Monitoring Proteolytic Activity in Real Time: A New World of Opportunities for Biosensors.

Proteases play a pivotal role in several biological processes, from digestion, cell proliferation, and differentiation to fertility. Deregulation of protease metabolism can result in several pathological conditions (i.e., cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and others). Therefore, monitoring proteolytic activity in real time could have a fundamental role in the early diagnosis of these diseases. Herein, the main approaches used to develop biosensors for monitoring proteolytic activity are reviewed. A comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of each approach is provided along with a discussion of their importance and promising opportunities for the early diagnosis of severe diseases. This new era of biosensors can be characterized by the ability to control and monitor biological processes, ultimately improving the potential of personalized medicine.

Butyrate administration strengthens the intestinal epithelium and improves intestinal dysbiosis in a cholestasis fibrosis model.

AIM: Intestinal dysfunction in cirrhosis patients is linked to death by bacterial infections. Currently, there is no effective therapy for this complication. This study aims to evaluate butyrate, a novel postbiotic, on the intestinal inflammatory response, tight junction proteins and the microbiota in the cholestasis model. METHODS AND RESULTS: Wistar rats underwent 15 days of bile duct ligation (BDL). We administered butyrate at a concentration of 1%. The BDL group did not receive treatment. The results showed that butyrate could significantly reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-17A, IFN-γ, TNF-α) in the ileum and colon while promoting IL-10 expression in the colon. Moreover, it significantly promotes tight junction protein (cld-1, occludin and ZO-1) expression in the ileum. A similar effect was observed in the colon except for ZO-1. Additionally, butyrate limited taxa diversity loss and promoted probiotic genera expansion such as Lachnospira, Prevotella and Lactobacillus. The increase in Turicibacter and Clostridiaceae distinguished the BDL group. CONCLUSIONS: Butyrate is effective in regulating the inflammatory response, tight junction proteins and limits bacterial diversity loss. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This research reveals that butyrate could represent an interesting postbiotic metabolomic intervention for intestinal epithelium dysfunction in liver disease.

Intermittent Hypoxic Conditioning Rescues Cognition and Mitochondrial Bioenergetic Profile in the Triple Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

The lack of effective disease-modifying therapeutics to tackle Alzheimer's disease (AD) is unsettling considering the actual prevalence of this devastating neurodegenerative disorder worldwide. Intermittent hypoxic conditioning (IHC) is a powerful non-pharmacological procedure known to enhance brain resilience. In this context, the aim of the present study was to investigate the potential long-term protective impact of IHC against AD-related phenotype, putting a special focus on cognition and mitochondrial bioenergetics and dynamics. For this purpose, six-month-old male triple transgenic AD mice (3×Tg-AD) were submitted to an IHC protocol for two weeks and the behavioral assessment was performed at 8.5 months of age, while the sacrifice of mice occurred at nine months of age and their brains were removed for the remaining analyses. Interestingly, IHC was able to prevent anxiety-like behavior and memory and learning deficits and significantly reduced brain cortical levels of amyloid-ß (Aß) in 3×Tg-AD mice. Concerning brain energy metabolism, IHC caused a significant increase in brain cortical levels of glucose and a robust improvement of the mitochondrial bioenergetic profile in 3×Tg-AD mice, as mirrored by the significant increase in mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and respiratory control ratio (RCR). Notably, the improvement of mitochondrial bioenergetics seems to result from an adaptative coordination of the distinct but intertwined aspects of the mitochondrial quality control axis. Particularly, our results indicate that IHC favors mitochondrial fusion and promotes mitochondrial biogenesis and transport and mitophagy in the brain cortex of 3×Tg-AD mice. Lastly, IHC also induced a marked reduction in synaptosomal-associated protein 25 kDa (SNAP-25) levels and a significant increase in both glutamate and GABA levels in the brain cortex of 3×Tg-AD mice, suggesting a remodeling of the synaptic microenvironment. Overall, these results demonstrate the effectiveness of the IHC paradigm in forestalling the AD-related phenotype in the 3×Tg-AD mouse model, offering new insights to AD therapy and forcing a rethink concerning the potential value of non-pharmacological interventions in clinical practice.

