Anti-Anisakis antibodies in colon cancer patients and their relationship with γδ T-cells.

Many pathogens are related to carcinogenesis. Chronic inflammation, as a result of persistent infection, leads to DNA damage, higher expression of oncogenes, decreased apoptosis and immunosuppression, which are some of the reasons for cancer induction. Among parasites, Schistosoma, Opistorchis and Clonorchis are recognised as infectious agents which contribute to cancer.

Latent Microsporidia Infection Prevalence as a Risk Factor in Colon Cancer Patients.

Microsporidia are opportunistic intracellular parasites, generating serious pathology in individuals with a compromised immune system. Infection by microsporidia inhibits p53 and Caspase 3, proteins involved in apoptosis and the cell cycle, which are vital in the malignant process of epithelial cells. The presence of microsporidia in the intestinal tissues of 87 colon cancer (CC) patients and 25 healthy controls was analyzed by real-time PCR and an immunofluorescence antibody test.

Self-assembly pathways in a triphenylalanine peptide capped with aromatic groups.

Peptide derivatives and, most specifically, their self-assembled supramolecular structures are being considered in the design of novel biofunctional materials. Although the self-assembly of triphenylalanine homopeptides has been found to be more versatile than that of homopeptides containing an even number of residues (i.e.

Stereoselective, Ruthenium-Photocatalyzed Synthesis of 1,2-Diaminotruxinic Bis-amino Acids from 4-Arylidene-5(4)-oxazolones.

The irradiation of ()-2-phenyl-4-aryliden-5(4)-oxazolones in deoxygenated CHCl at 25 °C with blue light (465 nm) in the presence of [Ru(bpy)](BF) (5% mole ratio) as a triplet photocatalyst promotes the [2+2] photocycloaddition of the C═C bonds of the 4-arylidene moiety, thus allowing the completely regio- and stereoselective formation of cyclobutane-bis(oxazolone)s as single stereoisomers. Cyclobutanes have been unambiguously characterized as the μ-isomers and contain two -oxazolones coupled in an -head-to-head form. The use of continuous-flow techniques in microreactors allows the synthesis of cyclobutanes in only 60 min, compared with the 24-48 h required in batch mode.

Safety and diagnostic performance of parathyroid hormone assay in fine-needle aspirate in suspicious parathyroid adenomas.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and diagnostic performance of parathyroid hormone assay in fine-needle aspirate (PTH-FNA) in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and suspicious parathyroid adenomas.

Methodology: A retrospective observational study was performed in 47 patients (57.7 ± 11.

The presence of microvascular complications is associated with a poor evolution of metabolic control in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To report the evolution of metabolic control and to assess the clinical and metabolic factors associated with the presence of microvascular complications in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

Material And Methods: This was a retrospective, observational study analysing clinical, laboratory, and therapeutic data from a registry of patients with T1DM created in 2010.

Results: Data recorded from 586 patients (males: 50.

Reactivity of ()-4-Aryliden-5(4)-thiazolones: [2 + 2]-Photocycloaddition, Ring-Opening Reactions, and Influence of the Lewis Acid BF.

The irradiation of ()-2-phenyl-4-aryliden-5(4)-thiazolones with blue light (465 nm) in CHCl solution promotes [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition of the exocyclic C═C bonds and the formation of the dispirocyclobutanes . This reaction takes place with high stereoselectivity, given that the ε-isomer (1,3 head-to-tail syn coupling) is formed in more than 90% yield in most of the cases. However, irradiation of 5(4)-thiazolones with blue light (456 nm) in dry MeOH in the presence of BF·OEt leads to the monospirocyclobutanes with full stereoselectivity, also affording the ε-isomer.

siRNA Therapeutics in Ocular Diseases.

The field of RNAi therapeutics has quickly adapted to the treatment of ocular diseases. Although the eye provides a unique system for the delivery of siRNAs, its complex structure and composition fostered the development of novel strategies for efficient gene silencing in the target compartment. Moreover, anterior and posterior segments differ in their multiple drug barriers and clearance mechanisms.

Pd-Oxazolone complexes conjugated to an engineered enzyme: improving fluorescence and catalytic properties.

