Dispersive x-ray absorption spectroscopy for time-resolved in situ monitoring of mechanochemical reactions.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) provides a unique, atom-specific tool to probe the electronic structure of solids. By surmounting long-held limitations of powder-based XAS using a dynamically averaged powder in a Resonant Acoustic Mixer (RAM), we demonstrate how time-resolved in situ (TRIS) XAS provides unprecedented detail of mechanochemical synthesis. The use of a custom-designed dispersive XAS (DXAS) setup allows us to increase the time resolution over existing fluorescence measurements from ∼15 min to 2 s for a complete absorption spectrum. Hence, we here establish TRIS-XAS as a viable method for studying mechanochemical reactions and sampling reaction kinetics. The generality of our approach is demonstrated through RAM-induced (i) bottom-up Au nanoparticle mechanosynthesis and (ii) the synthesis of a prototypical metal organic framework, ZIF-8. Moreover, we demonstrate that our approach also works with the addition of a stainless steel milling ball, opening the door to using TRIS-DXAS for following conventional ball milling reactions. We expect that our TRIS-DXAS approach will become an essential part of the mechanochemical tool box.

Expression of the ionotropic glutamate receptors on neuronostatin neurons in the periventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus.

BACKGROUND: Neuronostatin, a newly identified peptide, is accepted as an anorexigenic peptide since it suppresses food intake when given intracerebroventricularly. Although the effect mechanisms of neuronostatin have been shown in different studies, there are no reports in the literature describing the mechanisms controlling neuronostatin neurons. In this study, we aimed to determine the presence of the ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits (iGluRs) in neuronostatin neurons in the periventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The presence of glutamate receptors in neuronostatin neurons was investigated by dual immunohistochemistry. Immunohistochemistry was performed on 40 µm thick coronal brain sections with antibodies against AMPA (GluA1-4), kainate (GluK1/2/3, and GluK5), and NMDA (GluN1 and GluN2A) receptor subunits. RESULTS: The results showed that the neuronostatin neurons expressed most of the NMDA and non-NMDA receptor subunits. The neuronostatin neurons in the anterior hypothalamic periventricular nucleus were particularly immunopositive for GluA1, GluA4, GluK1/2/3, GluK5 and GluN1 antibodies. No expression was observed for GluA2, GluA3 and GluN2A antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time in the literature, our study demonstrated that the neuronostatin neurons express glutamate receptor subunits which may form homomeric or heteromeric functional receptor complexes. Taken together, these results suggest that multiple subunits of iGluRs are responsible for glutamate transmission on neuronostatin neurons in the anterior hypothalamic periventricular nucleus.

Glutamate receptor antagonist suppresses the activation of nesfatin-1 neurons following refeeding or glucose administration.

BACKGROUND: Nesfatin-1 is a newly identified satiety peptide that has regulatory effects on food intake and glucose metabolism, and is located in the hypothalamic nuclei, including the supraoptic nucleus (SON). In this study, we have investigated the hypothesis that nesfatin-1 neurons are activated by refeeding and intraperitoneal glucose injection and that the glutamatergic system has regulatory influences on nesfatin-1 neurons in the SON. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The first set of experiments analysed activation of nesfatin-1 neurons after refeeding as a physiological stimulus and the effectiveness of the glutamatergic system on this physiological stimulation. The subjects were randomly divided into three groups: fasting group, refeeding group and antagonist (CNQX + refeeding) group. The second set of experiments analysed activation of nesfatin-1 neurons by glucose injection as a metabolic stimulus and the effectiveness of the glutamatergic system on this metabolic stimulation. The subjects were randomly divided into three groups: saline group, glucose group and antagonist (CNQX + glucose) group. RESULTS: Refeeding significantly increased the number of activated nesfatin-1 neurons by approximately 66%, and intraperitoneal glucose injection activated these neurons by about 55%, compared to the fasting and saline controls. The injections of glutamate antagonist (CNQX) greatly decreased the number of activated nesfatin-1 neurons. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that nesfatin-1 neurons were activated by peripheral and/or metabolic signals and that this effect was mediated through the glutamatergic system.

Nutritional status and constipation scoring of inguinal hernia patients: a case-control study.

PURPOSE: There are many risk factors for inguinal hernia that have been determined in the literature, but the relationship between nutritional status and inguinal hernia has not yet been examined. In this study, we evaluated the constipation scale and food consumption of patients with inguinal hernia. METHODS: This prospective case-control study was performed between March 2018 and March 2019. The patients who were admitted for inguinal hernia operation were the case group, and those patients who had been admitted to the same hospital without inguinal hernia were the control group. The age, body mass index, alcohol and smoking habits, daily activity, and the Wexner constipation scoring were examined using a questionnaire and 3-day food consumption records were noted. RESULTS: A total of 203 volunteers were included in the study. Of these, 88 patients were in the control group, and 115 patients were in the case group. The age and gender distribution of the groups was similar. Cigarette and alcohol usages are statistically high in the case group. The Wexner constipation scale of the groups was statistically high in the case group. In the univariate analysis, smoking, alcohol consumption, total constipation score, red meat consumption, chicken consumption, bread consumption, low fiber consumption, low egg consumption, low carbohydrate, and low energy intake were effective in hernia formation, and in the multivariate analysis, total constipation score, red meat consumption, chicken consumption, excess bread consumption, low energy intake, and low fiber consumption were significant as independent variables. CONCLUSION: Our study is the first to evaluate whether there is a relationship between inguinal hernia and nutrition, according to the literature. Lifestyle modifications and a healthy diet with the consumption of less meat and more vegetables may have an impact on the reduction of hernia occurrence.

A unique case of anomalous coronary origin detected by 64-row multislice computed tomography coronary angiography.

The anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the right sinus of valsalva is an anatomical abnormality that is usually associated with myocardial ischaemia and sudden death. We report on a case in which three different diagnostic techniques were used to find the cause of the ischaemic symptoms in a patient whose left coronary artery originated anomalously in the right sinus of valsalva and followed a course between the aorta and the pulmonary trunk. The techniques were treadmill exercise test for ischaemia, conventional angiography, which was used for the initial diagnosis, and 64-row multislice computerised tomography, used to determine the anomalous course of the artery.

Systemic Modulation of Gene Expression in Tomato by Trichoderma hamatum 382.

ABSTRACT A light sphagnum peat mix inoculated with Trichoderma hamatum 382 consistently provided a significant (P = 0.05) degree of protection against bacterial spot of tomato and its pathogen Xanthomonas euvesicatoria 110c compared with the control peat mix, even though this biocontrol agent did not colonize aboveground plant parts. To gain insight into the mechanism by which T. hamatum 382 induced resistance in tomato, high-density oligonucleotide microarrays were used to determine its effect on the expression pattern of 15,925 genes in leaves just before they were inoculated with the pathogen. T. hamatum 382 consistently modulated the expression of genes in tomato leaves. We identified 45 genes to be differentially expressed across the replicated treatments, and 41 of these genes could be assigned to at least one of seven functional categories. T. hamatum 382-induced genes have functions associated with biotic or abiotic stress, as well as RNA, DNA, and protein metabolism. Four extensin and extensin-like proteins were induced. However, besides pathogenesis-related protein 5, the main markers of systemic acquired resistance were not significantly induced. This work showed that T. hamatum 382 actively induces systemic changes in plant physiology and disease resistance through systemic modulation of the expression of stress and metabolism genes.