Anomalous relative intensity noise transfer in ultralong random fiber lasers.

We present, for the first time, an experimental demonstration of RIN noise transfer dampening at low frequencies in random distributed feedback ultralong Raman fibre lasers based on conventional telecommunication fibres. Furthermore, we present a thorough theoretical description of the phenomenon and demonstrate how our model can be used to predict the observed behaviour, identifying the general requirements for system improvement through RIN transfer reduction.

Liraglutide Protects Against Brain Amyloid-ß1-42 Accumulation in Female Mice with Early Alzheimer's Disease-Like Pathology by Partially Rescuing Oxidative/Nitrosative Stress and Inflammation.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia worldwide, being characterized by the deposition of senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles (enriched in the amyloid beta (Aß) peptide and hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau), respectively) and memory loss. Aging, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and female sex (especially after menopause) are risk factors for AD, but their crosslinking mechanisms remain unclear. Most clinical trials targeting AD neuropathology failed and it remains incurable. However, evidence suggests that effective anti-T2D drugs, such as the GLP-1 mimetic and neuroprotector liraglutide, can be also efficient against AD. Thus, we aimed to study the benefits of a peripheral liraglutide treatment in AD female mice. We used blood and brain cortical lysates from 10-month-old 3xTg-AD female mice, treated for 28 days with liraglutide (0.2 mg/kg, once/day) to evaluate parameters affected in AD (e.g., Aß and p-tau, motor and cognitive function, glucose metabolism, inflammation and oxidative/nitrosative stress). Despite the limited signs of cognitive changes in mature female mice, liraglutide only reduced their cortical Aß1-42 levels. Liraglutide partially attenuated brain estradiol and GLP-1 and activated PKA levels, oxidative/nitrosative stress and inflammation in these AD female mice. Our results support the earlier use of liraglutide as a potential preventive/therapeutic agent against the accumulation of the first neuropathological features of AD in females.

Caffeine and cannabinoid receptors modulate impulsive behavior in an animal model of attentional deficit and hyperactivity disorder.

Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by impaired levels of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. Adenosine and endocannabinoid systems tightly interact in the modulation of dopamine signaling, involved in the neurobiology of ADHD. In this study, we evaluated the modulating effects of the cannabinoid and adenosine systems in a tolerance to delay of reward task using the most widely used animal model of ADHD. Spontaneous Hypertensive Rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats were treated chronically or acutely with caffeine, a non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist, or acutely with a cannabinoid agonist (WIN55212-2, WIN) or antagonist (AM251). Subsequently, animals were tested in the tolerance to delay of reward task, in which they had to choose between a small, but immediate, or a large, but delayed, reward. Treatment with WIN decreased, whereas treatment with AM251 increased the choices of the large reward, selectively in SHR rats, indicating a CB1 receptor-mediated increase in impulsive behavior. An acute pre-treatment with caffeine blocked WIN effects. Conversely, a chronic treatment with caffeine increased the impulsive phenotype and potentiated the WIN effects. The results indicate that both cannabinoid and adenosine receptors modulate impulsive behavior in SHR: the antagonism of cannabinoid receptors might be effective in reducing impulsive symptoms present in ADHD; in addition, caffeine showed the opposite effects on impulsive behavior depending on the length of treatment. These observations are of particular importance to consider when therapeutic manipulation of CB1 receptors is applied to ADHD patients who consume coffee.

