Pustular psoriasis and related pustular skin diseases

Summary

Patients with pustular psoriasis or related pustular diseases may have genetic abnormalities impairing the function of key players of the innate skin immune system. Recently, identification of these abnormalities has changed the paradigm of several of these diseases. These include generalized pustular psoriasis, palmoplantar pustular psoriasis and acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau, and also drug-induced acute exanthematous generalized pustular eruption. Identified mutations in IL36RN, CARD14 and AP1S3 in different groups of patients lead to enhanced inflammatory cascade in several cellular subtypes including keratinocytes, and to the recruitment and activation of neutrophils and macrophages. These insights have unveiled pathophysiological features that shift the existing paradigms and emphasize the autoinflammatory nature of skin pustular disorders. They also highlight the crucial role of the innate immune system across entities belonging to the psoriasis disease spectrum, allowing identification of new appealing therapeutic targets.

Agricultural non-point source pollution management in a reservoir watershed based on ecological network analysis of soil nitrogen cycling

Abstract

The Miyun Reservoir plays a pivotal role in providing drinking water for the city of Beijing. In this research, ecological network analysis and scenario analysis were integrated to explore soil nitrogen cycling of chestnut and Chinese pine forests in the upper basin of the Miyun Reservoir, as well as to seek favorable fertilization modes to reduce agricultural non-point source pollution. Ecological network analysis results showed that (1) the turnover time was 0.04 to 0.37 year in the NH₄⁺ compartment and were 15.78 to 138.36 years in the organic N compartment; (2) the Finn cycling index and the ratio of indirect to direct flow were 0.73 and 11.92 for the chestnut forest model, respectively. Those of the Chinese pine forest model were 0.88 and 29.23, respectively; and (3) in the chestnut forest model, NO₃⁻ accounted for 96% of the total soil nitrogen loss, followed by plant N (2%), NH₄⁺ (1%), and organic N (1%). In the Chinese pine forest, NH₄⁺ accounted for 56% of the total soil nitrogen loss, followed by organic N (34%) and NO₃⁻ (10%). Fertilization mode was identified as the main factor affecting soil N export. To minimize NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ outputs while maintaining the current plant yield (i.e., 7.85e0 kg N/year), a fertilization mode of 162.50 kg N/year offered by manure should be adopted. Whereas, to achieve a maximum plant yield (i.e., 3.35e1 kg N/year) while reducing NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ outputs, a fertilization mode of 325.00 kg N/year offered by manure should be utilized. This research is of wide suitability to support agricultural non-point source pollution management at the watershed scale.

Towards a Sedimentology of Information Infrastructures: a Geological Approach for Understanding the City

Abstract

Drawing primarily on ethnographic research performed in a city in Romania, this paper provides a thick description of police practices and information systems in that municipality. It shows various ways in which technologies mediate policing practitioners' perceptions, decisions and actions. Bringing some additional material from a case in the Dutch police in which they build risk profiles predicated on real-time data from a sensor network, the paper highlights new phenomena with ethical implications emerging at the intersection of information infrastructures and policing practices. In particular, it shows a solidifying effect of technologically mediated suspicion, a sedimentation process in technological infrastructures and the formation of pockets of prejudice in the layers of software code. To adequately account for these phenomena and others, the paper provides a set of arguments and conditions for a sedimentology of infrastructures. At the same time, it offers the first steps in a larger research project that would adapt and test the limits of a geological vocabulary and approach to understand smart urban environments.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of JC virus DNA in plasma in Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy

Abstract

Background

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a severe demyelinating disease caused by the polyomavirus JC (JCV) affecting subjects with impaired immune system. While JCV-DNA detection in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is diagnostic of PML, the clinical significance of plasma JCV-DNA is still uncertain.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed plasma samples drawn from patients with PML close to disease onset, and controls without PML. In PML patients, we compared plasma JCV DNA detection and levels to: JCV DNA in the other biological samples, clinical and laboratory parameters and patients' survival.

