Photodegradation of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin by Au@ZnONPs-MoS2-Rgo nanocomposites

This study aimed to investigate the photocatalytic performance of diverse zinc oxide catalysts containing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) toward the degradation of the antibiotics levofloxacin (LFX) and ciprofloxacin (CFX) in aqueous solutions. The obtained results demonstrate that LFX is more resistant to degradation when compared with CFX and that the principal route of degradation under visible light is the formation of hydroxyl radicals. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements were employed to verify the inhibitory effect of electron–hole recombination when AuNPs, MoS2, and rGO are integrated into a semiconductor. The catalyst that achieved the highest percentage of CFX degradation was 1%Au@ZnONPs-3%MoS2-1%rGO, exhibiting a degradation efficiency of 96%, while the catalyst that exhibited the highest percentage of LFX degradation was 5%Au@ZnONPs-3%MoS2-1%rGO, displaying a degradation efficiency of 99.8%. A gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis enabled the identification of reaction intermediates, facilitating the determination of a potential degradation pathway for both antibiotics. Additionally, recyclability assessments showed that the synthesized catalysts maintained stable photocatalytic efficiencies after 15 cycles, indicating that the heterostructures have the potential for further usage and may be tested with other organic contaminants as wellThe financial support from the NSF Center for the Advancement of Wearable TechnologiesCAWT (grant 1849243), from the Consortium of Hybrid Resilient Energy Systems (DE-NA0003982), and from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, under NanoCat-Com Project (PID2021-124667OB-I00), are gratefully acknowledgedThe financial support from the NSF Center for the Advancement of Wearable TechnologiesCAWT (grant 1849243), from the Consortium of Hybrid Resilient Energy Systems (DE-NA0003982), and from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, under NanoCat-Com Project (PID2021-124667OB-I00), are gratefully acknowledge

Blood neutrophils from children with COVID-19 exhibit both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers

