Variant-specific effects of GBA1 mutations on dopaminergic neuron proteostasis.

Glucocerebrosidase 1 (GBA1) mutations are the most important genetic risk factors for Parkinson's disease (PD). Clinically, mild (e.g., p.N370S) and severe (e.g., p.L444P and p.D409H) GBA1 mutations have different PD phenotypes, with differences in age at disease onset, progression, and the severity of motor and non-motor symptoms. We hypothesize that GBA1 mutations cause the accumulation of α-synuclein by affecting the cross-talk between cellular protein degradation mechanisms, leading to neurodegeneration. Accordingly, we tested whether mild and severe GBA1 mutations differentially affect the degradation of α-synuclein via the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA), and macroautophagy and differentially cause accumulation and/or release of α-synuclein. Our results demonstrate that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and total ubiquitination rates were significantly increased in cells with severe GBA1 mutations. CMA was found to be defective in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived dopaminergic neurons with mild GBA1 mutations, but not in those with severe GBA1 mutations. When examining macroautophagy, we observed reduced formation of autophagosomes in cells with the N370S and D409H GBA1 mutations and impairments in autophagosome-lysosome fusion in cells with the L444P GBA1 mutation. Accordingly, severe GBA1 mutations were found to trigger the accumulation and release of oligomeric α-synuclein in iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons, primarily as a result of increased ER stress and defective macroautophagy, while mild GBA1 mutations affected CMA, which is mainly responsible for the degradation of the monomeric form of α-synuclein. Overall, our findings provide new insight into the molecular basis of the clinical variability in PD associated with different GBA1 mutations.

Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on general surgery trauma surgeries: a single-center, retrospective cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the impact of trauma surgeries performed in our clinic before and during the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical indications, procedure types, perioperative course, and final outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective single-center clinical study. The study group (n=88) comprised trauma patients who presented to the emergency department during the COVID-19 pandemic and underwent emergency surgeries. The control group (n=115) consisted of trauma patients who sought emergency care and underwent surgeries in the same period of the previous year, before the pandemic. We compared the number of patients, demographic data, clinical findings, diagnoses, and surgical interventions. RESULTS: The study group exhibited a 13.3% decrease in the number of patients compared to the control group during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study group and control group had similar age and gender distributions. The study group had a lower rate of surgical intervention. Among the study group, liver laceration was the most common diagnosis in 19 patients (7.4%), compared to 30 patients (11.7%) in the control group. Mortality rates were 1.0% in the study group and 2.0% in the control group. There were no significant differences in mortality (p=0.632) or patient diagnoses (p=0.357) between the COVID-19 pandemic and control periods. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a decline in the number of trauma patients admitted to the hospital and undergoing surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has affected the management of patients requiring urgent surgical intervention, resulting in a lower rate of surgical procedures in the study group. However, despite the preference for medical treatment in trauma patients, surgical interventions remain necessary for appropriate indications.

The Age-Dependent Role of Th22, Tc22, and Tc17 Cells in the Severity of Pneumonia in COVID-19 Immunopathogenesis.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has clinical manifestations ranging from mild symptoms to respiratory failure, septic shock, and multi-organ failure. Lymphocytes are divided into different subtypes based on their cytokine production pattern. In this study, we investigated the role of cytokine expressions of CD4+ T (T helper [Th]1, Th2, Th17, Th22) and CD8+ T cell subtypes (T cytotoxic [Tc]1, Tc2, Tc17, Tc22) in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were extracted with Ficoll by density gradient centrifugation from blood samples of 180 COVID-19 patients (children and adults) and 30 healthy controls. PBMCs were stimulated with PMA and Ionomycin and treated with Brefeldin A in the fourth hour, and a 10-colored monoclonal antibody panel was evaluated at the end of the sixth hour using flow cytometry. According to our findings, the numbers of Th22 (CD3+, CD4+, and interleukin [IL]-22+) and Tc22 (CD3+, CD8+, IL-22+) cells increased in adult patients regardless of the level of pneumonia (mild, severe, or symptom-free) as compared with healthy controls (p < 0.05). In addition, the number of Tc17 (CD3+, CD8+, and IL-17A+) cells increased in low pneumonia and severe pneumonia groups compared with the healthy controls (p < 0.05). Both IL-22 and IL-17A production decreased during a follow-up within 6 weeks of discharge. Our findings suggest that the increase in only IL-22 expressed Tc22 cells in the 0-12 age group with a general symptom-free course and higher levels of Th22 and Tc22 in uncomplicated adult cases may indicate the protective effect of IL-22. On the contrary, the association between the severity of pneumonia and the elevation of Tc17 cells in adults may reveal the damaging effect of IL-22 when it is co-expressed with IL-17.