Results

JCV-DNA was detected in plasma of 49/103 (48%) patients with PML (20/24, 83%, HIV-negative; 29/79, 37%, HIV-positive) and of 4/144 (3%) controls without PML (0/95 HIV-negative; 4/49, 8%, HIV-positive), yielding a diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of, respectively, 48% and 97% (83% and 100% in HIV-negative; 37% and 92% in HIV-positive). Among 16 PML patients with undetectable CSF JCV-DNA, 4 (25%) had detectable plasma JCV-DNA. Plasma JCV-DNA levels were independently associated with those in the CSF (p<0.0001) and previous corticosteroid treatment (p=0.012). Higher plasma JCV-DNA levels were associated with disease progression in HIV-negative patients (p=0.005), while among HIV-positive patients, they identified an increased risk of progression only in those treated with combined antiretroviral thearapy (cART)(p<0.0001).

Conclusions

Testing JCV-DNA on plasma samples might complement PML diagnosis, especially when CSF is unavailable or JCV-DNA not detectable in CSF. In addition, JCV-DNA plasma levels could be useful as a marker of disease progression in both HIV-negative and cART-treated HIV-positive PML patients.

Validation of the PIDS/IDSA Severity Criteria in Children with Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Abstract

Background

The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS)/Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guideline for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) recommends intensive care unit (ICU) admission or continuous monitoring for children meeting severity criteria. Our objective was to validate these criteria.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of children age 3 months-18 years diagnosed with CAP in a pediatric Emergency Department (ED) from 9/2014-8/2015. Children with complex chronic conditions and recent ED visits were excluded. The primary predictor was the PIDS/IDSA severity criteria. Outcomes included disposition (i.e., admission vs. discharge) and interventions/diagnoses necessitating hospitalization (i.e., need for hospitalization [NFH]).

Results

Of 518 children, 56.6% were discharged. 54.3% of discharged patients and 80.8% of those hospitalized <24 hours were classified as severe. Of those admitted, 10.7% did not meet severity criteria. Overall, 69.5% (n=360) met PIDS/IDSA severity criteria. Of these children, 73.1% did not demonstrate NFH. The areas under the receiver operator characteristic curves (AUC) for PIDS/IDSA major criteria were 0.63 and 0.51 for predicting disposition and NFH, respectively. For PIDS/IDSA minor criteria, the AUC was 0.81 and 0.56 for predicting disposition and NFH, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, LR+ and LR- of the PIDS/IDSA criteria were 89%, 46%, 1.65, and 0.23 for disposition and 95%, 16%, 1.13, and 0.31 for NFH.

Conclusions

More than half of children classified as severe by PIDS/IDSA criteria were not hospitalized. The PIDS/IDSA CAP severity criteria have only fair ability to predict need for hospitalization. New predictive tools specifically for children are required to improve clinical decision making.

Vitiligo-like lesions and immune checkpoint inhibition therapy: is it truly an adverse event exclusive to patients with melanoma?

Increased sensitivity and high specificity of indirect immunofluorescence in detecting IgG subclasses for diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid

Summary

Background

Indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) microscopy on monkey oesophagus is an important assay for the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid (BP). Its relatively low sensitivity (60–80%) may be partly due to insufficient detection of minor IgG subclasses.

Aim

To determine the operating characteristics of an IgG subclass in IIF.

Methods

We designed a retrospective, dual-centre, controlled cohort study on sera from 64 BP sera that had been rated as false negatives by traditional IIF microscopy, and assessed circulating IgG₁, IgG₃ and IgG₄ autoantibodies.

Results

The sensitivities of IIF in detecting IgG₁, IgG₃, IgG₄ and all three in combination were 45.3%, 18.8%, 32.8% and 48.4%, respectively. Specificities were > 97%.

Conclusion

Detection of IgG subclass (especially IgG₁ and IgG₄) autoantibodies by IIF on monkey oesophagus can significantly improve diagnostic performance of IIF microscopy for diagnosis of BP.

