Lithiation of 4-membered heterocycles as useful strategy for the preparation of new molecular scaffolds: addressing the regioselectivity in azetidines and thietanes

Four-membered heterocycles (4-MH) with one or two heteroatoms are of great importance in medicinal chemistry and synthetic organic chemistry. This kind of scaffolds show peculiar structural features, related to the ring “puckering”, and biological properties. Our recent research efforts have been focused on the stereoselective synthesis and functionalization of some 4-MH such as azetidines, thietanes and oxazetidines

A rare localization of papillary fibroelastoma

Papillary fibroelastoma is a benign cardiac tumor, generally small and with papillary fronds, third in frequency after cardiac myxoma and lipoma, with a prevalence of about 10% of all cardiac tumors [1, 2]. Its localization, similarly to other benign cardiac tumors, prefers the endothelium of the valve leaflets, most commonly the aortic valve (44% to 59%), less frequently the mitral (13% to 35%) and tricuspid (4% to 15%) valves [3–5]. It is discovered occasionally or following symptoms due to systemic or coronary embolization. Symptoms due to obstruction of the ventricular flow tract are rare. Surgical excision is curative and its recurrence rare if the resection of margins are disease-free

Reconstruction of the repetitive antifreeze glycoprotein genomic loci in the cold-water gadids Boreogadus saida and Microgadus tomcod.

Abstract Antifreeze glycoproteins (AFGPs) are a novel evolutionary innovation in members of the northern cod fish family (Gadidae), crucial in preventing death from inoculative freezing by environmental ice in their frigid Arctic and sub-Arctic habitats. However, the genomic origin and molecular mechanism of evolution of this novel life-saving adaptive genetic trait remained to be definitively determined. To this end, we constructed large insert genomic DNA BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) libraries for two AFGP-bearing gadids, the high-Arctic polar cod Boreogadus saida and the cold-temperate Atlantic tomcod Microgadus tomcod, to isolate and sequence their AFGP genomic regions for fine resolution evolutionary analyses. The BAC library construction encountered poor cloning efficiency initially, which we resolved by pretreating the agarose-embedded erythrocyte DNA with a cationic detergent, a method that may be of general use to BAC cloning for teleost species and/or where erythrocytes are the source of input DNA. The polar cod BAC library encompassed 92,160 clones with an average insert size of 94.7 kbp, and the Atlantic tomcod library contained 73,728 clones with an average insert size of 89.6 kbp. The genome sizes of B. saida and M. tomcod were estimated by cell flow cytometry to be 836 Mbp and 645 Mbp respectively, thus their BAC libraries have approximately 10- and 9.7-fold genome coverage respectively. The inclusiveness and depth of coverage were empirically confirmed by screening the libraries with three housekeeping genes. The BAC clones that mapped to the AFGP genomic loci of the two gadids were then isolated by screening the BAC libraries with gadid AFGP gene probes. Eight minimal tiling path (MTP) clones were identified for B. saida, sequenced, and assembled. The B. saida AFGP locus reconstruction produced both haplotypes, and the locus comprises three distinct AFGP gene clusters, containing a total of 16 AFGP genes and spanning a combined distance of 512 kbp. The M. tomcod AFGP locus is much smaller at approximately 80 kbp, and contains only three AFGP genes. Fluorescent in situ hybridization with an AFGP gene probe showed the AFGP locus in both species occupies a single chromosomal location. The large AFGP locus with its high gene dosage in B. saida is consistent with its chronically freezing high Arctic habitats, while the small gene family in M. tomcod correlates with its milder habitats in lower latitudes. The results from this study provided the data for fine resolution sequence analyses that would yield insight into the molecular mechanisms and history of gadid AFGP gene evolution driven by northern hemisphere glaciation

Geologic-geomorphologic evolution of the Río Areco basin, north-eastern of Buenos Aires province

