Encapsulation of a zinc phthalocyanine derivative in self-assembled peptide nanofibers

Cataloged from PDF version of article.In this article, we demonstrate encapsulation of octakis(hexylthio) zinc phthalocyanine molecules by non-covalent supramolecular organization within self-assembled peptide nanofibers. Peptide nanofibers containing octakis(hexylthio) zinc phthalocyanine molecules were obtained via a straight-forward one-step self-assembly process under aqueous conditions. Nanofiber formation results in the encapsulation and organization of the phthalocyanine molecules, promoting ultrafast intermolecular energy transfer. The morphological, mechanical, spectroscopic and non-linear optical properties of phthalocyanine containing peptide nanofibers were characterized by TEM, SEM, oscillatory rheology, UV-Vis, fluorescence, ultrafast pump-probe and circular dichroism spectroscopy techniques. The ultrafast pump-probe experiments of octakis(hexylthio) zinc phthalocyanine molecules indicated pH controlled non-linear optical characteristics of the encapsulated molecules within self-assembled peptide nanofibers. This method can provide a versatile approach for bottom-up fabrication of supramolecular organic electronic devices. © 2012 The Royal Society of Chemistry

Successful myomectomy during pregnancy : A case report

BACKGROUND: The medical literature has reported an increase in myomectomy during caesarean section in the past decade. However, myomectomy performed during pregnancy remains a rarity. The management of uterine fibroids during pregnancy is usually expectant and surgical removal is generally delayed until after delivery. We present a case of a large, symptomatic uterine fibroid diagnosed during pregnancy which was successfully managed by antepartum myomectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 30 year old woman presented with a one year history of abdominal swelling, amenorrhea and severe epigastric discomfort of 19 weeks duration. The abdomen was grossly distended and tense. A sonographic diagnosis of ovarian tumor in pregnancy was made. Laparotomy revealed a 32 cm degenerating subserosal uterine fibroid co-existing with an intrauterine pregnancy. Myomectomy was successfully performed. The subsequent antenatal period was uneventful with a spontaneous vaginal delivery of a female baby at 38 weeks. CONCLUSION: This report supports other studies and case series that have demonstrated the safety of myomectomy during pregnancy in selected circumstances

Polarisation dynamics of vector soliton molecules in mode locked fibre laser

Two fundamental laser physics phenomena - dissipative soliton and polarisation of light are recently merged to the concept of vector dissipative soliton (VDS), viz. train of short pulses with specific state of polarisation (SOP) and shape defined by an interplay between anisotropy, gain/loss, dispersion, and nonlinearity. Emergence of VDSs is both of the fundamental scientific interest and is also a promising technique for control of dynamic SOPs important for numerous applications from nano-optics to high capacity fibre optic communications. Using specially designed and developed fast polarimeter, we present here the first experimental results on SOP evolution of vector soliton molecules with periodic polarisation switching between two and three SOPs and superposition of polarisation switching with SOP precessing. The underlying physics presents an interplay between linear and circular birefringence of a laser cavity along with light induced anisotropy caused by polarisation hole burning

Quantitative analysis of ductus proliferation, proliferative activity, Kupffer cell proliferation and angiogenesis in differential diagnosis of biliary atresia and neonatal hepatitis

Background/Aims: The clinical presentation of cholestasis in infancy caused by neonatal hepatitis and biliary atresia are very similar. Differential diagnosis is sometimes very difficult. The diagnostic accuracy is very important. The surgical treatment of biliary atresia should be performed as early as possible. If cases of biliary atresia. are misdiagnosed, they will become progressive cirrhosis and if cases of neonatal hepatitis are misdiagnosed, they will result in unnecessary laparotomy. The aim of this study is to determine the role of quantitative analysis of ductus proliferation, proliferative activity, Kupffer cell proliferation and angiogenesis in the differential diagnosis of biliary atresia and neonatal hepatitis

Evaluation of the diagnostic enigma in Hirschsprung disease

Aim. We aimed to investigate intraoperative diagnosis rate of aganglionosis with hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining, to review the current diagnostic procedures in Hirschsprung disease (HD), to inquire the validity of enzyme staining in diagnosis of HD and to evaluate the utility of ret oncoprotein (RET) antibody for detecting ganglion cells (GC) in paraffin sections

A comprehensive survey of natal and neonatal teeth in newborns

WOS: 000502072400005PubMed: 31719269Objective: To evaluate clinical and histological characteristics and determine the incidence of natal/neonatal teeth in a large Turkish population. Subjects and Methods: Among 17,829 newborns, who were hospitalized at the Neonatal Clinic of a governmental Children's Hospital between 2005 and 2011, 27 neonates were diagnosed with erupted teeth, which were examined in terms of location, clinical appearance and mobility. Besides histological evaluation, a positive family history was also recorded. the variables were analyzed using Chi-square test. Results: Thirty-two natal/neonatal teeth were observed in 27 infants. the incidence of both natal and neonatal teeth was found to be 1:660, while the incidences were separately recorded as 1:1,048 and 1:1,782, respectively. the histological examination revealed a thin hypoplastic enamel layer and a normal dentin layer. There was no difference between the two genders in terms of natal/neonatal tooth type, positive family history and tooth morphology (p > 0.05); or between normal and conical shapes with regard to natal/neonatal tooth type, positive family history and tooth color (p > 0.05). Conclusions: This study exhibited a higher incidence in natal teeth than neonatal teeth. Macroscopic features were not found to be positively related to gender and tooth type

