Plasma Fibrinogen Independently Predicts Hypofibrinolysis in Severe COVID-19

High rates of thrombosis are present in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Deeper insight into the prothrombotic state is essential to provide the best thromboprophylaxis care. Here, we aimed to explore associations among platelet indices, conventional hemostasis parameters, and viscoelastometry data. This pilot study included patients with severe COVID-19 (n = 21) and age-matched controls (n = 21). Each patient received 100 mg aspirin therapy at the time of blood sampling. Total platelet count, high immature platelet fraction (H-IPF), fibrinogen, D-dimer, Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time, von Willebrand factor antigen and von Willebrand factor ristocetin cofactor activity, plasminogen, and alpha2-antiplasmin were measured. To monitor the aspirin therapy, a platelet function test from hirudin anticoagulated whole blood was performed using the ASPI test by Multiplate analyser. High on-aspirin platelet reactivity (n = 8) was defined with an AUC > 40 cut-off value by ASPI tests. In addition, in vitro viscoelastometric tests were carried out using a ClotPro analyser in COVID-associated thromboembolic events (n = 8) (p = 0.071) nor the survival rate (p = 0.854) showed associations with high on-aspirin platelet reactivity status. The platelet count (p = 0.03), all subjects. COVID-19 patients presented with higher levels of inflammatory markers, compared with the controls, along with evidence of hypercoagulability by ClotPro. H-IPF (%) was significantly higher among non-survivors (n = 18) compared to survivors (p = 0.011), and a negative correlation (p = 0.002) was found between H-IPF and plasminogen level in the total population. The platelet count was significantly higher among patients with high on-aspirin platelet reactivity (p = 0.03). Neither the ECA-A10 (p = 0.008), and ECA-MCF (p = 0.016) were significantly higher, while the tPA-CFT (p < 0.001) was significantly lower among patients with high on-aspirin platelet reactivity. However, only fibrinogen proved to be an independent predictor of hypofibrinolysis in severe COVID-19 patients. In conclusion, a faster developing, more solid clot formation was observed in aspirin ‘non-responder’ COVID-19 patients. Therefore, an individually tailored thromboprophylaxis is needed to prevent thrombotic complications, particularly in the hypofibrinolytic cluster.

Two Limonoids from The Seeds of Chisocheton Macrophyllus and Their Cytotoxic Activity Against Mcf-7 Breast Cancer Cells

Limonoids (tetranortriterpenoids) are triterpenoid compounds that lose four terminals in their structural framework. These compounds have a wide variety of structures and interesting activities including anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-tumor and anti-malarial properties. The purpose of this study was to find limonoid compounds from the Indonesian Chisocheton plant, and one of which is Chisocheton macrophyllus. The dried and powdered seeds of C. macrophyllus (4.5 kg) were extracted with methanol and partitioned successively with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. Evaporation of each extract resulted in the crude extracts of n-hexane (346.6 g), ethyl acetate (60.8 g) and n-butanol (14.6 g). The n-hexane fraction was subjected to a silica gel vacuum-liquid chromatography (VLC) column packed with silica gel 60 using gradient of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol (10% stepwise) to afford thirteen fractions (A-M). Fraction F (4.4 g) was subjected to silica gel column chromatography using gradient of n-hexane and ethyl acetate (5% stepwise). Subfraction F5 (1.2 g) was chromatographed on a column of silica gel eluted with n-hexane: CH2Cl2: EtOAc (2:7.5:0.5) to give compound 1 (19.7 mg) and fraction H (1.8 g) was subjected to silica gel column chromatography using gradient of n-hexane and ethyl acetate (5% stepwise) as eluting solvent to give 2 (12.0 mg). Chemical structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and determined as 6α-acetoxyepoxyazadiradione (1) and Dysobinin(2). Dysobinin (2) showed weak cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells with an IC50 value of 228.15 μM