Blockade of adenosine A2A receptors recovers early deficits of memory and plasticity in the triple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) begins with a deficit of synaptic function and adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR) are mostly located in synapses controlling synaptic plasticity. The over-activation of adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR) causes memory deficits and the blockade of A2AR prevents memory damage in AD models. We now enquired if this prophylactic role of A2AR might be extended to a therapeutic potential. We used the triple transgenic model of AD (3xTg-AD) and defined that the onset of memory dysfunction occurred at 4 months of age in the absence of locomotor or emotional alterations. At the onset of memory deficits, 3xTg mice displayed a decreased density of markers of excitatory synapses (10.6 ±â€¯3.8% decrease of vGluT1) without neuronal or glial overt damage and an increase of synaptic A2AR in the hippocampus (130 ±â€¯22%). After the onset of memory deficits in 3xTg-AD mice, a three weeks treatment with the selective A2AR antagonist normalized the up-regulation of hippocampal A2AR and restored hippocampal-dependent reference memory, as well as the decrease of hippocampal synaptic plasticity (60.0 ±â€¯3.7% decrease of long-term potentiation amplitude) and the decrease of global (syntaxin-I) and glutamatergic synaptic markers (vGluT1). These findings show a therapeutic-like ability of A2AR antagonists to recover synaptic and memory dysfunction in early AD.

Caffeine acts through neuronal adenosine A2A receptors to prevent mood and memory dysfunction triggered by chronic stress.

The consumption of caffeine (an adenosine receptor antagonist) correlates inversely with depression and memory deterioration, and adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) antagonists emerge as candidate therapeutic targets because they control aberrant synaptic plasticity and afford neuroprotection. Therefore we tested the ability of A2AR to control the behavioral, electrophysiological, and neurochemical modifications caused by chronic unpredictable stress (CUS), which alters hippocampal circuits, dampens mood and memory performance, and enhances susceptibility to depression. CUS for 3 wk in adult mice induced anxiogenic and helpless-like behavior and decreased memory performance. These behavioral changes were accompanied by synaptic alterations, typified by a decrease in synaptic plasticity and a reduced density of synaptic proteins (synaptosomal-associated protein 25, syntaxin, and vesicular glutamate transporter type 1), together with an increased density of A2AR in glutamatergic terminals in the hippocampus. Except for anxiety, for which results were mixed, CUS-induced behavioral and synaptic alterations were prevented by (i) caffeine (1 g/L in the drinking water, starting 3 wk before and continued throughout CUS); (ii) the selective A2AR antagonist KW6002 (3 mg/kg, p.o.); (iii) global A2AR deletion; and (iv) selective A2AR deletion in forebrain neurons. Notably, A2AR blockade was not only prophylactic but also therapeutically efficacious, because a 3-wk treatment with the A2AR antagonist SCH58261 (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) reversed the mood and synaptic dysfunction caused by CUS. These results herald a key role for synaptic A2AR in the control of chronic stress-induced modifications and suggest A2AR as candidate targets to alleviate the consequences of chronic stress on brain function.

Integrated Optical Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Based on Organic-Inorganic Hybrids for Photonics-on-a-Chip Biosensing Applications.

The development of portable low-cost integrated optics-based biosensors for photonics-on-a-chip devices for real-time diagnosis are of great interest, offering significant advantages over current analytical methods. We report the fabrication and characterization of an optical sensor based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer to monitor the growing concentration of bacteria in a liquid medium. The device pattern was imprinted on transparent self-patternable organic-inorganic di-ureasil hybrid films by direct UV-laser, reducing the complexity and cost production compared with lithographic techniques or three-dimensional (3D) patterning using femtosecond lasers. The sensor performance was evaluated using, as an illustrative example, E. coli cell growth in an aqueous medium. The measured sensitivity (2 × 10-4 RIU) and limit of detection (LOD = 2 × 10-4) are among the best values known for low-refractive index contrast sensors. Furthermore, the di-ureasil hybrid used to produce this biosensor has additional advantages, such as mechanical flexibility, thermal stability, and low insertion losses due to fiber-device refractive index mismatch (~1.49). Therefore, the proposed sensor constitutes a direct, compact, fast, and cost-effective solution for monitoring the concentration of lived-cells.

All-optical sampling and magnification based on XPM-induced focusing.

