Free-standing protein films for dynamic mode detection of cations binding

International audienceThis letter reports on the investigation of the mechano-chemical effect of cross-linked dried free-standing alpha-lactalbumin (α-lactalbumin) thin films induced by different cation, calcium, magnesium, and potassium binding. The protein membranes were fabricated by drying droplets of an α-lactalbumin solution on top of silicon through-wafer holes obtained by deep reactive ion etching. Then the membranes were consecutively exposed to solutions of the cations in HEPES buffer solution while their resonant frequencies were measured by full-field surface stroboscopic white light interferometry. Tests on more than 30 free-standing protein films showed more significant conformational changes of the α-lactalbumin after immersion in a calcium solution than those observed after immersion in magnesium and potassium solutions. These results demonstrate, the real potential of free-standing protein films to be used as resonant biosensors for multiple cation detection

Sindrom de rabdomioliza si eozinofilie – prezentarea de caz

Pacient, in vărstă de 50 deani, se internează în data de 3,03,2017, pe secția de recuperare a spitatlui Clinic de Urgenta A.Iancu, pentru stabilirea planulni de recuperare post meniscectomie interna drepta. Examenul obiectiv releva: mers sprijinit, în baston, hipotrofie accentuată cvadriceps drept, flexie 60 de grade, flexum de genunchi 10 grade. La 7 zile de la internare, pacientul prezintă febră vesperală, initial 37,5 C, apoi diurnă, 38,5 C. Clinic apaz mialgii accentuate, stare generală influențata, edeme la nivelul membrelol superioareantebrate și gambiere, fara godeu câteva macule pe toracele posterior. Se recoltează probe de laborator în urgentă. EKG traseu normal. Probele biologice relevă: VSH 20 mm – la prima oră, 13000 L, neutrofile, eozinofilie, CK 506 (38-174 UI/L) LDG 635 IU/L, TGO,TGP crescute, CRP crescut. Pe baza examenului clinie si anamneză se pune diagnosticul de trichineloză și se initiază tratamentul specific cu durată de 10zile, timp în case se monitorizează activiatatea cardiac și funcția hepatică. Cuvinte cheie: sindrom de rabdomioliză, eozinofilie

Cardio Protective Effects of Lipid Emulsion against Ropivacaine-Induced Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity—An Experimental Study

Inadvertent intravascular injection of local anesthetics (LA) during regional anesthesia causes Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST). Theories of lipid rescue in the case of LAST proved that the administration of lipids in LAST has beneficial effects. One possible mechanism of action is based on the lipophilic properties of LA which allow plasma-free LA to be bound by the molecules of Lipid Emulsion (LE). The association LA–LE is shuttled towards organs such as liver and the kidneys, and the half-life of LA is shortened. The main objective of this experimental study was to assess the possible cardio-prophylactic effect of LE administration before the induction of LAST by intravenous administration of Ropivacaine. This was an experimental, interventional, prospective, and non-randomized study. The subjects were divided into groups and received, under general anesthesia, LE 20% first 0.3–0.4 mL, followed by 0.1 mL Ropivacaine 2 mg/mL, or Ropivacaine alone. At the end of the experiment, the subjects were sacrificed, and tissue samples of kidney, heart and liver were harvested for histopathological examination. LE, when administered as prophylaxis in Ropivacaine-induced LAST, had protective cardiac effects in rats. The LE known side effects were not produced if the substance was administered in the low doses used for LAST prophylaxis

Pasture Access Effects on the Welfare of Dairy Cows Housed in Free-Stall Barns

Despite considerable research regarding the benefits of natural living conditions on several aspects of the health and well-being of dairy cows, the effects of pasture access on their overall welfare are less studied. In this comparative study, the Welfare Quality® protocol was applied in 22 zero-grazing and 17 grazing access farms with an ulterior statistical exploration of the differences found. Moreover, correlations were calculated between pasture access and animal-based welfare measures. Aside from the multiple benefits of pasturing identified within the welfare measures, criteria, and principles, in the overall classification, the farms with permanent confinement ranked lower than the grazing farms. Although both systems used free-stall barns, allowing the cows’ movement, the grazing animals showed improved overall welfare. Yet, the origin-related adaptation of the animals could play a role. The authors recommend research-based tailoring whenever these conditions are intended to be transposed in technology, especially in intensive systems

