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Framed within the professional field of 'nursing', there have been along the centuries various figures who performed several functions. The present study deals with the approach to one of them: The ministrante (Health Officer/Officier de santé), whose most paramount aspect is that of their technical-surgical tone. Professional attributions and inter-relationship with some other health professions together with different circumstances that motivated their onset are considered here. Key words: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared and characterized by different analytical methods and then they were used to decorate with N, N´-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine (salen) in order to perform as receptor for the metal ions in an aqueous medium. The results show that ZnO-salen selectively detects Al 3+ ions in aqueous medium since the intensity of fluorescence has been enhanced significantly. However, the presence of K + in the medium further intensified the fluorescence emission for the [ZnO-salen-Al 3+ ] system. The above system has been applied to recognize Al 3+ and K + in cells by developing the cell images, for which, the fluorescence image is brightened if a human glioblastoma U251 cell contains [ZnO-salen-Al 3+ ] + K + ions, consisting of the fluorescence titration. The binding global constant for Al 3+ and the subsequent recognition of K + by ZnO-salen resulted in β 2 (Al 3+ ) = 6.61 × 10 3 and β 2 (K + ) = 3.71 × 10 3 with a detection limit of 36.51 µM for Al 3+ and 17.39 µM for K + . In the cell toxicity analysis, the cell viability was over 85% for the ZnO-salen even in the concentration as high as 100 mM., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Selective recognition of fructosyl amino acids in water by arylboronic acid-based receptors is a central field of modern supramolecular chemistry that impacts biological and medicinal chemistry. Fructosyl valine (FV) and fructosyl glycyl histidine (FGH) occur as N-terminal moieties of human glycated hemoglobin; therefore, the molecular design of biomimetic receptors is an attractive, but very challenging goal. Herein, we report three novel cationic Zn-terpyridine complexes bearing a fluorescent N -quinolinium nucleus covalently linked to three different isomers of strongly acidified phenylboronic acids ( ortho -, 2Zn; meta -, 3Zn and para -, 4Zn) for the optical recognition of FV, FGH and comparative analytes (D-fructose, Gly, Val and His) in pure water at physiological pH. The complexes were designed to act as fluorescent receptors using a cooperative action of boric acid and a metal chelate. Complex 3Zn was found to display the most acidic -B(OH) 2 group (p K a = 6.98) and exceptionally tight affinity for FV ( K = 1.43 × 10 5 M -1 ) with a strong quenching analytical response in the micromolar concentration range. The addition of fructose and the other amino acids only induced moderate optical changes. On the basis of several spectroscopic tools ( 1 H, 11 B NMR, UV-Vis, and fluorescence titrations), ESI mass spectrometry, X-ray crystal structure, and DFT calculations, the interaction mode between 3Zn and FV is proposed in a 1 : 1 model through a cooperative two-point recognition involving a sp 3 boronate-diol esterification with simultaneous coordination bonding of the carboxylate group of Val to the Zn atom. Fluorescence quenching is attributed to a static complexation photoinduced electron transfer mechanism as evidenced by lifetime experiments. The addition of FGH to 3Zn notably enhanced its emission intensity with micromolar affinity, but with a lower apparent binding constant than that observed for FV. FGH interacts with 3Zn through boronate-diol complexation and coordination of the imidazole ring of His. DFT-optimized structures of complexes 3Zn-FV and 3Zn-FGH show a picture of binding which shows that the Zn-complex has a suitable (B⋯Zn) distance to the two-point recognition with these analytes. Molecular recognition of fructosyl amino acids by transition-metal-based receptors has not been explored until now.

Gliomas account for approximately 75-80% of all malignant primary tumors in the central nervous system (CNS), with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) considered the deadliest. Despite aggressive treatment involving a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical intervention, patients with GBM have limited survival rates of 2 to 5 years, accompanied by a significant decline in their quality of life. In recent years, novel management strategies have emerged, such as immunotherapy, which includes the development of vaccines or T cells with chimeric antigen receptors, and oncolytic virotherapy (OVT), wherein wild type (WT) or genetically modified viruses are utilized to selectively lyse tumor cells. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that the Zika virus (ZIKV) can infect glioma cells and induce a robust oncolytic activity. Consequently, interest in exploring this virus as a potential oncolytic virus (OV) for high-grade gliomas has surged. Given that ZIKV actively circulates in Colombia, evaluating its neurotropic and oncolytic capabilities holds considerable national and international importance, as it may emerge as an alternative for treating highly complex gliomas. Therefore, this literature review outlines the generalities of GBM, the factors determining ZIKV's specific tropism for nervous tissue, and its oncolytic capacity. Additionally, we briefly present the progress in preclinical studies supporting the use of ZIKV as an OVT for gliomas.

