Germanium Nanoparticles Prepared by Laser Ablation in Low Pressure Helium and Nitrogen Atmosphere for Biophotonic Applications

Due to particular physico-chemical characteristics and prominent optical properties, nanostructured germanium (Ge) appears as a promising material for biomedical applications, but its use in biological systems has been limited so far due to the difficulty of preparation of Ge nanostructures in a pure, uncontaminated state. Here, we explored the fabrication of Ge nanoparticles (NPs) using methods of pulsed laser ablation in ambient gas (He or He-N₂ mixtures) maintained at low residual pressures (1–5 Torr). We show that the ablated material can be deposited on a substrate (silicon wafer in our case) to form a nanostructured thin film, which can then be ground in ethanol by ultrasound to form a stable suspension of Ge NPs. It was found that these formed NPs have a wide size dispersion, with sizes between a few nm and hundreds of nm, while a subsequent centrifugation step renders possible the selection of one or another NP size fraction. Structural characterization of NPs showed that they are composed of aggregations of Ge crystals, covered by an oxide shell. Solutions of the prepared NPs exhibited largely dominating photoluminescence (PL) around 450 nm, attributed to defects in the germanium oxide shell, while a separated fraction of relatively small (5–10 nm) NPs exhibited a red-shifted PL band around 725 nm under 633 nm excitation, which could be attributed to quantum confinement effects. It was also found that the formed NPs exhibit high absorption in the visible and near-IR spectral ranges and can be strongly heated under photoexcitation in the region of relative tissue transparency, which opens access to phototherapy functionality. Combining imaging and therapy functionalities in the biological transparency window, laser-synthesized Ge NPs present a novel promising object for cancer theranostics.     

Autoimmune Effect of Antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleoprotein

COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 is continuing to spread around the world and drastically affect our daily life. New strains appear, and the severity of the course of the disease itself seems to be decreasing, but even people who have been ill on an outpatient basis suffer post-COVID consequences. Partly, it is associated with the autoimmune reactions, so debates about the development of new vaccines and the need for vaccination/revaccination continue. In this study we performed an analysis of the antibody response of patients with COVID-19 to linear and conformational epitopes of viral proteins using ELISA, chip array and western blot with analysis of correlations between antibody titer, disease severity, and complications. We have shown that the presence of IgG antibodies to the nucleoprotein can deteriorate the course of the disease, induce multiple direct COVID-19 symptoms, and contribute to long-term post-covid symptoms. We analyzed the cross reactivity of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 with own human proteins and showed that antibodies to the nucleocapsid protein can bind to human proteins. In accordance with the possibility of HLA presentation, the main possible targets of the autoantibodies were identified. People with HLA alleles A01:01; A26:01; B39:01; B15:01 are most susceptible to the development of autoimmune processes after COVID-19.     

Accelerated Aging Ultraviolet of a PET Nonwoven Geotextile and Thermoanalytical Evaluation

Nonwoven geotextiles are geosynthetic products that are highly susceptible to ultraviolet degradation because light can reach a large area of the material due to its fiber arrangement. Even with additives, which delay the degradation process, material decomposition still occurs, and therefore the product’s long-term durability can be affected. In this paper, the mechanical and thermal behavior of a commercial nonwoven polyester geotextile subjected to accelerated ultraviolet aging tests were evaluated. The deterioration was evaluated by comparing the physical properties (mass per unit area, thickness, and tensile strength) and thermal behavior (thermogravimetry—TG, thermomechanical analysis—TMA, and differential scanning calorimetry—DSC) before and after exposure times of 500 h and 1000 h. The results showed that the ultraviolet aging tests induced some damage in the polyester fibers, leading to the deterioration of their tensile strength. For 1000 h of exposure, in which the reduction was larger, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) found some superficial disruption of the fibers, indicative of damage. TG and DSC could not capture the effects of UV radiation on polymer degradation, unlike TMA. This latter technique was effective in showing the differences between specimens before and after UV exposure.     

Current medical management of hereditary angioedema: Follow-up survey of US physicians

BackgroundPhysician surveys on hereditary angioedema (HAE) management in 2010 and 2013 revealed important trends in HAE care.ObjectiveTo evaluate current HAE management and the impact of new treatment options on physician practice patterns over time.MethodsDuring June and July 2019, 5382 physicians were contacted by means of postal mail to complete a 47-question survey; 177 responded (3%).ResultsAcross the 3 surveys, the home replaced the emergency department as the most typically reported setting for HAE attack treatment (54.3% vs 11.6% in 2010 and 32.5% in 2013; P < .001). Physicians reported C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) as the most typically prescribed long-term prophylactic treatment (LTP) (60.0% vs 20.4% in 2010 and 56.7% in 2013; P < .001). Subcutaneous LTP medications were most typically prescribed over intravenous (C1-INH, 41.4%; subcutaneous lanadelumab, 21%; intravenous C1-INH, 18.6%). Danazol, the most frequently prescribed LTP treatment, dropped to 6.4% (55.8% in 2010 and 23.4% in 2013; P < .001). The strongest nonefficacy factor influencing clinician treatment choice changed over time, with cost and (or) insurance coverage increasing to 43.7% (from 24.4% in 2010 and 40.5% in 2013; P = .001), whereas the concern over adverse effects dropped to 16.2% (from 55.8% in 2010 and 29.5% in 2013; P < .001). Physician-reported patient satisfaction remains high, with only 1.5% of physicians indicating patients are not satisfied with treatment.ConclusionThe US physician survey data reflect improvements in the HAE management in recent years. Therapeutic advances in HAE have led to reported higher rates of home treatment of HAE attacks, reduced concern for adverse treatment effects, and high levels of patient satisfaction.     

Beitrag zum Kohlehydratstoffwechsel des Morbus Addison

Journal of Molecular Medicine - Bei 3 Addisonkranken konnte gezeigt werden, daß die intravenöse Zuckerbelastung im Gegensatz zu stoffwechselgesunden Kontrollen nicht nur den bekannten...