We theoretically and experimentally investigate the design of an all-optical magnification and sampling function free from any active gain medium or additional amplified spontaneous noise emission. The proposed technique is based on the co-propagation of an arbitrary shaped signal together with an orthogonally polarized intense fast sinusoidal beating within a normally dispersive optical fiber. This process allows us to experimentally demonstrate a 40-GHz sampling operation as well as an 8-dB magnification of an arbitrary shaped nanosecond signal around 1550 nm in a 5-km long optical fiber. The experimental observations are in good agreement with numerical and theoretical analysis.

Influence of the surface termination on the light emission of crystalline silicon nanoparticles.

The light emission properties of silicon crystalline nanoparticles (SiNPs) have been investigated using steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements carried out at 12 K and at room temperature. To enable a comparative study of the role of surface terminal groups on the optical properties, we investigated SiNPs-H ensembles with the same mean NP diameter but differing on the surface termination, namely organic-functionalized with 1-dodecene (SiNPs-C12) and H-terminated (SiNPs-H). We show that although the spectral dependence of the light emission is rather unaffected by surface termination, characterized by a single broad band peaking at ∼1.64 eV, both the exciton recombination lifetimes and quantum yields display a pronounced dependence on the surface termination. Exciton lifetimes and quantum yields are found to be significantly lower in SiNPs-H compared SiNPs-C12. This difference is due to distinct non-radiative recombination probabilities resulting from inter-NP exciton migration, which in SiNPs-C12 is inhibited by the energy barriers imposed by the bulky surface groups. The surface groups of organic-terminated SiPs are responsible for the inhibition of inter-NP exciton transfer, yielding a higher quantum yield compared to SiNPs-H. The surface oxidation of SiNPs-C12 leads to the appearance of a phenomenon of an exciton transference from to the Si core to oxide-related states that contribute to light emission. These excitons recombine radiatively, explaining why the emission quantum of the organic-terminated SiNPs is the same after surface oxidation of SiNPs-C12.

Nano-Localized Thermal Analysis and Mapping of Surface and Sub-Surface Thermal Properties Using Scanning Thermal Microscopy (SThM).

Determining and acting on thermo-physical properties at the nanoscale is essential for understanding/managing heat distribution in micro/nanostructured materials and miniaturized devices. Adequate thermal nano-characterization techniques are required to address thermal issues compromising device performance. Scanning thermal microscopy (SThM) is a probing and acting technique based on atomic force microscopy using a nano-probe designed to act as a thermometer and resistive heater, achieving high spatial resolution. Enabling direct observation and mapping of thermal properties such as thermal conductivity, SThM is becoming a powerful tool with a critical role in several fields, from material science to device thermal management. We present an overview of the different thermal probes, followed by the contribution of SThM in three currently significant research topics. First, in thermal conductivity contrast studies of graphene monolayers deposited on different substrates, SThM proves itself a reliable technique to clarify the intriguing thermal properties of graphene, which is considered an important contributor to improve the performance of downscaled devices and materials. Second, SThM's ability to perform sub-surface imaging is highlighted by thermal conductivity contrast analysis of polymeric composites. Finally, an approach to induce and study local structural transitions in ferromagnetic shape memory alloy Ni-Mn-Ga thin films using localized nano-thermal analysis is presented.

The role of parkinson's disease-associated receptor GPR37 in the hippocampus: functional interplay with the adenosinergic system.

