Studies on near infrared optical absorption, Raman scattering, and corresponding thermal properties of single- and double-walled carbon nanotubes for possible cancer targeting and laser-based ablation

We report the photo-thermal properties of single and double wall carbon nanotubes (CNT) dispersed in various solvents with different concentrations when exposed to near infrared nm laser irradiations. All these studies were correlated to the dispersivity of CNT in various solvents. The observed temperature increase of the various nanotube solutions was found to be determined by the concentration of the optically active nanotubes, as determined from their Raman scattering spectra, which are resonant in the spectral range of the laser excitation. Such findings could significantly improve the understanding of the optically active CNT species, their overall laser induced-heating levels, and thus reducing the amount of the CNT required for bio-medical photothermal applications to limit the possible undesired cytotoxic effects that occur at high nanotube concentrations. Our studies open up the possibility of using selective species of CNT as effective low-toxic photo thermal agents for cancer targeting and ablation.     

Method to Determine the Number of Bacterial Spores Within Aerosol Particles

We describe methodology to reveal the number of microbial spores within aerosol particles. The procedure involves visualization under differential- interference-contrast microscopy enhanced by high-resolution photography and further analysis by computer-assisted imaging. The method was used to analyze spore of Bacillus globigii in aerosols generated by a small (pressured metered-dose inhaler type) generator. Particles consisting in 1 or 2 spores accounted for 85% of all generated particles. This percentage rose to 91% when the same aerosol was collected on an Andersen cascade impactor that collected particles larger than 0.65 μm and was even higher (96%) when particles larger than 3.3 μm were also eliminated. These results demonstrate that the imaging analysis of aerosol particles collected on glass slides is sensitive to even relatively small changes in aerosol particle composition. The accuracy of the enhanced microscopic method described herein (differences between visual and computer analysis were approximately 3% of the total particle counts) seems adequate to determine the spore composition of aerosols of interest in biodefense.     

Synthesis of mixed-sequence oligonucleotides on mesoporous silicon: chemical strategies and material stability

Rapid screening tests in medical diagnostic and environmental analysis are often based on oligonucleotide biochips. In this paper, we studied the stability of functionalized mesoporous silicon supports in the solid-phase synthesis of oligonucleotides, exploiting several chemical procedures. A 19-mer mixed sequence has been successfully synthesized on aminosilane-modified porous silicon photonic structures. The process and the materials have been characterized by optical reflectivity, atomic force microscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography.     

Sildenafil Attenuates Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Pelvic Ganglia Neurons after Bilateral Cavernosal Nerve Damage

Erectile dysfunction is a common complication for patients undergoing surgeries for prostate, bladder, and colorectal cancers, due to damage of the nerves associated with the major pelvic ganglia (MPG). Functional re-innervation of target organs depends on the capacity of the neurons to survive and switch towards a regenerative phenotype. PDE5 inhibitors (PDE5i) have been successfully used in promoting the recovery of erectile function after cavernosal nerve damage (BCNR) by up-regulating the expression of neurotrophic factors in MPG. However, little is known about the effects of PDE5i on markers of neuronal damage and oxidative stress after BCNR. This study aimed to investigate the changes in gene and protein expression profiles of inflammatory, anti-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress related-pathways in MPG neurons after BCNR and subsequent treatment with sildenafil. Our results showed that BCNR in Fisher-344 rats promoted up-regulation of cytokines (interleukin- 1 (IL-1) β, IL-6, IL-10, transforming growth factor β 1 (TGFβ1), and oxidative stress factors (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, Myeloperoxidase (MPO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), TNF receptor superfamily member 5 (CD40) that were normalized by sildenafil treatment given in the drinking water. In summary, PDE5i can attenuate the production of damaging factors and can up-regulate the expression of beneficial factors in the MPG that may ameliorate neuropathic pain, promote neuroprotection, and favor nerve regeneration.     

