Potentially irritant preservatives in newborn baby cosmetics – analysis of labels of products sold in Portugal

The use of cosmetics containing preservatives might pose a risk to the skin health of newborns, despite improving their adaptation to the external environment. The present work aimed at depicting the potentially hazardous preservatives in cosmetics sold in the district of Porto, Portugal. A total of 281 labels from newborn cosmetics were analyzed. From 729 different ingredients found in the analyzed labels, 15 were preservatives with previously recorded irritant activity, being sodium benzoate the most mentioned (n = 118). There was a significant difference between the means of number of preservatives with an irritant potential present in the products sold in pharmacies and in the products sold in supermarkets. Most analyzed products contained at least one preservative. Still, the choice of cosmetics for newborns should consider those with a minimum number of preservatives, being more probable to choose a less sensitizing product in pharmacies than in supermarkets.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Biomineralization studies on cellulose membrane exposed to biological fluids of Anodonta cygnea

The present work proposes to analyse the results obtained under in vitro conditions where cellulose artificial membranes were incubated with biological fluids from the freshwater bivalve Anodonta cygnea. The membranes were mounted between two half ‘Ussing chambers’ with different composition solutions in order to simulate epithelial surfaces separating organic fluid compartments. The membrane surfaces were submitted to two synthetic calcium and phosphate solutions on opposite sides, at pH 6.0, 7.0 or 9.0 during a period of 6 hours. Additional assays were accomplished mixing these solutions with haemolymph or extrapallial fluid from A. cygnea, only on the calcium side. A selective ion movement, mainly dependent on the membrane pore size and/or cationic affinity, occurred with higher permeability for calcium ions to the opposite phosphate chamber supported by calcium diffusion forces across the cellulose membrane. In general, this promoted a more intense mineral precipitation on the phosphate membrane surface. A strong deposition of calcium phosphate mineral was observed at pH 9.0 as a primary layer with a homogeneous microstructure, being totally absent at pH 6.0. The membrane showed an additional crystal phase at pH 7.0 exhibiting a very particular hexagonal or cuttlebone shape, mainly on the phosphate surface. When organic fluids of A. cygnea were included, these crystal forms presented a high tendency to aggregate under rosaceous shapes, also predominantly in the phosphate side. The cellulose membrane was permeable to small organic molecules that diffused from the calcium towards the phosphate side. In the calcium side, very few similar crystals were observed. The presence of organic matrix from A. cygnea fluids induced a preliminary apatite–brushite crystal polymorphism. So, the present results suggest that cellulose membranes can be used as surrogates of biological epithelia with preferential ionic diffusion from the calcium to the phosphate side where the main mineral precipitation events occurred. Additionally, the organic fluids from freshwater bivalves should be also thoroughly researched in the applied biomedical field, as mineral nucleators and crystal modulators on biosynthetic systems

Identification of a micropeptide and multiple secondary cell genes that modulate <i>Drosophila</i> male reproductive success

Even in well-characterized genomes, many transcripts are considered noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) simply due to the absence of large open reading frames (ORFs). However, it is now becoming clear that many small ORFs (smORFs) produce peptides with important biological functions. In the process of characterizing the ribosome-bound transcriptome of an important cell type of the seminal fluid-producing accessory gland of Drosophila melanogaster, we detected an RNA, previously thought to be noncoding, called male-specific abdominal (msa). Notably, msa is nested in the HOX gene cluster of the Bithorax complex and is known to contain a micro-RNA within one of its introns. We find that this RNA encodes a "micropeptide" (9 or 20 amino acids, MSAmiP) that is expressed exclusively in the secondary cells of the male accessory gland, where it seems to accumulate in nuclei. Importantly, loss of function of this micropeptide causes defects in sperm competition. In addition to bringing insights into the biology of a rare cell type, this work underlines the importance of small peptides, a class of molecules that is now emerging as important actors in complex biological processes

Dextrin hydrogel loaded with a macroporous Bonelike® scaffold and dental pulp stem cells for critical-sized defect repair