The present work highlights the sustainable approach for the transformation of plastic waste into fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) through carbonization and then they were functionalized with L-cysteine and o-phenylenediamine. CDs which were characterized by different analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are employed to recognize Cu 2+ , Fe 2+ , and Hg 2+ ions. The results show that the fluorescence emission was considerably quenched, and it is consistent with the interference and Jobs plots. The detection limit was found to be 0.35µM for Cu(II), 1.38 µM for Hg(II), and 0.51µM Fe(III). The interaction of CDs with metal ions enhances the fluorescence intensity detecting histamine successfully. It shows that plastic waste-based CDs can be applied clinically to detect toxic metals and biomolecules. Moreover, the system was employed to develop the cellular images using Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells with the support of a confocal microscope. Furthermore, theoretical studies were performed for the naphthalene layer (AR) as a model for C-dots, then optimized its structure and analyzed by using the molecular orbital. The obtained TD-DFT spectra coincided with experimental spectra for CDs/M 2+ /histamine systems., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objectives: To describe a series of patients with episodic ataxia type 2 (EA2), attending to epidemiological, clinical, radiological, and therapeutic variables., Material and Methods: Retrospective revision of patients with molecular diagnosis of EA2 (CACNA1A mutations), between 1988 and 2022. Information achieved from the database of our Movement Disorders clinic. A descriptive statistical analysis was made., Results: Ten patients from five families were analyzed (six women). Median age at diagnosis was 37.5 years-old, with a median diagnostic delay of 20 years. 70% reported familial history of CACNA1A associated symptoms, although 50% presented migraine, epilepsy, dystonia, or neuropsychiatric alterations. Two heterozygous consanguineous patients had homozygotic descendance with infant mortality due to early-onset epileptic encephalopathy type 42. Five pathogenic/probably pathogenic CACNA1A variants were detected. 80% of patients had episodic triggers, being stress the most common. Episodes had a weekly frequency before treatment initiation. Six patients developed chronic ataxia (one patient demand gait support). 50% of patients with neuroimaging presented cerebellar atrophy. Acetazolamide were initiated in 80%, and 75% of them showed improvement of episodic symptoms. Nephrolithiasis was the most frequent side effect., Conclusions: EA2 has a great intrafamilial and interfamilial phenotypic variability. The most frequent phenotype were weekly episodes of unsteadiness, several hours of length, stress as the main trigger, chronic ataxia and gaze-evoked nystagmus. Acetazolamide is effective, although complications are usual. Neurologist must be alert as diagnostic delay is constant.

