A Rash Decision. The Hazards of the Wrongful Use of Adrenaline

Anaphylaxis is life-threatening and should be addressed urgently. Its treatment is not without side effects and an accurate diagnosis must be made to prevent potential harm by the wrongful use of medication. A 46-year-old woman with hypertension treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) presented to the emergency department with non-pitting oedema of the face and limbs. A hasty diagnosis of anaphylaxis was made and intravenous adrenaline administered. The patient developed a myocardial infarction caused by coronary artery spasm that required invasive intervention. The initial clinical picture was resolved when the ACEI was discontinued unmasking a case of ACEI-induced angioedema. The correct differentiation of these two apparently similar clinical entities is of utmost importance in the management of emergency department patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Orchestrating the measurements on twelve magnet test benches

The final LHC dipole series test set-up will consist of 12 benches, organised in 6 clusters of two benches sharing the largest and most expensive devices. This sharing is made possible by a deliberate de-phasing of the tests among magnets, ensuring an optimum use of resources, such as cryogenics and power equipment, without limiting the total throughput. To orchestrate the measurements a Test Master is needed to organise the tests per cluster and a Resource Manager to centralise the booking of the resources

Analysis of the effects of hyperbaric gases on S. cerevisiae cell cycle through a morphological approach

The effects of hyperbaric gases on the cell cycle of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were studied in batch cultures under pressures between 0.1 and 0.6 MPa and different gas compositions (air, oxygen, nitrogen or carbon dioxide). Classification of S. cerevisiae cells based on their morphology stages was obtained using an automatic image analysis procedure. Information on the distribution of different sub-populations along the cell cycle is reported. A structured morphological model was developed and used to describe the measured data. The results herein reported demonstrate that the bud separation phase is the limiting step in cell duplication. Additionally, the influence of the environmental conditions, specially the oxygen partial pressure, on the START event is reported. Under anaerobic conditions, no significant influence of hyperbaric gases on the cell cycle was verified.CAPES/GRICES, CNPq (Brazil) Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Saccharomyces cerevisiae morphology under hyperbaric gases

The effects of hyperbaric stress on the morphology of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were studied in batch cultures under pressures between 0.1 MPa and 0.6 MPa and different gas compositions (air, O2, N2, or CO2), covering aerobic and anaerobic conditions. A method using automatic image analysis for cell classification based on their morphology was applied to experimental data. Cell viability was assessed through the Methylene Blue staining method and the percentages of viable and non-viable cells were also estimated using digital image processing. The results show that the effect of pressure on cell activity strongly depends on the nature of the gas used for pressurization. While nitrogen and air to a maximum of 0.6 MPa of pressure were innocuous to yeast, oxygen and carbon dioxide pressure caused cell inactivation, which was confirmed by the reduction on the number of budding cells with time and also a decrease in the average cell size (0.6 MPa CO2). A model taking into account cell viability reveals the opposing effects between oxygen availability and the baric and oxidative stresses present on the system. It is shown that cell viability in general is not constant during the experiments but strongly depends on the environment

Determination and modeling of yeast viability under stress conditions

In this work the effect of the total pressure and the oxygen concentration in the gas phase on the growth and viability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is studied. Cell viability was measured staining with methylene blue and assessed using digital image processing. A model that takes into account cell viability was developed and used for the correlation of the measured data. A dependence of the death rate, KD, with the total pressure and the oxygen concentration is proposed. Its behavior indicates that opposing effects between oxygen availability and baric and oxidative stresses are present on the system. It is shown that the proposed model can, with this extra parameter, successfully describe not only the traditional X-P-S evolution but also the ratio of viable cells with time.Brasil. Ministério da Educação. Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Brasil. Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia. Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Chlorophylls extraction from spinach leaves using aqueous solutions of surface-active ionic liquids

Chlorophylls and their derivatives have been extensively studied due to their unique and valuable properties, including their anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic features. Nevertheless, high-purity-level chlorophylls extracted from natural sources are quite expensive because the methods used for their extraction have low selectivity and result in low yields. This study aimed to develop a “greener” and cost-effective technology for the extraction of chlorophylls from biomass using aqueous solutions of ionic liquids (ILs). Several aqueous solutions of ILs, with hydrotropic and surface-active effects were evaluated, demonstrating that aqueous solutions of surface-active ILs are enhanced solvents for the extraction of chlorophylls from spinach leaves. Operating conditions, such as the IL concentration and solid–liquid ratio, were optimized by a response surface methodology. Outstanding extraction yields (0.104 and 0.022 wt.% for chlorophyll a and b, respectively, obtained simultaneously) and selectivity (chlorophyll a/b ratio of 4.79) were obtained with aqueous solutions of hexadecylpyridinium chloride ([C16py]Cl) at moderate conditions of temperature and time. These extraction yields are similar to those obtained with pure ethanol. However, the chlorophyll a/b ratio achieved with the IL aqueous solution is higher than with pure ethanol (3.92), reinforcing the higher selectivity afforded by IL aqueous solutions as viable replacements to volatile organic compounds and allowing the obtainment of more pure compounds. Finally, the recovery and reuse of the solvent were evaluated by using a back-extraction step of chlorophylls using ethyl acetate. The results disclosed here bring new perspectives into the design of new approaches for the selective extraction of chlorophylls from biomass using aqueous solutions of surface-active ILspublishe

