Polyphosphinoborane Block Copolymer Synthesis Using Catalytic Reversible Chain-Transfer Dehydropolymerization.

An amphiphilic block copolymer of polyphosphinoborane has been prepared by a mechanism-led strategy of the sequential catalytic dehydropolymerization of precursor monomers, H3 B ⋅ PRH2 (R=Ph, n-hexyl), using the simple pre-catalyst [Rh(Ph2 PCH2 CH2 PPh2 )2 ]Cl. Speciation, mechanism and polymer chain growth studies support a step-growth process where reversible chain transfer occurs, i.e. H3 B ⋅ PRH2 /oligomer/polymer can all coordinate with, and be activated by, the catalyst. Block copolymer [H2 BPPhH]110 -b-[H2 BP(n-hexyl)H]11 can be synthesized and self-assembles in solution to form either rod-like micelles or vesicles depending on solvent polarity.

Scalable and Uniform Length-Tunable Biodegradable Block Copolymer Nanofibers with a Polycarbonate Core via Living Polymerization-Induced Crystallization-Driven Self-assembly.

Uniform 1D block copolymer (BCP) nanofibers prepared by the seeded-growth approach termed living crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) offer promising potential for various applications due to their anisotropy, length tunability, and variable core and coronal chemistries. However, this procedure consists of a multi-step process involving independent BCP synthesis and self-assembly steps, where the latter is performed at low solution concentrations (<1 wt %), hindering scale-up. Here, we demonstrate the use of a one-pot BCP synthesis and self-assembly process, polymerization-induced CDSA (PI-CDSA), to access length-disperse nanofibers with a biodegradable crystalline poly(fluorenetrimethylenecarbonate) (PFTMC) core and a hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) corona derived from PEG-b-PFTMC at concentrations up to 20 wt %, 400 times higher than those previously reported. Furthermore, living PI-CDSA could be used to access scalable, low dispersity, and length-tunable 1D PEG-b-PFTMC nanofibers at concentrations of up to 10 wt %. This provides the first example of living PI-CDSA involving an all-organic and biodegradable BCP that utilizes a conveniently implemented BCP synthesis protocol and does not involve living anionic polymerization. Significantly, samples of low-dispersity nanofibers of controlled lengths from 100 to 660 nm (Lw/Ln = 1.08-1.20) were prepared, allowing for upscaled access to well-defined biodegradable nanofibers at useful length-scales for applications in nanomedicine. Interestingly, detailed studies revealed a key role for PFTMC homopolymer impurities in the BCP prepared in situ in the formation of nanofibers under the reaction conditions used.

Detrimental conditions affecting Xestospongia muta across shallow and mesophotic coral reefs off the southwest coast of Puerto Rico.

Sponges are fundamental components of coral reef communities and, unfortunately, like other major benthic members, they too have been impacted by epizootic and panzootic events. We report on the prevalence of disease-like conditions affecting populations of the giant barrel sponge Xestospongia muta across shallow and mesophotic coral reefs off La Parguera Natural Reserve (LPNR) and Mona Island Marine Reserve (MIMR) in Puerto Rico. Four different conditions affecting X. muta were observed during our surveys, of which 3 have been previously reported: cyclic spotted bleaching (CSB; apparently non-lethal), Xestospongia-tissue wasting disease (X-TWD; apparently lethal), and sponge orange band disease (SOB; sparsely associated with X-TWD infected individuals). Additionally, we describe a fourth condition, Xestospongia-tissue hardening condition (X-THC), a previously unreported disease recently observed along the insular shelf margin off LPNR and MIMR. Within LPNR, a total of 764 specimens of X. muta were inspected and measured. Of these, 590 sponges (72.2%) had CSB, 25 (3.27%) had signs of X-TWD, 7 (0.92%) had SOB, and the remaining 142 (18.6%) were apparently healthy. Three colonies inhabiting upper mesophotic depths on the LPNR insular shelf showed signs of CSB and X-TWD. At MIMR, video-transect surveys revealed a total of 514 colonies, of which 40 (7.78%) had signs of CSB and/or XTWD, 14 (2.72%) were affected by X-THC, while the remaining 460 (89.5%) showed no external signs of disease and appeared healthy. The presence of 4 concomitant disease-like conditions in barrel sponges of Puerto Rico is alarming, and indicative of the deteriorating status of Caribbean coral reefs.