La cuenca del río Areco integra la red de drenaje de la Pampa Ondulada, NE de la provincia de Buenos Aires. Los procesos geomórficos marinos, fluvio-lacustres y eólicos actuaron sobre los sedimentos loéssicos y loessoides de la Formación Pampeano (Pleistoceno) dejando, con diferentes grados de desarrollo, el registro sedimentario del Pleistoceno tardío y Holocenoa lo largo de toda la cuenca. En estos depósitos se han reconocido, al menos, dos episodios pedogenéticos. Edades 14C sobre MO de estos paleosuelos arrojaron valores de 7.000 ± 240 y 1.940 ± 80 años AP en San Antonio de Areco y 2.320 ± 90 y 2.000 ± 90 años AP en Puente Castex, para dos importantes estabilizaciones del paisaje, separadas en esta última localidad por un breve episodio de sedimentación. La cuenca inferior en la cañada Honda, fue ocupada por la ingresión durante MIS 1 (Formación Campana), dejando un amplio paleoestuario limitado por acantilados. El retroceso de la línea de costa y la continentalización del ambiente permitió la formación de un suelo datado en 3.070 ± 90 años 14C AP cubierto por sedimentos aluviales. Los sedimentos litorales son en general de baja energía, asociados a tres litofacies diferentes, cuyas edades fluctúan entre los 4.270 ± 70 años 14C AP en esta cuenca y 6.000 ± 80 14C años AP, 6.370 ± 90 años 14C AP, 3.640 ± 70 años 14C AP,5.630 ± 100 años 14C AP y 5.420 ± 110 años 14C AP, en cuencas aledañas. La ingresión durante MIS 5e también entró por el río Areco evidenciando ya la existencia de esta depresión. El límite externo de esta cuenca lo constituye el delta del Paraná cuya progradación ha dejado expuesto morfologías y depósitos de ambientes fluviales, observándose que el contacto entre ambas unidades morfológicas (delta y paleoestuario) está determinado por los cursos de agua, que con cambio bruscos de dirección, acompañan el sentido de avance del complejo deltaico.The Areco River Basin is part of the drainage system of Pampa Ondulada region, NE Buenos Aires Province. Geomorphic processes that it formed, acted on the loessoid sediments of the Pampeano Formation (Pleistocene) building a morphology contrasting with those of the surrounding environment. In the upper and middle basin there are fluvial successions (Late Pleistocene-Holocene) with different development of pedogenesis. 14C on OM of these paleosoils yielded 7,000 ± 240 and 1,940 ± 80 years BP in San Antonio de Areco, and 2,320 ± 90 and 2,000 ± 90 years 14C BP in Castex Bridge, for two important landscape stabilizations, separated in the latter place for a brief episode of sedimentation. The lower basin, together with Cañada Honda locality, was occupied during MIS 1 ingression (Campana Formation) leaving a wide paleoestuary, limited by fossil cliffs. These sediments were generally deposited in low energy environments, associated with three different lithofacies; 14C ages range between 4,270 ± 70 years BP in this basin and 6,000 ± 80, 6,370 ± 90, 3,640 ±70, 5,630 ± 100, and 5,420 ±,110 years BP in near basins. Based on this information, the late Pleistocene ingression MIS 5e also entered by Areco River putting in evidence, already, the existence of this depression. The external limit of this unit is the Paraná Delta River whose progradation exposed specific morphologies and deposits. In the contact between both morphological units (delta and paleoestuary) is determined by the water streams that, with abrupt direction changes according to deltaic complex development.Fil: Fucks, Enrique Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; ArgentinaFil: Blasi, Adriana. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Mineralogía y Petrología; ArgentinaFil: Carbonari, Jorge Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas; ArgentinaFil: Huarte, Roberto Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas; ArgentinaFil: Pisano, Maria Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de la Plata; ArgentinaFil: Aguirre, Marina Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de la Plata; Argentin

Unveiling Extragalactic Star Formation Using Radio Recombination Lines: An EVLA Pilot Study with NGC 253

