[Attitude of mothers towards the demand for ultra-processed foods by children from 8 to 12 years of age in Basavilbaso, Entre Ríos, Argentina].

Introduction: Mothers are the main mediators in the process of selecting and buying food for their children.

Objective: Describe the purchasing attitude of mothers in response to the demand for ultra-processed foods by children between 8 and 12 years of age. For this, it was proposed: i) Characterize the ultra-processed foods that children request according to their mothers, ii) ii) Identify the factors considered when purchasing the foods requested by their children, iii) Evaluate their perception of the influence of advertising in their children's demand for food, and iv) Describe their attitude towards the behavior of children during purchases of ultra-processed foods.

The renoprotective efficacy and safety of genetically-engineered human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells expressing anti-fibrotic cargo.

Background: Kidney fibrosis is a hallmark of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and compromises the viability of transplanted human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs). Hence, BM-MSCs were genetically-engineered to express the anti-fibrotic and renoprotective hormone, human relaxin-2 (RLX) and green fluorescent protein (BM-MSCs-eRLX + GFP), which enabled BM-MSCs-eRLX + GFP delivery via a single intravenous injection.

Methods: BM-MSCs were lentiviral-transduced with human relaxin-2 cDNA and GFP, under a eukaryotic translation elongation factor-1α promoter (BM-MSCs-eRLX + GFP) or GFP alone (BM-MSCs-eGFP).

[Implementation of new technologies in nutritional teleconsultation by Nutrition Graduates from Entre Ríos, Argentina].

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina has challenged health professionals to implement teleconsultation to maintain continuity of care.

Objectives: Describe the implementation of new technologies in teleconsultation by Nutrition professionals from Entre Ríos, from the beginning of the ASPO to the new normal.Methodology: Observational, descriptive, quantitative, and cross-sectional study, in which 72 Nutrition professionals from Entre Ríos, Argentina participated through a self-administered online questionnaire.

Angiotensin-(1-5) is a Potent Endogenous Angiotensin AT -Receptor Agonist.

Background: The renin-angiotensin system involves many more enzymes, receptors and biologically active peptides than originally thought. With this study, we investigated whether angiotensin-(1-5) [Ang-(1-5)], a 5-amino acid fragment of angiotensin II, has biological activity, and through which receptor it elicits effects.

Methods: The effect of Ang-(1-5) (1µM) on nitric oxide release was measured by DAF-FM staining in human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC), or Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells stably transfected with the angiotensin AT -receptor (AT R) or the receptor Mas.

Atomic Scale Structure of Self-Assembled Lipidated Peptide Nanomaterials.

β-Peptides have great potential as novel biomaterials and therapeutic agents, due to their unique ability to self-assemble into low dimensional nanostructures, and their resistance to enzymatic degradation in vivo. However, the self-assembly mechanisms of β-peptides, which possess increased flexibility due to the extra backbone methylene groups present within the constituent β-amino acids, are not well understood due to inherent difficulties of observing their bottom-up growth pathway experimentally. A computational approach is presented for the bottom-up modelling of the self-assembled lipidated β-peptides, from monomers, to oligomers, to supramolecular low-dimensional nanostructures, in all-atom detail.

A switch in N-terminal capping of β-peptides creates novel self-assembled nanoparticles.

Small tripeptides composed entirely of β-amino acids have been shown to self-assemble into fibres following acylation of the N-terminus. Given the use of Fmoc as a strategy to initiate self-assembly in α-peptides, we hypothesized that the acyl cap can be replaced by an Fmoc without perturbation to the self-assembly and enable simpler synthetic protocols. We therefore replaced the -acyl cap for an Fmoc group and herein we show that these Fmoc-protected β-peptides produce regular spherical particles, rather than fibrous structures, that are stable and capable of encapsulating cargo.

Elucidating the cell penetrating properties of self-assembling β-peptides.

Self-assembling lipopeptide hydrogels have been widely developed for the delivery of therapeutics due to their rapid gelation, injectability, and highly controlled physicochemical properties. Lipopeptides are also known for their membrane-associating and cell penetrating properties, which may impact on their application in cell-encapsulation. Self-assembling lipidated-β-peptide materials developed in our laboratory have previously been used in cell culture as 2D substrates, thus as a continuation of this work we aimed to encapsulate cells in 3D by forming a hydrogel.

Novel ATR agonist, β-ProAng III, is cardio- and vaso-protective in diabetic spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Stimulation of the angiotensin II type 2 receptor (ATR) evokes protective effects in various cardiovascular diseases. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of ATR stimulation, with or without ATR blockade, in a model of hypertension with concomitant type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were given either citrate or a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ; 55 mg/kg, i.

The protective effects of a novel AT receptor agonist, β-ProAng III in ischemia-reperfusion kidney injury.

Background And Purpose: This study investigated the reno-protective effects of a highly selective ATR agonist peptide, β-ProAng III in a mouse model of acute kidney injury (AKI).

Methods: C57BL/6 J mice underwent either sham surgery or unilateral kidney ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) for 40 min. IRI mice were treated with either β-ProAng III or perindopril and at 7 days post-surgery the kidneys analysed for histopathology and the development of fibrosis and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 activity.

A comparison of fixation methods for SEM analysis of self-assembling peptide hydrogel nanoarchitecture.

Determining the porosity of hydrogels is an important component of material characterisation. While scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a widely used method to study hydrogel nanoarchitecture, it is well-established that SEM sample preparation methods can alter the structure of hydrogels. Herein we describe the impact of sample preparation on the SEM analysis of self-assembling β-peptide hydrogels.

The Novel AT2 Receptor Agonist β-Pro7-AngIII Exerts Cardiac and Renal Anti-Fibrotic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects in High Salt-Fed Mice.

