Role of Platinum Deposited on TiO2 in Photocatalytic Methanol Oxidation and Dehydrogenation Reactions

Titania modified nanoparticles have been prepared by the photodeposition method employing platinum particles on the commercially available titanium dioxide (Hombikat UV 100). The properties of the prepared photocatalysts were investigated by means of the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and UV-visible diffuse spectrophotometry (UV-Vis). XRD was employed to determine the crystallographic phase and particle size of both bare and platinised titanium dioxide. The results indicated that the particle size was decreased with the increasing of platinum loading. AFM analysis showed that one particle consists of about 9 to 11 crystals. UV-vis absorbance analysis showed that the absorption edge shifted to longer wavelength for 0.5% Pt loading compared with bare titanium dioxide. The photocatalytic activity of pure and Pt-loaded TiO2 was investigated employing the photocatalytic oxidation and dehydrogenation of methanol. The results of the photocatalytic activity indicate that the platinized titanium dioxide samples are always more active than the corresponding bare TiO2 for both methanol oxidation and dehydrogenation processes. The loading with various platinum amounts resulted in a significant improvement of the photocatalytic activity of TiO2. This beneficial effect was attributed to an increased separation of the photogenerated electron-hole charge carriers.

Renal effects and vascular reactivity induced by Tityus serrulatus venom

Tityus serrulatus, popularly known as yellow scorpion, is one of the most studied scorpion species in South America and its venom has supplied some highly active molecules. The effects of T. serrulatus venom upon the renal physiology in human showed increased renal parameters, urea and creatinine. However, in perfused rat kidney the effects were not tested until now. Isolated kidneys from Wistar rats, weighing 240-280 g, were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit solution containing 6% (g weight) of previously dialysed bovine serum albumin. The effects of T. serrulatus venom were studied on the perfusion pressure (PP), renal vascular resistance (RVR), urinary flow (UF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), sodium tubular transport (%TNa+), potassium tubular transport (%TK+) and chloride tubular transport (%TCl-). Tityus serrulatus venom (TsV; 10 mu g/mL) was added to the system 30 min after the beginning of each experiment (n = 6). This 30 min period was used as an internal control. The mesenteric bed was perfused with Krebs solution kept warm at 37 T by a constant flow (4 mL/min), while the variable perfusion pressure was measured by means of a pressure transducer. The direct vascular effects of TsV (10 mu g/mL/min; n=6), infused at a constant rate (0.1 mL/min), were examined and compared to the infusion of the vehicle alone at the same rate. TsV increased PP (PP30'= 127.8 +/- 0.69 vs PP60' = 154.2 +/- 14 mmHg*, *p < 0.05) and RVR (RVR30' = 6.29 +/- 0.25 vs RVR60' = 8.03 +/- 0.82 mmHg/mL g(-1) min(-1)*, *p < 0.05), decreased GFR (GFR(30') =0.58 +/- 0.02 vs GFR(60') = 0.46 +/- 0.01 mL g(-1) min(-1)*, *p < 0.05) and UF (UF30' = 0.135 +/- 0.001 vs UF60' = 0.114 +/- 0.003 mL g(-1)min(-1)*, *p < 0.05). Tubular transport was not affected during the whole experimental period (120 min). on the other hand, the infusion of TsV (10 mu g/mL/min) increased the basal perfusion pressure of isolated arteriolar mesenteric bed (basal pressure: 74.17 +/- 3.42 vs TsV 151.8 +/- 17.82 mmHg*, *p < 0.05). TsV affects renal haemodynamics probably by a direct vasoconstrictor action leading to decreased renal flow. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Efeitos secundários da quimioterapia antineoplásica e seu impacto na qualidade de vida em cães e gatos com doença oncológica

Mestrado Integrado em Medicina Veterinária

Towards a 21st-century roadmap for biomedical research and drug discovery: consensus report and recommendations

Decades of costly failures in translating drug candidates from preclinical disease models to human therapeutic use warrant reconsideration of the priority placed on animal models in biomedical research. Following an international workshop attended by experts from academia, government institutions, research funding bodies, and the corporate and nongovernmental organisation (NGO) sectors, in this consensus report, we analyse, as case studies, five disease areas with major unmet needs for new treatments. In view of the scientifically driven transition towards a human pathway-based paradigm in toxicology, a similar paradigm shift appears to be justified in biomedical research. There is a pressing need for an approach that strategically implements advanced, human biology-based models and tools to understand disease pathways at multiple biological scales. We present recommendations to help achieve this.

