Toll-Like Receptors in Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an important health problem, affecting 13.3 million individuals/year. It is associated with increased mortality, mainly in low- and middle-income countries, where renal replacement therapy is limited. Moreover, survivors show adverse long-term outcomes, including increased risk of developing recurrent AKI bouts, cardiovascular events, and chronic kidney disease. However, there are no specific treatments to decrease the adverse consequences of AKI. Epidemiological and preclinical studies show the pathological role of inflammation in AKI, not only at the acute phase but also in the progression to chronic kidney disease. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key regulators of the inflammatory response and have been associated to many cellular processes activated during AKI. For that reason, a number of anti-inflammatory agents targeting TLRs have been analyzed in preclinical studies to decrease renal damage during AKI. In this review, we updated recent knowledge about the role of TLRs, mainly TLR4, in the initiation and development of AKI as well as novel compounds targeting these molecules to diminish kidney injury associated to this pathological condition.     

Degradation in soybean oil,sunflower oil and partially hydrogenated fats after food frying,monitored by conventional and unconventional methods

This paper aims to study discontinuous deep frying of potatoes, milanesas (breaded bovine Semimembranosus muscle) and churros (flour, water, milk, lemon and salt) in soybean oil, sunflower oil and partially hydrogenated fats, monitored by conventional and unconventional methods. With the exception of partially hydrogenated fat after 80.5 h of deep-frying churros, all the oils exceeded 25% of total polar compounds (TPC) and the content of polymeric and dimerized triacylglycerols were higher than 10%, prevailing thermal alterations. For none of the samples the percentage of free fatty acids exceeded 2% of oleic acid. The losses of tocopherols during frying reached 76.0%. Little significant alterations occurred in the fatty acids composition, iodine index calculated, saponification index and formation of trans isomers after frying. The rapid tests used to determine TPC, malondialdehyde and alkenals have proved to be viable alternatives to monitor the quality of frying oils.     

Co catalysts modified by rare earths (La,Ce or Pr) for hydrogen production from ethanol

Co/MgAl₂O₄ catalysts modified with La, Pr or Ce were prepared, characterized by different techniques and tested in ethanol steam reforming reaction to produce hydrogen. The catalytic behavior at 650 °C depended on the nature of rare earth. The amount of carbon on promoted catalysts was significantly lower than that on unpromoted one. The Pr and La containing catalysts produced a high acetaldehyde selectivity which decreased the hydrogen production. The superior performance of the catalyst promoted with 7.8% Ce could be partially explained by a higher dispersion and a high reduction of Co species.     

Characterisation and Antioxidant Activity of Crude Extract and Polyphenolic Rich Fractions from C. incanus Leaves

Cistus incanus (Cistaceae) is a Mediterranean evergreen shrub. Cistus incanus herbal teas have been used as a general remedy in traditional medicine since ancient times. Recent studies on the antioxidant properties of its aqueous extracts have indicated polyphenols to be the most active compounds. However, a whole chemical characterisation of polyphenolic compounds in leaves of Cistus incanus (C. incanus) is still lacking. Moreover, limited data is available on the contribution of different polyphenolic compounds towards the total antioxidant capacity of its extracts. The purpose of this study was to characterise the major polyphenolic compounds present in a crude ethanolic leaf extract (CEE) of C. incanus and develop a method for their fractionation. Superoxide anion, hydroxyl and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging assays were also performed to evaluate the antioxidant properties of the obtained fractions. Three different polyphenolic enriched extracts, namely EAC (Ethyl Acetate Fraction), AF1 and AF2 (Aqueos Fractions), were obtained from CEE. Our results indicated that the EAC, enriched in flavonols, exhibited a higher antiradical activity compared to the tannin enriched fractions (AF1 and AF2). These findings provide new perspectives for the use of the EAC as a source of antioxidant compounds with potential uses in pharmaceutical preparations.     

Facile synthesis of well dispersed Pd nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide for electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid

In present study, we report a facile synthesis of crystalline, small size Pd nanoparticles (NPs) on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) abbreviated as Pd/RGO for electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid (FA). Here, first graphene oxide (GO) was reduced by the green method using l-ascorbic acid and citric acid and further Pd NPs were decorated on RGO by a facile method without using any reducing agents. The reduction of GO to RGO and synthesis of Pd NPs was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectrons (XPS) techniques. Surface morphology of Pd/RGO nanocomposite was evaluated by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The electrocatalytic behavior of Pd/RGO nanocomposite was tested by using of cyclic voltammetric (CV) technique for electro-oxidation of FA in mixed solution of 0.5 M HCOOH + 0.5 H₂SO₄ at RT. Results shows that the higher electrocatalytic activity of Pd/RGO nanocomposite compare to Pd NPs.     