Seeded Self-Assembly of Charge-Terminated Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Amphiphiles Based on the Energy Landscape.

The creation of 1D π-conjugated nanofibers with precise control and optimized optoelectronic properties is of widespread interest for applications as nanowires. "Living" crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) is a seeded growth method of growing importance for the preparation of uniform 1D fiber-like micelles from a range of crystallizable polymeric amphiphiles. However, in the case of polythiophenes, one of the most important classes of conjugated polymer, only limited success has been achieved to date using block copolymers as precursors. Herein, we describe studies of the living CDSA of phosphonium-terminated amphiphilic poly(3-hexylthiophene)s to prepare colloidally stable nanofibers. In depth studies of the relationship between the degree of polymerization and the self-assembly behavior permitted the unveiling of the energy landscape of the living CDSA process. On the basis of the kinetic and thermodynamic insight provided, we have been able to achieve an unprecedented level of control over the length of low dispersity fiber-like micelles from 40 nm to 2.8 µm.

DVC-FISH to identify potentially pathogenic Legionella inside free-living amoebae from water sources.

Despite all safety efforts, drinking and wastewater can still be contaminated by Legionella and free-living amoebae (FLA) since these microorganisms are capable of resisting disinfection treatments. An amoebae cyst harboring pathogenic Legionella spp. can be a transporter of this organism, protecting it and enhancing its infection abilities. Therefore, the aim of this work is to identify by DVC-FISH viable Legionella spp and Legionella pneumophila cells inside FLA from water sources in a specific and rapid way with the aim of assessing the real risk of these waters. A total of 55 water samples were processed, 30 reclaimed wastewater and 25 drinking water. FLA presence was detected in 52.7% of the total processed water samples. When DVC-FISH technique was applied, the presence of viable internalized Legionella spp. cells was identified in 69.0% of the total FLA-positive samples, concretely in 70.0% and 66.7% of wastewater and drinking water samples, respectively. L. pneumophila was simultaneously identified in 48.3% of the total FLA-positive samples, specifically in 50.0% and 44.4% of wastewater and drinking water samples, respectively. By culture, potentially pathogenic Legionella cells were recovered in 27.6% of the total FLA-positive bacteria, particularly in 35.0% and 11.1% of wastewater and drinking water samples, respectively. These findings demonstrate that FLA may promote resistance of bacteria to the performed disinfection treatments for drinking as well as for wastewater. So, in addition to the risk for the presence of pathogenic FLA in water it is necessary to take into account that these can be transporters of the pathogenic bacteria Legionella, which are able to survive inside them. The DVC-FISH method described here has been proved to be a rapid and specific tool to identify pathogenic Legionella spp. and L. penumophila viable cells harboured by FLA in these water sources, posing particular public health concern.

Extending the Scope of "Living" Crystallization-Driven Self-Assembly: Well-Defined 1D Micelles and Block Comicelles from Crystallizable Polycarbonate Block Copolymers.

Fiber-like block copolymer (BCP) micelles offer considerable potential for a variety of applications; however, uniform samples of controlled length and with spatially tailored chemistry have not been accessible. Recently, a seeded growth method, termed "living" crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA), has been developed to allow the formation of 1D micelles and block comicelles of precisely controlled dimensions from BCPs with a crystallizable segment. An expansion of the range of core-forming blocks that participate in living CDSA is necessary for this technique to be compatible with a broad range of applications. Few examples currently exist of well-defined, water-dispersible BCP micelles prepared using this approach, especially from biocompatible and biodegradable polymers. Herein, we demonstrate that BCPs containing a crystallizable polycarbonate, poly(spiro[fluorene-9,5'-[1,3]-dioxan]-2'-one) (PFTMC), can readily undergo living CDSA processes. PFTMC- b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) BCPs with PFTMC:PEG block ratios of 1:11 and 1:25 were shown to undergo living CDSA to form near monodisperse fiber-like micelles of precisely controlled lengths of up to ∼1.6 µm. Detailed structural characterization of these micelles by TEM, AFM, SAXS, and WAXS revealed that they comprise a crystalline, chain-folded PFTMC core with a rectangular cross-section that is surrounded by a solvent swollen PEG corona. PFTMC- b-PEG fiber-like micelles were shown to be dispersible in water to give colloidally stable solutions. This allowed an assessment of the toxicity of these structures toward WI-38 and HeLa cells. From these experiments, we observed no discernible cytotoxicity from a sample of 119 nm fiber-like micelles to either healthy (WI-38) or cancerous (HeLa) cell types. The living CDSA process was extended to PFTMC- b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP), and addition of this BCP to PFTMC- b-PEG seed micelles led to the formation of well-defined segmented fibers with spatially localized coronal chemistries.

