Protein identification for stroke progression via Mendelian Randomization in Million Veteran Program and UK Biobank.

Background: Individuals who have experienced a stroke, or transient ischemic attack, face a heightened risk of future cardiovascular events. Identification of genetic and molecular risk factors for subsequent cardiovascular outcomes may identify effective therapeutic targets to improve prognosis after an incident stroke. Methods: We performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for subsequent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (Ncases=51,929, Ncntrl=39,980) and subsequent arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) Ncases=45,120, Ncntrl=46,789) after first incident stroke within the Million Veteran Program and UK Biobank. We then used genetic variants associated with proteins (pQTLs) to determine the effect of 1,463 plasma protein abundances on subsequent MACE using Mendelian randomization (MR). Results: Two variants were significantly associated with subsequent cardiovascular events: rs76472767 (OR=0.75, 95% CI = 0.64-0.85, p= 3.69×10-08) with subsequent AIS and rs13294166 (OR=1.52, 95% CI = 1.37-1.67, p=3.77×10-08) with subsequent MACE. Using MR, we identified 2 proteins with an effect on subsequent MACE after a stroke: CCL27 (effect OR= 0.77, 95% CI = 0.66-0.88, adj. p=0.05), and TNFRSF14 (effect OR=1.42, 95% CI = 1.24-1.60, adj. p=0.006). These proteins are not associated with incident AIS and are implicated to have a role in inflammation. Conclusions: We found evidence that two proteins with little effect on incident stroke appear to influence subsequent MACE after incident AIS. These associations suggest that inflammation is a contributing factor to subsequent MACE outcomes after incident AIS and highlights potential novel targets.

Actualización en carcinoma diferenciado de tiroides refractario a radioyodo / Update on iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid carcinoma

La terapia con radioyodo constituye un pilar fundamental en la terapia adyuvante de rutina de los pacientes con carcinoma diferenciado de tiroides de alto riesgo. Sin embargo, un porcentaje no despreciable de estos pacientes desarrollaran un estado de refractariedad a este tratamiento, mostrando un peor pronóstico, disminuyendo la supervivencia y la esperanza de vida, lo que demuestra una clara necesidad de explorar distintos abordajes terapéuticos. El tratamiento de los pacientes refractarios al radioyodo sigue siendo un desafío, disponiendo en la actualidad de distintas opciones terapéuticas novedosas que deben ser conocidas por las distintas especialidades relacionadas con el carcinoma diferenciado de tiroides (CDT). El objetivo del presente trabajo es hacer una revisión del CDT refractario al tratamiento con yodo radiactivo, centrándose especialmente en la definición de yodorrefractariedad, destacando su importancia por su elevada mortalidad, e introducir las diferentes opciones terapéuticas disponibles para estos pacientes (AU)

Radioiodine therapy represents a fundamental pillar in the routine adjuvant therapy of patients with high-risk differentiated thyroid carcinoma. However, a non-negligible percentage of these patients will develop iodine refractoriness, showing a worse prognosis, as well a lower survival, which demonstrates a clear need to explore different therapeutic approaches. Iodine refractory patient treatment continues to be a challenge, currently having different novel therapeutic options that should be known by the different specialties related to differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). The aim of this work is to review iodine refractory thyroid carcinoma treatment, focusing especially on the definition of iodine refractoriness, highlighting its importance due to its high mortality, and introducing the different therapeutic options available for these patients (AU)

Update on iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Radioiodine therapy represents a fundamental pillar in the routine adjuvant therapy of patients with high-risk differentiated thyroid carcinoma. However, a non-negligible percentage of these patients will develop iodine refractoriness, showing a worse prognosis, as well a lower survival, which demonstrates a clear need to explore different therapeutic approaches. Iodine refractory patient treatment continues to be a challenge, currently having different novel therapeutic options that should be known by the different specialties related to differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). The aim of this work is to review iodine refractory thyroid carcinoma treatment, focusing especially on the definition of iodine refractoriness, highlighting its importance due to its high mortality, and introducing the different therapeutic options available for these patients.

