It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Sunday, November 19, 2023
Converting PFAS “forever chemicals” into valuable compounds
Scientists develop a new method to incorporate harmful perfluoroalkenes into N-heterocyclic carbene ligands
CREDIT: KENICHI MICHIGAMI, OSAKA METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
Osaka, Japan – Commonly known as “forever chemicals,” PFAS are notorious for persisting in the environment and in our bodies. Osaka Metropolitan University chemists may put an end to the “forever” life of PFAS with their simple yet innovative technique that converts these harmful substances into valuable compounds.
A research group led by Professor Masato Ohashi and Assistant Professor Kenichi Michigami of the Graduate School of Science at Osaka Metropolitan University has successfully synthesized ligands called fluorine-decorated N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) from perfluoroalkenes, a type of PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances). The NHCs developed in this study play significant roles in stabilizing unstable molecules as well as enhancing the performance of their ligated transition metal complexes.
The synthesis of fluorinated NHCs was achieved simply by removing two fluorine atoms from 1,2-difluoroalkene derivatives. Owing to the small size of fluorine atoms, the electron-accepting ability of the NHC ligand can be enhanced without substantially changing its steric properties.
“Our results enable the easy transformation of harmful PFAS into functional NHCs,” explained Dr. Michigami. “The versatile applications of fluorinated NHCs show potential advantages in various fields such as fluorine chemistry, organometallic chemistry, catalysis chemistry, and materials science.”
Osaka Metropolitan University is the third largest public university in Japan, formed by a merger between Osaka City University and Osaka Prefecture University in 2022. OMU upholds "Convergence of Knowledge" through 11 undergraduate schools, a college, and 15 graduate schools. For more research news, visit https://www.omu.ac.jp/en/ or follow us on Twitter: @OsakaMetUniv_en, or Facebook.
N-Heterocyclic Carbenes with Polyfluorinated Groups at the 4- and 5-Positions from [3 + 2] Cycloadditions between Formamidinates and cis-1,2-Difluoroalkene Derivatives
Genetic testing could greatly benefit patients with depression, save health system millions
A special kind of genetic test that helps determine the best antidepressant for patients with moderate-to-severe depression could generate substantive health system savings and greatly improve patient outcomes, according to new research from the University of British Columbia.
The study, published today in CMAJ, shows that in B.C. alone, implementing pharmacogenomic testing could save the provincial public health system an estimated $956 million over 20 years.
“Pharmacogenomic testing aims to match patients with medications that are more likely to be effective and cause less side effects, based on their genetic profile,” said co-senior author Dr. Stirling Bryan(he/him), professor at UBC’s school of population and public health, and senior scientist at Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI). “Our findings show that the benefit to patients in B.C. could be enormous, including increased remission rates and better quality of life, while generating significant cost savings by keeping people out of hospitals and more intensive treatment pathways.”
One in 10 Canadians will experience major depression at some point in their lives, making it one of the largest public health burdens. While more than 35 antidepressant medications are available in Canada, over half of patients don’t respond to the antidepressant they are initially prescribed and roughly 27 per cent report adverse effects.
Previous studies have shown that up to 42 per cent of the variation in how patients respond to these medications is due to genetic factors. Pharmacogenomic testing uses genetic information, typically obtained using a cheek swab, blood test or saliva sample, to help guide medication selection and dosing.
“Genes play an important role in how our bodies metabolize different antidepressants, which ultimately influences their efficacy,” said co-senior author Dr. Jehannine Austin, professor of medical genetics and psychiatry at UBC. “The genetic insights provided by pharmacogenomic testing can help physicians make more informed treatment decisions and reduce the lengthy trial-and-error process that many patients experience in finding an effective medication.”
For the study, the researchers worked with patient partners, clinicians and health system and government partners to develop a simulation model that mimics the experience of patients with major depression, from diagnosis through to treatment, recurrence and recovery. By incorporating B.C. health administrative data, clinical trial data and defined treatment strategies, the model compared the projected journey of 194,149 adults with and without pharmacogenomic testing over a 20-year period.
The model showed that pharmacogenomic testing would result in 37 per cent fewer patients experiencing treatment-resistant depression, a situation in which the patients’ depression does not improve despite trying several kinds of treatment. Pharmacogenomic testing would also result in patients spending 15 per cent more time without depression symptoms, resulting in an anticipated 1,869 fewer deaths and 21,346 fewer hospital admissions over 20 years.