Different Pd-complexes containing orthometallated push-pull oxazolones were inserted by supramolecular Pd-amino acid coordination on two genetically engineered modified variants of the thermoalkalophilic Geobacillus thermocatenolatus lipase (GTL). Pd-lipase conjugation was performed on the solid phase in the previously immobilized form of GTL under mild conditions, and soluble conjugated Pd-GTL complexes were obtained by simply desorbing by washing with an acetonitrile aqueous solution. Three different Pd complexes were incorporated into two different genetically modified enzyme variants, one containing all the natural cysteine residues changed to serine residues, and another variant including an additional Cys mutation directly in the catalytic serine (Ser114Cys).

Fluorescent Orthopalladated Complexes of 4-Aryliden-5(4)-oxazolones from the Kaede Protein: Synthesis and Characterization.

The goal of the work reported here was to amplify the fluorescent properties of 4-aryliden-5(4)-oxazolones by suppression of the hula-twist non-radiative deactivation pathway. This aim was achieved by simultaneous bonding of a Pd center to the N atom of the heterocycle and the carbon of the arylidene ring. Two different 4-(()-arylidene)-2-(()-styryl)-5(4)-oxazolones, the structures of which are closely related to the chromophore of the Kaede protein and substituted at the 2- and 4-positions of the arylidene ring ( OMe; F), were used as starting materials.

Differences in circulating γδ T cells in patients with primary colon cancer and relation with prognostic factors.

Downregulation of the T cell system has been proposed as a mechanism to block immunity in colonic cancer (CC). However, little has been studied about circulating αβ and γδ T cells and their immunological status in newly diagnosed patients. The aim of this study was to characterize the αβ and γδ T cell subsets in peripheral blood of patients with CC matched with healthy volunteers.

Heterochirality Restricts the Self-Assembly of Phenylalanine Dipeptides Capped with Highly Aromatic Groups.

The influence of stereochemistry on the self-assembly of phenylalanine (Phe) dipeptides bearing aromatic fluorenyl groups at both the N- and C-termini (Fmoc, OFm) has been investigated. For this purpose, Fmoc-d-Phe-l-Phe-OFm and Fmoc-l-Phe-l-Phe-OFm have been examined considering a wide variety of solvents, which differ in dielectric constant and volatility. Results reveal that replacement of l-Phe by d-Phe has a major impact on the self-assembly propensities, restricting drastically the structural diversity and polymorphism shown by the homochiral dipeptide.

Synthesis of esters of diaminotruxillic bis-amino acids by Pd-mediated photocycloaddition of analogs of the Kaede protein chromophore.

The stereoselective synthesis of truxillic bis-amino esters from polyfunctional oxazolones is reported. The reaction of 4-(()-arylidene)-2-()-styryl-5(4)-oxazolones with Pd(OAc) resulted in -palladation and the formation of a dinuclear open-book complexes with carboxylate bridges, where the Pd atom is C^N bonded to the oxazolone. In the two exocyclic C=C bonds of the oxazolone are in a face-to-face arrangement, which is optimal for their [2 + 2] photocycloaddition.

Evidence of the Reduced Abundance of Proline cis Conformation in Protein Poly Proline Tracts.

Proline is found in a cis conformation in proteins more often than other proteinogenic amino acids, where it influences structure and modulates function, being the focus of several high-resolution structural studies. However, until now, technical and methodological limitations have hampered the site-specific investigation of the conformational preferences of prolines present in poly proline (poly-P) homorepeats in their protein context. Here, we apply site-specific isotopic labeling to obtain high-resolution NMR data on the cis/trans equilibrium of prolines within the poly-P repeats of huntingtin exon 1, the causative agent of Huntington's disease.

Meningioma-like Tumor of the Skin Revisited: A Distinct CD34+ Dermal Tumor With an Expanded Histologic Spectrum.

The term meningioma-like tumor of the skin (MLTS) was coined in 1993 to designate a particular whorled spindle cell superficial cutaneous tumor. No additional confirmed cases of this entity have been reported to date. Some authors have speculated that these cases might be cellular neurothekeomas.

Amyloid fibrils from organic solutions of an amphiphilic dipeptide.

