Anti-Advanced glycation end-product and free radical scavenging activity of plants from the yucatecan flora

Background: Formation and accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) is recognized as a major pathogenic process in diabetic complications, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, reactive oxygen species and free radicals have also been reported to participate in AGE formation and in cell damage. Natural products with antioxidant and antiAGE activity have great therapeutic potential in the treatment of diabetes, hypertension and related complications. Objective: to test ethanolic extracts and aqueous-traditional preparations of plants used to treat diabetes, hypertension and obesity in Yucatecan traditional medicine for their anti-AGE and free radical scavenging activities. Materials and Methods: ethanolic extracts of leaves, stems and roots of nine medicinal plants, together with their traditional preparations, were prepared and tested for their anti-AGE and antioxidant activities using the inhibition of advanced glycation end products and DPPH radical scavenging assays, respectively. Results: the root extract of C. fistula (IC50= 0.1 mg/mL) and the leaf extract of P. auritum (IC50= 0.35 mg/mL) presented significant activity against vesperlysine and pentosidine-like AGE. Although none of the aqueous traditional preparations showed significant activity in the anti-AGE assay, both the traditional preparations and the ethanolic extracts of E. tinifolia, M. zapota, O. campechianum and P. auritum showed significant activity in the DPPH reduction assay. <65Conclusions: the results suggest that the metabolites responsible for the detected radical-scavenging activity are different to those involved in inhibiting AGE formation; however, the extracts with antioxidant activity may contain other metabolites which are able to prevent AGE formation through a different mechanism

Analysis of time-profiles with in-beam PET monitoring in charged particle therapy

Background: Treatment verification with PET imaging in charged particle therapy is conventionally done by comparing measurements of spatial distributions with Monte Carlo (MC) predictions. However, decay curves can provide additional independent information about the treatment and the irradiated tissue. Most studies performed so far focus on long time intervals. Here we investigate the reliability of MC predictions of space and time (decay rate) profiles shortly after irradiation, and we show how the decay rates can give an indication about the elements of which the phantom is made up. Methods and Materials: Various phantoms were irradiated in clinical and near-clinical conditions at the Cyclotron Centre of the Bronowice proton therapy centre. PET data were acquired with a planar 16x16 cm$^2$ PET system. MC simulations of particle interactions and photon propagation in the phantoms were performed using the FLUKA code. The analysis included a comparison between experimental data and MC simulations of space and time profiles, as well as a fitting procedure to obtain the various isotope contributions in the phantoms. Results and conclusions: There was a good agreement between data and MC predictions in 1-dimensional space and decay rate distributions. The fractions of $^{11}$C, $^{15}$O and $^{10}$C that were obtained by fitting the decay rates with multiple simple exponentials generally agreed well with the MC expectations. We found a small excess of $^{10}$C in data compared to what was predicted in MC, which was clear especially in the PE phantom.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, 1 table. Proceedings of the 20th International Workshop on Radiation Imaging Detectors (iWorid2018), 24-28 June 2018, Sundsvall, Swede

Effect of Design Parameters on Compressive and Split Tensile Strength of Self-Compacting Concrete with Recycled Aggregate: An Overview

[EN] One of the prime objectives of this review is to understand the role of design parameters on the mechanical properties (Compressive and split tensile strength) of Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) with recycled aggregates (Recycled Coarse Aggregates (RCA) and Recycled Fine Aggregates (RFA)). The design parameters considered for review are Water to Cement (W/C) ratio, Water to Binder (W/B) ratio, Total Aggregates to Cement (TA/C) ratio, Fine Aggregate to Coarse Aggregate (FA/CA) ratio, Water to Solid (W/S) ratio in percentage, superplasticizer (SP) content (kg/cu.m), replacement percentage of RCA, and replacement percentage of RFA. It is observed that with respect to different grades of SCC, designed parameters affect the mechanical properties of SCC with recycled aggregates

Epigenetic regulation of PPARGC1A in human type 2 diabetic islets and effect on insulin secretion

