Micro/nanoscale magnetic robots for biomedical applications.

Magnetic small-scale robots are devices of great potential for the biomedical field because of the several benefits of this method of actuation. Recent work on the development of these devices has seen tremendous innovation and refinement toward â€‹improved performance for potential clinical applications. This review briefly details recent advancements in small-scale robots used for biomedical applications, covering their design, fabrication, applications, and demonstration of ability, and identifies the gap in studies and the difficulties that have persisted in the optimization of the use of these devices. In addition, alternative biomedical applications are also suggested for some of the technologies that show potential for other functions. This study concludes that although the field of small-scale robot research is highly innovative â€‹there is need for more concerted efforts to improve functionality and reliability of these devices particularly in clinical applications. Finally, further suggestions are made toward â€‹the achievement of commercialization for these devices.

Total chemical synthesis of lassomycin and lassomycin-amide.

Herein we report a practical synthetic route to the lasso peptide lassomycin () and C-terminal variant lassomycin-amide (). The biological evaluation of peptides and against Mycobacterium tuberculosis revealed that neither had any activity against this bacterium. This lack of biological activity has led us to propose that naturally occurring lassomycin may actually exhibit a standard lasso peptide threaded conformation rather than the previously reported unthreaded structure.

Clozapine-induced myocarditis: is mandatory monitoring warranted for its early recognition?

Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic used for treatment resistant schizophrenia. Its potential to induce agranulocytosis is well known but it can also cause myocarditis. Clozapine is the only antipsychotic known to induce this side effect, typically early in the treatment, and literature is scarce on this condition. We are presenting a case report of a 21-year-old schizophrenic male who developed myocarditis within 3 weeks of starting on clozapine for his treatment resistant psychosis. We then aim to review some of the available literature and raise awareness among physicians as this condition can potentially be fatal if not detected early.

Measurement of tanning dependence.

BACKGROUND: Indoor tanning has been found to be addictive. However, the most commonly used tanning dependence measures have not been well validated. OBJECTIVE: The study's purpose was to explore the psychometric characteristics of and compare the modified Cut-down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener Scale (mCAGE), modified Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Edition - Text Revised (mDSM-IV-TR) and Tanning Pathology Scale (TAPS) measures of tanning dependence and provide recommendations for research and practice. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional online survey with 18- to 25-year-old female university students. The main outcome variable was tanning dependence measured by the mCAGE, mDSM-IV-TR and TAPS. RESULTS: Internal consistency of the TAPS subscales was good but was poor for the mCAGE and mDSM-IV-TR, except when their items were combined. Agreement between the mCAGE and mDSM-IV-TR was fair. Factor analysis of the TAPS confirmed the current four-factor structure. All of the tanning dependence scales were significantly correlated with one another. Likewise, most of the tanning dependence scales were significantly correlated with other measures of tanning attitudes and behaviours. However, the tolerance to tanning TAPS subscale was not significantly correlated with any measure of tanning attitudes or behaviours and had the lowest subscale internal reliability and eigenvalues. CONCLUSION: Based on the data and existing literature, we make recommendations for the continued use of tanning dependence measures. Intervention may be needed for the approximately 5% of college women who tend to be classified as tanning dependent across measures. Monitoring of individuals reporting tanning dependence symptoms is warranted.

Raman spectra of biomarkers of relevance to analytical astrobiological exploration: hopanoids, sterols and steranes.

The aim of this work is to investigate the viability and potential of three groups of organic compounds as biomarkers in a future robotic analytical exploration of Mars. The three compounds have been identified as suitable candidates for potential biomarkers for extant or extinct life from the terrestrial fossil record. The three groups of compound were all similar in structure, being either tetra- or penta-cyclic compounds. The limits of detection for a sample were also tested to estimate what concentrations it would still be amenable to Raman spectroscopic investigation. This was investigated using both solid mixtures and liquid solutions. The spectra of these compounds are characterised so that they can be added to the Raman database for future Mars missions. This involved identifying functional group characteristics, assigning peaks for each individual sample and characteristic features which would categorise the samples.

A forensic case study: the detection of contraband drugs in carrier solutions by Raman spectroscopy.

Recently, cocaine has been concealed by dissolving it in alcohol and then transporting it in solution through ports and airports. At the present time it is very difficult to detect cocaine in this form in these environments. However, it has been shown that Raman spectroscopy can successfully detect the presence of these drugs without removing specimens from their containers. Using two portable 785 nm instruments and a 1064 nm laboratory-based instrument, several common containers used in smuggling were analyzed with varying concentrations of cocaine in ethanol solutions. The presence of cocaine is detectable to about 6% w/v in most containers. Green glass presents a problem at 785 nm due to fluorescence but by switching to 1064 nm this can be removed. To apply this technique to real samples as met within law enforcement scenarios, cocaine was dissolved in a selection of dark and white rums including Lamb's Navy Rum(™) , Brugal Añejo(™) , Bacardi(™) and Captain Morgan(™) ; cocaine was detected in all these rum solutions.

