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A one-step synthesis method was used, with LiF or NiF[sub2] as fluorine precursor, to prepare Li[sub1.1](Ni[sub0.425]Mn[sub0.425]Co[sub0.15])[sub0.9]O[sub1.8]F[sub0.2]materials. [sup7]Li and [sup9]F magic angle spinning NMR analyses revealed the presence of fluorine as LiF at the surface of the Li(Ni[sub0.425]Mn[sub0.425]Co[sub0.15])O[sub2] particles, rejecting the formation of fluorine-substituted Li[sub1.1](Ni[sub0.425]Mn[sub0.425]Co[sub0.15])[sub0.9]O[sub1.8]F[sub0.2] materials. These results highlighted that change in cell parameters with increasing fluorine content is not by itself proof for effective fluorine substitution for oxygen in layered oxides and that heterogeneity in the transition metal and fluoride-ion distribution at the crystallite scale can be at the origin of these modifications. LiF was shown to be present as small particles in some grain boundaries but not as a continuous layer covering the particles surface. Improved cycling stability was observed for these LiF-coated materials, showing that effective fluorine substitution for oxygen is not required for improvement of the cyclability of these layered oxides; a surface modification can be sufficient and can also have a huge impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solid-state reactions of UO3 and WO3 with M2CO3 (M=Na, K, Rb) at 650°C for 5 days result, accordingly the starting stoichiometry, in the formation of M2(UO2)(W2O8) (M=Na (1), K (2)), M2(UO2)2(WO5)O (M=K (3), Rb (4)), and Na10(UO2)8(W5O20)O8 (5). The crystal structures of compounds 2, 3, 4, and 5 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction using Mo(Kα) radiation and a charge-coupled device detector. The crystal structures were solved by direct methods and Fourier difference techniques, and refined by a least-squares method on the basis of F2 for all unique reflections. For (1), unit-cell parameters were determined from powder X-ray diffraction data. Crystallographic data: 1, monoclinic, a=12.736(4) A˚, b=7.531(3) A˚, c=8.493(3) A˚, β=93.96(2)°, ρcal=6.62(2) g/cm3, ρmes=6.64(1) g/cm3, Z=4; 2, orthorhombic, space group Pmcn, a=7.5884(16) A˚, b=8.6157(18) A˚, c=13.946(3) A˚, ρcal=6.15(2) g/cm3, ρmes=6.22(1) g/cm3, Z=8, R1=0.029 for 80 parameters with 1069 independent reflections; 3, monoclinic, space group P21/n, a=8.083(4) A˚, b=28.724(5) A˚, c=9.012(4) A˚, β=102.14(1)°, ρcal=5.83(2) g/cm3, ρmes=5.90(2) g/cm3, Z=8, R1=0.037 for 171 parameters with 1471 reflections; 4, monoclinic, space group P21/n, a=8.234(1) A˚, b=28.740(3) A˚, c=9.378(1) A˚, β=104.59(1)°, ρcal=6.13(2) g/cm3, ρmes=6.19(3) g/cm3, Z=8, R1=0.037 for 171 parameters with 1452 reflections; 5, monoclinic, space group C2/c, a=24.359(5) A˚, b=23.506(5) A˚, c=6.8068(14) A˚, β=94.85(3)°, ρcal=6.42(2) g/cm3, ρmes=6.39(3) g/cm3, Z=8, R1=0.036 for 306 parameters with 5190 independent reflections. The crystal structure of 2 contains linear one-dimensional chains formed from edge-sharing UO7 pentagonal bipyramids connected by two octahedra wide (W2O8) ribbons formed from two edge-sharing WO6 octahedra connected together by corners. This arrangement leads to [UW2O10]2− corrugated layers parallel to (001). Owing to the unit-cell parameters, compound 1 probably contains similar sheets parallel to (100). Compounds 3 and 4 are isostructural and the structure consists of bi-dimensional networks built from the edge- and corner-sharing UO7 pentagonal bipyramids. This arrangement creates square sites occupied by W atoms, a fifth oxygen atom completes the coordination of W atoms to form WO5 distorted square pyramids. The interspaces between the resulting [U2WO10]2− layers parallel to (101¯) plane are occupied by K or Rb atoms. The crystal structure of compound 5 is particularly original. It is based upon layers formed from UO7 pentagonal bipyramids and two edge-shared octahedra units, W2O10, by the sharing of edges and corners. Two successive layers stacked along the [100] direction are pillared by WO4 tetrahedra resulting in sheets of double layers. The sheets are separated by Na+ ions. The other Na+ ions occupy the rectangular tunnels created within the sheets. In fact complex anions W5O2010− are built by the sharing of the four corners of a WO4 tetrahedron with two W2O10 dimmers, so, the formula of compound 5 can be written Na10(UO2)8(W5O20)O8. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A series of “Li1+ z /2(Ni0.425Mn0.425Co0.15)1− z /2O2− z F z ” materials was prepared by a coprecipitation route and their structure was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), as well as 7Li and 19F Magic Angle Spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy. Two hypotheses were considered: (i) formation of layered oxyfluoride materials and (ii) formation of a mixture between the layered material and LiF. Structural parameters were refined by the Rietveld method, using XRD diffraction data. The refinement results did not allow us to choose between these two hypotheses: no significant change in crystallinity and structural parameters was observed irrespective of the fluorine ratio. 7Li and 19F MAS NMR analyses showed signals with isotropic positions characteristic of LiF, but envelopes characteristic of very strong dipolar interactions with the electron spins of the material, demonstrating that LiF was not incorporated into the layered oxide structure but was instead present as a coating. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Mortality and end-of-life decision-making can occur in newborns, especially within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. For parents, participating in end-of-life decision-making is taxing. Knowledge is lacking on what support is helpful to parents during decision-making., Aim: To identify barriers and facilitators experienced by parents in making an end-of-life decision for their infant., Design: Qualitative study using face-to-face semi-structured interviews., Setting/participants: We interviewed 23 parents with a child that died after an end-of-life decision at a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit between April and September 2018., Results: Parents stated barriers and facilitators within 4 themes: 1. Clinical knowledge and prognosis; 2. Quality of information provision; 3. Emotion regulation; and 4. Psychosocial environment. Facilitators include knowing whether the prognosis includes long-term negative quality of life, knowing all treatment options, receiving information according to health literacy level, being able to process intense emotions, having experienced counseling and practical help. Barriers include a lack of general medical knowledge, being unprepared for a poor prognosis, having an uninformed psychologist., Conclusions: We found that clinical information and psychosocial support aid parents in decision-making. Information is best tailored to health literacy. Psychosocial support can be provided by experienced, informed counselors, social services and sibling support, distinguishing between verbal and non-verbal coping preferences, and calm, familiar architecture. Intense emotions may hinder absorption of clinical information, therefore interventions to aid emotion regulation and reduce cognitive load may be looked at in further research. Adjustment of the Situations, Opinions and Options, Parents, Information, Emotions framework based on our results can be evaluated.