Aims/hypothesis Insulin secretion in pancreatic islets is dependent upon mitochondrial function and production of ATP. The transcriptional coactivator peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (protein PGC-1 alpha; gene PPARGC1A) is a master regulator of mitochondrial genes and its expression is decreased and related to impaired oxidative phosphorylation in muscle from patients with type 2 diabetes. Whether it plays a similar role in human pancreatic islets is not known. We therefore investigated if PPARGC1A expression is altered in islets from patients with type 2 diabetes and whether this expression is influenced by genetic (PPARGC1A Gly482Ser polymorphism) and epigenetic (DNA methylation) factors. We also tested if experimental downregulation of PPARGC1A expression in human islets influenced insulin secretion. Methods The PPARGC1A Gly482Ser polymorphism was genotyped in human pancreatic islets from 48 non-diabetic and 12 type 2 diabetic multi-organ donors and related to PPARGC1A mRNA expression. DNA methylation of the PPARGC1A promoter was analysed in pancreatic islets from ten type 2 diabetic and nine control donors. Isolated human islets were transfected with PPARGC1A silencing RNA (siRNA). Results PPARGC1A mRNA expression was reduced by 90% (p < 0.005) and correlated with the reduction in insulin secretion in islets from patients with type 2 diabetes. After downregulation of PPARGC1A expression in human islets by siRNA, insulin secretion was reduced by 41% (p <= 0. 01). We were able to ascribe reduced PPARGC1A expression in islets to both genetic and epigenetic factors, i.e. a common PPARGC1A Gly482Ser polymorphism was associated with reduced PPARGC1A mRNA expression (p < 0.00005) and reduced insulin secretion (p < 0.05). In support of an epigenetic influence, the PPARGC1A gene promoter showed a twofold increase in DNA methylation in diabetic islets compared with non-diabetic islets (p < 0.04). Conclusions/Interpretation We have shown for the first time that PPARGC1A might be important in human islet insulin secretion and that expression of PPARGC1A in human islets can be regulated by both genetic and epigenetic factors

Eco-friendly healing agents for recycled concrete

Abstract An innovative option to extend the service life of construction and building materials is the use of bio-healing agents. This study was focused on assessing the protection and consolidation effect of eco-friendly healing agents by analysing the water absorption of recycled concrete. A recycled concrete with 50% replacement of natural coarse aggregate by construction and demolition waste (CDW) aggregate and a similar recycled concrete in which, additionally, the Portland cement was replaced by recycled cement (with 25% ceramic waste) were biotreated by healing agents. These agents were obtained by using waste biomass of two different mixed microbial cultures from polyhydroxyalkanoates production processes. Results have shown that biotreatments decreased the water absorption significantly, more evident in concrete samples with both recycled cement and aggregates than on the other type of concrete. Resumen Una innovadora posibilidad planteada para prolongar la vida útil de los materiales de construcción y edificación es el uso de agentes bioreparadores. Este estudio se centró en la evaluación del efecto protector y consolidante de agentes reparadores y respetuosos con el medio ambiente mediante el análisis de la absorción de agua del hormigón reciclado. Un hormigón reciclado con sustitución del 50% de los áridos gruesos naturales por residuos de construcción y demolición (RCD) y un hormigón reciclado similar en el cual, además, se sustituyó el cemento convencional Portland por cemento reciclado (con 25% de residuo cerámico) fueron biotratados con agentes reparadores. Estos agentes se obtuvieron en el proceso de producción de polihidroxialcanoatos utilizando biomasa residual de dos cultivos microbianos mixtos diferentes. Los resultados mostraron que los biotratamientos disminuyen significativamente la absorción de agua del hormigón, siendo más eficaces en las muestras de hormigón que combinan cemento y árido reciclado que en el otro tipo de hormigón.authorsversionpublishe

Has VZV epidemiology changed in Italy? Results of a seroprevalence study

The aim of the study was to evaluate if and how varicella prevalence has changed in Italy. In particular a seroprevalence study was performed, comparing it to similar surveys conducted in pre-immunization era. During 2013–2014, sera obtained from blood samples taken for diagnostic purposes or routine investigations were collected in collaboration with at least one laboratory/center for each region, following the approval of the Ethics Committee. Data were stratified by sex and age. All samples were processed in a national reference laboratory by an immunoassay with high sensitivity and specificity. Statutory notifications, national hospital discharge database and mortality data related to VZV infection were analyzed as well. A total of 3707 sera were collected and tested. In the studied period both incidence and hospitalization rates decreased and about 5 deaths per year have been registered. The seroprevalence decreased in the first year of life in subjects passively protected by their mother, followed by an increase in the following age classes. The overall antibody prevalence was 84%. The comparison with surveys conducted with the same methodology in 1996–1997 and 2003–2004 showed significant differences in age groups 1–19&nbsp;y. The study confirms that in Italy VZV infection typically occurs in children. The impact of varicella on Italian population is changing. The comparison between studies performed in different periods shows a significant increase of seropositivity in age class 1–4&nbsp;years, expression of vaccine interventions already adopted in some regions

Estado actual de la gestión de residuos de construcción y demolición: limitaciones

