Role of a corrugated Dion-Jacobson 2D perovskite as an additive in 3D MAPbBr3 perovskite-based light emitting diodes.

Metal halide perovskites represent an intriguing class of materials, and a very promising approach to tune the properties of optoelectronic devices and improve their performance involves the implementation of architectures based on mixed 3D and 2D perovskites. In this work, we investigated the use of a corrugated 2D Dion-Jacobson perovskite as an additive to a classical 3D MAPbBr3 perovskite for applications in light-emitting diodes. Taking advantage of the properties of this emerging class of materials, we studied the effect of a 2D 2-(dimethylamino)ethylamine (DMEN)-based perovskite on the morphological, photophysical, and optoelectronic properties of 3D perovskite thin films. We used α-DMEN perovskite both in a mixture with MAPbBr3 creating mixed 2D/3D phases and as a passivating thin layer deposited on the top of a 3D perovskite polycrystalline film. We observed a beneficial modulation of the thin film surface, a blue shift in the emission spectrum, and enhanced device performance.

Re-evaluation of the low-dose dexamethasone suppression test in dogs.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to re-evaluate the low-dose dexamethasone suppression test 8-hour cortisol cut-point for the diagnosis of hypercortisolism in dogs using a solid-phase, competitive chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven client-owned dogs with naturally occurring hypercortisolism and 30 healthy control dogs were prospectively recruited. Performance of the low-dose dexamethasone suppression test was assessed using sensitivity, specificity and a receiver operating characteristic curve compared to a clinical diagnosis of hypercortisolism including response to treatment. RESULTS: Twenty-four dogs were diagnosed with pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism and three with adrenal-dependent hypercortisolism. In 30 healthy control dogs, 8-hour post-dexamethasone cortisol concentrations ranged from 5.5 to 39 nmol/L. A receiver operating characteristic curve curve constructed from the 8-hour post-dexamethasone cortisol concentrations of hypercortisolism and control dogs demonstrated that the most discriminatory cut-point was more than 39 nmol/L with sensitivity of 85.2% (95% confidence interval, 67.5% to 94.1%) and specificity of 100% (95% confidence interval, 88.7% to 100.0%) and an area under the curve of 0.963. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The optimal cut-point of more than 36 nmol/L proposed by this study is similar to the currently accepted 8-hour cortisol concentration cut-point for diagnosing hypercortisolism when using a solid-phase, competitive chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay.

Association of Hypercalcemia Before Treatment With Hypocalcemia After Treatment in Dogs With Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND: Development of hypocalcemia after treatment of hyperparathyroidism results in increased costs and risk of poorer outcomes. Previous studies have shown conflicting data about predictors of hypocalcemia after these procedures. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate whether ionized calcium (iCa) concentrations before treatment are predictive of hypocalcemia or its clinical signs after surgical removal or heat ablation in dogs with primary hyperparathyroidism. ANIMALS: Fifty-four dogs with primary hyperparathyroidism (29 female, 25 male; 49 retrospective, 5 prospective). METHODS: Dogs were enrolled if they met the inclusion criteria: persistent hypercalcemia (iCa >1.41 mmol/L) due to primary hyperparathyroidism and absence of preemptive calcitriol treatment. All dogs were treated with parathyroidectomy (n = 37) or percutaneous ultrasound-guided heat ablation (n = 17). After treatment, iCa was monitored twice daily until plateau or intervention. RESULTS: There was a moderate correlation between before-treatment hypercalcemia and after-treatment hypocalcemia. The prospective study was terminated due to ethical concerns given findings in the retrospective section. All dogs were placed into groups according to their pretreatment iCa: 1.46-1.61 mmol/L, 1.62-1.71 mmol/L, iCa 1.72-1.81 mmol/L, or >1.81 mmol/L. After treatment, the mean lowest iCa for each group, respectively, was 1.19, 1.18, 1.13, and 1.01 mmol/L. There was a significant association between higher group and proportion of dogs with iCa <1.00 mmol/L (P = .014). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: This study demonstrates a moderate correlation between iCa concentration before treatment and hypocalcemia after treatment. Dogs with higher initial iCa concentrations should be treated to prevent rapid decline and development of clinical hypocalcemia.

