Deciphering the surface composition and the internal structure of alloyed silver-gold nanoparticles

Spherical bimetallic AgAu nanoparticles in the molar ratios 30:70, 50:50, and 70:30 with diameters of 30 to 40 nm were analyzed together with pure silver and gold nanoparticles of the same size. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and differential centrifugal sedimentation (DCS) were used for size determination. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to determine the nanoalloy composition, together with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) and ultraviolet‐visible (UV/Vis) spectroscopy. Underpotential deposition (UPD) of lead (Pb) on the particle surface gave information about its spatial elemental distribution and surface area. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were applied to study the shape and the size of the nanoparticles. X‐ray powder diffraction gave the crystallite size and the microstrain. The particles form a solid solution (alloy) with an enrichment of silver on the nanoparticle surface, including some silver‐rich patches. UPD indicated that the surface only consists of silver atoms

Synthesis of triazolylmethyl-linked nucleoside analogs via combination of azidofuranoses with propargylated nucleobases and study on their cytotoxicity

KARAYILDIRIM, Tamer/0000-0001-7451-0810; HALAY, Erkan/0000-0002-0084-7709WOS: 000429350900009Copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions (CuAAC) between azidofuranoses and propargyl-nucleobases were carried out in the presence of CuSO4 center dot 5H(2)O and sodium ascorbate as catalytic system to provide the corresponding 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazole-bridged nucleoside analogs in good yields. Twelve new sugar-based triazolylmethyl-linked nucleoside analogs were synthesized and screened for their cytotoxic activity against MDA-MB-231, Hep3B, PC-3, SH-SY5Y, and HCT-116 cancer cell lines and control cell line (L929). Most of the compounds were moderately effective against all the cancer cell lines assayed. Particularly, among the tested compounds, 1,2,3-triazole-linked 5-fluorouracil-mannofuranose hybrid was found to be the most potent cytotoxic agent against HCT-116, Hep3B, SH-SY5Y cells with IC50 values of 35.6, 71.1, and 75.6 mu M, respectively. None of the triazolylmethyl-linked nucleoside analogs exhibited cytotoxic effect against the control cells L929.TUBITAK-Research Council of Turkey [114Z757]; TUBITAK-BIDEBTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [2211A]This work was supported by TUBITAK-Research Council of Turkey with the project number 114Z757. Author E. Halay also offers his profound thanks to TUBITAK-BIDEB 2211A for their bursary support

Btbd3 expression regulates compulsive-like and exploratory behaviors in mice

BTB/POZ domain-containing 3 (BTBD3) was identified as a potential risk gene in the first genome-wide association study of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). BTBD3 is a putative transcription factor implicated in dendritic pruning in developing primary sensory cortices. We assessed whether BTBD3 also regulates neural circuit formation within limbic cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuits and behaviors related to OCD in mice. Behavioral phenotypes associated with OCD that are measurable in animals include compulsive-like behaviors and reduced exploration. We tested Btbd3 wild-type, heterozygous, and knockout mice for compulsive-like behaviors including cage-mate barbering, excessive wheel-running, repetitive locomotor patterns, and reduced goal-directed behavior in the probabilistic learning task (PLT), and for exploratory behavior in the open field, digging, and marble-burying tests. Btbd3 heterozygous and knockout mice showed excessive barbering, wheel-running, impaired goal-directed behavior in the PLT, and reduced exploration. Further, chronic treatment with fluoxetine, but not desipramine, reduced barbering in Btbd3 wild-type and heterozygous, but not knockout mice. In contrast, Btbd3 expression did not alter anxiety-like, depression-like, or sensorimotor behaviors. We also quantified dendritic morphology within anterior cingulate cortex, mediodorsal thalamus, and hippocampus, regions of high Btbd3 expression. Surprisingly, Btbd3 knockout mice only showed modest increases in spine density in the anterior cingulate, while dendritic morphology was unaltered elsewhere. Finally, we virally knocked down Btbd3 expression in whole, or just dorsal, hippocampus during neonatal development and assessed behavior during adulthood. Whole, but not dorsal, hippocampal Btbd3 knockdown recapitulated Btbd3 knockout phenotypes. Our findings reveal that hippocampal Btbd3 expression selectively modulates compulsive-like and exploratory behavior.Brain Research Foundation seed grant (S.C.D.), a NARSAD Independent Investigator award (S.C.D.), R21-MH115395-01 (S.C.D.), Della Martin Foundation (J.A.K.), and training grants: T32 GM07839 (S.L.T.), and T32 DA07255 (S.L.T.)

Paediatric COVID-19 mortality: a database analysis of the impact of health resource disparity

Background The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric populations varied between high-income countries (HICs) versus low-income to middle-income countries (LMICs). We sought to investigate differences in paediatric clinical outcomes and identify factors contributing to disparity between countries.Methods The International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections Consortium (ISARIC) COVID-19 database was queried to include children under 19 years of age admitted to hospital from January 2020 to April 2021 with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. Univariate and multivariable analysis of contributing factors for mortality were assessed by country group (HICs vs LMICs) as defined by the World Bank criteria.Results A total of 12 860 children (3819 from 21 HICs and 9041 from 15 LMICs) participated in this study. Of these, 8961 were laboratory-confirmed and 3899 suspected COVID-19 cases. About 52% of LMICs children were black, and more than 40% were infants and adolescent. Overall in-hospital mortality rate (95% CI) was 3.3% [=(3.0% to 3.6%), higher in LMICs than HICs (4.0% (3.6% to 4.4%) and 1.7% (1.3% to 2.1%), respectively). There were significant differences between country income groups in intervention profile, with higher use of antibiotics, antivirals, corticosteroids, prone positioning, high flow nasal cannula, non-invasive and invasive mechanical ventilation in HICs. Out of the 439 mechanically ventilated children, mortality occurred in 106 (24.1%) subjects, which was higher in LMICs than HICs (89 (43.6%) vs 17 (7.2%) respectively). Pre-existing infectious comorbidities (tuberculosis and HIV) and some complications (bacterial pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome and myocarditis) were significantly higher in LMICs compared with HICs. On multivariable analysis, LMIC as country income group was associated with increased risk of mortality (adjusted HR 4.73 (3.16 to 7.10)).Conclusion Mortality and morbidities were higher in LMICs than HICs, and it may be attributable to differences in patient demographics, complications and access to supportive and treatment modalities