Inpatient management of diabetes and hyperglycaemia: an audit of Spanish hospitals.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of quality of care for patients with diabetes mellitus admitted to hospitals in Spain. METHODS: Cross-sectional study in one day that included 1193 (26.7%) patients with type 2 diabetes or hyperglycaemia out of a total of 4468 patients admitted to the internal medicine departments of 53 hospitals in Spain. We collected demographic data, adequacy of capillary glycaemic monitoring, treatment administered during admission, and recommended therapy at discharge. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 80 years [74-87], of which 561 (47%) were women, with a Charlson index of 4 points [2-6], and 742 (65%) were fragile. Median blood glucose on admission was 155 mg/dl [119-213]. On the third day, the number of capillary blood glucose levels in target (80-180 mg/dl) at pre-breakfast was 792/1126 (70.3%), pre-lunch 601/1083 (55.4%), pre-dinner 591/1073 (55.0%), and at night 317/529 (59.9%). A total of 35 patients (0.9%) were suffering from hypoglycemia. Treatment during hospitalization was performed with sliding scale insulin in 352 (40.5%) patients, with basal insulin and rapid insulin analogues in 434 (50%), or with diet exclusively in 101 (9.1%). A total of 735 (61.6%) patients had a recent HbA1c value. At discharge, the use of SGLT2i increased significantly (30.1% vs. 21.6%; p < 0.001), as did the use of basal insulin (25.3% vs. 10.1%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There is an excessive use of sliding scale insulin as well as insufficient information on HbA1c values and prescription upon discharge of treatments with cardiovascular benefit.

Connecting distinct realms along multiple dimensions: A meta-ecosystem resilience perspective.

Resilience research is central to confront the sustainability challenges to ecosystems and human societies in a rapidly changing world. Given that social-ecological problems span the entire Earth system, there is a critical need for resilience models that account for the connectivity across intricately linked ecosystems (i.e., freshwater, marine, terrestrial, atmosphere). We present a resilience perspective of meta-ecosystems that are connected through the flow of biota, matter and energy within and across aquatic and terrestrial realms, and the atmosphere. We demonstrate ecological resilience sensu Holling using aquatic-terrestrial linkages and riparian ecosystems more generally. A discussion of applications in riparian ecology and meta-ecosystem research (e.g., resilience quantification, panarchy, meta-ecosystem boundary delineations, spatial regime migration, including early warning indications) concludes the paper. Understanding meta-ecosystem resilience may have potential to support decision making for natural resource management (scenario planning, risk and vulnerability assessments).

18F-DCFPyL PET/CT guidelines.

The objective of this guide is to provide to nuclear medicine physicians a tool based on scientific evidence and prepared by consensus of experts, to perform the 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT procedure with safely and efficiently for patients with prostate cancer who present PSMA overexpression. For them, some recommendations will be established for 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT examination: reconstruction parameters, presentation of the images and their interpretation. The possible false positives of the procedure will be analysed, how to interpret them and how to avoid them. Finally, all exploration should lead to the preparation of a report that answers the clinician's question. For this, it is recommended to prepare a structured report that includes the PROMISE criteria as well as the classification of the findings according to PSMA-RADS parameters.

HeadwaterstreamSNevada: Data on riparian vegetation and water parameters of headwater streams in Sierra Nevada, Spain.

Providing historical data on riparian plant biodiversity and physico-chemical parameters of stream water in Mediterranean mountains helps to assess the effects of climate change and other human stressors on these sensitive and critical ecosystems. This database collects data from the main natural headwater streams of the Sierra Nevada (southeastern Spain), a high mountain (up to 3479 m above sea level [m asl]) recognized as a biodiversity super hotspot in the Mediterranean basin. On this mountain, rivers and landscapes depend on snowmelt water, representing an excellent scenario for evaluating global change's impacts. This dataset covers first- to third-order headwater streams at 41 sites from 832 to 1997 m asl, collected from December 2006 to July 2007. Our goal is to supply information on the vegetation associated with streambanks, the essential physico-chemical parameters of stream water, and the physiographic features of the subwatersheds. Riparian vegetation data correspond to six plots sampled at each site, including total canopy, individual number, height and DBH (diameter at breast height) in woody species, and cover percentage for herbs. Physico-chemical parameters were measured in situ (electric conductivity, pH, dissolved O2 concentration, stream discharge) and determined in the laboratory (alkalinity, soluble reactive phosphate-phosphorus [SRP], total phosphorus [TP], nitrate-nitrogen [ NO 3 - -N], ammonium-nitrogen [ NH 4 + -N], total nitrogen [TN]). Watershed physiographic variables comprise drainage area, minimum altitude, maximum altitude, mean slope, orientation, stream order, stream length, and land cover surface percentage. We recorded 197 plant taxa (67 species, 28 subspecies, and 2 hybrids), representing 8.4% of the Sierra Nevada vascular flora. Due to the botanical nomenclature used, the database can be linked to FloraSNevada database, contributing to Sierra Nevada (Spain) as a laboratory of global processes. This data set can be freely used for non-commercial purposes. Users of these data should cite this data paper in any publications resulting from its use.

