Preparation and Characterization of Cerium (III) Doped Captopril Nanoparticles and Study of their Photoluminescence Properties

Indexación: Web of Science. DOAJ.In this research Ce3+ doped Captopril nanoparticles (Ce3+ doped CAP-NP) were prepared by a cold welding process and have been studied. Captopril may be applied in the treatment of hypertension and some types of congestive heart failure and for preventing kidney failure due to high blood pressure and diabetes. CAP-NP was synthesized by a cold welding process. The cerium nitrate was added at a ratio of 10% and the optical properties have been studied by photoluminescence (PL). The synthesized compounds were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The size of CAP-NP was calculated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The size of CAP-NP was in the range of 50 nm. Morphology of surface of synthesized nanoparticles was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally the luminescence properties of undoped and doped CAP-NP were compared. PL spectra from undoped CAP-NP show a strong pack in the range of 546 nm after doped cerium ion into the captopril appeared two bands at 680 and 357 nm, which is ascribed to the well-known 5d–4f emission band of the cerium.http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/chem.2016.14.issue-1/chem-2016-0008/chem-2016-0008.xm

Progression of Coronary Artery Calcium and Incident Heart Failure: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

BackgroundAlthough the association between coronary artery calcium (CAC) and future heart failure (HF) has been shown previously, the value of CAC progression in the prediction of HF has not been investigated. In this study, we investigated the association of CAC progression with subclinical left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and incident HF in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.Methods and resultsThe Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis is a population-based study consisting of 6814 men and women aged 45 to 84, free of overt cardiovascular disease at enrollment, who were recruited from 4 ethnicities. We included 5644 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants who had baseline and follow-up cardiac computed tomography and were free of HF and coronary heart disease before the second cardiac computed tomography. Mean (±SD) age was 61.7±10.2 years and 47.2% were male. The Cox proportional hazard models and multivariable linear regression models were deployed to determine the association of CAC progression with incident HF and subclinical LV dysfunction, respectively. Over a median follow-up of 9.6 (interquartile range: 8.8-10.6) years, 182 participants developed incident HF. CAC progression of 10 units per year was associated with 3% of increased risk of HF independent of overt coronary heart disease (P=0.008). In 2818 participants with available cardiac magnetic resonance images, CAC progression was associated with increased LV end diastolic volume (β=0.16; P=0.03) and LV end systolic volume (β=0.12; P=0.006) after excluding participants with any coronary heart disease.ConclusionsCAC progression was associated with incident HF and modestly increased LV end diastolic volume and LV end systolic volume at follow-up exam independent of overt coronary heart disease

Cultural engagement and the economic performance of the cultural and creative industries: an occupational critique

This article presents a new critical engagement with the concept of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs), focusing on the rationale for grouping occupations and industries under this label. We show how the definition of ‘creativity’ used to demonstrate CCIs’ economic performance remains contested and variable, particularly with regard to the inclusion of specific parts of the IT sector. In demonstrating the importance of IT to the economic narrative regarding CCIs, we then unfold a related critique, exploring patterns in cultural consumption within CCI occupations. We demonstrate how some CCI workers have distinctively high cultural consumption, others reflect their broader social class, and some, including IT workers, show lower than expected consumption. Overall, we question the coherence of the prevailing CCI category, particularly in government policy, and suggest a new mode of ‘cultural’ occupational analysis for the sociology of CCIs

Nudging art lovers to donate.

Many nonprofit organizations face revenue uncertainty due to funding cuts. It is crucial for them to supplement existing revenue streams by private donations, and apply thoughtful market segmentation in their pursuit of donors. We introduce the behavioral concept of ‘nudge’ based on the possibility of loss aversion affecting willingness-to-donate, and investigate its implications for fundraising strategies. Potential donors are nudged to donate by the hypothetical scenario of ‘losing’ an existing exhibition, and also by that of ‘gaining’ an additional exhibition. We observe significant loss aversion effects as frequent gallery-goers donate more in order to avoid losing an exhibition. While both prospective gain and loss scenarios are effective in nudging non-frequent gallery-goers, the prospect of enjoying ‘one more’ event is observed to be stronger. We argue that there may be scope to increase support for nonprofit organizations, particularly in the cultural sector, by exploiting the psychological characteristics of prospective donors

Measuring the cultural value of the Royal Scottish Academy New Contemporaries Exhibition as a platform for emerging artists

In our analysis of the cultural value of the Royal Scottish Academy New Contemporaries Exhibition, we assessed the institution’s role in shaping emerging artists’ careers, as well as wider cultural value. Supported by our conceptual framework of value creation, issues assessed included the expected versus experienced value of the exhibition and the individual artworks, price setting, the market mechanism surrounding the exhibition, and its enhancement. The created cultural value is facilitated by high-visibility media exposure and through development of career-enhancing networks. We have generated new insight into cultural value more generally by moving beyond dominant instrumental valuation approaches. We have addressed many of the gaps in understanding the mechanisms behind engagement with contemporary art. We have progressed theory with the assistance of our conceptual framework and supporting qualitative data. Cultural value is expressed in contemporary art through artistic production systems and its cultural messages. Artists’ cultural value is often constructed via the intrinsic worth of their work, rather than from market influences. Cultural value is often personal to the viewer, shared with others and remembered over time. It is also co-created among the other stakeholders involved