Evidence of the high prevalence of neurological disorders in nonsyndromic X-linked recessive ichthyosis: a retrospective case series.

BACKGROUND: X-linked recessive ichthyosis (XLI) is a relatively common type of ichthyosis caused by a deficiency in the steroid sulfatase (STS) enzyme. It is the only type of ichthyosis that can be both syndromic and nonsyndromic. Typical clinical features include dark-brown scale of variable size favouring the extensor surfaces of the extremities. OBJECTIVES: To characterize clinically nonsyndromic XLI, with a particular focus on extracutaneous manifestations. METHODS: This was a multicentre retrospective review of clinical findings from a case series of patients with a clinical and genetic diagnosis of XLI. RESULTS: We identified 30 patients with XLI belonging to 25 different families carrying a deletion in the STS locus. All patients had dark scales of variable size on the extensor surfaces of the extremities. Lack of flexural involvement and pruritus were common but inconsistent findings, whereas palmoplantar hyperlinearity was absent in all but one patient. A history of orchiopexy was present in 10% and thus was more common than expected vs. the general population (3%). Neurological disorders including epilepsy (13%) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; 30%) were over-represented in patients with XLI. CONCLUSIONS: This was a retrospective study with a limited number of patients. In the absence of confirmatory genetic testing and family history of the disease, dark-brown scale of the extensor surfaces and the absence of palmoplantar hyperlinearity appear to be the most reliable clinical findings supporting a diagnosis of XLI. Dermatologists should be aware of the high prevalence of ADHD and epilepsy in patients with nonsyndromic XLI.

MicroRNA (miR)-203 and miR-205 expression patterns identify subgroups of prognosis in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is the second most widespread cancer in humans and its incidence is rising. These tumours can evolve as diseases of poor prognosis, and therefore it is important to identify new markers to better predict its clinical evolution. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to identify the expression pattern of microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) at different stages of skin cancer progression in a panel of murine skin cancer cell lines. Owing to the increasing importance of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of cancer, we considered the possibility that miRNAs could help to define the prognosis of CSCC and aimed to evaluate the potential use of miR-203 and miR-205 as biomarkers of prognosis in human tumours. METHODS: Seventy-nine human primary CSCCs were collected at the University Hospital of Salamanca in Spain. We identified differential miRNA expression patterns at different stages of CSCC progression in a well-established panel of murine skin cancer cell lines, and then selected miR-205 and miR-203 to evaluate their association with the clinical prognosis and evolution of human CSCC. RESULTS: miR-205 was expressed in tumours with pathological features recognized as indicators of poor prognosis such as desmoplasia, perineural invasion and infiltrative growth pattern. miR-205 was mainly expressed in undifferentiated areas and in the invasion front, and was associated with both local recurrence and the development of general clinical events of poor evolution. miR-205 expression was an independent variable selected to predict events of poor clinical evolution using the multinomial logistic regression model described in this study. In contrast, miR-203 was mainly expressed in tumours exhibiting the characteristics associated with a good prognosis, was mainly present in well-differentiated zones, and rarely expressed in the invasion front. Therefore, the expression and associations of miR-205 and miR-203 were mostly mutually exclusive. Finally, using a logistic biplot we identified three clusters of patients with differential prognosis based on miR-203 and miR-205 expression, and pathological tumour features. CONCLUSIONS: miR-205 and miR-203 tended to exhibit mutually exclusive expression patterns in human CSCC. This work highlights the utility of miR-205 and miR-203 as prognostic markers in CSCC.

sFlt-1/PlGF for prediction of early-onset pre-eclampsia: STEPS (Study of Early Pre-eclampsia in Spain).

