Cellular mechanisms linking to outdoor and indoor air pollution damage during pregnancy.

Pregnancies are a critical window period for environmental influences over the mother and the offspring. There is a growing body of evidence associating indoor and outdoor air pollution exposure to adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Particulate matter (PM) could trigger oxi-inflammation and could also reach the placenta leading to placental damage with fetal consequences.

TiOMWCNT nanohybrid: Cytotoxicity, protein corona formation and cellular internalisation in RTG-2 fish cell line.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles-multiwalled carbon nanotubes (TiOMWCNT) nanohydrid has an enhanced photocatalytic activity across the visible light with promising applications in environmental remediation, solar energy devices and antimicrobial technologies. However, it is necessary to evaluate the toxicological effects of TiOMWCNT towards safe and sustainable development of nanohybrids. In this work, we studied the cytotoxicity, protein corona formation and cellular internalisation of TiOMWCNT on fibroblasts derived from gonadal rainbow trout tissue (RTG-2) for the first time.

Mechanism of high-mannose N-glycan breakdown and metabolism by Bifidobacterium longum.

Bifidobacteria are early colonizers of the human gut and play central roles in human health and metabolism. To thrive in this competitive niche, these bacteria evolved the capacity to use complex carbohydrates, including mammalian N-glycans. Herein, we elucidated pivotal biochemical steps involved in high-mannose N-glycan utilization by Bifidobacterium longum.

Functional consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women, fetoplacental unit, and neonate.

The SARS-CoV-2 infection causes COVID-19 disease, characterized by acute respiratory distress syndrome, bilateral pneumonia, and organ failure. The consequences of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection for the pregnant woman, fetus, and neonate are controversial. Thus, it is required to determine whether there is viral and non-viral vertical transmission in COVID-19.

PEGylated versus Non-PEGylated pH-Sensitive Liposomes: New Insights from a Comparative Antitumor Activity Study.

PEGylated liposomes are largely studied as long-circulating drug delivery systems. Nevertheless, the addition of PEG can result in reduced interactions between liposomes and cells, hindering liposomal internalization into target cells. The presence of PEG on the surface of pH-sensitive liposomes is not advantageous in terms of biodistribution and tumor uptake, raising the question of whether the indiscriminate use of PEG benefits the formulation.

Comparison of Three Gestational Weight Gain Guidelines Under Use in Latin America.

Presently, three guidelines are used in Latin America to assess adequacy of maternal body mass index (BMI) during pregnancy: (1) the chart proposed by the Institute of Medicine of the United States (IOM), (2) the Rosso-Mardones Chart (RM), and (3) a modified RM chart proposed by Atalah et al. (AEA). The aim of the present review was to explore available information on the sensitivity, specificity, and both positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) of these charts to detect women at risk of delivering babies with the following signs of abnormal fetal growth: (a) length at birth (BL) <50 cm; (b) birth weight (BW) <3,000 g; and (c) BW ≥ 4,000 or 4,250 g.

An atomic model for the human septin hexamer by cryo-EM.

In order to form functional filaments, human septins must assemble into hetero-oligomeric rod-like particles which polymerize end-to-end. The rules governing the assembly of these particles and the subsequent filaments are incompletely understood. Although crystallographic approaches have been successful in studying the separate components of the system, there has been difficulty in obtaining high resolution structures of the full particle.

Structure optimization of lipopeptide assemblies for aldol reactions in an aqueous medium.

Four amphiphilic peptides were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated regarding their efficiency in the catalysis of direct aldol reactions in water. The lipopeptides differ by having a double lipid chain and a guanidinium pyrrole group functionalizing one Lys side chain. All the samples are composed of the amino acids l-proline (P), l-arginine (R), or l-lysine (K) functionalized with the cationic guanidiniocarbonyl pyrrole unit (GCP), l-tryptophan (W), and l-glycine (G), covalently linked to one or two long aliphatic chains, leading to surfactant-like designs with controlled proline protonation state and different stereoselectivity.

Visualization of supramolecular structure of Pluronic F127 micellar hydrogels using cryo-TEM.