The tumor immune infiltrate has an impact on cancer control and progression, additionally a growing body of evidence has proposed the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in modulating the contexture of the tumor immune infiltrate. Here, we performed a systematic review to evaluate the effect of chemotherapy in the immune infiltration of breast cancer tumors. We systematically searched Pubmed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and BVS databases with a cutoff date of 11/06/2022. Studies in patients with pathological diagnosis of BC, whose first line of treatment was only NAC, were included. Only published experimental studies that measured tumor immune infiltrate before and after NAC by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, immunohistochemistry (IHQ), or transcriptome were included. Reviews, studies with animal models and in-vitro models were excluded. Studies in which BC was not the primary tumor or studies with patients who received other types of neoadjuvant therapy were also excluded. The NIH quality assessment tool for before and after studies without control was used. We included 32 articles that evaluated the proximal tumor microenvironment before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in 2072 patients who received NAC as first line of treatment and who were evaluated for immune infiltrate in the pre- and post-chemotherapy tumor sample. Results were divided into two major categories immune cells and in-situ expression of immune checkpoints and cytokines. Qualitative synthesis was performed with the 32 articles included, and in nine of them a quantitative analysis was achieved, resulting in six meta-analyses. Despite high heterogeneity among the articles regarding treatment received, type of tumor reported, and techniques used to evaluate immune infiltrate, we found a significant decrease of TILs and FoxP3 expression after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO 2021 (Protocol ID: CRD42021243784) on 6/29/2021., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Llano-León et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Three new diboronic acid-substituted bisquinolinium salts were synthesized, structurally described by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and studied in-depth as fluorescent receptors for six monosaccharides and two open-chain polyols in water at physiological pH. The dicationic pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide-based receptors contain two N -quinolinium rings as the fluorescent units covalently linked to three different isomers of phenylboronic acid (ortho, 2 ; meta , 3 ; and para , 4 ) as chelating binding sites for polyols. Additions of glucose/fructose in the micromolar concentration range to receptors 2 and 3 induce significant fluorescence changes, but in the presence of arabinose, galactose, mannose, and xylose, only modest optical changes are observed. This optical change is attributed to a static photoinduced electron transfer mechanism. The meta -diboronic receptor 3 exhibited a high affinity/selectivity toward glucose ( K = 3800 M -1 ) over other monosaccharides including common interfering species such as fructose and mannitol. Based on multiple spectroscopic tools, electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry, crystal structures, and density functional theory calculations, the binding mode between 3 and glucose is proposed as a 1:1 complex with the glucofuranose form involving a cooperative chelating diboronate binding. These results demonstrate the usefulness of a new set of cationic fluorescent diboronic acid receptors with a strong ability for optical recognition of glucose in the sub-millimolar concentration range.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide. It has been observed that the incidence of breast cancer increases linearly with age after 45, which suggest a link between cancer, aging, and senescence. A growing body of evidence indicates that the immunosuppressive tumor network in breast cancer patients can lead to T-cell exhaustion and senescence. Cytotoxic chemotherapy is a common treatment for many cancers, and it is hypothesized that its efficacy may be related to immune activation. However, the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on T-cell dysfunction in breast cancer patients are not fully understood. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the expression of exhaustion and senescence markers in T cells in women with breast cancer. Our results showed that T cells from breast cancer patients have a reduced ability to respond to stimulation in-vitro and an increased expression of senescence and exhaustion-associated markers, such as TIM-3, LAG3, and CD57. Furthermore, we found that neoadjuvant chemotherapy has an immunomodulatory effect and reduces the expression of exhaustion markers. Our observations of the immune phenotype of T cells during neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment highlight its ability to stimulate the immune system against cancer. Therefore, monitoring the response of T cells during chemotherapy may enable early prediction of clinical response., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Rodríguez et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

The new dicationic pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide-based compound 1 bearing two N -alkylquinolinium units was synthesized, structurally determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and studied in-depth as a fluorescent receptor for nucleotides and inorganic phosphorylated anions in pure water. The addition of nucleotides to 1 at pH = 7.0 quenches its blue emission with a selective affinity towards adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and guanosine 5'-tripohosphate (GTP) over other nucleotides such CTP, UTP, ADP, AMP, dicarboxylates and inorganic anions. On the basis of the spectroscopic tools ( 1 H, 31 P NMR, UV-vis, fluorescence), MS measurements and DFT calculations, receptor 1 binds ATP with high affinity (log  K = 5.04) through the simultaneous formation of strong hydrogen bonds and π-π interactions between the adenosine fragment and quinolinium ring with binding energy calculated in 8.7 kcal mol -1 . High affinity for ATP/GTP is attributed to the high acidity of amides and preorganized rigid structure of 1. Receptor 1 is an order of magnitude more selective for ATP than GTP. An efficient photoinduced electron transfer quenching mechanism with simultaneous receptor-ATP complexation in both the excited and ground states is proposed. Additionally, multiple spectroscopic studies and molecular dynamics simulations showed that 1 can intercalate into DNA base pairs., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