Radio recombination lines (RRLs) are powerful, extinction-free diagnostics of the ionized gas in young, star-forming regions. Unfortunately, these lines are difficult to detect in external galaxies. We present the results of EVLA observations of the RRL and radio continuum emission at 33 GHz from NGC 253, a nearby nuclear starburst galaxy. We detect the previously unobserved H58a and H59a RRLs and make simultaneous sensitive measurements of the continuum. We measure integrated line fluxes of $44.3 \pm 0.7$ W m$^{-2}$ and $39.9 \pm 0.8$ W m$^{-2}$ for the H58a and H59a lines, respectively. The thermal gas in NGC 253 is kinematically complex with multiple velocity components. We constrain the density of the thermal gas to $1.4 - 4 \times 10^4$ cm$^{-3}$ and estimate an ionizing photon flux of $1 \times 10^{53}$ s$^{-1}$. We use the RRL kinematics and the derived ionizing photon flux to show that the nuclear region of NGC 253 is not gravitationally bound, which is consistent with the outflow of gas inferred from the X-ray and Halpha measurements. The line profiles, fluxes, and kinematics of the H58a and H59a lines agree with those of RRLs at different frequencies confirming the accuracy of the previous, more difficult, high frequency observations. We find that the EVLA is an order of magnitude more efficient for extragalactic RRL observations than the VLA. These observations demonstrate both the power of the EVLA and the future potential of extragalactic RRL studies with the EVLA.Comment: Accepted for publication in the ApJL EVLA Special Issue. Version with high resolution figures at http://www.astro.virginia.edu/~aak8t/data/rrl/ms.p

Unveiling Extragalactic Star Formation Using Radio Recombination Lines: An Expanded Very Large Array Pilot Study With Ngc 253

Radio recombination lines (RRLs) are powerful, extinction-free diagnostics of the ionized gas in young, star-forming regions. Unfortunately, these lines are difficult to detect in external galaxies. We present the results of Expanded Very Large Array (EVLA) observations of the RRL and radio continuum emission at 33 GHz from NGC 253, a nearby nuclear starburst galaxy. We detect the previously unobserved H58{alpha} and H59{alpha} RRLs and make simultaneous sensitive measurements of the continuum. We measure integrated line fluxes of 44.3 {+-} 0.7 W m{sup -2} and 39.9 {+-} 0.8 W m{sup -2} for the H58{alpha} and H59{alpha} lines, respectively. The thermal gas in NGC 253 is kinematically complex with multiple velocity components. We constrain the density of the thermal gas to (1.4-4) x 10{sup 4} cm{sup -3} and estimate an ionizing photon flux of 1 x 10{sup 53} s{sup -1}. We use the RRL kinematics and the derived ionizing photon flux to show that the nuclear region of NGC 253 is not gravitationally bound, which is consistent with the outflow of gas inferred from the X-ray and H{alpha} measurements. The line profiles, fluxes, and kinematics of the H58{alpha} and H59{alpha} lines agree with those of RRLs at different frequencies confirming themore » accuracy of the previous, more difficult, high-frequency observations. We find that the EVLA is an order of magnitude more efficient for extragalactic RRL observations than the Very Large Array. These observations demonstrate both the power of the EVLA and the future potential of extragalactic RRL studies with the EVLA.« les

New insights and evidence on “Food Intolerances”: non-celiac gluten sensitivity and nickel allergic contact mucositis

The clinical examination of patients often comes across the observation of the existence of a close relationship between the ingestion of certain foods and the appearance of various symptoms. Until now, the occurrence of these events has been loosely defined as food intolerance. Today these conditions should more properly be called Adverse Food Reactions (AFRs) which can consist of the presentation of a wide variety of symptoms which are commonly identified as Irritable Bowel Disease (IBS) syndrome. In addition, systemic manifestations such as neurological, dermatological, joint and respiratory disorders may also occur in affected patients. Although the etiology and pathogenesis of some of them are already known, others, such as non-celiac gluten sensitivity and adverse reactions to nickel-containing foods, are not yet fully defined. The study was aimed at evaluating the relationship between the ingestion of some foods and the appearance of some symptoms, clinical improvement and detectable immunohistochemical alterations after a specific exclusion diet. One hundred and six consecutive patients suffering from meteorism, dyspepsia and nausea following the ingestion of foods containing gluten or nickel were subjected to the GSRS questionnaire, modified according to the "Salerno expert criteria". All patients underwent detection of IgA antibodies to tissue transglutaminase, oral mucosal patch test with gluten and nickel (OMPT), and EGDS including biopsies. Our data show that GSRS and OMPT, the use of APERIO CS2 software and the endothelial marker CD34 could be suggested as useful tools in the diagnostic procedure of these new pathologies. Larger, multi-center clinical trials could be helpful in defining these emerging clinical problems

