Modelling of bioprocess non-linear fluorescence data for at-line prediction of etanercept based on artificial neural networks optimized by response surface methodology.

In the last years, regulatory agencies in biopharmaceutical industry have promoted the design and implementation of Process Analytical Technology (PAT), which aims to develop rapid and high-throughput strategies for real-time monitoring of bioprocesses key variables, in order to improve their quality control lines. In this context, spectroscopic techniques for data generation in combination with chemometrics represent alternative analytical methods for on-line critical process variables prediction. In this work, a novel multivariate calibration strategy for the at-line prediction of etanercept, a recombinant protein produced in a mammalian cells-based perfusion process, is presented.

Cytotoxic and antiproliferative activities of amphibian (anuran) skin extracts on human acute monocytic leukemia cells.

The use of preparations derived from frog skins for curative purposes antedates research history and is perpetuated in current medicine. The skins of anuran's (frogs and toads) are a rich source of compounds with a great importance in the search of antibiotics, analgesics, immunomodulators, enzymatic inhibitors and antitumoral agents applying to human health. Nowadays, cancer is the second most common cause of mortality with more than 8.

Dietary L. reduces cardiac oxidative stress of dyslipidemic insulin-resistant rats.

L., commonly known as chia seed, has beneficial effects upon some signs of metabolic syndrome (MS), such as dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. However, its action on cardiac oxidative stress associated with MS remains unknown.

Concentration and environmental fate of ivermectin in floodplain wetlands: An ecosystem approach.

Ivermectin (IVM) is commonly used for broad control of endo- and ecto- parasites in cattle. In wetlands of the Parana Medio River, cattle has been treated repeatedly with IVM for years and concerns have been raised on possible presence of the drug in these ecosystems. A field study was conducted to assess concentration of IVM in two wetlands subjected to different cattle use and frequency of IVM injection.

Ternary copper(II) complex of 5-hydroxytryptophan and 1,10-phenanthroline with several pharmacological properties and an adequate safety profile.

We report the synthesis and biological evaluation of a ternary copper complex, [Cu(5HTP)(phen)(HO)](NO).2HO, with the antioxidant agent 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and phenanthroline (phen, added to improve its lipophilicity and membrane transport). The crystal structure of the complex was determined by X-ray diffraction methods.

Rhinoxenus (Dactylogyridae) parasitizing piranhas (Serrasalmidae) at its southernmost limit of distribution (Paraná River, Argentina), with the description of two new species.

Three piranha species, Serrasalmus maculatus, S. marginatus and Pygocentrus nattereri, living sympatrically in the lower Paraná River (Argentina) were examined searching for nasal monogeneans to know its diversity and distribution. Four species of monogeneans belonging to Rhinoxenus were found parasitizing the nasal cavities.

Spatio-temporal analysis of leptospirosis incidence and its relationship with hydroclimatic indicators in northeastern Argentina.

Leptospirosis is considered the most globally widespread zoonotic illness; it has been classified as an emerging or reemerging infectious disease by the World Health Organization. Leptospirosis is a disease caused by a pathogenic spirochete of the genus Leptospira. The infection occurs by contacting with the urine of animal reservoirs or contaminated environments.

Water quality assessment of a neotropical pampean lowland stream using a phytoplankton functional trait approach.

The aim of this study was to test whether the water quality phytoplankton assemblage index adapted for rivers (Qr index) is useful to characterize the water quality of a neotropical stream. We were interested also in inferring the main pollutants through a phytoplankton functional trait characterization and assessing the phytoplankton groups which may influence the Qr index final estimations. Monthly sampling of environmental variables and phytoplankton were done in three sites (S1, S2, and S3).

Commercial fisheries in a mega unregulated floodplain river: Assessment of the most favourable hydrological conditions for its preservation.

