Diagnostic significance of CK19, TG, Ki67 and galectin-3 expression for papillary thyroid carcinoma in the northeastern region of China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To evaluate the expression and differential diagnostic significance of CK19, TG, Ki67 and galectin-3 in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) (metastatic and non metastatic), follicular adenoma and nodular goiter in patients from the northeastern part of China.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>441 PTC specimens and 151 other benign thyroid specimens (97 cases of nodular goiter, 54 cases of nonmalignant follicular adenoma) were collected. Immunohistochemistry for CK19, TG, Ki67 and galectin-3 was performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CK19, TG, Ki67 and galectin-3 expression was 96.37% (425/441), 82.77% (365/441), and 40.59% (179/441), 96.82% (427/441), respectively, for the PTC group and the expression of these markers in the benign thyroid lesions group was 25.83% (39/151), 79.47% (120/151), and 37.09% (56/151), 50.99% (77/151), respectively. The expression of CK19 and galectin-3 in PTC was much higher than that in the nonmalignant group (p < 0.05). However, the expression of TG, Ki67 did not differ among these two groups (p > 0.05). The diagnostic efficiency of CK19 and galectin-3 for PTC was 96.37% (537/592) and 84.63% (501/592). CK19 and galectin-3 expression rate in PTC was higher than that in benign disease cases.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The diagnostic efficiency of CK19 for PTC was slightly better than galectin-3. The utilization of these markers combined with morphologic evaluation may be helpful in the differential diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma in the northeastern region of China.</p

Social and health-related predictors of family function in older spousal caregivers: a cross-sectional study

Given the benefits of adequate family function for the health and well-being of older adults, it is important to understand what factors predict adequate family function in older people who care for their spouses. Objective: Analyse predictors of family function in older spousal caregivers. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to investigate a non-probabilistic sample of 298 older spousal caregivers. Home-based face-to-face interviews were used to evaluate sociodemographic variables and care context, family function (Family APGAR), cognitive function, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms. Data were analysed using multiple logistic regression with stepwise forward method for variable section. Results: Older caregivers having some degree of cognitive impairment (OR=-0.160, 95%CI 0.444–0.579), depressive symptoms (OR=-0.848, 95%CI 0.726–0.992) or high levels of stress (OR=-0.955, 95%CI 0.914-0.999) had overall lower levels of family function. Having more children was linked to approximately 1.3 times higher family function (95%CI 1.080–1.057). Conclusion: Stress, depression, cognitive decline, and number of children are predictors of family function and should be considered in social and health care strategies within the family caregiving context

Catalase A is involved in the response to photooxidative stress in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the etiological agent of systemic and skin infections that are often difficult to treat. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and, more recently, phototherapy (PT), are emerging among antimicrobial treatments to be combined with antibiotics. Visible light, either alone or combined with a photo sensitizer (PS), elicits photooxidative stress that induces microbial death. The response of bacteria to phototherapy seems to involve the antioxidant machinery. This study relies on the effects of detoxifying catalase A (KatA) in response to PDT and PT-induced photooxidative stress.Methods: The photo- and photodynamic inactivation experiments have been targeted at P. aeruginosa PAO1 and its isogenic derivative katA(-) mutant. The microorganisms were irradiated by a wide-spectrum halogen-tungsten lamp or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Two photosensitizers, Tetrakis-(1-methyl-4-pyridyl)-21H, 23porphine, tetra-p-tosylate (TMPyP) porphyrin and Toluidine Blue O (TBO), were applied as part of the photodynamic approach.Results: P. aeruginosa katA(-) mutant was more sensitive than wild-type strain PAO1 to wide-spectrum light and blue LED (464 nm) treatments. The complementation of KatA, in katA(-) mutant, restored the light response of wild-type PAO1. Upon TBO treatment and irradiation by visible light (halogen lamp or LED), the sensitivity of katA(-) mutant was significant higher (p = 0.028 and p = 0.045, respectively) than that of the PAO1 strain.Conclusions: This study provides the first description of KatA in the response to photooxidative stress induced by photo- and photodynamic therapy

Honey-sensitive Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutants are impaired in catalase A

