Effect of electrode material on the sensitivity of interdigitated electrodes used for Electrical Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing technology

This study explores the effect of the electrode material on the sensitivity of interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) used in Electrical Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS) technology. This technique is a label-free method to evaluate cellular activity of adherent cells. IDEs of gold (Au), indium tin oxide (ITO) and ITO functionalized with iridium oxide (IrO_x) were characterized with impedance spectroscopy and their interfacial impedances were evaluated in potassium chloride (KCl) solutions. In parallel, ECIS measurements were performed on these three electrode materials during the proliferation of the human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7. The results indicate that the difference in sensitivity to MCF-7 of the three materials might be strongly correlated to their interfacial impedances. We found that ITO electrodes coated with IrO_x show slightly higher sensitivity to MCF-7 breast cancer cells while still offering transparency compared to gold, which is considered the conventional material in ECIS devices.

The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System in Greyhounds and Non-Greyhound Dogs

Background

The renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system (RAAS) regulates blood pressure, electrolyte homeostasis, and renal function. Blood pressure, serum sodium concentrations, and urinary albumin excretion are higher in Greyhounds than other purebred and mixed‐breed dogs.

Hypothesis

Alterations in the RAAS in Greyhounds are associated with hemodynamic and clinicopathologic differences observed in the breed.

Animals

Clinically healthy Greyhound and non‐Greyhound dogs consecutively enrolled as blood donors (n = 20/group).

Methods

Prospective study. Standard chemical analysis was performed on serum and urine. Serum angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) activity was determined by fluorometric assay. All other RAAS hormones were determined by radioimmunoassay. Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) was measured by immunoassay. Measurements were compared to blood pressure and urine albumin concentration. Data are presented as mean ± SD or median, range.

Results

Serum creatinine (1.5 ± 0.2 vs 1.0 ± 0.1 mg/dL, P < .001), sodium (149, 147–152 vs 148, 146–150 mEq/L, P = .017), and SDMA (16.1 ± 2.9 vs 12.2 ± 1.8 μg/dL, P < .001) were significantly higher in Greyhounds versus non‐Greyhounds, respectively. Plasma renin activity (0.69, 0.10–1.93 vs 0.65, 0.27–2.93 ng/mL/h, P = .60) and ACE activity (4.5, 2.1–8.5 vs 4.6, 2.1–11.4 activity/mL; P = .77) were similar between groups and did not correlate with higher systolic pressures and albuminuria in Greyhounds. Plasma aldosterone concentration was significantly lower in Greyhounds versus non‐Greyhounds (11, 11–52 vs 15, 11–56 pg/mL, respectively, P = .002).

Conclusions and clinical importance

Basal RAAS activation did not differ between healthy Greyhounds and non‐Greyhounds. Lower aldosterone concentration in Greyhounds is an appropriate physiologic response to higher serum sodium concentration and blood pressure, suggesting that angiotensin II effects in the renal tubule predominate over those of aldosterone.

Modular bioink for 3D printing of biocompatible hydrogels: sol–gel polymerization of hybrid peptides and polymers

Inorganic polymerization as a cross-linking method for 3D printing of PEG–peptide hydrogels.

SEOM Clinical Guideline in ovarian cancer (2016)

Despite remarkable advances in the knowledge of molecular biology and treatment, ovarian cancer (OC) is the first cause of death due to gynecological cancer and the fifth cause of death for cancer in women in Spain. The aim of this guideline is to summarize the current evidence and to give evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice.

Wolbachia-mediated protection against viruses in the invasive pest Drosophila suzukii

The maternally inherited bacterium Wolbachia is well known for spreading in natural populations by manipulating the reproduction of its arthropod hosts, but can also have mutualist effects that increase host fitness. In mosquitoes and Drosophila some Wolbachia strains can lead to an increase in survival of virus-infected insects, and in most cases this is associated with reduced accumulation of the virus in host tissues. We investigated if the Wolbachia strain wSuz, which naturally infects Drosophila suzukii, is able to confer protection against Drosophila C virus and Flock House virus in different host genetic backgrounds. We found that this strain can increase host survival upon infection with these two viruses. In some cases this effect was associated with lower viral titres, suggesting that it confers resistance to the viruses rather than allowing the flies to tolerate infection. Our results indicate that, in D. suzukii, the antiviral protection provided by Wolbachia is not correlated to its density as found in other Drosophila species. This study demonstrates a phenotypic effect induced by wSuz on its native host which could explain its maintenance in natural populations of D. suzukii.