Background: Perhaps reflecting that children with COVID-19 rarely exhibit severe respiratory symptoms and often remain asymptomatic, little attention has been paid to explore the immune response in pediatric COVID-19. Here, we analyzed the phenotype and function of circulating neutrophils from children with COVID-19. Methods: An observational study including 182 children with COVID-19, 21 children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), and 40 healthy children was performed in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Neutrophil phenotype was analyzed by flow cytometry in blood samples. Cytokine production, plasma levels of IgG antibodies directed to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and citrullinated histone H3 were measured by ELISA. Cell-free DNA was quantified by fluorometry. Findings: Compared with healthy controls, neutrophils from children with COVID-19 showed a lower expression of CD11b, CD66b, and L-selectin but a higher expression of the activation markers HLA-DR, CD64 and PECAM-1 and the inhibitory receptors LAIR-1 and PD-L1. No differences in the production of cytokines and NETs were observed. Interestingly, the expression of CD64 in neutrophils and the serum concentration of IgG antibodies directed to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 distinguished asymptomatic from mild and moderate COVID-19. Interpretation: Acute lung injury is a prominent feature of severe COVID-19 in adults. A low expression of adhesion molecules together with a high expression of inhibitory receptors in neutrophils from children with COVID-19 might prevent tissue infiltration by neutrophils preserving lung function.Fil: Seery, Vanesa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida; ArgentinaFil: Raiden, Silvina Claudia. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños Pedro Elizalde (ex Casa Cuna); ArgentinaFil: Algieri, Silvia C.. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas.; ArgentinaFil: Grisolía, Nicolás A.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños Pedro Elizalde (ex Casa Cuna); ArgentinaFil: Filippo, Daniela. Hospital Municipal Diego Thompson; ArgentinaFil: De Carli, Norberto. Clinica del Niño de Quilmes; ArgentinaFil: Di Lalla, Sandra. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños Pedro Elizalde (ex Casa Cuna); ArgentinaFil: Cairoli, Héctor. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños Pedro Elizalde (ex Casa Cuna); ArgentinaFil: Chiolo, María J.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños Pedro Elizalde (ex Casa Cuna); ArgentinaFil: Meregalli, Claudia N.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños Pedro Elizalde (ex Casa Cuna); ArgentinaFil: Gimenez, Lorena I.. Hospital Municipal Diego Thompson; ArgentinaFil: Gregorio, Gabriela. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas.; ArgentinaFil: Sarli, Mariam. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas.; ArgentinaFil: Alcalde, Ana L.. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas.; ArgentinaFil: Davenport, Carolina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños Pedro Elizalde (ex Casa Cuna); ArgentinaFil: Bruera, María J.. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas.; ArgentinaFil: Simaz, Nancy. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas.; ArgentinaFil: Pérez, Mariela F.. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas.; ArgentinaFil: Nivela, Valeria. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas.; ArgentinaFil: Bayle, Carola. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas.; ArgentinaFil: Tuccillo, Patricia. Ministerio de Defensa. Armada Argentina. Hospital Naval Buenos Aires Cirujano Mayor Dr. Pedro Mallo; ArgentinaFil: Agosta, María T.. Ministerio de Defensa. Armada Argentina. Hospital Naval Buenos Aires Cirujano Mayor Dr. Pedro Mallo; ArgentinaFil: Pérez, Hernán. Ministerio de Defensa. Armada Argentina. Hospital Naval Buenos Aires Cirujano Mayor Dr. Pedro Mallo; ArgentinaFil: Villa Nova, Susana. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández"; ArgentinaFil: Suárez, Patricia. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández"; ArgentinaFil: Takata, Eugenia M.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández"; ArgentinaFil: García, Mariela. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández"; ArgentinaFil: Lattner, Jorge. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández"; ArgentinaFil: Rolón, María J.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández"; ArgentinaFil: Coll, Patricia. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández"; ArgentinaFil: Sananez, Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida; ArgentinaFil: Holgado, María Pía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida; ArgentinaFil: Ferrero, Fernando. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños Pedro Elizalde (ex Casa Cuna); ArgentinaFil: Geffner, Jorge Raúl. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida; ArgentinaFil: Arruvito, Maria Lourdes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida; Argentin

Factors Affecting Infestation by Triatoma infestans in a Rural Area of the Humid Chaco in Argentina: A Multi-Model Inference Approach

Vector-borne transmission of Chagas disease remains a major public health problem in parts of Latin America. Triatoma infestans is the main vector in the countries located in the South American Cone, particularly in the Gran Chaco ecoregion where residual insecticide control has achieved only a moderate, irregular impact. To contribute to improved control strategies, we analyzed the factors associated with the presence and abundance of T. infestans in 327 inhabited houses in a well-defined rural area with no recent vector control interventions in the humid Argentine Chaco. Bugs were found mainly in domiciles, kitchens, storerooms, and chicken coops and nests, particularly where adequate refuge and animal hosts (humans, dogs, cats or poultry) were available. Domiciles constructed from mud were the most often infested, but brick-and-cement domiciles, even in good conditions, were also found infested. Availability of refuge and hosts for T. infestans are key targets for vector control. Ten-fold variations in domestic infestation observed across neighboring villages, and differences in the relevant factors for T. infestans presence with respect to other areas of the Gran Chaco region suggest that host management, building techniques and insecticide use need to be tailored to the local environment, socio-economic characteristics, and climatic conditions