An experimental and computational study on the epimeric contribution to the infrared spectrum of budesonide.

Budesonide is a mixture of 22R and 22S epimers. The epimeric content of budesonide was reported in both British and European pharmacopoeias to be within the range of 60-49/40-51 for R and S epimers, respectively. In this work, contribution of the two epimers to the overall infrared spectrum of budesonide has been investigated by quantum chemical calculations.

Identification of a new co-crystal of salicylic acid and benzamide of pharmaceutical relevance.

Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction/X-ray crystallography and differential scanning calorimetry have been used to study the phenomenon of co-crystal formation in stoichiometric mixtures of salicylic acid with benzamide. Raman spectroscopy was particularly useful for the characterization of the products and was used to determine the nature of the interactions in the co-crystals. It was observed that little change in the vibrational modes associated with the phenyl groups of the respective reactants took place upon co-crystal formation, but changes in intensities of the vibrational modes associated with the amide and the carboxylic acid groups were observed upon co-crystal formation. Several new vibrational bands were identified in the co-crystal which were not manifested in the physical mixture of both components and could be used as diagnostic features of co-crystal formation.

Isolation, purification and characterization of an antifungal molecule produced by Bacillus licheniformis BC98, and its effect on phytopathogen Magnaporthe grisea.

AIMS: Isolation of bacterial antagonist for use in the biological control of phytopathogenic fungi like rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe grisea, and to further purify and characterize the antifungal molecule produced by the antagonist. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bacterial antagonist exhibiting highest antifungal activity against the rice blast fungus M. grisea was isolated from soil and identified as Bacillus licheniformis BC98. Besides M. grisea, the isolate also inhibited the growth of other phytopathogens such as Curvularia lunata and Rhizoctonia bataticola. Biologically active fractions were isolated from the culture filtrate and further fractionated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) enabling detailed structural characterization of a component of molecular mass 1035 Da. The active peptide was identified as surfactin after 500 MHz (1)H NMR analysis. Microscopic analysis of the effect of the antagonist on M. grisea revealed bulbous hyphae showing patchy and vacuolated cytoplasm when observed under the electron microscope. CONCLUSIONS: The antagonistic lipopeptide secreted by B. licheniformis BC98 and identified as surfactin, induced morphological changes in M. grisea, inhibiting its further growth, and thus exhibiting fungicidal activity. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The antagonist inhibits germination of M. grisea, a potent rice phytopathogen, and therefore appears to be a potential candidate for control of rice blast disease.

Analytical discrimination between sources of ginseng using Raman spectroscopy.

Ginseng is a widely used medicinal product that grows mainly in Korea, China and America. American ginseng is classified as an endangered species, and so the import and export of this type of ginseng is illegal in certain countries. Due to this restriction it is becoming increasingly important to be able to distinguish between different types of ginseng. FT-Raman spectroscopy has the ability to discriminate between ginseng specimens according to the country of origin and the effects of processing on the ginseng material. The ginsenoside content of ginseng differs in both conformation and concentration depending on the source of the ginseng, which means that ginseng grown in different countries should express unique spectral features. The presence or absence of these features, therefore, could indicate the geographical origin of the sample. Several spectral features were identified for a range of ginsengs, such as a peak at 980 cm(-1) that was only found in Chinese ginseng, and the different wavenumber positions of characteristic ginseng bands near 1600 cm(-1). This indicates that Raman spectroscopy can be used to pinpoint the origin of an unknown ginseng sample and that it would provide a rapid nondestructive analytical technique for formally discriminating between restricted and permitted imports.

Raman spectroscopic characterisations and analytical discrimination between caffeine and demethylated analogues of pharmaceutical relevance.

The FT Raman spectrum of caffeine was analysed along with that of its demethylated analogues, theobromine and theophylline. The similar but not identical structures of these three compounds allowed a more detailed assignment of the Raman bands. Noticeable differences in the Raman spectra of these compounds were apparent and key marker bands have been identified for the spectroscopic identification of these three compounds.

Induction of labour using prostaglandin E2 gel: the effect of changing the time of first insertion.

This study forms part of an on-going audit into induction of labour using prostaglandin E2 vaginal gel at a district general hospital. It looks at the effect of changing the time of first insertion of the gel from 2200 h to 1400 h in 80 primiparous women between 37 and 42 completed weeks' gestation, booked for induction of labour. Significant reductions in total cost of admission and length of hospital stay were associated with induction at 1400 h, and a trend to shorter time from induction to rupture of membranes and lower Caesarean section rate was also noted. Larger studies are needed.