Selenazolidine: a selenium containing proline surrogate in peptide science

In the search for new peptide ligands containing selenium in their sequences, we investigated l-4-selenazolidine-carboxylic acid (selenazolidine, Sez) as a proline analog with the chalcogen atom in the γ-position of the ring. In contrast to proteinogenic selenocysteine (Sec) and selenomethionine (SeMet), the incorporation within a peptide sequence of such a non-natural amino acid has never been studied. There is thus a great interest in increasing the possibility of selenium insertion within peptides, especially for sequences that do not possess a sulfur containing amino acid (Cys or Met), by offering other selenated residues suitable for peptide synthesis protocols. Herein, we have evaluated selenazolidine in Boc/Bzl and Fmoc/tBu strategies through the synthesis of a model tripeptide, both in solution and on a solid support. Special attention was paid to the stability of the Sez residue in basic conditions. Thus, generic protocols have been optimized to synthesize Sez-containing peptides, through the use of an Fmoc-Xxx-Sez-OH dipeptide unit. As an example, a new analog of the vasopressin receptor-1A antagonist was prepared, in which Pro was replaced with Sez [3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionyl-d-Tyr(Me)-Phe-Gln-Asn-Arg-Sez-Arg-NH2]. Both proline and such pseudo-proline containing peptides exhibited similar pharmacological properties and endopeptidase stabilities indicating that the presence of the selenium atom has minimal functional effects. Taking into account the straightforward handling of Sez as a dipeptide building block in a conventional Fmoc/tBu SPPS strategy, this result suggested a wide range of potential uses of the Sez amino acid in peptide chemistry, for instance as a viable proline surrogate as well as a selenium probe, complementary to Sec and SeMet, for NMR and mass spectrometry analytical purposes.

Exposure of the grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, to antimicrobial compounds affects associated Vibrio bacterial density and development of antibiotic resistance

Antimicrobial compounds are widespread, emerging contaminants in the aquatic environment and may threaten ecosystem and human health. This study characterized effects of antimicrobial compounds common to human and veterinary medicine, aquaculture, and consumer personal care products [erythromycin (ERY), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), oxytetracycline (OTC), and triclosan (TCS)] in the grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio. The effects of antimicrobial treatments on grass shrimp mortality and lipid peroxidation activity were measured. The effects of antimicrobial treatments on the bacterial community of the shrimp were then assessed by measuring Vibrio density and testing bacterial isolates for antibiotic resistance. TCS (0.33 mg/L) increased shrimp mortality by 37% and increased lipid peroxidation activity by 63%. A mixture of 0.33 mg/L TCS and 60 mg/L SMX caused a 47% increase in shrimp mortality and an 88% increase in lipid peroxidation activity. Exposure to SMX (30 mg/L or 60 mg/L) alone and to a mixture of SMX/ERY/OTC did not significantly affect shrimp survival or lipid peroxidation activity. Shrimp exposure to 0.33 mg/L TCS increased Vibrio density 350% as compared to the control whereas SMX, the SMX/TCS mixture, and the mixture of SMX/ERY/OTC decreased Vibrio density 78-94%. Increased Vibrio antibiotic resistance was observed for all shrimp antimicrobial treatments except for the mixture of SMX/ERY/OTC. Approximately 87% of grass shrimp Vibrio isolates displayed resistance to TCS in the control treatment suggesting a high level of TCS resistance in environmental Vibrio populations. The presence of TCS in coastal waters may preferentially increase the resistance and abundance of pathogenic bacteria. These results indicate the need for further study into the potential interactions between antimicrobials, aquatic organisms, and associated bacterial communities.

Imaging heterogeneity of peptide delivery and binding in solid tumors using SPECT imaging and MRI

Background

As model system, a solid-tumor patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model characterized by high peptide receptor expression and histological tissue homogeneity was used to study radiopeptide targeting. In this solid-tumor model, high tumor uptake of targeting peptides was expected. However, in vivo SPECT images showed substantial heterogeneous radioactivity accumulation despite homogenous receptor distribution in the tumor xenografts as assessed by in vitro autoradiography. We hypothesized that delivery of peptide to the tumor cells is dictated by adequate local tumor perfusion. To study this relationship, sequential SPECT/CT and MRI were performed to assess the role of vascular functionality in radiopeptide accumulation.

