Epigenetic Alterations Related to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common metabolic complication in pregnancy, which affects the future health of both the mother and the newborn. Its pathophysiology involves nutritional, hormonal, immunological, genetic and epigenetic factors. Among the latter, it has been observed that alterations in DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) methylation patterns and in the levels of certain micro RNAs, whether in placenta or adipose tissue, are related to well-known characteristics of the disease, such as hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, inflammation and excessive placental growth. Furthermore, epigenetic alterations of gestational diabetes mellitus are observable in maternal blood, although their pathophysiological roles are completely unknown. Despite this, it has not been possible to determine the causes of the epigenetic characteristics of GDM, highlighting the need for integral and longitudinal studies. Based on this, this article summarizes the most relevant and recent studies on epigenetic alterations in placenta, adipose tissue and maternal blood associated with GDM in order to provide the reader with a general overview of the subject and indicate future research topics.     

Rhodium complexes containing chiral P-donor ligands as catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation in non conventional media

Abstract  

Rhodium-catalysed asymmetric hydrogenation using P-donor ligands, such as new fluorinated (R)-BINOL and azadioxaphosphabicyclo[3.3.0]octane derivatives was carried out in different reaction media such as organic solvent (CH₂Cl₂), ionic liquid ([BMI][PF₆]), supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) and [BMI][PF₆]/scCO₂ mixture. The best enantioselectivities were obtained in neat [BMI][PF₆], allowing a recycling up to ten times without activity loss. However, the enantioselectivity was lost due to ligand leaching. The ionic liquid phase containing rhodium molecular species was supported on functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes in order to improve the recycling, but unfortunately the asymmetric induction was lost upon catalyst immobilization.     

Sterol O-Acyltransferase 2-Driven Cholesterol Esterification Opposes Liver X Receptor-Stimulated Fecal Neutral Sterol Loss

Statin drugs have proven a successful and relatively safe therapy for the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, even with the substantial low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol lowering achieved with statin treatment, CVD remains the top cause of death in developed countries. Selective inhibitors of the cholesterol esterifying enzyme sterol‐O acyltransferase 2 (SOAT2) hold great promise as effective CVD therapeutics. In mouse models, previous work has demonstrated that either antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) or small molecule inhibitors of SOAT2 can effectively reduce CVD progression, and even promote regression of established CVD. Although it is well known that SOAT2‐driven cholesterol esterification can alter both the packaging and retention of atherogenic apoB‐containing lipoproteins, here we set out to determine whether SOAT2‐driven cholesterol esterification can also impact basal and liver X receptor (LXR)‐stimulated fecal neutral sterol loss. These studies demonstrate that SOAT2 is a negative regulator of LXR‐stimulated fecal neutral sterol loss in mice.     

New N-(2-carboxybenzyl)chitosan composite scaffolds containing nanoTiO2 or bioactive glass with enhanced cell proliferation for bone-tissue engineering applications

In the present study N-(2-carboxbenzyl)chitosan (CBCS) 3D macroporous hybrid scaffolds with interconnected pore system, containing 0.5, 2.5, and 5?wt% TiO₂ nanoparticles (nTiO₂) and 2.5?wt% Bioglass 45S5 (BG) have been synthesized using freeze-drying technique. Compressive strength values verified that the modification of chitosan combined with the presence of inorganic fillers can attribute significant mechanical stiffness to the scaffold. The in vitro biomineralization test confirmed that all samples were bioinert as mineral deposits were detected with X-ray diffractometry after incubation in SBF. Cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of all scaffolds were tested by using and Wharton’s jelly–derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) and human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cell line. Metabolic activity, proliferation, migration, and attachment to the scaffolds were examined. Cells appeared to attach around the superficial pores and migrate in them. Cells also maintained their morphology, proliferated, and migrated across the scaffolds and showed consistent and proved compatibility.     