A subset of CD4 + T cells, known as T follicular helper (Tfh), provides co-stimulating signals required to establish long-term humoral immunity. Recent studies have shown a reduced frequency and functionality of this population in older adults in comparison to young adults, in response to vaccination. To evaluate whether memory generation of circulating Tfh (cTfh) cells contributes to this phenomenon, the memory subpopulations of cTfh, and their activation degree, were evaluated both ex-vivo and in-vitro, in response to the model antigen tetanus toxoid (TT) after the first dose of tetanus vaccine. Here, we report a lower frequency of cTfh after vaccination in older adults compared to young adults. Moreover, whereas cTfh from older adults preferably expanded with an effector memory phenotype, young adults experienced a temporal increase of CCR7 + CD45RA + cTfh cells, which also displayed higher levels of CD95, CD40L, CXCR3, and Bcl-6 upon antigen re-encounter. This phenotype was confirmed using automatized algorithm. In conclusion, our results suggest that an age-related loss of heterogeneity and an expansion of more differentiated memory cells within the cTfh compartment could affect the responsiveness of older individuals to vaccines, making this phenotype a characteristic feature of immunosenescence., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Biological catecholamines such as l-DOPA and dopamine play vital physiological roles in the brain and are chemical indicators of human diseases. A new range of fluorescent Zn(ii)-terpyridine complexes are described and studied in-depth as chemosensors for catecholamine-based neurotransmitters and nucleosides in pure water. The new Zn-terpyridine-based chemosensors contain a cationic N-isoquinolinium nucleus as the optical indicator covalently linked to three different isomers of strongly acidified phenylboronic acids (ortho-, 2.Zn; meta-, 3.Zn and para-, 4.Zn, substituted derivatives) as catechol binding sites. The addition of l-DOPA, dopamine, epinephrine, l-tyrosine and nucleosides to Zn(ii)-boronic acid chemosensors at physiological pH quenches their blue emission with a pronounced selectivity and an unprecedented high affinity towards l-DOPA (log K = 6.01). This efficient response by l-DOPA was also observed in the presence of coexisting species in blood plasma and urine with a detection limit of 3.0 μmol L -1 . A photoinduced electron transfer quenching mechanism with simultaneous chemosensor - l-DOPA complexation in both the excited and ground states is proposed. The fluorescence experimental observations show that the 2.Zn·eosin-Y adduct can be used as a selective naked-eye chemosensing ensemble for l-DOPA with a fast turn-on fluorescent response and color change from blue to green under UV light at the micromolar level. On the basis of multiple spectroscopic techniques ( 1 H, 11 B NMR, UV-Vis, and fluorescence), MS-ESI experiments, crystal structures, and DFT calculations, the binding mode between Zn(ii)-chemosensors and l-DOPA is proposed in a 1 : 1 model through a cooperative two-point recognition involving the reversible esterification of the boronic acid moiety with the aromatic diol fragment of l-DOPA together with the coordination of the carboxylate anion to the Zn(ii) atom with strong electrostatic contribution.

This Minireview covers the latest developments of chemosensors based on transition-metal receptors and organic fluorophores with specific binding sites for the luminescent detection and recognition of iodide in aqueous media and real samples. In all selected examples within the last decade (made-post 2010), the iodide sensing and recognition is probed by monitoring real-time changes of the fluorescence or phosphorescence properties of the chemosensors. This review highlights effective strategies to iodide sensing from a structural approach where the iodide recognition/sensing process, through supramolecular interactions as coordination bonds, hydrogen bonds, halogen bonds and electrostatic interactions, is transduced into an optical change easily measurable. The selective iodide sensing is an active field of research with global interest due to the importance of iodide in biological, medicinal, industrial, environmental and chemical processes., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The effect of concentrate supplementation to crossbred goats on rangeland during the dry period on their reproductive performance was investigated. Goats were assigned into two groups: a concentrate supplemented (S; n = 91) group and an unsupplemented (UNS; n = 118) group. S goats received 350 g/day of concentrate per head, 30 days prior to breeding (flushing in winter) and 30 days during the last trimester of pregnancy. UNS goats presented a lower (P < 0.01) liveweight at the onset of the breeding period than did the S group (38.2 ± 3.7 vs. 44.4 ± 3.6 kg). Average daily gains during pregnancy were higher (P < 0.01) in the S group than UNS goats (15.5 ± 1.2 vs. - 0.5 ± 5.1 g/d). S goats had a higher (P < 0.01) kidding rate (87.1%) than the UNS goats (54.7%). Litter size for UNS and S goats was 1.39 and 2.00, respectively (P < 0.01). Serum triiodothyronine, tetraiodothyronine, and cortisol concentration at the end of the flushing period were not affected by concentrate supplementation. Serum glucose (88.7 ± 3.8 vs. 95.7 ± 5.3 mg/dL), total protein (6.9 ± 1.1 vs. 8.2 ± 1.2 mg/dL), and blood urea nitrogen (17.1 vs. 21.0 ± 4.3 mg/dL) concentrations were lower for UNS goats as compared with S goats. In conclusion, concentrate supplementation in crossbred goats on rangeland markedly improved body mass changes during gestation and the reproductive performance, which implies that malnutrition is a major barrier affecting fertility of goats and liveweight of kids in this rangeland.