OBJECTIVE: A high ratio of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) to placental growth factor (PlGF) has been linked to pre-eclampsia (PE). We evaluated the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio as a predictive marker for early-onset PE in women at risk of PE. METHODS: This prospective, Spanish, multicenter study included pregnant women with a risk factor for PE, including intrauterine growth restriction, PE, eclampsia or hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count syndrome in previous pregnancy, pregestational diabetes or abnormal uterine artery Doppler. The primary objective was to show that the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio at 20, 24 and 28 weeks' gestation was predictive of early-onset PE (< 34 + 0 weeks). Serum sFlt-1 and PlGF were measured at 20, 24 and 28 weeks. Multivariate logistic regression was used to develop a predictive model. RESULTS: A total of 819 women were enrolled, of which 729 were suitable for analysis. Of these, 78 (10.7%) women developed PE (24 early onset and 54 late onset). Median sFlt-1/PlGF ratio at 20, 24 and 28 weeks was 6.3 (interquartile range (IQR), 4.1-9.3), 4.0 (IQR, 2.6-6.3) and 3.3 (IQR, 2.0-5.9), respectively, for women who did not develop PE (controls); 14.5 (IQR, 5.5-43.7), 18.4 (IQR, 8.2-57.9) and 51.9 (IQR, 11.5-145.6) for women with early-onset PE; and 6.7 (IQR, 4.6-9.9), 4.7 (IQR, 2.8-7.2) and 6.0 (IQR, 3.8-10.5) for women with late-onset PE. Compared with early-onset PE, the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio was significantly lower in controls (P < 0.001 at each timepoint) and in women with chronic hypertension (P < 0.001 at each timepoint), gestational hypertension (P < 0.001 at each timepoint) and late-onset PE (P < 0.001 at each timepoint). A prediction model for early-onset PE was developed, which included the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio plus mean arterial pressure, being parous and previous PE, with areas under the receiver-operating characteristics curves of 0.86 (95% CI, 0.77-0.95), 0.91 (95% CI, 0.85-0.97) and 0.93 (95% CI, 0.86-0.99) at 20, 24 and 28 weeks, respectively, and was superior to models using the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio alone or uterine artery mean pulsatility index. CONCLUSIONS: The sFlt-1/PlGF ratio can improve prediction of early-onset PE for women at risk of this condition. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Do knowledge of uterine artery resistance in the second trimester and targeted surveillance improve maternal and perinatal outcome? UTOPIA study: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain whether screening for pre-eclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) by uterine artery (UtA) Doppler in the second trimester of pregnancy and targeted surveillance improve maternal and perinatal outcomes in an unselected population. METHODS: This was a multicenter randomized open-label controlled trial. At the routine second-trimester anomaly scan, women were assigned randomly to UtA Doppler or non-Doppler groups. Women with abnormal UtA Doppler were offered intensive surveillance at high-risk clinics of the participating centers with visits every 4 weeks that included measurement of maternal blood pressure, dipstick proteinuria, fetal growth and Doppler examination. The primary outcome was a composite score for perinatal complications, defined as the presence of any of the following: PE, IUGR, spontaneous labor < 37 weeks' gestation, placental abruption, stillbirth, gestational hypertension, admission to neonatal intensive care unit and neonatal complications. Secondary outcomes were a composite score for maternal complications (disseminated intravascular coagulation, maternal mortality, postpartum hemorrhage, pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism, sepsis), and medical interventions (for example, corticosteroid administration and induction of labor) in patients developing placenta-related complications. RESULTS: In total, 11 667 women were included in the study. Overall, PE occurred in 348 (3.0%) cases, early-onset PE in 48 (0.4%), IUGR in 722 (6.2%), early-onset IUGR in 93 (0.8%) and early-onset PE with IUGR in 32 (0.3%). UtA mean pulsatility index > 90(th) percentile was able to detect 59% of early-onset PE and 60% of early-onset IUGR with a false-positive rate of 11.1%. When perinatal and maternal data according to assigned group (UtA Doppler vs non-Doppler) were compared, no differences were found in perinatal or maternal complications. However, screened patients had more medical interventions, such as corticosteroid administration (relative risk (RR), 1.79 (95% CI, 1.4-2.3)) and induction of labor for IUGR (RR, 1.36 (95% CI, 1.07-1.72)). In women developing PE or IUGR, there was a trend towards fewer maternal complications (RR, 0.46 (95% CI, 0.19-1.11)). CONCLUSIONS: Routine second-trimester UtA Doppler ultrasound in an unselected population identifies approximately 60% of women at risk for placental complications; however, application of this screening test failed to improve short-term maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Electroencephalographic activity during direct breastfeeding and breast milk expression in primiparous mothers.

