Design and Fabrication of a Biomimetic Smart Material for Electrochemical Detection of Carbendazim Pesticides in Real Samples with Enhanced Selectivity.

Agricultural products are vitally important for sustaining life on earth and their production has notably grown over the years worldwide in general and in Brazil particularly. Elevating agricultural practices consequently leads to a proportionate increase in the usage of pesticides that are crucially important for enhanced crop yield and protection. These compounds have been employed excessively in alarming concentrations, causing the contamination of soil, water, and air. Additionally, they pose serious threats to human health. The current study introduces an innovative tool for producing appropriate materials coupled with an electrochemical sensor designed to measure carbendazim levels. The sensor is developed using a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) mounted on a glassy carbon electrode. This electrode is equipped with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for improved performance. The combined system demonstrates promising potential for accurately quantifying carbendazim. The morphological characteristics of the synthesized materials were investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) technique. The analytical curve was drawn using the electrochemical method in the range of 2 to 20 ppm while for HPLC 2-12 ppm; the results are presented as the maximum adsorption capacity of the MIP (82.4%) when compared with NIP (41%) using the HPLC method. The analysis conducted using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) yielded a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.0 ppm and a repeatability of 5.08% (n = 10). The results obtained from the analysis of selectivity demonstrated that the proposed electrochemical sensor is remarkably efficient for the quantitative assessment of carbendazim, even in the presence of another interferent. The sensor was successfully tested for river water samples for carbendazim detection, and recovery rates ranging from 94 to 101% were obtained for HPLC and 94 to 104% for the electrochemical method. The results obtained show that the proposed electrochemical technique is viable for the application and quantitative determination of carbendazim in any medium.

Electrochemical Analysis of Curcumin in Real Samples Using Intelligent Materials.

Curcumin is a compound of great importance in the food industry due to its biological and pharmacological properties, which include being an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and anticarcinogenic. This paper proposes the synthesis of an electrochemical sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and MWCNT by drop casting deposited on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the selective quantification of curcumin in food samples. The synthesized compounds are characterized by Fourier transform infrared (IR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The optimal conditions for further experiments were determined by selecting these parameters. We examined three food products, commercial capsules, turmeric rhizomes, and commercial turmeric powder, employing both electrochemical and HPLC methods for the analysis. The electrochemical method revealed a limit of detection (LOD) value of 0.1365 µmol L-1, compared with the HPLC analysis, which gave a value of 3.55 µmol L-1. Furthermore, the MIP material demonstrated superior selectivity for the analyte compared to potential interferents. The recovery percentage, determined using the HPLC method, fell within the range of 87.5% to 102.6.

Biomimetic Material for Quantification of Methotrexate Using Sensor Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polypyrrole Film and MWCNT/GCE.

This study investigates biomimetic sensors for the detection of methotrexate contaminants in environmental samples. Sensors inspired by biological systems are the focus of this biomimetic strategy. Methotrexate is an antimetabolite that is widely used for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Due to the widespread use of methotrexate and its rampant disposal into the environment, the residues of this drug are regarded as an emerging contaminant of huge concern, considering that exposure to the contaminant has been found to lead to the inhibition of some essential metabolic processes, posing serious risks to humans and other living beings. In this context, this work aims to quantify methotrexate through the application of a highly efficient biomimetic electrochemical sensor constructed using polypyrrole-based molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) electrodeposited by cyclic voltammetry on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). The electrodeposited polymeric films were characterized by infrared spectrometry (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The analyses conducted using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) yielded a detection limit of 2.7 × 10-9 mol L-1 for methotrexate, a linear range of 0.01-125 µmol L-1, and a sensitivity of 0.152 µA L mol-1. The results obtained from the analysis of the selectivity of the proposed sensor through the incorporation of interferents in the standard solution pointed to an electrochemical signal decay of only 15.4%. The findings of this study show that the proposed sensor is highly promising and suitable for use in the quantification of methotrexate in environmental samples.