Regeneration of severe bone defects remains a challenge. A formulation of synthetic glass-reinforced hydroxyapatite bone substitute, Bonelike® Poro (BL®P), 250500 µm-diameter, with a dextrin-based hydrogel (HG), further loaded with human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) with osteogenic differentiation ability, was tested for the management of critical-sized defects in an ovine model. Morphology, calcium release, and mechanical strength of HG + BL®P were analyzed. Then, BL®P, HG + BL®P, and 106 hDPSCs-loaded HG + BL®P were implanted in ovine critical-sized 14 mm-diameter calvaria defects. Bone samples were collected after 3 and 6 weeks for histological and micro-CT analysis. BL®P exhibits a suitable porous size for cell ingrowth, from the nm (>200 nm) to the µm (5 µm) range. The addition of BL®P granules to the HG resulted in increased compressive elastic modulus and ultimate tensile strength. The mildly acidic nature of the HG contributed to a faster dissolution of granules. In vivo results confirmed the HG suitability as a carrier, providing better defect filling, easy handling, and injectability of BL®P without compromising new bone formation nor biocompatibility. The HG + BL®P formulations can successfully regenerate critical-sized defects; however, addition of hDPSCs did not significantly enhance new bone formation under these conditions. Granular BL®P provides an effective alternative to autologous grafts. The HG acts as a biocompatible carrier of granular bone substitutes and cells, conferring injectability and cohesivity.Alexandra Machado and Isabel Pereira were supported by the grants SFRH/BD/132000/2017 and UMINHO/BI/131/2018 respectively, from Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), Portugal. The authors acknowledge the funding from FEDER and NORTE 2020 through the project no. 003262 titled “iBONE therapies: advanced solutions for bone regeneration”. This study was supported by FCT under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte 2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. The participation of Isabel Pires, Justina Prada, Luís Maltez and José Eduardo Pereira was funded by the projects UIDB/CVT/00772/2020 and LA/P/0059/2020 supported by FCT. The participation of Rui Alvites, Ana Catarina Sousa, Mariana Branquinho, Ana Rita Caseiro, Sílvia Santos Pedrosa and Ana Colette Maurício was funded by Projects PEst-OE/AGR/UI0211/2011, UIDB/CVT/00772/2020 and LA/P/0059/2020. Mariana Vieira Branquinho (SFRH/BD/146172/2019) and Ana Catarina Sousa (SFRH/BD/146689/2019) acknowledge FCT, for financial support.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Roles of non-coding RNA in sugarcane-microbe interaction

Studies have highlighted the importance of non-coding RNA regulation in plant-microbe interaction. However, the roles of sugarcane microRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation of disease responses have not been investigated. Firstly, we screened the sRNA transcriptome of sugarcane infected with Acidovorax avenae. Conserved and novel miRNAs were identified. Additionally, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) were aligned to differentially expressed sequences from the sugarcane transcriptome. Interestingly, many siRNAs aligned to a transcript encoding a coppertransporter gene whose expression was induced in the presence of A. avenae, while the siRNAs were repressed in the presence of A. avenae. Moreover, a long intergenic non-coding RNA was identified as a potential target or decoy of miR408. To extend the bioinformatics analysis, we carried out independent inoculations and the expression patterns of six miRNAs were validated by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR). Among these miRNAs, miR408—a copper- microRNA—was downregulated. The cleavage of a putative miR408 target, a laccase, was confirmed by a modified 50RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) assay. MiR408 was also downregulated in samples infected with other pathogens, but it was upregulated in the presence of a beneficial diazotrophic bacteria. Our results suggest that regulation by miR408 is important in sugarcane sensing whether microorganisms are either pathogenic or beneficial, triggering specific miRNA-mediated regulatory mechanisms accordingly

Risk factors for death in 632 patients with sickle cell disease in the United States and United Kingdom

