Inverse Raman spectroscopy of bilirubin and its ditauride

The inverse Raman spectrum of bilirubin and bilirubin ditauride were measured under pre‐resonant conditions. Spectra in chloroform and dimethyl sulfoxide were assigned by comparison with model compounds and on the basis of the known effects of the solvents on the internal hydrogen bonding in bilirubin. The band assignments were used to interpret the spectra of bilirubin ditauride in aqueous solution. Evidence is presented for strong hydrogen bonding to the pyrrole NH bonds and to the lactam rings. It is proposed that hydrogen bonding to water is facilitated by photoactivation and, in turn, stabilizes photohiliruhin.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/91227/1/1250150416_ftp.pd

Resolution of cystoid macular edema following arginine-restricted diet and vitamin B6 supplementation in a case of gyrate atrophy.

We report the outcome of 3 years of arginine-restricted diet and vitamin B6 supplementation in a boy who presented with gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina and bilateral cystoid macular edema. The diagnosis of gyrate atrophy was made on the basis of clinical findings and increased plasma ornithine levels. Molecular genetic testing revealed a disease-causing homozygous mutation in the ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) gene. After 3 months of dietary modification and pyridoxine supplementation, visual acuity improved, and optical coherence tomography showed resolution of cystoid macular edema in both eyes. This anatomical and functional improvement was maintained during 3 years of follow-up

DSApp - Tu forma eficiente de recibir servicios en casa.

Este documento presenta el análisis del desarrollo de una aplicación denominada DSApp que resuelve una necesidad insatisfecha asociada al tiempo de espera de los clientes a la hora de recibir la compra de un bien o la prestación de un servicio. Una vez relevado el mercado y verificada la necesidad en el mismo, se procede a realizar un análisis de los distintos componentes de un plan de negocios. Al ser este un proyecto perteneciente al rubro de la tecnología con un alto grado de incertidumbre, se decide dividir el análisis financiero según el ciclo de vida del proyecto. En el período de start up se utiliza la herramienta de Discovery Driven Planning y en el período de maduración se calcula el flujo de fondos con el método tradicional. Como conclusión, se destaca la viabilidad técnica, económica y financiera del proyecto tanto en la etapa de lanzamiento como en la de maduración

Size at birth and mental health problems at 11 years of age in a Brazilian birth cohort

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between size at birth and mental health problems at 11 years of age in the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study. Newborns were weighed and measured, and anthropometric indices were calculated. At 11 years of age, mental health problems were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Prevalence of mental health problems was 32% (95%CI: 31-33). After adjusting for potential confounders, newborns with weight and body mass index (BMI) for age z-scores < -2 SD were at 27% 95%CI: 7-49) and 29% (95%CI: 10-51) greater risk, respectively, of developing mental health problems at age 11 years than those born with normal scores. Newborns with BMI and head circumference for age z-scores > +2 SD were at 34% (95%CI: 6-71) and 19% (95%CI: 1-40) greater risk, respectively, of developing mental health problems than those with normal scores. The results suggest that early factors that are reflected as size measurements at birth can cause mental health problems later in life.O objetivo foi avaliar a associação entre tamanho ao nascer e problemas de saúde mental aos 11 anos na Coorte de Nascimentos de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, de 1993. Foram pesados e medidos ao nascer 4.358 recém-nascidos. Avaliou-se problemas de saúde mental com o questionário de capacidades e dificuldades(Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire– SDQ). A prevalência de problemas de saúde mental foi de 32% (IC95%: 31-33). Na análise ajustada, os 291 (6,7%) recém-nascidos com escore-z de peso/idade e os 268 (6,2%) com índice de massa corporal (IMC)/idade < -2 DP tiveram, respectivamente, 27% (IC95%: 7-49) e 29% (IC95%: 10-51) maior risco de apresentar problemas de saúde mental aos 11 anos quando comparados com aqueles com escore normal. Os 102 (2,43%) recém-nascidos com escore-z de IMC e os 279 (6,4%)com perímetro cefálico/idade > +2 DP tiveram, respectivamente, 34% (IC95%: 6-71) e 19% (IC95%: 1-40) maior risco de apresentar esses problemas se comparados com aqueles com escore normal. Os resultados sugerem que fatores ocorridos na gestação e refletidos nas medidas de tamanho ao nascer podem ocasionar problemas de saúde mental em etapas tardias

