A novel copper(ii)–lanthanum(iii) metal organic framework as a selective catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of benzylic hydrocarbons and cycloalkenes

The synthesis and catalytic activity of a novel heteronuclear Cu^II and La^III metal organic framework (MOF) having pyridinedicarboxylic acid (CuLa-MOF) is reported.

Spin currents and filtering behavior in zigzag graphene nanoribbons with adsorbed molybdenum chains

By means of density-functional-theoretic calculations, we investigated the structural, electronic and transport properties of hydrogen-passivated zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) on which a one-atom-thick Mo chain was adsorbed (with or without one or two missing atoms), or in which the passivating hydrogen atoms were replaced by Mo atoms. Mo-passivated ZGNRs proved to be nonmagnetic. ZGNRs with an adsorbed defect-free Mo chain were most stable with the Mo atoms forming dimers above edge bay sites, which suppressed the magnetic moments of the C atoms in that half of the ribbon; around the Fermi level of these systems, each spin component had a transmission channel via the Mo spz band and one had an additional channel created by polarization of the ZGNR π* band, leading to a net spin current. The absence of an Mo dimer from an Mo chain adsorbed at the ZGNR edge made the system a perfect spin filter at low voltage bias by suppressing the Mo spz band channels. Thus this last kind of hybrid system is a potential spin valve.

Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms using the Pipeline Flex embolization device: a case series of 30 consecutive patients

BACKGROUND

The Pipeline Flex embolization device has some peculiarities in comparison with the previous generation device. Despite recent reports of the modified delivery system, its safety is still unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To illustrate the intraprocedural and periprocedural complication rate with this new device in 30 consecutive patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Clinical, procedural, and angiographic data, including aneurysm size and location, device or devices used, angiographic and clinical data were analyzed.

RESULTS

30 patients harboring 30 aneurysms were analyzed. 39 devices were placed properly. Multiple Pipeline embolization devices (PEDs) were used in 7 cases. In 28 devices the distal end opened fully from the beginning with a complete wall apposition. In the remaining 11 devices, distal-end opening of the devices was instant but partial, but fully opened easily after recapture. Among the 30 procedures, recapture and reposition of the Pipeline Flex was performed four times owing to proximal migration/malposition of the device during delivery. Four intraprocedural/periprocedural complications occurred, of which 2 resulted in major complications, with neurologic deficits persisting for longer than 7 days. The 30-day morbidity rate was 6.6%, with no deaths. No aneurysm rupture or parenchymal hemorrhage was seen.

CONCLUSIONS

The Pipeline Flex embolization device allows more precise and controlled deployment than the first-generation device. The number of devices and the complication rate during the learning curve are lower than reported with the first-generation PED. The new delivery system and the resheathing maneuvers do not seem to increase the intraprocedural complication rate in comparison with the first-generation PED.

Identification of the link between the hypothalamo-pituitary axis and the testicular orphan nuclear receptor NR0B2 in adult male mice

The small heterodimer partner (SHP, nuclear receptor subfamily 0, group B, member 2; NR0B2) is an atypical nuclear receptor known mainly for its role in bile acid homeostasis in the enterohepatic tract. We previously showed that NR0B2 controls testicular functions such as testosterone synthesis. Moreover, NR0B2 mediates the deleterious testicular effects of estrogenic endocrine disruptors leading to infertility. The endocrine homeostasis is essential for health, because it controls many physiological functions. This is supported by a large number of studies demonstrating that alterations of steroid activity lead to several kinds of diseases such as obesity and infertility. Within the testis, the functions of the Leydig cells are mainly controlled by the hypothalamo-pituitary axis via LH/chorionic gonadotropin (CG). Here, we show that LH/CG represses Nr0b2 expression through the protein kinase A-AMP protein kinase pathway. Moreover, using a transgenic mouse model invalidated for Nr0b2, we point out that NR0B2 mediates the repression of testosterone synthesis and subsequent germ cell apoptosis induced by exposure to anti-GnRH compound. Together, our data demonstrate a new link between hypothalamo-pituitary axis and NR0B2 in testicular androgen metabolism, making NR0B2 a major actor of testicular physiology in case of alteration of LH/CG levels.

Cross-Sectional Validation of a Quality of Life Questionnaire in Spanish for Patients Allergic to Hymenoptera Venom

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

The first quality of life questionnaire for Vespula-allergic patients (Vespid Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire [VQLQ) was developed in 2002. Our objective was to perform the cross-sectional validation of the Spanish version of this questionnaire.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using the original English-language version of the VQLQ as a starting point, the Spanish translation and cultural adaptation were performed and the first Spanish version was backtranslated into English and discussed with the authors of the original version. The result was the Spanish Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire for Hymenoptera Venom-Allergic Patients (HRQLHA). Cross-sectional validation was carried out in a multicenter study using a test-retest design. Patients over the age of 14 diagnosed with systemic allergic reaction to venom from Apis, Vespula, or Polistes species were included. The test-retest reliability, external validity, and internal consistency of the questionnaire were measured.