Angiosarcoma esplénico primario. Una entidad agresiva e infrecuente / Primary splenic angiosarcoma. An aggressive and infrequent pathology

El angiosarcoma esplénico es una neoplasia muy infrecuente y agresiva proveniente del endotelio vascular esplénico cuyo pronóstico es funesto a pesar del tratamiento quirúrgico. Su diagnóstico preoperatorio mediante pruebas de imagen supone un desafío por su similitud con otros tumores esplénicos vasculares. El tratamiento es la esplenectomía aunque rara vez es curativo dada la naturaleza agresiva y metastásica de la enfermedad. (AU)

Primary splenic angiosarcoma. An aggressive and infrequent pathology.

Splenic angiosarcoma is a very rare and aggressive neoplasm originating from the splenic vascular endothelium whose prognosis is very poor despite surgical treatment. Preoperative diagnosis using imaging tests is a challenge due to its similarity to other vascular splenic tumors. The most common treatment is splenectomy, although it is rarely curative because of the aggressive and metastatic nature of the disease.

Oncological Care During First Peruvian National Emergency COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicentric Descriptive Study.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the oncological care during the first state of national emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic in several public cancer hospitals in Peru. Materials and Methods: A multicentric cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted by interviewing adult cancer patients diagnosed and treated between January 2019 and February 2020 from 18 hospitals. This study was carried out in September 2020, the last month of the first state of national emergency. Demographic and clinical characteristics were evaluated, including COVID-19 status and cancer treatment features. Results: A total of 1472 patients were included; the median age was 55 years (range 19-97). Most patients (85.8%, n = 1263) had solid neoplasia, 13.5% (n = 198) hematologic neoplasia, and 0.7% (n = 11) others. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed in 8.6% (n = 126), 1.2% (n = 18) were probable, 1.6% (n = 24) suspected, and 88.6% (n = 1304) negative cases. Overall, 51.6% of patients (n = 759) had cancer treatment delays, 42.5% (n = 626) changed treatment delivery (endovenous to oral systemic therapy), and 12.6% (n = 185) of cases cancer therapy was discontinued. In total, 10.3% (n = 117) of patients whose disease was controlled or in remission, experienced progression of disease during the state of emergency. A total of 6.7% (n = 98) of patients died, of whom 73.5% (n = 72) died from disease progression; 18.4% (n = 18) from SARS-CoV-2 infection and 8.1% (n = 8) from undetermined causes. Patients with hematological malignancies [hazard ratio (HR): 5.11 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.99-13.07)] and no response to therapy before the onset of the pandemic [5.01 (1.44-17.42)] had an increased risk of death among COVID-19 infected individuals, whereas advanced clinical stage [5.09 (2.37-10.95)] and discontinuation of treatment [3.66 (1.97-6.78)] were risk factors among non-COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has an adverse impact on the outcomes of Peruvian cancer patients. In our cohort, cancer mortality was higher than COVID-19 disease mortality.

[Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a single disease?] / Linfoma difuso de células B grandes: ¿una sola enfermedad?

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are common and comprise a heterogeneous group of neoplasms, with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) accounting for more than 60% of cases. Moreover, DLBCL presents with a variety of clinical characteristics, genetic profiles, and therapeutic responses. We aimed to improve progression-free survival, total survival, and objective results in an DLBCL subgroup. However, another subgroup demonstrated poor responses. Therefore, it is necessary to design treatment programs based on clinical, immunohistochemical, and genetic profiles, grouping cases properly to identify correct therapeutic modalities for each lymphoma subtype. Currently, these neoplasms are classified as high- and low-risk lymphomas, and therapeutic regimens are being developed to complement conventional R-CHOP, such as R-DA-EPOCH, R2CHOP, IR-CHOP, VR-CHOP, and eveRCHOP, which are expected to improve outcomes.

Los linfomas no Hodgkin, trastornos hematológicos de alta incidencia, constituyen a su vez, un grupo heterogéneo de neoplasias, dentro de las cuales los linfomas difusos de células B grandes (LDCBG) representan un porcentaje superior al 60% en la mayoría de las series nacionales e internacionales. Estos LDCBG, a su vez, se presentan con características clínicas, perfiles genéticos y respuestas terapéuticas variadas, apreciándose específicamente en relación a su respuesta, que en un subgrupo de ellos se obtienen tasas de sobrevidas libre de progresión, sobrevidas totales y respuestas objetivas adecuadas, y en otro subgrupo se obtienen respuestas de calidad inferior. Por lo que es necesario el diseño de esquemas de tratamiento basados en criterios clínicos, inmunohistoquímicos y de perfil genético, que los agrupen adecuadamente para identificar modalidades terapéuticas diferenciadas para cada uno de ellos y así mejorar e igualar las tasas de respuesta mencionadas. En la actualidad, estas neoplasias son catalogadas como linfomas de alto y bajo riesgo y se están desarrollando esquemas terapéuticos diferentes al R-CHOP convencional, como el R-DA-EPOCH, R2CHOP, IR-CHOP, VR-CHOP y el eveRCHOP que se espera que presenten resultados alentadores.