GPR37 is an orphan G protein-coupled receptor mostly enriched in brain areas such as the cerebellum, striatum, and hippocampus. Identified as a substrate of parkin, GPR37 has been suggested to play a role in Parkinson's disease. Distributed throughout the brain, the function of GPR37, however, remains unknown. We now provide the first mapping of GPR37 within the hippocampus, where GPR37 is widely expressed and localized at the level of the extrasynaptic plasma membrane of dendritic spines, dendritic shafts, and axon terminals. GPR37 per se does not appear to play a role in learning and memory, since knocking out GPR37 (GPR37-KO) did not alter the performance in different hippocampal-related memory tasks. This is in agreement with slice electrophysiology experiments showing no differences both in short-term plasticity paired-pulse facilitation and long-term potentiation between WT and GPR37-KO mice. However, we report a potential functional interaction between GPR37 and adenosine A2A receptors (A2 A R) in the hippocampus, with A2 A R modulating the GPR37-associated phenotype. Thus, the absence of GPR37 appeared to sensitize mice to hippocampal A2 A R-mediated signaling, as observed by the effect of the A2 A R antagonist SCH58261 increasing synaptic depotentiation, reducing novel object recognition memory and reverting the anxiolytic effect of GPR37 deletion. Collectively, these findings afford insight into the localization and role of the orphan GPR37 within the hippocampus with potential involvement in A2 A R function (i.e., A2 A R sensitization). GPR37 is an orphan G protein-coupled receptor widely expressed in the hippocampus and localized at the level of the extrasynaptic plasma membrane of dendritic spines, dendritic shafts and axon terminals. This orphan receptor per se does not appear to directly control the learning and memory processes; however knocking-out GPR37 triggers anxiolytic-like effects and sensitizes mice to hippocampal A2A R-mediated signalling.

Characterization of human disease phenotypes associated with mutations in TREX1, RNASEH2A, RNASEH2B, RNASEH2C, SAMHD1, ADAR, and IFIH1.

Aicardi-Goutières syndrome is an inflammatory disease occurring due to mutations in any of TREX1, RNASEH2A, RNASEH2B, RNASEH2C, SAMHD1, ADAR or IFIH1. We report on 374 patients from 299 families with mutations in these seven genes. Most patients conformed to one of two fairly stereotyped clinical profiles; either exhibiting an in utero disease-onset (74 patients; 22.8% of all patients where data were available), or a post-natal presentation, usually within the first year of life (223 patients; 68.6%), characterized by a sub-acute encephalopathy and a loss of previously acquired skills. Other clinically distinct phenotypes were also observed; particularly, bilateral striatal necrosis (13 patients; 3.6%) and non-syndromic spastic paraparesis (12 patients; 3.4%). We recorded 69 deaths (19.3% of patients with follow-up data). Of 285 patients for whom data were available, 210 (73.7%) were profoundly disabled, with no useful motor, speech and intellectual function. Chilblains, glaucoma, hypothyroidism, cardiomyopathy, intracerebral vasculitis, peripheral neuropathy, bowel inflammation and systemic lupus erythematosus were seen frequently enough to be confirmed as real associations with the Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome phenotype. We observed a robust relationship between mutations in all seven genes with increased type I interferon activity in cerebrospinal fluid and serum, and the increased expression of interferon-stimulated gene transcripts in peripheral blood. We recorded a positive correlation between the level of cerebrospinal fluid interferon activity assayed within one year of disease presentation and the degree of subsequent disability. Interferon-stimulated gene transcripts remained high in most patients, indicating an ongoing disease process. On the basis of substantial morbidity and mortality, our data highlight the urgent need to define coherent treatment strategies for the phenotypes associated with mutations in the Aicardi-Goutières syndrome-related genes. Our findings also make it clear that a window of therapeutic opportunity exists relevant to the majority of affected patients and indicate that the assessment of type I interferon activity might serve as a useful biomarker in future clinical trials.

Contact angles and wettability of ionic liquids on polar and non-polar surfaces.

Many applications involving ionic liquids (ILs) require the knowledge of their interfacial behaviour, such as wettability and adhesion. In this context, herein, two approaches were combined aiming at understanding the impact of the IL chemical structures on their wettability on both polar and non-polar surfaces, namely: (i) the experimental determination of the contact angles of a broad range of ILs (covering a wide number of anions of variable polarity, cations, and cation alkyl side chain lengths) on polar and non-polar solid substrates (glass, Al-plate, and poly-(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE)); and (ii) the correlation of the experimental contact angles with the cation-anion pair interaction energies generated by the Conductor-like Screening Model for Real Solvents (COSMO-RS). The combined results reveal that the hydrogen-bond basicity of ILs, and thus the IL anion, plays a major role through their wettability on both polar and non-polar surfaces. The increase of the IL hydrogen-bond accepting ability leads to an improved wettability of more polar surfaces (lower contact angles) while the opposite trend is observed on non-polar surfaces. The cation nature and alkyl side chain lengths have however a smaller impact on the wetting ability of ILs. Linear correlations were found between the experimental contact angles and the cation-anion hydrogen-bonding and cation ring energies, estimated using COSMO-RS, suggesting that these features primarily control the wetting ability of ILs. Furthermore, two-descriptor correlations are proposed here to predict the contact angles of a wide variety of ILs on glass, Al-plate, and PTFE surfaces. A new extended list is provided for the contact angles of ILs on three surfaces, which can be used as a priori information to choose appropriate ILs before a given application.

