Chronic hyponatremia in a patient with renal salt wasting and without cerebral disease: relationship between RSW, risk of fractures and cognitive impairment

Renal salt wasting syndrome (RSW) is defined as a renal loss of sodium leading to hyponatremia and a decrease in extracellular fluid volume (ECV). Differentiation of this disorder from the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH), a common cause of hyponatremia, can be difficult because both can present with hyponatremia and concentrated urine with natriuresis. Our clinical case about a 78-year-old woman with a recent fracture of the right femur not only confirms that this syndrome can occur in patients without intracranial pathologies (CT documented), but depicts how the hyponatremia caused by RSW can show a chronic, oscillating course. This is an interesting point of view because it suggests to us to consider RSW in the differential diagnosis of patients with chronic hyponatremia

The Natriuretic Peptide System: A Single Entity, Pleiotropic Effects

In the modern scientific landscape, natriuretic peptides are a complex and interesting network of molecules playing pleiotropic effects on many organs and tissues, ensuring the maintenance of homeostasis mainly in the cardiovascular system and regulating the water-salt balance. The characterization of their receptors, the understanding of the molecular mechanisms through which they exert their action, and the discovery of new peptides in the last period have made it possible to increasingly feature the physiological and pathophysiological role of the members of this family, also allowing to hypothesize the possible settings for using these molecules for therapeutic purposes. This literature review traces the history of the discovery and characterization of the key players among the natriuretic peptides, the scientific trials performed to ascertain their physiological role, and the applications of this knowledge in the clinical field, leaving a glimpse of new and exciting possibilities for their use in the treatment of diseases

Blood cyanide determination in two cases of fatal imtoxication: comparison between headspace gas chromatography and a spectrophotometric method

Blood samples of two cases were analyzed preliminarily by a classical spectrophotometric method (VIS) and by an automated headspace gas chromatographic method with nitrogen-phosphorus detector (HS-GC \u2044 NPD). In the former, hydrogen cyanide (HCN) was quantitatively determined by measuring the absorbance of chromophores forming as a result of interaction with chloramine T. In the automated HS-GC \u2044NPD method, blood was placed in a headspace vial, internal standard (acetonitrile) and acetic acid were then added. This resulted in cyanide being liberated as HCN. The spectrophotometric (VIS) and HS-GC\u2044NPD methods were validated on postmortem blood samples fortified with potassium cyanide in the ranges 0.5\u201310 and 0.05\u20135 lg \u2044 mL, respectively. Detection limits were 0.2 lg \u2044mL for VIS and 0.05 lg \u2044mL for HS-GC\u2044NPD. This work shows that results obtained by means of the two procedures were insignificantly different and that they compared favorably. They are suitable for rapid diagnosis of cyanide in postmortem cases

Enhancing H2 production rate in PGM-free photoelectrochemical cells by glycerol photo-oxidation

The photo-oxidation of glycerol was carried out by using TiO2 NTs photoanodes and Ni foam as the cathode for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction. The photoanodes were prepared by anodizing Ti foils and titanium felt and then annealed under air exposure. They were tested in acidic aqueous solution without and with the addition of glycerol. When glycerol was present, the hydrogen production rate increased and allowed the simultaneous production of high value added partial oxidation compounds, i.e. 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA), and glyceraldehyde (GA). The highest H2 evolution and partial oxidation compounds production rates were obtained by using home prepared TiO2 nanotubes (TiO2 NTs) synthesized on Ti fiber felt as the photoanode with an irradiated area of 90 cm2. These photoanodes were found to be highly stable both from a mechanical and a chemical point of view, so they can be reused after a simple cleaning step

Lanthanide Identity Governs Guest-Induced Dimerization in LnIII[15-MCCuIIN(L-pheHA)-5])3+ Metallacrowns

Series of lanthanide-containing metallic coordination complexes are frequently presented as structurally analogous, due to the similar chemical and coordinative properties of the lanthanides. In the case of chiral (LnIII[15-MC (Formula presented.) N(L-pheHA)-5])3+ metallacrowns (MCs), which are well established supramolecular hosts, the formation of dimers templated by a dicarboxylate guest (muconate) in solution of neutral pH is herein shown to have a unique dependence on the identity of the MC's central lanthanide. Calorimetric data and nuclear magnetic resonance diffusion studies demonstrate that MCs containing larger or smaller lanthanides as the central metal only form monomeric host-guest complexes whereas analogues with intermediate lanthanides (for example, Eu, Gd, Dy) participate in formation of dimeric host-guest-host compartments. The driving force for the dimerization event across the series is thought to be a competition between formation of highly stable MCs (larger lanthanides) and optimally linked bridging guests (smaller lanthanides)

