Attomolar sensitivity of a redox capacitive and DNA-receptive interface attained by quantum-rate signal amplification concept.

This study demonstrates the application of quantum capacitance (C) methods to develop highly sensitive genosensors. This is achieved by employing the quantum mechanical rate (ν∝e/hC) concept to enhance the signal response of a redox-active, DNA-receptive interface. In these DNA-receptive interfaces, electrons are transported through the redox-tagged component, enabling signal amplification by adding a redox probe to the sample containing the target DNA.

The feasibility of establishing parent support groups for children with congenital Zika syndrome and their families: a mixed-methods study.

The 2015 - 2016 Zika epidemic highlighted gaps in health and social care services for parents of children with developmental disabilities. In response, we developed the 'Juntos' intervention, a 10 week community-based early intervention support group for parents of children with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). The intervention's components include participatory learning sessions, practical skill acquisition, peer support, and psychological support, aiming to improve caregiver's knowledge and confidence in caring for their children.

Antibiotic resistance and consumption before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Valle del Cauca, Colombia.

Objective: To assess changes in antibiotic resistance of eight of the World Health Organization priority bug-drug combinations and consumption of six antibiotics (ceftriaxone, cefepime, piperacillin/tazobactam, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin) before (March 2018 to July 2019) and during (March 2020 to July 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic in 31 hospitals in Valle del Cauca, Colombia.

Methods: This was a before/after study using routinely collected data. For antibiotic consumption, daily defined doses (DDD) per 100 bed-days were compared.

Characterization of the external exposome and its contribution to the clinical respiratory and early biological effects in children: The PROMESA cohort study protocol.

Background: Air pollution contains a mixture of different pollutants from multiple sources. However, the interaction of these pollutants with other environmental exposures, as well as their harmful effects on children under five in tropical countries, is not well known.

Objective: This study aims to characterize the external exposome (ambient and indoor exposures) and its contribution to clinical respiratory and early biological effects in children.

Mortality in Elderly Patients Taking Furosemide: Prospective Cohorts Study.

Objectives: Low blood pressure (BP) has been proposed as a risk factor of death in elderly patients. However, this association could be partially accounted for by the deleterious effects of BP-lowering drugs. We analyzed whether these drugs are associated to an increased risk of death in elderly patients taking multiple potential confounders into account.

Reagentless Quantum-Rate-Based Electrochemical Signal of Graphene for Detecting SARS-CoV-2 Infection Using Nasal Swab Specimens.

The quantum-rate model predicts a rate as a frequency for transporting electrons within molecular structures, which is governed by the ratio between the quantum of conductance and capacitance , such that = /. This frequency, as measured in a single-layer graphene appropriately modified with suitable biological receptors, can be applied as a transducer signal that ranges sensitivities within the attomole for biosensing applications. Here, we applied this label-free and reagentless biosensing transducer signal methodology for the qualitative diagnosis of COVID-19 infections, where this assay methodology was shown to be similar to the gold-standard real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Reinfection by SARS CoV2 in Valle Del Cauca, Colombia: A Descriptive Retrospective Study.

In coronavirus cases, reinfection has been associated with short-term immunity and genetic changes in viruses which allow them to escape from immune response, viral genotyping is required to make the precise diagnosis of reinfection, but the suspicion occurs in patients with more than 90 days between the tests and total improvement between them. We made a descriptive retrospective study with the cases of reinfection in Valle del Cauca, Colombia. We found up to June 30, 3249 cases with suspected reinfection, 1.

as a Novelty Model of Host-Pathogen Interaction for CBS 1878 and CBS 1879.

and are lipophilic and lipid dependent yeasts, associated with the skin microbiota in humans and domestic animals, respectively. Although they are commensals, under specific conditions they become pathogens, causing skin conditions, such as pityriasis versicolor, dandruff/seborrheic dermatitis, folliculitis in humans, and dermatitis and otitis in dogs. Additionally, these species are associated with fungemia in immunocompromised patients and low-weight neonates in intensive care units with intravenous catheters or with parenteral nutrition and that are under-treatment of broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Risks of Adverse Childhood Outcomes According to Prenatal Time of Exposure to Zika Virus: Assessment in a Cohort Exposed to Zika During an Outbreak in Colombia.

Late gestational exposure to Zika increases the odds of delay in the Bayley-II mental developmental index (MDI) in children with normal baseline neurologic assessments; 9-fold when comparing third and first trimester exposure. Risk of MDI developmental delay increases by 8% for each week of gestational age at time of exposure.

The spatial parameters of gait and their association with falls, functional decline and death in older adults: a prospective study.

Association between spatial gait parameters and adverse health outcomes in the elderly has not been sufficiently studied. The goal of this study is to evaluate whether the stride length or the step width predict falls, functional loss and mortality. We conducted a prospective cohort study on a probabilistic sample of 431 noninstitutionalized, older-than-64-years subjects living in Spain, who were followed-up for five years.

Outcomes of Congenital Zika Virus Infection During an Outbreak in Valle del Cauca, Colombia.

Background: Despite increasing information in the literature regarding congenital Zika infection, gaps remain in our knowledge of its clinical manifestations.

Methods: We did a prospective observational study of exposed fetuses and infants whose mothers developed symptomatic and confirmed Zika infection during pregnancy in Valle del Cauca, Colombia. We performed neurological, ophthalmologic and audiologic evaluations, and classified outcomes as possibly or uncertainly related to Zika.

Sulforaphane prevents maleic acid-induced nephropathy by modulating renal hemodynamics, mitochondrial bioenergetics and oxidative stress.

Maleic acid (MA)-induced nephropathy that is characterized by proteinuria, glycosuria, phosphaturia and a deficient urinary acidification and concentration. Sulforaphane (SF) is an indirect antioxidant that shows nephroprotective effects. The aim of the present work was to test the pre-treatment with SF against the MA-induced nephropathy.