Construction has grown exponentially in recent decades. This development has also brought large production of debris from construction and demolition. These wastes have reached the environment and generated a very important pollution in the landscape, soil and water. Equally it represents a loss of potential resources; because these wastes still have capacity to be recovered. Both central and regional government have published numerous standards, in recent years, to establish guidelines for a proper management, reuse and recycling of this debris. This paper analyzes the current status of this legislation, their gaps and their degree of implementation.El sector de la construcción ha crecido de forma exponencial en las últimas décadas y con él, la producción de residuos generados, estimándose esta en 2 kg por habitante y día, lo que representa una magnitud escalofriante. Para solucionar este problema la administración promueve comportamientos ecológicos respecto a la gestión de residuos de construcción y demolición (producción y posterior manejo y utilización de los mismos) a través de la redacción de normas que regulen el tema. Estas normas presentan importantes carencias y limitaciones. Si estas carencias y limitaciones no se resuelven, el proceso encaminado a mejorar la sostenibilidad se interrumpe y las medidas tomadas hasta el momento se vuelven ineficaces. Este trabajo pretende poner de manifiesto estos problemas a fin de evitarlos, de forma que todos los agentes implicados conozcan el importante papel que desempeñan en la correcta gestión

Online monitoring for proton therapy: A real-time procedure using a planar PET system

In this study a procedure for range verification in proton therapy by means of a planar in-beam PET system is presented. The procedure consists of two steps: the measurement of the β+-activity induced in the irradiated body by the proton beam and the comparison of these distributions with simulations. The experimental data taking was performed at the CNAO center in Pavia, Italy, irradiating plastic phantoms. For two different cases we demonstrate how a real-time feedback of the delivered treatment plan can be obtained with in-beam PET imaging

Monitoring Proton Therapy Through In-Beam PET: An Experimental Phantom Study

In this paper, we investigate the use of a positron emission tomography (PET) system to monitor the proton therapy. The monitoring procedure is based on the comparison between the β+ activity generated in the irradiated volume during the treatment, with the β+ activity distribution obtained with Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. The dedicated PET system is a dual head detection system; each head is composed of nine scintillating LYSO crystal matrices read out independently with a custom modularized acquisition system. Our experimental data were acquired at the Cyclotron Centre Bronowice, Institute Nuclear Physics in Kraków, Poland, and were simulated with the FLUKA MC code. Homogeneous and heterogeneous plastic phantoms were irradiated with monoenergetic 130 MeV protons. The capabilities of our PET system to distinguish different irradiated materials were investigated, and the proton pencil-beams were used as probes. Our focus was to analyze the activity width and the total activity event number in several cases. Irradiations were performed using either single pencil-beams one at a time, or two pencil-beams during the same data taking. The comparison of 1-D activity profile for experimental data and MC simulation were always in good agreement showing that, the treatment quality assessment in proton therapy can be based on β+ activity measurements

First full-beam PET acquisitions in proton therapy with a modular dual-head dedicated system

During particle therapy irradiation, positron emitters with half-lives ranging from 2 to 20 min are generated from nuclear processes. The half-lives are such that it is possible either to detect the positron signal in the treatment room using an in-beam positron emission tomography (PET) system, right after the irradiation, or to quickly transfer the patient to a close PET/CT scanner. Since the activity distribution is spatially correlated with the dose, it is possible to use PET imaging as an indirect method to assure the quality of the dose delivery. In this work, we present a new dedicated PET system able to operate in-beam. The PET apparatus consists in two 10 cm × 10 cm detector heads. Each detector is composed of four scintillating matrices of 23 × 23 LYSO crystals. The crystal size is 1.9 mm × 1.9 mm × 16 mm. Each scintillation matrix is read out independently with a modularized acquisition system. The distance between the two opposing detector heads was set to 20 cm. The system has very low dead time per detector area and a 3 ns coincidence window, which is capable to sustain high single count rates and to keep the random counts relatively low. This allows a new full-beam monitoring modality that includes data acquisition also while the beam is on. The PET system was tested during the irradiation at the CATANA (INFN, Catania, Italy) cyclotron-based proton therapy facility. Four acquisitions with different doses and dose rates were analysed. In all cases the random to total coincidences ratio was equal or less than 25%. For each measurement we estimated the accuracy and precision of the activity range on a set of voxel lines within an irradiated PMMA phantom. Results show that the inclusion of data acquired during the irradiation, referred to as beam-on data, improves both the precision and accuracy of the range measurement with respect to data acquired only after irradiation. Beam-on data alone are enough to give precisions better than 1 mm when at least 5 Gy are delivered