Rapid and Effective Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 with a Cationic Conjugated Oligomer with Visible Light: Studies of Antiviral Activity in Solutions and on Supports.

This paper presents results of a study of a new cationic oligomer that contains end groups and a chromophore affording inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 by visible light irradiation in solution or as a solid coating on paper wipes and glass fiber filtration substrates. A key finding of this study is that the cationic oligomer with a central thiophene ring and imidazolium charged groups gives outstanding performance in both the killing of E. coli bacterial cells and inactivation of the virus at very short times. Our introduction of cationic N-methyl imidazolium groups enhances the light activation process for both E. coli and SARS-CoV-2 but dampens the killing of the bacteria and eliminates the inactivation of the virus in the dark. For the studies with this oligomer in solution at a concentration of 1 µg/mL and E. coli, we obtain 3 log killing of the bacteria with 10 min of irradiation with LuzChem cool white lights (mimicking indoor illumination). With the oligomer in solution at a concentration of 10 µg/mL, we observe 4 log inactivation (99.99%) in 5 min of irradiation and total inactivation after 10 min. The oligomer is quite active against E. coli on oligomer-coated paper wipes and glass fiber filter supports. The SARS-CoV-2 is also inactivated by oligomer-coated glass fiber filter papers. This study indicates that these oligomer-coated materials may be very useful as wipes and filtration materials.

Optimizing Protonation States for Selective Double-Strand DNA Photocleavage in Hypoxic Tumors: pH-Gated Transitions of Lysine Dipeptides.

We report pH-switching properties of the new family of dipeptide-acetylene conjugates where pH-gated light-activated double-strand (ds) DNA cleavage is controlled by variations in electronic and geometric parameters. The conjugates have higher activities at the slightly acidic pH values that separate normal and cancerous tissue (pH < 7). This favorable pH dependence originates from several elements of structural design. Basicities of the two amines determine the threshold pH range where the changes in binding and reactivity are observed, whereas the distance between the two amino groups and the hydrophobic aryl alkyne moiety can further modulate DNA binding. The changes of the protonation state from a neutral molecule to a dication results in dramatically increased efficiency of ds DNA photocleavage, the most therapeutically valuable type of DNA cleavage.

Association between suicidal ideation and behavior, and depression, anxiety, and perceived social support in cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between suicidal behavior and associated factors such as depression, anxiety, and perceived social support level in cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group included 102 patients who were under treatment in the oncology department and the control group included 100 individuals with similar sociodemographic features. A sociodemographic information form, Beck depression inventory, Beck anxiety inventory, suicidal behavior inventory, suicidal ideation inventory, and multidimensional inventory of perceived social support were used. RESULTS: The mean Beck depression inventory and Beck anxiety inventory scores in the study group were significantly higher compared to the control group. Thirteen patients in the study group attempted suicide, whereas 3 individuals attempted suicide in the control group. Similarly, the mean suicide behavior and ideation scores in the study group were significantly higher compared to the control group. The mean total multidimensional inventories of perceived social support score, as well as the mean family and friend sub-inventory scores in the control group were significantly higher compared to the study group. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that depression and anxiety occur frequently in cancer patients. Suicide attempts and ideation are higher in cancer patients compared to the control group. Social support perceived from family and friends is lower in cancer patients. Suicide attempts are correlated with depression, anxiety, low level of perceived social support, and advanced disease stage.

Hybrids of amino acids and acetylenic DNA-photocleavers: optimising efficiency and selectivity for cancer phototherapy.

Hybrid agents which combine potent DNA-photocleavers with tunable amino acids or small peptides were designed to improve selectivity of Nature's most potent class of antibiotics towards cancer cells. The ability of these compounds to photocleave DNA is controlled by their incorporation into hybrid architectures with functional elements derived from natural amino acids. These conjugates are highly effective at inducing double-strand DNA cleavage and, in some cases, rival or even surpass both naturally occurring DNA cleavers and anticancer agents that are currently in clinical use. The possibility of triggering their activity in a photochemical and pH-sensitive fashion allows for a high degree of selectivity over activation. The conjugates were shown to penetrate cell membranes and induce efficient intracellular DNA cleavage. Initial in vitro tests against a variety of cancer cell lines confirm the potential of these compounds as anticancer agents at low nanomolar concentrations.

Epidermoid cyst in the renal pelvis.

Epidermoid cysts are benign cysts localizing rarely in solid organs with an unclear pathogenesis. A 55 years old woman having an epidermoid cyst in the renal pelvis was evaluated according to the literature.

Role of genital mycoplasmata and other bacteria in urolithiasis.

Urease-producing bacteria have been shown to affect the formation of infection stones by splitting urea into ammonia, bicarbonate and carbonate. An increase in alkaline pH results in urinary supersaturation of the ions. The increase in ammonia also causes injury to the urothelial glycosaminoglycan layer. Non-urease-producing bacteria have been speculated to form urinary stones. Midstream voided bladder urine and fractured stone nidus samples from 72 patients undergoing surgery for urolithiasis were cultured on specific media for genital mycoplasmata and on conventional media. Urine samples were obtained from a control group of 40 healthy subjects. Genital mycoplasmata and other bacteria were evaluated with regard to the composition of urinary stones. Compared with other origins of stones, the relation between isolation of Ureaplasma urealyticum and infection stone disease was statistically proven. Isolation of genital mycoplasmata was significantly higher in women than in men in the study group. The urinary stones comprised 84.7% calcium stones, 8.3% uric acid stones and 6.9% infection (magnesium ammonium phosphate) stones. Coagulase-negative Staphylococci, Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium spp., Enterobacterium spp. and U. urealyticum were cultured from stone samples. The results suggests that non-urease-producing bacteria, as well as urease-producing bacteria, may influence the formation of urinary stones.

[Surgical treatment of penil fractures]. / Penis fraktürlerinin cerrahi tedavisi.

BACKGROUND: Patients diagnosis as penil fracture and treated with surgical methods were evaluated retrospectively between January 1990-February 2002. METHODS: Patients were evaluated by age, trauma type, time passed after the trauma, physical examination and radiologic data. RESULTS: The cause of trauma was blunt trauma in all patients. 14 trauma (60.8%) were during sexual activity, 6 trauma (26%) were during handling the erective penis in morning erection, 3 of trauma (13%) were due to the rolling on to the penis. Urethral bleeding was seen in 1 patient and microscopic hematuria was detected in 5 patients. Subcoronal circular incision was carried out in 16 patients (69.5%), semicircular incision was done directly on the injury in 6 patients (26%) and from penis radix to scrotum was done in 1 patient (4.3%). There was unilateral corpus cavernosum injury in 21 patients. Bilateral corpus cavernosum injury in 1 patient, corpuscavernosum, corpus spongiosum and incomplent urethral injury in 1 patient. Wound infection was detected only in 2 patients at postoperatively early period. After evaluating 20 patients with medical history and physical examination in postoperative control penil curvature permitting sexual activity was detected in 3 patients. CONCLUSION: We concluded that patients with penil fracture may be treated with low complication rate by early surgical procedure.