Evaluation of universal immunohistochemical screening of sebaceous neoplasms in a service setting

Summary

Background

Muir–Torre syndrome (MTS) is a subtype of Lynch syndrome, which encompasses the combination of sebaceous skin tumours or keratoacanthomas and internal malignancy, due to mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes. Sebaceous neoplasms (SNs) may occur before other malignancies, and may lead to the diagnosis, which allows testing of other family members, cancer surveillance, risk-reducing surgery or prevention therapies.

Aim

To evaluate the efficacy of universal immunohistochemistry (IHC) screening of SNs in a service setting.

Methods

Patients with SNs were ascertained by a regional clinical pathology service over a 3-year period. Results of tumour IHC, clinical genetics notes and germline genetic testing were retrospectively reviewed.

Results

In total, 62 patients presented with 71 SNs; 9 (15%) of these patients had previously diagnosed MTS. Tumour IHC was performed for 50 of the 53 remaining patients (94%); 26 (52%) had loss of staining of one or more mismatch repair proteins. Fifteen patients were referred to the Clinical Genetics department, and 10 patients underwent germline genetic testing. Two had a new diagnosis of MTS confirmed, with heterozygous pathogenic mutations detected in the MSH2 and PMS2 genes (diagnostic yield 20%). The PMS2 mutation was identified in a 57-year-old woman with a sebaceous adenoma and history of endometrial cancer; to our knowledge, this is the first time a PMS2 mutation has been reported in MTS.

Conclusions

Universal IHC screening of SNs is an effective method to identify cases for further genetic evaluation. Rates of referral to clinical genetics were only moderate (58%). Increased awareness of MTS could help improve the rate of onward referral.

Serum levels of psoriasin (S100A7) and koebnerisin (S100A15) as potential markers of atherosclerosis in patients with psoriasis

Summary

Background

Psoriasin (S100A7) and koebnerisin (S100A15) are proinflammatory proteins upregulated in psoriasis, but their relation to atherosclerosis remains unclear.

Aim

To evaluate the role of serum psoriasin and koebnerisin as possible markers for subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with psoriasis.

Methods

Serum levels of psoriasin and koebnerisin were measured by ELISA in 45 patients with psoriasis and in 45 healthy controls (HCs). Intima–media thickness (IMT) of the right and left common carotid arteries was measured to detect the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis. Clinical severity of psoriasis was estimated using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI).

Results

Compared with HCs, patients with psoriasis had significantly higher levels of psoriasin (26.61 ± 22.45 ng/mL vs. 6.31 ± 1.68 ng/mL, P < 0.001) and koebnerisin (21.2 ± 13.12 ng/mL vs. 12.2 ± 4.67 ng/mL, P = 0.001), and significantly higher IMT values (1.07 ± 0.4 mm vs. 0.61 ± 0.1 mm, P < 0.001). A positive correlation was observed between IMT and PASI (r = 0.78, P < 0.001), serum psoriasin (r = 0.48, P > 0.01) and serum koebnerisin (r = 0.48, P < 0.01). Patients with psoriasis with subclinical atherosclerosis had higher serum levels of koebnerisin compared with patients without subclinical atherosclerosis (P = 0.04), which was not observed for psoriasin (P = 0.94).

Conclusion

Serum psoriasin and koebnerisin correlate with IMT, underlining their value as a potential link between psoriasis and atherosclerosis. In particular, koebnerisin seems to be a useful marker of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with psoriasis.

Pemphigus herpetiformis with autoantibodies to desmocollins 1, 2 and 3

Wierenga on theism and counterpossibles

Abstract

Several theists, including Linda Zagzebski, have claimed that theism is somehow committed to nonvacuism about counterpossibles. Even though Zagzebski herself has rejected vacuism, she has offered an argument in favour of it, which Edward Wierenga has defended as providing strong support for vacuism that is independent of the orthodox semantics for counterfactuals, mainly developed by David Lewis and Robert Stalnaker. In this paper I show that argument to be sound only relative to the orthodox semantics, which entails vacuism, and give an example of a semantics for counterfactuals countenancing impossible worlds for which it fails.