“By incorporating the perspectives of patients with lived and living experience into this model, alongside robust data sets, we are able to carefully simulate the treatment journey of people with major depression,” said first author Dr. Shahzad Ghanbarian, a mathematical modeler and health economist at the Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, a research group within the VCHRI and affiliated with UBC. “The simulation model is designed to be flexible and could be applied to other jurisdictions beyond B.C., where we might expect to see similar benefits, particularly within a comparable Canadian context.”
Linda Riches, who lives in Salmon Valley, B.C., has been living with major depression for over 30 years and was one of the patient partners who helped undertake the study.
“All people with major depression deserve to feel hopeful about their life. Genetic testing may give them the opportunity to know what treatment they need, not the 10 they didn’t need,” said Riches.
Pharmacogenomic tests are not currently offered through the public health systems across Canada, but patients can pay for them through private companies.
The researchers say their analysis makes a strong case for including pharmacogenomic testing as part of routine, publicly-funded health care for people with major depression in B.C., but more work is needed to determine how such testing could be put into practice.
“We’ve shown here this can be effective, and our next step is to figure out the best way to do it, with input from patients, physicians, government and health sector partners,” said Dr. Bryan. “Exploration of implementation strategies, such as which health-care professionals are best-suited to deliver pharmacogenomic testing, is the natural next step and remains unexplored in Canada.”
This study was funded by Genome BC, Genome Canada and Michael Smith Health Research BC.
Cost-effectiveness of pharmacogenomic-guided treatment for major depression
ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE
14-Nov-2023
COI STATEMENT
Christian Schuetz reports research funding from Provincial Health Service Authority, Health Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) and Clairvoyant; consulting fees from CCSA; and travel support from Suchtmedizin. He is chair of the addiction and psychosis committee of the International Society of Addiction Medicine; research lead, Mental Health and Addiction with the Provincial Health Service Authority; division head, Substance Use and Concurrent Disorders with the University of British Columbia; and sits on the scientific committee of the World Association on Dual Disorders. Jehannine Austin is vice president of the International Society for Psychiatric Genetics and associate editor with the Journal of Genetic Counseling. No other competing interests were declared.
Women with depression have 20% lower taurine concentration in the hippocampus
Precise observation using ultra-high magnetic field 7T MRI
(A) BRAIN REGIONS WHERE SPECTRA WERE MEASURED (YELLOW BOX) (B) 1H MR SPECTRUM IN THE HIPPOCAMPUS: HIPPOCAMPAL TAURINE SIGNAL SHOWN AT 3.4 PPM (ARROW). BLACK LINE: ACTUAL MEASURED SPECTRUM. RED LINE: LCMODEL FITTING SPECTRUM.
For the first time, a research team in Korea has discovered there is a significant relationship between depression and the taurine concentration in the hippocampus, an area of the brain responsible for memory and learning functions. This discovery provides the opportunity to publicize the role and importance of taurine in future prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of depression.
Using ultra-high magnetic field 7T human MRI (7T MRI), researchers (Drs. Youngkyu Song, Jee-Hyun Cho and Chaejoon Cheong) in the Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI, President Seong-Kwang Yang) Biochemical Analysis Team have confirmed that the taurine concentration was significantly lower in the hippocampus of young females suffering from depression.
The study, conducted in collaboration with research teams led by Dr. Hyungjun Kim at the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM) and Prof. Jin-Hun Sohn at Chungnam National University (CNU), is the result of comparing two groups of female participants, a group of 36 female patients with major depressive disorder, and a control group of 40 healthy females. All participants were aged 19 to 29.
Depression is a disease that causes serious damage and loss, not only personally, but also socially and economically. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are more than 260 million people suffering from depression around the world, and more than 800,000 people take their own lives every year. In Korea, the increase in depression among young people is notable. Of the total 1,000,744 patients with depression, 185,942 individuals in their 20s accounted for the largest demographic, and the rate of increase has more than doubled in five years.
MRI is widely used in brain disease research as it can precisely scan specific locations in the body and obtain a variety of quantitative information. Previous MRI studies on depression have focused on revealing changes in metabolites mainly limited to the cerebral cortex area, at the edge of the brain. This study is the first to disclose the relationship between metabolites and depression in the hippocampus, located inside the brain.
