Purification and Characterization of a New D-Galactose-Specific Lectin from the Housefly, Musca domestica, and Its Antiproliferative Effect on Human K562 and MCF-7 Tumor Cells

In the present work, a D-galactose-specific lectin with novel N-terminal sequence was purified from Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) pupae. The purification was performed using affinity chromatography, ultra-filtration, and HPLC. The haemagglutinating activity of M. domestica lectin was specifically inhibited by D-galactose. The haemagglutinating activity of this lectin was stable at temperatures up to 65° C and in pH ranging from 4 to 8. Salts including FeCl3 and MnCl2 inhibited the haemagglutinating process, whereas NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, MgCl2, ZnCl2, and AlCl3 did not. By SDS-PAGE, purified M. domestica pupae lectin yielded a single band with a molecular weight of 40 kDa, with or without reduction of β-mercaptoethanol, and it could be stained with Alcian Blue 8 GX. The morphology of purified lectin was observed by atomic force microscopy, which indicated that M. domestica lectin was an 8.27 nm high, globular shaped glycoprotein with a 1.41 nm high polysaccharide chain. In addition, antiproliferative activity of this lectin against tumor cells K562 and MCF-7 was determined with a colorimetric assay using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide, which showed that the antiproliferative process was time- and dose-dependent with an IC50 of 5.7 and 6.7 at 24 h, 5.5 and 6.4 at 36 h, 5.2 and 6.5 µM at 48 h, respectively

Prognostic model to predict postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery based on a national prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Acute illness, existing co-morbidities and surgical stress response can all contribute to postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of this study was prospectively to develop a pragmatic prognostic model to stratify patients according to risk of developing AKI after major gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: This prospective multicentre cohort study included consecutive adults undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection, liver resection or stoma reversal in 2-week blocks over a continuous 3-month period. The primary outcome was the rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery. Bootstrap stability was used to select clinically plausible risk factors into the model. Internal model validation was carried out by bootstrap validation. Results: A total of 4544 patients were included across 173 centres in the UK and Ireland. The overall rate of AKI was 14·2 per cent (646 of 4544) and the 30-day mortality rate was 1·8 per cent (84 of 4544). Stage 1 AKI was significantly associated with 30-day mortality (unadjusted odds ratio 7·61, 95 per cent c.i. 4·49 to 12·90; P < 0·001), with increasing odds of death with each AKI stage. Six variables were selected for inclusion in the prognostic model: age, sex, ASA grade, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate, planned open surgery and preoperative use of either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker. Internal validation demonstrated good model discrimination (c-statistic 0·65). Discussion: Following major gastrointestinal surgery, AKI occurred in one in seven patients. This preoperative prognostic model identified patients at high risk of postoperative AKI. Validation in an independent data set is required to ensure generalizability

Tetrakis(thione)platinum(II) complexes: synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, crystal structures, and <i>in vitro</i> cytotoxicity

<div><p>A new series of platinum(II) complexes based on thione ligands with general formula [Pt(thione)₄]X₂ (X⁻ = Cl⁻, NO₃⁻) has been synthesized and characterized using CHNS elemental analysis, infrared, ¹H and ¹³C solution-state NMR as well as ¹³C and ¹⁵N solid-state NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. The spectroscopic methods confirm the coordination of Pt(II) with thiocarbonyl groups via sulfur of the thione ligands. The X-ray structures showed a distorted square planar geometry for <b>1</b>, [Pt(MeImt)₄]Cl₂ (MeImt = N-Methylimidazolidine-2-thione) while the hydrogen bonding interactions in <b>7</b>, [Pt(<i>i</i>PrImt)₄](NO₃)₂·0.6(H₂O) induce a bent see-saw distortion relative to the ideal square planar geometry. The <i>in vitro</i> cytotoxicity studies showed that <b>2</b>, [Pt(EtImt)₄]Cl₂ is generally the most effective, a two-fold better cytotoxic agent than cisplatin and carboplatin against MCF7 (human breast cancer).</p></div