This paper deals with the hydrological variability effects on the primary commercial fish species inhabiting the main channel and the floodplain of the large Paraná River in its middle reaches in Argentina. Analysing more than eight decades (1935-2016) of information on the most frequent and abundant commercial species in conjunction with hydrological levels and temperature, our results show that spring-summer floods of a certain magnitude (c. 6 m) and durations (> 80 days) are crucial for sustaining commercial fisheries.

Nanoparticles Toxicity in Fish Models.

The increasing production and use of nanoparticles (NP) have raised concerns regarding the potential toxicity to human and environmental health. In this review, we address the up to date information on nanotoxicity using fish as models. Firstly, we carried out a systematic literature search (articles published up to February 2019 in the Scopus database) in order to quantitatively assess the scientific research on nanoparticles, nanotoxicity and fish.

Cafeteria diet induces progressive changes in hypothalamic mechanisms involved in food intake control at different feeding periods in female rats.

We studied the effects of cafeteria diet (CAF) intake from weaning on mRNA levels and DNA methylation state of feeding-related neuropeptides and hormone receptors in individual hypothalamic nuclei at different feeding periods. Four weeks of CAF (short-term) increased energy intake and adiposity, without affecting neuropeptides' expression. Eleven weeks of CAF (medium-term) increased energy intake, adiposity, leptinemia, and body weight, with an orexigenic response of the lateral hypothalamus, paraventricular and ventromedial nuclei, given by upregulation of Orexins, AgRP, and NPY opposed by an anorectic signal of the arcuate nucleus, which displayed a higher POMC expression.

Genotoxicity induced by widely used pesticide binary mixtures on Caiman latirostris (broad-snouted caiman).

In this study, we investigated the effects of three binary mixtures of pesticide formulations commonly used in soybean crop: Cypermethrin Atanor (25% -CYP), Chlorpyrifos Lorsban 48E (48% -CPF) and Glyphosate Roundup Full II (66.2% -GLY) on broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) hatchlings exposed by voluntary immersion under controlled condition. Genotoxicity was evaluated in peripheral blood erythrocytes through the micronucleus (MN) test and other nuclear abnormalities (NAs) and besides, growth of caiman was analyzed in each experimental group.

Exposure to a nanosilver-enabled consumer product results in similar accumulation and toxicity of silver nanoparticles in the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis.

The incorporation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in commercial products is increasing rapidly. The consequent release of AgNPs into domestic and industrial wastewater raises environmental concerns due to their anti-microbial properties and toxicity to non-target aquatic organisms. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of nanArgen™ (Nanotek S.

Diversity of photosynthetic picoeukaryotes in eutrophic shallow lakes as assessed by combining flow cytometry cell-sorting and high throughput sequencing.

Photosynthetic picoeukaryotes (PPE) are key components of primary production in marine and freshwater ecosystems. In contrast with those of marine environments, freshwater PPE groups have received little attention. In this work, we used flow cytometry cell sorting, microscopy and metabarcoding to investigate the composition of small photosynthetic eukaryote communities from six eutrophic shallow lakes in South America, Argentina.

A three-domain copper-nitrite reductase with a unique sensing loop.

Dissimilatory nitrite reductases are key enzymes in the denitrification pathway, reducing nitrite and leading to the production of gaseous products (NO, NO and N). The reaction is catalysed either by a Cu-containing nitrite reductase (NirK) or by a cytochrome nitrite reductase (NirS), as the simultaneous presence of the two enzymes has never been detected in the same microorganism. The thermophilic bacterium SA-01 is an exception to this rule, harbouring both genes within a denitrification cluster, which encodes for an atypical NirK.

Cypermethrin induction of DNA damage and oxidative stress in zebrafish gill cells.

Cypermethrin (CYP) is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, used to control pests in domestic, industrial and agricultural environments. According to recent reports, it is one of the most common contaminants in freshwater aquatic systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate its potential genotoxic effect and the activation of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) systems of adult zebrafish gill cells after in vivo exposure.

Effect of Landscape Changes on Water Quality and Health Status of Heptapterus mustelinus (Siluriformes, Heptapteridae).