Guanosine triphosphate (GTP) is a key biomarker of multiple cellular processes and human diseases. The new fluorescent dinuclear complex [Zn 2 (L)(S)][OTf] 4 , 1 (asymmetric ligand, L = 5,8-Bis{[bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino] methyl}quinoline, S = solvent, and OTf = triflate anion) was synthesized and studied in-depth as a chemosensor for nucleoside polyphosphates and inorganic anions in pure water. Additions at neutral pH of nucleoside triphosphates, guanosine diphosphate, guanosine monophosphate, and pyrophosphate (PPi) to 1 quench its blue emission (λ em = 410 nm) with a pronounced selectivity toward GTP over other anions, including adenosine triphosphate (ATP), uridine triphosphate (UTP), and cytidine triphosphate (CTP). The efficient quenching response by the addition of GTP was observed in the presence of coexisting species in blood plasma and urine with a detection limit of 9.2 μmol L -1 . GTP also shows much tighter binding to the receptor 1 on a sub micromolar level. On the basis of multiple spectroscopic tools ( 1 H, 31 P NMR, UV-vis, and fluorescence) and DFT calculations, the binding mode is proposed through three-point recognition involving the simultaneous coordination of the N 7 atom of the guanosine motif and two phosphate groups to the two Zn(II) atoms. Spectroscopic studies, MS-ESI, and DFT suggested that GTP bound to 1 in 1:1 and 2:2 models with high overall binding constants of log β 1 (1:1) = 6.05 ± 0.01 and log β 2 = 10.91 ± 0.03, respectively. The optical change and selectivity are attributed to the efficient binding of GTP to 1 by the combination of a strong electrostatic contribution and synergic effects of coordination bonds. Such GTP selectivity of an asymmetric metal-based receptor in water is still rare.

The aim of this study was to determine the disposition and pharmacokinetics in serum and a lung tissue homogenate in guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) of two experimental formulations of azithromycin, those were included in a modified release polymer matrix (MRF) after oral administration. The results obtained are compared with a commercial form of immediate release. 3 groups of animals were randomly formed in groups of 7 for control and 14 for each group of modified-release formulations (MRFs) were treated with a single dose of 8mg/kg of active principle. In lung tissue, comparisons of concentration of azithromycin, showed statistically significant differences between commercial product, MRF1 and MRF2. All pharmacokinetic parameters for MRF1 and MRF2 were significantly different with the exception of C max with respect to commercial product. The treatment of the animals with MRFs may have several benefits over treatment with azithromycin alone since could increase dosing interval for the two MRFs evaluated and reduce the frequency of application, patient stress levels and toxicological risks by accumulation of the active principle.