Implementación de criterios de Beers en pacientes con atención domiciliaria mayores de 75 años polimedicados y la identificación de las reacciones cruzadas

Introducción: El incremento de la población geriátrica es una realidad a nivel mundial y con esto los modelos de atención domiciliaria toman gran relevancia para dar respuesta a las diferentes patologías que requieran su seguimiento. Se ha evidenciado que en dicho seguimiento, el fenómeno de la polimedicación se presenta con frecuencia, con el riesgo de generar efectos cruzados y reacciones adversas que incrementan el deterioro clínico de los pacientes. Objetivo: Determinar los posibles efectos cruzados de la Polimedicación no pertinente en pacientes mayores de 75 años con hipertensión arterial más enfermedad neurodegenerativa en atención domiciliaria de una EPS del régimen contributivo en Bogotá, con base en los criterios de Beers.

Effects and Modes od Action of Canopy Management Practices on Vine Physiology and Berry Composition in Organically-Cultivated cv. Sangiovese (Vitis Vinifera L.)

In organic and biodynamic vineyards, canopy management practices should be carefully and timely modulated, particularly in a context of climate change, for successfully achieving balanced plants, ventilated and exposed berries, elevated grape and wine quality. In 2013 and 2014, characterized by contrasting climatic conditions, the implications of post-veraison (late) or pea-size trimming, post-veraison or pre-harvest late defoliations and shoot-positioning (post-veraison) were assessed against long-shoots non treated controls, under field conditions on organically-cultivated cv. Sangiovese. The key agronomic and enological relevance of late trimming and defoliations clearly emerged in both seasons. Berry skin phenolics (e.g. anthocyanins, flavonols) increased markedly, without changes in technological parameters. In case of early trimming, such positive effects were observed only in 2013. Maintaining long shoots for shading decreased anthocyanins, flavonols and total phenolics concentrations and promoted the production of compact bunches. Experimental data strongly designated late trimming, a practice proved to contain yield and bunch compactness, as a valuable alternative to cluster thinning. Late trimming, defoliations and shoot positioning reduced the severity of Botrytis cluster rot. The highest levels of berry skins phenolic compounds in late trimmed and defoliated plants could have contributed control the severity of this pathogen. The enological benefits induced by late trimming and defoliations and shoot positioning emerged in both young and aged wines. For the first time, cell cultures from cv. Sangiovese berry tissues were obtained and enabled to investigate, in controlled conditions, the relations between mechanisms regulating secondary metabolism in grapevine cells and changes induced by environmental and agronomic factors. The Doctoral Dissertation strongly highlights the need to consider, for a proper interpretation of the multiple modifications induced by canopy management strategies, physiological mechanisms other than the canonic source-sink relationships, in particular their impact on the vine hormonal status.

Proton radiotherapy: a therapeutic opportunity for pediatric brain tumor patients

Proton radiation therapy is a form of external radiation that uses charged particles which have distinct physical advantages to deliver the majority of its dose in the target while minimizing the dose of radiation to normal tissues. In children who are particularly susceptible even at low and medium doses of radiation, the significant reduction of integral dose can potentially mitigate the incidence of side effects and improve quality of life. The aim of the first part of the thesis is to describe the physical and radiobiological properties of protons, the Proton Therapy Center of Trento (TCPT) active for clinical purpose since 2014, which use the most recent technique called active pencil beam scanning. The second part of the thesis describes the preliminary clinical results of 23 pediatric patients with central nervous system tumors as well as of two aggressive pediatric meningiomas treated with pencil beam scanning. All the patients were particularly well-suited candidates for proton therapy (PT) for possible benefits in terms of survival and incidence of acute and late side effects. We reported also a multicentric experience of 27 medulloblastoma patients (median age 6 years, M/F ratio 13/14) treated between 2015 and 2020 at TPTC coming from three Pediatric oncology centers: Bologna, Florence, and Ljubljana, with a focus on clinical results and toxicities related to radiotherapy (RT). Proton therapy was associated with mostly mild acute and late adverse effects and no cases of CNS necrosis or high grade of neuroradiological abnormailities. Comparable rates of survival and local control were obtained to those achievable with conventional RT. Finally, we performed a systematic review to specifically address the safety of PT for pediatric CNS patients, late side effects and clinical effectiveness after PT in this patient group.