Individual adsorption of low volatility pheromones: Amphiphilic molecules on a clean water-air interface.

Environmental conditions can alter olfactory scent and chemical communication among biological species. In particular, odorant molecules interact with aerosols. Thermodynamics variables governing the adsorption from air to water surface of bombykol, the most studied pheromone, and of three derivative molecules, bombykal, bombykoic acid, and bombykyle acetate, are computed by steered and un-biased molecular dynamics in order to compare the role of their polar head group on adsorption on aqueous aerosols. When adsorbed, the molecule center of mass stands at about 1.2 Å from the interface and oscillates on the same length scale, trapped in an energy well. Gibbs energy of adsorption and desorption time of bombykol are found to be 9.2 kBT and 59 µs, respectively. The following ordering between the molecules is observed, reading from the more to the least adsorbed: bombykoic acid > bombykol > bombykoic acetate > bombykal. It originates from a complex interplay of entropy and enthalpy. The entropy and enthalpy of adsorption are discussed in the light of structural arrangement, H-bonding, and hydrophilic tail positioning of the molecules at the interface. Our results show that, when dispersed in the air, pheromones adsorb on aqueous aerosols. However, the individual residence time is quite short on pure water surfaces. Aerosols can, therefore, only have a decisive influence on chemical communication through collective effects or through their chemical composition that is generally more complex than that of a pure water surface.

Critical review of technologies for the on-site treatment of hospital wastewater: From conventional to combined advanced processes.

This review aims to assess different technologies for the on-site treatment of hospital wastewater (HWW) to remove pharmaceutical compounds (PhCs) as sustances of emerging concern at a bench, pilot, and full scales from 2014 to 2020. Moreover, a rough characterisation of hospital effluents is presented. The main detected PhCs are antibiotics and psychiatric drugs, with concentrations up to 1.1 mg/L. On the one hand, regarding the presented technologies, membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are a good alternative for treating HWW with PhCs removal values higher than 80% in removing analgesics, anti-inflammatories, cardiovascular drugs, and some antibiotics. Moreover, this system has been scaled up to the pilot plant scale. However, some target compounds are still present in the treated effluent, such as psychiatric and contrast media drugs and recalcitrant antibiotics (erythromycin and sulfamethoxazole). On the other hand, ozonation effectively removes antibiotics found in the HWW (>93%), and some studies are carried out at the pilot plant scale. Even though, some families, such as the X-ray contrast media, are recalcitrant to ozone. Other advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), such as Fenton-like or UV treatments, seem very effective for removing pharmaceuticals, Antibiotic Resistance Bacteria (ARBs) and Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs). However, they are not implanted at pilot plant or full scale as they usually consider extra reactants such as ozone, iron, or UV-light, making the scale-up of the processes a challenging task to treat high-loading wastewater. Thus, several examples of biological wastewater treatment methods combined with AOPs have been proposed as the better strategy to treat HWW with high removal of PhCs (generally over 98%) and ARGs/ARBs (below the detection limit) and lower spending on reactants. However, it still requires further development and optimisation of the integrated processes.

