Effect of Chemically Modified Carbon-Coated Iron Nanoparticles on the Structure of Human Atherosclerotic Plaques Ex Vivo and on Adipose Tissue in Chronic Experiment In Vivo

The high mortality rate caused by atherosclerosis makes it necessary to constantly search for new and better treatments. In previous reports, chemically modified carbon-coated iron nanoparticles (Fe@C NPs) have been demonstrated a high biocompatibility and promising anti-plaque properties. To further investigate these effects, the interaction of these nanoparticles with the adipose tissue of Wistar rats (in vivo) and human atherosclerotic plaques (ex vivo) was studied. For the in vivo study, cobalt–chromium (CoCr) alloy tubes, which are used for coronary stent manufacturing, were prepared with a coating of polylactic acid (PLA) which contained either modified or non-modified Fe@C NPs in a 5% by weight concentration. The tubes were implanted into an area of subcutaneous fat in Wistar rats, where changes in the histological structure and functional properties of the surrounding tissue were observed in the case of coatings modified with Fe@C NPs. For the ex vivo study, freshly explanted human atherosclerotic plaques were treated in the physiological solution with doses of modified Fe@C NPs, with mass equal to 5% or 25% relative to the plaques. This treatment resulted in the release of cholesterol-like compounds from the surface of the plaques into the solution, thus proving a pronounced destructive effect on the plaque structure. Chemically modified Fe@C NPs, when used as an anti-atherosclerosis agent, were able to activate the activity of macrophages, which could lead to the destruction of atherosclerotic plaques structures. These findings could prove the fabrication of next-generation vascular stents with built-in anti-atherosclerotic agents.     

High Fill Factor and Open Circuit Voltage in Organic Photovoltaic Cells with Diindenoperylene as Donor Material

Small‐molecule photovoltaic cells using diindenoperylene (DIP) as a new donor material in combination with the fullerene C₆₀ as an electron acceptor are demonstrated. In addition to the successful application in planar and bulk heterojunction devices, a comprehensive analysis including structural studies, the determination of the energy level alignment and electrical transport investigations is given, stressing the correlation between growth conditions, film morphology, and device performance. Due to pronounced crystallinity and a large surface area of DIP films grown at elevated temperature, exceptionally high fill factors of almost 75% are achieved in planar heterojunction cells. Bulk heterojunctions exhibit large‐scale phase separation forming a bicontinuous network of both molecular species, which enables efficient exciton dissociation and charge carrier transport. The high ionization potential of DIP and the favorable energy level alignment with the fullerene C₆₀ yield large open circuit voltages close to 1 V and comparable power conversion efficiencies of about 4% in both cell architectures.     

The Role of Macrophytes in Constructed Surface-flow Wetlands for Mine Water Treatment: A Review

Mine Water and the Environment - Constructed wetlands are a standard sustainable technology in waste and mine water treatment. Whereas macrophytes actively contribute to decomposition and/or...     

Global ischemia induces downregulation of Glur2 mRNA and increases AMPA receptor-mediated Ca2+ influx in hippocampal CA1 neurons of gerbil

Transient, severe forebrain or global ischemia leads to delayed cell death of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal CA1. The precise molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal cell death after global ischemia are as yet unknown. Glutamate receptor-mediated Ca2+ influx is thought to play a critical role in this cell death. In situ hybridization revealed that the expression of mRNA encoding GluR2 (the subunit that limits Ca2+ permeability of AMPA-type glutamate receptors) was markedly and specifically reduced in gerbil CA1 pyramidal neurons after global ischemia but before the onset of neurodegeneration. To determine whether the change in GluR2 expression is functionally significant, we examined the AMPA receptor-mediated rise in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]i) in individual CA1 pyramidal neurons by optical imaging with the Ca2+ indicator dye fura-2 and by intracellular recording. Seventy-two hours after ischemia, CA1 neurons that retained the ability to fire action potentials exhibited a greatly enhanced AMPA-elicited rise in [Ca2+]i. Basal [Ca2+]i in these neurons was unchanged. These findings provide evidence for Ca2+ entry directly through AMPA receptors in pyramidal neurons destined to die. Downregulation of GluR2 gene expression and an increase in Ca2+ influx through AMPA receptors in response to endogenous glutamate are likely to contribute to the delayed neuronal death after global ischemia.     