Possible protective effect of the algae spirulina against nephrotoxicity induced by cyclosporine A and/or gamma radiation in rats

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the possible protective role of the algae spirulina (Sp) against nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress which are the main secondary effects induced by the immunosuppressant drug CSA and/or ionizing radiation. In this study, male rats were given Sp (1 g/kg) either for 15 days before irradiation (6.5 Gy) or 5 days before and 10 days concomitant with CSA (25 mg/kg). Markers used to assess renal injury included serum creatinine, urea, glucose, albumin, protein, and lipid profile as well as kidney content of reduced glutathione (GSH); lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)); nitrite and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. In addition, some trace elements (Zn and Mg) were estimated in kidney. Apoptosis was assessed by immunohistochemical estimation of caspase-3 expression in addition to histopathological examination. Results revealed that gamma radiation and/or CSA induced elevation in urea, creatinine, lipids, and glucose while decreasing albumin and protein levels. There was a noticeable increase in kidney content of GSH, TBARS, and nitrite. Meanwhile, profound decrease in kidney SOD activity was observed. Treatment with Sp significantly reversed the changes induced by CSA and/or gamma radiation in renal function tests. Spirulina also ameliorated kidney oxidative stress through decreasing GSH, TBARS, and nitrite kidney content while increasing SOD activity. Histopathological examination further confirmed Sp protective efficacy. Moreover, kidney caspase-3 expression that was triggered by CSA and/or gamma radiation was decreased. In conclusion, spirulina can be regarded as a promising renoprotective natural agent against renal injury induced by CSA and/or gamma radiation.

Diurnal variations in personal care products in seawater and mussels at three Mediterranean coastal sites

Abstract

The presence of personal care products (PCPs) in the marine environment is of major concern. PCPs, UV filters, and musks can enter the marine environment indirectly through wastewater or directly via recreational activities. We conducted this study to document patterns in the occurrence of seven PCPs at three coastal sites impacted by recreational activities during 1 day. The study focused on diurnal variations in these seven PCPs in seawater and indigenous mussels. In seawater, UV filters showed diurnal variations that mirrored variations in recreational activities at the sites. Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC) and octocrylene (OC) water concentrations increased from under the limit of quantification in the morning to 106 and 369 ng/L, respectively, when recreational activities were the highest. In mussels, diurnal variations in OC were observed, with the lowest concentrations recorded in the morning and then increasing throughout the day. As Mytilus spp. are widely used as sentinels in coastal pollution monitoring programs (mussel watch), our findings on diurnal variations could enhance sampling recommendations for recreational sites impacted by PCPs.

Sulforaphene Enhances The Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy In Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Through Ras/RAF/MEK/ERK Pathway Suppression

Publication date: February 2018
Source:Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, Volume 179
Author(s): Saswata Chatterjee, Yunhee Rhee, Phil-Sang Chung, Rui-Feng Ge, Jin-Chul Ahn
Sulforaphene (SFE), a natural isothiocyanate from cruciferous vegetables has shown a potential anticancer effect against cervical and lung cancer. Palliative treatments like photodynamic therapy (PDT) are being implemented for a long time however, the results are still not promising in case of aggressive cancers like anaplastic thyroid cancer. The objective of this work is to establish an alternative method with the combination of photofrin-PDT and sulforaphene, a natural isothiocyanate from cruciferous vegetables, against human anaplastic thyroid cancer to enhance the efficacy of PDT. In this study, cell viability of FRO cells due to combination treatment was analyzed by MTT assay, Cell cycle arrest, MMP depolarization and ROS generation, analyzed by flow cytometry. Western blot analysis of various proliferative proteins was performed to assess the activity of combination treatment against FRO cells. From the results, sulforaphene alone showed no cytotoxicity against normal cells, however, combination of sulforaphene and photofrin mediated PDT showed a noticeable decrease in cell proliferation against FRO cells. Combination treatment synergistically caused cell cycle arrest via ROS generation and MMP depolarization. The expressions of Ras, MEK, ERK, B-Raf proteins significantly modulated due to combination treatment. PDT and SFE can induce apoptosis in anaplastic thyroid cancer cells individually but while treated in combination, it enhanced the apoptotic and anti-proliferative effect, much higher than the individual doses. In summary, our work designates sulforaphene as a unique natural enhancer of efficacy with PDT against anaplastic thyroid cancer.

