Lipase-mediated detoxification of host-derived antimicrobial fatty acids by Staphylococcus aureus.

Long-chain fatty acids with antimicrobial properties are abundant on the skin and mucosal surfaces, where they are essential to restrict the proliferation of opportunistic pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus. These antimicrobial fatty acids (AFAs) elicit bacterial adaptation strategies, which have yet to be fully elucidated. Characterizing the pervasive mechanisms used by S.

Health-Promoting Properties of Processed Red Cabbage ( var. f. ): Effects of Drying Methods on Bio-Compound Retention.

The aim of this work is to describe the effect of convective drying (CD), vacuum drying (VD), infrared drying (IRD), low-temperature vacuum drying (LTVD) and freeze drying (FD) on bio-compound retention of red cabbage and its beneficial health properties. The total phenolics content (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), anthocyanin (TAC) and glucosinolates (TGC) were determined by spectrophotometry. The profiles of phenolic acids, amino acids and fatty acids were determined by HPLC-UV-DAD, LC-DAD and GC-FID, respectively.

A new updated prognostic index for patients with brain metastases (BMs) treated with palliative whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in the era of precision oncology. METASNCore project.

Introduction: Palliative WBRT is the main treatment for multiple BMs. Recent studies report no benefit in survival after WBRT compared to palliative supportive care in patients (pts) with poor prognosis. A new era of systemic treatment strategies based on targeted therapies are improving the prognosis of patients with BMs.

Low-Temperature Vacuum Drying on Broccoli: Enhanced Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Proliferative Properties Regarding Other Drying Methods.

Low-temperature vacuum drying (LTVD) has shown great potential for drying vegetables. It could avoid excessive degradations of active compounds with potential therapeutic agents. In this study, the effect on several relevant bioactive compounds, anti-inflammatory activity, and anti-proliferative activity of broccoli ( var.

Comprehensive Evaluation of the Bioactive Composition and Neuroprotective and Antimicrobial Properties of Vacuum-Dried Broccoli ( var. ) Powder and Its Antioxidants.

In this study, vacuum drying (VD) was employed as an approach to protect the bioactive components of and produce dried broccoli powders with a high biological activity. To achieve these goals, the effects of temperature (at the five levels of 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 °C) and constant vacuum pressure (10 kPa) were evaluated. The results show that, with the increasing temperature, the drying time decreased.

The Influence of AlN Intermediate Layer on the Structural and Chemical Properties of SiC Thin Films Produced by High-Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering.

Many strategies have been developed for the synthesis of silicon carbide (SiC) thin films on silicon (Si) substrates by plasma-based deposition techniques, especially plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and magnetron sputtering, due to the importance of these materials for microelectronics and related fields. A drawback is the large lattice mismatch between SiC and Si. The insertion of an aluminum nitride (AlN) intermediate layer between them has been shown useful to overcome this problem.

A Novel Method of Synthesizing Graphene for Electronic Device Applications.

This article reports a novel and efficient method to synthesize graphene using a thermal decomposition process. In this method, silicon carbide (SiC) thin films grown on Si(100) wafers with an AlN buffer layer were used as substrates. CO₂ laser beam heating, without vacuum or controlled atmosphere, was applied for SiC thermal decomposition.

Metal Dependence on the Bidirectionality and Reversibility of the Singlet Energy Transfer in Artificial Special Pair-Containing Dyads.

The demetalation of a precursor dyad, 3, built upon a zinc(II)-containing artificial special pair and free-base antenna, leads to a new dyad, 4, for singlet energy transfer composed of cofacial free-base porphyrins (acceptor), [Fb] bridged by a 1,4-CH group to a free-base antenna (donor), [Fb]. This dyad exhibits the general structure [M]-CH-[Fb], where [M] = [Fb], and completes a series reported earlier, where [M] = [Mg] (2) and [Zn] (3). The latter dyads exhibit a bidirectional energy-transfer process at 298 K for 2 and at 77 K for 3.