Prevalence of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Cats During Anesthesia and Effect of Omeprazole on Gastric pH.

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is poorly characterized in anesthetized cats, but can cause aspiration pneumonia, esophagitis, and esophageal stricture formation. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether pre-anesthetic orally administered omeprazole increases gastric and esophageal pH and increases serum gastrin concentrations in anesthetized cats, and to determine the prevalence of GER using combined multichannel impedance and pH monitoring. ANIMALS: Twenty-seven healthy cats undergoing elective dental procedures. METHODS: Prospective, double-masked, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Cats were randomized to receive 2 PO doses of omeprazole (1.45-2.20 mg/kg) or an empty gelatin capsule placebo 18-24 hours and 4 hours before anesthetic induction. Blood for measurement of serum gastrin concentration was collected during anesthetic induction. An esophageal pH/impedance catheter was utilized to continuously measure esophageal pH and detect GER throughout anesthesia. RESULTS: Mean gastric pH in the cats that received omeprazole was 7.2 ± 0.4 (range, 6.6-7.8) and was significantly higher than the pH in cats that received the placebo 2.8 ± 1.0 (range, 1.3-4.1; P < .001). Omeprazole administration was not associated with a significant increase in serum gastrin concentration (P = .616). Nine of 27 cats (33.3%) had ≥1 episode of GER during anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Pre-anesthetic administration of 2 PO doses of omeprazole at a dosage of 1.45-2.20 mg/kg in cats was associated with a significant increase in gastric and esophageal pH within 24 hours, but was not associated with a significant increase in serum gastrin concentration. Prevalence of reflux events in cats during anesthesia was similar to that of dogs during anesthesia.

Design and synthesis of fluorenone-based dyes: two-photon excited fluorescent probes for imaging of lysosomes and mitochondria in living cells.

Three fluorenone-derived two-photon fluorescent probes (TK) targeting the lysosomes (TK-Lyso) and mitochondria (TK-Mito1 and TK-Mito2) were synthesized by introducing different diphenylamine moieties into the fluorenone core. The TK dyes showed high biocompatibility and long-term retention, low cytotoxicity, large Stokes shift and good fluorescence quantum yield. The results of the present work disclose a class of organic dyes with potential wide applications as specific and efficient probes for lysosomes and mitochondria in the study of various biological processes.

[Sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of body mass index for the screening of juvenile arterial hypertension]. / Sensibilità, specificità e valore predittivo degli indici di massa corporea per lo screening dell'ipertensione arteriosa giovanile.

On the basis of various epidemiological studies, the specificity, sensitivity and predictive value of different indicators of obesity and overweight in relation to risk factor of juvenile hypertension are discussed. These screening tests, although highly specific, lack in sensitivity. The Authors suggest that such tests could be considered as useful tools in school preventive medicine for the identification of subjects not at risk.

[The use of weight and height data reported in surveys for screening for obesity and juvenile arterial hypertension]. / Utilizzazione del peso e dell'altezza riferiti in indagini di screening per l'obesità e l'ipertensione arteriosa giovanile.

The surveying of weight and height allows to measure for every subject the body mass index which is a risk indicator both for obesity and for juvenile blood hypertension. The A. have verified and demonstrated that the surveying of weight and height orally told by teen-agers can be a rapid and economic instrument to execute a first screening for such pathologies.

[Anti-rubella vaccine coverage in women 11-28 years of age: data on 5 local socio-health units of Veneto]. / Copertura vaccinale anti-rosolia nelle donne di 11-28 anni: dati relativi a 5 unità locali socio-sanitarie del Veneto.