RESULTS

The sample comprised 116 patients. The mean HRQLHA score was 3.48. Test-retest reliability showed an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.85. HRQLHA showed a positive correlation (0.5) with an external questionnaire, thus demonstrating its external validity. Analysis of the internal consistency of the HRQLHA yielded a Cronbach α of 0.95, which can be considered to be excellent.

CONCLUSIONS

Statistical analysis revealed the high test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and external validity of the HRQLHA. The HRQLHA is the first validated questionnaire to include patients allergic to Polistes species, which is common in our area. Our findings show that the questionnaire is also valid for these patients.

Longitudinal Validation of the Spanish Version of the Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire for Hymenoptera Venom Allergy (HRQLHA)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The Spanish version of the health-related quality of life questionnaire for allergy to hymenoptera venom (HRQLHA) has been shown to be reliable, internally consistent, and externally valid. The aim of this study was to complete the validation of the HRQLHA by analyzing its sensitivity to changes (longitudinal validity) using the sting challenge test (SCT) as the variable of change.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients over the age of 17 years with a systemic allergic reaction to Apis, Vespula, or Polistes venom were included during their first year of venom-specific immunotherapy. Patients were assigned to either a group that underwent the SCT or a control group that did not. All patients completed the HRQLHA at baseline and after a period of 2 to 4 months, during which time the SCT was performed in the active group, with no intervention in the control group.

RESULTS

Fifty patients were included in the study: 25 in the SCT group and 25 in the control group. The patients in the SCT group showed a significant improvement in mean HRQLHA score (+0.35, P=.03) after the SCT, while those in the control group showed no significant changes in questionnaire scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate the sensitivity of the HRQLHA to changes and thus complete the longitudinal validation of the questionnaire. A well-tolerated SCT improves the quality of life of venom-allergic patients as it reduces anxiety associated with the fear of being stung.

[Infiltration of the superior vena cava in NSCLC: results of surgical intervention]

The benefits of surgical therapy of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with infiltration of the superior vena cava (SVC) remains controversial. Here we describe our therapeutic approach and results of our intervention.A retrospective analysis of 22 patients with NSCLC who underwent SVC replacement (n = 17) or reconstruction (n = 5) between 1998 and 2013 was performed. Pneumonectomy was necessary in 16 patients, lobectomy in 8. Preoperative chemotherapy was administered to 3 patients, 16 received postoperative radiation treatment. The clinical course and survival were analyzed.Major postoperative morbidities were found in 13 patients. Graft thrombosis did not occur. Thirty-day mortality was 7 % in pneumonectomy patients and 0 % following lobectomy. Local recurrence was found in 4.5 %, distant metastases developed in 54.5 % of the patients (p = 0.0008). One- and five-year survival probabilities for all patients were 63.6 and 27.9 %. Five-year survival probability was 33 % for patients with SVC reconstruction and 25 % for patients with SVC replacement (p = 0.22). Five-year survival rates after pneumonectomy and lobectomy were 21.4 % and 37.5 %, respectively (p = 0.18).Radical resection involving the SVC in carefully selected patients with NSCLC results in excellent local tumor control. Due to the high rate of distant metastases, application of induction and adjuvant chemotherapy should be carefully assessed.

Male fertility: Is spermiogenesis the critical step for answering biomedical issues?

Regarding male fertility, biomedical issues have opposite goals to treat infertility or develop contraceptive drugs. Recently, the identification of the molecular mechanisms involved in germ cell differentiation suggest that spermiogenesis has to be put at the crossroad to reach these goals. Concerning fertility issues, citizens in our modern world are schizophrenic. On one side, couples have the possibility to control conception; and on the other side, more and more couples suffer from the misfortune of being infertile. These two societal problems lead to intensive research and conflicting government policies. However, these opposing goals rely on a better understanding of germ cell differentiation.

Dose equivalence between continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA), Darbepoetin and Epoetin in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

Anemia is a prevalent situation in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and can be well managed with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). Continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA) has a long half-life that allows to be administered once monthly. The lowest recommended dose for patients with non dialysis CKD is 120 μg per month. The objectives were to assess the efficacy of subcutaneous monthly dosing of CERA in CKD stages 4 and 5 not on dialysis, and to determine the equivalent dose to epoetin β and darbepoetin α.

METHODS

This is a cohort study. A 30-patient group that ESAs was changed to CERA (μg/month) was used as treatment group. We used the following clinically-based equivalent dosing: epoetin β (IU/week) and darbepoetin α (μg/week): 3000/15= 50; 4000/20=75; 6000/30=100; 8000/40=150. Another group of 30 patients with similar characteristics was used as control group and received the same epoetin β and darbepoetin α doses.

RESULTS

The mean CERA initial dose and at 6 months was 81.9 ± 35.2 and 82.0 ± 37.82 μg/month (p=0.37). The mean erythropoietin resistance index (ERI) and hemoglobin at baseline and at 6 months in the CERA group and in the control group were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Monthly dosing treatment with CERA is safe and effective. A dose of 75-100 μg/month is enough to maintain stable levels of hemoglobin. Hippokratia 2014; 18 (4): 315-318.