Although family physicians (FPs) are community-oriented primary care generalists and should be the entry point for the population's interaction with the health system, they are underrepresented in research on the climate change, migration, and health(care) nexus (hereafter referred to as the nexus). Similarly, FPs can provide valuable insights into building capacity through integrating health-determining sectors for climate-resilient and migration-inclusive health systems, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Here, we explore FPs' perceptions on the nexus in SSA and on intersectoral capacity building. Three focus groups conducted during the 2019 WONCA-Africa conference in Uganda were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using an inductive thematic approach. Participants' perceived interactions related to (1) migration and climate change, (2) migration for better health and healthcare, (3) health impacts of climate change and the role of healthcare, and (4) health impacts of migration and the role of healthcare were studied. We coined these complex and reinforcing interactions as continuous feedback loops intertwined with socio-economic, institutional, and demographic context. Participants identified five intersectoral capacity-building opportunities on micro, meso, macro, and supra (international) levels: multi-dimensional and multi-layered governance structures; improving FP training and primary healthcare working conditions; health advocacy in primary healthcare; collaboration between the health sector and civil society; and more responsibilities for high-income countries. This exploratory study presents a unique and novel perspective on the nexus in SSA which contributes to interdisciplinary research agendas and FP policy responses on national, regional, and global levels.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of antimony treatment on the altered lipoprotein system of four young Tunisians with visceral Leishmaniasis and to further investigate possible relationships between acute phase proteins (C-reactive protein and apolipoprotein SAA)-known to be increased in this disease-and lipid or apolipoprotein (apo) parameters measured before and throughout the treatment. A marked improvement of all investigated parameters was already observed after the first cure: the lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase activity was the only parameter remaining deficient even at the end of the second cure. Statistical analysis reveals a significant inverse relationship between changes in C-reactive protein and changes in the plasma ratio of esterified to total cholesterol (r = -0.78; p < 0.001) as well as in plasma apoA-I concentration (r = -0.64; p < 0.01). Because no such correlation could be observed with apoSAA, results of this study suggest that the major mechanism of lowering the plasma levels of apoA-I and the plasma-cholesteryl content could be closely related to the appearance of large amounts of C-reactive protein in plasma or more likely to the process inducing the hepatic synthesis of this acute phase protein.

