://doi.org/10.1021/la5023517S1053110538303

Assessment of the quality of measures of child oral health-related quality of life

Background Several measures of oral health-related quality of life have been developed for children. The most frequently used are the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ), the Child Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (C-OIDP) and the Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP). The aim of this study was to assess the methodological quality of the development and testing of these three measures. Methods A systematic search strategy was used to identify eligible studies published up to December 2012, using both MEDLINE and Web of Science. Titles and abstracts were read independently by two investigators and full papers retrieved where the inclusion criteria were met. Data were extracted by two teams of two investigators using a piloted protocol. The data were used to describe the development of the measures and their use against existing criteria. The methodological quality and measurement properties of the measures were assessed using standards proposed by the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) group. Results The search strategy yielded 653 papers, of which 417 were duplicates. Following analysis of the abstracts, 119 papers met the inclusion criteria. The majority of papers reported cross-sectional studies (n = 117) with three of longitudinal design. Fifteen studies which had used the original version of the measures in their original language were included in the COSMIN analysis. The most frequently used measure was the CPQ. Reliability and construct validity appear to be adequate for all three measures. Children were not fully involved in item generation which may compromise their content validity. Internal consistency was measured using classic test theory with no evidence of modern psychometric techniques being used to test unidimensionality of the measures included in the COSMIN analysis. Conclusion The three measures evaluated appear to be able to discriminate between groups. CPQ has been most widely tested and several versions are available. COHIP employed a rigorous development strategy but has been tested in fewer populations. C-OIDP is shorter and has been used successfully in epidemiological studies. Further testing using modern psychometric techniques such as item response theory is recommended. Future developments should also focus on the development of measures which can evaluate longitudinal change