Validity of 5 year old children’s oral hygiene pattern referred by mothers

OBJETIVO: Determinar a validade de perguntas freqüentemente utilizadas em estudos epidemiológicos sobre higiene bucal de crianças e compará-la segundo renda familiar e escolaridade da mãe. MÉTODOS: Foram analisadas 1.122 crianças participantes do sub estudo de saúde bucal de 2009 da Coorte de Nascimentos de Pelotas, RS, 2004. As crianças foram examinadas e suas mães entrevistadas no domicílio. O padrão ouro da condição de higiene bucal foi avaliado por meio do Índice de Higiene Oral Simplificado e a partir do seu escore total o desfecho foi dicotomizado em: placa dental ausente (escore total = 0) e presente (escore total ≥ 1). As perguntas testadas sobre o padrão de higiene bucal das crianças foram formuladas às mães e incluíram: freqüência diária de escovação, escovação antes de dormir e a combinação dessas duas (higiene bucal), com suas opções de resposta dicotomizadas em regular e irregular. A validade foi determinada por meio do cálculo dos valores percentuais e respectivos intervalos de 95% de confiança de sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo e valor preditivo negativo. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de placa dental foi 37,0%. Os valores de sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo e valor preditivo negativo foram, respectivamente: 29,6%, 82,5%, 49,8% e 66,6%, para freqüência de escovação diária irregular; 41,8%, 64,6%, 40,9% e 65,5%, para escovação antes de dormir irregular; 48,8%, 60,8%, 42,2% e 67,0%, para higiene bucal irregular. A validade do padrão de higiene bucal variou conforme o nível de renda familiar e a escolaridade da mãe, e a sensibilidade e o valor preditivo positivo foram maiores entre os indivíduos com menor renda familiar e com mães menos escolarizadas e o oposto, para a especificidade e o valor preditivo negativo.CONCLUSÕES: Perguntas sobre higiene bucal respondidas pelas mães de crianças não são boas substitutas do padrão real de higiene bucal medido por meio do exame clínico bucal de placa dental

Enantioselective Dynamic Process Reduction of α- and β-Tetralone and Stereoinversion of Resulting Alcohols in a Selected Strain Culture

α-Tetralone and β-tetralone were subjected to biotransformation by 14 fungal strains. Enantiomeric purity of the products depended on the reaction time. 3-Day transformation of α-tetralone in Absidia cylindrospora culture gave S-(+)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naftol of 92 % ee, whereas longer biotransformation time resulted in decrease of ee value. 3-Day transformation of β-tetralone by the same strain gave predominantly S-(−)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-naftol, whereas after 9 days of the reaction, the R-enantiomer with 85 % ee was isolated. Transformation of β-tetralone by Chaetomium sp. KCh 6651 gave pure (S)-(−)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-naftol in high yield at the concentration of 1 g/l. In this process, a non-selective carbonyl reduction was observed, followed by a selective oxidation of the R-alcohol

Circulating tumor DNA to anticipate loco-regional recurrence in early-stage breast cancer: a proof-of-concept study

BackgroundLoco-regional recurrence (LRR) poses a clinical challenge for the follow-up of patients treated with curative intent for early-stage breast cancer (EBC). While circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has been shown to predict distant metastases, its value for LRR is less characterized.MethodsStarting from an index case with documented LRR and available tumor and plasma samples, we report the analysis of the prospective phase III fenretinide prevention trial, which primarily aimed to assess the incidence of second malignancy in women with T1-T2 N0 EBC. Patients were eligible if they had FFPE and/or frozen tissue from primary or recurrent invasive tumor for next generation sequencing, and at least three serial plasma samples for ctDNA analysis by digital PCR.ResultsThe TP53 R196* mutation was identified in the primary tumor of the index case with a variant allele frequency (VAF) of 29%, and in the LRR with a VAF of 58%. The same mutation was also detected in plasma prior to both the primary and LRR surgeries with VAFs of 0.19% and 0.12%, respectively. Following treatment, the mutation became undetectable in plasma samples during follow-up, consistent with the absence of recurrence. Among 40 eligible patients from the fenretinide prevention trial, 27 (67.5%) had primary tumor somatic variants trackable in plasma. Median age was 55 years (range, 35-78); stage I (16, 59%) and stage II (11, 41%); mostly luminal-like (19, 70%); median follow-up 173 months (range, 98-193); common mutations included PIK3CA (50%), TP53 (30.7%), and PTEN (5.9%). Six patients developed LRR as first event; 4 distant metastases. In all LRR cases, except one, ctDNA was detected prior to surgery and anticipated the clinical diagnosis up to 28 months. Three patients with LRR developed distant metastases 1 to 2 years later.ConclusionThese findings show the potential of ctDNA for the early detection of LRR in EBC, and its promise as a tool for timely interventions and personalized surveillance strategies