Linfoma difuso de células B grandes: ¿una sola enfermedad? / Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a single disease?

RESUMEN Los linfomas no Hodgkin, trastornos hematológicos de alta incidencia, constituyen a su vez, un grupo heterogéneo de neoplasias, dentro de las cuales los linfomas difusos de células B grandes (LDCBG) representan un porcentaje superior al 60% en la mayoría de las series nacionales e internacionales. Estos LDCBG, a su vez, se presentan con características clínicas, perfiles genéticos y respuestas terapéuticas variadas, apreciándose específicamente en relación a su respuesta, que en un subgrupo de ellos se obtienen tasas de sobrevidas libre de progresión, sobrevidas totales y respuestas objetivas adecuadas, y en otro subgrupo se obtienen respuestas de calidad inferior. Por lo que es necesario el diseño de esquemas de tratamiento basados en criterios clínicos, inmunohistoquímicos y de perfil genético, que los agrupen adecuadamente para identificar modalidades terapéuticas diferenciadas para cada uno de ellos y así mejorar e igualar las tasas de respuesta mencionadas. En la actualidad, estas neoplasias son catalogadas como linfomas de alto y bajo riesgo y se están desarrollando esquemas terapéuticos diferentes al R-CHOP convencional, como el R-DA-EPOCH, R2CHOP, IR-CHOP, VR-CHOP y el eveRCHOP que se espera que presenten resultados alentadores.

ABSTRACT Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are common and comprise a heterogeneous group of neoplasms, with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) accounting for more than 60% of cases. Moreover, DLBCL presents with a variety of clinical characteristics, genetic profiles, and therapeutic responses. We aimed to improve progression-free survival, total survival, and objective results in an DLBCL subgroup. However, another subgroup demonstrated poor responses. Therefore, it is necessary to design treatment programs based on clinical, immunohistochemical, and genetic profiles, grouping cases properly to identify correct therapeutic modalities for each lymphoma subtype. Currently, these neoplasms are classified as high- and low-risk lymphomas, and therapeutic regimens are being developed to complement conventional R-CHOP, such as R-DA-EPOCH, R2CHOP, IR-CHOP, VR-CHOP, and eveRCHOP, which are expected to improve outcomes.

Data mining in psychiatric research.

Mathematical sciences and computational methods have found new applications in fields like medicine over the last few decades. Modern data acquisition and data analysis protocols have been of great assistance to medical researchers and clinical scientists. Especially in psychiatry, technology and science have made new computational methods available to assist the development of predictive modeling and to identify diseases more accurately. Data mining (or knowledge discovery) aims to extract information from large datasets and solve challenging tasks, like patient assessment, early mental disease diagnosis, and drug efficacy assessment. Accurate and fast data analysis methods are very important, especially when dealing with severe psychiatric diseases like schizophrenia. In this paper, we focus on computational methods related to data analysis and more specifically to data mining. Then, we discuss some related research in the field of psychiatry.

Lipoma del cuerpo calloso / Lipoma of the corpus callosum

Se presenta el caso clínico de un adolescente portador de un lipoma del cuerpo calloso diagnosticado incidentalmente al ingresar por un traumatismo encéfalocraneano con signos focales y con una evolución hacia la mejoría, encontrándose asintomático y con un examen neurológico normal cuatro días después. La gammaencefalografía es un examen importante, para el diagnóstico de certeza lo da la radiografía simple de cráneo y la TAC de cerebro. Esta última permite hacer además el diagnóstico de lesiones asociadas. Creemos que el tratamiento quirúrgico debe efectuarse en los casos de tumores que aumentan de volumen, demostrado por TAC seriada o que comprimen las estructuras adyacentes. El estudio angiográfico se efectúa sólo en los casos quirúrgicos