ABSTRACT
Sonochemistry is the use of ultrasonic waves in an aqueous medium, to generate acoustic cavitation. In this context, sonochemistry emerged as a focal point over the past few decades, starting as a manageable process such as a cleaning technique. Now, it is found in a wide range of applications across various chemical, physical, and biological processes, creating opportunities for analysis between these processes. Sonochemistry is a powerful and eco-friendly technique often called "green chemistry" for less energy use, toxic reagents, and residues generation. It is increasing the number of applications achieved through the ultrasonic irradiation (USI) method. Sonochemistry has been established as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative compared to traditional industrial methods. It promotes scientific and social well-being, offering non-destructive advantages, including rapid processes, improved process efficiency, enhanced product quality, and, in some cases, the retention of key product characteristics. This versatile technology has significantly contributed to the food industry, materials technology, environmental remediation, and biological research. This review is created with enthusiasm and focus on shedding light on the manifold applications of sonochemistry. It delves into this technique's evolution and current applications in cleaning, environmental remediation, microfluidic, biological, and medical fields. The purpose is to show the physicochemical effects and characteristics of acoustic cavitation in different processes across various fields and to demonstrate the extending application reach of sonochemistry. Also to provide insights into the prospects of this versatile technique and demonstrating that sonochemistry is an adapting system able to generate more efficient products or processes.
ABSTRACT
A strategy to increase the transfection efficiency of chitosan-based nanoparticles for gene therapy is by adding nuclear localization signals through karyophilic peptides. Here, the effect of the length and sequence of these peptides and their interaction with different plasmids on the physical characteristics and biological functionality of nanoparticles is reported. The karyophilic peptides (P1 or P2) were used to assemble nanoparticles by complex coacervation with pEGFP-N1, pQBI25 or pSelect-Zeo-HSV1-tk plasmids, and chitosan. Size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and morphology, as well as in vitro nucleus internalization and transfection capability of nanoparticles were determined. The P2 nanoparticles resulted smaller compared to the ones without peptides or P1 for the three plasmids. In general, the addition of either P1 or P2 did not have a significant impact on the polydispersity index and the zeta potential. P1 and P2 nanoparticles were localized in the nucleus after 30 min of exposure to HeLa cells. Nevertheless, the presence of P2 in pEGFP-N1 and pQBI25 nanoparticles raised their capability to transfect and express the green fluorescent protein. Thus, karyophilic peptides are an efficient tool for the optimization of nonviral vectors for gene delivery; however, the sequence and length of peptides have an impact on characteristics and functionality of nanoparticles.
ABSTRACT
Objetivos: Evaluar la DMO en mujeres premenopáusicas con y sin depresión y su relación con los niveles séricos de cortisol, Proteína C Reactiva y marcadores óseos (osteocalcina, β cross laps). Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, transversal, sub-modelo caso-control. Se incluyeron 40 mujeres premenopáusicas (entre 30 y 45 años), 20 con depresión, aplicando los criterios de los 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) y 20 controles sanas. Se cuantificaron el cortisol, la PCR-us y los marcadores óseos:β cross laps y osteocalcina. Se realizó la DMO de columna y de fémur, usando equipo DXA Lunar. Resultados: La edad promedio fue de 39,40 ± 4,79 años para los casos y 39,20 ± 5,63 para los controles, el IMC 27,36 Kg/m2 para ambos grupos, sin diferencias significativas en otras características clínicas. La DMO de columna y fémur, fue más baja en las pacientes con depresión que en los controles (1,132 ± 0,10 vs 1,215 ± 0,14 p <0,045 y 0,991±0,13 vs 1,090 p<0,012 respectivamente). Se realizó el cruce de los resultados del Test de Hamilton con los marcadores óseos, cortisol, PCR-us, y DMO de columna y fémur; con significancia estadística sólo al comparar la DMO en fémur, con el grado de depresión (p= 0,002). No hubo diferencias en cuanto a variables bioquímicas en ambos grupos. Conclusiones: Nuestros hallazgos sugieren que la depresión es un factor de riesgo de masa ósea baja en mujeres premenopáusicas. Por lo tanto, deberían promoverse evaluaciones periódicas de la DMO y medidas profilácticas en el seguimiento de estas pacientes.
Objective: To evaluate BMD in premenopausal women with and without depression and its relationship to serum cortisol, C-reactive protein (CRP) and bone markers. Methods: An observational study, cross-sectional, analytical, case-control sub-model, was conducted. The study included 40 premenopausal women (between 30 and 45 years), 20 with depression, using the criteria of the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), and 20 healthy controls. Cortisol, us-CRP and bone markers (osteocalcin and β cross laps) serum levels were quantified. Spine and hip BMD, using Lunar DXA machine, was performed. Results: The mean age was 39,40 ± 4,79 years for cases and 39,20 ± 5,63 for controls; BMI 27,36 kg/m2 for both groups. There were not significant differences in clinical characteristics. BMD of the spine and hip were significantly lower in depressed than in nondepressed women (1,132 ± 0,10 vs 1,215 ± 0,14 p <0,045 and 0,991±0,13 vs 1,090 p<0,012 respectively). It made the crossing of the Hamilton Test results with bone markers, cortisol, us-CRP, and spine and hip BMD; there was a lower hip BMD in patients with depression (p = 0,002). There were not differences in biochemical variables. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that depression is a significant risk factor for low bone mass in premenopausal women. Therefore, periodic evaluations of BMD and prophylactic measures should be promoted in monitoring of these patients.
ABSTRACT
Antecedentes: El dermatofitoma subungueal es un fenómeno producido por dermatofitos. Se manifiesta clínicamente por un área redondeada o lineal blanco-amarillenta. Microscópicamente se observan conglomerados fúngicos formados por hifas y conidias. Objetivos: Determinar la frecuencia de dermatofitomas en los casos de onicomicosis observados en una Unidad de Micología. Metodología: Estudio retrospectivo y transversal de 100 pacientes con diferentes formas clínicas de onicomicosis y confirmación microscópica de dermatofitomas, de un total de 1.892 muestras estudiadas de mayo de 2008 a agosto de 2009. Resultados: El porcentaje de dermatofitomas fue de 5,3% (100/1.892) del total de estudios microscópicos de las onicomicosis analizados en una Unidad de Micología. Conclusiones: Los dermatofitomas son causados más frecuentemente por el género Trichophyton.
Background: Subungueal dermatophytoma is a phenomenon caused by dermatophytes. It is clinically characterized by a yellowish-white linear or round area. Microscopically it shows subungual fungal balls with hyphae and conidia. Objective: To know the frequency of dermatophytomas in cases of onychomycosis observed in a Unit of Micology. Methodology: Retrospective (May 2008 to August 2009) and transversal study of 100 cases of different clinical forms of onychomycosis with microscopic confirmation of fungal dermatophytomas, from a total of 1892 samples. Results: Dermatophytomas were observed in 5,3% (100/1892) of the total microscopic studies of analysed onychomycosis. Conclusions: Dermatophytomas are mainly caused by Trichophyton sp, but other dermatophytes like Microsporum canis may be involved.
