Cold plasma irradiation of chitosan: A straight pathway to selective antitumor therapy.

Plasma-activated chitosan (PAC) colloids for cancer treatment were obtained by using the cold atmospheric plasma technique. Chitosan solutions were irradiated by plasma ignited in argon gas and in a mixture of argon with nitrogen and oxygen gases in certain ratios. The structural modifications of chitosan and the chemical species generated in plasma were investigated by EPR, LC-MS/MS, XRD, DLS, and TGA methods.

Reversible assembly and disassembly of V-ATPase during the lysosome regeneration cycle.

Regulation of the luminal pH of late endocytic compartments in continuously fed mammalian cells is poorly understood. Using normal rat kidney fibroblasts, we investigated the reversible assembly/disassembly of the proton pumping V-ATPase when endolysosomes are formed by kissing and fusion of late endosomes with lysosomes and during the subsequent reformation of lysosomes. We took advantage of previous work showing that sucrosomes formed by the uptake of sucrose are swollen endolysosomes from which lysosomes are reformed after uptake of invertase.

Testing the Performance of the Azo-Polyimide Supramolecular Systems as Substrate for Sensors Based on Platinum Electrodes.

Azo-polyimide films with supramolecular structure were obtained by casting onto glass plates a mixture based on polyamidic acid and different quantities of azochromophore, followed by thermal treatment to realize the final azo-polyimide structure. The dielectric characteristics of the supramolecular structure of polymer films were investigated by broad-band dielectric spectroscopy measurements at different temperatures and frequencies. The free-standing films proved to be flexible and tough and maintained their integrity after repeated bending.

Social value of pathology: adapting primary health care to reduce stress and social anxiety in college students exposed to social distancing.

This article examined the impact of online education on the wellbeing and emotional health of college students. It considered the social value of stress and anxiety pathology as "normal" side effects throughout the COVID-19 lockdown. Factors appropriate for educational technology were selected and submitted for evaluation to a sample of 114 college students in a semi-structured questionnaire.

Atomic Force Microscopy Probing and Analysis of Polyimide Supramolecular Systems for Sensor Devices.

A series of polyimide supramolecular systems containing different amounts of azochromophore were tested as flexible supports that can be used in the fabrication of certain devices, such as sensors for monitoring the temperature changes, by coating them with conductive metals. That is why it is required to have good interfacial compatibility between the flexible substrate and the inorganic layer. The interface of the sensor elements must be designed in such a way as to improve the sensitivity, accuracy, and response time of the device.

Inclusion Complexes of 3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene with Per-Modified β- and γ-Cyclodextrins.

Herein, we report the synthesis of inclusion complexes (ICs) based on 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) with permethylated β-cyclodextrins (TMe-βCD) and permethylated γ-cyclodextrins (TMe-γCD) host molecules. To prove the synthesis of such ICs, molecular docking simulation, UV-vis titrations in water, H-NMR, and H-H ROESY, as well as matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectroscopy (MALDI TOF MS) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were carried out on each of the EDOT∙TMe-βCD and EDOT∙TMe-γCD samples. The results of computational investigations reveal the occurrence of hydrophobic interactions, which contribute to the insertion of the EDOT guest inside the macrocyclic cavities and a better binding of the neutral EDOT to TMe-βCD.

Polyimide-Derived Supramolecular Systems Containing Various Amounts of Azochromophore for Optical Storage Uses.

The progress of digital technologies demands more speed and larger storage capacity. Optical storage systems have the advantage of being cheap, fast and capacious. This article explores the potential use of polyimide-based films as a recording medium for optical storage devices.

The Impact of the Azo-Chromophore Sort on the Features of the Supramolecular Azopolyimide Films Desired to Be Used as Substrates for Flexible Electronics.

High-performance supramolecular polyimide systems were synthesized via a simple and innovative approach using two types of azo-chromophores, leading to concomitant special properties: high thermostability, the ability to be processed in the form of films with high flexibility, adequate morphological features, and good structuring capacity via phase mask ultraviolet (UV) laser irradiation, induced by the presence of the azo groups (-N=N-). The dimension and the anisotropy degree of the micro/nano patterns obtained on the surface of the flexible films (determined by atomic force microscopy) depend on the azo-dye type used in the supramolecular azopolyimide synthesis, which were higher when the azo-chromophore containing a -cyano group (-C≡N) was used. The molecular dynamics method, an excellent tool for an in-depth examination of the intermolecular interactions, was used to explain the morphological aspects.

Evaluation of Local Mechanical and Chemical Properties via AFM as a Tool for Understanding the Formation Mechanism of Pulsed UV Laser-Nanoinduced Patterns on Azo-Naphthalene-Based Polyimide Films.

Aromatic polyimides containing side azo-naphthalene groups have been investigated regarding their capacity of generating surface relief gratings (SRGs) under pulsed UV laser irradiation through phase masks, using different fluencies and pulse numbers. The process of the material photo-fluidization and the supramolecular re-organization of the surface were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). At first, an AFM nanoscale topographical analysis of the induced SRGs was performed in terms of morphology and tridimensional amplitude, spatial, hybrid, and functional parameters.

Complex Bacterial Consortia Reprogram the Colitogenic Activity of in a Gnotobiotic Mouse Model of Chronic, Immune-Mediated Colitis.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are associated with compositional and functional changes of the intestinal microbiota, but specific contributions of individual bacteria to chronic intestinal inflammation remain unclear. is a resident member of the human intestinal core microbiota that has been linked to the pathogenesis of IBD and induces chronic colitis in susceptible monoassociated IL-10-deficient (IL-10) mice. In this study, we characterized the colitogenic activity of as part of a simplified human microbial consortium based on seven enteric bacterial strains (SIHUMI).