Hepatotoxicity induced by neonatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol is maintained throughout adulthood via the nuclear receptor SHP

BACKGROUND

Liver physiology is sensitive to estrogens, which suggests that the liver might be a target of estrogenic endocrine disrupters (EED). However, the long-term consequences of neonatal exposure to EED on liver physiology have rarely been studied. The nuclear receptor small heterodimer partner (SHP) mediates the deleterious effects of neonatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) on male fertility.

OBJECTIVES

As SHP is involved in liver homeostasis, we aimed to determine whether neonatal estrogenic exposure also affected adult liver physiology through SHP. Male mouse pups were exposed to DES in the first 5 days of life.

RESULTS

DES exposure leads to alterations in the postnatal bile acid (BA) synthesis pathway. Neonatal DES-exposure affected adult liver BA metabolism and subsequently triglyceride (TG) homeostasis. The wild-type males neonatally exposed to DES exhibited increased liver weight and altered liver histology in the adult age. The use of deficient male mice revealed that SHP mediates the deleterious effects of DES treatment. These long-term effects of DES were associated with differently timed alterations in the expression of epigenetic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

However, the molecular mechanisms by which neonatal exposure persist to affect the adult liver physiology remain to be defined. In conclusion, we demonstrate that neonatal DES exposure alters adult hepatic physiology in an SHP-dependent manner.

Bile acids alter male fertility through G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1 signaling pathways in mice

Bile acids (BAs) are signaling molecules that are involved in many physiological functions, such as glucose and energy metabolism. These effects are mediated through activation of the nuclear and membrane receptors, farnesoid X receptor (FXR-α) and TGR5 (G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1; GPBAR1). Although both receptors are expressed within the testes, the potential effect of BAs on testis physiology and male fertility has not been explored thus far. Here, we demonstrate that mice fed a diet supplemented with cholic acid have reduced fertility subsequent to testicular defects. Initially, germ cell sloughing and rupture of the blood-testis barrier occur and are correlated with decreased protein accumulation of connexin-43 (Cx43) and N-cadherin, whereas at later stages, apoptosis of spermatids is observed. These abnormalities are associated with increased intratesticular BA levels in general and deoxycholic acid, a TGR5 agonist, in particular. We demonstrate here that Tgr5 is expressed within the germ cell lineage, where it represses Cx43 expression through regulation of the transcriptional repressor, T-box transcription factor 2 gene. Consistent with this finding, mice deficient for Tgr5 are protected against the deleterious testicular effects of BA exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

These data identify the testis as a new target of BAs and emphasize TGR5 as a critical element in testicular pathophysiology. This work may open new perspectives on the potential effect of BAs on testis physiology during liver dysfunction.

Neutrophils from allergic asthmatic patients produce and release metalloproteinase-9 upon direct exposure to allergens

BACKGROUND

Asthma is characterized by airway inflammation and remodelling in which matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role. MMP-9 is the major MMP found in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and bronchial biopsies from patients with allergic asthma after allergen challenge, where it correlates with the count of neutrophils and macrophages. However, the cellular sources of MMP-9 in this inflammatory condition have not yet been clearly identified. This work was undertaken to analyse whether neutrophils may be a source of MMP-9 in the allergic asthma condition upon allergen challenge.

METHODS

Neutrophils from allergic asthmatic patients were in vitro stimulated, and the levels of MMP-9 release were measured in the cell culture supernatants using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and zymography.

RESULTS

We show that MMP-9 is released by neutrophils, but not by eosinophils from allergic asthmatic patients in response to allergens to which the patients were sensitized. Neutrophils also released MMP-9 in response to anti-IgE Abs, and agonist Abs against FcεRI, FcεRII/CD23 and galectin-3. Inhibitors of transcription and translation, actinomycin D and cycloheximide, partially cancelled this process, suggesting that MMP-9 is also de novo synthesized in response to stimuli. We also show evidence that the MAPKs, p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase, as well as the transcription factor NF-κB, are involved, as specific chemical inhibitors of these cell-signalling pathways abolished the anti-IgE/allergen-dependent MMP-9 release.

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate that the exposure of neutrophils to allergens leads to generation of MMP-9, which may then lead to remodelling in asthma.

Design and anticipated outcomes of the eMERGE-PGx project: a multicenter pilot for preemptive pharmacogenomics in electronic health record systems

We describe here the design and initial implementation of the eMERGE-PGx project. eMERGE-PGx, a partnership of the eMERGE and PGRN consortia, has three objectives : 1) Deploy PGRNseq, a next-generation sequencing platform assessing sequence variation in 84 proposed pharmacogenes, in nearly 9,000 patients likely to be prescribed drugs of interest in a 1–3 year timeframe across several clinical sites; 2) Integrate well-established clinically-validated pharmacogenetic genotypes into the electronic health record with associated clinical decision support and assess process and clinical outcomes of implementation; and 3) Develop a repository of pharmacogenetic variants of unknown significance linked to a repository of EHR-based clinical phenotype data for ongoing pharmacogenomics discovery. We describe site-specific project implementation and anticipated products, including genetic variant and phenotype data repositories, novel variant association studies, clinical decision support modules, clinical and process outcomes, approaches to manage incidental findings, and patient and clinician education methods.