Pluronic® F127 micellar hydrogels are of growing interest to the biomedical field due to their versatility as drug delivery systems. Pluronic® F127 is a symmetric and amphiphilic triblock copolymer which in aqueous medium self-assembles into micelles that pack togetherwith increasing temperature or concentration, leading to non-flowable hydrogels. The microstructure of these hydrogels is usually investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering, which is not a readily available technique.

Folate status in women of childbearing age in the Urban Metropolitan Region of Chile: results from the National Health Survey 2016-2017.

Objective: To analyse serum folate levels in women of childbearing age in the Metropolitan Region (MR) of Chile.

Design: Cross-sectional design as part of the 2016-2017 National Health Survey (Encuesta Nacional de Salud, ENS 2016-2017), using a household-based multistage stratified random sample. Serum folate levels measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay in fasting venous blood samples were classified as deficient (<4·4 ng/ml), normal (4·4-20 ng/ml) or supraphysiological (>20 ng/ml).

Early origins of allergy and asthma (ARIES): study protocol for a prospective prenatal birth cohort in Chile.

Background: Growing evidence shows that atopic dermatitis (AD), food allergy (FA), allergic rhinitis, and asthma are largely determined during the first 1000 days (time elapsed from conception to the 2nd birthday). The ARIES birth cohort aims to determine prenatal and perinatal conditions, as well as genetic and epigenetic factors, that participate in the early setting of immune responses, and the role of these in the later determination of the risk of allergic diseases and asthma in the offspring.

Methods: We have designed a birth cohort of 250 families with prenatal recruitment (~ 14 weeks).

Bacterioruberin from Haloarchaea plus dexamethasone in ultra-small macrophage-targeted nanoparticles as potential intestinal repairing agent.

Oral administration of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drugs have the potential to improve the current therapy of inflammatory bowel disease. Success of oral treatments, however, depends on the capacity of drugs to remain structurally stable along the gastrointestinal tract, and on the feasibility of accessing the target cells. Delivering anti-inflammatory and antioxidant drugs to macrophages using targeted nanoparticles, could make treatments more efficient.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Treatment Schemes Modify Maternal Plasma Cholesterol Levels Dependent to Women´s Weight: Possible Impact on Feto-Placental Vascular Function.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) associates with fetal endothelial dysfunction (ED), which occurs independently of adequate glycemic control. Scarce information exists about the impact of different GDM therapeutic schemes on maternal dyslipidemia and obesity and their contribution to the development of fetal-ED. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of GDM-treatments on lipid levels in nonobese (N) and obese (O) pregnant women and the effect of maternal cholesterol levels in GDM-associated ED in the umbilical vein (UV).

Pair Distribution Function from Electron Diffraction in Cryogenic Electron Microscopy: Revealing Glassy Water Structure.

In recent years, cryogenic electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) has revolutionized the structure determination of wet samples and especially that of biological macromolecules. The glassy-water medium in which the molecules are embedded is considered an almost environment for biological samples. The local structure of amorphous ice is known from neutron- and X-ray-diffraction studies, techniques appropriate for much larger volumes than those used in cryo-EM.

Nanoparticles containing β-cyclodextrin potentially useful for the treatment of Niemann-Pick C.

β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) is being considered a promising therapy for Niemann-Pick C (NPC) disease because of its ability to mobilise the entrapped cholesterol from lysosomes, however, a major limitation is its inability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and address the central nervous system (CNS) manifestations of the disease. Considering this, we aimed to design nanoparticles able to cross the BBB and deliver β-CD into the CNS lysosomes. The physicochemical characteristics of β-CD-loaded nanoparticles were evaluated by dynamic light scattering, small-angle X-ray scattering, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy.

Long-term dispersion of river gravel in a canyon in the Atacama Desert, Central Andes, deduced from their Be concentrations.

Intense storms or earthquakes in mountains can supply large amounts of gravel to rivers. Gravel clasts then travel at different rates, with periods of storage and periods of displacement leading to their downstream dispersion over millennia. The rate of this dispersion controls the long-term downcutting rate in mountainous rivers as well as the grain-size signature of climate and tectonic variations in sedimentary basins.

On the formation of protein corona on colloidal nanoparticles stabilized by depletant polymers.

To counter the undesired colloidal destabilization of nanoparticles in biologically-compatible media of high ionic strength (i.e. NaCl, phosphate buffer), polymers can be added to nanoparticle suspensions that will be used in biomedical applications.