The antimicrobial power of honey seems to be ascribable to several factors, including oxidative and osmotic stress. The aim of this study was to find genetic determinants involved in the response to honey stress in the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, chosen as model micro-organism. A library of transposon mutants of P. aeruginosa PAO1 was constructed and only four mutants unable to grow in presence of fir honeydew honey were selected. All four mutants were impaired in the major H2O2-scavenging enzyme catalase A (KatA). The knockout of katA gene caused sensitivity, as expected, not only to hydrogen peroxide but also to different types of honey including Manuka GMO 220 honey. Genetic complementation, as well as the addition of PAO1 supernatant containing extracellular catalase, restored tolerance to honey stress in all the mutants. As P. aeruginosa PAO1 catalase KatA copes with H2O2 stress, it is conceivable that the antimicrobial activity of honey is, at least partially, due to the presence of hydrogen peroxide in honey or the ability of honey to induce production of hydrogen peroxide. The katA-deficient mutants could be used as tester micro-organisms to compare the power of different types of natural and curative honeys in eliciting oxidative stress mediated by hydrogen peroxide

Enhanced photoinduced antibacterial activity of a BODIPY photosensitizer in the presence of polyamidoamines.

Photosensitizers belonging to the boron-dipyrromethenes (BODIPYs) class were recently found endowed with good efficacy in the antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In this paper, we report on the remarkable adjuvant effect exerted in this respect by linear polyamidoamines (PAAs), a family of moderately basic polymers obtained by Michael-type polyaddition of amines to bisacrylamides. Three different PAAs (AGMA1, BP-AGMA, and BP-DMEDA) were studied, testing for each two different molecular weight samples (8000 and 24000 Da). At nontoxic concentrations (1 or 10 \ub5g mL-1) all PAAs remarkably improved the killing efficacy of BODIPY upon irradiation with a green LED device (range: from 480 to 580 nm with \u3bbmax\u2009=\u2009525 nm) up to an energy rate of 16.6 J cm-2. A 6-7 log unit decrease in bacteria survival was observed with concentrations of BODIPY of 1.0 and 0.1 \ub5M in the case of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate the statistical significance of different treatments (n\u2009 65\u20093). Thus, the PAA-photosensitizer combination warrants potentially as a new, effective, and mild method of killing bacteria. Moreover, the antibacterial treatment here reported might be successfully applied to defeat the bacterial resistance often encountered with many antibacterial drugs owing to the double action of this two-component treatment

Wool Keratin 3D Scaffolds with Light-Triggered Antimicrobial Activity.

Photo-activatable keratin sponges were prepared from protein aqueous solutions by freeze-drying method, followed by photo-functionalization with two different photosensitizers (PS): Azure A (AzA) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis [4-(2-N,N,N-trimethylethylthio)-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl]porphyrin tetraiodide salt (TTFAP). The prepared sponges have a porosity of between 49% and 80% and a mean pore size in the 37 - 80 \u3bcm range. As compared to AzA, TTFAP interacts more strongly with the sponges as demonstrated by a lower PS release (6% vs 20%), a decreased swelling ratio (1.6 vs 7.4) and a slower biodegradation rate. Nevertheless, AzA loaded sponges showed the highest photo-activity, as also demonstrated by their higher anti-bactericidal activity towards both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The obtained results suggest that the antimicrobial photodynamic effect can be finely triggered through a proper selection of the amount and type of photosensitizer, as well as through the irradiation time. Finally, all the prepared sponges support human fibroblast cells growth, while no significant cells viability impairment is observed upon light irradiation

Analysis and design of SARS-CoV-2 disinfection chambers based on UVC LEDs

With this work we propose a guideline for the development of efficient and effective UVC surface disinfection systems for SARS-CoV-2 based on LED technology. The work analyzes the optical and electrical characteristics of state of the art UVC LEDs. From the most recent scientific literature, optical simulations, and laboratory experiments we propose guidelines for the design of high efficiency LED based antiviral system for the treatment of contaminated surfaces. To validate the guidelines two different UVC-LED irradiation systems, for spherical and flat surfaces, have been designed, manufactured and tested. Results indicate a log-4 inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 in few minutes