Evaluating the effect of tumor size and sidedness on prognosis in stage 2 colon cancer: a retrospective population study.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of tumor size and tumor sidedness on prognosis in patients with stage 2 colon cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data of 501 patients diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer were evaluated retrospectively. It was evaluated whether the patients' age, gender, tumor differentiation, tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, overall survival rate, and disease-free survival rate had any correlation with horizontal tumor diameter and tumor sidedness. In the ROC analysis performed to determine the cut-off value for the tumor diameter, which we think will predict survival, no significant results were obtained with maximum sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, the median value of the tumor diameter, which is 5 cm, was accepted as the cut-off value.  Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used for survival analysis and determination of prognostic factors. RESULTS: When the patients were evaluated in terms of tumor localization, 189 (37.7%) patients had right colon tumors and 312 (62.3%) patients had left colon tumors. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of disease-free survival and overall survival according to tumor localization. When the patients were analyzed by dividing them into two groups according to the horizontal tumor size (<5 cm and ≥5 cm), no statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) p=0.085, p=0.699, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the management of patients with stage 2 colon cancer requires a better understanding of tumor biology rather than features such as tumor size and localization.

Assessment of CD39 expression in regulatory T-cell subsets by disease severity in adult and juvenile COVID-19 cases.

COVID-19 is a disease characterized by acute respiratory failure and is a major health problem worldwide. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of CD39 expression in Treg cell subsets in COVID-19 immunopathogenesis and its relationship to disease severity. One hundred and ninety COVID-19 patients (juveniles, adults) and 43 volunteers as healthy controls were enrolled in our study. Flow cytometric analysis was performed using a 10-color monoclonal antibody panel from peripheral blood samples. In adult patients, CD39+ Tregs increased with disease severity. In contrast, CD39+ Tregs were decreased in juvenile patients in an age-dependent manner. Overall, our study reveals an interesting profile of CD39-expressing Tregs in adult and juvenile cases of COVID-19. Our results provide a better understanding of the possible role of Tregs in the mechanism of immune response in COVID-19 cases.

Asprosin and Oxidative Stress Level in COVID-19 Patients.

BACKGROUND: The global COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has created great problems in healthcare systems throughout the world. Although, just like other respiratory tract viral infections, it is a disease with pathophysiological processes associated in general with cytokine production, inflammation, cell death, and redox imbalance or oxidative stress, very little is known about the pathology. Also, in recent studies, the effect of asprosin, which has an important and complex role on metabolism, on COVID-19 is unknown. The aim of this study is to determine the level of asprosin, a new hormone that has the potential to affect many metabolic pathways such as glucose metabolism, in COVID-19 patients. In addition, it is to determine whether asprosin is associated with oxidative stress in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: Blood samples were taken from 30 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 confirmed with RT-PCR test and 30 healthy control subjects. The serum asprosin level was analyzed with ELISA, and total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) levels with colorimetric analysis. RESULTS: The asprosin and TAS levels were determined to be statistically significantly decreased in the COVID-19 patients, and the TOS and OSI levels were significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: It can be thought that a decrease in asprosin level in COVID-19 patients causes a decrease in metabolic activity, prevents sufficient energy production in patients, and therefore oxidative stress increases in patients.