Validation of a Lateral Flow Assay for Rapid Diagnosis of Histoplasmosis in Advanced HIV Disease, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Histoplasmosis is a major cause of mortality in individuals with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease (AHD). We evaluated in patients with AHD a lateral flow assay (LFA) developed by MiraVista® Diagnostics (MVD LFA). Histoplasmosis was defined based on the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) case definitions. We also compared the results of this LFA with those obtained using a commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA) developed by IMMY, Clarus Histoplasma GM EIA, IMMY (HGM EIA). A retrospective observational study was conducted at Hospital Juan A. Fernández, located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The study included 48 urine specimens from patients aged >18 years with AHD. Urine specimens included 17 patients with disseminated histoplasmosis and 31 specimens from patients without evidence of histoplasmosis. Specimens were tested using the MVD LFA and the HGM EIA. The MVD LFA and the HGM EIA had similar analytical performance, with a sensitivity of 94%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, negative predictive value of 97%, and an accuracy of 98%. Comparison of the MVD LFA with the HGM EIA demonstrated a Kappa agreement index of 0.906. The LFA evaluated in this study had high analytical performance; it provided rapid diagnosis of histoplasmosis with minimal requirements for laboratory training, equipment, and laboratory infrastructure

First isolation in Argentina of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with intermediate susceptibility to vancomycin and nonsusceptibility to daptomycin

Fil: Errecalde, L. Sección Microbiología, Hospital General de Agudos J. A. Fernández; Argentina.Fil: Ceriana, Paola G. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Bacteriología. Servicio Antimicrobianos; Argentina.Fil: Gagetti, Paula. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Bacteriología. Servicio Antimicrobianos; Argentina.Fil: Erbín, Mariana. Sección Microbiología, Hospital General de Agudos J. A. Fernández; Argentina.Fil: Duarte, Andrea. División Infectología, Hospital General de Agudos J. A. Fernández; Argentina.Fil: J Rolón, María. División Infectología, Hospital General de Agudos J. A. Fernández; Argentina.Fil: Cuatz, Daniel. División Infectología, Hospital General de Agudos J. A. Fernández; Argentina.Fil: Corso, Alejandra. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Bacteriología. Servicio Antimicrobianos; Argentina.Fil: Kaufman, Sara. Sección Microbiología, Hospital General de Agudos J. A. Fernández; Argentina.We report the first case in Argentina of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with intermediate susceptibility to vancomycin and nonsusceptibility to daptomycin

Synthesis, biological evaluation and chemometric analysis of indazole derivatives. 1,2-Disubstituted 5-nitroindazolinones, new prototypes of antichagasic drug

Chagas disease chemotherapy, currently based on only two drugs, nifurtimox and benznidazole, is far from satisfactory and therefore the development of new antichagasic compounds remains an important goal. On the basis of antichagasic properties previously described for some 1,2-disubstituted 5-nitroindazolin-3- ones (21, 33) and in order to initiate the optimization of activity of this kind of compounds, we have prepared a series of related analogs (22-32, 34-38, 58 and 59) and tested in vitro these products against epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. 2-Benzyl-1-propyl (22), 2-benzyl-1-isopropyl (23) and 2-benzyl-1-butyl (24) derivatives have shown high trypanocidal activity and low unspecific toxicity. Other indazole derivatives with different substitution patterns (1-substituted 3-alkoxy-1H-indazoles and 2-substituted 3-alkoxy-2H-indazoles), arising from the synthetic procedures used to prepare the mentioned indazolinones, have moderate to low effectiveness. The exploration of SAR information using the concept of an activity landscape has been carried out with SARANEA software. We have also searched for structural similarities between 225 known antiprotozoan drugs and compound 22. The results confirm that compounds 22-24 constitute promising leads and that 5-nitroindazolin-3-one system is a novel anti-T. cruzi scaffold which may represent an important therapeutic alternative for the treatment of Chagas disease. © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.Peer Reviewe

Synergistic Effects of Co₃O₄-gC₃N₄-Coated ZnO Nanoparticles: A Novel Approach for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Ciprofloxacin and Hydrogen Evolution via Water Splitting