To identify substances closely related to depression, the research team measured and compared concentrations of seven metabolites, taurine, choline, creatine, glutamine, glutamate, myo-inositol, and N-acetyl aspartate, present in the frontal, occipital, and hippocampus regions of young women.
When performing MRI scans, there are technical limitations in measuring metabolite concentration in the hippocampus due to its location in the brain. Also, it is particularly difficult to obtain a magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) signal for taurine because it has a low concentration compared to other metabolites. Using 7T MRI, which achieves high signal sensitivity and resolution, and sLASER pulse sequence designed to reduce chemical shift displacement errors, the research team successfully measured the subtle differences in taurine signals in the hippocampus of the patient and control groups.
The concentrations of metabolites were also accurately measured with consideration to the precise distributions of the constituents, white matter, gray matter, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which are dependent on the individual. In the future, it is expected these measurements will be applied to customized brain disease research, tailored to individual characteristics.
The leader of KBSI’s research team, Dr. Jee-Hyun Cho declared, “This study will promote research on the role of taurine in the hippocampus and its relationship with depression, and contribute to the pathogenesis research and diagnosis development of depression.” She added, “By using KBSI’s cutting-edge research equipment, we plan to conduct follow-up research on changes of taurine concentrations in the brain via long-term observation of depression patients, as well as the effect of taurine intake as a treatment for depression.”
The research team at KBSI proposed the initial research idea of the relationship between depression and taurine concentration in the hippocampus, conducted measurement of brain metabolites using 7T MRI, and carried out analysis of the resulting data. The KIOM and CNU research teams participated in recruiting depression patient and healthy control groups, conducted psychological tests and clinical interviews, and managed demographic information.
Taurine concentrations in the hippocampus, frontal cortex (anterior cingulate cortex, ACC) and occipital cortex (OCC) (red: depression patient group, blue: healthy control group). The average taurine concentration in the hippocampus is 0.91 mM for the depression patient group and 1.13 mM for the healthy control group.
CREDIT
Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI)
The Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), a government-funded research institution established in 1988, conducts research and development, research support and joint research, related to high-tech research equipment as well as advanced analytical science technology. With the aid of cutting-edge research equipment and outstanding human resources infrastructure, KBSI aims to provide a global platform for domestic and international researchers to achieve creative and harmonious research outcomes.
This study was supported by the KBSI, KIOM, and National Research Foundation of Korea, and was published in the latest online edition of Biological Psychiatry, a renowned academic journal in the field of psychiatry.
Association between taurine level in the hippocampus and major depressive disorder in young women: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study at 7 tesla
Geese ‘keep calm and carry on’ after deaths in the flock
Canada geese strengthen existing friendships and forge a few new connections after losing close associates from their flock, new research shows.
University of Exeter scientists observed flocks of Canada geese before and after a population-management cull in which about 20% of the birds were killed.
In such a situation, some animals species increase “social connectivity” – mixing with many new individuals – which can increase the transmission of infectious diseases.
But the geese in the study responded by strengthening existing relationships, only adding enough new associations to replace those they had lost.
“They are socially conservative – they keep calm and carry on, responding to losses in the flock by strengthen existing ties rather than greatly expanding their social network.
“This ability to deal with social disruption – this resilience – might contribute towards their success as an invasive species.”
As well as competing with native species, Canada geese can spread diseases including avian flu that could affect human and animal health.
They are culled in various parts of the UK, including at the Cotswold Water Park where this study took place.
Reducing the size of the population is a common method to reduce disease transmission. In some species this can backfire because individuals respond by forming multiple new social connections – which can increase the spread of disease.
In contrast, after short-term adjustments to restore their social network this population of Canada geese were robust to the effects of culling; predominantly strengthening existing ‘friendships’ rather than forming lots of new associations, reducing the potential for an increased risk of disease transmission.
The researchers say their findings highlight the importance of understanding the social behaviour of different species when planning management interventions such as culling.
The research was funded by the University of Exeter and the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
The paper, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, is entitled: “Culling-induced perturbation of social networks of wild geese reinforces rather than disrupts associations among survivors.”
