Footprint Reduction of Sensor Control Modules for Remote Portable Laboratories.

Following the automation of monitoring systems for pollution levels in cities or protected nature reserves, there comes a need to increase the autonomy of robotic vectors deployed in the field. Thus, it is important to consider the weight that these robots must hold in order to be able to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the environment. A balance must be struck in the size, weight, and complexity of the mobile laboratories used for measurement and the autonomy of robots, especially given that current technology does not allow, in most cases, a completely autonomous battery charging cycle. Thus, in this paper, we consider a microcontroller-based architecture for a mobile laboratory control system that will be used for installation on both an aerial and an aquatic mobile vector. We found that such a system can be repurposed for several sensor types and configurations, thus being able to massively reduce the space allocated when compared to embedded widespread products.

Preparation and Antimicrobial Activity of Chitosan and Its Derivatives: A Concise Review.

Despite the advantages presented by synthetic polymers such as strength and durability, the lack of biodegradability associated with the persistence in the environment for a long time turned the attention of researchers to natural polymers. Being biodegradable, biopolymers proved to be extremely beneficial to the environment. At present, they represent an important class of materials with applications in all economic sectors, but also in medicine. They find applications as absorbers, cosmetics, controlled drug delivery, tissue engineering, etc. Chitosan is one of the natural polymers which raised a strong interest for researchers due to some exceptional properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, nontoxicity, non-antigenicity, low-cost and numerous pharmacological properties as antimicrobial, antitumor, antioxidant, antidiabetic, immunoenhancing. In addition to this, the free amino and hydroxyl groups make it susceptible to a series of structural modulations, obtaining some derivatives with different biomedical applications. This review approaches the physico-chemical and pharmacological properties of chitosan and its derivatives, focusing on the antimicrobial potential including mechanism of action, factors that influence the antimicrobial activity and the activity against resistant strains, topics of great interest in the context of the concern raised by the available therapeutic options for infections, especially with resistant strains.

Design, synthesis and the biological evaluation of new 1,3-thiazolidine-4-ones based on the 4-amino-2,3-dimethyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolin-5-one scaffold.

New thiazolidine-4-one derivatives based on the 4-aminophenazone (4-amino-2,3-dimethyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolin-5-one) scaffold have been synthesized as potential anti-inflammatory drugs. The pyrazoline derivatives are known especially for their antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, but recently there were synthesized new compounds with important antioxidant, antiproliferative, anticancer and antidiabetic activities. The beneficial effects of these compounds are explained by nonselective inhibition of cyclooxygenase izoenzymes, but also by their potential scavenging ability for reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. The structure of the new compounds was proved using spectroscopic methods (FR-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, MS). The in vitro antioxidant potential of the synthesized compounds was evaluated according to the ferric reducing antioxidant power, phosphomolydenum reducing antioxidant power, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays. The chemical modulation of 4-aminophenazone (6) through linkage to thiazolidine-propanoic acid derivatives 5a-l led to improved antioxidant potential, all derivatives 7a-l being more active than phenazone. The most active compounds are the derivatives 7e, and 7k, which showed the higher antioxidant effect depending on the antioxidant assay considered.

Experimentally Induced Burns in Rats Treated with Innovative Polymeric Films Type Therapies.

Considering that microbial resistance to antibiotics is becoming an increasingly widespread problem, burn management, which usually includes the use of topical antimicrobial dressings, is still facing difficulties regarding their efficiency to ensure rapid healing. In this context, the main objective of this research is to include new oxytetracycline derivatives in polymeric-film-type dressings for the treatment of wounds caused by experimentally induced burns in rats. The structural and physico-chemical properties of synthesized oxytetracycline derivatives and the corresponding membranes were analyzed by FT-IR and MS spectroscopy, swelling ability and biodegradation capacity. In vitro antimicrobial activity using Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains and pathogenic yeasts, along with an in vivo study of a burn wound model induced in Wistar rats, was also analyzed. The newly obtained polymeric films, namely chitosan-oxytetracycline derivative membranes, showed good antimicrobial activity noticed in the tested strains, a membrane swelling ratio (MSR) of up to 1578% in acidic conditions and a biodegradation rate of up to 15.7% on day 7 of testing, which are important required characteristics for the tissue regeneration process, after the production of a burn. The in vivo study proved that chitosan-derived oxytetracycline membranes showed also improved healing effects which contributes to supporting the idea of using them for the treatment of wounds caused by burns.

