Interplay between Humoral and CLA+ T Cell Response against Candida albicans in Psoriasis

Candida albicans (CA) infections have been associated with psoriasis onset or disease flares. However, the integrated immune response against this fungus is still poorly characterized in psoriasis. We studied specific immunoglobulins in plasma and the CA response in cocultures of circulating memory CD45RA⁻ cutaneous lymphocyte antigen (CLA)^+/− T cell with autologous epidermal cells from plaque and guttate psoriasis patients (cohort 1, n = 52), and also healthy individuals (n = 17). A complete proteomic profile was also evaluated in plaque psoriasis patients (cohort 2, n = 114) regarding their anti-CA IgA levels. Increased anti-CA IgA and IgG levels are present in the plasma from plaque but not guttate psoriasis compared to healthy controls. CA cellular response is confined to CLA⁺ T cells and is primarily Th17. The levels of anti-CA IgA are directly associated with CLA⁺ Th17 response in plaque psoriasis. Proteomic analysis revealed distinct profiles in psoriasis patients with high anti-CA IgA. C-C motif chemokine ligand 18, chitinase-3-like protein 1 and azurocidin were significantly elevated in the plasma from plaque psoriasis patients with high anti-CA levels and severe disease. Our results indicate a mechanism by which Candida albicans exposure can trigger a clinically relevant IL-17 response in psoriasis. Assessing anti-CA IgA levels may be useful in order to evaluate chronic psoriasis patients.     

The Role of Circulating Biomarkers in Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of the lower extremities is a chronic illness predominantly of atherosclerotic aetiology, associated to traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. It is one of the most prevalent CV conditions worldwide in subjects >65 years, estimated to increase greatly with the aging of the population, becoming a severe socioeconomic problem in the future. The narrowing and thrombotic occlusion of the lower limb arteries impairs the walking function as the disease progresses, increasing the risk of CV events (myocardial infarction and stroke), amputation and death. Despite its poor prognosis, PAD patients are scarcely identified until the disease is advanced, highlighting the need for reliable biomarkers for PAD patient stratification, that might also contribute to define more personalized medical treatments. In this review, we will discuss the usefulness of inflammatory molecules, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and cardiac damage markers, as well as novel components of the liquid biopsy, extracellular vesicles (EVs), and non-coding RNAs for lower limb PAD identification, stratification, and outcome assessment. We will also explore the potential of machine learning methods to build prediction models to refine PAD assessment. In this line, the usefulness of multimarker approaches to evaluate this complex multifactorial disease will be also discussed.     

Tau Exon 10 Inclusion by PrPC through Downregulating GSK3β Activity

Tau protein is largely responsible for tauopathies, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), where it accumulates in the brain as insoluble aggregates. Tau mRNA is regulated by alternative splicing, and inclusion or exclusion of exon 10 gives rise to the 3R and 4R isoforms respectively, whose balance is physiologically regulated. In this sense, one of the several factors that regulate alternative splicing of tau is GSK3β, whose activity is inhibited by the cellular prion protein (PrP^C), which has different physiological functions in neuroprotection and neuronal differentiation. Moreover, a relationship between PrP^C and tau expression levels has been reported during AD evolution. For this reason, in this study we aimed to analyze the role of PrP^C and the implication of GSK3β in the regulation of tau exon 10 alternative splicing. We used AD human samples and mouse models of PrP^C ablation and tau overexpression. In addition, we used primary neuronal cultures to develop functional studies. Our results revealed a paralleled association between PrP^C expression and tau 4R isoforms in all models analyzed. In this sense, reduction or ablation of PrP^C levels induces an increase in tau 3R/4R balance. More relevantly, our data points to GSK3β activity downstream from PrP^C in this phenomenon. Our results indicate that PrP^C plays a role in tau exon 10 inclusion through the inhibitory capacity of GSK3β.     

Surface Pretreatments of Silicon Nitride for CVD Diamond Deposition

The efficiency of different surface pretreatments (four standard chemical etchings and four diamond powder abrasive procedures) on silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) substrates for chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of diamond has been systematically investigated. Blank Si₃N₄ samples were polished with colloidal silica (∼0.25 μm). Diamond nucleation and growth runs were conducted in a microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition apparatus for 10 min and 6 h, respectively. Superior results concerning nucleation density ( N _d∼ 10¹⁰ cm⁻² after 10 min), film uniformity, and grain size (below 2 μm after 6 h) were obtained for the mechanically microflawed samples, revealing that chemical etchings (hot and cold strong acids, molten base or CF₄ plasma) are not crucial for good CVD diamond quality on Si₃N₄.     