Graphical abstract

Adequate vitamin D3 skin synthesis versus erythema risk in the Northern Hemisphere midlatitudes

Publication date: February 2018
Source:Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, Volume 179
Author(s): Jakub Guzikowski, Janusz Krzyścin, Agnieszka Czerwińska, Weronika Raszewska
Health-optimum-exposure index (HOEI) is proposed to assess if the prescribed amount of vitamin D3 (target value) could be synthesized in the human skin without erythema appearance. It is defined as the ratio between the vitamin D3 quantity received during the maximum allowed outdoor exposure without erythema risk and the target value. Sunbathing is safe for HOEI>1 and 1/HOEI represents a part of minimal erythema dose (MED) necessary to obtain the target value. We examine the following targets: a vitamin D3 quantity equivalent to 1000 IU vitamin D3 taken orally, and an optimal vitamin D3 quantity defined by Krzyścin et al. (2016). The biologically weighted (previtamin D3 and erythemal) doses from the Northern Hemisphere midlatitudinal stations are analyzed to find HOEI dependence on personal and meteorological factors. HOEI depends mostly on the exposed skin area, person's age, and sun elevation at noon but not on the Fitzpatrick skin phototype. We found that only young adults (<21 yr) could safely obtain vitamin D3 quantity, which is equivalent to 1000 IU taken orally, almost throughout the whole year. Duration of such exposures appears <1 h only in the warm subperiods of the year (April–September) for a person with minimal erythema dose of 330 J m⁻². Exposing larger part of the body (~30%) enables the oldest persons (>59 yr) to reach 1000 IU target during warm days in spring and summer. The optimal daily vitamin D3 quantity could only be synthesized only by young adults for about 40–60% of days in the May–August period if they expose at least 1/3 part of their body surface area. Vitamin D3 supplementation seems to be necessary over the whole year for the oldest persons with daily dosage of ~2000 IU but reduced to ~1000 IU in summer for sunseekers exposing significant part of the body.

Light quality affects flavonoid production and related gene expression in Cyclocarya paliurus

Publication date: February 2018
Source:Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, Volume 179
Author(s): Yang Liu, Shengzuo Fang, Wanxia Yang, Xulan Shang, Xiangxiang Fu
Understanding the responses of plant growth and secondary metabolites to differential light conditions is very important to optimize cultivation conditions of medicinal woody plants. As a highly valued and multiple function tree species, Cyclocarya paliurus is planted and managed for timber production and medical use. In this study, LED-based light including white light (WL), blue light (BL), red light (RL), and green light (GL) were used to affect leaf biomass production, flavonoid accumulation and related gene expression of one-year C. paliurus seedlings in controlled environments. After the treatments of 60 days, the highest leaf biomass appeared in the treatment of WL, while the lowest leaf biomass was found under GL. Compared to WL, the total flavonoid contents of C. paliurus leaves were significantly higher in BL, RL, and GL, but the highest values of selected flavonoids (kaempferol, isoquercitrin and quercetin) were observed under BL. Furthermore, the greatest yields of total and selected flavonoids in C. paliurus leaves per seedling were also achieved under BL, indicating that blue light was effective for inducing the production of flavonoids in C. paliurus leaves. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that there were significantly positive correlations between leaf flavonoid content and relative gene expression of key enzymes (phenylalanine ammonia lyase, PAL; 4-coumaroyl CoA-ligase, 4CL; and chalcone synthase, CHS) in the upstream, which converting phenylalanine into the flavonoid skeleton of tetrahydroxy chalcone. It is concluded that manipulating light quality may be potential mean to achieve the highest yields of flavonoids in C. paliurus cultivation, however this needs to be further verified by more field trials.