Tetradentate metal complexes derived from cephalexin and 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(hydrazone): Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial activity.

Metal(II) coordination compounds of a hydrazone ligand (HL) derived from the condensation of cephalexin antibiotic with 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(hydrazone) were synthesized. The hydrazone ligand and mononuclear [ML(H2O)2][PF6] (M(II)=Mn, Co, Ni, Zn) complexes were characterized by several techniques, including elemental and thermal analysis, molar conductance and magnetic susceptibility measurements, electronic, FT-IR, EPR and (1)H NMR spectral studies. The cephalexin 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(hydrazone) ligand HL behaves as a monoanionic tetradentate NNNO chelating agent.

Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial activity of a tridentate Schiff base derived from cephalothin and sulfadiazine, and its transition metal complexes.

Metal(II) coordination compounds of a cephalothin Schiff base (H2L) derived from the condensation of cephalothin antibiotic with sulfadiazine were synthesized. The Schiff base ligand, mononuclear [ML(H2O)3] (M(II)=Mn,Co,Ni,Zn) complexes and magnetically diluted dinuclear copper(II) complex [CuL(H2O)3]2 were characterized by several techniques, including elemental and thermal analysis, molar conductance and magnetic susceptibility measurements, electronic, FT-IR, EPR and (1)H NMR spectral studies. The cephalothin Schiff base ligand H2L behaves as a dianionic tridentate NOO chelating agent.

Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial activity of a Schiff base derived from cephalexin and sulphathiazole and its transition metal complexes.

Metal(II) coordination compounds of a cephalexin Schiff base (HL) derived from the condensation of cephalexin antibiotic with sulphathiazole were synthesized. The Schiff base ligand, mononuclear [ML(OAc)(H2O)2] (M(II)=Mn, Co, Ni, Zn) complexes and magnetically diluted trinuclear copper(II) complex [Cu3L(OH)5] were characterized by several techniques, including elemental and thermal analysis, molar conductance and magnetic susceptibility measurements, electronic, FT-IR, EPR and (1)H NMR spectral studies. The analytical and molar conductance values indicated that the acetate ions coordinate to the metal ions.

Design of triads for probing the direct through space energy transfers in closely spaced assemblies.

Using a selective stepwise Suzuki cross-coupling reaction, two trimers built on three different chromophores were prepared. These trimers exhibit a D(^)A1-A2 structure where the donor D (octa-β-alkyl zinc(II)porphyrin either as diethylhexamethyl, 10a, or tetraethyltetramethyl, 10b, derivatives) through space transfers the S1 energy to two different acceptors, di(4-ethylbenzene) zinc(II)porphyrin (A1; acceptor 1) placed cofacial with D, and the corresponding free base (A2; acceptor 2), which is meso-meso-linked with A1. This structure design allows for the possibility of comparing two series of assemblies, 9a,b (D(^)A1) with 10a,b (D(^)Â1-A2), for the evaluation of the S1 energy transfer for the global process D*→A2 in the trimers.

Is the special pair structure a good strategy for the kinetics during the last step of the energy transfer with the nearest antenna? A chemical model approach.

A cofacial bis(Mg(II)porphyrin)-C(6)H(4)-free base ([Mg(2)]-bridge-FB) dyad shows S(1) energy transfer in both directions and much slower rates than similar monoporphyrin systems are observed.

Acceleration of the through space S1 energy transfer rates in cofacial bisporphyrin bio-inspired models by virtue of substituents effect on the Förster J integral and its implication in the antenna effect in the photosystems.

The singlet k(ET) for cofacial β-octaalkylporphyrin/bis(meso-aryl)porphyrin dyads increases linearly with the gap between the donor-acceptor 0-0 fluorescence peaks at 77 K.

Effects of removing the adventitia on the mechanical properties of ovine femoral arteries in vivo and in vitro.