Background: The role of pulmonary hypertension as a cause of mortality in sickle cell disease (SCD) is controversial. Methods and Results: We evaluated the relationship between an elevated estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure and mortality in patients with SCD. We followed patients from the walk-PHaSST screening cohort for a median of 29 months. A tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV)≥3.0 m/s cuttof, which has a 67-75% positive predictive value for mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥25 mm Hg was used. Among 572 subjects, 11.2% had TRV≥3.0 m/sec. Among 582 with a measured NT-proBNP, 24.1% had values ≥160 pg/mL. Of 22 deaths during follow-up, 50% had a TRV≥3.0 m/sec. At 24 months the cumulative survival was 83% with TRV≥3.0 m/sec and 98% with TRV47 years, male gender, chronic transfusions, WHO class III-IV, increased hemolytic markers, ferritin and creatinine were also associated with increased risk of death. Conclusions: A TRV≥ 3.0 m/sec occurs in approximately 10% of individuals and has the highest risk for death of any measured variable. The study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov with identifier: NCT00492531

Potentiation of 5-fluorouracil encapsulated in zeolites as drug delivery systems for in vitro models of colorectal carcinoma

The studies of potentiation of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a traditional drug used in the treatment of several cancers, including colorectal (CRC), were carried out with zeolites Faujasite in the sodium form, with different particle sizes (NaY, 700nm and nanoNaY, 150nm) and Linde type L in the potassium form (LTL) with a particle size of 80nm. 5-FU was loaded into zeolites by liquid-phase adsorption. Characterization by spectroscopic techniques (FTIR, 1H NMR and 13C and 27Al solid-state MAS NMR), chemical analysis, thermal analysis (TGA), nitrogen adsorption isotherms and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), demonstrated the successful loading of 5-FU into the zeolite hosts. In vitro drug release studies (PBS buffer pH 7.4, 37°C) revealed the release of 80-90% of 5-FU in the first 10min. To ascertain the drug release kinetics, the release profiles were fitted to zero-order, first-order, Higuchi, Hixson-Crowell, Korsmeyer-Peppas and Weibull kinetic models. The in vitro dissolution from the drug delivery systems (DDS) was explained by the Weibull model. The DDS efficacy was evaluated using two human colorectal carcinoma cell lines, HCT-15 and RKO. Unloaded zeolites presented no toxicity to both cancer cells, while all DDS allowed an important potentiation of the 5-FU effect on the cell viability. Immunofluorescence studies provided evidence for zeolite-cell internalization.RA is recipient of fellowship SFRH/BI/51118/2010 from Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal). This work was supported by the FCT projects refs. PEst-C/QUI/UI0686/2011 and PEst-C/CTM/LA0011/2011 and the Centre of Chemistry and Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (University of Minho, Portugal). The NMR spectrometer is part of the National NMR Network (RNRMN), supported with funds from FCT/QREN (Quadro de Referencia Estrategico Nacional)

The Fourteenth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey: First Spectroscopic Data from the extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey and from the second phase of the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment

The fourth generation of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-IV) has been in operation since July 2014. This paper describes the second data release from this phase, and the fourteenth from SDSS overall (making this, Data Release Fourteen or DR14). This release makes public data taken by SDSS-IV in its first two years of operation (July 2014-2016). Like all previous SDSS releases, DR14 is cumulative, including the most recent reductions and calibrations of all data taken by SDSS since the first phase began operations in 2000. New in DR14 is the first public release of data from the extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (eBOSS); the first data from the second phase of the Apache Point Observatory (APO) Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE-2), including stellar parameter estimates from an innovative data driven machine learning algorithm known as "The Cannon"; and almost twice as many data cubes from the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO (MaNGA) survey as were in the previous release (N = 2812 in total). This paper describes the location and format of the publicly available data from SDSS-IV surveys. We provide references to the important technical papers describing how these data have been taken (both targeting and observation details) and processed for scientific use. The SDSS website (www.sdss.org) has been updated for this release, and provides links to data downloads, as well as tutorials and examples of data use. SDSS-IV is planning to continue to collect astronomical data until 2020, and will be followed by SDSS-V.Comment: SDSS-IV collaboration alphabetical author data release paper. DR14 happened on 31st July 2017. 19 pages, 5 figures. Accepted by ApJS on 28th Nov 2017 (this is the "post-print" and "post-proofs" version; minor corrections only from v1, and most of errors found in proofs corrected