Enzyme-mediated photoinactivation of Enterococcus faecalis using Rose Bengal-acetate

Publication date: Available online 11 January 2018
Source:Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology
Author(s): Daniel Manoil, Norbert Lange, Serge Bouillaguet
Rose Bengal-acetate (RB-Ac) is a pro-photosensitizer claimed to diffuse into target cells, where the acetate groups are hydrolyzed and the photosensitizing properties of Rose Bengal (RB) are restored. Despite promising results on tumor cells, the interaction of RB-Ac with bacteria has never been investigated. This study aimed to assess the interaction of RB-Ac with Enterococcus faecalis and to evaluate its potential use in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT).Spectrofluorometry was used to assess the ability of E. faecalis to hydrolyze the RB-Ac compound. Fluorescence microscopy was employed to observe the distribution and to evaluate the cellular uptake of the RB produced. The antibacterial efficiency of RB-Ac-mediated aPDT was assessed by flow cytometry in combination with the LIVE/DEAD® staining.Results showed that RB-Ac was successfully hydrolyzed in the presence of E. faecalis cells. The RB produced appeared to incorporate the membrane of bacteria. Higher concentrations of RB-Ac resulted in higher incorporation of RB. The blue-light irradiation of RB-Ac-treated samples significantly reduced bacterial viability. <0.01% of E. faecalis survived after incubation with 200 μM RB-Ac during 900 min and blue-light activation.The current report indicates that E. faecalis cells can hydrolyze the RB-Ac compound to produce active RB. The use of RB-Ac did not appear to allow cytoplasmic internalization of the RB produced, which rather incorporated the membrane bilayers of E. faecalis. The use of RB-Ac did not provide additional advantages over RB in terms of PS localization. Nonetheless, sufficient RB was produced and incorporated into the membranes of bacteria to elicit effective aPDT.

Mixed microalgae consortia growth under higher concentration of CO2 from unfiltered coal fired flue gas: Fatty acid profiling and biodiesel production

Publication date: Available online 11 January 2018
Source:Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology
Author(s): Ambreen Aslam, Skye R. Thomas-Hall, Maleeha Manzoor, Faiza Jabeen, Munawar Iqbal, Qamar uz Zaman, Peer M. Schenk, M. Asif Tahir
Biodiesel is produced by transesterification of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) from oleaginous microalgae feedstock. Biodiesel fuel properties were studied and compared with biodiesel standards. Qualitative analysis of FAME was done while cultivating mixed microalgae consortian under three concentrations of coal fired flue gas (1%, 3.0% and 5.5% CO2). Under 1% CO2 concentration (flue gas), the FAME content were 280.3 μg/mL, whereas lipid content was 14.03 μg/mL/D (day). Both FAMEs and lipid contents were low at other CO2 concentrations (3.0 and 5.5%). However, mixed consortia in the presence of phosphate buffer and flue gas (PB + FG) showed higher saturated fatty acids (SFA) (36.28%) and unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) (63.72%) versus 5.5% CO2 concentration, which might be responsible for oxidative stability of biodiesel. Subsequently, higher cetane number (52) and low iodine value (136.3 gI2/100 g) biodiesel produced from mixed consortia (PB + FG) under 5.5% CO2 along with 50 mM phosphate buffer were found in accordance with European (EN 14214) standard. Results revealed that phosphate buffer significantly enhanced the biodiesel quality, but reduce the FAME yield. This study intended to develop an integrated approach for significant improvement in biodiesel quality under surplus phosphorus by utilizing waste flue gas (as CO2 source) using microalgae. The CO2 sequestration from industrial flue gas not only reduced greenhouse gases, but may also ensure the sustainable and eco-benign production of biodiesel.