Background: The aims were to characterize in muscular arteries (a) the passive and active effects of the adventitia on vessel biomechanical properties and conduit function (CF), and (b) potential differences between the adventitial role in elastic and muscular arteries.

Methods And Results: Ovine femoral arteries were studied in vivo and in vitro (reduced smooth muscle-tone) in a circulation mock-up during hemodynamic conditions similar to those found in vivo. Pressure and diameter were assessed before and after removing the adventitia.

Effects of intra-aortic counterpulsation on aortic wall energetics and damping: in vivo experiments.

Intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) could modify the arterial biomechanics; however, its effects on arterial wall properties have not been fully explored. This dynamical study was designed to characterize the pressure-dependent and smooth muscle-dependent effects of IABP on aortic wall energetics in an in vivo animal model. Intra-aortic balloon pumping (1:2) was performed in six anesthetized sheep in which aortic pressure and diameter signals were measured in basal, augmented (during balloon inflation), and assisted (postaugmented) beats.

Increased reversal and oscillatory shear stress cause smooth muscle contraction-dependent changes in sheep aortic dynamics: role in aortic balloon pump circulatory support.

Aims: The intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) changes pressure and increases the aorta shear stress reversal (SS(R)) and oscillatory (SS(O)) components. Hence, IABP-dependent changes in aortic biomechanics would be expected, because of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) tone (i.e.

[The adventitia reduces left ventricular dynamic afterload via smooth muscle activation-dependent mechanisms].

Introduction And Objectives: Ventricular dynamic afterload depends on arterial viscoelastic and geometric properties. Vasoactive factors produced in the adventitia modulate arterial tone. However, it is still not known whether the adventitia is involved in determining the magnitude of the dynamic afterload.

In vitro evaluation of an axial flow pump: mock-pump interaction and an approach to control.

Continuous flow pump support has emerged as an alternative therapy in patients with congestive heart failure. For long-term applications, it is important to have a control system that changes the pump function according to the physiological conditions of the patient, thereby preventing risk situations. In the early stages of development, the evaluation of control algorithms for artificial blood pumps can be done in vitro using cardiovascular mock systems.

Adventitia-dependent mechanical properties of brachiocephalic ovine arteries in in vivo and in vitro studies.

Aim: An adventitia dependent regulation of the vascular smooth muscle tone has been described. However, if the adventitia plays an active role on arterial wall biomechanical behaviour and functions remains to be established. Our aim was to characterize the influence of adventitia on arterial wall mechanical properties and the arterial conduit and buffer functions.

How predictive is breast arterial calcification of cardiovascular disease and risk factors when found at screening mammography?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between breast arterial calcification (BAC), commonly found on mammography, and cardiovascular disease and its risk factors.

Subjects And Methods: The study population, nested within the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer-Norfolk (EPIC-Norfolk) cohort study, consisted of 1,590 women older than 55 years, not taking hormone replacement therapy, and with available screening mammograms. Mammograms were coded by three radiologists for presence or absence of BAC.

Calcaneum broadband ultrasound attenuation relates to vegetarian and omnivorous diets differently in men and women: an observation from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer in Norfolk (EPIC-Norfolk) population study.

Vegetarian diets have been suggested to be beneficial for bone health due to increased consumption of plant foods, including soya, or reduced consumption of meat. However, meat may also be beneficial for bone health. The evidence relating diet to bone health is based largely on studies of women, often in those at high risk of osteoporosis.

Juxtaaortic counterpulsation: comparison with intraaortic counterpulsation in an animal model of acute heart failure.

This study was designed to compare the effects of juxtaaortic balloon counterpulsation (JABC), performed in ascending aorta and the aortic arch, with those yielded by intraaortic balloon counterpulsation (IABC) in descending aorta, in experimental animals during induced cardiac failure. JABC was achieved with a manufactured Dacron prosthesis and a balloon pump placed between the prosthesis and the wrapped aorta. JABC resulted in a significant increase of cardiac output (from 2.