H i study of isolated and paired galaxies: the MIR SFR-M⋆ sequence

ABSTRACT Using mid-infrared star formation rate and stellar mass indicators in WISE (Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer), we construct and contrast the relation between star formation rate and stellar mass for isolated and paired galaxies. Our samples comprise a selection of AMIGA (Analysis of the interstellar Medium in Isolated GAlaxies; isolated galaxies) and pairs of ALFALFA (Arecibo Legacy Fast ALFA) galaxies with H i detections such that we can examine the relationship between H i content (gas fraction, H i deficiency) and galaxy location on the main sequence (MS) in these two contrasting environments. We derive for the first time an H i scaling relation for isolated galaxies using WISE stellar masses, and thereby establish a baseline predictor of H i content that can be used to assess the impact of environment on H i content when compared with samples of galaxies in different environments. We use this updated relation to determine the H i deficiency of both our paired and isolated galaxies. Across all the quantities examined as a function of environment in this work (MS location, gas fraction, and H i deficiency), the AMIGA sample of isolated galaxies is found to have the lower dispersion: σAMIGA = 0.37 versus σPAIRS = 0.55 on the MS, σAMIGA = 0.44 versus σPAIRS = 0.54 in gas fraction, and σAMIGA = 0.28 versus σPAIRS = 0.34 in H i deficiency. We also note fewer isolated quiescent galaxies, 3 (0.6${{\ \rm per\ cent}}$), compared to 12 (2.3${{\ \rm per\ cent}}$) quiescent pair members. Our results suggest the differences in scatter measured between our samples are environment driven. Galaxies in isolation behave relatively predictably, and galaxies in more densely populated environments adopt a more stochastic behaviour, across a broad range of quantities.

Study of NO2 Sensing Properties of UV-Activated Graft Comb Copolymer and ZnO Blends in ppm and Sub-ppm Range at Room Temperature

In this work, a novel organic-inorganic blend made from PEGSil (Poly(dimetylsiloksan)-co-[poli(metylohydrosiloksane)-graft-2-winyl-poly(3-heksylthiophene)]-co-[poly(dimetylsiloksane)-graft- metakrylane ethere metylene poly(etylene glicole)]]) mixed with zinc oxide nanomaterial was studied as the sensitive layer for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) resistance gas sensor application. Moreover, the PEGSil graft copolymer material was tested in two variants, defined by side-chain length of P3HT: shorter hexane fraction (H) and longer chloroform fraction (CH). Elaborated organic–inorganic blend was deposited on interdigital transducers (Au on Si/SiO2) by the drop coating method from a chlorobenzene-based mixture. Sensor response characteristics to different concentrations of NO2 (1–10 ppm) in N2 carrier gas and synthetic air were measured and compared. Measurements were done at room temperature with UV light charge carriers’ activation. Moreover, measurements for low gas concentrations (50–500 ppb) were made and analyzed. The obtained results show that the sensitivity of fabricated sensors is about 6.8% per 1 ppb for hexane fractions of PEGSil and 9.3% for chloroform fractions in the concentration range from 50 to 200 ppb NO2 in N2 carrier gas. These results show that the blend of these materials has wide potential as a sensing layer for NOx low-concentration sensing.

Phytochemical, sub-acute toxicity, and antibacterial evaluation of Cordia sebestena leaf extracts

In Nigeria,Ethyl acetate extracts were analyzed using thin layer chromatography (TLC) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometry. The antibacterial potential of the extracts was tested against five standard bacteria, namelyThe TLC profile yielded 39 fractions, which were pooled to nine combined sub-fractions (A–I). The FTIR spectrum of sub-fraction H indicated the presence of aliphatic C-H stretching vibration at 2922 and 2850 cmThe study showed that

Partial Oxidative Gasification of Coking Wastewater in Supercritical Water

Partial oxidative gasification of coking wastewater in supercritical water was investigated in a batch reactor. The effects of temperature (380 - 460 °C) and oxygen ratio (OR) (0 - 0.8) on gaseous composition and removal efficiencies of organic carbon (TOC), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and volatile phenol (VP) were studied. Results show that temperature greately enhanced the mole fraction of H2and the removal efficiencies of COD, VP and NH3-N. The highest mole fraction of H2was obtained at OR of 0.2, higher OR promoted the oxidation of H2and CH4to CO2. At 460 °C, 25 MPa and OR of 0.2, the mole fraction H2, CO, CH4and CO2were 56.88%, 1.17%, 7.82% and 34.13%, respectively. The removal efficiency of TOC, VP and NH3-N reached 81.37%, 86.09% and 47.63%, respectively.