Deep Membrane Proteome Profiling Reveals Overexpression of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) in High-Risk Human Paraganglioma and Pheochromocytoma,Suggesting New Theranostic Opportunity

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors arising from chromaffin cells of adrenal medulla or sympathetic or parasympathetic paraganglia, respectively. To identify new therapeutic targets, we performed a detailed membrane-focused proteomic analysis of five human paraganglioma (PGL) samples. Using the Pitchfork strategy, which combines specific enrichments of glycopeptides, hydrophobic transmembrane segments, and non-glycosylated extra-membrane peptides, we identified over 1800 integral membrane proteins (IMPs). We found 45 “tumor enriched” proteins, i.e., proteins identified in all five PGLs but not found in control chromaffin tissue. Among them, 18 IMPs were predicted to be localized on the cell surface, a preferred drug targeting site, including prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a well-established target for nuclear imaging and therapy of advanced prostate cancer. Using specific antibodies, we verified PSMA expression in 22 well-characterized human PPGL samples. Compared to control chromaffin tissue, PSMA was markedly overexpressed in high-risk PPGLs belonging to the established Cluster 1, which is characterized by worse clinical outcomes, pseudohypoxia, multiplicity, recurrence, and metastasis, specifically including SDHB, VHL, and EPAS1 mutations. Using immunohistochemistry, we localized PSMA expression to tumor vasculature. Our study provides the first direct evidence of PSMA overexpression in PPGLs which could translate to therapeutic and diagnostic applications of anti-PSMA radio-conjugates in high-risk PPGLs.     

Dynamics and Crystallization in Polydimethylsiloxane Nanocomposites

Several routes were used to achieve silicon nanocomposites. The first and second one are the melt intercalation of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which is a mechanical blending of the polymer in the molten state with the untreated inorganic filler or intercalated nanoparticles. The last one is an in situ polymerization, which previously requires the intercalation of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D₃) followed by a subsequent polymerization step. We used synthetic mineral oxide HTiNbO₅ as nanofiller. These systems were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and solid state NMR in order to better understand the relation between the nanocomposites dynamics, and crystallisation. The efficiency of grafting reactions was studied by ²⁹Si CP/MAS NMR. The nature of the interfacial interactions seems to play the major role. Indeed, the nanocomposites 1 and 2 for which only physical interactions are expected do not exhibit any T_g deviation whereas the nanocomposite 3, for which chemical grafting is achieved, increases strongly the T_g. Crystallization is more sensitive to density and strength of interfacial interactions which are maximum for the pristine filler.     

On-Surface Synthesis and Determination of the Open-Shell Singlet Ground State of Tridecacene**

The character of the electronic structure of acenes has been the subject of longstanding discussion. However, convincing experimental evidence of their open-shell character has so far been missing. Here, we present the on-surface synthesis of tridecacene molecules by thermal annealing of octahydrotridecacene on a Au(111) surface. We characterized the electronic structure of the tridecacene by scanning probe microscopy, which reveals the presence of an inelastic signal at 126 meV. We attribute the inelastic signal to spin excitation from the singlet diradical ground state to the triplet excited state. To rationalize the experimental findings, we carried out many-body ab initio calculations as well as model Hamiltonians to take into account the effect of the metallic substrate. Moreover, we provide a detailed analysis of how the dynamic electron correlation and virtual charge fluctuation between the molecule and metallic surface reduces the singlet-triplet band gap. Thus, this work provides the first experimental confirmation of the magnetic character of tridecacene.     

Use of hydrogels as corneal inlays for refractive surgery

A novel hydrogel has been used for intracorneal implantation, in order to correct refractive errors of the eye. Our hydrogel is a polyanionic copolymer of acrylonitrile and sodium methallylsulfonate material (AN 69, made by HOSPAL, France). We describe here its formation, chemico-physical and biological properties (in vitro and in vivo), and its biomechanical behaviour when implanted into the cornea.     

The applications of infrared thermography in surgical removal of retained teeth effects assessment

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Coal has played a significant role in daily life. However, the highly effective combustion and reducing combustion-caused hazards of the coal still...     

Alkali Metal Arenides as a Universal Synthetic Tool for Layered 2D Germanene Modification

The rediscovery of graphene in 2004 has started an enormous chase in the research of 2D materials. A new family of layered 2D materials consisting of the 14th group elements beyond carbon has already been reported. Here, a new methodology in germanene chemistry is presented using germanane (Ge₆H₆) as a stable and easily accessible starting material for effective synthesis of novel germanene derivatives. The modification procedure utilizing strong bases—alkali metal arenides—for deprotonation of germanane and its subsequent functionalization with p‐nitrobenzyl bromide is described. Functionalization of germanene is confirmed by FT‐IR, Raman, and XPS spectroscopy as well as by X‐ray diffraction analysis.     

Simple measurement of actinides in urine using solid-state scintillation

Rapid methods for determination of internal contamination play a key role during emergency situations in particular for incident response teams and affected populations. For this reason, these methods and their particular techniques must be fast, reliable, robust, simple and cost-efficient, as well as providing high-quality throughput. On the other hand, they are characterized by lower precision and they are often biased. The presented method is based on direct measurement of urine using powder scintillator YAP:Ce together with an alkaline medium as a replacement for traditional liquid scintillation cocktail. The overall efficiencies for trivalent actinides (Am-241 and Cm-244) were greater than 85% and 94%.

     

Mechanochemical Pretreatment for Efficient Solvent-Free Synthesis of SSZ-13 Zeolite

The economical and environmentally benign synthesis of SSZ-13 zeolite was possible due to the mechanochemical activation of dry reagents by planetary mill. Contrary to manual grinding in a mortar, the proposed automatized approach is scalable and reproducible. This solvent-free process provided a huge gain in product/gel ratios, significantly minimized reaction space and organic structure-directing agent use, and allowed for the elimination of agitation. Obtained materials were comparable to the product of “classical” syntheses. The use of different silica sources resulted in SSZ-13 zeolites with various characteristics: different Si/Al ratio and crystal size.