Graphical abstract

Preparation and characterization of biocompatible silver nanoparticles using pomegranate peel extract

Publication date: Available online 10 January 2018
Source:Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology
Author(s): Majid Nasiriboroumand, Majid Montazer, Hossein Barani
The potential application of any nanoparticles, including silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), strongly depends on their stability against aggregation. In the current study, an aqueous extract of pomegranate peel was used as a stabilizer during synthesis of AgNPs. Nanoparticles have been prepared by the chemical reduction method from an aqueous solution of silver nitrate in the presence of sodium borohydride as a reducing agent. The AgNPs were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta-potential measurements, UV–Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The antibacterial efficiency of AgNPs against Escherichia coli was investigated. The size, polydispersity index, FWHM, and colloidal stability of nanoparticles in dispersion depends on the extract concentrations. In the presence of pomegranate peel extract, the nanoparticles suspension shows colloidal stability at least for a week. Our studies show that AgNPs synthesized with the above described procedure were stable at pH = 3–12 and in the temperature range of 25–85 °C. Additionally, AgNPs exhibit antibacterial properties, especially at the lowest amount of extract to silver ratio (KExtract/Ag).

The importance of monochromatic lights in the production of phenolic acids and flavonoids in shoot cultures of Aronia melanocarpa, Aronia arbutifolia and Aronia × prunifolia

Publication date: Available online 10 January 2018
Source:Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology
Author(s): Agnieszka Szopa, Anna Starzec, Halina Ekiert
Shoot cultures of Aronia melanocarpa, A. arbutifolia and A. × prunifolia were maintained on Murashige and Skoog medium with 1 mg/l each of BA and NAA under monochromatic lights (far-red, red, blue lights, UV-A-irradiation), in darkness, and under white light (control). HPLC-DAD analyses of 19 phenolic acids and 11 flavonoids in methanolic extracts from the shoots revealed in all of them the presence of three depsides (chlorogenic, neochlorogenic and rosmarinic acids), protocatechuic acid, four flavonoid glycosides (cynaroside, quercitrin, hyperoside and rutoside), and additionally, in A. arbutifolia, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid. Depending on light quality, the total amounts of these metabolites increased 1.8–5.9 times, reaching maximum values under blue light: 527.40 and 144.61 mg 100 g⁻¹ DW (A. melanocarpa), 543.27 and 85.82 mg 100 g⁻¹ DW (A. arbutifolia) and 1615.18 and 220.65 mg 100 g⁻¹ DW (A. × prunifolia), respectively. The maximum total amounts were 1.3–3.6 times higher than under white light. The quantities of individual metabolites changed from 1.2 to 11.0 times, with high amounts of neochlorogenic acid and quercitrin in A. melanocarpa (243.35 and 75.64 mg 100 g⁻¹ DW), and of chlorogenic and rosmarinic acids and quercitrin in A. arbutifolia (236.52, 219.35 and 51.01 mg 100 g⁻¹ DW). Extremely high amounts of depsides (418.83, 644.68, 548.86 mg 100 g⁻¹ DW) and quercitrin (165.88 mg 100 g⁻¹ DW) were produced in cultures of the hybrid - A. × prunifolia. The results are potentially useful for practical applications. This is the first report documented the importance of light quality on the production of phenolic acids and flavonoids in three aronia in vitro cultures.

Editorial Board

Publication date: January 2018
Source:Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, Volume 178

Professional quality of life, wellness education, and coping strategies among emergency physicians

Abstract

Professional quality of life (ProQOL) is affected by and affects professional well-being and performance. The objectives of this study are to identify risk factors of ProQOL among EM physicians in Zagazig University hospitals (ZUHs), to detect the relationship between ProQOL and coping strategies, and to measure the implication of the Worksite Wellness Education (WWE) program on improving knowledge skills, ProQOL, and coping. An intervention study was conducted among 108 EM physicians at ZUHs through two stages: assessing ProQOL subscales (CS, BO, and STS) and coping strategies and conducting the WWE program. A pre–post-test design was used in the evaluation. CS was higher among the older age group, smokers, nighttime sleepers, and hobbies' practitioners. Coping strategies carried out by EM physicians to overcome stress and their ProQOL scores were improved significantly post program. ProQOL has multiple factors that affect it. Applying the WWE program will address this concept and may raise awareness about how to cope with work stressors.