Canada goose
CREDIT
Matthew Silk
JOURNAL
Journal of Applied Ecology
METHOD OF RESEARCH
Observational study
SUBJECT OF RESEARCH
Animals
ARTICLE TITLE
Culling-induced perturbation of social networks of wild geese reinforces rather than disrupts associations among survivors
ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE
14-Nov-2023
Recent Advances in the Application of Marine Natural Products as Antimicrobial Agents
The latest volume of the Bentham Science book series, Frontiers in Antimicrobial Agents, scopes out the potential of marine natural compounds in the search for anti-infective medicines.
The world is facing a growing crisis as the number of new antimicrobials on the market has decreased over the last two decades, while harmful pathogenic organisms have acquired high resistance rates, rend
ering current antimicrobials less effective. Recent Advances in the Application of Marine Natural Products as Antimicrobial Agents is a new series volume that covers this subject This volume explores the untapped potential of marine environments to provide breakthrough treatments for various human ailments through the discovery of novel bioactive compounds.
Authored by a team of experts in the field of natural product science, marine microbiology, and biotechnology, Recent Advances in the Application of Marine Natural Products as Antimicrobial Agents delves into the rich diversity of animals, plants, and microorganisms found in the marine environment. These marine resources are proving to be a valuable source of natural bioactive compounds that have demonstrated antimicrobial properties.
Together, these accomplished editors have edited an informative treatise on marine natural products as novel antimicrobial agents, making the book a useful contribution to anyone’s library biotechnology and antimicrobial research library.
The book presents 17 comprehensive chapters that cover a wide range of topics related to marine natural products as antimicrobial agents. It begins with an overview of the significance of antimicrobial drug development and the challenges associated with different discovery platforms. The subsequent chapters focus on the use of microorganisms, bacteria, bacterial viruses, cyanobacteria, marine algae, mangrove extracts, sponges, and various bioactive components from marine habitats as potential sources of novel antimicrobial agents.
The book also explores the promising potential of antimicrobial peptides, biosurfactants, and polysaccharides derived from marine sources. Chapters dedicated to synthetic drug discovery, combinatorial therapy, and nanomedicine showcase innovative approaches to developing effective antimicrobial drugs.
As the demand for alternative therapeutic interventions grows in the face of rising antimicrobial drug resistance, this book provides valuable insights and information on the ongoing clinical trials and patents related to marine natural compounds with antimicrobial properties. It is a valuable resource for both beginners and experts in the field, offering a comprehensive overview of the potential of marine resources in addressing the antimicrobial crisis.
Recent Advances in the Application of Marine Natural Products as Antimicrobial Agents is now available and is an essential read for those seeking innovative solutions in the fight against antimicrobial drug resistance.
Dr. Arumugam Veera Ravi: A Professor of Biotechnology at Alagappa University in India, Dr. Veera Ravi is a renowned expert in drug discovery from natural resources, having published over 90 research articles and contributed to five books. He has successfully led multiple research projects and holds six patents.
Dr. Ramanathan Srinivasan: An Assistant Professor at Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Dr. Srinivasan holds a Ph.D. in Biotechnology. He specializes in antibiotic resistance mechanisms and quorum sensing inhibition studies, with more than 35 research articles and contributions to book chapters. He has also served as a associate editor, guest editor and reviewer for several international journals.
Dr. Kannappan Arunachalam: Dr. Kannappan earned his Ph.D. in Biotechnology and is an expert in antimicrobial resistance and biofilms in microbial pathogens. He has authored over 29 research articles and contributed to four book chapters. He's currently a postdoctoral researcher at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and is engaged in an ongoing research project funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
A Lancaster University PhD student has measured the optical depth of Saturn’s rings using a new method based on how much sunlight reached the Cassini spacecraft while it was in the shadow of the rings.
The optical depth is connected to the transparency of an object, and it shows how far light can travel through that object before it gets absorbed or scattered.
The research, led by Lancaster University in collaboration with the Swedish Institute of Space Physics, is published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
The NASA-ESA Cassini spacecraft was launched in 1997 and reached Saturn in 2004, carrying out the most extensive survey of the planet and its moons to date. The mission ended in 2017 when Cassini plunged into the Saturnian atmosphere, after diving 22 times between the planet and its rings.
