Leptin favors Th17/Treg cell subsets imbalance associated with allergic asthma severity.

Background: Obesity has often been associated with severe allergic asthma (AA). Here, we analyzed the frequency of different circulating CD4+T-cell subsets from lean, overweight and obese AA patients. Methods: Mononuclear cells from peripheral blood were obtained from 60 AA patients and the frequency of different CD4+T-cell subsets and type 1 regulatory B cells (Br1) was determined by cytometry. The effect of obese-related leptin dose on cytokine production and Treg cell function in AA-derived CD4+ T cell cultures was evaluated by ELISA and 3H thymidine uptake, respectively. Leptin levels were quantified in the plasma by ELISA. According to the BMI, patients were stratified as lean, overweight and obese. Results: AA severity, mainly among obese patients, was associated with an expansion of hybrid Th2/Th17 and Th17-like cells rather than classic Th2-like cells. On the other hand, the frequencies of Th1-like, Br1 cells and regulatory CD4+ T-cell subsets were lower in patients with severe AA. While percentages of the hybrid Th2/Th17 phenotype and Th17-like cells positively correlated with leptin levels, the frequencies of regulatory CD4+ T-cell subsets and Br1 cells negatively correlated with this adipokine. Interestingly, the obesity-related leptin dose not only elevated Th2 and Th17 cytokine levels, but also directly reduced the Treg function in CD4+ T cell cultures from lean AA patients. Conclusion: In summary, our results indicated that obesity might increase AA severity by favoring the expansion of Th17-like and Th2/Th17 cells and decreasing regulatory CD4+T cell subsets, being adverse effects probably mediated by leptin overproduction.

Multiresidue determination of fluoroquinolones in poultry muscle and kidney according to the regulation 2002/657/EC. A systematic comparison of two different approaches: Liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry or tandem mass spectrometry.

This work involved the optimization and validation of two methods according to the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC directives for determining fluoroquinolones residues in samples of poultry muscle and kidney: ciprofloxacin, danofloxacin, difloxacin, enrofloxacin, flumequine, marbofloxacin, nalidixic acid, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, oxolinic acid, pipemidic acid and sarafloxacin. The extraction procedure was based on a QuEChERS approach, whose optimization employed a Box-Behnken 3(3) factorial design. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method (LC-MS/MS) was developed for determining the twelve analytes using the multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM). Accuracy, evaluated by recovery studies, varied from 88.8 to 112.2% for the selected levels with RSD values lower than 12.3%. The second validated method employed high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) performed in the single ion monitoring mode (SIM), determining nine among twelve analytes. The validation parameters were evaluated as satisfactory, with recoveries from 82.5 to 114.4% and RSD lower than 8.7%. Decision limits and detection capabilities for both methods were reported. The two methods were statistically compared using the Student's t test, at 95% confidence level, resulting in no significant difference.

Efficient and versatile fibrous adsorbent based on magnetic amphiphilic composites of chrysotile/carbon nanostructures for the removal of ethynilestradiol.

In this work, chrysotile was used as support to grow carbon nanotubes and nanofibers to produce fibrous amphiphilic magnetic nanostructured composites. Iron impregnated on the chrysotile surface at 1, 5 and 15 wt% was used as catalyst to grow carbon nanostructures by CVD (chemical vapor deposition) with ethanol at 800°C. Raman, TG/DTA, Mössbauer, XRD, BET, SEM, TEM, elemental analyses and contact angle measurements suggested the formation of a complex amphiphilic material containing up to 21% of nanostructured hydrophobic carbon supported on hydrophilic Mg silicate fibers with magnetic Fe cores protected by carbon coating. Adsorption tests for the hormone ethynilestradiol (EE), a hazardous water contaminant, showed remarkable adsorption capacities even compared to high surface area activated carbon and multiwall carbon nanotubes. These results are discussed in terms of the hydrophobic surface of the carbon nanotubes and nanofibers completely exposed and accessible for the adsorption of the EE molecules combined with the hydrophilic Mg silicate surface which allows good dispersion in water. The composites are magnetic and after adsorption the dispersed particles can be removed by a simple magnetic process. Moreover, the fibrous composites can be conformed as threads, screens and pellets to produce different filtering media.

Insights into the multi-equilibrium, superstructure system based on ß-cyclodextrin and a highly water soluble guest.

Pentamidine isethionate (PNT) is an antiprotozoal active in many cases of leishmaniasis, despite the present limitations including high toxicity and parenteral administration. In the present work, a PNT encapsulation strategy into ß-cyclodextrin cavity at 1:1 and 2:1 (ßCD:PNT) molar ratios was used in order to improve the drug's physical and chemical properties. Combining thermodynamic and structural approaches such as isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR, and ROESY) the inclusion process and the thermodynamics parameters were identified. ITC and ESI-MS experimental data suggest the simultaneous formation of different supramolecular complexes in solution. Moreover, NMR data are in accordance with these results, suggesting a deep inclusion of PNT into the ßCD cavity, through correlations observed in 2D ROESY contour maps. The systems were also characterized by FTIR, TG/DTA and SEM. These techniques indicate the formation of inclusion complex in the solid state. In vivo PNT activity was evaluated orally in mice. The inclusion complex showed a significant reduction of parasite load compared to free PNT.