A high salt (HS) diet is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and fibrosis is a key contributor to the organ dysfunction involved in CVDs. The activation of the renin angiotensin type 2 receptor (ATR) has been considered as organ protective in many CVDs. However, there are limited ATR-selective agonists available.

The challenging management of borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) in women of childbearing age.

Borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) account for approximately 15% of all epithelial ovarian cancers. In 80% of cases the diagnosis of BOTs is done at stage I and more than a third of BOTs occurs in women younger than 40 years of age wishing to preserve their childbearing potential; the issue of conservative surgical management (fertility-sparing treatment) is thus becoming of paramount importance. At early stages, the modalities of conservative treatment could range from mono-lateral cystectomy to bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.

Esterase-Mediated Sustained Release of Peptide-Based Therapeutics from a Self-Assembled Injectable Hydrogel.

A synthetic strategy for conjugating small molecules and peptide-based therapeutics, via a cleavable ester bond, to a lipidated β-tripeptide is presented. The drug-loaded β-peptide was successfully co-assembled with a functionally inert lipidated β-tripeptide to form a hydrogel. Quantitative release of lactose from the hydrogel, by the action of serum esterases, is demonstrated over 28 days.

Cimicifuga racemosa isopropanolic extract for menopausal symptoms: an observational prospective case-control study.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of isopropanolic extract of Cimicifuga Racemosa (iCR) on reducing menopausal symptoms.

Materials And Methods: A single-center observational prospective case-control study was performed to assess the improvement of menopausal symptoms in menopausal women undergone iCR administration (cases) or no treatment (controls). Menopausal symptoms were assessed through a modified version of the Menopause Rating Scale questionnaire (mMRS) at T (baseline), T (1-month follow-up), and T (3 months follow-up).

Using conformational constraints at position 6 of Angiotensin II to generate compounds with enhanced AT2R selectivity and proteolytic stability.

The Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) plays a crucial role in numerous pathological conditions. Two of the critical RAS players, the angiotensin receptors AT1R and AT2R, possess differential functional profiles, although they share high sequence similarity. Although the main focus has been placed on AT1R, several epidemiological studies have evidenced that activation of AT2R could operate as a multimodal therapeutic target for different diseases.

entanglement in self-assembling β-peptide nanofibres decorated with vancomycin.

The increasing resistance of pathogenic microbes to antimicrobials and the shortage of antibiotic drug discovery programs threaten the clinical use of antibiotics. This threat calls for the development of new methods for control of drug-resistant microbial pathogens. We have designed, synthesised and characterised an antimicrobial material formed the self-assembly of a population of two distinct β-peptide monomers, a lipidated tri-β-peptide (β-peptide) and a novel β-peptide conjugated to a glycopeptide antibiotic, vancomycin.

Microbiome and PCOS: State-of-Art and Future Aspects.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex and heterogeneous endocrine disease. The hypothesis that alterations in the microbiome are involved in the genesis of PCOS has been postulated. Aim of this review is to summarize the available literature data about the relationship between microbiome and PCOS.

A plug-and-play, lightweight, single-axis gradient insert design for increasing spatiotemporal resolution in echo planar imaging-based brain imaging.

The goal of this study was to introduce and evaluate the performance of a lightweight, high-performance, single-axis (z-axis) gradient insert design primarily intended for high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging, and aimed at providing both ease of use and a boost in spatiotemporal resolution. The optimal winding positions of the coil were obtained using a genetic algorithm with a cost function that balanced gradient performance (minimum 0.30 mT/m/A) and field linearity (≥16 cm linear region).

Enhancement of glioblastoma multiforme therapy through a novel Quercetin-Losartan hybrid.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary malignant brain tumor. Maximal surgical resection followed by radiotherapy and concomitant chemotherapy with temozolomide remains the first-line therapy, prolonging the survival of patients by an average of only 2.5 months.

Single Peptide Backbone Surrogate Mutations to Regulate Angiotensin GPCR Subtype Selectivity.

Mutating the side-chains of amino acids in a peptide ligand, with unnatural amino acids, aiming to mitigate its short half-life is an established approach. However, it is hypothesized that mutating specific backbone peptide bonds with bioisosters can be exploited not only to enhance the proteolytic stability of parent peptides, but also to tune its receptor subtype selectivity. Towards this end, four [Y] -Angiotensin II analogues are synthesized where amide bonds have been replaced by 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole isosteres in four different backbone locations.

Transition of Nano-Architectures Through Self-Assembly of Lipidated β-Tripeptide Foldamers.

β-peptides consisting exclusively of β-amino acids adopt a variety of non-natural helical structures and can self-assemble into well-defined hierarchical structures by axial head-to-tail self-assembly resulting in fibrous materials of varying sizes and shapes. To allow control of fiber morphology, a lipid moiety was introduced within a tri-β-peptide sequence at each of the three amino acid positions and the N-terminus to gain finer control over the lateral assembly of fibers. Depending on the position of the lipid, the self-assembled structures formed either twisted ribbon-like fibers or distinctive multilaminar nanobelts.

Renal functional effects of the highly selective AT2R agonist, β-Pro7 Ang III, in normotensive rats.

Recently, we designed a group of peptides by sequential substitution of the naturally occurring α-amino acid throughout the Ang III peptide sequence with the corresponding β-amino acid. β-Amino acid substitution at the proline residue of Ang III (β-Pro7-Ang III) resulted in a highly selective AT2R ligand, demonstrating remarkable selectivity for the AT2R in both binding and functional studies. To provide additional functional evidence for the suitability of β-Pro7 Ang III as a novel AT2R agonist, we tested effects of acute systemic administration of β-Pro7-Ang III on renal hemodynamic and excretory function in anesthetized normotensive male and female rats.