Chitosan Microparticles Loaded with New Non-Cytotoxic Isoniazid Derivatives for the Treatment of Tuberculosis: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.

Lately, in the world of medicine, the use of polymers for the development of innovative therapies seems to be a major concern among researchers. In our case, as a continuation of the research that has been developed so far regarding obtaining new isoniazid (INH) derivatives for tuberculosis treatment, this work aimed to test the ability of the encapsulation method to reduce the toxicity of the drug, isoniazid and its new derivatives. To achieve this goal, the following methods were applied: a structural confirmation of isoniazid derivatives using LC-HRMS/MS; the obtaining of microparticles based on polymeric support; the determination of their loading and biodegradation capacities; in vitro biocompatibility using MTT cell viability assays; and, last but not least, in vivo toxicological screening for the determination of chronic toxicity in laboratory mice, including the performance of a histopathological study and testing for liver enzymes. The results showed a significant reduction in tissue alterations, the disappearance of cell necrosis and microvesicular steatosis areas and lower values of the liver enzymes TGO, TGP and alkaline phosphatase when using encapsulated forms of drugs. In conclusion, the encapsulation of INH and INH derivatives with chitosan had beneficial effects, suggesting a reduction in hepatotoxicity and, therefore, the achievement of the aim of this paper.

An Overview of Biopolymeric Electrospun Nanofibers Based on Polysaccharides for Wound Healing Management.

Currently, despite the thoroughgoing scientific research carried out in the area of wound healing management, the treatment of skin injuries, regardless of etiology remains a big provocation for health care professionals. An optimal wound dressing should be nontoxic, non-adherent, non-allergenic, should also maintain a humid medium at the wound interfacing, and be easily removed without trauma. For the development of functional and bioactive dressings, they must meet different conditions such as: The ability to remove excess exudates, to allow gaseous interchange, to behave as a barrier to microbes and to external physical or chemical aggressions, and at the same time to have the capacity of promoting the process of healing by stimulating other intricate processes such as differentiation, cell adhesion, and proliferation. Over the past several years, various types of wound dressings including hydrogels, hydrocolloids, films, foams, sponges, and micro/nanofibers have been formulated, and among them, the electrospun nanofibrous mats received an increased interest from researchers due to the numerous advantages and their intrinsic properties. The drug-embedded nanofibers are the potential candidates for wound dressing application by virtue of: Superior surface area-to volume ratio, enormous porosity (can allow oxy-permeability) or reticular nano-porosity (can inhibit the microorganisms'adhesion), structural similitude to the skin extracellular matrix, and progressive electrospinning methodology, which promotes a prolonged drug release. The reason that we chose to review the formulation of electrospun nanofibers based on polysaccharides as dressings useful in wound healing was based on the ever-growing research in this field, research that highlighted many advantages of the nanofibrillary network, but also a marked versatility in terms of numerous active substances that can be incorporated for rapid and infection-free tissue regeneration. In this review, we have extensively discussed the recent advancements performed on electrospun nanofibers (eNFs) formulation methodology as wound dressings, and we focused as well on the entrapment of different active biomolecules that have been incorporated on polysaccharides-based nanofibers, highlighting those bioagents capable of improving the healing process. In addition, in vivo tests performed to support their increased efficacy were also listed, and the advantages of the polysaccharide nanofiber-based wound dressings compared to the traditional ones were emphasized.

New isoniazid derivatives with improved pharmaco-toxicological profile: Obtaining, characterization and biological evaluation.

Tuberculostatic drugs are the most common drug groups with global hepatotoxicity. Awareness of potentially severe hepatotoxic reactions is vital, as hepatic impairment can be a devastating and often fatal condition. The treatment problems that may arise, within this class of medicines, are mainly of two types: adverse reactions (collateral, toxic or hypersensitive reactions) and the initial or acquired resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to one or more antituberculosis drugs. Prevention of adverse reactions, increase treatment adherence and success rates, providing better control of tuberculosis (TB). In this regard, obtaining new drugs with low toxicity and high tuberculostatic potential is essential. Thus, in this work, we have designed or synthesized new derivatives of isoniazid (INH), such as new Isonicotinoylhydrazone (INH-a, INH-b and INH-c). These derivatives demonstrated good biocompatibility, antimicrobial property similar to that of parent isoniazid and last but not least, a significantly improved Pharmacotoxicological profile compared to that of isoniazid.