Systemic enzyme therapy in chronic venous disease: a review

Chronic venous disease (CVD), a sequel of venous insufficiency, has great medical and socioeconomic impact. Varicose veins and venous ulcer are amongst its commonest manifestations. In CVD, incompetent valves, weakened vascular walls, venous hypertension and increased permeability of venous walls lead to the release of proinflammatory mediators like tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, reactive oxygen species (R.O.S.), and reactive nitrogen species (R.N.S.) in the venous milieu. Pharmacotherapy with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is often used to relieve pain caused by venous disease. However, there is a need for therapies that target the microcirculatory disorders and act on chronic inflammatory processes. Systemic enzyme therapy (SET), with orally administered combination of proteolytic enzymes- trypsin, bromelain, and flavonoid rutoside, has been used since decades for their anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-edematous, antithrombotic and antioxidant properties. This review discusses the various relevant pharmacodynamic properties demonstrated by the ingredients, followed by clinical studies of SET, which have demonstrated benefit in both subjective and objective parameters. These studies indicate that SET has good efficacy, tolerability and holds great promise to improve the quality of life of a patient with CVD.  

Macroeconomic policy interaction: State dependency and implications for financial stability in UK: A systemic review

The association between economic and financial stabilities and influence of macroeconomic policies on the financial sector creates scope of active policy role in financial stability. As a contribution to the existing body of knowledge, this study has analysed the implications of macroeconomic policy interaction/coordination for financial stability, proxied by financial assets, i.e. equity and bonds price oscillation. The critical review and analysis of the existing literature on the subject suggests that there is also ample evidence of interdependence between monetary and fiscal policies and this interrelation necessitates coordination between them for the sake of financial stability. There is also a case for analysing the symmetry of financial markets responses to macroeconomic policy interaction. On methodological and empirical grounds, it is vital to test the robustness of policy recommendations to overcome the limitation of a single empirical approach (Jeffrey–Lindley’s paradox). Hence, the Frequentist and Bayesian approaches should be used in commentary manner. The policy interaction and optimal policy combination should also be analysed in the context of institutional design and major financial events to gain insight into the implications of policy interaction in the periods of stable economic and financial environments as well as period of financial and economic distress

Bcl-2 protein family: Implications in vascular apoptosis and atherosclerosis

Apoptosis has been recognized as a central component in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, in addition to the other human pathologies such as cancer and diabetes. The pathophysiology of atherosclerosis is complex, involving both apoptosis and proliferation at different phases of its progression. Oxidative modification of lipids and inflammation differentially regulate the apoptotic and proliferative responses of vascular cells during progression of the atherosclerotic lesion. Bcl-2 proteins act as the major regulators of extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis signalling pathways and more recently it has become evident that they mediate the apoptotic response of vascular cells in response to oxidation and inflammation either in a provocative or an inhibitory mode of action. Here we address Bcl-2 proteins as major therapeutic targets for the treatment of atherosclerosis and underscore the need for the novel preventive and therapeutic interventions against atherosclerosis, which should be designed in the light of molecular mechanisms regulating apoptosis of vascular cells in atherosclerotic lesions

Extraskeletal Chondrosarcoma of Labium Majus

Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (ESMC) is a rare tumor seen more often in men. It is seen to arise from soft tissue of lower extremity or buttocks. We report a case of soft tissue swelling of left labium majus in a 66-year-old female. Patient underwent wide excision with uneventful postoperative course. Histopathology of specimen confirmed it to be ESMC. Patient refused adjuvant therapy. Followup of 1 year has shown her to be disease- and symptom- free. Only two cases arising from vulva have been reported in literature . This is the third case and first from Indian subcontinent. A brief review of clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of patients with extraskeletal chondrosarcoma is presented

Disinfection of effluent using catalytic ozonation process and economical comparison with chlorination

Background and purpose: Many conventional disinfection methods of effluents raise some health, efficiency and economic concerns. In order to increase the efficiency of disinfection of real effluent, in this study, the catalytic ozonation process was performed and economically compared with chlorination. Materials and methods: Magnetic activated carbon was used as acatalyst in a semi-continuous reactor for disinfection of effluent of municipal wastewater treatment plant in Bandargaz, Iran in 2015. The efficiency of disinfection was determined by thermo-tolerant coliform as indication, and the effect of parameters such as catalyst concentration (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 g/L), initial number of coliforms, contact time (1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 40 min) and catalyst reuse on disinfection process was evaluated. Finally economic comparison was done with the chlorination. Results: The results showed that the efficiency of disinfection was increased by increase in the concentration of carbon nano-composite and contact time; at 1 g/L concentration of Catalyst about 1.99 log reduction was observed after 2 min exposure time in which the effluent standards were obtained; while 1.91 log reduction of micro-organisms was measured for single ozonation. The first-order kinetics constant of single ozonation (0.42 min-1) showed an approximately 9-fold increase when the catalyst (2 g/L) was added to the solution. After 7 times reuse of nano-composite, the diminution of efficiency was negligible (1.5); and more than 57 fall of the cost was observed in a 5-year operational period compared with chlorination. Conclusion: The catalytic ozonation with the new catalyst of effluent could effectively disinfect the effluent in a short-contact-time, and due to economic considerations it can be used as an effective and economical method in wastewater treatment plants. © 2016, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved