Periodate oxidation of nanofibrillated cellulose films for active packaging applications.

An alternative packaging material based on cellulose that possesses excellent barrier properties and is potentially useful for active packaging has been developed. Cellulose nanofibril was efficiently and selectively oxidized with sodium periodate generating reactive aldehyde groups. These groups formed hemiacetal and hemialdal bonds during film formation and, consequently, highly transparent, elastic and strong films were created even under moisture saturation conditions.

An extension of the 16th Hilbert problem for continuous piecewise linear-quadratic centers separated by a non-regular line.

In the last few decades, there has been much interest in studying piecewise differential systems. This is mainly due to the fact that these differential systems allow us to modelize many natural phenomena. In order to describe the dynamics of a differential system, we need to control its periodic orbits and, especially, its limit cycles.

c-Abl Phosphorylates MFN2 to Regulate Mitochondrial Morphology in Cells under Endoplasmic Reticulum and Oxidative Stress, Impacting Cell Survival and Neurodegeneration.

The endoplasmic reticulum is a subcellular organelle key in the control of synthesis, folding, and sorting of proteins. Under endoplasmic reticulum stress, an adaptative unfolded protein response is activated; however, if this activation is prolonged, cells can undergo cell death, in part due to oxidative stress and mitochondrial fragmentation. Here, we report that endoplasmic reticulum stress activates c-Abl tyrosine kinase, inducing its translocation to mitochondria.

Existence of a cylinder foliated by periodic orbits in the generalized Chazy differential equation.

The generalized Chazy differential equation corresponds to the following two-parameter family of differential equations x⃛+|x|qx¨+k|x|qxx˙2=0, which has its regularity varying with q, a positive integer. Indeed, for q=1, it is discontinuous on the straight line x=0, whereas for q a positive even integer it is polynomial, and for q>1 a positive odd integer it is continuous but not differentiable on the straight line x=0. In 1999, the existence of periodic solutions in the generalized Chazy differential equation was numerically observed for q=2 and k=3.

The c-Abl/p73 pathway induces neurodegeneration in a Parkinson's disease model.

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. Although it is clear that dopaminergic neurons degenerate, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unknown, and thus, successful treatment is still elusive. One pro-apoptotic pathway associated with several neurodegenerative diseases is the tyrosine kinase c-Abl and its target p73.

Composites of cellulose nanocrystals in combination with either cellulose nanofibril or carboxymethylcellulose as functional packaging films.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were mixed with either cellulose nanofibril (CNF) or carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) in variable proportions (0/100, 20/80, 40/60, 50/50, 60/40, 80/20 and 100/0) to obtain cast films with acceptable barrier and mechanical properties as replacements for food packaging plastics. Both CNF and CMC improved tensile strength, elongation, UV opacity, air resistance, hydrophobicity (WCA-water contact angle), water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) and oxygen impermeability in pure CNC. WVTR and oxygen permeability were strongly dependent on relative humidity (RH).

Reliability of extracellular contrast versus gadoxetic acid in assessing small liver lesions using liver imaging reporting and data system v.2018 and European association for the study of the liver criteria.

Background & Aims: The diagnostic accuracy of Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) v.2018 and European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) criteria for the diagnosis of HCC have been widely evaluated, but their reliability should be investigated. We aimed to assess and compare the reliability of LI-RADS v.

Systematic Review: microRNAs as Potential Biomarkers in Mild Cognitive Impairment Diagnosis.

The rate of progression from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer's disease (AD) is estimated at >10% per year, reaching up to 80-90% after 6 years. MCI is considered an indicator of early-stage AD. In this context, the diagnostic screening of MCI is crucial for detecting individuals at high risk of AD before they progress and manifest further severe symptoms.

The 16th Hilbert problem for discontinuous piecewise isochronous centers of degree one or two separated by a straight line.

In this paper, we deal with discontinuous piecewise differential systems formed by two differential systems separated by a straight line when these two differential systems are linear centers (which always are isochronous) or quadratic isochronous centers. It is known that there is a unique family of linear isochronous centers and four families of quadratic isochronous centers. Combining these five types of isochronous centers, we obtain 15 classes of discontinuous piecewise differential systems.

c-Abl Inhibition Activates TFEB and Promotes Cellular Clearance in a Lysosomal Disorder.

The transcription factor EB (TFEB) has emerged as a master regulator of lysosomal biogenesis, exocytosis, and autophagy, promoting the clearance of substrates stored in cells. c-Abl is a tyrosine kinase that participates in cellular signaling in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. In this study, we explored the connection between c-Abl and TFEB.

Genotoxic stress triggers the activation of IRE1α-dependent RNA decay to modulate the DNA damage response.

The molecular connections between homeostatic systems that maintain both genome integrity and proteostasis are poorly understood. Here we identify the selective activation of the unfolded protein response transducer IRE1α under genotoxic stress to modulate repair programs and sustain cell survival. DNA damage engages IRE1α signaling in the absence of an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signature, leading to the exclusive activation of regulated IRE1α-dependent decay (RIDD) without activating its canonical output mediated by the transcription factor XBP1.

Development of an antimicrobial bioactive paper made from bacterial cellulose.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has emerged as an attractive adsorptive material for antimicrobial agents due to its fine network structure, its large surface area, and its high porosity. In the present study, BC paper was first produced and then lysozyme was immobilized onto it by physical adsorption, obtaining a composite of lysozyme-BC paper. The morphology and the crystalline structure of the composite were similar to that of BC paper as examined by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively.

Bacterial Cellulose-Chitosan Paper with Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities.

The production of paper-based bacterial cellulose-chitosan (BC-Ch) nanocomposites was accomplished following two different approaches. In the first, BC paper sheets were produced and then immersed in an aqueous solution of chitosan (BC-ChI); in the second, BC pulp was impregnated with chitosan prior to the production of paper sheets (BC-ChM). BC-Ch nanocomposites were investigated in terms of physical characteristics, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, and the ability to inhibit the formation of biofilms on their surface.

Mining large databases to find new leads with low similarity to known actives: application to find new DPP-IV inhibitors.

Fragment-based drug design or bioisosteric replacement is used to find new actives with low (or no) similarity to existing ones but requires the synthesis of nonexisting compounds to prove their predicted bioactivity. Protein-ligand docking or pharmacophore screening are alternatives but they can become computationally expensive when applied to very large databases such as ZINC. Therefore, fast strategies are necessary to find new leads in such databases.

Assessing the enzymatic effects of cellulases and LPMO in improving mechanical fibrillation of cotton linters.

Background: The increasing interest in replacing petroleum-based products by more sustainable materials in the packaging sector gives relevance to cellulose as a biodegradable natural resource. Moreover, its properties can be modified physically, chemically or biotechnologically in order to obtain new bioproducts. Refined cotton linters with high cellulose content were treated with hydrolytic (cellulases) and oxidative (LPMO and Laccase_Tempo) enzymes to evaluate their effect on fibre properties and in improving mechanical fibrillation.

Lysosome motility and distribution: Relevance in health and disease.

Lysosomes are dynamic organelles, which can fuse with a variety of targets and undergo constant regeneration. They can move along microtubules in a retrograde and anterograde fashion by using motor proteins, kinesin and dynein, being main players in extracellular secretion, intracellular components degradation and recycling. Moreover, lysosomes interact with other intracellular organelles to regulate their turnover, such as ER, mitochondria and peroxisomes.

Differential activity of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases on celluloses of different crystallinity. Effectiveness in the sustainable production of cellulose nanofibrils.

A series of cellulosic substrates has been produced, treated with lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO) from Streptomyces ambofaciens (SamLPMO10C), and analyzed by high performance anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC) with pulsed amperometric detection (PAD). The activity of the bacterial LPMO showed high variability depending on the origin and degree of crystallinity of the substrate. Additionally, we tested the effectiveness of SamLPMO10C in the nanofibrillation of flax, a high crystalline agricultural fiber, as a single pretreatment or in combination with cellulases.

Anti-inflammatory and Proapoptotic Properties of the Natural Compound o-Orsellinaldehyde.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of medical conditions that increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Numerous studies have shown that inflammation is directly involved in the onset of metabolic syndrome and related pathologies. In this study, in silico techniques were applied to a natural products database containing molecules isolated from mushrooms from the Catalan forests to predict molecules that can act as human nuclear-factor κβ kinase 2 (IKK-2) inhibitors.

Outcomes after neoadjuvant treatment with gemcitabine and erlotinib followed by gemcitabine-erlotinib and radiotherapy for resectable pancreatic cancer (GEMCAD 10-03 trial).

Background: Neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients has shown promising results in non-randomized trials. This is a multi-institutional phase II trial of NAT in resectable PDAC patients.

Methods: Patients with confirmed resectable PDAC after agreement by two expert radiologists were eligible.

Combined Ligand- and Receptor-Based Virtual Screening Methodology to Identify Structurally Diverse Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B Inhibitors.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a potential drug target for diabetes and obesity. However, the design of PTP1B inhibitors that combine potency and bioavailability is a great challenge, and new leads are needed to circumvent this problem. Virtual screening (VS) workflows can be used to find new PTP1B inhibitors with little chemical similarity to existing inhibitors.

Simultaneity of centres in ℤ -equivariant systems.

We study the simultaneous existence of centres for two families of planar -equivariant systems. First, we give a short review about -equivariant systems. Next, we present the necessary and sufficient conditions for the simultaneous existence of centres for a -equivariant cubic system and for a -equivariant quintic system.

Antioxidant activity of xylooligosaccharides produced from glucuronoxylan by Xyn10A and Xyn30D xylanases and eucalyptus autohydrolysates.

Antioxidant activity of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) released from beechwood and birchwood glucuronoxylans by two different xylanases, one from family GH10 (Xyn10A) and another from family GH30 (Xyn30D) was examined. The ABTS (2, 2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) method was used, since it resulted more accurate for the antioxidant activity determination of XOS. Thin layer chromatography and MALDI-TOF MS analysis showed that Xyn10A produced a mixture of neutral and acidic XOS whereas the XOS produced by Xyn30D were all acidic, containing a methylglucuronic acid (MeGlcA) ramification.

Activity and selectivity cliffs for DPP-IV inhibitors: Lessons we can learn from SAR studies and their application to virtual screening.

The inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) has emerged over the last decade as one of the most effective treatments for type 2 diabetes mellitus, and consequently (a) 11 DPP-IV inhibitors have been on the market since 2006 (three in 2015), and (b) 74 noncovalent complexes involving human DPP-IV and drug-like inhibitors are available at the Protein Data Bank (PDB). The present review aims to (a) explain the most important activity cliffs for DPP-IV noncovalent inhibition according to the binding site structure of DPP-IV, (b) explain the most important selectivity cliffs for DPP-IV noncovalent inhibition in comparison with other related enzymes (i.e.

A novel enzymatic approach to nanocrystalline cellulose preparation.

In this work, conditions for an enzymatic pretreatment prior to NCC isolation from cotton linter were assessed. Different cellulase doses and reaction times were studied within an experimental design and NCC were obtained. At optimal enzymatic conditions (20U, 2 h), a total yield greater than 80% was achieved and the necessary enzymatic treatment time was reduced 90%.

[Evaluation of antimicrobial consumption in a Neonatology Unit: a team work to promote the rational use of antibiotics].

Background: Antibiotics (ATB) are drugs widely used in hospitalized newborns. The indiscriminate use of ATBs promote the rise of resistant bacteria to the most commonly indicated antimicrobials. In addition, ATB prescription presents associations to morbidity, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotizing enterocolitis, late sepsis and even death.