Atherosclerosis as an inflammatory disease. ,

In many ways, atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disorder and this issue is confirmed by recent investigations of that have focused on inflammation, providing new insight into mechanisms of disease. Several recent studies have addressed the role of chemokines in leukocyte accumulation in atherosclerosis, extending our knowledge and understanding of the complex and cell type-specific functions of chemokines in atherosclerosis. Activated T-lymphocytes within the atherosclerotic vessel wall express the CD40 ligand surface molecule, known to play a major role in several immunological pathways. In addition to activated T-lymphocytes, functional CD40 and CD40L are coexpressed by human vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and human macrophages in vitro as well as in situ in human atherosclerotic lesions. Recent studies indicate that CD40L activates atheroma-associated cells by promoting the expression of molecules thought to be involved in atherosclerosis, such as adhesion molecules, cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases, and tissue factor. Atherosclerosis starts with an innate immune response involving the recruitment and activation of monocytes macrophages that respond to an excessive accumulation of modified lipids within the arterial wall, followed by an adaptive immune response involving antigen-specific T lymphocytes. Effector T cells recognize modified auto-antigens such as oxidized LDL and heat shock proteins (i.e. HSP-60) that are presented by antigen-presenting cells such as macrophages or dendritic cells. The accumulation of inflammatory cells within the arterial wall leads to local production of chemokines, interleukins and proteases that enhance the influx of monocytes and lymphocytes, thereby promoting the progression of atherosclerotic lesions Recent reports have helped explain some of these questions by pointing to a role of contact dependent interaction between CD40 and CD40 ligand (CD40L, renamed CD154) as a stimulus for atheroma-associated cells. Also Macrophages play important roles in the progression of atherosclerosis by exhibiting unique characteristics under the various stimuli, evolving the plaque instability, thrombus formation and remodeling. Macrophage recruitment by abnormal endothelium over developing atherosclerotic plaques, is aided by endothelial expression of adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM, ELAM). The knowledge of atherosclerosis as an inflammatory disease offers the opportunity to develop novel therapeutic strategies targeting the inflammatory component of the disease

Structural properties and anticoagulant/cytotoxic activities of heterochiral enantiomeric thrombin binding aptamer (TBA) derivatives

The thrombin binding aptamer (TBA) possesses promising antiproliferative properties. However, its development as an anticancer agent is drastically impaired by its concomitant anticoagulant activity. Therefore, suitable chemical modifications in the TBA sequence would be required in order to preserve its antiproliferative over anticoagulant activity. In this paper, we report structural investigations, based on circular dichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and biological evaluation of four pairs of enantiomeric heterochiral TBA analogues. The four TBA derivatives of the D-series are composed by D-residues except for one L-thymidine in the small TT loops, while their four enantiomers are composed by L-residues except for one D-thymidine in the same TT loop region. Apart from the left-handedness for the L-series TBA derivatives, CD and NMR measurements have shown that all TBA analogues are able to adopt the antiparallel, monomolecular, 'chair-like' G-quadruplex structure characteristic of the natural D-TBA. However, although all eight TBA derivatives are endowed with remarkable cytotoxic activities against colon and lung cancer cell lines, only TBA derivatives of the L-series show no anticoagulant activity and are considerably resistant in biological environments

Photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic H2 evolution combined with valuable furfural production

In this work the photocatalytic (PC) and photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) reforming of furfuryl alcohol (FA) under environmental friendly conditions was investigated. Both H2 evolution and partial oxidation to furfuraldehyde were followed. For the first time TiO2 based photocatalysts were studied and the photocatalytic activity of home prepared photocatalysts was compared with that of commercial ones under both UVA and simulated solar irradiation. PEC tests were performed by using home prepared TiO2 nanotubes (TiO2 NTs) as photoanode and Pt free Ni foam as cathode to improve the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER). Both the partial FA oxidation reaction rate and H2 evolution rate were normalized for the lamp specific power to account for the different photon flux and the rates were higher for PEC process. PEC is a promising strategy for the valorization of biomasses with simultaneous H2 production in spite of the cost of the bias

A Unique LnIII{[3.3.1]GaIII Metallacryptate} Series That Possesses Properties of Slow Magnetic Relaxation and Visible/Near‐Infrared Luminescence

A new family of [3.3.1] metallacryptates with the general composition [LnGa6(H2shi)(Hshi)(shi)7(C5H5N)] (Ln‐1; shi3−=salicylhydroximate; Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm–Yb) has been synthesized and characterized. Ln‐1 display both interesting magnetic and luminescent properties. Sm‐1 has sharp emission bands in the visible and the near‐infrared (NIR) regions with quantum yield values (QSmL) of 1.64(9) and 5.5(2).10−2 %, respectively. Tb‐1 exhibits a weak green emission (QTbL=1.89(3).10−1 %) while Pr‐1, Nd‐1, Ho‐1, Er‐1, and Yb‐1 possess emission bands in the NIR range with QPrL=3.7(2).10−3 %, QNdL=1.71(5).10−1 %, QHoL=1.1(2).10−3 %, QErL=7.1(2).10−3 % and QYbL=0.65(3) %. Nd‐1, Dy‐1, and Yb‐1 display slow magnetization relaxation in an applied field, where only Dy‐1 has been observed to follow an Orbach process (Ueff=12.7 K). The combination of NIR emission with magnetic properties makes Nd‐1 and Yb‐1 attractive candidates as smart materials addressable in two manners.A two‐for‐one scaffold: A new LnIII‐encapsulating metallamacrocyclic scaffold was synthesized and structurally determined to resemble cryptands. This metallacryptand can bind a wide variety of LnIII ions of different natures and demonstrates the ability to sensitize their characteristic emissions in the visible and/or near‐infrared. Slow magnetic relaxation was also observed for selected LnIII.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145255/1/chem201801355.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145255/2/chem201801355_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145255/3/chem201801355-sup-0001-misc_information.pd