Predictive factors of six-week mortality in critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2: A multicenter prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to identify the risk factors associated with mortality at six weeks, especially by analyzing the role of antivirals and munomodulators. DESIGN: Prospective descriptive multicenter cohort study. SETTING: 26 Intensive care units (ICU) from Andalusian region in Spain. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive critically ill patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included from March 8 to May 30. INTERVENTIONS: None. VARIABLES: Variables analyzed were demographic, severity scores and clinical condition. Support therapy, drug and mortality were analyzed. An univariate followed by multivariate Cox regression with propensity score analysis was applied. RESULTS: 495 patients were enrolled, but 73 of them were excluded for incomplete data. Thus, 422 patients were included in the final analysis. Median age was 63 years and 305 (72.3%) were men. ICU mortality: 144/422 34%; 14 days mortality: 81/422 (19.2%); 28 days mortality: 121/422 (28.7%); 6-week mortality 152/422 36.5%. By multivariable Cox proportional analysis, factors independently associated with 42-day mortality were age, APACHE II score, SOFA score at ICU admission >6, Lactate dehydrogenase at ICU admission >470U/L, Use of vasopressors, extrarenal depuration, %lymphocytes 72h post-ICU admission <6.5%, and thrombocytopenia whereas the use of lopinavir/ritonavir was a protective factor. CONCLUSION: Age, APACHE II, SOFA>value of 6 points, along with vasopressor requirements or renal replacement therapy have been identified as predictor factors of mortality at six weeks. Administration of corticosteroids showed no benefits in mortality, as did treatment with tocilizumab. Lopinavir/ritonavir administration is identified as a protective factor.

Predictive factors of six-week mortality in critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2: A multicenter prospective study / Factores predictivos de la mortalidad a las seis semanas en pacientes críticos con SARS-CoV-2: estudio multicéntrico prospectivo

Objective: The objective of the study is to identify the risk factors associated with mortality at six weeks, especially by analyzing the role of antivirals and munomodulators. Design: Prospective descriptive multicenter cohort study. Setting: 26 Intensive care units (ICU) from Andalusian region in Spain. Patients or participants: Consecutive critically ill patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included from March 8 to May 30. Interventions: None. Variables: Variables analyzed were demographic, severity scores and clinical condition. Support therapy, drug and mortality were analyzed. An univariate followed by multivariate Cox regression with propensity score analysis was applied. Results: 495 patients were enrolled, but 73 of them were excluded for incomplete data. Thus, 422 patients were included in the final analysis. Median age was 63 years and 305 (72.3%) were men. ICU mortality: 144/422 34%; 14 days mortality: 81/422 (19.2%); 28 days mortality: 121/422 (28.7%); 6-week mortality 152/422 36.5%. By multivariable Cox proportional analysis, factors independently associated with 42-day mortality were age, APACHE II score, SOFA score at ICU admission >6, Lactate dehydrogenase at ICU admission >470U/L, Use of vasopressors, extrarenal depuration, %lymphocytes 72h post-ICU admission <6.5%, and thrombocytopenia whereas the use of lopinavir/ritonavir was a protective factor. Conclusion: Age, APACHE II, SOFA>value of 6 points, along with vasopressor requirements or renal replacement therapy have been identified as predictor factors of mortality at six weeks. Administration of corticosteroids showed no benefits in mortality, as did treatment with tocilizumab. Lopinavir/ritonavir administration is identified as a protective factor (AU)

Objetivo: Identificar los factores de riesgo asociados con la mortalidad a las seis semanas. Diseño: Estudio prospectivo multicéntrico. Ámbito: Se incluyeron a 26 pacientes de la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) de Andalucía. Pacientes o participantes: Pacientes ingresados en UCI por neumonía grave por SARS-CoV-2 del 8 de marzo al 30 de mayo de 2020. Intervenciones: Ninguna. Variables de interés principales: Características demográficas, clínicas y escalas de gravedad. Se analizaron tratamientos de soporte, fármacos y la mortalidad. Resultados: Se incluyeron 495 pacientes, 73 fueron excluidos por incompletos y 422 pacientes se incorporaron en el análisis final. La mediana de edad fue de 63 años, 305 (72,3%) eran hombres. La mortalidad en la UCI fue: 144/422 34%; mortalidad a los 14 días: 81/422 (19,2%); mortalidad a los 28 días: 121/422 (28,7%); mortalidad a las seis semanas 152/422 36,5%. Los factores asociados con la mortalidad a los 42 días fueron la edad, APACHE II, SOFA > 6 y LDH al ingreso > 470 U/L, uso de vasopresores, necesidad de técnicas de reemplazo de la función renal, porcentaje de linfocitos a las 72 horas del ingreso en UCI < 6,5%, y trombocitopenia, mientras que el uso de lopinavir/ritonavir fue identificado como un factor protector. Conclusiones: La edad, gravedad y fracaso orgánico junto con la necesidad de terapias de soporte fueron identificadas como factores predictores de mortalidad a las seis semanas. La administración de corticoesteroides a dosis altas no mostró beneficios en la mortalidad, al igual que el tratamiento con tocilizumab, lopinavir/ritonavir se identificaron como un factor protector (AU)

Elevated temperature may reduce functional but not taxonomic diversity of fungal assemblages on decomposing leaf litter in streams.

