Comparative Studies of the Structural and Physicochemical Properties of the First Fullerene Derivative FD-C60 (Fullerenol) and Second Fullerene Derivate SD-C60 (3HFWC).

In order to maximally reduce the toxicity of fullerenol (the first derivative of C60, FD-C60), and increase its biomedical efficiency, the second derivative SD-C60 (3HFWC, Hyper-Harmonized Hydroxylated Fullerene Water Complex) was created. Several different methods were applied in the comparative characterization of FD-C60 and SD-C60 with the same OH groups in their core. FD-C60 as an individual structure was about 1.3 nm in size, while SD-C60 as an individual structure was 10-30 nm in size. Based on ten physicochemical methods and techniques, FD-C60 and SD-C60 were found to be two different substances in terms of size, structure, and physicochemical properties; FD-C60, at 100 °C, had endothermic characteristics, while SD-C60, at 133 °C, had exothermic characteristics; FD-C60 did not have water layers, while SD-C60 had water layers; the zeta potential of FD-C60 was -25.85 mV, while it was -43.29 mV for SD-C60. SD-C60 is a promising substance for use in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Opto-magnetic imaging spectroscopy in analyzing rotary NiTi endodontic instruments.

Intra-canal fracture of rotary NiTi instruments occurs due to torsional stress, cyclic fatigue, or a combination of these two factors. Broken instruments are a serious obstacle to shaping, cleaning, and filling of the root canal and can adversely affect the outcome of endodontic therapy. The aim of this study was to examine the magnetic properties and ultrastructural changes of new, used, and fractured NiTi instruments using opto-magnetic imaging spectroscopy (OMIS). The study included three sets of different types of rotary instruments: MTwo (VDW, Munich, Germany), Pro Taper Universal (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland), and BioRace (FKG DENTAIRE Swiss Dental Products, Le Crêt-du-Locle Switzerland). Root canal shaping was performed on root canals with different curvatures, and after intra-canal fracture, instruments of the same type (new, used, and fractured) were analyzed using OMIS at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Belgrade. The obtained results showed a coincidence of peak localization for the used instruments that did not suffer a fracture, as well as for new, unused instruments of all examined groups. Additionally, there was a coincidence of peak intensities for new and fractured instruments in all groups. The specific treatment of electropolishing of the active surface of BioRace instruments caused a completely different electromagnetic response compared to conventional NiTi sets of tested instruments. New, unused BioRace instruments had the most pronounced positive (5.6078 n.a.u. x1000) and negative (-8.5218 n.a.u. x1000) intensity values. The analysis of NiTi instruments using opto-magnetic imaging spectroscopy indicated changes in the magnetic properties after their instrumentation.

The Second Derivative of Fullerene C60 (SD-C60) and Biomolecular Machinery of Hydrogen Bonds: Water-Based Nanomedicine.

The human body contains 60-70% water, depending on age. As a body fluid, it is not only a medium in which physical and chemical processes take place, but it is also one of the active mediators. Water is the richest substance with non-covalent hydrogen bonds. Water molecules, by themselves (in vacuum), are diamagnetic but when organized into clusters, they become diamagnetic or paramagnetic. Also, biomolecules (DNA, collagen, clathrin, and other proteins) have non-covalent hydrogen bonds in their structure. The interaction, as well as signal transmission, between water and biomolecules is achieved through the vibrations of covalent and non-covalent hydrogen bonds, which determine the state and dynamics of conformational changes in biomolecules. Disruptive conformational changes in biomolecules, cells, and tissues lead to their dysfunctionality, so they are a frequent cause of many disorders and diseases. For example, the rearrangement of hydrogen bonding due to mitochondrial disease mutation in cytochrome bc1 disturbs heme bH redox potential and spin state. In order to prevent and repair the dysfunctional conformational changes, a liquid substance was developed based on the second derivative of the C60 molecule (SD-C60), which has classical and quantum properties. The characterization of SD-C60 by UV-VIS-NIR, FTIR, TEM, and AFM/MFM was performed and it is shown that SD-C60 water layers generate vibrations with near-zero phase dispersion which are transmitted through Fibonacci's water chains to biomolecules. In comparison with previously published SD-C60 derivate (3HFWC, size until 10 nm, and 1-5 water layers), the improved formulation (3HFWC-W, size 10-25 nm, and 6-9 water layers) showed multiplied cytotoxic activity against melanoma cell lines of different aggressiveness. Apart from this, the mode of action was preserved and based on an induction of senescence rather than cell death. Importantly, high selectivity towards malignant phenotypes was detected. Observed effects can be ascribed to a machinery of hydrogen bonds, which are generated in SD-C60 and transmitted through water to biomolecules. This approach may open a new field in science and healthcare-a "water-based nanomedicine".