Prognostic role of pre-operative serum ferritin level in stage 2 colon cancer.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of preoperative serum ferritin level in patients with stage 2 colon cancer who underwent curative surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data of 120 patients who were stage 2 after curative surgery and whose ferritin levels were measured at the time of diagnosis without starting any treatment were analyzed. Demographic data such as age and gender, histopathological characteristics such as tumor size, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), perineural invasion (PNI), number of removed lymph nodes, tumor grade, and clinical and laboratory data were retrieved from the hospital medical charts or electronic medical records. In the survival analysis, the cut-off level of ferritin was accepted as 150 ng/ml, which is the upper limit determined by the World Health Organization (WHO), as a prognostic factor. RESULTS: Fifty (41.7%) of the patients were female, 70 (58.3%) were male, and the median age was 63.5 (range 24-90) years. There was no significant difference between the low and high ferritin groups regarding age, gender, T stage, tumor localization, histological subtype, PNI, LVI, removal of less than 12 lymph nodes, and tumor size. Disease-free survival and overall survival of patients with high ferritin levels were worse than patients with low ferritin levels, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Serum ferritin level is an easily monitored, cost-effective, and reproducible marker. In this study we found that high ferritin level was associated with poor survival, although it was not statistically significant.

Oxidative DNA Damage Is Increased in Living Kidney Donors.

BACKGROUND: Long-term consequences of donor nephrectomy might be reduced kidney function, increased risk for cardiovascular disease, and impaired quality of life. The purpose of the current cross-sectional study was to evaluate the relationship between clinical, laboratory, and donation-specific outcomes of living kidney donors and systemic oxidative DNA damage. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study and assessed retrospectively pre- and postdonation data from 60 donors who donated between 2010 and 2015. Plasma malondialdehyde levels and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine/deoxyguanosine ratio (8-OHdG/dG ratio) were determined as oxidative stress markers. Catalase, carbonic anhydrase, and paraoxonase (PON) activities were measured as antioxidants. RESULTS: Approximately 3 years after donation, the hypertensive donor ratio was 12%, and 11% of the donors had glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Mean serum urea (P = .001) and serum creatinine levels (P = .001) were increased; creatinine clearance level (126.2 ± 35.5 vs 94.6 ± 26.8, P = .001) was decreased in the postdonation period. There was a significant positive correlation between predonation serum urea and 8-0HdG/dG ratio (r = 0.338, P = .016) and predonation serum creatinine and 8-0HdG/dG ratio (r = 0.442, P = .001), while there was a significant negative correlation between serum creatinine and PON activity (r = -0.545, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Our data have demonstrated that kidney donors exhibit increased oxidative DNA damage and decreased antioxidant activity. We propose that predonation serum creatinine is positively correlated with 8-0HdG/dG ratio and negatively correlated with antioxidant PON activity. This is the first study to demonstrate that plasma oxidative DNA damage increases in healthy kidney donors.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function in traumatic spinal cord injury-related neuropathic pain: a case-control study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in spinal cord injury (SCI)-related neuropathic pain (NP) using dynamic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation tests. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted with 22 patients diagnosed with traumatic chronic spinal cord injury (15 with and 7 without neuropathic pain) and ten age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. Collected data included socio-demographic variables, SCI characteristics, and level of NP using a numeric rating scale (NRS) and the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs pain scale (LANSS). HPA axis function was measured via low-dose (1 µg) and standard-dose (250 µg) ACTH tests (LDT and SDT, respectively). RESULTS: No significant differences existed regarding peak cortisol responses or area under the curve (AUC) of cortisol responses between the SCI patients with NP and healthy controls using LDT and SDT. In the SCI patients without pain, cortisol responses were significantly lower than those in the healthy controls for LDT and SDT. Peak cortisol and AUC responses of the LDT and SDT were positively correlated with NRS in SCI patients with NP. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that, in chronic SCI patients with NP, basal cortisol levels are relatively higher compared to healthy controls, and that HPA axis can be activated with low- and standard-dose ACTH stimulation tests. Although NP following SCI was not significantly associated with hypo- or hypercortisolemia, either after low- or standard-dose ACTH stimulation test, the severity of NP during chronic SCI may be positively associated with HPA axis activity.

Pertuzumab, trastuzumab and taxane-based treatment for visceral organ metastatic, trastuzumab-naïve breast cancer: real-life practice outcomes.