Breastfeeding is recognized worldwide as the best option for infant feeding. Expressing breast milk is an alternative for mothers to provide their infants all the benefits of maternal milk. During breast milk expression, mothers receive a distinct kind of sensory stimulation, because there is no direct bodily or affective interaction with their infants, many women report feeling isolated, generating a love-hate relation with pumping, and even low levels of satisfaction while expressing breast milk. While it is well known that the prefrontal, parietal, and temporal cortices play important roles in the emotional and cognitive processing of maternal stimuli, knowledge about how these cortical areas function during breastfeeding is lacking. This study was designed to characterize EEG activity in the prefrontal and parietal cortices and the affective scores of primiparous breastfeeding mothers during two conditions of milk expression: breast milk expression and direct breastfeeding. Participants reported higher valence and arousal and a pleasant state during direct breastfeeding. In the direct breastfeeding condition, both prefrontal areas showed a higher absolute power (AP) of the slow bands, with a lower AP of the alpha band in the parietal cortex. A lower correlation between frontopolar and dorsolateral areas with a higher correlation between prefrontal and parietal cortices was obtained mainly in the right hemisphere. This EEG activity could be linked to an internal state of focused attention and, simultaneously, open monitoring of the environment that suggests an integration of the motive-emotional and cognitive processes necessary for adequate mother-baby interaction during direct breastfeeding.

Use of a specific anti-stretch mark cream for preventing or reducing the severity of striae gravidarum. Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

Few studies have tested the efficacy of commercially available cosmetic products for preventing striae gravidarum. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate efficacy on prevention of striae gravidarum using a specific anti-stretch mark cream containing hydroxyprolisilane-C, rosehip oil, Centella asiatica triterpenes and vitamin E. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted between November 2009 and April 2011. Pregnant women were included and classified as treated group (emollient and moisturizer containing hydroxyprolisilane C, rosehip oil, Centella asiatica triterpenes and vitamin E) and control group (cream without the active ingredients). Overall incidence of stretch marks during pregnancy was 33.3% for the control group and 37.6% for the treated group (n.s.). Severity of previous stretch marks significantly increased in the control group during the study (17.8%, P = 0.001), but not in the treated group (6.3%, ns). In women who developed new stretch marks during the study, there was a significantly greater 'difference in severity' (between baseline and maximum severity) in control group vs. treated group (0.47 [0.57] vs. 0.14 [0.60], P = 0.031). In women without previous striae, incidence of these marks was significantly lower for the treated group patients compared with control group (5.6% vs. 35%, P = 0.031, OR: 9.2 [95% CI: 1.0-83.3]). The use of the anti-stretch mark product is proved to be effective in reducing severity of the striae during pregnancy, prevents the appearance of new striae and halts progression of those already present. In women who had no striae at baseline, use of the anti-stretch mark cream was more effective than placebo in preventing new stretch marks.

Distribution and accumulation of Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn in the surface sediments of El Tobari Lagoon, central-East Gulf of California: An ecosystem associated with agriculture and aquaculture activities.

The purpose of this research is to provide a comprehensive assessment of the concentration levels and spatial variability of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in El Tobari Lagoon in surface sediments during two seasons for several geochemical variables that could explain the observed heavy metal variability. Seventy-two surface sediments samples were collected in 12 different sites of the El Tobari Lagoon. Sediment samples were dried and subjected to acid extraction using a microwave system and five metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn) were measured using atomic adsorption spectrometry. A certificate sediment material and blanks were used as quality control purposes. The enrichment factor (EF) and the index of geoaccumulation (Igeo) were calculated as index of metals contamination for the sediments, using aluminum as the conservative element. The five metals examined in sediments from El Tobari Lagoon exhibited a linear correlation with Al as result of the large specific surface areas of these sediment components and the chemical affinities between them. The metals contents in sites of the El Tobari Lagoon were variable, and Cd, Cu and Hg presented a seasonal behavior. The enrichment factor and index of geoaccumulation analysis indicated that Cd and Hg exhibited a certain extent (EF for Cd ranged from 4.10 to 10.29; EF for Hg ranged from 2.77 to 12.89) of anthropogenic pollution, while Cu showed sporadic (EF ranged from 0.43 to 2.54) anthropogenic contamination. The highest concentrations of Cd, Cu and Hg were found in the sites that regularly received discharge effluents from agriculture and aquaculture.