Neonates from women with pregestational maternal obesity show reduced umbilical vein endothelial response to insulin.

Objective: Pregestational maternal obesity (PGMO) associates with foetoplacental vascular endothelial dysfunction and higher risk for insulin resistance in the neonate. We characterised the PGMO consequences on the insulin response of the human foetoplacental vasculature.

Methods: Umbilical veins were from pregnancies where the mother was with PGMO (body mass index 30-42.

Superoxide dismutase in nanoarchaeosomes for targeted delivery to inflammatory macrophages.

Oxidative stress plays an essential role in the pathogenesis and progression of inflammatory bowel disease. Co-administration of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory drugs has shown clinical benefits. Due to its significant reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging ability, great interest has been focused on superoxide dismutase (SOD) for therapeutic use.

Interaction of graphene oxide with cell culture medium: Evaluating the fetal bovine serum protein corona formation towards in vitro nanotoxicity assessment and nanobiointeractions.

The interaction of single-layer graphene oxide (SLGO) and multi-layered graphene oxide (MLGO) with a cell culture medium (i.e. DMEM) was studied by evaluating fetal bovine serum (FBS) protein corona formation towards in vitro nanotoxicity assessment and nanobiointeractions.

The anti MRSA biofilm activity of Thymus vulgaris essential oil in nanovesicles.

Background: Thymus vulgaris essential oil (T) could be an alternative to classical antibiotics against bacterial biofilms, which show increased tolerance to antibiotics and host defence systems and contribute to the persistence of chronic bacterial infections.

Hypothesis: A nanovesicular formulation of T may chemically protect the structure and relative composition of its multiple components, potentially improving its antibacterial and antibiofilm activity.

Study Design: We prepared and structurally characterized T in two types of nanovesicles: nanoliposomes (L80-T) made of Soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC) and Polysorbate 80 (P80) [SPC:P80:T 1:0.

Effect of depletion forces on the morphological structure of carboxymethyl cellulose and micro/nano cellulose fiber suspensions.

Cellulose nanofibers (CNF) can present a high viscosity and thixotropic behavior when dispersed in water. In this work, CNF isolated from sugarcane bagasse and modified by N-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (TEMPO) oxidation was added to a solution of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). This process produced an unexpected viscosity due to a synergistic effect that was observed macroscopically through rheology analysis.

Novel imiquimod nanovesicles for topical vaccination.

Development of needle and pain free noninvasive immunization procedures is a top priority for public health agencies. In this work the topical adjuvant activity of the immunomodulator imiquimod (IMQ) carried by ultradeformable archaeosomes (UDA) (nanovesicles containing sn-2,3 ether linked phytanyl saturated archaeolipids) was surveyed and compared with that of ultradeformable liposomes lacking archaeolipids (UDL) and free IMQ, using the model antigen ovalbumin and a seasonal influenza vaccine in Balb/c mice. UDA (250 ± 94 nm, -26 ± 4 mV Z potential) induced higher IMQ accumulation in human skin and higher production of TNF-α and IL-6 by macrophages and keratinocytes than free IMQ and UDL.

Make It Simple: (SR-A1+TLR7) Macrophage Targeted NANOarchaeosomes.

Hyperhalophilic archaebacteria exclusively produce sn2,3 diphytanylglycerol diether archaeolipids, unique structures absent in bacteria and eukaryotes. Nanovesicles made of archaeolipids known as nanoarchaeosomes (nanoARC), possess highly stable bilayers, some of them displaying specific targeting ability. Here we hypothesize that nanoARC made from archaebacteria, may constitute efficient carriers for the TLR7 agonist imiquimod (IMQ).

Monoolein-based nanoparticles for drug delivery to the central nervous system: A platform for lysosomal storage disorder treatment.

Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs) are characterized by an abnormal accumulation of substrates within the lysosome and comprise more than 50 genetic disorders with a frequency of 1:5000 live births. Nanotechnology may be a promising way to circumvent the drawbacks of the current therapies for lysosomal diseases. The blood circulation time and bioavailability of the enzymes or drugs could be improved by inserting them in nanocarriers, which could decrease and/or avoid the need of frequent intravenous infusions along with the minimization or elimination of associated immunogenic responses.