Preparation, Characterization and Wound Healing Effects of New Membranes Based on Chitosan, Hyaluronic Acid and Arginine Derivatives.

New membranes based on chitosan and chitosan-hyaluronic acid containing new arginine derivatives with thiazolidine-4-one scaffold have been prepared using the ionic cross-linking method. The presence of the arginine derivatives with thiazolidine-4-one scaffold into the polymer matrix was proved by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a micro-porous structure that is an important characteristic for the treatment of burns, favoring the exudate absorption, the rate of colonization, the cell structure, and the angiogenesis process. The developed polymeric membranes also showed good swelling degree, improved hydrophilicity, and biocompatibility in terms of surface free energy components, which supports their application for tissue regeneration. Moreover, the chitosan-arginine derivatives (CS-6h, CS-6i) and chitosan-hyaluronic acid-arginine derivative (CS-HA-6h) membranes showed good healing effects on the burn wound model induced to rats. For these membranes a complete reepithelialization was observed after 15 days of the experiment, which supports a faster healing process.

EVALUATION OF THE SYNTHESIS AND STRUCTURE OF NEW AZETIDIN-2-ONES OF FERULIC ACID.

AIM: To synthesize some new azetidin-2-ones of ferulic acid and to evaluate them from physicochemical and spectral point of view. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The synthesis was carried out in several steps: (i) obtaining the ferulic acid chloride; (ii) obtaining the ferulic acid hydrazide with hydrazine hydrate (98%); (iii) condensation of ferulic acid hydrazide with different benzaldehydes (2-hydroxy-/2-nitro-/4-chloro-/4- fluoro-/4-bromo-benzaldehyde) in order to obtain the corresponding hydrazones; (iv) cy- clization of ferulic acid hydrazones with chloroacethyl chloride in freshly distilled toluene medium and in the presence of triethylamine, resulting in the corresponding azetidin-2-ones. RESULTS: Six new azetidin-2-ones of ferulic acid were synthesized. They were characterized in terms of their physicochemical properties and their structure was confirmed by IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Six new azetidin-2-ones of ferulic acid were synthesized, physicochemically characterized and validated spectrally. A

Assessment of In Vitro Antioxidant activity of Some New Ferulic Acid Derivatives.

Aim: The in vitro antioxidant potential of new thiazolidin-4-one derivatives of ferulic acid was evaluated according to the total antioxidant activity and ferric reducing power assays. Material and Methods: The ferric reducing power assay was based on the reduction of ferricyanide to ferrocyanide, which form in the presence of ferric chloride a Perl Prussian blue color complex. The total antioxidant activity assay was assessed using phosphomolybdenum method. The results were expressed as effective concentration (EC50) values and ascorbic acid was used as positive control. All determinations were performed in triplicate. Results: It was found that the activity of the tested compounds is influenced by the substituents on phenyl ring of the thiazolidine-4-one moiety. The most active compound was 1i, which contains 2,3-diOH as substituent on phenyl ring. Conclusions: A total of 10 new thiazolidin-4-one derivatives of ferulic acid were investigated for their in vitro antioxidant activity. The most active compound 1i (R=2,3-diOH) proved to be about 4 times more active than ferulic acid and comparable to ascorbic acid in both antioxidant assays.

EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SOME IMINES DERIVATIVES OF L-ARGININE.

UNLABELLED: L-Arginine is an a-amino acid which plays important roles in different diseases or processes, such as Alzheimer disease, inflammatory process, healing and tissue regeneration and it also could be useful as an anti-atherosclerotic agent. AIM: Considering the large amount of studies on the beneficial effects of different antioxidants, this paper is focused on the evaluation of the antioxidant potential of some imine derivatives, synthesized by the authors and described in a previous article. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The evaluation of the antioxidant power was performed using phosphomolydenum-reducing antioxidant power (PRAP) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, tests described in the literature and which are used with some minor modifications. RESULTS: It was found that most of the imine derivatives are more active than the L-Arginine in the PPAP and FRAP assays. The most active derivative was the compound obtained by condensation of L-arginine with 2,3-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (2k) and 2-nitrobenzaldehyde (2g). CONCLUSIONS: Following the described protocol, some imine derivatives of L-arginine were evaluated in terms of antioxidant potential using in vitro methods. The most favorable influence was obtained by the aromatic substitution with nitro and hydroxyl, the corresponding derivatives being the most active derivatives compared to L-arginine.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new 1,3-thiazolidine-4-one derivatives of nitro-l-arginine methyl ester.