The presence of apolipoprotein (apo) A-IMilano (A-IM) mutant of apoA-I has a marked effect on plasma lipoproteins of A-IM carriers including variable hypertriglyceridemia, increased levels of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), slightly elevated levels of triglyceride-enriched low density lipoproteins (LDL) and greatly reduced levels of high density lipoproteins (HDL). To gain further insight into this dyslipoproteinemic syndrome characterized clinically by the absence of coronary artery disease, we have determined the concentration and composition of apoA- and apoB-containing lipoprotein families in four male and four female carriers and corresponding normal controls. Results have shown that A-IM carriers have significantly reduced levels of lipoprotein (LP) A-I (45%), LP-A-I:A-II (60%), and LP-A-II (70%) and significantly increased levels of cholesterol-rich LP-B (67%) and triglyceride-rich LP-B:C, LP-B:C:E, and LP-A-II:B:C:D:E (65%) particles compared to controls. However, there were significant sex-related differences in the levels of apoA-and apoB-containing lipoproteins. Female carriers had significantly higher concentrations of LP-A-I (39 +/- 10 vs. 12 +/- 6 mg/dl) and LP-A-I:A-II (48 +/- 11 vs. 30 +/- 6 mg/dl) than male carriers. Furthermore, female carriers had higher levels of LP-B:C (23 +/- 18 vs. 6 +/- 5 mg/dl) and LP-A-II:B:C:D:E (13 +/- 6 vs. 2.3 +/- 0.8 mg/dl) but lower concentrations of LP-B (103 +/- 52 vs. 152 +/- 54 mg/dl) and LP-B:C:E (5 +/- 2.5 vs. 13 +/- 8 mg/dl) than male carriers. In general, the levels of LP-A-I and LP-A-I:A-II particles correlated positively with the levels of all three types of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (LP-Bc) and negatively with the levels of LP-B particles. A comparative study of lipoprotein families in several dyslipoproteinemic states characterized by low levels of HDL has indicated that the characteristic lipoprotein particle profile of A-IM carriers results most probably from the selective effect of apoA-IM mutant rather than a general reduction in HDL levels. It appears that increased levels of LP-A-II:B:C:D:E particles, an inefficient substrate for lipoprotein lipase, and structurally defective LP-A-I:A-II particles, the normal acceptors of minor apolipoproteins released during lipolysis of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, may be the main contributing factors to moderate hypertriglyceridemia characteristic of A-IM carriers.

