Host and Toxoplasma gondii genetic and non-genetic factors influencing the development of ocular toxoplasmosis: A systematic review

Toxoplasmosis is a cosmopolitan infection caused by the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This infectious disease is widely distributed across the world where cats play an important role in its spread. The symptomatology caused by this parasite is diverse but the ocular affectation emerges as the most important clinical phenotype. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of the current knowledge of ocular toxoplasmosis from the genetic diversity of the pathogen towards the treatment available for this infection. This review represents an update to the scientific community regarding the genetic diversity of the parasite, the genetic factors of the host, the molecular pathogenesis and its association with disease, the available diagnostic tools and the available treatment of patients undergoing ocular toxoplamosis. This review will be an update for the scientific community in order to encourage researchers to deploy cutting-edge investigation across this field. © 2016 Elsevier B.V

Host and Toxoplasma gondii genetic and non-genetic factors influencing the development of ocular toxoplasmosis: A systematic review

Toxoplasmosis is a cosmopolitan infection caused by the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This infectious disease is widely distributed across the world where cats play an important role in its spread. The symptomatology caused by this parasite is diverse but the ocular affectation emerges as the most important clinical phenotype. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of the current knowledge of ocular toxoplasmosis from the genetic diversity of the pathogen towards the treatment available for this infection. This review represents an update to the scientific community regarding the genetic diversity of the parasite, the genetic factors of the host, the molecular pathogenesis and its association with disease, the available diagnostic tools and the available treatment of patients undergoing ocular toxoplamosis. This review will be an update for the scientific community in order to encourage researchers to deploy cutting-edge investigation across this field. © 2016 Elsevier B.V

Tetrathia[7]helicene Mono and Dinuclear Gold(I) Complexes

Tetrathia[7]helicenes (7-TH) are polyconjugated \uf070-systems in which four thiophene rings are orthofused to alternating arene rings to generate a non planar, chiral, stable helix which allows the existence of M and P enantiomers. The 7-TH systems are very interesting structures1 even because they can be easily and selectively functionalized in the alpha positions of the terminal thiophene rings,2 making it possible the introduction of appropriate substituents. In the course of our studies on the synthesis of phosphane derivatives of 7-TH as potential innovative chiral ligands in asymmetric organometallic catalysis,3 gold(I) complexes of the phosphines of 7,8-di-n-propyl-tetrathia[7]helicene 1 and 2 (Figure 1) provided promising results in some cycloisomerization reactions. Figure 1. Encouraged by these results, the two P and M enantiomers of gold(I) complex 1 have been synthesized, and completely characterized. The use of gold in homogeneous catalysis has witnessed tremendous activity in recent years.4 Thanks to gold(I) phosphine-based catalysts, various organic transformations have been accessible with both high yields and chemo- and stereoselectivity. In particular, asymmetric gold catalysis represents a very hot topic in catalytic research,5 and several efforts have been made by various research groups in this field

Enantiopure Tetrathia[7]helicene-based Gold(I) Complexes

Tetrathia[7]helicenes (7-TH) are polyconjugated \uf070-systems in which four thiophene rings are orthofused to alternating arene rings to generate a non planar, chiral, stable helix which allows the existence of M and P enantiomers. The 7-TH systems are very interesting structures1 even because they can be easily and selectively functionalized in the alpha positions of the terminal thiophene rings,2 making it possible the introduction of appropriate substituents. In the course of our studies on the synthesis of phosphane derivatives of 7-TH as potential innovative chiral ligands in asymmetric organometallic catalysis,3 gold(I) complexes of the phosphines of 7,8-di-n-propyl-tetrathia[7]helicene 1 and 2 (Figure 1) provided promising results in some cycloisomerization reactions. Figure 1. Encouraged by these results, the two P and M enantiomers of gold(I) complex 1 have been synthesized, and tested in asymmetric transformations. The use of gold in homogeneous catalysis has witnessed tremendous activity in recent years.4 Thanks to gold(I) phosphine-based catalysts, various organic transformations have been accessible with both high yields and chemo- and stereoselectivity. In particular, asymmetric gold catalysis represents a very hot topic in catalytic research,5 and several efforts have been made by various research groups in this field. References 1. Collins, S. K.; Vachon, M. P. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2006, 4, 2518-2524. 2. Licandro, E.; Baldoli, C.; Maiorana, S. et al. Synthesis 2006, 3670-3678. 3. Cauteruccio, S.; Licandro, E.; Maiorana, S. et al. Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2011, 5649-5658. 4. Hashmi, A. S. K.. Chem. Rev. 2007, 107, 3180-3211. 5. Sengupta, S.; Shi, X. ChemCatChem 2010, 2, 609-619