PURPOSE: In this study, we aimed to describe the real-life practice outcomes of pertuzumab-trastuzumab-taxane (PTT) combination in visceral organ metastatic, trastuzumab-naive breast cancer (BC) patients. METHODS: This study was conducted by Turkish Oncology Group and included 317 patients' data from 36 centers. RESULTS: Median age was 51 (22-82). Median PFS was 28.5 months, while median OS was 40.3 months. Patients with brain metastases (n: 13, 4.1%) had worse PFS (16.8 m vs. 28.5 m; p = 0.002) and OS (26.7 m vs. 40.3 m; p = 0.009). Patients older than 65 years of age (n: 42, 13.2%) had significantly lower OS results (19.8 m vs. 40.3 m; p = 0.01). Two hundred sixty-eight patients (86.7%) received docetaxel while 37 patients (11.7%) received paclitaxel. PFS and OS were similar between taxane groups. In eight patients (2.5%), 5-40% ejection fraction decrement from baseline was detected without any clinical sign of heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: Our RLP trial included only visceral metastatic, trastuzumab-naïve BC patients including cases with brain involvement who received PTT combination in the first-line treatment. Regardless of negative prognostic characteristics, our results are in parallel with pivotal trial. Further strategies for brain metastasis should be developed to improve outcomes despite encouraging results with PTT treatment. Taxane selection can be personalized and endocrine maintenance may further improve outcomes after taxanes were discontinued. To our knowledge, this is the largest scale real-life clinical practice study of pertuzumab-trastuzumab-taxane therapy to date.

Evaluation of Cases of Graft Nephrectomy After Graft Loss in Patients With Renal Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Renal transplantation is undoubtedly considered the best renal replacement therapy. Graft nephrectomy can be performed in patients with renal transplantation because of complications associated with the failed graft. We aimed to retrospectively investigate the characteristics of patients who underwent graft nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2000 and November 2013, the records of 757 patients who had renal transplantation in Ege University Faculty of Medicine Hospital Nephrology-Transplantation outpatient clinic were examined. Sixty-four patients who underwent graft nephrectomy were included in the study. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the timing of graft nephrectomy. The group of 30 patients who underwent graft nephrectomy in the first 56 days after the renal transplantation was referred to as the "early group" and the group of 34 patients who underwent graft nephrectomy after 56 days was referred to as "late group." RESULTS: In our study, we found the body mass index to be significantly higher in those with early graft loss (P = .02). We found that there was a difference between the groups in terms of sex (P = .012). When the mortality and morbidity rates after graft nephrectomy were examined, mortality was observed in 3 of the 64 patients in the study and morbidity in 1 patient. CONCLUSION: According to our study, the body mass indices and ages of the subjects who need early graft nephrectomy are higher. However, male sex was significantly more prevalent in patients who underwent graft nephrectomy in the late period compared with the early period.

Do the trace elements play a role in the etiopathogenesis of developmental dysplasia of hip?

OBJECTIVE: Alterations in the connective tissue of the hip joint capsule and ligaments might account for the increased laxity seen in patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip. The tensile features of the connective tissue depend on collagen. A number of prior studies have noted the association between the trace elements and collagen biosynthesis. The aim of this research is to determine whether there exists an association between the trace elements and developmental dysplasia of the hip. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This investigation included 27 patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (18 females and nine males; mean age 24.3 ± 6.3 months, range 18­36 months) and 26 healthy controls (15 females and 11 males; mean age 23.8 ± 5.4 months, range 18-36 months). The levels of the serum trace elements in the groups were statistically compared. RESULTS: The Cu levels of the patients with developmental dysplasia of hip were statistically higher than those of the control group (p<0.05). The Zn, Fe, Mg, and Mn levels of the patients with developmental dysplasia of hip were statistically lower than those of the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We found an association between developmental dysplasia of the hip and the serum trace element levels. We, therefore, believe that the trace element levels may shed light on the etiopathogenesis of developmental dysplasia of the hip. This work should be supported by future studies concerning the causes of the alterations in the serum trace element levels seen in patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip.

Increased Oxidative Stress in Living Kidney Donors: Correlation of Renal Functions With Antioxidant Capacity.