Enterococcus faecalis Glycolipids Modulate Lipoprotein-Content of the Bacterial Cell Membrane and Host Immune Response.

In this study, we investigated the impact of the cell membrane composition of E. faecalis on its recognition by the host immune system. To this end, we employed an E.

Detection of opsonic antibodies against Enterococcus faecalis cell wall carbohydrates in immune globulin preparations.

Three different commercially available polyvalent immune globulins (IG) were investigated for the existence of antibodies against cell wall carbohydrates of four different E. faecalis serotypes (using a cell wall carbohydrate-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), and whether these antibodies mediated opsonic killing (using an opsonic-killing assay). All three IG preparations contained antibodies against all four serotypes (CPS-A to CPS-D).

Role of glycolipids in the pathogenesis of Enterococcus faecalis urinary tract infection.

Background: After uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), Enterococcus faecalis is the second most common pathogen causing urinary tract infections. Monoglucosyl-diacylglycerol (MGlcDAG) and diglucosyl-diacylglycerol (DGlcDAG) are the main glycolipids of the E. faecalis cell membrane.

An atomic force microscopy statistical analysis of laser-induced azo-polyimide periodic tridimensional nanogrooves.

The surface morphology of azo-polyimide films was investigated after 355 nm Nd: YAG laser irradiation with two different incident fluencies. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to correlate the laser-induced tridimensional nanogrooved surface relief with the incident fluence and the number of irradiation pulses. The height images revealed that the grooves depth increased even tens of times by increasing the incident fluence, using the same numbers of irradiation pulses.

Intraventricular metastatic clear cell renal carcinoma.

Background: Intraventricular tumors represent a diagnostic problem, due to a wide range of differential diagnosis, with an important variability of tumoral histological types in adult and pediatric population. Patient,

Methods And Results: Our case is represented by a patient, aged 48 years, without any history of significant personal pathology, accusing nausea, vomiting, and intensive headache. In the morning, he became confused, having hallucinations for a short period of time, and has accused drowsiness for several weeks.

Morphological and rheological insights on polyimide chain entanglements for electrospinning produced fibers.

Solution rheology and electrospinning performance of an aromatic polyimide based on 3,3',4,4'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) and 3,3'-dimethyl-4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (MMDA) was studied. Analyzing the dependence of specific viscosity on polymer concentration enabled the evaluation of the transition from semidilute unentangled to semidilute entangled regime at 18.3%.

Protection against Staphylococcus aureus by antibody to the polyglycerolphosphate backbone of heterologous lipoteichoic acid.

Type 1 lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is present in many clinically important gram-positive bacteria, including enterococci, streptococci, and staphylococci, and antibodies against LTA have been shown to opsonize nonencapsulated Enterococcus faecalis strains. In the present study, we show that antibodies against E. faecalis LTA also bind to type 1 LTA from other gram-positive species and opsonized Staphylocccus epidermidis and Staphylcoccus aureus strains as well as group B streptococci.

Identification of SagA as a novel vaccine target for the prevention of Enterococcus faecium infections.

Infections caused by multiresistant Gram-positive bacteria represent a major health burden in the community as well as in hospitalized patients. Enterococci, especially Enterococcus faecium, are well-known pathogens of hospitalized patients and are frequently linked with resistance against multiple antibiotics, which compromises effective therapy. Rabbit immune serum raised against heat-killed E.

Enterococcus faecalis metalloprotease compromises epithelial barrier and contributes to intestinal inflammation.

Background & Aims: Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) mediate pathogenesis of chronic intestinal inflammation. We characterized the role of the gelatinase (GelE), a metalloprotease from Enterococcus faecalis, in the development of colitis in mice.

Methods: Germ-free, interleukin-10-deficient (IL-10(-/-)) mice were monoassociated with the colitogenic E faecalis strain OG1RF and isogenic, GelE-mutant strains.

Glycine receptors influence radial migration in the embryonic mouse neocortex.

To investigate whether glycine receptors influence radial migration in the neocortex, we analyzed the effect of glycine and the glycinergic antagonist strychnine, on the distribution of 5-bromo-2'deoxyuridine-labeled neurons in organotypic slice cultures from embryonic mice cortices. Application of glycine impeded radial migration only in the presence of the glycine-transport blockers, ALX-5407 and ALX-1393. This effect was blocked by the specific glycine receptor antagonist strychnine, whereas application of strychnine in the absence of glycine was without effect.

Intra- and interspecies genomic transfer of the Enterococcus faecalis pathogenicity island.

Enterococci are the third leading cause of hospital associated infections and have gained increased importance due to their fast adaptation to the clinical environment by acquisition of antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity traits. Enterococcus faecalis harbours a pathogenicity island (PAI) of 153 kb containing several virulence factors including the enterococcal surface protein (esp). Until now only internal fragments of the PAI or larger chromosomal regions containing it have been transferred.

Deletion of the glycosyltransferase bgsB of Enterococcus faecalis leads to a complete loss of glycolipids from the cell membrane and to impaired biofilm formation.

Background: Deletion of the glycosyltransferase bgsA in Enterococcus faecalis leads to loss of diglucosyldiacylglycerol from the cell membrane and accumulation of its precursor monoglucosyldiacylglycerol, associated with impaired biofilm formation and reduced virulence in vivo. Here we analyzed the function of a putative glucosyltransferase EF2890 designated biofilm-associated glycolipid synthesis B (bgsB) immediately downstream of bgsA.

Results: A deletion mutant was constructed by targeted mutagenesis in E.