Small molecules exploiting emerging therapeutic opportunities for breast cancer treatment

Among the different types of breast cancer (BC), the estrogen receptor positive (ER+) subtype, which requires estrogens for its growth and proliferation, is the most common, while triple negative BC, characterized by the absence of ER, progesterone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, often leads to poor prognosis. First-line therapies for the treatment of ER+ BC act either by suppressing estrogen production, through the inhibition of aromatase (AR) enzyme, or by blocking estrogen prooncogenic activity, via the modulation/degradation of ERs. The serious side effects and the intrinsic or acquired resistance phenomena that arise with prolonged use of these drugs limit their therapeutic application, stimulating the search for new strategies to face this disease. In this context, the development of dual acting aromatase inhibitors, able to target both the orthosteric and the recently identified allosteric pockets of AR could be an opportunity to fight ER+ BC. Another promising strategy could be the development of multitarget compounds, targeting both AR and ERs. In this scenario, here we designed and synthesized two series of new xanthones or more flexible benzophenones as potential dual acting aromatase inhibitors. Moreover, inspired from tamoxifen metabolites and a literature compound endowed with activity on both AR and ER, different structurally related series of potential multitarget compounds were developed. The biological results showed that some of the new molecules were promising candidates for further development. It was recently observed that the lately discovered histamine H4 receptor is expressed in human breast tissue, displaying a key role in biological processes mediated by histamine such as cell proliferation, senescence, and apoptosis in malignant cells, representing a potential target in triple negative BC. Thus, a broad series of methyl quinazoline sulfonamides, carrying different functional groups on the sulfonamide moiety, were designed and synthesized as potential H4 receptor ligands.

Towards a more sustainable aquaculture: diets effects and environmental impact of aquaculture from a microbiome perspective

There is a lot of interest to optimize aquaculture production due to its overexploitation of marine resources, ocean pollution and habitat destruction. Since feed production is one of the greatest issues in aquaculture, feeding strategy optimization is important. The study of several different feed additives or supplementation is important to secure optimal growth, gut health, and function in farmed fish. Feed additives are typically supplied to ensure good health and to help the animal ward off pathogens during both normal and challenging conditions, which could stress animals and promote insurgence of pathologies or pathogens invasions. In this context has an increasing interest the study of host associated microbiome to understand the influence of novel functional feed on the health and physiology of animals. To achieve a more sustainable aquaculture sector, show a great importance the understanding of the environmental impact of this human activity in terms of habitat destruction, ocean pollution and reduction marine environments biodiversity. Marine microbiomes, either free-living or associated with multicellular hosts, is acquiring an increasing interest because their role in supporting the functioning and biodiversity of marine ecosystems, providing essential ecological services. Becoming extremely important to understand how these activities can affect marine microbiomes by altering their function and diversity. In this thesis work, we were able to present a comprehensive evaluation of different functional feeds assessing their effects in terms of growth and gut health of three fish species, Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and Zebrafish (Danio rerio). We also explored the impact of Aquaculture on the surrounding marine microbiomes, using Patella caerulea as a model holobionts. Finally, we provided a synoptical study on the microbiomes of the water column and surface sediments in North-Western Adriatic Sea (Italy), providing the finest-scale mapping of marine microbiomes in the Mediterranean Sea.

Identification of potential miRNAs related to classification and treatment response of actinic keratosis

The Workflow activity was the following: Preliminary phase: Identification of 18 Formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) samples (9 patients) («matched» 9 AK lesions and 9 SCC lesions). Working on biopsies samples we perform an extraction and RNA analysis with droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) and we perform the data analysis. Second and final step phase: Evaluation of additional 39 subjects (36 men and 3 women). Results: We perform an evaluation and comparison of the following miRNA: miR-320 (a miRNA involved in apoptosis and cell proliferation control; miR-204, a miRNA involved in cell proliferation in and miRNA-16-5p, a miRNA involved in apoptosis).Conclusion: Our data suggest that there is no significant variation in the expression of the three tested microRNAs between adjacent AK lesions and squamous-cell carcinoma. However, a relevant trend has been observed Furthermore, by evaluating the miRNA expression trend between keratosis and carcinoma of the same patient, it is observed that there is no "uniform trend": for some samples the expression rises for the transition from AK to SCC and viceversa.

