In vitro evaluation of ruthenium complexes for photodynamic therapy

Publication date: Available online 11 February 2017
Source:Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy
Author(s): Wenna Li, Qiang Xie, Linglin Lai, Zhentao Mo, Xiaofang Peng, Ennian Leng, Dandan Zhang, Hongxia Sun, Yiqi Li, Wenjie Mei, Shuying Gao
BackgroundPhotodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising new anti-tumor treatment strategy. Photosensitizer is one of the most important components of PDT. In this work, the anticancer activities of PDTs mediated by six new ruthenium porphyrin complexes were screened. The mechanisms of the most efficacious candidate were investigated.MethodsPhotocytotoxicity of the six porphyrins was tested. The most promising complex, Rup-03, was further investigated using Geimsa staining, which indirectly detects reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subcellular localization. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), cell apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, c-Myc gene expression, and telomerase activities were also assayed.ResultsRup-03 and Rup-04 had the lowest IC50 values. Rup-03 had an IC50 value of 29.5±2.3μM in HepG2 cells and 59.0±6.1μM in RAW264.7 cells, while Rup-04 had an IC50 value of 40.0±3.8μM in SGC-7901 cells. The complexes also induced cellular morphological changes and impaired cellular ability to scavenge ROS, and accumulated preferentially in mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. Rup-03 reduced MMP levels, induced apoptosis, and repressed both c-Myc mRNA expression and telomerase activity in HepG2 cells.ConclusionsAmong six candidates, Rup-03-mediated PDT is most effective against HepG2 and RAW264.7, with a similar efficacy as that of Rup-04-mediated PDT against SGC-7901 cells. Repression of ROS scavenging activities and c-Myc expression, which mediated DNA damage-induced cell apoptosis and repression of telomerase activity, respectively, were found to be involved in the anticancer mechanisms of Rup-03.



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Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) for Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Tracheo-Bronchial tree; Report of 4 cases

Publication date: Available online 11 February 2017
Source:Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy
Author(s): Keyvan Moghissi, Kate Dixon




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Kinetics of plasma biomarkers of inflammation and lung injury in surgical patients with or without postoperative pulmonary complications.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) are common after major abdominal surgery. The kinetics of plasma biomarkers could improve identification of patients developing PPCs, but the kinetics may depend on intraoperative ventilator settings. OBJECTIVE: To test whether the kinetics of plasma biomarkers are capable of identifying patients who will develop PPCs, and whether the kinetics depend on the intraoperative level of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). DESIGN: A preplanned substudy of a randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Operation room of five centres. PATIENTS: Two hundred and forty-two adult patients scheduled for abdominal surgery at risk of developing PPCs. INTERVENTIONS: High (12 cmH2O) versus low (

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European Society of Anaesthesiology evidence-based and consensus-based guidelines on postoperative delirium.

The purpose of this guideline is to present evidence-based and consensus-based recommendations for the prevention and treatment of postoperative delirium. The cornerstones of the guideline are the preoperative identification and handling of patients at risk, adequate intraoperative care, postoperative detection of delirium and management of delirious patients. The scope of this guideline is not to cover ICU delirium. Considering that many medical disciplines are involved in the treatment of surgical patients, a team-based approach should be implemented into daily practice. This guideline is aimed to promote knowledge and education in the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative setting not only among anaesthesiologists but also among all other healthcare professionals involved in the care of surgical patients. (C) 2017 European Society of Anaesthesiology

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Competition assays revealed Paenibacillus pasadenensis strain R16 as a novel antifungal agent

Publication date: Available online 10 February 2017
Source:Microbiological Research
Author(s): Alessandro Passera, Giovanni Venturini, Giovanna Battelli, Paola Casati, Francesca Penaca, Fabio Quaglino, Piero Attilio Bianco
The development of new sustainable containment strategies of plant diseases is very important to guarantee food security while reducing the environmental impact of agriculture. Research of new biocontrol agents is a long and difficult process that involves several steps that start from the identification of possible candidates which, for example, show antibiotic activities, and ends with in field, large scale trials. In this study, the plant growth promoting potential and antifungal effect exerted by a novel, putative candidate biocontrol agent, strain R16, identified as Paenibacillus pasadenensis by sequence analysis of 16S rRNA and rpoB genes, against three important plant pathogenic fungi (Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium verticillioides, and Phomopsis viticola), were assessed. Biochemical assays to determine plant growth promoting potential gave negative results for siderophore production and phosphate solubilization, and positive results for ACC-deamination and IAA production. Further biochemical assays for endophytic lifestyle and antifungal activity gave positive results for catalase and chitinase activity, respectively. In vitro antagonism assays showed that strain R16 is effective against B. cinerea, reducing mycelial growth both in dual-culture and through volatile substances, characterized to be mostly composed by farnesol, and inhibiting conidia germination. Good antagonistic potential was also observed in vitro towards P. viticola, but not towards F. verticillioides. Moreover, in vivo assays confirmed the strain R16 activity reduced the infection rate on B. cinerea-inoculated berries. The obtained results firstly proved that P. pasadenesis strain R16 is a putative plant growth promoter and effective against phytopathogenic fungi. Further studies will be needed to investigate the possible application of this strain as a biocontrol agent.



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Colonization and beneficial effects on annual ryegrass by mixed inoculation with plant growth promoting bacteria

Publication date: Available online 10 February 2017
Source:Microbiological Research
Author(s): Nádia L. Castanheira, Ana Catarina Dourado, Isabel Pais, José Semedo, Paula Scotti-Campos, Nuno Borges, Gilda Carvalho, Maria Teresa Barreto Crespo, Paula Fareleira
Multi-strain inoculants have increased potential to accomplish a diversity of plant needs, mainly attributed to its multi-functionality. This work evaluated the ability of a mixture of three bacteria to colonize and induce a beneficial response on the pasture crop annual ryegrass. Pseudomonas G1Dc10 and Paenibacillus G3Ac9 were previously isolated from annual ryegrass and were selected for their ability to perform multiple functions related to plant growth promotion. Sphingomonas azotifigens DSMZ 18530^T was included due to nitrogen fixing ability. The effects of the bacterial mixture were assessed in gnotobiotic plant inoculation assays and compared with single and dual inoculation treatments. Triple inoculation with 3×10⁸ bacteria significantly increased plant dry weight and leaf pigments, indicating improved photosynthetic performance. Plant lipid biosynthesis was enhanced by 65%, mainly due to the rise of linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid with high dietary value. Electrolyte leakage, an indicator of plant membrane stability under stress, was decreased pointing to a beneficial effect by inoculation. Plants physiological condition was more favoured by triple inoculation than by single, although benefits on biomass were only evident relative to non-inoculated plants. The colonization behaviour and coexistence in plant tissues were assessed using FISH and GFP-labelling, combined with confocal microscopy and a cultivation-based approach for quantification. The three strains occupied the same sites, localizing preferentially along root hairs and in stem epidermis. Endophytic colonization was observed as bacteria entered root and stem inner tissues. This study reveals the potential of this mixture of strains for biofertilization, contributing to improve crop productivity and nutritional value.

Graphical abstract

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Donkey's milk allergy

A 25 years-old woman, with a history of personal atopic dermatitis, allergic asthma and hay fever, experienced a facial angioedema 5 minutes after consuming fresh donkey's milk for the first time (Fig. 1). She developed dyspnea and collapsed after a few minutes. The patient required administration of adrenaline and corticosteroids. During her childhood, her atopic dermatitis was treated with different topical treatments including donkey's milk based emollients. She never presented reactions to this topical treatment and she had no history of food allergy.

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