An investigation of toxicity potential of nimesulide in juvenile rats [Juvenil si{dotless}çanlarda nimesulid'in toksisite potansiyelinin araşti{dotless}ri{dotless}lmasi{dotless}]

Nimesulide has been widely used in pediatry for treatment of inflammation associated to respiratory tract infections, fever, several chronic inflammatory conditions, and pain in many countries. However, very few but serious cases of adverse effects, particularly hepatic dysfunction and liver injury have been reported. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated in nimesulide-induced adverse effects, including hepatotoxicity. However, several reports demonstrated the reducing effect of nimesulide on oxidative damage and its direct free radical scavenging activity. This study was performed to investigate the effects of nimesulide on oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes in juvenile rats as well as its tissue damage potential. Four weeks-old Wistar albino, female rats were used. Nimesulide was given by gavage at two doses for 14 days. Blood and tissue samples were taken under pentobarbital anesthesia. Nimesulide treatment caused increase in plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and decrease in catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities; superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6P-DH) activities were not changed. Tissue damage and changes in some serum parameters were also observed.Our results, indicating the possibility of tissue damage and alterations of oxidant/antioxidant status by nimesulide, might provide important contribution to the literature about the cautions for nimesulide use in juveniles

Role of vascularization in determining the time of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in the neonate

WOS: 000183498200007PubMed ID: 12882089OBJECTIVE: To examine the role of vascularization in determining the time of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIEP). STUDY DESIGN: Brain sections of 126 neonatal autopsy cases were examined for edema, gliosis, congestion, inflammation and ischemia. Capillary vessels were examined with both reticulum stains and antibody against CD34. Vascular surface density (VSD) and number of vessels per stroma (NVES) were calculated by stereologic methods. RESULTS: Among 126 cases, 64 were male (50.8%) and 62 female (49.2%). In 25 cases HIEP was observed; 14 had a pregnancy history of hypertension, eclampsia or diabetes mellitus in the mother, with fetal distress or underdeveloped features. Statistically, NVES was strongly related to primary HIEP. However, the HIEP and non-HIEP cases revealed no differences in NVES and VSD means. CONCLUSION: Vascularization, especially NVES, helps in determining whether an HIEP case is pregnancy related or due to end-stage changes of dying, but is not an indicator of HIEP

A comparative histopathological evaluation of sacs from boys and girls with inguinal hernia

The purpose of this study is to determine and to compare histopathologic alterations of hernia sacs obtained from patients with inguinal hernia with those of the peritoneal tissue from patients operated on for other abdominal disorders. Samples were obtained from 42 pediatric patients with uni- or bilateral hernias, and from 30 pediatric control patients without hernia. Sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Gomori's trichrome, and Gomori's reticulin. Furthermore, they were immunohistochemically stained with anti-synaptophysin for the quantification of neural structures. All the slides were examined for six parameters, including variations in tissue and collagen types, the presence of inflammation and proliferation of vessels, neural plexus, and mesothelial cells. The results were evaluated statistically using the independent T-test and the Mann-Whitney-U test. Parametric tests revealed a higher presence of large neural plexus (p = 0.003), increased proliferation of mesothelial cells (p = 0.009), and hypervascularization (p = 0.003) in sacs of the hernia group. There were also major changes that were dependent on the sex of the patients. Most part of hernia sacs tissue was found to be fibrous and adipose in most boy patients, but was fibro-muscular in girls with inguinal hernia (male/female p = 0.03), while the tissues were fibro-adipose in both sexes in the control group (inguinal hernia/control p = 0.016). Similarly, vascular proliferation was mainly encountered in hernia sacs of girls (p = 0.013). These features were not observed in the control groups. Therefore, on the basis of sex, we determined whether or not these findings could indicate the difference between the etiopathologic mechanisms of inguinal hernias. Furthermore. we went into the question of whether or not the comprehensive examination of hernia sacs sufficed to enlighten the etiology of hernias. (C) 2004 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved

The evaluation of long-term effects of cinnamon bark and olive leaf on toxicity induced by Streptozotocin administration to rats

WOS: 000084300100013PubMed ID: 10632089The effects of cinnamon bark and olive leaf have been investigated on streptozotocin-induced tissue injury, and some biochemical and haematological changes in rats. The effects on glycaemia were also evaluated. Long-term administration of olive leaf caused significant improvement in tissue injury induced by streptozotocin treatment; the effect of cinnamon bark was less extent. No effects on blood glucose levels were detected. However, significant decreases in some increased biochemical and haematological parameters of streptozotocin-treated rats were observed. Aspartate aminotransferase, urea and cholesterol levels were significantly decreased by treatment with both plant materials, and alanine aminotransferase by treatment with olive leaf. Cinnamon bark also caused a significant decrease in platelet counts. In addition, any visible toxicity, except decrease in body weight gain, attributable to the long-term use of plant materials was mot established in normal rats. The data indicate that long-term use of olive leaf and cinnamon bark may provide benefit against diabetic conditions. Determination of underlying mechanism(s) of beneficial effects, toxicity to other systems and clinical assessments of related plant materials are major topics requiring further studies