Bilaterally cleft lip, limb defects, and haematological manifestations: Roberts syndrome versus TAR syndrome

OBJECTIVES: To examine the causes of death among 1130 former workers of a plant in Tyler, Texas dedicated to the manufacture of asbestos pipe insulation materials. This cohort is important and unusual because it used amosite as the only asbestiform mineral in the production process. High level exposure of such a specific type was documented through industrial hygiene surveys in the plant. METHODS: Deaths were ascertained through various sources including data tapes from the Texas Department of Health and the national death index files. As many death certificates as possible were secured (304/315) and cause of death assigned. After select exclusions, 222 death certificates were used in the analysis. Causes of death were compared with age, race, and sex specific mortalities for the United States population with a commercial software package (OCMAP Version 2.0). RESULTS: There was an excess of deaths from respiratory cancer including the bronchus, trachea, and lung (standardised mortality ratio (SMR) 277 with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 193 to 385). Four pleural mesotheliomas and two peritoneal mesotheliomas were identified. The analysis also showed an increasing risk of respiratory malignancy with increased duration of exposure including a significant excess of total deaths from respiratory cancer with less than six months of work at the plant (SMR 268 with 95% CI 172 to 399). CONCLUSIONS: The importance of the cohort lies with the pure amosite exposure which took place in the plant and the extended period of latency which has followed. The death certificate analysis indicates the pathogenicity of amosite, the predominant commercial amphibole used in the United States. These data confirm a link between amosite asbestos and respiratory malignancy as well as mesothelioma.     

Reduction of bacterial contamination during mechanical autotransfusion by uv irradiation--initial results

Electrodiagnostic techniques used in an EMG-Laboratory and the diagnostic value in focal mononeuropathies are presented. The electrodiagnostic techniques include nerve conduction studies and needle electrode examination. Measurement of distal latency, amplitude, conduction velocity and the finding of focal conduction block may localize the focal character of the mononeuropathy. The needle electrode examination gives further information about distribution, extent, activity, or chronicity of the disease, especially in cases with axonal injuries. Some normal electrodiagnostic patterns are presented, accompanied by some illustrative pathological cases.     

Antitumor activity of ilmofosine (BM 41.440) in the3Lewis-lung carcinoma model

Ilmofosine (1-hexadecylthio-2-methoxymethyl-1,3-propanediol-phosphocholine, BM 41.440) is a thioether phospholipid with cytostatic/cytotoxic properties. The antineoplastic activity of this compound was investigatedin vivo in the³Lewis-lung carcinoma system.³Lewis lung tumor-bearing C57Bl/6 mice were treated with 0.625 to 40 mg Il-mofosine/kg per dayp.o. either from days 1 to 9 or from days 11 to 28 after intrafoot-pad tumor cell inoculation. Ilmofosine caused a significant dose-related response on tumor growth and metastases, expressed in terms of tumor diameter, tumor weight, survival time and number of metastases-free animals as compared to sham-treated and positive (cyclophosphamide) controls. The results suggest that direct cytostatic/cytotoxic effects, rather than immune-modulatory mechanisms, preferentially contribute to the antitumor activity of Ilmofosinein vivo. Based on a paper presented at the Third international Conference on Platelet-Activating Factor and Structurally Related Alkyl Ether Lipids, Tokyo, Japan, May 1989.     

Hygienic problems of air moistening in children''s facilities]

Advances in understanding genetic disorders have been rapid in the last few years and with them the need and desire for genetic counselling have grown. Almost simultaneously, particularly in the USA, several large screening programmes have been initiated to screen large numbers of people who may be carriers of such deleterious genes as those of Tay-Sachs disease and sickle cell anaemia. The authors of this paper, clinical medical students at University College Hospital, London, spent some time studying the ethical issues raised. The first part of their study, which is not published here, relates to the biochemistry of certain genetic disorders, so leading up to the aspect of the subject which must concern readers of this journal, genetic counselling. At present genetic counselling is generally the province of the medical practitioner working with clinical biochemists, and in this paper their function is described and how programmes of screening for carriers are designed. Whether the subjects of the screening tests are found to be 'innocent' or 'guilty' psychological problems confront them, and of these the genetic counsellor must be aware. In fact the range of ethical problems raised by such counselling is wide and can only be sketched in this article.