Biliary amphipathic anionic polypeptide (APF) the major protein of the pigment-lipoprotein complex in bile, and calcium-binding protein (CBP) from gallstones are both small (less than 10 kDa), highly acidic, amphipathic proteins present in bile and closely associated also with pigmented areas in human gallstones. Polyclonal antibodies against APF have shown cross-reactivity with plasma high density lipoproteins (HDL). This study examines the hypothesis that APF and CBP might be closely related or even identical, and might also share common epitopes with the larger apoA-I (23 kDa). To assess this, immunoreactivity of the three delipidated, highly purified proteins was determined against a panel of 12 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) prepared against APF and a panel of 4 MAbs against apoA-I. APF was isolated from bile by zonal ultracentrifugation. CBP was isolated from proteins precipitated from bile by CaCl2, as well as from the calcium bilirubinate shells of cholesterol gallstones, by extraction successively with methyl-t-butyl ether, methanol, and Na2EDTA, followed by Sephadex G-25 chromatography and two-stage preparative SDS-PAGE. ApoA-I was prepared by two types of chromatography: Sephacryl S200 chromatography and heparin-chromatographic immunoaffinity. Specific polyclonal antibodies to APF and apoA-I were prepared from immunized rabbits. MAbs to APF and apoA-I were prepared by immunization of mice, using standard hybridoma technique. Western blotting of APF and CBP in 15% SDS-PAGE yielded one band with an apparent molecular weight of 6.5 kDa, which, along with apoA-I, was immunostained by polyclonal antibodies to APF and apoA-I. Using 12 MAbs against APF with three types of ELISA (direct antigen binding, competitive antigen displacement, and epitope competition between antibodies), it was shown that APF and delipidated apoA-I shared six epitopes, three of which were detected also on the surface of intact HDL particles. Six other epitopes were present in APF but not apoA-I, four of which were exposed on the surface of HDL. Four MAbs against apoA-I reacted with APF and CBP. Amino acid analyses of APF and CBP were similar with 20-23% acidic and 7-11% basic amino acids and low contents of cysteine, methionine, and tyrosine; both differed from apoA-I in containing isoleucine and cysteine. Using ELISA and one MAb (no. 32) against APF, this polypeptide was detected in human plasma HDL, the pigment-lipoprotein complex in the bile of humans, dogs, and rats, and in both pigment and cholesterol gallstones.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

High density lipoproteins (HDL) consist of a mixture of chemically and functionally distinct families of particles defined by their characteristic apolipoprotein (Apo) composition. The two major lipoprotein families are lipoprotein A-I (LP-A-I) and lipoprotein A-I:A-II (LP-A-I:A-II). This study describes the isolation of a third minor HDL family of particles referred to as lipoprotein A-II (LP-A-II) because it lacks ApoA-I and contains ApoA-II as its main or sole apolipoprotein constituent. Because ApoA-II is an integral protein constituent of three distinct lipoprotein families (LP-A-I:A-II, LP-A-II: B:C:D:E and LP-A-II), LP-A-II particles were isolated from whole plasma by sequential immunoaffinity chromatography on immunosorbers with antisera to ApoA-II, ApoB and ApoA-I, respectively. In normolipidemic subjects, the concentration of LP-A-II particles, based on ApoA-II content, is 4-18 mg/dl accounting for 5-20% of the total ApoA-II not associated with ApoB-containing lipoproteins. The lipid composition of LP-A-II particles is characterized by low percentage of triglycerides and cholesterol esters and a high percentage of phospholipids in comparison with lipid composition of LP-A-I and LP-A-II: A-II. The major part of LP-A-II particles contain ApoA-II as the sole apolipoprotein constituent; however, small subsets of LP-A-II particles may also contain ApoD and other minor apolipoproteins. The lipid/protein ratio of LP-A-II is higher than those of LP-A-I and LP-A-I:A-II. In homozygous ApoA-I and ApoA-I/ApoC-III deficiencies, LP-A-II particles are the only ApoA-containing high density lipoprotein with levels found to be within the same range (7-13 mg/dl) as those of normolipidemic subjects. However, in contrast to normal LP-A-II, their lipid composition is characterized by higher percentages of triglycerides and cholesterol esters and a lower percentage of phospholipids and their apolipoprotein composition by the presence of ApoC-peptides and ApoE in addition to ApoA-II and ApoD. These results show that LP-A-II particles are a minor HDL family and suggest that, in the absence of ApoA-I-containing lipoproteins, they become an efficient acceptor/donor of ApoC-peptides and ApoE required for a normal metabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. Their other possible functional roles in lipid transport remain to be established in future experiments.

