The optimal extraction resulted to be the process: with enzimatic deactivation by microwave and the use of sodium citrate as chelating agent the molecular weight of the pectin extracted was estimated to be 118 kDa and the 2.93% esterification degree. Cytocompatibility of pectin gels, prepared by ionotropic gelation, showing an improved cell adhesion if compared to commercial pectin. The results suggest that the extracted A. Vera pectins possess interesting properties to be exploited for the production of mechanically stable gels by PD173074 ic50 ionotropic gelation and high rhamnose content matrices for application in regenerative medicine. (C) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.”
“Q fever, caused by Coxiella
burnetii, may cause vascular complications, but the Selleck Prexasertib role that this infection may play in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains unknown. This study examined the association between Q fever serology and cardiovascular disease in a region
where Q fever is endemic. A case-control study was conducted in the Hospital Universitario de Burgos (Spain) between February 2011 and June 2012. A total of 513 samples were tested, from 454 hospitalized patients 65years old, of whom 164 were cases (patients with prevalent or incident coronary heart, cerebrovascular or peripheral artery, disease) and 290 controls (patients without cardiovascular disease). Serum IgG antibody phase II titres against Q fever were determined by immunofluorescence assay. Seropositivity (titres 1:256) was detected in 84/164 (51.2%) cases and in 109/290 (37.6%) controls (p=0.005; OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1-2.5). This ratio increases when adjusted for sex, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, smoking, diabetes and atrial fibrillation (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.5-4.7). The geometric mean titre (GMT) for C.burnetii phase II assay was higher in cases than in controls (p=0.004). We found no significant relationship between cardiovascular disease and C.pneumoniae, and Cytomegalovirus seropositivity (both determined by the IgG ELISA method). In conclusion, serological evidence of past Q fever is associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular
disease in elderly patients in an endemic region.”
“We report here the design and facile synthesis of multifunctional BAY 73-4506 in vitro gold nanostars based nanocomposites (MGSNs) through direct organosilica coating onto anisotropic gold nanostars followed by the conjugation of Gd chelates. The as-synthesized MGSNs possess strong NIR absorbance, SERS signal and enhanced T-1- MR imaging capability with excellent dispersivity and uniform size, as well as great photothermal stability and Raman stability under photothermal conditions. Importantly, MGSNs present excellent performance in vivo after their intravenous injection for both MR and SERS imaging and the high efficiency for killing tumor cells through photothermal ablation with NIR irradiation.