Non-hydrated organic solutions of a diphenylalanine amphiphile blocked at the C-terminus with a fluorenylmethyl ester and stabilized at the N-terminus with a trifluoroacetate have been used to prepare amyloid fibrils. The solvent used to prepare the stock solution together with the co-solvent added enables regulation of the characteristics of the fibrils, which is important for their use in technological applications.

High capacity of ultrasound for locating parathyroid adenomas in endocrinology (the ETIEN 4 study).

Objective: To assess the diagnostic performance of neck ultrasound examination performed by endocrinologists to locate parathyroid adenomas in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT).

Methodology: A retrospective observational study in 135 patients (mean age, 60.0±12.

Diagnostic performance of the American Thyroid Association ultrasound risk assessment of thyroid nodules in endocrinology (the ETIEN 3 study).

Introduction: No study has been published to date in Spain about the value of the American Thyroid Association (ATA) ultrasound risk assessment of thyroid nodules applied by endocrinologists.

Objectives: To assess the diagnostic performance of ATA thyroid nodule risk classification applied by endocrinologists with respect to histological results.

Methods: A retrospective, observational study of 317 patients (mean age, 51.

Topical paromomycin for New World cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Background: Paromomycin-based topical treatments were shown to be effective in curing cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) lesions caused by Leishmania major in Tunisia. Cure rates of an index lesion were approximately 80%. As a follow on, we conducted a similar Phase 3 trial in Panama to demonstrate the efficacy of these treatments against New World species.

Amyloid-like Fibrils from a Diphenylalanine Capped with an Aromatic Fluorenyl.

The self-assembly behavior of a diphenylalanine amphiphile blocked at the C-terminus with a 9-fluorenylmethyl ester and stabilized at the N-terminus with a trifluoroacetate (TFA) anion, TFA·FF-OFm, has been examined. At low peptide concentration (0.5 mg/mL), long amyloid-like fibrils, which come from the fusion of two or more helical ribbons and/or thinner fibrils, organized in bundles or as individual entities are detected.

Synthesis of -hydrindan-2,4-diones bearing an all-carbon quaternary center by a Danheiser annulation.

A straightforward synthetic entry to functionalized hydrindane compounds based on a rapid assembly of the core nucleus by a Danheiser cycloaddition is reported. Valuable bicyclic building blocks containing the fused five and six-membered carbocyclic ring system can be achieved in only four steps from a simple acyclic β-keto ester.

Tivanisiran, a novel siRNA for the treatment of dry eye disease.

Dry eye disease (DED) is characterized by an alteration of the tear film with ocular inflammation and neurosensory abnormalities. The main clinical signs of this condition are tear instability and ocular damage. Although DED has gained significant attention in the past few years, limited prescription treatment options are available for patients.

Self-assembly of diphenylalanine with preclick components as capping groups.

Alkyne and azide, which are commonly used in the cycloaddition reaction recognized as "click chemistry", have been used as capping groups of two engineered diphenylalanine (FF) derivatives due to their ability to form weak intermolecular interactions (i.e. dipole-π and π-π stacking).

Diversity and Hierarchy in Supramolecular Assemblies of Triphenylalanine: From Laminated Helical Ribbons to Toroids.

Microstructures from small phenylalanine-based peptides have attracted great attention lately because these compounds are considered to be a new class of tunable materials. In spite of the extensive studies on uncapped diphenylalanine and tetraphenylalanine peptides, studies on the self-assembly of uncapped triphenylananine (FFF) are very scarce and nonsystematic. In this work, we demonstrate that FFF assemblies can organize in a wide number of well-defined supramolecular structures, which include laminated helical-ribbons, leaflike dendrimers, doughnut-, needle-, and flower-shapes.

Safety and Efficacy Clinical Trials for SYL1001, a Novel Short Interfering RNA for the Treatment of Dry Eye Disease.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of SYL1001, a short interfering (si) RNA targeting the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1), for the treatment of dry eye disease (DED).

Methods: This study combines a phase I and two phase II clinical trials to test different doses of SYL1001 in a total of 156 healthy subjects and patients with DED. After 10 days of treatment, the primary efficacy endpoints were the effect on (1) the scoring in the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaires, and (2) ocular tolerance evaluated by corneal fluorescein staining and conjunctival hyperemia.