The Effects of Oregano Oil on Fungal Infections Associated with Metabolic Syndrome

International audienceThis study aims to compare the evolution of mycosis associated with metabolic syndrome under allopathic treatment compared to phytotherapy using oregano essential oil. The study was conducted over a period of 6 months, on a total of 72 patients diagnosed with fungal infections associated with metabolic syndrome. The patients were divided into 3 groups, depending on the administered treatment: group 1: 24 patients who received allopathic treatment; group 2: 24 patients who received oregano oil treatment; group 3: control, which did not undergo any antifungal treatment. All three groups were subjected to specific diet therapy for mycosis. The patients were initially evaluated at 10 days after the begining of the treatment (to track mycotic disease evolution in the acute phase), at 60 days (to evaluate the recurrence of mycoses) and at 180 days to track recurrent disease. Most infections were acute (77.78%), the chronic ones representing only 5.56% of cases. There were also 12 cases with recurrent infections (16.67%), out of which 6 cases (8.33%) had previously shown resistance to Nystatin. In the 72 cases there was a sensitivity of 100.00% for oregano oil and Ketaconazolum, insignificantly higher than for Myconazolum (97.22%, p=0.157), but significantly higher than for Clotrimazolum and Nystatinum (94.44%, p=0.0437), Variconazole and Fluconazole (88.89%, p=0.0038) and Itraconazole (86.11%, p=0.0011). The results of this study showed an increased efficiency of oregano oil on the symptomatic and paraclinical improvement of mycotic infections in the study, both on short term and on long term, which was completed with high tolerability

Effects of combining modern recovery techniques with neurotrophic medication and standard treatment in stroke patients

International audienceStroke is the main cause of disability after age 65, leaving survivors with sequels that require care and recovery treatment lasting years. It is estimated that by the year 2030 this pathology will be leading cause of mortality. To determine the efficacy of Lokomat training combined with neurotrophic medication and balneo-physiotherapeutic treatment in rehabilitation of post-stroke patients, a prospective study of 3 parallel groups was conducted: Group I (n = 22) – Lokomat, balneo-physiotherapy, and Cerebrolysin; Group II (n = 18) – Lokomat associated with balneo-physiotherapy; and Group III (n = 30) – balneo-physiotherapy alone (Control group). Patients were evaluated physically, neurologically, and functionally, according to the evolution of their motor deficiency, spasticity, functional independence and health-related quality of life.Patient improvement is significantly better (p b 0.05) in the group with associated therapies, especially during the first 6 months. Evolution was significantly better in all groups at 12 months than initially (p b 0.05), for all studied parameters and with the best effects in Group I (the three therapies combined). Association of Lokomat training with neurotrophic factors and classic recovery techniques improves the rehabilitationprocess in stroke patients

High energy high stability laser wakefield electron acceleration with the J-KAREN-P laser

Laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) has the advantage of ultrahigh acceleration gradient allowing GeV energy gain within centimeter acceleration structure. However, for application concerns, the stability of electron bunches from LWFA still need to be improved. In 2018, we utilized the ionization-injection regime and generated electron beams with charges at nC level in a single peak with the J-KAREN-P laser facility. Yet, the stability was not satisfactory. In 2019, by introducing the density transition regime with mixture gas, we observed relatively stable electron beams with energies of several hundred MeV. In addition, by using a two-gas-jet set-up, we generated electrons with energies up to 2 GeV. Beam driven plasma wakefield was considered to be responsible for the multi-GeV electron generation in the experiment.日本物理学会　第75回年次大