The influence of the polymerization approach on the catalytic performance of novel porous poly (ionic liquid)s for green synthesis of pharmaceutical spiro-4-thiazolidinones

Although poly (ionic liquids) (PILs) have attracted great research interest owing to their various applications, the performance of nanoporous PILs has been rarely developed in the catalysis field. To this end, a micro–mesoporous PIL with acid–base bifunctional active sites was designed and fabricated by two different polymerization protocols including hydrothermal and classical precipitation polymerization in this paper. Based on our observations, hydrothermal conditions (high temperature and pressure) enabled the proposed sonocatalyst to possess a great porous structure with a high specific surface area (S_BET: 315 m² g⁻¹) and thermal stability (around 450 °C for 45% weight loss) through strengthening cross-linking. In a comparative study, the preferred nanoporous PIL was selected and utilized as the sonocatalyst in a multicomponent reaction of isatins, primary amines, and thioglycolic acid. In the following, a variety of new and known pharmaceutical spiro-4-thiazolidinone derivatives were synthesized at room temperature and obtained excellent yields (>90%) within short reaction times (4–12 min) owing to the substantial synergistic effect between ultrasound irradiation and magnetically separable catalyst.

Sustainable synthesize of a new mesoporous poly (ionic liquid) as acid–base bifunctional catalyst for environmental being preparation of monospiro derivatives has been developed.     

Road-Crossing Behavior in Complex Traffic Situations: A Comparison of Children With and Without ADHD

Child Psychiatry & Human Development - All children are vulnerable to pedestrian injuries, but previous research suggests children diagnosed with ADHD may have elevated risk. Child pedestrian...     

The prevalence of osteoporosis/osteopenia in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS): a systematic review and meta-analysis

Neurological Sciences - The prevalence of osteoporosis is reported differently. We designed this systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate pooled prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in...     

Pig-to-baboon lung xenotransplantation: Extended survival with targeted genetic modifications and pharmacologic treatments

Galactosyl transferase knock-out pig lungs fail rapidly in baboons. Based on previously identified lung xenograft injury mechanisms, additional expression of human complement and coagulation pathway regulatory proteins, anti-inflammatory enzymes and self-recognition receptors, and knock-down of the β4Gal xenoantigen were tested in various combinations. Transient life-supporting GalTKO.hCD46 lung function was consistently observed in association with either hEPCR (n = 15), hTBM (n = 4), or hEPCR.hTFPI (n = 11), but the loss of vascular barrier function in the xenograft and systemic inflammation in the recipient typically occurred within 24 h. Co-expression of hEPCR and hTBM (n = 11) and additionally blocking multiple pro-inflammatory innate and adaptive immune mechanisms was more consistently associated with survival >1 day, with one recipient surviving for 31 days. Combining targeted genetic modifications to the lung xenograft with selective innate and adaptive immune suppression enables prolonged initial life-supporting lung function and extends lung xenograft recipient survival, and illustrates residual barriers and candidate treatment strategies that may enable the clinical application of other organ xenografts.     

Titanium scaffold osteogenesis in healthy and osteoporotic rats is improved by the use of low-level laser therapy (GaAlAs)

The present study aimed to assess the effects of low-level laser therapy (GaAlAs) on the bone repair process within titanium scaffolds in the femurs of healthy and osteoporotic rats. Fifty-six rats were divided into four groups: group Sh: SHAM animals that received scaffolds; group LSh: SHAM animals that received scaffolds and were subjected to laser therapy; group OV: ovarietomized (OVX) animals that received scaffolds; and group LOV: OVX animals that received scaffolds and were subjected to laser therapy. Thirty days following ovariectomy or sham surgery, scaffolds were implanted in the left femurs of all animals in the study. Immediately after opening the surgical site, the inner part of the surgical cavity was stimulated with low-level laser (GaAlAs). In addition to this procedure, the laser group was also subjected to sessions of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) at 48-h intervals, with the first session performed immediately after surgery. The rats were sacrificed at 2 and 6 weeks, time in which femur fragments were submitted for histological and histomorphometric examination, and skin tissue above the scaffold was submitted to histological analysis. At the end of the study, greater bone formation was observed in the animals submitted to LLLT. At 2 and 6 weeks, statistically significant differences were observed between LSh and Sh groups (p?=?0.009 and 0.0001) and LOV and OV (p?=?0.0001 and 0.0001), respectively. No statistical difference was observed when assessing the estrogen variable. On the basis of our methodology and results, we conclude that LLLT improves and accelerates bone repair within titanium scaffolds in both ovariectomized and healthy rats, when compared to animals not subjected to radiation.     