Mutations in ADAR1, IFIH1, and RNASEH2B presenting as spastic paraplegia.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary spastic paraplegia is a neurodegenerative phenotype characterized by a progressive loss of corticospinal motor tract function. In a majority of affected individuals the pathogenesis remains undetermined. METHODS: We identified a series of patients with a phenotype of nonsyndromic spastic paraplegia in whom no diagnosis had been reached before exome sequencing. We measured the expression of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) in peripheral blood from these patients. RESULTS: Five patients from four families with previously unexplained spastic paraplegia were identified with mutations in either ADAR1 (one patient), IFIH1 (one patient), or RNASEH2B (three patients from two families). All patients were developmentally normal before the onset of features beginning in the second year of life. All patients remain of normal intellect. Four patients demonstrated normal neuroimaging, while a single patient had features of nonspecific dysmyelination. The patients with ADAR1 and IFIH1-related disease showed a robust interferon signature. The patients with mutations in RNASEH2B demonstrated no (two patients) or a minimal (one patient) upregulation of ISGs compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: Mutations in ADAR1, IFIH1, and RNASEH2B can cause a phenotype of spastic paraplegia with normal neuroimaging, or in association with nonspecific dysmyelination. Although the presence of an interferon signature can be helpful in interpreting the significance of gene variants in this context, patients with pathogenic mutations in RNASEH2B may demonstrate no upregulation of ISGs in peripheral blood. However, it remains possible that type I interferons act as a neurotoxin in the context of all genotypes.

Advances in screening hyperthermic nanomedicines in 3D tumor models.

Hyperthermic nanomedicines are particularly relevant for tackling human cancer, providing a valuable alternative to conventional therapeutics. The early-stage preclinical performance evaluation of such anti-cancer treatments is conventionally performed in flat 2D cell cultures that do not mimic the volumetric heat transfer occurring in human tumors. Recently, improvements in bioengineered 3D in vitro models have unlocked the opportunity to recapitulate major tumor microenvironment hallmarks and generate highly informative readouts that can contribute to accelerating the discovery and validation of efficient hyperthermic treatments. Leveraging on this, herein we aim to showcase the potential of engineered physiomimetic 3D tumor models for evaluating the preclinical efficacy of hyperthermic nanomedicines, featuring the main advantages and design considerations under diverse testing scenarios. The most recent applications of 3D tumor models for screening photo- and/or magnetic nanomedicines will be discussed, either as standalone systems or in combinatorial approaches with other anti-cancer therapeutics. We envision that breakthroughs toward developing multi-functional 3D platforms for hyperthermia onset and follow-up will contribute to a more expedited discovery of top-performing hyperthermic therapies in a preclinical setting before their in vivo screening.

Public-Private Partnerships Model Applied to Hospitals-A Critical Review.

In this paper, a conceptual framework for investigating the PPP model as it relates to hospitals is proposed. When the PPP model is applied to healthcare (hospitals), it is possible to discover the path to success by developing a critical assessment and deriving a clear model. It is concluded that most PPP model implementations in hospitals around the world have produced favorable outcomes, both in terms of the performance of healthcare units and in terms of cost-effectiveness. Additionally, a path-to-success model that applies to hospitals is offered, taking into account six PPP model dimensions: (i) Environment; (ii) Potentiate Benefits; (iii) Constant Measure; (iv) Evaluation; (v) Management; and (vi) Enhance Strengths. The PPP model only applies case by case and under specific requirements that should be met cumulatively to provide additional value to healthcare's quality of service. The right conditions are created, the right benefits are amplified, public concerns are frequently assessed, private contributions are carefully considered, and all pressing challenges are managed by enhancing both public and private strengths. Leading decision- and action-making processes in corporate, governmental, and social sectors is the goal of managing PPP models.