Lancaster University PhD student George Xystouris, under the supervision of Dr Chris Arridge, analysed historic data from the Langmuir Probe on board Cassini, an instrument that was measuring the cold plasma, i.e., low energy ions and electrons, in the magnetosphere of Saturn.
For their study they focused on solar eclipses of the spacecraft: periods where Cassini was in the shadow of Saturn or the main rings. During each eclipse, the Langmuir Probe recorded dramatic changes in the data.
George said: “As the probe is metallic, whenever it is sunlit, the sunlight can give enough energy to the probe to release electrons. This is the photoelectric effect, and the electrons that are released are so-called ‘photoelectrons. They can create problems though, as they have the same properties as the electrons in the cold plasma around Saturn and there is not an easy way to separate the two.”
“Focusing on the data variations we realised that they were connected with how much sunlight each ring would allow to pass. Eventually, using the properties of the material that the Langmuir Probe was made of, and how bright the Sun was in Saturn’s neighbourhood, we managed to calculate the change in the photoelectrons number for each ring, and calculate Saturn’s rings optical depth.
“This was a novel and exciting result! We used an instrument that is mainly used for plasma measurements to measure a planetary feature, which is a unique use of the Langmuir Probe, and our results agreed with studies that used high-resolution imagers to measure the transparency of the rings.”
Τhe main rings, which extend up to 140,000 km from the planet, but have a maximum thickness of only 1km, are to disappear from view from Earth by 2025. In that year the rings will be tilted edge-on to Earth, making it almost impossible to view them. They will tilt back towards Earth during the next phase of Saturn's 29-year orbit and will continue to become more visible and brighter until 2032.
Professor Mike Edmunds, the President of the Royal Astronomical Society, added: "It is always good to see a postgraduate student involved in using space probe instrumentation in an unusual and inventive way. Innovation of this kind is just what is needed in astronomical research - and an approach which many former students who are in a variety of careers are applying to help address the world's problems".
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the average national rainfall for March in 2023 measured a mere 28.7 mm, which is only half of the usual amount. Although the arrival of the summer rainy season alleviated the drought, the scarcity of water during the critical sowing/crop planting season (late March to early May), when substantial water is required, inflicted severe hardships on farmers. Failure to predict the growing threat of severe springtime droughts stemming from the climate crisis might lead to a recurrence of this year’s situation.
A research team led by Professor Jonghun Kam from the Division of Environmental Science and Engineering and Dr. Chang-Kyun Park who previously worked at the Institute of Environmental and Energy Technology at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) has employed multi-model projections using the self-calibrating Effective Drought Index (scEDI) to predict drought and recommend the cumulative precipitation necessary for recovery, collaborating with Drs. Sangeun Lee (Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements) and Hyuncheol Yoon (National Disaster Management Research Institute). Their findings have been published in Environmental Research Letters, an international journal in the field of global environment.
In rural regions, dams are typically filled based on precipitation forecasts in anticipation of the crop planting season. However, at the outset of this year, the water storage level at Juam Dam in Suncheon was only 28%. Unlike precipitation forecasting, the prediction system for droughts remains relatively undeveloped, and Korea’s geographical location with four distinct seasons makes it challenging to predict the onset and recovery of a drought.
In the previous year, Professor Jonghun Kam and his team introduced the scEDI, an index designed to detect and characterize a severe drought while taking into account the specific climatological conditions in Korea. This index aids in interpreting precipitation forecasts as drought predictions by adjusting spatiotemporal factors, ultimately enhancing the precision of the traditional EDI.
According to the analysis, the required cumulative rainfall to recover the ongoing drought would be 170 mm, 310 mm, and 440 mm for March, April, and May respectively. This information is crucial for effectively managing the water storage levels in reservoirs in preparation for the upcoming spring drought.
Professor Jonghun Kam who led the research commented, “We now possess a more precise estimation of the required water quantity to mitigate the drought, but further investigation and ongoing monitoring are still necessary.” He emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government and the media by stating, “We need to recognize the significance of regional drought response, including water management initiatives, at the national level such as cross-basin water utilization. There is the need for sustained public awareness about drought.”
The study was conducted with the support from the Mid-career Researcher Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea, the Joint Research and Technology Development Project of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and the Sejong Fellowship Program.