Used protocols for isolation and propagation of ovarian stem cells,different cells with different traits

Although existence of ovarian stem cells (OSCs) in mammalian postnatal ovary is still under controversy, however, it has been almost accepted that OSCs are contributing actively to folliculogenesis and neo-oogenesis. Recently, various methods with different efficacies have been employed for OSCs isolation from ovarian tissue, which these methods could be chosen depends on aim of isolation and accessible equipments and materials in lab. Although isolated OSCs from different methods have various traits and characterizations, which might become from their different nature and origin, however these stem cells are promising source for woman infertility treatment or source of energy for women with a history of repeat IVF failure in near future. This review has brought together and summarized currently used protocols for isolation and propagation of OSCs in vitro.     

Clinical and Laboratory Findings in Iranian Patients with Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency (Study of 15 Cases)

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency type I (LAD I) is a rare, inherited, autosomal recessive, immunodeficiency disease caused by the combined loss of expression on the surface of leukocytes of the leukocyte integrins. We describe the clinical and laboratory findings for 15 patients with LAD I. The range of patients’ ages was from 10 month to 14 years (median 4 years) and 93.3% of their parents had consanguineous marriages. The most commonly occurred manifestations were: recurrent infections (93.3%), poor wound healing (86%), oral ulcers (86%), and skin abscesses (80%). The most specific laboratory findings were defect in CD18 in all of 15 patients. The most common symptoms in these patients are poor wound healing and oral ulcer, so, the clinical physicians should pay special attention to these symptoms. Furthermore, because of considerable rate of consanguineous marriages in parents of LAD patients, we suggested more genetic studies on this disease and genetic consultation for these families. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Dietary total antioxidant capacity and incidence of chronic kidney disease in subjects with dysglycemia: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

Purpose

We aimed to investigate the association of dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) with incidence of CKD in subjects with dysglycemia.

Methods

We followed-up 1179 subjects aged ≥30 years with dysglycemia from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) for 3 years, who were initially free of CKD. Dietary intakes of TAC, vitamin C, vitamin E, and β-carotene were assessed by a food-frequency questionnaire at the baseline. Dietary TAC was estimated using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity method. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated, using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation and CKD was defined as eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m². Odds ratios (ORs) using multivariable logistic regression were reported for the association of incident CKD with dietary TAC.

Results

A total of 197 (16.7%) cases of incident CKD were recorded after 3 years of follow-up. After adjustment for age, sex, smoking, physical activity, body mass index, hypertension, and total energy intake, the top tertile of dietary TAC compared to the bottom was associated with 39% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.40–0.93] lower risk of incident CKD (P for trend = 0.025). Furthermore, the highest tertile of vitamin C intake compared to the lowest risk of incident CKD was decreased (OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.38–0.93, P trend 0.023). Intakes of vitamin E and β-carotene were not significantly associated with incident CKD risk.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that diets high in TAC are associated with a lower risk of incident CKD among subjects with hyperglycemia after 3 years of follow-up.

     

Doxorubicin-conjugated D-glucosamine- and folate- bi-functionalised InP/ZnS quantum dots for cancer cells imaging and therapy

Nanoscaled quantum dots (QDs), with unique optical properties have been used for the development of theranostics. Here, InP/ZnS QDs were synthesised and functionalised with folate (QD-FA), D-glucosamine (QD-GA) or both (QD-FA-GA). The bi-functionalised QDs were further conjugated with doxorubicin (QD-FA-GA-DOX). Optimum Indium to fatty acid (In:MA) ratio was 1:3.5. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs revealed spherical morphology for the QDs (11?nm). Energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) spectrum confirmed the chemical composition of the QDs. MTT analysis in the OVCAR-3 cells treated with bare QDs, QD-FA, QD-GA, QD-FA-GA and QD-FA-GA-DOX (0.2?mg/mL of QDs) after 24?h indicated low toxicity for the bare QDs and functionalised QDs (about 80–90% cell viability). QD-FA-GA-DOX nanoparticles elicited toxicity in the cells. Cellular uptake of the engineered QDs were investigated in both folate receptor (FR)-positive OVCAR-3 cells and FR-negative A549 cells using fluorescence microscopy and FACS flow cytometry. The FA-functionalised QDs showed significantly higher uptake in the FR-positive OVCAR-3 cells, nonetheless the GA-functionalised QDs resulted in an indiscriminate uptake in both cell lines. In conclusion, our findings indicated that DOX-conjugated FA-armed QDs can be used as theranostics for simultaneous imaging and therapy of cancer.