Comparative bioaccumulation of trace metals using six filter feeder organisms in a coastal lagoon ecosystem (of the central-east Gulf of California).

The Tobari Lagoon, located in the central-east coast of the Gulf of California, receives effluents from the Yaqui Valley, one of the most extensive agricultural areas of México. The Tobari Lagoon also receives effluents from nearby shrimp farms and untreated municipal sewage. Surface sediment samples and six different species of filter feeders (Crassostrea corteziensis, Crassostrea gigas, Chione gnidia, Anadara tuberculosa, Chione fluctifraga, and Fistulobalanus dentivarians) were collected during the dry and the rainy seasons and analyzed to determine concentrations of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). Seasonal variations in metal concentrations in sediment were evident, especially for Cd, Cu, Hg, and Zn. The total and bioavailable concentrations of the five metals are not elevated in comparison to other areas around the world. The percentages of bioavailable respect to total concentrations of the metals varied from 0.6 % in Hg to 50.2 % for Cu. In the organisms, Hg showed the lowest concentrations (ranged from 0.22 to 0.65 µg/g) while Zn showed the highest (ranged from 36.6 to 1,702 µg/g). Linear correlations between the levels of Cu, Pb, and Zn in the soft tissues of C. fluctifraga and C. gnidia, and A. tuberculosa and C. gnidia were found. Seasonal and interspecies variations in the metal levels in filter feeders were found; F. dentivarians, C. corteziensis, and C. gigas exhibited the highest levels, could be used as biomonitors of metals contamination in this area.

First-trimester screening for large-for-gestational-age infants.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between newborn birth weight and first-trimester uterine artery (UtA) pulsatility index (PI), maternal characteristics, serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), free ß-human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG) and fetal nuchal translucency (NT) thickness. We also examined the results of screening for large-for-gestational-age (LGA) neonates by an integrated first-trimester approach incorporating these parameters. METHODS: We evaluated maternal characteristics, fetal NT, PAPP-A, free ß-hCG and UtA-PI in 2097 singleton pregnancies at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation. Linear models based on quasi Akaike's Information Criterion were used to determine the best predictive model for fetal birth weight. The patient-specific risk of delivering an LGA infant was derived from multiple logistic regression analysis and the performance of screening was determined by receiver-operating characteristics curve analysis. RESULTS: The best predictive models for fetal birth weight included UtA-PI, PAPP-A, NT, parity, maternal age, smoking status, weight, height and free ß-hCG. In pregnancies delivering LGA newborns compared with non-LGA pregnancies, PAPP-A and NT thickness were significantly increased (P = 0.016 and 0.001, respectively) and UtA-PI was significantly decreased (P = 0.011). A combination of maternal factors with PAPP-A, fetal NT and UtA-PI identified 34.4% of LGA newborns for a false-positive rate of 10%. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed an association between newborn birth weight and maternal factors, and first-trimester PAPP-A, ß-hCG, fetal NT and UtA-PI. Together, these factors can be used to identify over a third of pregnancies that will deliver LGA infants.

A combination of direct viable count and fluorescence in situ hybridization for specific enumeration of viable Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp.bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus.

AIMS: We have developed a direct viable count (DVC)-FISH procedure for quickly and easily discriminating between viable and nonviable cells of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus strains, the traditional yogurt bacteria. METHODS AND RESULTS: direct viable count method has been modified and adapted for Lact. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Strep. thermophilus analysis by testing different times of incubation and concentrations of DNA-gyrase inhibitors. DVC procedure has been combined with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) for the specific detection of viable cells of both bacteria with specific rRNA oligonucleotide probes (DVC-FISH). Of the four antibiotics tested (novobiocin, nalidixic acid, pipemidic acid and ciprofloxacin), novobiocin was the most effective for DVC method and the optimum incubation time was 7 h for both bacteria. The number of viable cells was obtained by the enumeration of specific hybridized cells that were elongated at least twice their original length for Lactobacillus and twice their original size for Streptococcus. CONCLUSIONS: This technique was successfully applied to detect viable cells in inoculated faeces. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Results showed that this DVC-FISH procedure is a quick and culture-independent useful method to specifically detect viable Lact. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Strep. thermophilus in different samples, being applied for the first time to lactic acid bacteria.

