Publications by authors named "Frederick Villamena"

The roles of superoxide radical (O) in the domains of physiological, physical, and material chemistry are becoming increasingly recognized. Although extensive efforts have been directed to understand O functions in diverse aquatic systems, there is a lack of systematic and in-depth review for its kinetics and mechanisms in various environmental scenarios. This review aims to bridge this gap through discussion of O generation pathways under both natural and controlled conditions.

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Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and imaging coupled with the use of suitable probes is a promising tool for assessment of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Measurement of multiple TME parameters by EPR is very desirable but challenging. Herein, we designed and synthesized a class of negative-charged trityl quinodimethane MTPs as unimolecular triple-function extracellular probes for redox, pH, and oxygen (O) levels.

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Ultrasound coupled with activated persulfate can synergistically degrade aqueous organic contaminants. Here, in situ electron paramagnetic resonance spin trapping was used to compare radicals produced by ultrasonically activated persulfate (US-PS) and its individual technologies, ultrasound alone (US) and heat-activated persulfate (PS), with respect to temperature. Radicals were trapped using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline--oxide, DMPO, to form detectable nitroxide adducts.

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Animal data indicate that ketogenic diets are associated with improved mitochondrial function, but human data are lacking. We aimed to characterize skeletal muscle mitochondrial changes in response to a ketogenic diet combined with exercise training in healthy individuals. Twenty-nine physically active adults completed a 12-wk supervised exercise program after self-selection into a ketogenic diet (KD, = 15) group or maintenance of their habitual mixed diet (MD, = 14).

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Coupling ultrasound with other remediation technologies has potential to result in synergistic degradation of contaminants. In this work, we evaluated synergisms from adding high-power ultrasound (20 kHz; 250 W) to activated persulfate over a range of bulk temperatures (20-60 °C). We studied the aqueous degradation kinetics of three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs: naphthalene, phenanthrene, and fluoranthene) treated by ultrasound-alone, heat-activated persulfate, and combined ultrasonically-activated persulfate (US-PS).

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New derivatives of α-phenyl---butyl nitrone (PBN) bearing a hydroxyl, an acetate, or an acetamide substituent on the --butyl moiety and -substituted phenyl or naphthlyl moieties were synthesized. Their ability to trap hydroxymethyl radical was evaluated by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The presence of two electron-withdrawing substituents on both sides of the nitronyl function improves the spin-trapping properties, with 4-HOOC-PBN-CHOAc and 4-HOOC-PBN-CHNHAc being ∼4× more reactive than PBN.

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Biothiols, such as glutathione (GSH), homocysteine (Hcy), and cysteine (Cys), coexist in biological systems with diverse biological roles. Thus, analytical techniques that can detect, quantify, and distinguish between multiple biothiols are desirable but challenging. Herein, we demonstrate the simultaneous detection and quantitation of multiple biothiols, including up to three different biothiols in a single sample, using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and a trityl-radical-based probe (MTST).

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Membranous organelles are major endogenous sources of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. When present at high levels, these species can cause macromolecular damage and disease. To better detect and scavenge free radical forms of the reactive species at their sources, we investigated whether nitrone spin traps could be selectively targeted to intracellular membranes using a bioorthogonal imaging approach.

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Postprandial hyperglycemia (PPH) transiently impairs vascular endothelial function (VEF) in an oxidative stress-dependent manner by decreasing nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Dairy milk and its proteins attenuate PPH, but whether this improves VEF is unknown. We hypothesized that dairy milk, mediated by its whey and/or casein proteins, improves VEF by attenuating PPH-induced oxidative stress that otherwise decreases NO bioavailability.

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Postprandial hyperglycemia (PPH) transiently impairs vascular endothelial function (VEF) in an oxidative-stress-dependent manner by decreasing nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Dairy milk, regardless of fat content, attenuates PPH, but whether this improves VEF by limiting oxidative stress responses that otherwise decrease NO bioavailability is not known. We hypothesized that nonfat and full-fat dairy milk would similarly improve VEF by attenuating PPH-induced oxidative stress that otherwise decreases NO biosynthesis and bioavailability.

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Replacing a portion of a glucose challenge with whole eggs (EGG) or egg whites (WHITE) was shown to protect against glucose-induced impairments in vascular function. We hypothesised in the present study that previously observed vasoprotection following co-ingestion of EGG or WHITE with glucose was attributed to limiting postprandial hyperglycaemia-induced oxidative stress that improves NO∙ bioavailability. Prediabetic men completed a randomised, cross-over study in which they ingested isoenergetic meals containing 100 g glucose (GLU), or 75 g glucose with 1·5 EGG, seven WHITE or two egg yolks (YOLK).

