Responsive aggregation-induced emissive supramolecular gels based on bis-cyanostilbene derivatives

In aromatic solvents, V-shaped bis-cyanostilbene derivative 1 forms stable and emissive gels which are capable of responding to light and, selectively, to TFA via a gel-to-sol transformation

Super-rough phase of the random-phase sine-Gordon model: Two-loop results

We consider the two-dimensional random-phase sine-Gordon and study the vicinity of its glass transition temperature $T_c$, in an expansion in small $\tau=(T_c-T)/T_c$, where $T$ denotes the temperature. We derive renormalization group equations in cubic order in the anharmonicity, and show that they contain two universal invariants. Using them we obtain that the correlation function in the super-rough phase for temperature $T<T_c$ behaves at large distances as $\bar{} = \mathcal{A}\ln^2(|x|/a) + \mathcal{O}[\ln(|x|/a)]$, where the amplitude $\mathcal{A}$ is a universal function of temperature $\mathcal{A}=2\tau^2-2\tau^3+\mathcal{O}(\tau^4)$. This result differs at two-loop order, i.e., $\mathcal{O}(\tau^3)$, from the prediction based on results from the "nearly conformal" field theory of a related fermion model. We also obtain the correction-to-scaling exponent.Comment: 34 page

Systematic review of antiepileptic drugs’ safety and effectiveness in feline epilepsy

Understanding the efficacy and safety profile of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in feline epilepsy is a crucial consideration for managing this important brain disease. However, there is a lack of information about the treatment of feline epilepsy and therefore a systematic review was constructed to assess current evidence for the AEDs’ efficacy and tolerability in cats. The methods and materials of our former systematic reviews in canine epilepsy were mostly mirrored for the current systematic review in cats. Databases of PubMed, CAB Direct and Google scholar were searched to detect peer-reviewed studies reporting efficacy and/or adverse effects of AEDs in cats. The studies were assessed with regards to their quality of evidence, i.e. study design, study population, diagnostic criteria and overall risk of bias and the outcome measures reported, i.e. prevalence and 95% confidence interval of the successful and affected population in each study and in total

First-line therapy in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome: consideration on infants with a poor prognosis.

BackgroundAtypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare and heterogeneous disorder. The first line treatment of aHUS is plasma therapy, but in the past few years, the recommendations have changed greatly with the advent of eculizumab, a humanized monoclonal anti C5-antibody. Although recent recommendations suggest using it as a primary treatment for aHUS, important questions have arisen about the necessity of immediate use of eculizumab in all cases. We aimed to draw attention to a specific subgroup of aHUS patients with rapid disease progression and high mortality, in whom plasma therapy may not be feasible.MethodsWe present three pediatric patients of acute complement-mediated HUS with a fatal outcome. Classical and alternative complement pathway activity, levels of complement factors C3, C4, H, B and I, as well as of anti-factor H autoantibody and of ADAMTS13 activity were determined. The coding regions of CFH, CFI, CD46, THBD, CFB and C3 genes were sequenced and the copy number of CFI, CD46, CFH and related genes were analyzed.ResultsWe found severe activation and consumption of complement components in these patients, furthermore, in one patient we identified a previously not reported mutation in CFH (Ser722Stop), supporting the diagnosis of complement-mediated HUS. These patients were not responsive to the FFP therapy, and all cases had fatal outcome.ConclusionTaking the heterogeneity and the variable prognosis of atypical HUS into account, we suggest that the immediate use of eculizumab should be considered as first-line therapy in certain small children with complement dysregulation

Novel Use of Matched Filtering for Synaptic Event Detection and Extraction

Efficient and dependable methods for detection and measurement of synaptic events are important for studies of synaptic physiology and neuronal circuit connectivity. As the published methods with detection algorithms based upon amplitude thresholding and fixed or scaled template comparisons are of limited utility for detection of signals with variable amplitudes and superimposed events that have complex waveforms, previous techniques are not applicable for detection of evoked synaptic events in photostimulation and other similar experimental situations. Here we report on a novel technique that combines the design of a bank of approximate matched filters with the detection and estimation theory to automatically detect and extract photostimluation-evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) from individually recorded neurons in cortical circuit mapping experiments. The sensitivity and specificity of the method were evaluated on both simulated and experimental data, with its performance comparable to that of visual event detection performed by human operators. This new technique was applied to quantify and compare the EPSCs obtained from excitatory pyramidal cells and fast-spiking interneurons. In addition, our technique has been further applied to the detection and analysis of inhibitory postsynaptic current (IPSC) responses. Given the general purpose of our matched filtering and signal recognition algorithms, we expect that our technique can be appropriately modified and applied to detect and extract other types of electrophysiological and optical imaging signals