Methods

High-resolution SPECT and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI were acquired in six mice bearing PC295 PDX tumors expressing the gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) receptor. Two hours prior to SPECT imaging, animals received 25 MBq ¹¹¹In(DOTA-(βAla)2-JMV594) (25 pmol). Images were acquired using multipinhole SPECT/CT. Directly after SPECT imaging, MR images were acquired on a 7.0-T dedicated animal scanner. DCE-MR images were quantified using semi-quantitative and quantitative models. The DCE-MR and SPECT images were spatially aligned to compute the correlations between radioactivity and DCE-MRI-derived parameters over the tumor.

Results

Whereas histology, in vitro autoradiography, and multiple-weighted MRI scans all showed homogenous tissue characteristics, both SPECT and DCE-MRI showed heterogeneous distribution patterns throughout the tumor. The average Spearman’s correlation coefficient between SPECT and DCE-MRI ranged from 0.57 to 0.63 for the “exchange-related” DCE-MRI perfusion parameters.

Conclusions

A positive correlation was shown between exchange-related DCE-MRI perfusion parameters and the amount of radioactivity accumulated as measured by SPECT, demonstrating that vascular function was an important aspect of radiopeptide distribution in solid tumors. The combined use of SPECT and MRI added crucial information on the perfusion efficiency versus radiopeptide uptake in solid tumors and showed that functional tumor characteristics varied locally even when the tissue appeared homogenous on current standard assessment techniques.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13550-016-0160-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Poly(ethylene) glycols and mechanochemistry for the preparation of bioactive 3,5-disubstituted hydantoins

Mechanochemistry was effective for the preparation of 3,5-disubstituted hydantoins from α-amino methyl esters, using either 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) or alkyl isocyanates.

Clinical Course of acute-on-chronic liver failure syndrome and effects on prognosis

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is characterized by acute decompensation (AD) of cirrhosis, organ failure(s), and high 28-day mortality. We investigated whether assessments of patients at specific time points predicted their need for liver transplantation (LT) or the potential futility of their care. We assessed clinical courses of 388 patients who had ACLF at enrollment, from February through September 2011, or during early (28-day) follow-up of the prospective multicenter European Chronic Liver Failure (CLIF) ACLF in Cirrhosis study. We assessed ACLF grades at different time points to define disease resolution, improvement, worsening, or steady or fluctuating course. ACLF resolved or improved in 49.2%, had a steady or fluctuating course in 30.4%, and worsened in 20.4%. The 28-day transplant-free mortality was low-to-moderate (6%-18%) in patients with nonsevere early course (final no ACLF or ACLF-1) and high-to-very high (42%-92%) in those with severe early course (final ACLF-2 or -3) independently of initial grades. Independent predictors of course severity were CLIF Consortium ACLF score (CLIF-C ACLFs) and presence of liver failure (total bilirubin ≥12 mg/dL) at ACLF diagnosis. Eighty-one percent had their final ACLF grade at 1 week, resulting in accurate prediction of short- (28-day) and mid-term (90-day) mortality by ACLF grade at 3-7 days. Among patients that underwent early LT, 75% survived for at least 1 year. Among patients with ≥4 organ failures, or CLIF-C ACLFs >64 at days 3-7 days, and did not undergo LT, mortality was 100% by 28 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Assessment of ACLF patients at 3-7 days of the syndrome provides a tool to define the emergency of LT and a rational basis for intensive care discontinuation owing to futility.

The Big Impact of Small Groups on College Drinking

College drinking is a problem with severe academic, health, and safety consequences. The underlying social processes that lead to increased drinking activity are not well understood. Social Norms Theory is an approach to analysis and intervention based on the notion that students' misperceptions about the drinking culture on campus lead to increases in alcohol use. In this paper we develop an agent-based simulation model, implemented in MATLAB, to examine college drinking. Students' drinking behaviors are governed by their identity (and how others perceive it) as well as peer influences, as they interact in small groups over the course of a drinking event. Our simulation results provide some insight into the potential effectiveness of interventions such as social norms marketing campaigns.