Adhesive interface and bond strength of endodontic sealers to root canal dentine after immersion in phosphate‐buffered saline

This study evaluated the bond strength (BS) and the adhesive interface of four endodontic sealers to root canal dentine, before, and after immersion in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) to simulate an in vivo environment. Eighty roots were instrumented using ProTaper rotatory files, under irrigation with 17% EDTA and 1% NaOCl. Posteriorly were divided into four groups (n = 20) according to the sealer used: Endofill, AH Plus, Sealapex, and MTA Fillapex. Each group was divided into two subgroups (n = 10) and stored at 37°C immersed in water for 7 days and in PBS for 60 days. From each subgroup, 1 mm thick sections were obtained. One section of each region (coronal, middle, and apical) was submitted to the push‐out test and failures were observed. Twelve sections of each subgroup (four from each region) were evaluated under SEM. Three‐way ANOVA evaluation for BS showed significant differences between groups and regions (P < 0.0001), but not between subgroups (P > 0.05). AH Plus had significantly higher BS than the others sealers, regardless of the analyzed subgroup (Tukey's test, P < 0.5). The most common failures were adhesive to dentine and cohesive of the sealer. The SEM evaluation (Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney) showed homogeneous adhesive interface formed and sealer tags in all groups with significant statistical differences with AH Plus, regardless of PBS immersion. AH Plus was superior to the other sealers for both BS and quality of interface formation. Immersion in PBS did not interfere on BS or adhesive interface of the sealers tested. Microsc. Res. Tech. 77:1015–1022, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Modulating spectroelectrochemical properties of [Ni(salen)] polymeric films at molecular level

Electroactive polymer films based on [Ni(salen)]-type complexes were fabricated and their electronic properties characterized using in situ UV–visible spectroelectrochemistry. The extent of π electronic delocalisation and electronic asymmetry were manipulated by introduction of different conjugated imine bridges. Measured electronic spectra were interpreted in terms of polaronic states in the band gap and metal-oxidized ligand charge transfer bands. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations for the monomers showed that the HOMO orbital (which governs oxidation potential) is ligand-dominated, and that substituents with greater electronic delocalisation in the diimine bridge decrease the HOMO–LUMO energy gap. Replacement of methyl by methoxyl substituents in the aldehyde moiety increases the calculated dipole moment. Substitution-driven variations in E_HOMO–E_LUMO for the monomers were reflected in the corresponding polymer band gaps, demonstrating that monomer electronic properties can be used predictively in the manipulation of polymer electronic properties. An important strategic aspect is the correlation of DFT predictions with the observed electronic properties of monomeric and polymeric materials; the extent to which such modelling can be used to optimise synthetic effort is discussed.     

Genetic parameters of different measures of somatic cell counts in the Rendena breed

The objective of this study was to consider different and alternative methods of using somatic cell count (SCC) data recorded according to the Italian official milk recording system, estimating its genetic parameters and the correlations with the yield traits (milk, fat, and protein) in the Rendena breed. The SCC traits defined for genetic evaluation were somatic cell score, log of the total daily SCC (LTSCC, i.e., SCC multiplied by daily milk yield) individually recorded in a day of official control, and 3 different thresholds (≥80,000, ≥150,000, and ≥400,000 cells/mL) for somatic cells. A total of 187,052 test-day monthly records of milk, fat, and protein yields and SCC belonging to 11,718 cows were used to estimate heritability and genetic correlations between SCC and yield traits via a bi-trait repeatability test-day model using a Bayesian approach. The heritability values estimated for the threshold traits ranged from 0.036 to 0.065, less than those observed for monthly somatic cell score and LTSCC traits that were equivalent to 0.088 and 0.103, respectively. Higher genetic correlations were estimated between LTSCC trait and all productive traits (0.379 for milk, 0.240 for fat, and 0.370 for protein). The other SCC traits considered have shown low or almost null genetic correlations with the productive traits (from 0.008 between fat yield and SCC ≥150,000 cells/mL to 0.234 between protein yield and SCC ≥400,000 cells/mL) and almost all estimates included zero in the 95% highest posterior density region interval. These results indicated that genetic selection for milk, fat, and protein production negatively affects the LTSCC content and SCC ≥400,000 cells/mL but does not negatively influence the other somatic cell and threshold SCC traits in the Rendena breed. However, the complete framework of genetic relationships of SCC with all traits under selection should be considered when deciding on the possible inclusion of SCC in the breeding program of this small cattle population.