BACKGROUND: Substantial attention has recently been paid to the possibility of an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in living kidney donors. It has been demonstrated that CKD patients suffer from increased oxidative stress, which have been reported to show a strong association with several clinical problems such as accelerated atherosclerosis. The purpose of the current cross-sectional, single-center study was to evaluate the relationship between renal functions of living kidney donors and systemic oxidative stress. METHODS: A total of 55 living kidney donors operated at least 1 year ago and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were enrolled in this study. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined as oxidative stress marker. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were measured as antioxidants. Renal function parameters and proteinuria were also assessed. RESULTS: Mean serum creatinine levels were higher (P = .022) and 24-hour creatinine clearance was lower (P = .016) in living kidney donors compared with healthy controls. Serum MDA levels were higher (P = .034), and SOD and GPx activities were lower (P = .023 and P < .001, respectively). There was a significant positive correlation between serum GPx activity and 24-hour creatinine clearance levels (r = 0.524, P < .01). A linear regression analysis showed that serum GPx activity was still significantly and positively correlated with creatinine clearance (regression coefficient = 0.416, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that living kidney donors exhibit slightly reduced kidney function, increased oxidative stress, and decreased antioxidant activity. We propose that 24-hour creatinine clearance is positively correlated with antioxidant enzyme GPx. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the association between renal functions and antioxidant activity in kidney donors.

Serum paraoxonase activity and oxidative stress levels in patients with cutaneous anthrax.

INTRODUCTION: Anthrax is a bacterial disease caused by the aerobic sporeforming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It has been suggested that oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of B. anthracis. The aim of this study was to investigate serum paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity, catalase activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in patients with cutaneous anthrax. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients with cutaneous anthrax and 15 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The serum MDA levels, SOD levels, paraoxonase, arylesterase, and catalase activities were measured using a spectrophotometer. RESULTS: The serum SOD levels, paraoxonase, arylesterase, and catalase activities were significantly lower in patients with cutaneous anthrax than in controls (for all, p < 0.001), whereas MDA levels were significantly higher ( p < 0.001). No significant correlation was found between serum paraoxonase activity, arylesterase activity, SOD levels, and MDA levels (all, p > 0.05) in patients with cutaneous anthrax. CONCLUSIONS: The current study was the first to show decreased antioxidant levels and increased oxidant levels in patients with cutaneous anthrax. Therefore, decreased PON1 activity may play a role in the pathogenesis of cutaneous anthrax.

Neutrophil volume distribution width as a new marker in detecting inflammatory bowel disease activation.

INTRODUCTION: We sought to investigate the value of neutrophil volume distribution width in detecting inflammatory bowel disease activation. METHODS: Patients with infection and accompanying inflammatory disease were excluded. All the patients were diagnosed and classified according to Porto criteria and Paris classification, respectively. Physician global assessment, pediatric Crohn's disease and pediatric ulcerative colitis activity indexes and fecal calprotectin were used to define disease activation. RESULTS: A total of 34 pediatric patients with Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and 29 controls were enrolled in the study. Neutrophil volume distribution width (NVDW) was significantly higher in patients with IBD compared to healthy controls (P < 0.001). An increased NVDW level was observed in IBD patients in activation (22.42 ± 2.13) compared to those in remission (19.22 ± 1.63) (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between IBD patients in remission and healthy controls. The best cutoff of NVDW for prediction of disease activation in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in this series was 20.39 with a sensitivity of 90.9% and a specificity of 75% (AUC: 0.852 CI: 0.698-1.000 P < 0.001) and 19.74 with a sensitivity of 92.9% and a specificity of 90.9% (AUC: 0.961, CI: 0.889-1.000, P < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: As a quantitative, objective, and sensitive parameter, we believe that the NVDW has a potential to be an additional test detecting disease activation in IBD.

Fluorescent Heterodoped Nanotetrapods as Synergistically Enhancing Positive and Negative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agents.

In this work, we report Mn-Fe heterodoped ZnSe tetrapod nanocrystals (NCs) synthesized to synergistically enhance contrast in both T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The proposed NCs were prepared using a customized heteroarchitecture such that the manganese (Mn) is confined in the core and iron (Fe) in the branches of the tetrapods. The elemental composition and profile of these NCs were studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. Photoluminescence quantum yield of these heterodoped NCs in water is ∼30%. Magnetic measurements reveal the simultaneous presence of superparamagnetic and paramagnetic behavior in these NCs because of the coexistence of Mn(2+) and Fe(2+) dopants. Their potential as simultaneous positive and negative MRI contrast agents was demonstrated by relaxivity measurements and in vivo MRI. From the in vivo studies, we also found that these NCs (with a hydrodynamic diameter of 20 nm) are excreted from the body within 24 h after the injection. Therefore, these heterodoped tetrapods NCs, while being fluorescent and safe, hold great future as a synergistically enhancing dual-modal MRI contrast agent.