Sensitive and direct sensing of cyanide in buffered aqueous solutions at pH = 7.0 by three new blue photoluminescent zinc-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylato coordination polymers bearing di-alkyl-2,2'-bipyridines has been achieved. Specifically, a Zn-polymer with the general formula: {[Zn 2 (H 2 O) 2 (e,a-cis-1,4-chdc) 2 (4,4'-dtbb) 2 ]·7H 2 O} n , (1,4-chdc = 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylato and 4,4'-dtbb = 4,4'-ditert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine) has been synthesized in high yield and studied as a luminescent chemosensor for halides, pseudohalides and a series of oxyanions in neutral water. CN - ions can be quantitatively detected by this polymer based on complete quenching (λ em = 434 nm) in the sub-micromolar concentration range with a pronounced selectivity over common anions such as acetate, bromide and iodide. The quenching response (K SV = 9.7(±0.2) × 10 4 M -1 ) by the addition of CN - was also observed in the presence of typical interfering anions with a very low detection limit of 0.9 μmol L -1 in buffered water at pH = 7.0. On the basis of the crystal structure and solid state CPMAS 13 C-NMR correlation and 1 H NMR, IR-ATR, MS-ESI(+) and SEM-EDS experiments, the optical change is attributed to the efficient release of its corresponding ditert-butyl-bipyridine, with the simultaneous formation of a zinc cyanide complex. The CPMAS 13 C-NMR spectrum of the coordination polymer is consistent with the symmetry of the crystal structure. The use of flexible coordination polymers as fluorescent sensors for fast and selective detection of cyanide ions in pure aqueous solutions has been unexplored until now.

Fresh aqueous extracts (AGEs) and several thioallyl compounds (TACs) from garlic have an important antimicrobial activity that likely involves their interaction with exposed thiol groups at single aminoacids or target proteins. Since these groups are present in Giardia duodenalis trophozoites, in this work we evaluated the anti-giardial activity of AGE and several garlic's TACs. In vitro susceptibility assays showed that AGE affected trophozoite viability initially by a mechanism impairing cell integrity and oxidoreductase activities while diesterase activities were abrogated at higher AGE concentrations. The giardicidal activities of seven TACs were related to the molecular descriptor HOMO (Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital) energy and with their capacity to modify the -SH groups exposed in giardial proteins. Interestingly, the activity of several cysteine proteases in trophozoite lysates was inhibited by representative TACs as well as the cytopathic effect of the virulence factor giardipain-1. Of these, allicin showed the highest anti-giardial activity, the lower HOMO value, the highest thiol-modifying activity and the greatest inhibition of cysteine proteases. Allicin had a cytolytic mechanism in trophozoites with subsequent impairment of diesterase and oxidoreductase activities in a similar way to AGE. In addition, by electron microscopy a marked destruction of plasma membrane and endomembranes was observed in allicin-treated trophozoites while cytoskeletal elements were not affected. In further flow cytometry analyses pro-apoptotic effects of allicin concomitant to partial cell cycle arrest at G2 phase with the absence of oxidative stress were observed. In experimental infections of gerbils, the intragastric administration of AGE or allicin decreased parasite numbers and eliminated trophozoites in experimentally infected animals, respectively. These data suggest a potential use of TACs from garlic against G. duodenalis and in the treatment of giardiasis along with their additional benefits in the host's health.

Three Ni(ii)-POCOP pincer complexes [NiCl{C 6 H 2 -4-OH-2,6-(OPPh 2 ) 2 }], 1; [NiCl{C 6 H 2 -4-OH-2,6-(OPtBu 2 ) 2 }], 2 and [NiCl{C 6 H 2 -4-OH-2,6-(OPiPr 2 ) 2 }], 3 were studied as bifunctional molecular sensors for inorganic anions and acetate. In CH 3 CN, fluoride generates a bathochromic shift with a colorimetric change for 1-3 with a simultaneous fluorescence turn on, this optical effect is based on deprotonation of the para-hydroxy group of the POCOP ligand. On the other hand, in a neutral aqueous solution of 80 vol% CH 3 CN, additions of cyanide produce a distinct change of color by forming very stable complexes with the nickel-based receptors 1-3 with log K a in the range of 4.38-5.03 M -1 and pronounced selectivity over other common anions such as iodide, phosphate, and acetate. Additionally, bromide shows a modest spectral change and affinity, but lower than those observed for cyanide. On the basis of 1 H NMR experiments, UV-vis titrations, ESI-MS experiments, and the crystal structure of the neutral bromo complex of 1, it is proposed that the colorimetric change involves an exchange of chloride by CN - on the Ni(ii) atom. The Ni(ii)-based sensor 1 allows the fluorescent selective detection of fluoride with a limit of 5.66 μmol L -1 and colorimetric sensing of cyanide in aqueous medium in the micromolar concentration range.