Selective rubella vaccination in the 11 years old girls, has been carried out in the Regione Veneto (Venetian Land) since 1974. The rubella immunization rate in teh women born between 1962 and 1978, in five sanitary districts, is 68.25%; the trend of increasing vaccination is continuing. Important differences in the organization of vaccination campaign were found among the five districts.

[Surveillance of health status in an agrarian environment: proposal for a method. 2. Environmental data]. / La sorveglianza dello stato di salute in ambiente agricolo: proposta di un metodo. Nota II--Dati ambientali.

In this second note, the Authors consider the environment surrounding the farms to identify the agricultural practices affecting both the ecological bicycle and the health of the farm-hands. The risk factors in the farm are principally the use of agricultural chemicals (pesticides, fertilizers, nitroso-compounds, etc.) and quality of the irrigation and drinkable water. In the first phase of the survey a complete analysis of environment was carried out to: a. identify all sources of pollution such as industries, roads, etc. b. consider drinkable water supplies, wastewater disposal and hygienic conditions in houses. At the same time data were collected about the use of pesticides, fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals, the characteristics of irrigation water, the presence of animals, storehouses, garages, etc. In the second phase of the survey a quality analysis of drinkable and irrigation water was carried out; the presence of dangerous chemicals (amines, nitrosoamines, nitrites, nitrates) in the vegetable caused by agricultural practices was also verified. The results demonstrated a substantial good hygienic situation of the farms but a bad state of drinkable and irrigation waters. We have difficulty in finding out how much and how the pesticides were used; therefore it will be necessary to control these practices more carefully. The amount of nitrites and nitrates in vegetables was normal, while no amines and nitrosoamines were found. The results suggest that it will be necessary in the future both to estimate the pesticide residues on the vegetables and the amount of fertilizers in the soil, and to analyse the soil composition.

[Surveillance of health status in an agrarian environment: proposal for a method. 1. Epidemiological data]. / La sorveglianza dello stato di salute in ambiente agricolo: proposta di un metodo. Nota I--Dati epidemiologici.

In order to evaluate the risk of the exposure of the pesticides and N-nitroso compounds in the agricultural environment not only farm-hands have to be considered but also their families. So it is necessary to prepare survey methodologies to examine the state of health of all individuals who are exposed to same kind of risk (pesticides and nitroso compounds), even if in different ways and intensity. We have therefore chosen four farms situated on the same territory which cultivate vegetables. Three, of these farms, made wide use of pesticides and fertilizers, the fourth one was used as a "control farm" because it did not employ any chemicals. For every farm data about the neighbouring territory, the climate, the kind of cultivation, the pesticides and other employed chemicals were collected. Every subject (in all 25) residing in the farm was interviewed with a standard questionnaire about personal data, the duties performed on the farm, the way in which chemicals were used, their medical history as well as the life style. Samples of blood were drawn periodically in different seasons, over a two year period, to determine both nitrosoamine (NA) and the enzymes which reveal hepatic damage: Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Leucinoaminopeptidase (LAP), Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and Acetylcholinesterase (Ach). We have observed that: a. the most frequent pathologies concern skin (16% of the people) and liver (12% of the people), which are favourite targets for agricultural chemicals though the serum enzymes did not show any important change; b. 8% of the subjects had acute pesticide poisoning; we therefore observed neither particular precautionary safety measures, nor a particular knowledge of acute and chronic toxic effects depending on the use of pesticides. So we suggest: 1) that the Sanitary Authorities control the state of health not only of the farm-hands but also of their families, if exposed to risk; this can be realized through the strict collaboration of the Occupational Physician and the Family doctor; 2) capillary action of health education regarding agricultural risks; 3) to increase research to find more sensitive and efficient biological indicators in order to evaluate the hazards of agricultural chemicals.