Mounting evidence points to a linkage between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (B-EF). Global drivers, such as warming and nutrient enrichment, can alter species richness and composition of aquatic fungal assemblages associated with leaf-litter decomposition, a key ecosystem process in headwater streams. However, effects of biodiversity changes on ecosystem functions might be countered by the presumed high functional redundancy of fungal species. Here, we examined how environmental variables and leaf-litter traits (based on leaf chemistry) affect taxonomic and functional α- and ß-diversity of fungal decomposers. We analysed taxonomic diversity (DNA-fingerprinting profiles) and functional diversity (community-level physiological profiles) of fungal communities in four leaf-litter species from four subregions differing in stream-water characteristics and riparian vegetation. We hypothesized that increasing stream-water temperature and nutrients would alter taxonomic diversity more than functional diversity due to the functional redundancy among aquatic fungi. Contrary to our expectations, fungal taxonomic diversity varied little with stream-water characteristics across subregions, and instead taxon replacement occurred. Overall taxonomic ß-diversity was fourfold higher than functional diversity, suggesting a high degree of functional redundancy among aquatic fungi. Elevated temperature appeared to boost assemblage uniqueness by increasing ß-diversity while the increase in nutrient concentrations appeared to homogenize fungal assemblages. Functional richness showed a negative relationship with temperature. Nonetheless, a positive relationship between leaf-litter decomposition and functional richness suggests higher carbon use efficiency of fungal communities in cold waters.

Key plant species and detritivores drive diversity effects on instream leaf litter decomposition more than functional diversity: A microcosm study.

Anthropogenic impacts on freshwater ecosystems cause critical losses of biodiversity that can in turn impair key processes such as decomposition and nutrient cycling. Forest streams are mainly subsidized by terrestrial organic detritus, so their functioning and conservation status can be altered by changes in forest biodiversity and composition, particularly if these changes involve the replacement of functional groups or the loss of key species. We examined this issue using a microcosm experiment where we manipulated plant functional diversity (FD) (monocultures and low-FD and high-FD mixtures, resulting from different combinations of deciduous and evergreen Quercus species) and the presence of a key species (Alnus glutinosa), all in presence and absence of detritivores, and assessed effects on litter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and fungal and detritivore biomass. We found (i) positive diversity effects on detritivore-mediated decomposition, litter nutrient losses and detritivore biomass exclusively when A. glutinosa was present; and (ii) negative effects on the same processes when microbially mediated and on fungal biomass. Most positive trends could be explained by the higher litter palatability and litter trait variability obtained with the inclusion of alder leaves in the mixture. Our results support the hypothesis of a consistent slowing down of the decomposition process as a result of plant biodiversity loss, and hence effects on stream ecosystem functioning, especially when a key (N-fixing) species is lost; and underscore the importance of detritivores as drivers of plant diversity effects in the studied ecosystem processes.

Impacts of detritivore diversity loss on instream decomposition are greatest in the tropics.

The relationship between detritivore diversity and decomposition can provide information on how biogeochemical cycles are affected by ongoing rates of extinction, but such evidence has come mostly from local studies and microcosm experiments. We conducted a globally distributed experiment (38 streams across 23 countries in 6 continents) using standardised methods to test the hypothesis that detritivore diversity enhances litter decomposition in streams, to establish the role of other characteristics of detritivore assemblages (abundance, biomass and body size), and to determine how patterns vary across realms, biomes and climates. We observed a positive relationship between diversity and decomposition, strongest in tropical areas, and a key role of abundance and biomass at higher latitudes. Our results suggest that litter decomposition might be altered by detritivore extinctions, particularly in tropical areas, where detritivore diversity is already relatively low and some environmental stressors particularly prevalent.