DNA secondary structure formation by DNA shuffling of the conserved domains of the Cry protein of .

Background: The Cry toxins, or δ-endotoxins, are a diverse group of proteins produced by . While DNA secondary structures are biologically relevant, it is unknown if such structures are formed in regions encoding conserved domains of Cry toxins under shuffling conditions. We analyzed 5 holotypes that encode Cry toxins and that grouped into 4 clusters according to their phylogenetic closeness.

Curcumin prevents paracetamol-induced liver mitochondrial alterations.

Objective: In the present study was evaluated if curcumin is able to attenuate paracetamol (PCM)-induced mitochondrial alterations in liver of mice.

Methods: Mice (n = 5-6/group) received curcumin (35, 50 or 100 mg/kg bw) 90 min before PCM injection (350 mg/kg bw). Plasma activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was measured; histological analyses were done; and measurement of mitochondrial oxygen consumption, mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP synthesis, aconitase activity and activity of respiratory complexes was carried out.

Curcumin prevents cisplatin-induced decrease in the tight and adherens junctions: relation to oxidative stress.

Curcumin is a polyphenol and cisplatin is an antineoplastic agent that induces nephrotoxicity associated with oxidative stress, apoptosis, fibrosis and decrease in renal tight junction (TJ) proteins. The potential effect of curcumin against alterations in TJ structure and function has not been evaluated in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. The present study explored whether curcumin is able to prevent the cisplatin-induced fibrosis and decreased expression of the TJ and adherens junction (AJ) proteins occludin, claudin-2 and E-cadherin in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.

Smoke-Free Multiunit Housing Policy: Caretakers' Perspectives on Economic and Personal Impacts.

Objective: Multiunit housing (MUH) operators may be motivated to adopt smoke-free policies to achieve cost savings. MUH caretakers provide a unique perspective for understanding the implications of smoke-free policies because of their role in property maintenance. We examine MUH caretakers' perceptions regarding the economic and personal impact of smoke-free policies at their properties.

Acute restraint stress reduces hippocampal oxidative damage and behavior in rats: Effect of S-allyl cysteine.

Aims: This simple study was designed to investigate whether acute restraint stress can generate changes in behavioral tests and hippocampal endpoints of oxidative stress in rats, and if the antioxidant S-allyl cysteine (SAC) can prevent these alterations.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated motor activity, forced swimming and anxiety behavior, as well as the hippocampal levels of lipid peroxidation and the activities of glutathione-related enzymes in animals submitted to mild immobilization. The effect of SAC (100 mg/kg, i.

Cannabinoid receptor agonists reduce the short-term mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress linked to excitotoxicity in the rat brain.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is involved in a considerable number of physiological processes in the Central Nervous System. Recently, a modulatory role of cannabinoid receptors (CBr) and CBr agonists on the reduction of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAr) activation has been demonstrated. Quinolinic acid (QUIN), an endogenous analog of glutamate and excitotoxic metabolite produced in the kynurenine pathway (KP), selectively activates NMDAr and has been shown to participate in different neurodegenerative disorders.

Antioxidant properties of xanthones from Calophyllum brasiliense: prevention of oxidative damage induced by FeSO₄.

Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important mediators in a number of degenerative diseases. Oxidative stress refers to the imbalance between the production of ROS and the ability to scavenge these species through endogenous antioxidant systems. Since antioxidants can inhibit oxidative processes, it becomes relevant to describe natural compounds with antioxidant properties which may be designed as therapies to decrease oxidative damage and stimulate endogenous cytoprotective systems.

Nordihydroguaiaretic acid induces Nrf2 nuclear translocation in vivo and attenuates renal damage and apoptosis in the ischemia and reperfusion model.

It has been shown that the pretreatment with nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), a lignan with direct and indirect antioxidant properties, protects against the ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-induced renal oxidant damage. Although it has been shown that NDGA induces Nrf2 nuclear translocation in renal epithelial LLC-PK1 cells in culture, it is unknown if NDGA may induce Nrf2 translocation in vivo. In this work was explored if NDGA is able to induce in vivo Nrf2 nuclear translocation in kidneys of rats submitted to uni-nephrectomy (U-NX) or I/R injury.

Deferoxamine pretreatment prevents Cr(VI)-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidant stress: role of Cr(VI) chelation.

Deferoxamine (DFO) is a recognized iron chelator which has been shown to exert nephroprotection in models of toxic nephropathies. In the present work the potential protective effects of DFO against Cr(VI)-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidant stress were evaluated. Rats were injected with a single injection (15mg/kg, s.

On the antioxidant properties of kynurenic acid: free radical scavenging activity and inhibition of oxidative stress.

Kynurenic acid (KYNA) is an endogenous metabolite of the kynurenine pathway for tryptophan degradation and an antagonist of both N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine (α7nACh) receptors. KYNA has also been shown to scavenge hydroxyl radicals (OH) under controlled conditions of free radical production. In this work we evaluated the ability of KYNA to scavenge superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) and peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)).

Protective effect of sulforaphane pretreatment against cisplatin-induced liver and mitochondrial oxidant damage in rats.

In the present work was analyzed whether sulforaphane (SFN) may protect against cisplatin (CIS)-induced hepatic damage, oxidant stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Four groups of male Wistar rats were studied: control, CIS, CIS+SFN and SFN. SFN was given i.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles impair lung mitochondrial function.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO(2) NPs) are used in an increasing number of human products such as cosmetics, sunscreen, toothpaste and paints. However, there is clear evidence about effects associated to TiO(2) NPs exposure, which include lung inflammation and tumor formation and these effects are related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. The ROS generation could be attributed to a mitochondrial dysfunction.