BACKGROUND: l-Arginine is a semi-essential aminoacid with important role in regulation of physiological processes in humans. It serves as precursor for the synthesis of proteins and is also substrate for different enzymes such as nitric oxide synthase. This amino-acid act as free radical scavenger, inhibits the activity of pro-oxidant enzymes and thus acts as an antioxidant and has also bactericidal effect against a broad spectrum of bacteria. RESULTS: New thiazolidine-4-one derivatives of nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (NO2-Arg-OMe) have been synthesized and biologically evaluated in terms of antioxidant and antibacterial/antifungal activity. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by (1)H, (13)C NMR, Mass and IR spectral data. The antioxidant potential was investigated using in vitro methods based on ferric/phosphomolybdenum reducing antioxidant power and DPPH/ABTS radical scavenging assay. The antibacterial effect was investigated against Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Sarcina lutea ATCC 9341) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853) bacterial strains. The antifungal activity was also investigated against Candida spp. (Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Candida glabrata ATCC MYA 2950, Candida parapsilosis ATCC 22019). CONCLUSIONS: Synthesized compounds showed a good antioxidant activity in comparison with the NO2-Arg-OMe. The antimicrobial results support the selectivity of tested compounds especially on P. aeruginosa as bacterial strain and C. parapsilosis as fungal strain. The most proper compounds were 6g (R = 3-OCH3) and 6h (R = 2-OCH3) which showed a high free radical (DPPH, ABTS) scavenging ability and 6j (R = 2-NO2) that was the most active on both bacterial and fungal strains and also it showed the highest ABTS radical scavenging ability.Graphical abstract1: ethyl 3-aminopropionate hydrochloride, 2a-j: aromatic aldehydes, 3: thioglycolic acid, 4a-j: thiazolidine-propionic acid derivatives , 5: Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride, 6a-j: thiazolidine-propionyl-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester derivatives.

[Trichromatic method Gomori in anatomopathologic study of ocular structure]. / Metoda tricroma Gömöri aplicata pe structurile globului ocular, sectiuni la parafina.

Histologic sections performed from the anterior and posterior pole of the eye were stained by the trichrome method described by Gomori. There are described details of the cornea and ciliary body in normal and pathologic conditions. There are discussed advantages of this method over routine stained slider, especially in the case of achromic melanoma.

Possibilities to acylate 7-aminocephalosporanic acid to obtain some cephalosporins.

AIM: Acylation of 7-aminocephalosporanic acid with an adequate acyl chloride in order to obtain cefotaxime sodium salt. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cefotaxime sodium salt was synthesized by acylating 7-amino cephalosporanic acid with 2-[2'-chloracetamidothiazole-4-yl]-2-(syn)-methoxy-imino acetic chloride in four steps. The melting point was determined, and IR spectral analysis and elemental analysis were performed to confirm cefotaxime structure. The quantitative determination was performed. RESULTS: The reaction conditions were established. The yield of the synthesis phases (73-80%) and actual yield (45-47%) were very good. The structure of the obtained cefotaxime sodium salt was confirmed by the IR spectral analysis and by elemental analysis (C, H, N). The melting point was 163 degrees C. The purity of the synthesized cefotaxime sodium salt was 98.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Cefotaxime sodium salt was synthesized by acylation of 7-aminocephalosporanic acid with 2-[2'-chloracetamidothiazole-4-yl]-2-(syn)-methoxy-imino acetic chloride, in aqueous solution, then transformed into sodium salt with sodium 2-ethylhexanoate. The method proved to be very good, yields were good, it is reproducible and simple, and does not involve high risks, so it is also safe.

Effects of Artemisia annua and Foeniculum vulgare on chickens highly infected with Eimeria tenella (phylum Apicomplexa).