Predicting anemia using NIR spectrum of spent dialysis fluid in hemodialysis patients.

Anemia is commonly present in hemodialysis (HD) patients and significantly affects their survival and quality of life. NIR spectroscopy and machine learning were used as a method to detect anemia in hemodialysis patients. The aim of this investigation has been to evaluate the near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as a method for non-invasive on-line detection of anemia parameters from HD effluent by assessing the correlation between the spectrum of spent dialysate in the wavelength range of 700-1700 nm and the levels of hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBC), hematocrit (Hct), iron (Fe), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), ferritin (FER), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in patient blood. The obtained correlation coefficient (R) for RBC was 0.93, for Hb 0.92, for Fe 0.94, for TIBC 0.96, for FER 0.91, for Hct 0.94, for MCV 0.92, for MCHC 0.92 and for MCH 0.93. The observed high correlations between the NIR spectrum of the dialysate fluid and the levels of the studied variables support the use of NIRS as a promising method for on-line monitoring of anemia and iron saturation parameters in HD patients.

Sensitivity and specificity of ex vivo dermatoscopy: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Sensitivity and specificity of ex vivo dermatoscopy (EVD) for malignancy detection of skin tumors is unknown. We sought to assess whether the use of EVD could be a useful adjunct to histopathological diagnosis of pigmented skin tumors, including cases where complete clinical information is inadequate or missing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: EVD was performed on 195 excised, formalin-fixed pigmented skin tumors. RESULTS: Of 183 eligible lesions, 104 (56.8%) were melanocytic and 79 (43.2%) nonmelanocytic. Overall, 54 (29.5%) were malignant: 10 melanomas, 39 basal cell carcinomas, and five squamous cell carcinomas. Ex vivo images were devoid of red color. The following colors were seen: light and dark brown, grey, blue, black, and white. All structures typical for pigmented melanocytic and nonmelanocytic lesions were observed. In malignant nonmelanocytic lesions, diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity for malignant/benign decision was not better when combining visual assessment and EVD but diagnostic specificity improved by 3.0%. For melanoma, combined diagnostics improved diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for 9.6, 30.0, and 7.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: For dermatopathologists, EVD offers increased specificity for all categories of tumors and increased diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for melanoma. With EVD view, the dermatopathologist can instantly find areas of interest, thus minimizing the possibility for missing a malignant lesion.

Nanomagnetic behavior of fullerene thin films in Earth magnetic field in dark and under polarization light influences.

In this paper magnetic fields intensity of C60 thin films of 60 nm and 100 nm thickness under the influence of polarization lights are presented. Two proton magnetometers were used for measurements. Significant change of magnetic field intensity in range from 2.5 nT to 12.3 nT is identified as a difference of dark and polarization lights of 60 nm and 100 nm thin films thickness, respectively. Specific power density of polarization light was 40 mW/cm2. Based on 200 measurement data average value of difference between magnetic intensity of C60 thin films, with 60 nm and 100 nm thickness, after influence of polarization light, were 3.9 nT and 9.9 nT respectively.

Electrical properties of human skin as aging biomarkers.

A non-invasive bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) and Cole-Cole impedance model parameters (R0, R∞, τ and α) were used to analyze electrical properties of intact and stripped human skin for both gender subjects divided into younger and older age groups. R0, R∞ and τ significantly increased while α significantly decreased with age in stripped skin for both genders (p<0.031). Using pooled data with respect to age, gender and skin stripping, R0, R∞ and τ values were shown to increase with age (p<0.0034), R0, τ and α were different between genders (p<0.024) and R0, R∞ and τ decreased with skin stripping (p<0.000008). All of four Cole-Cole parameters were age dependent with specific differences observed for genders and intact and stripped skin layers. Therefore, Cole-Cole parameters, obtained by non-invasive BIS measurements, are a new type of age dependent biomarkers.