Diaphragmatic hernia after radiofrequency ablation of liver metastases: a case report and review of the literature.

A diaphragmatic hernia is the protrusion of abdominal tissues into the thoracic cavity secondary to a defect in the diaphragm. Reviewing the literature, we found only 44 references to diaphragmatic hernia secondary to percutaneous radiofrequency treatment. The vast majority of these cases were secondary to the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in segments V and VIII. Nevertheless, to date, this is the first reported case of diaphragmatic hernia after radiofrequency ablation of a liver metastasis from colorectal cancer. Complications secondary to diaphragmatic hernias are very diverse. The principal risk factor for complications is the contents of the hernia; when small bowel or colon segments protrude in the thoracic cavity, they can become incarcerated. Asymptomatic cases have also been reported in which the diaphragmatic hernia was discovered during follow-up. The pathophysiological mechanism is not totally clear, but it is thought that these diaphragmatic hernias might be caused by locoregional thermal damage. Given that most communications correspond to asymptomatic and/or treated cases, it is likely that the incidence is underestimated. However, due to the advent of percutaneous treatments, this complication might be reported more often in the future. Most cases are treated with primary herniorrhaphy, done with a laparoscopic or open approach at the surgeon's discretion; no evidence supports the use of one approach over the other. Nevertheless, it seems clear that surgery is the only definitive treatment, as well as the treatment of choice if complications develop. However, in asymptomatic patients in whom a diaphragmatic hernia is discovered in follow-up imaging studies, management should probably be guided by the patient's overall condition, taking into account the potential risks of complications (contents, diameter of the opening into the thoracic cavity …).

Ex-situ magnetic activated carbon for the adsorption of three pharmaceuticals with distinct physicochemical properties from real wastewater.

Pharmaceuticals are able to evade conventional wastewater treatments and therefore, are recurrently found in the environment with proven potential to cause harm to human and wildlife. Adsorption onto activated carbon (AC) is a promising complement. However, AC production from non-renewable resources and its difficult after-use recuperation are prohibitive. Hence, a waste-based magnetic activated carbon (MAC) was produced from paper mill sludge, via an ex-situ synthesis, for the adsorptive removal of carbamazepine (CBZ), sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and ibuprofen (IBU) from ultrapure water and wastewater. The MAC was obtained through the promotion of electrostatic interactions between magnetic and activated carbon particles in a water suspension at controlled pH between the points of zero charge of both surfaces. The optimized condition (MACX3) presented remarkable properties regarding specific surface area (SBET=795 m2 g-1) and saturation magnetization (MS=19 emu g-1). Kinetic and equilibrium adsorption studies were performed under batch conditions. Adsorption equilibrium was reached in up to 30 min for all pharmaceuticals in both matrices, proving the low dependence on the adsorbate and the broad applicability of MACX3 in pharmaceutical adsorption. Regarding equilibrium experiments, high Langmuir maximum adsorption capacities (qm) were achieved in ultrapure water (up to 711 ± 40 µmol g-1). Equilibrium studies in wastewater revealed a decay in qm when compared to ultrapure water: 28% for CBZ (468 ± 20 µmol g-1 (111 ± 5 mg g-1)), 78% for SMX (145 ± 10 µmol g-1 (37 ± 3 mg g-1)) and 62% for IBU (273 ± 8 µmol g-1 (56 ± 2 mg g-1)), attributed to the wastewater pH, which dictates the speciation of the pharmaceuticals and controls electrostatic interactions between pharmaceuticals and MAC, and to competition effects by organic matter. It was demonstrated the promising applicability of a waste-based ex-situ MAC, rapidly retrievable from water, as an alternative tertiary wastewater treatment for pharmaceuticals removal.