Efficacy of protamine zinc recombinant human insulin for controlling hyperglycemia in dogs with diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Alternative insulin preparations are needed when NPH insulin is ineffective in diabetic dogs. This study evaluated the efficacy of recombinant human protamine zinc insulin (rhPZI) for treating diabetic dogs. HYPOTHESIS: rhPZI is effective for treating diabetic dogs. ANIMALS: Six newly diagnosed and 11 insulin-treated diabetic dogs. METHODS: Prospective clinical trial. Dogs were treated with rhPZI for 60 days. Control of glycemia was assessed on days 7, 14, 30, and 60 by evaluation of history, physical examination, body weight, serum fructosamine concentration, and blood glucose concentrations measured before and 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 hours after rhPZI administration. Adjustments in dosage of rhPZI were made as needed to control glycemia. RESULTS: rhPZI administration resulted in a significant decrease in 10-hour mean blood glucose (MBG(10h) ; 299 ± 115 versus 457 ± 38 mg/dL, X ± SD, P = .0003) and serum fructosamine (478 ± 83 versus 557 ± 104 µmol/L, P = .006) concentration at day 60, compared with day 1, respectively. By day 60, polyuria and polydipsia had improved in 14, body weight was stable or increased in 16, MBG(10h) had decreased in 16, and serum fructosamine concentration had decreased in 11 of 17 dogs, compared with day 1. Hypoglycemia (<80 mg/dL) was the only consistent adverse event. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: rhPZI is effective in diabetic dogs and can be considered as an alternative treatment in diabetic dogs that are poorly controlled using other insulin preparations.

[Biological effects of dithiocarbamates: changes in serum alkaline phosphatase activity "in vitro" by sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (NADDTC) (author's transl)]. / Azione biologica dei ditiocarbamati: variazioni di attività di fosfatasi alcalina sierica indotte "in vitro" da sodiodietilditiocarbama to (NaDDTC).

The Authors demonstrate that serum alkaline phosphatase (s-ALP) activity in vitro is inhibited by NaDDTC. This may be related to the NaDDTC chelating action on zinc enzyme. The trend of the phenomenon follows an exponential pattern. The activity of the isozyme pool was restored after removal from medium of NaDDTC by dialysis. The NaDDTC concentration able to inhibit in vitro enzymatic activity was nearly one thousand times higher than that found in vivo, in experimental animals (rabbit). The Authors conclude that the in vivo activity of NaDDTC in different enzymatic systems, such as ALP and other metallo-dependent enzymes, cannot be explained by its chelating action alone, but also by its influence on other systems. At present investigations in this field are in progress in our laboratory.

[Effects of dithiocarbamate: "in vitro" and "in vivo" changes in gamma-glutamyltransferase induced by sodium diethyldithiocarbamate]. / Azione dei ditiocarbamati (DTC): alterazioni della gamma-glutamiltransferasi (GGT) "in vitro" ed "in vivo" indotte da sodiodietilditiocarbamato (NaDDTC).

Experiments of NaDDTC effect on kidney and 10,000 X g liver supernatant fraction have shown no modification of normal GGT activity, also after dialysis. A decrease of about 75% of the GGT activity was observed in rabbit 10,000 X g liver supernatant fraction after i.p. treatment with 100 mg/kg of NaDDTC for three days. It is suggested that liver MFO produces SH groups derived from NaDDTC metabolism able to interact with GGT and consequential inactivation of the enzyme.

[The biological action of dithiocarbamates. Changes in serum leucine aminopeptidase induced in vitro by sodium diethyldithiocarbamate]. / Azione biologica dei ditiocarbamati. Variazioni di attività di leucinoaminopeptidasi sierica (LAP) indotte "in vitro" da sodiodietilditiocarbamato (NaDDTC).

The Authors demonstrate that serum LAP activity in vitro is inhibited by NaDDTC. This may be related to the NaDDTC chelating-like action on the metallo-enzyme. The trend of the phenomenon follows an exponential pattern. The enzyme activity was completely restored after removal of NaDDTC from the medium by dialysis. The NaDDTC concentration able to inhibit the enzymatic activity in vitro was much higher than in vivo, in experimental animals. The Authors conclude pointing out the problem of a probable effect caused by repeated doses of dithiocarbamates more on enzyme synthesis than on metallic apoenzyme.