Development of a relationship between physical parameters of tsunami waves and tsunami intensity based on macroscopic effects and its application to the Italian tsunami database

Tsunamis are rare events. However, their impact can be devastating and it may extend to large geographical areas. For low-probability high-impact events like tsunamis, it is crucial to implement all possible actions to mitigate the risk. The tsunami hazard assessment is the result of a scientific process that integrates traditional geological methods, numerical modelling and the analysis of tsunami sources and historical records. For this reason, analysing past events and understanding how they interacted with the land is the only way to inform tsunami source and propagation models, and quantitatively test forecast models like hazard analyses. The primary objective of this thesis is to establish an explicit relationship between the macroscopic intensity, derived from historical descriptions, and the quantitative physical parameters measuring tsunami waves. This is done first by defining an approximate estimation method based on a simplified 1D physical onshore propagation model to convert the available observations into one reference physical metric. Wave height at the coast was chosen as the reference due to its stability and independence of inland effects. This method was then implemented for a set of well-known past events to build a homogeneous dataset with both macroseismic intensity and wave height. By performing an orthogonal regression, a direct and invertible empirical relationship could be established between the two parameters, accounting for their relevant uncertainties. The target relationship is extensively tested and finally applied to the Italian Tsunami Effect Database (ITED), providing a homogeneous estimation of the wave height for all existing tsunami observations in Italy. This provides the opportunity for meaningful comparison for models and simulations, as well as quantitatively testing tsunami hazard models for the Italian coasts and informing tsunami risk management initiatives.

Low-level Laser Therapy To The Mouse Femur Enhances The Fungicidal Response Of Neutrophils Against Paracoccidioides Brasiliensis.

Neutrophils (PMN) play a central role in host defense against the neglected fungal infection paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), which is caused by the dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb). PCM is of major importance, especially in Latin America, and its treatment relies on the use of antifungal drugs. However, the course of treatment is lengthy, leading to side effects and even development of fungal resistance. The goal of the study was to use low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to stimulate PMN to fight Pb in vivo. Swiss mice with subcutaneous air pouches were inoculated with a virulent strain of Pb or fungal cell wall components (Zymosan), and then received LLLT (780 nm; 50 mW; 12.5 J/cm2; 30 seconds per point, giving a total energy of 0.5 J per point) on alternate days at two points on each hind leg. The aim was to reach the bone marrow in the femur with light. Non-irradiated animals were used as controls. The number and viability of the PMN that migrated to the inoculation site was assessed, as well as their ability to synthesize proteins, produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their fungicidal activity. The highly pure PMN populations obtained after 10 days of infection were also subsequently cultured in the presence of Pb for trials of protein production, evaluation of mitochondrial activity, ROS production and quantification of viable fungi growth. PMN from mice that received LLLT were more active metabolically, had higher fungicidal activity against Pb in vivo and also in vitro. The kinetics of neutrophil protein production also correlated with a more activated state. LLLT may be a safe and non-invasive approach to deal with PCM infection.

Photodynamic Therapy Can Be Effective as a Treatment for Herpes Simplex Labialis

Background Data and Objective: Herpes is a common infectious disease that is caused by human herpesviruses. Several treatments have been proposed, but none of them prevent reactivation of the virus. This article describes the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a treatment for herpes lesions, and reports on four cases. Materials and Methods: PDT was used as an adjuvant therapy for the treatment of herpes labialis in four patients. A special type of 0.01% (m/V) of methylene blue solution was applied to the vesicular stage of herpesviral disease and the lesions were irradiated with laser energy (wavelength 660 nm, energy density 120 J/cm(2), output power of 40 mW, 2 min per point, 4.8 J of energy/point, at four points). After 24 h the patients returned and phototherapy was repeated with the same equipment, this time with 3.8 J/cm(2) and 15 mW, for a total dose of 0.6 J. The same procedure was repeated 72 h and 1 wk later. Results: Treatment with low-level laser therapy can be considered as an option in the treatment of herpes labialis, and decreases the frequency of vesicle recurrence and provides comfort for patients. No significant acute side effects were noted and the lesions healed rapidly. Conclusion: Treatment of herpes labialis with PDT was effective, had no side effects, and when associated with laser phototherapy, accelerated the healing process.

Psychometric properties of the DASS-Depression scale among a Brazilian population with chronic pain

Background: Depression is a common contributor to suffering and disability in people with chronic pain. However, the assessment of depression in this population has been hampered by the presence of a number of somatic symptoms that are shared between chronic pain, treatment side-effects and traditional concepts of depression. As a result, the use of depression measures that do not contain somatic items has been encouraged. Objective: This study examined the psychometric properties of the Depression sub-scale of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS) in a Brazilian chronic pain patient population. Method: Data on a number of measures were collected from 348 participants attending pain facilities. Results: Principal components and exploratory factor analyses indicated the presence of only one factor. Item analyses indicated adequate item-scale correlations. The Cronbach alpha was .96, which suggests an excellent internal consistency. Conclusion: The DASS-Depression scale has adequate psychometric properties and its further use with Brazilian chronic pain populations can now be supported. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.