BACKGROUND: Intensive poultry production systems depend on chemoprophylaxis with anticoccidial drugs to combat infection. A floor-pen study was conducted to evaluate the anticoccidial effect of Artemisia annua and Foeniculum vulgare on Eimeria tenella infection. Five experimental groups were established: negative control (untreated, unchallenged); positive control (untreated, challenged); a group medicated with 125 ppm lasalocid and challenged; a group medicated with A. annua leaf powder at 1.5% in feed and challenged; and a group treated with the mixed oils of A. annua and Foeniculum vulgare in equal parts, 7.5% in water and challenged. The effects of A. annua and oil extract of A. annua + F. vulgare on E. tenella infection were assessed by clinical signs, mortality, fecal oocyst output, faeces, lesion score, weight gain, and feed conversion. RESULTS: Clinical signs were noticed only in three chickens from the lasalocid group, six from the A. annua group, and nine from the A. annua + F. vulgare group, but were present in 19 infected chickens from the positive control group. Bloody diarrhea was registered in only two chickens from A. annua group, but in 17 chickens from the positive control group. Mortality also occurred in the positive control group (7/20). Chickens treated with A. annua had a significant reduction in faecal oocysts (95.6%; P = 0.027) and in lesion score (56.3%; P = 0.005) when compared to the positive control. At the end of experiment, chickens treated with A. annua leaf powder had the highest body weight gain (68.2 g/day), after the negative control group, and the best feed conversion (1.85) among all experimental groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that A. annua leaf powder (Aa-p), at 1.5% of the daily diet post-infection, can be a valuable alternative for synthetic coccidiostats, such as lasalocid.

Development and validation of a spectrophotometric method for quantitative determination of new preservatives from pharmaceutical forms.

AIM: A spectrophotometric UV-VIS fast, sensitive and simple method was developed for quantitative determination of two new antimicrobial preservatives (oxi-acetyl-mandelic acid and oxi-propionyl mandelic acid) and validated according to validation quides. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The absorption spectra were recorded at 200-400 nm, and the absorbances were measured at 256 nm for oxi-acetyl mandelic acid and 258 nm for oxipropionyl mandelic acid. Optimum working conditions were established and the method was validated. The developed and validated method was applied to determine these two preservatives from ointments, in which the preservatives were incorporated. RESULTS: The method has a good linearity in the concentration range 0.1-1.5 mg/ml (for oxi-acetyl mandelic acid) and 0.1-1 mg/ml (for oxi-propionyl mandelic acid). The RSD for the precision of the method was 0.96328 for oxiacetyl mandelic acid and 0.797612 for oxi-propionyl mandelic acid. The relative standard deviation was 0.726367% for oxi-acetyl mandelic acid and 0.726234% for oxipropionyl mandelic acid. In the ointment samples, the concentration of oxi-acetyl mandelic acid and oxi-propionyl mandelic acid were within the limits specified by pharmacopoeia for ointments. CONCLUSIONS: The developed and validated spectrophotometric method, for the determination of oxi-acetyl mandelic acid and oxi-propionyl mandelic acid is simple, easy to perform, fast and cost effective.

[Research for the improvement of acylation conditions in antistaphylococcal penicillin synthesis]. / Cercetari privind îmbunatatirea conditiilor de acilare în cazul obtinerii penicilinelor antistafilococice.

AIM: The 6-aminopenicillanic acid acylation with certain acyl chlorides was performed in order to obtain antistaphylococcal penicillins with bigger crystals, easy to filtrate (shorter filtration time), much pure, and an increased output. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Oxacillin sodium salt was synthesized by acylating an aqueous solution of 6-aminopenicillanic acid sodium salt (NaHCO3 not in excess) with an ethylacetate solution of 5-phenyl-3-methyl-isoxazolyl-4-carboxilic acid chloride. The crystallization was performed with a 40.5% sodium 2-ethyl hexanoate izopropanolic solution. All tests (IR spectrum, iodometric titration, and microbiological dosage) were performed according to the Xth Romanian Pharmacopoeia standards. RESULTS: The amount of synthesized oxacillin was higher and the output of 88,21%. Oxacillin had a high chemical purity (98,72%), and a very good microbiological activity (95% of the standard activity). CONCLUSIONS: Oxacillin crystals were bigger, the filtration speed was increased, and process efficacy improved. The output of the process was also improved being higher than with classical acylation.