Cervical length vs VOCAL cervical volume for predicting pre-term delivery in asymptomatic women at 20-22 weeks' pregnancy.

We conducted a prospective observational study of 306 asymptomatic women at 20-22 weeks of pregnancy to compare 3-dimensional ultrasound measurements of cervical volume with 2-dimensional ultrasound measurements of cervical length to evaluate the performance of cervical volume as a predictor of pre-term delivery, compared with the current standard, cervical length. Participants underwent transvaginal ultrasound measurements of cervical length (mm) and cervical volume (cm(3)). Cervical volume as measured by 3-dimensional ultrasound was found to be a useful tool for predicting pre-term delivery; however, due to the high correlation between cervical length and cervical volume and the lack of differences in the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and relative risk between the two methods, replacing cervical length measurements with cervical volume calculations does not seem to be justified for this purpose, because of increased difficulty in volume acquisition.

[Usefulness of ultrasonography in children with right iliac fossa pain]. / Utilidad de la ecografía en niños con dolor en la fosa ilíaca derecha.

Acute pain in the right iliac fossa is common in children. It can arise from a wide variety of gastrointestinal and genitourinary processes that make up the differential diagnosis with acute appendicitis. In this article, we describe the most representative findings of these processes on ultrasonography. We emphasize the characteristics that enable these processes to be differentiated from acute appendicitis.

Nutritional and antioxidant changes in lentils and quinoa through fungal solid-state fermentation with Pleurotus ostreatus.

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) may be a suitable bioprocess to produce protein-vegetal ingredients with increased nutritional and functional value. This study assessed changes in phenol content, antinutrient content, biomass production and protein production resulting from the metabolic activity of Pleurotus ostreatus, an edible fungus, in lentils and quinoa over 14 days of SSF. The impact of particle size on these parameters was also assessed because the process was conducted in both seeds and flours. Fungus biomass increased during fermentation, reaching 30.0 ± 1.4 mg/g dry basis and 32 ± 3 mg/g dry basis in lentil grain and flour and 52.01 ± 1.08 mg/g dry basis and 45 ± 2 mg/g dry basis in quinoa seeds and flour after 14 days of SSF. Total protein content also increased by 20% to 25% during fermentation, in all cases except lentil flour. However, the soluble protein fraction remained constant. Regarding phytic acid, SSF had a positive impact, with a progressive decrease being higher in flours than in seeds. Regarding antioxidant properties, autoclaving of the substrates promoted the release of polyphenols, together with antioxidant activity (ABTS, DPPH and FRAP), in all substrates. However, these parameters drastically decreased as fermentation progressed. These results provide scientific knowledge for producing lentil- or quinoa-based ingredients with low antinutrient content enriched with protein fungal biomass.

Efficient energy transport in an organic semiconductor mediated by transient exciton delocalization.

Efficient energy transport is desirable in organic semiconductor (OSC) devices. However, photogenerated excitons in OSC films mostly occupy highly localized states, limiting exciton diffusion coefficients to below ~10-2 cm2/s and diffusion lengths below ~50 nm. We use ultrafast optical microscopy and nonadiabatic molecular dynamics simulations to study well-ordered poly(3-hexylthiophene) nanofiber films prepared using living crystallization-driven self-assembly, and reveal a highly efficient energy transport regime: transient exciton delocalization, where energy exchange with vibrational modes allows excitons to temporarily re-access spatially extended states under equilibrium conditions. We show that this enables exciton diffusion constants up to 1.1 ± 0.1 cm2/s and diffusion lengths of 300 ± 50 nm. Our results reveal the dynamic interplay between localized and delocalized exciton configurations at equilibrium conditions, calling for a re-evaluation of exciton dynamics and suggesting design rules to engineer efficient energy transport in OSC device architectures not based on restrictive bulk heterojunctions.