Gold(I) Complexes of Tetrathiaheterohelicene Phosphanes

New tetrathia[7]helicene-based (7-TH-based) gold(I) complexes 6 and 7 have been readily prepared by reaction of the respective phosphine ligands 2 and 3 with Au(tht)Cl in a 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratio, respectively. These complexes have been fully characterized by analytical and spectroscopic techniques as well as quantum chemical calculations. The molecular structure of dinuclear complex 7 has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, showing a gold 12gold interaction of 3.1825(3) \uc5 and a significant contraction of the 7-TH total dihedral angle. Au(I) complex 7 displays luminescence emission at room and low temperature in diluted solution and in the solid state. Quantum chemical calculations show that the luminescence emission at room temperature is primarily due to slightly perturbed fluorescence emission from purely \u3c0\u3c0* excited states of the conjugated helicene scaffold. At 77 K phosphorescence emission is displayed as well. Preliminary studies on the use of 6 and 7 as catalysts in typical Au(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerizations have demonstrated the reactivity of these systems in the intramolecular allene hydroarylations and the hydroxycarboxylation of allene-carboxylates

Membranes derived from human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly stem cells as novel bioengineered tissue-like constructs

Cell-derived matrices were recently described as novel biomaterials generated by human cells allowed to grow and synthetize their own extracellular matrix in culture. In the present work, we generated and evaluated a novel tissue-like substitute (WDM) consisting of a membrane derived from cultured human Wharton’s jelly stem cells. WDM were evaluated ex vivo and in vivo by histochemistry and immunohistochemistry for several mesenchymal cell markers and fibrillar and non-fibrillar extracellular matrix components. Results show that WDM were heterogeneous and consisted of dense cell-poor areas surrounded by cell-rich zones with abundant HWJSC. Histological analyses demonstrated that cell-poor areas were very rich in fibrillar and non-fibrillar extracellular matrix components such as collagen and proteoglycans, and cells in the WDM were highly viable and mostly PCNA-positive. HWJSC in the WDM expressed all markers of this cell type, including CD90, CD105, pan cytokeratin and CK8. In vivo analysis showed that the WDM was highly biocompatible and grafting this membrane in the muscle of laboratory rats was not associated to increased inflammation, necrosis, tumorigenesis or other side effects, while cells properly integrated at the damage site and showed high proliferation index. These results suggest that the structure and composition of the extracellular matrix of these novel WDM could reproduce the situation of native human tissues and that WDM implanted in vivo are highly biocompatible and rapidly integrate in the host tissues. For these reasons, we hypothesize that WDM could be used in regenerative medicine protocols

Patients with aortic stenosis referred for TAVI : Treatment decision, in-hospital outcome and determinants of survival

Aims To assess treatment decision and outcome in patients referred for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in addition to predictive factors of mortality after TAVI. Methods Three-centre prospective observational study including 358 patients. Endpoints were defined according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium. Results Of the 358 patients referred for TAVI, TAVI was performed in 235 patients (65%), surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) in 24 (7%) and medical therapy (MT) in 99 (28%). Reasons to decline TAVI in favour of AVR/MT were patient preference (29%), peripheral vascular disease (15%) and non-severe aortic stenosis (11%). The logistic EuroSCORE was significantly higher in patients who underwent TAVI and MT in comparison with those undergoing AVR (19 vs. 10%, p=0.007). At 30 days, all-cause mortality and the combined safety endpoint were 9 and 24% after TAVI and 8 and 25% after AVR, respectively. All-cause mortality was significantly lower in the TAVI group compared with the MT group at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years (12% vs. 22%, 21% vs. 33% and 31% vs. 55%, respectively, p<0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed that blood transfusion (HR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.05-1.33), pre-existing renal failure (HR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.06-1.33) and STS score (HR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02-1.10) were independent predictors of mortality at a median of 10 (IQR: 3-23) months after TAVI. Conclusions Approximately two-thirds of the patients referred for TAVI receive this treatment with gratifying short- and long-term survival. Another 7% underwent AVR. Prognosis is poor in patients who do not receive valve replacement therapy. © The Author(s) 2011

Spintronic based RF components

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