This study describes a variant of familial apoA-I deficiency associated with a moderate risk for premature coronary artery disease. The proband, a 25-year-old man of Philippine origin, and his 62-year-old maternal aunt had peripheral corneal opacification, xanthelasma, and planar xanthoma; the aunt had coronary artery bypass surgery at 61 years of age. Proband's parents and three brothers were asymptomatic and apparently healthy. The characteristic apolipoprotein features of affected patients were the immunochemically and chemically undetectable apoA-I, reduced levels of apoA-II, apoC-II, apoC-III, and apoD, and normal levels of apoB and apoE; except for negligible levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (2-3 mg/dl), their plasma lipid profile was normal. The apoA-I levels in all five unaffected relatives were more than one SD below the normal mean values for their age and sex; the HDL-cholesterol levels of proband's unaffected brothers were below the 10th percentile of normal control values. Patient's very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and HDL contained 1.4, 80.4, and 18.1%, whereas those of control subjects contained 2.7, 28.8, and 68.1% of the total apolipoprotein mass, respectively. In unaffected relatives, the levels of LP-A-I, but not LP-A-I:A-II, were significantly lower than in controls. Neither of the two patients had detectable concentrations of LP-A-I or LP-A-I:A-II. Their HDL only consisted of LP-A-II particles, the levels of which (7-13 mg/dl) were similar to those of unaffected relatives or controls. There was no difference in the lipid composition of LP-A-II between patients and their relatives. However, LP-A-II from patients contained substantial amounts of apoC-peptides and apoE (0.40-0.98 mg/mg apoA-II), whereas those from unaffected relatives were free of these minor apolipoproteins. In patients, among all four major apoB-containing lipoproteins, only the levels of LP-B and LP-B:C were slightly higher than those in controls. Results of this study suggest a genetic cause for this variant of apoA-I deficiency characterized most probably by autosomal recessive inheritance. It appears that patients are likely to be homozygous for a gene present in single dose in the parents and brothers of the affected proband.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

This paper summarizes present knowledge of the LDL receptor-binding domain of apolipoprotein E, with special emphasis on the influence of apolipoprotein polymorphism on the interaction with apo B/E receptors.

Three monoclonal antibodies to human serum apolipoprotein (Apo) A-I (4A12, 4B11 and 2G11) were produced by Sanofi. They were directed to three distinct epitopes of the Apo A-I molecule, present on the surface of the lipoprotein particles. They were able to precipitate individually some lipoprotein units from the serum. Only the mixture of the three monoclonal antibodies could allow a precipitation of all Apo A-I containing particles. An electroimmunoassay using this oligoclonal mixture was assessed to standardize the Apo A-I measurement in serum. Results agreed well with those obtained by electroimmunoassays using polyclonal antisera. Moreover no pretreatment of serum samples with dissociating agents or detergents was required. Therefore, this specific, rapid (7-8 h), precise (within- and between-assay precisions were 4.25 and 3.1%, respectively) immunoassay is routinely available for apolipoprotein A-I measurement in serum.

This study describes the plasma lipoprotein system of young children with visceral Leishmaniasis (Kala-azar disease). In addition to the presence of amastigote forms in the sternal aspirates of bone marrow, the patients exhibited fever, anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, various degrees of pancytopenia and a slight liver cytolysis. Patients had normal total cholesterol levels and increased triglyceride levels in the plasma. The concentrations of HDL and LDL were 30% and 50% of these reported for normolipemic subjects, respectively. In contrast, there was a three-fold increase in the concentration of VLDL. The ratio of free to total cholesterol was high; this was further substantiated by electron microscopy of HDL showing the presence of disc-like particles. Quantitative determination of apolipoproteins revealed a three- and seven-fold decrease of apolipoproteins (Apo) A-I and A-II, respectively, whereas Apo B levels were within the normal range. The presence of LP-A-II particles was demonstrated by two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis in most of the patients' plasma during the acute phase of disease.

In vivo and in vitro cellular aging were compared by determining the division capacity of individual, cloned cells of (1) the primary stromal population of human bone marrow, obtained from donors of various ages, and (2) the population at various passage levels of an in vitro subcultivated culture of the same origin. We find a strong similarity between the two series of data. This observation provides a further argument that cellular aging in vitro represents a biologically relevant phenomenon.