Hepatic abscess caused by trans-gastric migration of a fishbone

Background Stomach or duodenal perforation due to foreign body are usually associated with the development of a walled-off abdominal mass or abscess, and are less prone to cause systemic signs of infection. Methods and Case presentation A 65-year-old man with no comorbidities was admitted for rapid onset of abdominal discomfort, fever, and chills. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed an 8 cm abscess in the left lobe of the liver. The lesion was aspirated under ultrasound guidance; cultures from the abscess grew Streptococcus constellatus. Chest CT scan, colonoscopy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and blood cultures were negative. The patient’s clinical status rapidly improved with antibiotic therapy, but a follow-up CT scan revealed the presence of a thin, 3 cm-long radiopaque object at the site of the previous abscess. A few months later, due to symptomatic cholelithiasis, the patient underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy and concurrent removal of a 3 cm-long fishbone, which was embedded into the wall of the gastric antrum and the third segment of the liver, the latter which was partially resected. Results The small gastrotomy was reapproximated with a single resorbable stitch. The post-operative course was uneventful and at 6 month follow up, the patient was asymptomatic without evidence of residual abdominal pathology. Conclusions Asymptomatic perforation of the gastric wall by an ingested foreign body can occur and be subsequently complicated by a liver abscess. A contained perforation can be successfully managed conservatively

Rapid screening of SARS-CoV-2 infection: Good performance of nasopharyngeal and Nasal Mid-Turbinate swab for antigen detection among symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals

Although the nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, the Nasal Mid-Turbinate swab (NMTS) is often used due to its higher tolerance among patients. We compared the diagnostic performance of the NPS and the NMTS for the Panbio™ COVID-19 antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT). Two hundred and forty-three individuals were swabbed three times by healthcare professionals: a NMTS and a NPS specimen for the Ag-RDT and an oropharyngeal swab for real time RT-PCR. Forty-nine participants were RNA-SARS-CoV-2 positive by real time RT-PCR: 45 and 40 were positive by the Ag-RDT with NPS and NMTS, respectively. The overall sensitivity and specificity were 91.8% (95% CI: 83.2–100.0) and 99.5% (95% CI: 98.2–100.0) for Ag-RDT with NPS, and 81.6% (95% CI: 69.8–93.5) and 100.0% (95% CI: 99.7–100.0) for the Ag-RDT with NMTS. The Cohen’s kappa index was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.85–0.98). Among asymptomatic individuals, the Ag-RDT with both sampling techniques showed a high sensitivity [100.0% (95% CI: 95.5–100.0) with NPS; 90.9% (95% CI: 69.4–100.0) with NMTS], while the performance of the test decreased in samples with Ct 30 and in patients tested after the first 7 days from symptom onset. Although the NMTS yielded a lower sensitivity compared to NPS, it might be considered a reliable alternative, as it presents greater adherence among patients, enabling scaling of antigen testing strategies, particularly in countries with under-resourced health systems.Fil: Sicilia, Paola. Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Salud; ArgentinaFil: Castro, Gonzalo. Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Salud; ArgentinaFil: Fantilli, Anabella Clara. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Gierotto, Robertino. Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Salud; ArgentinaFil: López, Laura. Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Salud; ArgentinaFil: Barbas, Maria Gabriela. Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Salud; ArgentinaFil: Pisano, María Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Ré, Viviana Elizabeth. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología; Argentin