A Study of Hyaluronic Acid's Theoretical Reactivity and of Magnetic Nanoparticles Capped with Hyaluronic Acid.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) has attracted much attention in tumor-targeted drug delivery due to its ability to specifically bind to the CD44 cellular receptor, which is widely expressed on cancer cells. We present HA-capped magnetic nanoparticles (HA-MNPs) obtained via the co-precipitation method, followed by the electrostatic adsorption of HA onto the nanoparticles' surfaces. A theoretical study carried out with the PM3 method evidenced a dipole moment of 3.

Cytogenetic and Biochemical Responses of Wheat Seeds to Proton Irradiation at the Bragg Peak.

The present study aimed to evaluate the morphological, cytogenetic and biochemical changes in wheat seedlings as affected by seed exposure to a proton beam at the Bragg peak. The average energy of the proton beam was of 171 MeV at the entrance into the irradiator room while at the point of sample irradiation the beam energy was of 150 MeV, with the average value of the Linear Energy Transfer of 0.539 keV/μm and the dose rate of 0.

Aspartic Acid Stabilized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications.

Aspartic acid stabilized iron oxide nanoparticles (A-IONPs) with globular shape and narrow size distribution were prepared by the co-precipitation method in aqueous medium. A quantum-mechanical approach to aspartic acid optimized structure displayed negative charged sites, relatively high dipole moment, and hydrophilicity, which recommended it for interaction with iron cations and surrounding water electrical dipoles. A-IONPs were characterized by TEM, XRD, ATR-FTIR, EDS, DSC, TG, DLS, NTA, and VSM techniques.

Citrate-silver nanoparticles and their impact on some environmental beneficial fungi.

Colloidal suspensions of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with surface modified by capping with citrate ions were synthesized by chemical reduction method. Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopy as well as darkfield Optical Microscopy provided information on the nanoparticle morphology, with fine symmetrical grains and log-normal fitted size distribution. Small Angle X-ray Scattering method allowed theoretical confirmation of colloidal silver nanoparticle fine granularity, based on measurements in the native fluid sample.

A Randomized, Multicenter, Prospective, Crossover, Open-Label Study of Factors Associated With Patient Preferences for Naloxegol or PEG 3350 for Opioid-Induced Constipation.

Objectives: To determine patient preference for treating opioid-induced constipation (OIC) using naloxegol or polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350 in patients receiving opioids for noncancer pain.

Methods: This crossover study included two 2-week active treatment periods, each preceded by a 1-week washout period (NCT03060512). Individuals with baseline Bowel Function Index scores ≥30 were randomized to 1 of 2 treatment sequences (naloxegol/PEG 3350 or PEG 3350/naloxegol).

Computational and solvatochromic study of pyridinium-acetyl-benzoyl-methylid (PABM).

Pyridinium-acetyl-benzoyl-methylid is a cycloimmonium ylid studied here from structural and spectral point of view. Quantum mechanical analysis offers information about the most stable spatial structure, the electro-optical properties in the ground electronic state as well as the QSAR parameters of PABM. The solvatochromic study of the visible absorption band of PABM was made in order to establish the electro-optical features of the ylid in the excited electronic state and also to approximate the contribution of different types of intermolecular interactions in solutions with different solvents.

Efficacy and Safety of Sildenafil by Age in Men With Erectile Dysfunction.

Introduction: Sildenafil, an oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, has been extensively investigated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in randomized controlled trials.

Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of sildenafil vs placebo according to age subgroups (<65, 65-74, and ≥75 years) in 11,364 men with erectile dysfunction using pooled data from 48 randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, flexible-dose trials.

Methods: Most trials had a 12-week treatment duration.

The effect of visible light on gold nanoparticles and some bioeffects on environmental fungi.

The oxidative stress induced by light exposed gold nanoparticles in some microorganism cells was investigated. Gold nanoparticles are currently used in biomedical and pharmaceutical research. For this study citrate-gold nanoparticles were synthesized in alkaline conditions at constant temperature of 85°C under magnetic stirring.

On the thermal effect induced in tissue samples exposed to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field.

