Effects of meso-tetrakis (4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrin (TPPS) aggregation on its spectral and kinetic characteristics and singlet oxygen production.

The present work reports the effects of meso-tetrakis (4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrin (TPPS) aggregation on its excited states absorption spectra, triplet states quenching by molecular oxygen and singlet oxygen production. Experimental techniques such as optical absorption, Z-scan with a white light continuum source and the Laser Flash Photolysis were used to fulfil the study. J-aggregates possess reverse saturable absorption in the 505-660 nm spectral range with a peak centered close to 540 nm.

Screening effect of CVD graphene on the surface free energy of substrates.

The wettability of graphene has been a topic under constant discussion in the literature since 2012. In this work we measured the contact angle (CA) of six different types of substrates (glass, quartz, SiN, Si/SiO, sapphire and Si) with varying dielectric constants and surface roughnesses in order to calculate the surface free energy of graphene films to evaluate how the wetting properties of graphene-coated substrates are changed according to the underlying substrate. We used a residual-free transfer process to remove the high-quality graphene (CVD-Gr) grown onto copper foil.

Dyslipidaemias and their treatment in high complexity centres in Colombia.

Background And Objective: Data is scarce on the distribution of different types of dyslipidaemia in Colombia. The primary objective was to describe the frequency of dyslipidaemias. The secondary objectives were: frequency of cardiovascular comorbidity, statins and other lipid-lowering drugs use, frequency of statins intolerance, percentage of patients achieving c-LDL goals, and distribution of cardiovascular risk (CVR).

Species selective charge transfer dynamics in a P3HT/MoS van der Waals heterojunction: fluorescence lifetime microscopy and core hole clock spectroscopy approaches.

Hybrid van der Waals heterojunctions based on organic polymers and 2D materials have emerged as a promising solution for developing more efficient optoelectronic devices. Herein, we investigated the charge transfer (CT) dynamics at the interface of the poly[3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl] (P3HT) organic polymer and a MoS monolayer. A global picture of the charge transfer dynamics of a P3HT/MoS/SiO heterojunction was elucidated from photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and the fluorescence lifetime decay profile.

Prediabetes in Colombia: Expert Consensus.

The prevalence of Prediabetes in Colombia is high, and despite being recognized and categorized in the main Medical Guidelines and included in the International Classification of Diseases in Colombia, knowledge and awareness of it is limited amongst healthcare professionals and in the community. Our expert group recommends that educational programs emphasize a global approach to risk which includes a recognition of the importance of prediabetes and its evaluation along with and other risk factors such as a family history of DM2, overweight and obesity, dislipidemia and hypertension. Studies conducted in Colombia demonstrate the value of the FINDRIS questionnaire as a tool to identify subjects at risk of prediabetes and DM2, and we recommend that it should be systematic applied throughout the country as part of government policy.

Stimulation of Cysteine-Coated CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dot Luminescence by meso-Tetrakis (p-sulfonato-phenyl) Porphyrin.

Interaction between porphyrins and quantum dots (QD) via energy and/or charge transfer is usually accompanied by reduction of the QD luminescence intensity and lifetime. However, for CdSe/ZnS-Cys QD water solutions, kept at 276 K during 3 months (aged QD), the significant increase in the luminescence intensity at the addition of meso-tetrakis (p-sulfonato-phenyl) porphyrin (TPPS) has been observed in this study. Aggregation of QD during the storage provokes reduction in the quantum yield and lifetime of their luminescence.

Light induced cytotoxicity of nitrofurantoin toward murine melanoma.

The cytotoxicity of nitrofurantoin (NFT) in the dark and after light exposure (UVA irradiation, λ = 385 nm) was evaluated in murine melanoma B16F10 cells. NFT induces both cell proliferation and inhibition of cell viability. The dominance of one or the other effect depends on the drug concentration, incubation time (t) and irradiation dose.

Quantum dot effects upon the interaction between porphyrins and phospholipids in cell membrane models.

This study employed surface pressure isotherms and spectroscopic techniques to investigate the effect of quantum dots on the interaction between porphyrins and phospholipids using Langmuir monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett films formed from negatively charged DMPA (the sodium salt of dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-phosphatidyl acid) and zwitterionic DPPC (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) as cell membrane models in the presence of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-N-tetradecyl-pyridyl) porphyrin (TMPyP), 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(p-sulfonato-phenyl) porphyrin (TPPS4) and PEG-coated CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QD). The porphyrins present at the monolayer subphase affected the organization of the lipids at the air/liquid interface, as shown by the changes in the surface pressure-surface area isotherms. QDs enhanced the interaction of TMPyP with DMPA, improving their transference from the liquid monolayers to solid supports.

Immune reactivity to heat shock protein 70 expressed in the kidney is cause of salt-sensitive hypertension.