Chemical Analysis of Polyphenols with Antioxidant Capacity from Pinus durangensis Bark

The most active phenolics in Pinus durangensis residual bark were identified and evaluated following a chromatographic fractionation. Bark powder was defatted with hexane, and a crude extract (CE) was obtained by extraction with aqueous acetone (67%). A liquid partition with ethyl acetate was performed to produce an organic extract (OE), which was subsequently purified by column chromatography (Toyopearl HW-40F, methanol), resulting in ten fractions (MF1 to MF10) and an oligomeric fraction eluted with acetone 67% (OLF). Subfraction MF6-1 was obtained by a second chromatographic purification of MF6. Extraction yields, total phenolics, flavonoids, and flavanols contents were determined in CE and OE. The antioxidant activity of bark extracts was measured by DPPH and ABTS assays at 100 µg/mL, expressed in percentage, median effective concentration (IC₅₀), and TEAC (mM). Also the low density lipoprotein inhibition was evaluated. Identification of major phenolics was carried out by HPLCESI–MS and HPLC–DAD instruments. Bioactive taxifolin (dihydroquercetin), dihydromyricetin, myricetin, quercetin, pinomyricetin (myricetin-methoxy), pinoquercetin (quercetin-methoxy), trimeric, and tetrameric procyanidins were detected and identified in P. durangensis bark extracts. Polyphenols found are similar to those contained in Pycnogenol and other Pinus species.     

Isoprene (co)polymers with glycidyl methacrylate via bimolecular and unimolecular nitroxide mediated radical polymerization

Homo and copolymerization of isoprene with small amounts (1–10 wt %) of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) are conducted using controlled‐living radical polymerization mediated by nitroxides at 120 °C and 1170 kPa in solution with toluene (30 wt % solids). N‐tert‐butyl‐N‐(2‐methyl‐1‐phenylpropyl)‐O‐(1‐phenylethyl) hydroxylamine is successfully used as a control agent (unimolecular process) although other controllers are also tested (TIPNO and OH‐TEMPO in a bimolecular process using BPO as initiator). Chain extension experiments demonstrate the livingness of the synthesized materials. Several additives (acetic anhydride, camphorsulfonic acid and glucose) prove effective in accelerating the reactions. All the successful polymerizations result in first‐order kinetics with respect to the monomer, yielding average molecular weights (M_n) of about 75% compared to the theoretical M_n (M_{n, theo}) with dispersities (Ð) ranging from 1.2 to 1.7 depending on the agent used for control. Controlled grafts of poly(isoprene‐co‐GMA) are also attached to polyisoprene via nitroxide chemistry. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 45108.     

The shifting gender composition of psychology: Trends and implications for the discipline.

Psychology, along with the majority of professions and scientific disciplines, has undergone dramatic shifts in gender composition over the past two decades. These changes have prompted concern that this increased participation by women may lead to erosion in the status of these occupations. This article describes the results of a case study of psychology conducted by a subcommittee of the American Psychological Association's (APA's) Task Force on the Changing Gender Composition of Psychology to examine the discipline's changing gender composition and the factors related to these shifts. Societal and disciplinary trends are examined, along with data on the patterns of men's and women's involvement in the educational pipeline and workplace. The results provide little support for the concern over the increasing representation of women and its impact on the prestige of the discipline. Rather, they suggest that changes in the nature and status of psychology per se may be at least partly responsible for the changes in male and female participation and that the nature, magnitude, and causes of these disciplinary changes require further examination. Specific recommendations for the APA prepared by another subcommittee of the Task Force are also presented in the Appendix. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Does visual attention select objects or locations?

Much research supports location-based attentional selection, but J. Duncan (see record 1985-29839-001) presented data favoring object-based selection in a shape discrimination task. Does attention select objects or locations? The authors confirmed that Duncan's task elicits selection from spatially invariant object representations rather than from a grouped location-based representation. They next asked whether this finding was due to location-based filtering; the results again supported object-based selection. Finally, it was demonstrated that when Duncan's objects were used in a cued detection task, the results were consistent with location-based selection. These results suggest that there may be a single attention mechanism, consistent with Duncan's original claim that object-based and location-based attentional selection are not mutually exclusive. Rather, attentional limitations may depend on the type of stimulus representation used in performing a given task. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)