Background: The influence of electromagnetic exposure on mammalian tissues was approached as a public health issue aiming to reveal the putative side effect of 50 Hz industrial and domestic supply source (i) during aliments storage near such sources; (ii) in people staying couple of hours in the proximity of conducting wires.

Materials And Methods: Fluorescence emission based thermal sensor was used to emphasize temperature dynamics of fresh meat samples during controlled electromagnetic exposure in Helmholtz coils adjusted to deliver 50 Hz / (4÷10) mT electromagnetic field in their inner volume. Fluoroptic temperature probe with 0.

Micronuclei versus Chromosomal Aberrations Induced by X-Ray in Radiosensitive Mammalian Cells.

Background: An experimental study was accomplished to compare estimation methods of ionizing radiations genotoxicity in mammalian cell cultures by means of two cytogenetic parameters with focus on aberrant cells characterized by multiple chromosomal damages.

Methods: In vitro study was carried out on the genotoxicity of low-medium doses of 190 kV X-rays absorbed in Chinese hamster ovary cell cultures. Micronuclei and ten types of chromosomal aberrations were identified with Giemsa dying and optical microscope screening.

DYNAMICAL COMPLEXITY ANALYSIS OF SACCADIC EYE MOVEMENTS IN TWO DIFFERENT PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS.

Saccadic eye movements of a normal subject were assessed through semi-quantitative analysis algorithms based on linear and non-linear test application in order to highlight the dynamics type characterizing saccadic neural system behavior. These movements were recorded during a simple visually-guided saccade test and one with a cognitive load involving button pressing to show a decision. Following the application of specific computational tests, chaotic dynamical trend dominancy was mostly revealed with some differences between the two saccade recording conditions: auto-correlation time was increased from 170 to 240 by cognitive task superposition and the Hurst exponent was enhanced from 0.

Action and perception are temporally coupled by a common mechanism that leads to a timing misperception.

We move our eyes to explore the world, but visual areas determining where to look next (action) are different from those determining what we are seeing (perception). Whether, or how, action and perception are temporally coordinated is not known. The preparation time course of an action (e.

Acute nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and exposure to phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors.

Introduction: Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a rare visual disorder, has been reported in men using phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) for erectile dysfunction.

Aim: We examined whether intermittent use of PDE5i is associated with acute NAION onset within approximately five half-lives following drug ingestion.

Methods: One hundred two ophthalmology centers in the United States and Europe identified potential cases of NAION.

Nonlinear analysis of saccade speed fluctuations during combined action and perception tasks.

Background: Saccades are rapid eye movements used to gather information about a scene which requires both action and perception. These are usually studied separately, so that how perception influences action is not well understood. In a dual task, where the subject looks at a target and reports a decision, subtle changes in the saccades might be caused by action-perception interactions.

Erectile function, erection hardness and tolerability in men treated with sildenafil 100 mg vs. 50 mg for erectile dysfunction.

Aim: To compare efficacy and tolerability between 100-mg and 50-mg sildenafil doses in five double-blind, placebo-controlled (DBPC) fixed-dose studies.

Methods: Doses were compared for the change (baseline to end of 8-12 weeks of DBPC treatment) in score on the Erectile Function (EF) domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF; from five fixed-dose studies, > 1500 men); the per-patient estimated percentage of occasions that a specified Erection Hardness Score (EHS; from two of the five fixed-dose studies, > 500 men) was achieved, computed from logistic regression; the odds ratio (OR) of achieving EHS3 (hard enough for penetration, but not completely hard) and EHS4 (fully hard and completely rigid); and the adverse event incidence by treatment (from all five fixed-dose studies).

Results: For the 100-mg vs.

Efficacy of fesoterodine compared with extended-release tolterodine in men and women with overactive bladder.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of fesoterodine 8 mg vs extended-release (ER) tolterodine 4 mg for overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms in terms of patient-reported outcomes in women and in men.

Subjects And Methods: Pooled data from two 12-week, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy studies were analysed. Participants eligible for the studies were ≥18 years old, had self-reported OAB symptoms for ≥3 months in 3-day baseline diaries and had ≥8 micturitions and ≥1 urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) episode per 24 h.