This research evaluates the efficacy of catalysts based on Co3O4-gC3N4@ZnONPs in the degradation of ciprofloxacin (CFX) and the photocatalytic production of H2 through water splitting. The results show that CFX experiences prompt photodegradation, with rates reaching up to 99% within 60 min. Notably, the 5% (Co3O4-gC3N4)@ZnONPs emerged as the most potent catalyst. The recyclability studies of the catalyst revealed a minimal activity loss, approximately 6%, after 15 usage cycles. Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques, the by-products of CFX photodegradation were identified, which enabled the determination of the potential degradation pathway and its resultant products. Comprehensive assessments involving photoluminescence, bandgap evaluations, and the study of scavenger reactions revealed a degradation mechanism driven primarily by superoxide radicals. Moreover, the catalysts demonstrated robust performance in H2 photocatalytic production, with some achieving outputs as high as 1407 µmol/hg in the visible spectrum (around 500 nm). Such findings underline the potential of these materials in environmental endeavors, targeting both water purification from organic pollutants and energy applications

A novel non-stochastic quadratic fingerprints-based approach for the 'in silico' discovery of new antitrypanosomal compounds

A non-stochastic quadratic fingerprints-based approach is introduced to classify and design, in a rational way, new antitrypanosomal compounds. A data set of 153 organic chemicals, 62 with antitrypanosomal activity and 91 having other clinical uses, was processed by a k-means cluster analysis to design training and predicting data sets. Afterwards, a linear classification function was derived allowing the discrimination between active and inactive compounds. The model classifies correctly more than 93% of chemicals in both training and external prediction groups. The predictability of this discriminant function was also assessed by a leave-group-out experiment, in which 10% of the compounds were removed at random at each time and their activity predicted a posteriori. In addition, a comparison with models generated using four well-known families of 2D molecular descriptors was carried out. As an experiment of virtual lead generation, the present TOMOCOMD approach was finally satisfactorily applied on the virtual evaluation of 10 already synthesized compounds. The in vitro antitrypanosomal activity of this series against epimastigotes forms of Trypanosomal cruzi was assayed. The model was able to predict correctly the behaviour of these compounds in 90% of the cases. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer Reviewe

A small cluster randomised clinical trial to improve health outcomes among Argentine patients disengaged from HIV care

BACKGROUND: Patients disengaged from HIV care, e.g., missed medication pick-ups, not attending physician visits, account for ≥70% of new HIV infections. Re-engaging and sustaining engagement is essential to controlling the HIV pandemic. This study tested a physician-delivered evidence-based intervention, Motivational Interviewing (MI), to improve health outcomes, adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV virologic suppression, CD(4)+ count, retention in HIV care, and self-efficacy among patients disengaged from care in Argentina. METHODS: Regional clinics (n = 6) were randomised to condition, MI Intervention or Enhanced Standard of Care (ESOC), and recruited N = 360 patients disengaged from HIV care. ART adherence, HIV RNA viral load, CD(4)+ count retention, and self-efficacy were assessed at baseline, 6, 12, 18, and 24-months. Indirect effects from condition to main outcomes were examined using patient–provider relationship as a mediator. The study was a cluster-randomised clinical trial entitled Conexiones y Opciones Positivas en la Argentina 2 (COPA(2)) and was registered at clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02846350. FINDINGS: Participants were an average age of 39·15 (SD = 10·96), 51% were women; intervention participants were older (p = ·019), and more ESOC participants were women (60% vs. 42%, p = 0·001). Using mixed models, the intervention had no effect on ART adherence over time by condition on HIV RNA viral load, CD(4)+ count retention, or self-efficacy. However, analysing mediated paths, there was an indirect effect of condition on ART adherence (B = 0·188, p = 0·009), HIV viral load (B = −0·095, P = 0·027), and self-efficacy (B = 0·063, P = 0·001), suggesting the intervention was associated with improved patient–provider relationships, which was in turn associated with increased ART adherence, lower HIV viral load, and higher self-efficacy. INTERPRETATION: These findings suggest that physician-delivered MI may enhance the patient-provider relationship, self-efficacy, and ART adherence, and reduced HIV viral load in patients disengaged from HIV care. However, these findings are preliminary due to the small number of clusters randomised, and replication is warranted. FUNDING: National Institutes of Health