Acute intestinal obstruction due to a non-involuted uterus after cesarean section: case report.

The involution of the uterus is influenced by a number of factors such as advanced childbearing age, electrolyte disturbances, multiparity, repeated cesarean sections, and vaginal infections. The authors report the management of a clinical case of a 41-year-old female who presented with acute intestinal obstruction due to a non-involuted uterus after cesarean section.

Flexible and fragmentable tandem photosensitive nanocrystal skins.

We proposed and demonstrated the first account of large-area, semi-transparent, tandem photosensitive nanocrystal skins (PNSs) constructed on flexible substrates operating on the principle of photogenerated potential buildup, which avoid the need for applying an external bias and circumvent the current-matching limitation between junctions. We successfully fabricated and operated the tandem PNSs composed of single monolayers of colloidal water-soluble CdTe and CdHgTe nanocrystals (NCs) in adjacent junctions on a Kapton polymer tape. Owing to the usage of a single NC layer in each junction, noise generation was significantly reduced while keeping the resulting PNS films considerably transparent. In each junction, photogenerated excitons are dissociated at the interface of the semi-transparent Al electrode and the NC layer, with holes migrating to the contact electrode and electrons trapped in the NCs. As a result, the tandem PNSs lead to an open-circuit photovoltage buildup equal to the sum of those of the two single junctions, exhibiting a total voltage buildup of 128.4 mV at an excitation intensity of 75.8 µW cm(-2) at 350 nm. Furthermore, we showed that these flexible PNSs could be bent over 3.5 mm radius of curvature and cut out in arbitrary shapes without damaging the operation of individual parts and without introducing any significant loss in the total sensitivity. These findings indicate that the NC skins are promising as building blocks to make low-cost, flexible, large-area UV/visible sensing platforms with highly efficient full-spectrum conversion.

The activities of serum paraoxonase and arylesterase and lipid profile in acute myeloid leukemia: preliminary results.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the activities of serum paraoxonase-1 (PON1) and arylesterase (ARE), and the lipid profile in newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two persons (16 of AML and 16 of healthy control) were included to the study. PON1 and ARE activities were measured as spectrophotometrically in serum samples. High density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) were analyzed in autoanalyzer. RESULTS: PON1 activities were respectively 16.04 U/L and 18.6 U/L in AML and healthy controls. There was no statistical significance between groups (p > 0.05). The mean ARE activities were respectively 0.21 U/L and 0.36 U/L in AML and healthy controls. Serum ARE activity significantly decreased in AML group (p < 0.001). Serum HDL values were significantly decreased (181.8 ± 76.2 mg/dl; p = 0.002) in AML. There was no difference in total cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride values (respectively; 181.8 ± 76.2 mg/dl, 120.6 ± 64.6 mg/dl, 157.3 ± 87.2 mg/dl; p > 0.05) between AML and controls. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first documented study about serum PON1 activity in AML patients. Although serum PON1 activities were not changed in both groups, our data suggest that the decreased serum ARE activity and HDL levels may be related the pathogenesis of AML.

Highly monodisperse low-magnetization magnetite nanocubes as simultaneous T(1)-T(2) MRI contrast agents.

We report the first study of highly monodisperse and crystalline iron oxide nanocubes with sub-nm controlled size distribution (9.7 ± 0.5 nm in size) that achieve simultaneous contrast enhancement in both T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Here, we confirmed the magnetite structure of iron oxide nanocubes by X-ray diffraction (XRD), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern, optical absorption and Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectra. These magnetite nanocubes exhibit superparamagnetic and paramagnetic behavior simultaneously by virtue of their finely controlled shape and size. The magnetic measurements reveal that the magnetic moment values are favorably much lower because of the small size and cubic shape of the nanoparticles, which results in an enhanced spin canting effect. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, we showed their potential as dual contrast agents for both T1- and T2-weighted MRI via phantom studies, in vivo imaging and relaxivity measurements. Therefore, these low-magnetization magnetite nanocubes, while being non-toxic and bio-compatible, hold great promise as excellent dual-mode T1 and T2 contrast agents for MRI.