Effects of the components of hormone therapy on matrix metalloproteinases in breast-cancer cells: an in vitro study

We describe our experience of over 300 cycles of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and report clinical pregnancy rates (35%-67%) that support using this technology to screen for genetic disorders and chromosomal abnormalities. In clinical practice for over ten years, PGD offers couples the earliest form of genetic screening and may help improve ongoing pregnancy rates in poor-prognosis patients.     

Two cases of macrocephaly and immune deficiency

Macrocephaly describes a head circumference greater than two standard deviations above the mean and is a feature of a number of genetic syndromes. Here we report on two patients with microcephaly, immune deficiency and anemia. In addition, one case had periventricular leukomalacia and the other case had myelinisation delay in periventricular white matter development. These cases may represent a distinct new syndrome.     

The role of extracellular matrix and activin-A in in vitro growth and survival of murine preantral follicles

Extracellular matrix plays a key role in cell growth, survival, and differentiation in a wide array of tissue types through integrin-mediated signaling pathways and its interaction with growth factors. This study investigates the role of extracellular matrix and its interaction with activin-A on in vitro growth and survival of mouse preantral follicles. Preantral follicles isolated from 14-day-old immature mouse ovaries were cultured either 3 dimensionally using basement membrane matrix (growth factor - reduced matrigel) or 2 dimensionally on cover slips coated with a single component of extracellular matrix (fibronectin, collagen, or laminin), on polylysine (negative control), or in standard culture plates in a serum-free culture medium with or without activin-A for 7 days. Follicles cultured in matrigel maintained well their 3-dimensional structure compared to those cultured conventionally. This observation was confirmed by analyzing 3-dimensional images of follicles cultured in matrigel and standard culture plate using confocal microscopy. Furthermore, follicles displayed higher growth and survival rates and exhibited antral space formation as early as day 5 of culture when activin-A was added to matrigel; in contrast, the addition of activin-A had no effect on the growth and survival of follicles cultured on individual extracellular matrix components after 7 days of culture. These data may suggest that 3-dimensional culture with extracellular matrix and activin-A provides a better milieu for in vitro growth and survival of preantral follicles in immature mice.     

Aramid-wrapped CNT hybrid sol–gel sorbent for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

This work describes the preparation of an analytical microextraction sorbent using a simple and versatile sol–gel hybrid composite, i.e., aramid oligomers wrapping multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) covalently bonded to a porous silica network. To overcome the inherent shortcomings of the CNTs'' solubility and dispersion in both organic phases and in the sol–gel solution, the outer surface of the CNTs was initially functionalized with carboxylic acid groups and then reacted with both aramid oligomers and 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES). The obtained sorbent was characterized by FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Using sol–gel chemistry, the functionalized CNTs were coated onto SPME fibers and used in conjunction with GC-MS for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water and soil samples. Excellent repeatability (run-to-run RSD% ∼ 8) and reproducibility (fiber-to-fiber RSD% ∼ 6) were achieved in addition to low LODs (0.10–0.30 ng mL⁻¹) and noticeable recovery%. The present method of sorbent preparation led to enhanced thermal and chemical stabilities, a long sorbent lifetime and good affinity towards PAHs. Moreover, the present sorbent enhanced the extraction capability by more than 30% compared to that of commercially available PDMS counterparts.

This work describes the preparation of an analytical microextraction sorbent using a simple and versatile sol–gel hybrid composite, i.e., aramid oligomers wrapping multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) covalently bonded to a porous silica network.     

Green aspects of photocatalysts during corona pandemic: a promising role for the deactivation of COVID-19 virus

The selection of a facile, eco-friendly, and effective methodology is the need of the hour for efficient curing of the COVID-19 virus in air, water, and many food products. Recently, semiconductor-based photocatalytic methodologies have provided promising, green, and sustainable approaches to battle against viral activation via the oxidative capabilities of various photocatalysts with excellent performance under moderate conditions and negligible by-products generation as well. Considering this, recent advances in photocatalysis for combating the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are inclusively highlighted. Starting from the origin to the introduction of the coronavirus, the significant potential of photocatalysis against viral prevention and -disinfection is discussed thoroughly. Various photocatalytic material-based systems including metal-oxides, metal-free and advanced 2D materials (MXenes, MOFs and COFs) are systematically examined to understand the mechanistic insights of virus-disinfection in the human body to fight against COVID-19 disease. Also, a roadmap toward sustainable solutions for ongoing COVID-19 contagion is also presented. Finally, the challenges in this field and future perspectives are comprehensively discussed involving the bottlenecks of current photocatalytic systems along with potential recommendations to deal with upcoming pandemic situations in the future.

Photocatalysts are green, eco-friendly, clean and sustainable and could be a solution to combat COVID-19 because of potential features of various types of metal oxides against viral inactivation via the generation of reactive oxidative species.