Selective Perchlorate Sensing Using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy with Self-Assembled Monolayers of semiaza-Bambusurils

In the last two decades, perchlorate salts have been identified as environmental pollutants and recognized as potential substances affecting human health. We describe self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of novel semiaza-bambus[6]urils (semiaza-BUs) equipped with thioethers or disulfide (dithiolane) functionalities as surface-anchoring groups on gold electrodes. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) with Fe(CN)6 3-/4- as a redox probe, together with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and ellipsometry, were employed to characterize the interactions at the interface between the anchoring groups and the metal substrate. Data showed that the anion receptors' packing on the gold strongly depends on the anchoring group. As a result, SAMs of BUs with lipoic amide side chains show a concentration-dependent layer thickness. The BU SAMs are extremely stable on repeated electrochemical potential scans and can selectively recognize perchlorate anions. Our electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies indicated that semiaza-BU equipped with the lipoic amide side chains binds perchlorate (2-100 mM) preferentially over other anions such as F- , Cl- , I- , AcO- , H2 PO4 - , HPO4 2- , SO4 2- , NO2 - , NO3 - , or CO3 2- . The resistance performance is 10 to 100 times more efficient than SAMs containing all other tested anions.

The Roles of IL-2, IL-7, and IL15 Ligands in B Cells Development from Cord Blood Mononuclear Cells

BACKGROUND

B cells play an important role in the immune system due to production of the immunoglobulin and secreting several cytokines. It has been shown that B cells produced successfully in the presence of stem cell factor (SCF) and Flt3 ligand (Flt3L). IL2, IL7, and IL15 cytokines as the γc-common family have an essential role in lymphopoiesis. Common γ chain cytokines may support either synergistically or in an additive manner to B cell proliferative activity. Thus, the present study focused specifically on IL2, IL7, and IL15 cytokines that may play a critical role in B cell proliferation in cord blood. In this study, we evaluated the generation of B cells from CD34+/- cord blood mononuclear cells by using IL-2, IL-7, and IL-15.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Cord blood mononuclear cells were cultured for 21 days in presence of different combination of IL-2, IL-7, and IL-15.Harvested cells were analyzed by flow cytometry at days 0, 7, 14 and, 21.

RESULTS

Present study showed that B cell differentiation from CD34+ cord blood mononuclear cells was increased by using IL-2 and IL-7 at different time points; however, IL7 was more effective (P value < 0.0001). In contrast, IL-15 didn't increase significantly B cell expansion from CD34+ cord blood mononuclear cell.

CONCLUSION

These findings showed that IL-2 and IL-7 significantly increased B cell generation from cord blood CD34+ cells; probably this cytokines may be used in ex vivo generation of B cells from cord blood mononuclear cells.

[Bilateral sphenoid sinus mucocele presenting as abducens nerve palsy: case report]

Mucocele is a rare, benign, cystic tumor affecting primarily adults. It arises within the sphenoid sinus and invades the orbit through bony destruction. The most frequent locations are frontal and fronto-ethmoidal; sphenoidal forms are rarer, and bilaterality is exceptionally rare. Ophthalmological signs with the risk of blindness required emergency treatment. The authors report a case of bilateral sphenoid mucocele presenting as an isolated abducens nerve palsy, the etiological investigation confirmed the diagnosis of sphenoid mucocele, and the treatment consisted of a surgical marsupialization through an endonasal endoscopic approach.