Hypertension affects one-third of the adult population of the world. The causes of hypertension are incompletely understood, but relative impairment of sodium excretion is central to its pathogenesis. Immune cell infiltration in the kidney is a constant finding in hypertension that in association with local angiotensin and oxidants causes a defect in sodium excretion.

Effect of uric acid on nephrotoxicity induced by mercuric chloride in rats.

Oxidative stress is an important mechanism in mercury poisoning. We studied the effect of uric acid, a natural and potent reactive oxygen species and peroxynitrite scavenger, in HgCl( 2)-induced nephrotoxicity. Rats were injected with a unique dose of HgCl(2) (2.

Effect of uric acid on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats - role of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9.

In this work, we aimed to study the effect of uric acid on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to one of six groups (six rats each) which received intraperitoneal injections for 9 days: (S) saline; (UA) Uric acid alone; (G) Gentamicin alone; (G + UA) Gentamicin + uric acid; (G rec) Gentamicin recovery and (G + UA rec) Gentamicin + uric acid recovery. In (G rec) and (G + UA rec), rats recovered for 7 days after the last injection.

Experimental induction of salt-sensitive hypertension is associated with lymphocyte proliferative response to HSP70.

Renal tubulointerstitial inflammation is a constant feature of experimental models of hypertension and likely plays a role in the pathogenesis of salt-sensitive hypertension. We have previously raised the possibility that the immune cell infiltration is driven by a low grade autoimmune reactivity directed to or facilitated by renal heat shock protein over expression. The present studies were done to gain insight on possible cell-mediated immune mechanisms in experimental hypertension by determining the renal expression of HSP70 and the proliferation index of T lymphocytes cultured with HSP70.

Hyperthermia reduces viral load of white spot syndrome virus in Penaeus vannamei.

We have previously reported that white spot syndrome virus-infected Penaeus vannamei (also called Litopenaeus vannamei) maintained at 32 degrees C show higher survival rates and a significant increase in number of apoptotic cells when compared to infected shrimp kept at 26 degrees C. As apoptosis plays an important part in the antiviral response of invertebrates, we hypothesized that this process would reduce WSSV replication, allowing the shrimp to control the disease and survive. To test this hypothesis, shrimp were orally infected and maintained at either 26 degrees C (Group 1) or 32 degrees C (Group 2), DNA was extracted from haemolymph collected at various times from 6 to 216 h post-infection, and the number of viral units was quantified by real time PCR using SYBR Green.

Estrogen therapy increases plasma concentrations of nitric oxide metabolites in postmenopausal women but increases flow-mediated vasodilation only in younger women.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of estrogen therapy (ET) on endothelial nitric oxide (NO) production and in flow-mediated vasodilation (FMV).

Design: Randomized, crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Setting: Healthy postmenopausal women in an academic research environment.

Evolution of renal interstitial inflammation and NF-kappaB activation in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Lymphocytes and macrophages infiltrate the kidney of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and interventions leading to their reduction are associated with improvement of the hypertension. The present studies examined the evolution of the interstitial inflammation in the natural course of the SHR to gain insight on the potential role of interstitial immune cell accumulation in the development of hypertension. We studied SHR and control WKY rats at 3 weeks (SHR-3 wk group, n = 11 and WKY-3 wk group, n = 10), 11 weeks (SHR-11 wk group, n = 5 and WKY-11 wk group, n = 5) and 24 weeks (SHR-24 wk group, n = 10 and WKY-24 wk group, n = 10).

Modulation of inflammation by slit protein in vivo in experimental crescentic glomerulonephritis.

A basic conservation of cell migration guidance mechanisms in the nervous and immune systems was proposed when Slit, known for its role in axon guidance, was found to inhibit chemokine-induced leukocyte chemotaxis in vitro. These studies examined the role of Slit2 in modulating inflammation in vivo. In a rat model of glomerulonephritis, endogenous glomerular Slit2 expression fell after disease induction, and its inhibition during the early disease period accelerated inflammation.

Vimentin and heat shock protein expression are induced in the kidney by angiotensin and by nitric oxide inhibition.

Background: Angiotensin II (Ang II) infusion and nitric oxide synthesis (NOS) inhibition with Nomega-nitro-l-arginine-methyl-ester (l-NAME) are experimental models of hypertension associated with renal inflammation and oxidative stress. To gain insight into the nature of the tubulointerstitial injury induced in these models, we studied lectin-binding specificities, vimentin expression, and heat shock protein (HSP) 60 and 70 in these experimental models.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats received Ang II infusion (435 ng/kg/min) for 2 weeks by subcutaneous minipumps (Ang II group, N = 5) or l-NAME in the drinking water (70 mg/100 mL) for 3 weeks (l-NAME group N = 7).