First stage of the development of an eco-friendly detergent formulation for efficient removal of carbonized soil

Detergent formulations for cleaning a carbonized soil-degreasers-typically comprise surfactants, organic solvents, phosphate-based cleaning agents, and alkaline agents, which results in high pH values (>11) that raise human and environmental risks. It is important to develop eco-friendly and safer degreasers, while maintaining their cleaning efficiency. In this work, simple degreaser formulations, with a pH below 11 and without phosphates, were developed by using a mixture of solvent, surfactant, and water to remove carbonized soil. The efficiency of the new degreaser formulations (with 5 wt% solvent, 5 wt% nonionic or ionic surfactant, and 90 wt% water) was evaluated by an abrasion test in the removal of carbonized soil from ceramic and stainless steel surfaces and compared with a commercial product. The results obtained show that the formulations comprising isopropylene glycol (IPG) with C11-C13 9EOs and diethylene glycol butyl ether (BDG) with octyltrimethylammonium octanoate ([N1118][C8O2]) present the best cleaning efficiency for both surfaces. The composition of these formulations was optimized for each surface using a mixture design. The resulting formulations, despite having a simpler composition, a pH lower than 11, and being phosphate-free, presented a cleaning efficiency equal or slightly higher than the commercial control. These results show that it is possible to design degreasers that are much less aggressive to the environment and user, while simultaneously fulfilling the market requirements.publishe

Circulating MicroRNA Profiles in Different Arterial Territories of Stable Atherosclerotic Disease: a Systematic Review

AIMS: Atherosclerosis is associated with altered circulating microRNA profiles. It is yet unclear whether the expression of these potential biomarkers differs according to the location of atherosclerosis. We assessed whether atherosclerosis of different arterial territories, except the coronary, is associated with specific circulating microRNA profiles. METHODS: A systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library was carried out using a retrieval strategy including MESH and non-MSH terms. Eligible studies have compared circulating microRNA profiles between individuals with and without stable atherosclerotic disease of large or medium size arteries. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO database (reference CRD42017073846). RESULTS: Eighteen studies were selected for qualitative synthesis: ten focused on carotid, six on lower limbs, and two on renal arteries atherosclerosis, none reporting on other locations. A common microRNA profile to different atherosclerotic disease locations was identified, including deregulation of miR-21, miR-30, miR-126, and miR-221-3p. Specific microRNA profiles for each territory were also identified, with consistency across studies, such as deregulation of miR-21 and miR-29 in carotid atherosclerosis, and let 7e, miR-27b, miR-130a, and miR-210 in lower limbs atherosclerosis. The robustness of the results was very high for let 7e, miR-29, miR-30, considering both the adjustment of microRNA expression for baseline variables and the replication of results in different studies (miR-29 in carotid, let 7e in lower limbs, and miR-30 in carotid and lower limbs atherosclerosis). Globally, the deregulated microRNAs are associated with control of angiogenesis, endothelial cell function, inflammation, cholesterol metabolism, oxidative stress and extracellular matrix composition. CONCLUSIONS: A common microRNA profile to different atherosclerotic disease locations and specific microRNA profiles for each territory were identified. These findings may provide insights into pathophysiology and be useful for selecting potential biomarkers for clinical practice. To the best of our knowledge, no systematic data on this subject has been reported.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Classification of Saccharomyces cerevisiae morphology employing image analysis

Population dynamics of microbial systems can be described by several approaches and in various levels of complexity, each of them arising from specific goals and limitations. From the process-engineering viewpoint there is a need for a comprehensive mathematical model describing population dynamics in terms of measurable entities (microbes) and chemicals involved (limiting substrate, dissolved oxygen, etc.), as well as process configuration (number and type of reactors, interconnections, etc.) and process parameters (inlet flow rate and composition, reactor holdup, and more) [1]. The description of intricate population dynamics and the inference of cell states lead to complex models with a great number of parameters. Knowledge about whole cell cycle and morphology classification is imperative, since a considerable difference exists between the cell description employed in model formulation and the laboratory reality. As soon as in biological systems exists a relationship between cell morphology and productivity, some authors drive efforts towards the on-line measurement of biomass component to avoid process delays [2],[4] or to determine cellular characteristics related to its morphology and/or physiology through image processing analysis [5],[6],[7]. Saccharomyces cerevisiae size and shape distribution are affected by growth rate, mutation, and environmental conditions (composition, temperature, pressure, presence of oxidant agents, etc.). Although its shape usually assumes an ellipsoid contour it is modified along the cell cycle by bud formation and growing attached to the mother [5]. This work deals with S. cerevisiae classification based on morphology analysis. Image acquisition was conducted in an optical microscope (x 400 magnification) coupled with a black and white camera and linked to a microcomputer by a frame grabber. Traditional tools generally used for image enhancing were employed. Feature extraction and objects separation were necessary to classify "mothers" and "daughters" and to determine its frequency in the analyzed samples. Cells were automatically divided in five different classes with respect to bud size compared to the respective mother through image analysis employing Matlab (v.6.1, The Mathworks Inc.). This methodology was validated with distinct samples and employed along Sacharomyces cerevisiae growth in different operational conditions. The data herein obtained is being used for morphological structured model formulation.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq); CAPES