In the title compound, C23H18N3O3 (+)·CF3SO3 (-), the asymmetric unit contains two crystallographically independent organic cations with similar conformations. Each cation shows a moderate distortion between the planes of the amide groups and the quinolinium rings with dihedral angles of 14.90 (2) and 31.66 (2)°. The quinolinium and phenyl rings are slightly twisted with respect to each other at dihedral angles of 6.99 (4) and 8.54 (4)°. The tri-fluoro-methane-sulfonate anions are linked to the organic cations via N-H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter-actions involving the NH amide groups. In the crystal, the organic cations are linked by weak C-H⋯O(nitro group) inter-actions into supramol-ecular chains propagating along the b-axis direction.

This study evaluated the histometric characteristics of the peri-implant mucosa of human subjects that received textured implant abutments with conventional (implant and abutment with same diameter) or platform-switched (implant diameter wider than that of the abutment) configurations. Wider and longer connective tissue around platform-switched implants was observed compared to that with conventional abutments. Despite the different dimensions between the two abutment types, the abutment-soft tissue interaction was similar for both groups at the histometric level.

We got one of the most significant epidemics of the history of Dengue in Puerto Rico despite all major educational efforts made. The objective is to determine how much knowledge the people have about the prevention and transmission of Dengue virus. We administered a questionnaire of fifteen questions to 140 people of different communities at the metropolitan area as well as in the East area of Puerto Rico during the months of September to November of 2012. 88% were adults, 100 were women and 40 men. The majority was from Caguas, Carolina, San Juan, and Bayamon. 60% were professionals. One hundred percent knew what Dengue is and 90% knows the mosquito. 77% of the participants know the actual epidemics, but the men got a 10% higher knowledge than women on the subject. Around 47% are not prepared to fight the Dengue virus, but they have great knowledge about the preventive measures and the clinical Management of Dengue Syndrome. 66% did not know that Puerto Rico has a Dengue Center from the CDC located at the Island. Only 17.5% of the participants knows that the Dengue Virus can be transmitted through transfusion of blood components. Our study met our objectives showing that we have good knowledge about Dengue, but there is poor knowledge about the transmission of Dengue Virus through transfusion of blood components. There is a big necessity to develop community strategies to eliminate this disease. We recommend repeating this study with more collaboration from other entities, more questions, and more participants.

Introduction: Stress is an important disorder that affects the health of world-wide people. Recent evidence indicates that the level of stress is related to specific personality profiles. In particular, medical residents are exposed to high stress levels., Objective: To determine the relationship between personality profiles and stress levels in medical residents., Material and Methods: A prospective, transversal, correlational and descriptive study was assembled with 61 medical residents. Two psychological tests were used: 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire and Nowack's stress profile; followed by a psychological interview., Results: 50% of medical residents showed medium to high levels. Correlation analyses indicate that stress is associated with specific personality profiles, such as: C- (low emotional stability; r = -0.337; P = 0.008), H- (shyness; r = -0.313; P = 0.014), O+ (self-guiltiness; r = 0.298; P = 0.02) and Q4+ (recklessness; r = 0.474, P = 0.001). Factors H and Q4 were related to high levels of stress., Conclusions: A half of medical residents showed important stress levels. The personality profile C- H- O+ Q4+ describes people with low tolerance to frustration, high concern to be accepted by others, which is associated to inferiority complex and high levels of nervous tension that may affect their professional performance.

Many neuromuscular disorders involve the heart, occasionally with overt clinical disease. Muscular dystrophies (dystrophinopathies, limb girdle muscular dystrophy, Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, Steinert's myotonic dystrophy), congenital myopathies, inflammatory myopathies and metabolic diseases (glycogenosis, periodic paralysis, mitochondrial diseases) may produce dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and heart rhythm or conduction disturbances. Furthermore the heart is commonly involved in some hereditary and degenerative diseases (Friedreich's ataxia and Kugelberg-Welander syndrome) and acquired (Guillain-Barré syndrome) or inherited (Refsum's disease and Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome) polyneuropathies. A cardiologist's high clinical suspicion and a simple but systematic skeletal muscle and peripheral nerve investigation, including muscle enzymes quantification, neurophysiological study and muscle biopsy, are necessary for an accurate diagnosis. In selected patients, more sophisticated biochemical and genetic analysis will be necessary. In most cases, endomyocardial biopsy is not essential for the diagnosis.