2,4-Disubstituted 5-Nitroimidazoles Potent against Clostridium difficile

Metronidazole is one of the first-line treatments for non-severe Clostridium difficile infections (CDI). However, resistance limits its use in cases of severe and complicated CDI. Structure–activity relationships previously described for the 5-nitroimidazole series have shown that functionalization at the 2- and 4-positions can impart better activity against parasites and anaerobic bacteria than metronidazole. Herein we report the synthesis of new 2,4-disubstituted 5-nitroimidazole compounds that show potent antibacterial activity against C. difficile. We used a vicarious nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen (VNS) reaction to introduce a phenylmethylsulfone at the 4-position and a unimolecular radical nucleophilic substitution (S_RN1) reaction to introduce an ethylenic function at the 2-position of the 5-nitroimidazole scaffold.     

Oil Microsealing: A Robust Micro‐compartmentalization Method for On‐Chip Chemical and Biological Assays

A simple and robust method to compartmentalize aqueous solutions into an array of independent microchambers is presented. The array of microchambers fabricated in poly(dimethylsiloxane) are filled with the sample solution through a microfluidic channel and then sealed with oil to isolate the microchambers from each other. A water reservoir close to the microchambers allows the maintainance and incubation of sub‐nanoliter solutions (e.g., at 37 °C) within the chambers for hours without any problem of evaporation. Once assembled, the device is self‐sustainable and can be used for different application purposes. As a demonstration, the device configuration is shown to be suitable for spatiotemporal control of the inner solution conditions by light stimulation through a photomask. This method was applied for the generation of regular EmGFP (emerald green fluorescent protein) expression arrays, selective photobleaching, photopatterning of calcium concentration, and cell culture in independent microchambers.     

Hypoxia Inhibits Subretinal Inflammation Resolution Thrombospondin-1 Dependently

Hypoxia is potentially one of the essential triggers in the pathogenesis of wet age-related macular degeneration (wetAMD), characterized by choroidal neovascularization (CNV) which is driven by the accumulation of subretinal mononuclear phagocytes (MP) that include monocyte-derived cells. Here we show that systemic hypoxia (10% O₂) increased subretinal MP infiltration and inhibited inflammation resolution after laser-induced subretinal injury in vivo. Accordingly, hypoxic (2% O₂) human monocytes (Mo) resisted elimination by RPE cells in co-culture. In Mos from hypoxic mice, Thrombospondin 1 mRNA (Thbs1) was most downregulated compared to normoxic animals and hypoxia repressed Thbs-1 expression in human monocytes in vitro. Hypoxic ambient air inhibited MP clearance during the resolution phase of laser-injury in wildtype animals, but had no effect on the exaggerated subretinal MP infiltration observed in normoxic Thbs1^−/−-mice. Recombinant Thrombospondin 1 protein (TSP-1) completely reversed the pathogenic effect of hypoxia in Thbs1^−/−-mice, and accelerated inflammation resolution and inhibited CNV in wildtype mice. Together, our results demonstrate that systemic hypoxia disturbs TSP-1-dependent subretinal immune suppression and promotes pathogenic subretinal inflammation and can be therapeutically countered by local recombinant TSP-1.     

ESMRMB 2016, 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting,Vienna, AT,September 29–October 1: Abstracts,Thursday

Objective

To evaluate the feasibility of in vivo measurement of the fatty acid (FA) composition of breast adipose tissue by MRS on a clinical platform.

Material and methods

MRS experiments were performed at 3 T, using a STEAM sequence, on 25 patients diagnosed with breast cancer. MR spectra, acquired on healthy breast tissue, were analysed with the LCModel.

Results

The measured values of the saturated fatty acid (SFA), mono-unsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and poly-unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) fractions were 23.8 ± 7.1 %, 55.4 ± 6.8 % and 20.8 ± 4.4 %, respectively.The values of SFA, MUFA and PUFA observed in the current study are in the same range as those found in two previous studies performed at 7 T.

Conclusion

The results of the current study show that it is possible to quantify the fatty acid composition of breast tissue in vivo in a clinical setting (3 T).

     

Grouted and concreted soils: residue mapping of foundation techniques in Flanders,Belgium

Sand is one of the main raw materials used in infrastructure and road construction. While it is a common natural raw material worldwide, the locations where it can be found are not evenly distributed. Because Flanders is highly dependent on imported sand, there is a need to find alternatives. One alternative might be found in the residues from foundation techniques like grout, soil mixed with bentonite, and cemented soils. This paper reports an attempt to determine the annual amount of residues from these foundation techniques available on the Flemish market, by use of a market study. This study estimated that the annual amount of grouted soils and cemented soil remainders is more than 40% of the annual amount of natural sands dredged from the Belgian Continental Shelf. Preliminary tests show that grout and cemented soil remainders could be a valuable replacement for natural sand currently used in low grade applications like sub foundations and stabilized sands.     

A review on the clinical applications of the Chinese MMPI.

Twenty-six studies on the clinical applications of the Chinese version of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) in China are reviewed. The results show that the basic scales are able to differentiate between normals and psychiatric patients, including schizophrenics, manics, depressives, and neurotics. Distinctive profiles were obtained for the different diagnostic groups, similar to the clinical patterns observed in the United States. The average T scores for Scales F, 2, and 8, which were high among Chinese normals, were further elevated among the patient groups. When the Chinese norm was applied, the T scores on the clinical scales fell under 70 for all patient groups. The Chinese researchers suggested a cutoff value of 60 for the Chinese norm. Concordance between MMPI profiles and clinical diagnoses was high for the schizophrenics and moderate for the other patient groups. The results support the clinical applications of the Chinese MMPI in China. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Water Diffusion in Hardened Cement Pastes

The diffusion of water into hardened cement samples containing different kinds of additives has been studied for the first time using nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI). The results indicate that NMRI can be used as a research and industrial method to evaluate the properties (permeability, durability, etc.) of the final cement product.     

Review of Intercultural counselling and assessment: Global perspectives.

Reviews the book, Intercultural Counselling and Assessment: Global Perspectives edited by Ronald J. Samuda and Aaron Wolfgang (1985). Intercultural Counselling and Assessment is an edited volume of papers presented to an invited Symposium on Intercultural Counselling held at Queen's University at Kingston, Ontario, 1983. The intention of the publication, as stated by the editors, was to fill the gap in guidelines and methods in intercultural counselling by providing source material that is both theoretical and practical. The book is geared to professionals in the field of education, psychology, and social work, with the goal of engendering "greater sensitivity and a more professional approach to the task of coping with an increasingly varied and mixed population of students in schools" (p. xvii). The strength of the book lies in its comprehensive coverage. The philosophy of counselling conveyed in the book reflects the orientation of multiculturalism in Canadian immigration policy. Six chapters address the issues and answers in counselling specific ethnic and cultural groups, including Chinese immigrants, South Asian immigrants, West Indian immigrants, European immigrants, Native Canadians, and foreign students. Another six chapters provide the background and guidelines for counselling minorities in specific environments, such as in employment, correctional service, disability service, and education. It is a comprehensive volume and has highlighted the important issues that counsellors should become familiar with in an intercultural society. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)