Nile blue adsorbed onto silica gel modified with niobium oxide for electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH

A study of modified carbon paste electrode employing Nile blue (NB) adsorbed on silica gel modified with niobium oxide (SN) for electrocatalytic oxidation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) is described. The adsorbed organic dye on SN was used to prepare a modified carbon paste electrode to investigate its electrochemical properties. The formal potential (E°′) of the adsorbed NB (−230 mV vs. saturated calomel electrode, SCE) showed a shift of 70 mV towards a more positive potential value, compared to NB dissolved in aqueous solution. In solutions with pH between 6.0 and 8.0 did stability and E°′ remained almost constant. However, for a solution pH lower than 6.0 the E°′ was affected by the acidity of the contacting solution, shifting the E°′ towards more positive values. For the solution pHs between 6.0 and 8.0 the electrocatalytic activity remained almost constant. A linear response range for NADH between 1.0×10⁻⁵ and 5.2×10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹, at pH 7.0, was observed for the electrode, with an applied potential of −200 mV versus SCE. The formation of an intermediate charge transfer (CT) complex was proposed to the CT reaction between NADH and adsorbed NB. The heterogeneous electron transfer rate, k_obs, was 1400 M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant, was 0.21 mM at pH 7.0 evaluated from rotating disk electrode (RDE) experiments with an electrode coverage of about 5.2×10⁻⁹ mol cm⁻². The increase in the reaction rate between NADH and the immobilized NB compared to those obtained with dissolved NB was assigned to the shift of the E°′ towards more positive values.     

Blends of polyamide 6 with bisphenol-A polycarbonate. I. Thermal properties and compatibility aspects

Blends of polyamide 6 (PA6) and polycarbonate (PC) have been investigated, over a full range of composition, to check interactions between them. SEM observations show that the mixtures are characterized by domains of clearly segregated homophases and voids between the two polymers. DSC and DMTA data indicate the presence of two T_g' s, corresponding to two separate phases, with the T_g of the PC phase decreasing on increasing the PA6 amount. Moreover, the crystallization kinetics of PA6 is slightly showed down by the PC. Chemical reactions between the two polymers are supposed to give rise to low molar mass compounds, as shown by GPC; these species plasticize the PC and partially dissolve into the molten polyamide, causing decrease of PC T_g and reduction of overall crystallization rate of PA6. Apparent influence of PC on melting temperature and enthalpy of PA6 is also discussed.     

Effects of physical refining on contents of waxes and fatty alcohols of refined olive oil

Changes in the contents of waxes and fatty alcohols during deodorization/physical refining of bleached olive oil were studied. Experiments were carried out with 1.85% acidity oil, which was physically refined in a discontinuous deodorizer of 250-kg maximum capacity using nitrogen as stripping gas instead of steam. The variables studied were load and temperature of oil in the deodorizer as well as N₂ flow. Analyses of waxes and alcohols were carried out at different operation times. The maximum content of wax was always observed when the oil reached the deodorization temperature. The variation in the wax content depended on temperature and N₂ flow. Wax decomposition started and continued during the operating time, and a progressive decrease, which was pronounced between 3 and 4 h, was observed. Small changes in waxes were observed between 4 and 5 h. Total content of fatty alcohols diminished throughout the operating time, and changes did not depend on the variables studied.     

On reactive routing protocols in ZigBee wireless sensor networks

ZigBee is the primary standard solution for wireless sensor networks, implementing the Ad hoc On‐Demand Distance Vector (AODV) protocol in the network layer and supported by the standard IEEE 802.15.4. This study is focused on mesh topologies and the critical problems encountered when AODV is executed in conjunction with the Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance protocol. These problems are mainly related to the packet overhead required to carry out route creation. To perform preliminary experiments to be able to implement AODV in a real network, a new metric is proposed herein. This metric uses fuzzy logic to help in the decision‐making process. The objective of the fuzzy routine is to determine, during the route‐discovery process, the best node to forward request/reply packets, with the aim of reducing packet overhead and energy consumption. Moreover, minor changes are also added to the discovery procedure of AODV to improve the performance of the route‐creation process. This intelligent version of AODV has provided promising experimental results, greatly reducing the number of packets required, with the consequent energy saving while selecting the best nodes to be part of the routes.