Losartan Improved Antioxidant Defense, Renal Function and Structure of Postischemic Hypertensive Kidney

Ischemic acute renal failure (ARF) is a highly complex disorder involving renal vasoconstriction, filtration failure, tubular obstruction, tubular backleak and generation of reactive oxygen species. Due to this complexity, the aim of our study was to explore effects of Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) blockade on kidney structure and function, as well as oxidative stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) after renal ischemia reperfusion injury. Experiments were performed on anaesthetized adult male SHR in the model of ARF with 40 minutes clamping the left renal artery. The right kidney was removed and 40 minutes renal ischemia was performed. Experimental groups received AT1R antagonist (Losartan) or vehicle (saline) in the femoral vein 5 minutes before, during and 175 minutes after the period of ischemia. Biochemical parameters were measured and kidney specimens were collected 24h after reperfusion. ARF significantly decreased creatinine and urea clearance, increased LDL and lipid peroxidation in plasma. Treatment with losartan induced a significant increase of creatinine and urea clearance, as well as HDL. Lipid peroxidation in plasma was decreased and catalase enzyme activity in erythrocytes was increased after losartan treatment. Losartan reduced cortico-medullary necrosis and tubular dilatation in the kidney. High expression of pro-apoptotic Bax protein in the injured kidney was downregulated after losartan treatment. Our results reveal that angiotensin II (via AT1R) mediates the most postischemic injuries in hypertensive kidney through oxidative stress enhancement. Therefore, blockade of AT1R may have beneficial effects in hypertensive patients who have developed ARF

The Cytosolic Protein G0S2 Maintains Quiescence in Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) balance proliferation and differentiation by integrating complex transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms regulated by cell intrinsic and extrinsic factors. We found that transcripts of G0/G1 switch gene 2 (G0S2) are enriched in lineage− Sca-1+ c-kit+ (LSK) CD150+ CD48− CD41− cells, a population highly enriched for quiescent HSCs, whereas G0S2 expression is suppressed in dividing LSK CD150+ CD48− cells. Gain-of-function analyses using retroviral expression vectors in bone marrow cells showed that G0S2 localizes to the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and early endosomes in hematopoietic cells. Co-transplantation of bone marrow cells transduced with the control or G0S2 retrovirus led to increased chimerism of G0S2-overexpressing cells in femurs, although their contribution to the blood was reduced. This finding was correlated with increased quiescence in G0S2-overexpressing HSCs (LSK CD150+ CD48−) and progenitor cells (LS−K). Conversely, silencing of endogenous G0S2 expression in bone marrow cells increased blood chimerism upon transplantation and promoted HSC cell division, supporting an inhibitory role for G0S2 in HSC proliferation. A proteomic study revealed that the hydrophobic domain of G0S2 interacts with a domain of nucleolin that is rich in arginine-glycine-glycine repeats, which results in the retention of nucleolin in the cytosol. We showed that this cytosolic retention of nucleolin occurs in resting, but not proliferating, wild-type LSK CD150+ CD48− cells. Collectively, we propose a novel model of HSC quiescence in which elevated G0S2 expression can sequester nucleolin in the cytosol, precluding its pro-proliferation functions in the nucleolus

Arabidopsis leucine-rich repeat receptor–like kinase NILR1 is required for induction of innate immunity to parasitic nematodes

Plant-parasitic nematodes are destructive pests causing losses of billions of dollars annually. An effective plant defence against pathogens relies on the recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by surface-localised receptors leading to the activation of PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI). Extensive studies have been conducted to characterise the role of PTI in various models of plant-pathogen interactions. However, far less is known about the role of PTI in roots in general and in plant-nematode interactions in particular. Here we show that nematode-derived proteinaceous elicitor/s is/are capable of inducing PTI in Arabidopsis in a manner dependent on the common immune co-receptor BAK1. Consistent with the role played by BAK1, we identified a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase, termed NILR1 that is specifically regulated upon infection by nematodes. We show that NILR1 is essential for PTI responses initiated by nematodes and nilr1 loss-of-function mutants are hypersusceptible to a broad category of nematodes. To our knowledge, NILR1 is the first example of an immune receptor that is involved in induction of basal immunity (PTI) in plants or in animals in response to nematodes. Manipulation of NILR1 will provide new options for nematode control in crop plants in future