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Impaired mitochondrial function often results in excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and is involved in the etiology of many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. Moderate levels of mitochondrial ROS, however, can protect against chronic disease by inducing upregulation of mitochondrial capacity and endogenous antioxidant defense. This phenomenon, referred to as mitohormesis, is induced through increased reliance on mitochondrial respiration, which can occur through diet or exercise.

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EPR spectroscopy, coupled with the use of tetrathiatriarylmethyl (TAM) radicals, has been a reliable method to detect the superoxide radical (O ). However, the specificity and biocompatibility of TAM radicals need to be further improved. Although derivatization may overcome the drawbacks of current TAM radicals, esterification or amidation through the carboxylic groups greatly changes their redox properties and makes them inert to O .

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Sulfate radical anion (SO) and hydroxyl radical (OH) based advanced oxidation technologies has been extensively used for removal of aromatic contaminants (ACs) in waters. In this study, we investigated the Gibbs free energy (ΔG) of the single electron transfer (SET) reactions for 76 ACs with SO and OH, respectively. The result reveals that SO possesses greater propensity to react with ACs through the SET channel than OH.

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Tetrathiatriaylmethyl (trityl) radicals have found wide biomedical applications as magnetic resonance probes. Trityl radicals and their derivatives are generally stable toward biological reducing agents such as glutathione (GSH) and ascorbate. We demonstrate that the triester (ET-03) and triamide (AT-03) derivatives of the Finland trityl radical exhibit unique reduction by thiols such as GSH and cysteine (Cys) to generate the corresponding trityl carbanions as evidenced by the loss of EPR signal and appearance of characteristic UV-vis absorbance at 644 nm under anaerobic conditions.

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Ultrasound (US) was shown to activate persulfate (PS) providing an alternative activation method to base or heat as an in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) method. The kinetics and mechanism of ultrasonic activation of PS were examined in aqueous solution using an in situ electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping technique and radical trapping with probe compounds. Using the spin trap, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO), hydroxyl radical (OH) and sulfate radical anion (SO) were measured from ultrasonic activation of persulfate (US-PS).

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Tetrathiatriarylmethyl (TAM, trityl) radicals have attracted considerable attention as spin probes for biological electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and imaging owing to their sharp EPR singlet signals and high biostability. However, their in vivo applications were limited by the short blood circulation lifetimes and strong binding with albumins. Our previous results showed that PEGylation is a feasible method to overcome the issues facing in vivo applications of TAM radicals.

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The addition of antibacterial functionality to dental resins presents an opportunity to extend their useful lifetime by reducing secondary caries caused by bacterial recolonization. In this study, the potential efficacy of nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles for this purpose was determined. Nitrogen doping was carried out to extend the ultraviolet absorbance into longer wavelength blue light for increased biocompatibility.

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Hyperglycemia has been implicated in the development of endothelial dysfunction through heightened ROS production. Since nitrones reverse endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) dysfunction, increase antioxidant enzyme activity, and suppress pro-apoptotic signaling pathway and mitochondrial dysfunction from ROS-induced toxicity, the objective of this study was to determine whether nitrone spin traps DMPO, PBN and PBN-LA were effective at duplicating these effects and improving glucose uptake in an in vitro model of hyperglycemia-induced dysfunction using bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). BAEC were cultured in DMEM medium with low (5.

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Supramolecular host-guest interactions of trityl-nitroxide (TN) biradicals CT02-VT, CT02-AT and CT02-GT with methyl-β-cyclodextrin (M-β-CD), hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (H-β-CD) and γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) were investigated by EPR spectroscopy. In the presence of cyclodextrins (i.e.

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Introduction: We tested how a treadmill exercise program influences oxygen consumption, oxidative stress, and exercise capacity in the mdx mouse, a model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Methods: At age 4 weeks mdx mice were subjected to 4 weeks of twice-weekly treadmill exercise. Sedentary mdx and wild-type mice served as controls.

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Excessive oxidative stress in the heart results in contractile dysfunction. While antioxidant therapies have been a disappointment clinically, exercise has shown beneficial results, in part by reducing oxidative stress. We have previously shown that neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is essential for cardioprotective adaptations caused by exercise.

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Rationale: Air pollution exposure has been shown to potentiate plaque progression in humans and animals. Our previous studies have suggested a role for oxidized lipids in mediating adverse vascular effect of air pollution. However, the types of oxidized lipids formed in response to air pollutants and how this occurs and their relevance to atherosclerosis are not fully understood.

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In this work, a series of α-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrones bearing one, two, or three substituents on the tert-butyl group was synthesized. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to investigate their electrochemical properties and showed a more pronounced substituent effect for oxidation than for reduction. Rate constants of superoxide radical (O2(•-)) reactions with nitrones were determined using a UV-vis stopped-flow method, and phenyl radical (Ph(•)) trapping rate constants were measured by EPR spectroscopy.

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