EYE MOVEMENT RECORDING AND NONLINEAR DYNAMICS ANALYSIS - THE CASE OF SACCADES.

Evidence of a chaotic behavioral trend in eye movement dynamics was examined in the case of a saccadic temporal series collected from a healthy human subject. Saccades are highvelocity eye movements of very short duration, their recording being relatively accessible, so that the resulting data series could be studied computationally for understanding the neural processing in a motor system. The aim of this study was to assess the complexity degree in the eye movement dynamics.

Chemically modified nanoparticles surface for sensing bacterial loading--experimental study based on fluorescence stimulation by iron ions.

The influence of iron ions supplied from magnetite nanoparticles with chemically modified surface on Pseudomonas aeruginosa germ was aimed--with experimental and theoretical approach of the intensity of the fluorescent signal emitted by the pyoverdine like siderophores. As the coated magnetic nanoparticles could function as probes, the possibility of designing a chemical device was considered based on the sensing of iron reduction from Fe(3+) into the more soluble Fe(2+), for detecting various levels of contamination (10 ÷ 10(8) cell/ml) of biological specimens and environmental samples. The proposed mathematical model estimated the fluorescence intensity due to siderophore synthesized by Pseudomonas, considering that the parameter describing the ion-bacteria interaction depends differently on the cell density for different magnetite nanoparticle coatings: linear dependence was found in the case of sodium oleate coating while power function was revealed for tetramethyl ammonium coating of magnetite nanocores, in both cases magnetite suspension being supplied in the same concentration (0.

Efficacy and tolerability of fesoterodine versus tolterodine in older and younger subjects with overactive bladder: a post hoc, pooled analysis from two placebo-controlled trials.

Aims: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of fesoterodine 8 mg versus tolterodine extended release (ER) 4 mg in subjects with overactive bladder (OAB) stratified by age (<65, 65-74, and ≥75 years).

Methods: This was a post hoc analysis of data from two double-blind trials. Subjects reporting ≥1 urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) episode and ≥8 micturitions/24 hr at baseline were randomized to fesoterodine (4 mg for 1 week, 8 mg for 11 weeks), tolterodine ER 4 mg, or placebo.

Correlations with satisfaction measures in men treated with phosphodiesterase inhibitors for erectile dysfunction.

This literature review examined the relationship of erectile function to patient satisfaction. Published correlation coefficients (r values) were sought between patient-reported outcomes (PROs; i.e.

Lack of awareness of erectile dysfunction in many men with risk factors for erectile dysfunction.

Background: Men with erectile dysfunction often have concurrent medical conditions. Conversely, men with these conditions may also have underlying erectile dysfunction. The prevalence of unrecognized erectile dysfunction in men with comorbidities commonly associated with erectile dysfunction was determined in men invited to participate in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of sildenafil citrate.

Hardness, function, emotional well-being, satisfaction and the overall sexual experience in men using 100-mg fixed-dose or flexible-dose sildenafil citrate.

The prescribing information for sildenafil citrate (VIAGRA, Pfizer, New York, NY, USA) recommends flexible dosing (50 mg initially, adjusted to 100 or 25 mg based on effectiveness and tolerability) in most men with erectile dysfunction (ED). In many men, however, 100 mg may be the most appropriate initial dose because it would reduce the need for titration and could prevent discouragement and treatment abandonment should 50 mg be insufficient. Results of two previously published double-blind, placebo-controlled sildenafil trials of similar design except for a fixed-dose vs flexible-dose regimen were analyzed.

A multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of sildenafil citrate in men with unrecognized erectile dysfunction.

Objective: Erectile dysfunction (ED) may be present but unrecognized in men with other comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, or lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The efficacy of sildenafil citrate treatment for ED in men who did not self-identify with or were unsure about whether they had ED, but had ED based on International Index of Erectile Function Erectile Function domain (IIEF-EF) scores, was evaluated.

Methods: Men with an ED-associated comorbidity were asked, "Do you have ED?" Those who answered "no" or "unsure" and were diagnosed with ED (score of View Article and Find Full Text PDF