Inhibition of sphingosine 1-phosphate protects mice against chondrocyte catabolism and osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Cartilage loss observed in osteoarthritis (OA) is prevented when osteoclasts in the subchondral bone are inhibited in mice. Here, we investigated the role of the osteoclast secretome and of the lipid mediator sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) in chondrocyte metabolism and OA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used SphK1LysMCre and wild type mice to assess the effect of murine osteoclast secretome in chondrocyte metabolism. Gene and protein expressions of matrix metalloproteinase (Mmp) were quantified in chondrocytes and explants by RT-qPCR and Western blots. SphK1LysMCre mice or wild type mice treated with S1P2 receptor inhibitor JTE013 or anti-S1P neutralizing antibody sphingomab are analyzed by OA score and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The osteoclast secretome increased the expression of Mmp3 and Mmp13 in murine chondrocytes and cartilage explants and activated the JNK signaling pathway, which led to matrix degradation. JTE013 reversed the osteoclast-mediated chondrocyte catabolism and protected mice against OA, suggesting that osteoclastic S1P contributes to cartilage damage in OA via S1P/S1P2 signaling. The activity of sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) increased with osteoclast differentiation, and its expression was enhanced in subchondral bone of mice with OA. The expression of Mmp3 and Mmp13 in chondrocytes was low upon stimulation with the secretome of Sphk1-lacking osteoclasts. Cartilage damage was significantly reduced in SphK1LysMCre mice, but not the synovial inflammation. Finally, intra-articular administration of sphingomab inhibited the cartilage damage and synovial inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of S1P in myeloid cells and local S1P neutralization alleviates from osteoarthritis in mice. These data identify S1P as a therapeutic target in OA.

Predictive factors of six-week mortality in critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2: A multicenter prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to identify the risk factors associated with mortality at six weeks, especially by analyzing the role of antivirals and munomodulators. DESIGN: Prospective descriptive multicenter cohort study. SETTING: 26 Intensive care units (ICU) from Andalusian region in Spain. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive critically ill patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included from March 8 to May 30. INTERVENTIONS: None. VARIABLES: Variables analyzed were demographic, severity scores and clinical condition. Support therapy, drug and mortality were analyzed. An univariate followed by multivariate Cox regression with propensity score analysis was applied. RESULTS: 495 patients were enrolled, but 73 of them were excluded for incomplete data. Thus, 422 patients were included in the final analysis. Median age was 63 years and 305 (72.3%) were men. ICU mortality: 144/422 34%; 14 days mortality: 81/422 (19.2%); 28 days mortality: 121/422 (28.7%); 6-week mortality 152/422 36.5%. By multivariable Cox proportional analysis, factors independently associated with 42-day mortality were age, APACHE II score, SOFA score at ICU admission >6, Lactate dehydrogenase at ICU admission >470U/L, Use of vasopressors, extrarenal depuration, %lymphocytes 72h post-ICU admission <6.5%, and thrombocytopenia whereas the use of lopinavir/ritonavir was a protective factor. CONCLUSION: Age, APACHE II, SOFA>value of 6 points, along with vasopressor requirements or renal replacement therapy have been identified as predictor factors of mortality at six weeks. Administration of corticosteroids showed no benefits in mortality, as did treatment with tocilizumab. Lopinavir/ritonavir administration is identified as a protective factor.

Extending the Near-Infrared Emission Range of Indium Phosphide Quantum Dots for Multiplexed In Vivo Imaging.

This report of the reddest emitting indium phosphide quantum dots (InP QDs) to date demonstrates tunable, near-infrared (NIR) photoluminescence (PL) as well as PL multiplexing in the first optical tissue window while avoiding toxic constituents. This synthesis overcomes the InP "growth bottleneck" and extends the emission peak of InP QDs deeper into the first optical tissue window using an inverted QD heterostructure, specifically ZnSe/InP/ZnS core/shell/shell nanoparticles. The QDs exhibit InP shell thickness-dependent tunable emission with peaks ranging from 515-845 nm. The high absorptivity of InP yields effective photoexcitation of the QDs with UV, visible, and NIR wavelengths. These nanoparticles extend the range of tunable direct-bandgap emission from InP-based nanostructures, effectively overcoming a synthetic barrier that has prevented InP-based QDs from reaching their full potential as NIR imaging agents. Multiplexed lymph node imaging in a mouse model demonstrates the potential of the NIR-emitting InP particles for in vivo imaging.