Substances derived from anthropogenic activities induce changes in the physical and chemical characteristics of the aquatic environment. Physicochemical and biological studies are necessary to understand how changes in landscape affect the health of the aquatic environment. The main goal of this study was to evaluate how the landscape at different spatial scales affects (1) water quality and (2) the health status of Heptapterus mustelinus, based on several biomarkers.

Insecticide pyriproxyfen (Dragón) damage biotransformation, thyroid hormones, heart rate, and swimming performance of Odontophrynus americanus tadpoles.

Odontoprynus americanus tadpoles were used to determine the safety concentration of pyriproxyfen (PPF) insecticide by acute and sublethal toxicity tests (nominal range tested 0.01 to 10 [± 15%] PPF mg/L). Median lethal concentration (LC) and no, and lowest-observed-effect concentrations (NOEC and LOEC, respectively) were calculated.

Synthesis, characterization, theoretical studies and biological (antioxidant, anticancer, toxicity and neuroprotective) determinations of a copper(II) complex with 5-hydroxytryptophan.

5-Hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5-HTP) is a serotonin pathway metabolite of L-tryptophan in the brain. In the knowledge that the biological properties of some compounds can be modified upon metal complexation, a new solid metal complex, [Cu(5-hydroxytryptophan)].HO (Cu5HTP), has been synthesized and characterized to analyze the modification of some biological properties.

Potential bio-protective effect of copper compounds: mimicking SOD and peroxidases enzymes and inhibiting acid phosphatase as a target for anti-osteoporotic chemotherapeutics.

Copper complexes with transformed methimazole ligand have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, thermogravimetric analysis, EPR, FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopies. Results support their stoichiometries and geometrical structures: [Cu(CHNS)Cl]·2HO(1), [Cu(CHNS)SOHO](2) and [Cu(CHNS)SO](3). ((CHN)S: bis(l-methylimidazol-2-yl)sulfide; (CHNS) = Bis[bis(l-methylimidazol-2-yl)disulfide]) Concurrently, the structurally distinct soluble species corresponding to complexes (1) and (2) were subsequently used in an in vitro investigation of their potential biological properties.

Recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone purification by a short peptide affinity chromatography.

Peptide KVPLITVSKAK was selected to design a synthetic ligand for affinity chromatography purification of recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (rhFSH), based on the interaction of the hormone with the exoloop 3 of its receptor. The peptide was acetylated to improve its stability to degradation by exopeptidases. A cysteine was incorporated at the C-termini to facilitate its immobilization to the chromatographic activated SulfoLink agarose resin.

Mucormycosis outbreak due to Rhizopus microsporus after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery evaluated by RAPD and MALDI-TOF Mass spectrometry.

Background: Rhizopus microsporus is one of the main causative agents of mucormycosis. These mycoses are mostly described as isolated cases involving uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or immunosuppressed patients. In this work we report a nosocomial outbreak of mucormycosis due to R.

Feasiblity of Bioethanol Production from Cider Waste.

Wastewater from cider factories (losses during transfers, products discarded due to quality policies, and products returned from the market) exhibit a Chemical Oxygen Demand greater than 170,000 mg O/l, mainly due to the ethanol content and carbohydrates that are added to obtain the finished product. These effluents can represent up to 10% of the volume of cider produced, and they must be treated to meet environmental regulations. In this work, a process was developed, based on alcoholic fermentation of the available carbohydrates present in ciders.

Enhancement of astaxanthin production from Haematococcus pluvialis under autotrophic growth conditions by a sequential stress strategy.

The study of microalgal culture has been growing in recent decades, because the cellular structure of microalgae has diverse highly valuable metabolites that have attract attention of numerous companies and research groups. The pigment astaxanthin is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants in nature. The microalga Haematococcus pluvialis was proposed as one of the best natural astaxanthin sources, because it can accumulate high amount of the pigment.