Undetected Toxicity Risk in Pharmacogenetic Testing for Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase

Fluoropyrimidines, the mainstay agents for the treatment of colorectal cancer, alone or as a part of combination therapies, cause severe adverse reactions in about 10%–30% of patients. Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), a key enzyme in the catabolism of 5-fluorouracil, has been intensively investigated in relation to fluoropyrimidine toxicity, and several DPD gene (DPYD) polymorphisms are associated with decreased enzyme activity and increased risk of fluoropyrimidine-related toxicity. In patients carrying non-functional DPYD variants (c.1905+1G>A, c.1679T>G, c.2846A>T), fluoropyrimidines should be avoided or reduced according to the patients’ homozygous or heterozygous status, respectively. For other common DPYD variants (c.496A>G, c.1129-5923C>G, c.1896T>C), conflicting data are reported and their use in clinical practice still needs to be validated. The high frequency of DPYD polymorphism and the lack of large prospective trials may explain differences in studies’ results. The epigenetic regulation of DPD expression has been recently investigated to explain the variable activity of the enzyme. DPYD promoter methylation and its regulation by microRNAs may affect the toxicity risk of fluoropyrimidines. The studies we reviewed indicate that pharmacogenetic testing is promising to direct personalised dosing of fluoropyrimidines, although further investigations are needed to establish the role of DPD in severe toxicity in patients treated for colorectal cancer.     

Agomelatine beyond Borders: Current Evidences of Its Efficacy in Disorders Other than Major Depression

Agomelatine, a melatonergic antidepressant with a rapid onset of action, is one of the most recent drugs in the antidepressant category. Agomelatine’s antidepressant actions are attributed to its sleep-promoting and chronobiotic actions mediated by MT1 and MT2 receptors present in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, as well as to its effects on the blockade of 5-HT2c receptors. Blockade of 5-HT2c receptors causes release of both noradrenaline and dopamine at the fronto-cortical dopaminergic and noradrenergic pathways. The combined actions of agomelatine on MT1/MT2 and 5-HT2c receptors facilitate the resynchronization of altered circadian rhythms and abnormal sleep patterns. Agomelatine appeared to be effective in treating major depression. Moreover, evidence exists that points out a possible efficacy of such drug in the treatment of bipolar depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol dependence, migraines etc. Thus, the aim of this narrative review was to elucidate current evidences on the role of agomelatine in disorders other than major depression.     

Plasma-assisted catalysis total oxidation of trichloroethylene over gold nano-particles embedded in SBA-15 catalysts

The oxidative decomposition of trichloroethylene (TCE) in dry air was investigated in non-thermal plasma at atmospheric pressure and room temperature, both in the absence and in the presence of gold containing mesoporous silica (GMS) catalysts. In the absence of catalyst, TCE removal reached 100% for average powers dissipated in the plasma above 3 W, for a TCE concentration of 430 ppmv. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide were the major reaction products with CO₂ selectivity up to 25% and CO selectivity up to 70%. In the presence of gold containing mesoporous catalysts, the concentrations of CO and CO₂ increased as compared to those obtained with plasma alone. The GMS catalysts can dissociate ozone produced in plasma to oxygen radicals that decompose TCE. Among these catalysts, the one containing the least amount of Au (0.5% GMS) showed the best catalytic performance. In the presence of ozone generated in the plasma, isolated gold cations might play a critical role for the catalytic behavior.     

The dark side of interval temporal logic: marking the undecidability border

Unlike the Moon, the dark side of interval temporal logics is the one we usually see: their ubiquitous undecidability. Identifying minimal undecidable interval logics is thus a natural and important issue in that research area. In this paper, we identify several new minimal undecidable logics amongst the fragments of Halpern and Shoham’s logic HS, including the logic of the overlaps relation, over the classes of all finite linear orders and all linear orders, as well as the logic of the meets and subinterval relations, over the classes of all and dense linear orders. Together with previous undecidability results, this work contributes to bringing the identification of the dark side of interval temporal logics very close to the definitive picture.