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ResumenObjetivo Determinar el impacto de una TAC en inspiracion adicional al protocolo convencional de la PET-TAC con 18F-FDG en la deteccion de nodulos pulmonares de pequeno tamano. Metodo Hemos estudiado consecutivamente 100 pacientes que presentaban uno o varios nodulos pulmonares radiologicos. A todos los pacientes se les practico un PET/TAC (Gemini, Philips). Los parametros de adquisicion fueron los mismos para la TAC no inspiratoria/fusion y la TAC en inspiracion: 120 kV, 25 mAs. Resultados Un total de 188 nodulos fueron detectados en la TAC inspiratoria, con tamano entre 0,3 y 3 cm. La TAC no inspiratoria no evidencio 20/188 nodulos (10,6%) con tamano entre 0,3 y 1 cm: correspondiendo a 17 pacientes. La localizacion mas frecuente en la que no se evidenciaron nodulos en la TAC fue en lobulos inferiores. La PET visualizo hipercaptacion de 18F-FDG en el 83,9% y el 72% de los nodulos >1 cm y entre 0,7 y 1 cm, respectivamente. Sin embargo, unicamente el 10,5% de los nodulos

Aim To determine the impact of an additional inspiration CT scan on the conventional 18 F-FDG PET-CT protocol in the detection of small pulmonary nodules. Method One hundred consecutive patients who presented with one or various nodules were studied. Whole-body PET-CT was performed using Gemini (Philips). CT acquisition parameters were 120 Kv/25 mAs, the same as those for the transmission/fusion CT (mild expiration) and inspiratory CT. Results A total of 188 nodules were detected in the inspiratory CT with sizes between 0.3–3 cm. Non-inspiratory CT did not show 20/188 nodules (10.6%) with sizes between 0.3–1 cm, this corresponding to 17 patients. The most frequent localization of non-detectable nodules in non-inspiratory CT was the lower lobes. 18 F-FDG uptake was detected by the PET in 83.9% and 72% of nodules with >1 cm and between 0.7 and 1 cm, respectively. However, only 10.5% of nodules Conclusions In selected patients, inspiratory CT added to conventional PET-CT significantly improves the detection of small nodules (10.6%), especially in those lesions located in the lower lobes, due to respiratory movements, and may have an impact on patient management.

The hydrothermal ageing of an epoxy thermoset modified with different amounts of poly(vinyl acetate), PVAc, was studied by gravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Differences in the water uptake process were observed as a function of the PVAc content, these differences were related to the morphology. Samples with nodular morphology, having spheres of thermoplastic dispersed in the epoxy matrix, showed water absorption behavior similar to neat epoxy. However, samples with inverted morphology, in which the thermoplastic formed the continuous phase, were more susceptible to water absorption; they exhibited a continued water uptake that could be described by a two-stage diffusion model. Samples with inverted morphology showed debonding between phases after hydrothermal ageing. Different dynamic-mechanical behavior has been found for samples that had epoxy matrix and samples with inverted morphology, both before and after hydrothermal ageing. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:960–968, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers

Epoxy based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A + 4,4′diaminodiphenylsulfone blended with poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) was investigated through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). The influence of PVAc content on reaction induced phase separation, cure kinetics, morphology and dynamic-mechanical properties of cured blends at 180°C is reported. Epoxy/PVAc blends (5, 10 and 15 wt % of PVAc content) are initially miscible but phase separate upon curing. DMTA α-relaxations of cured blends agree with Tg results by DSC. The conversion-time data revealed the cure reaction was slower in the blends than in the neat system, although the autocatalytic cure mechanism was not affected by the addition of PVAc. ESEM showed the cured epoxy/PVAc blends had different morphologies as a function of PVAc content: an inversion in morphology took place for blends containing 15 wt % PVAc. The changes in the blend morphology with PVAc content had a clear effect on the DMTA behavior. Inverted morphology blends had low storage modulus values and a high capability to dissipate energy at temperatures higher than the PVAc glass-transition temperature, in contrast to the behavior of neat epoxy and blends with a low PVAc content. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1507–1516, 2007

Miscibility and curing behaviour have been studied in blends of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) resin and 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulphone (DDS) used as curing agent. The PVAc component was used as a potential toughness modifier. Binary mixtures DGEBA+PVAc show complete miscibility over the whole composition range. Ternary mixture DGEBA+DDS in stoichiometric ratio +10% (w/w) PVAc behaves also as homogeneous phase. However PVAc was found to be inmmiscible with the highly amine-cross-linked epoxy resin. It was found that phase separation in DGEBA+DDS+PVAc blends occurred as the conversion reaches a value close to 40%. In the final cured material two phases are present: an epoxy phase and a PVAc phase. It was also found a slow down of the reaction when PVAc was present.

A portion of about 1000 bp within the 16S rDNA of four pear decline (PD) symptomatic trees (two from Badajoz and two from Sevilla) was amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and directly sequenced. A sequence similarity search against the EMBL and GenBank nucleotide databases showed that they were most similar to two previously sequenced isolates of pear decline phytoplasma of German and Italian origin. In a phylogenetic analysis they clustered in a separate branch within the apple proliferation group. The four Spanish PD sequences were fully homologous to previously published primers R16F2n, primer forward (Ahrens and Seemuller. Phytopathology 82:828-832, 1992) and PD probe. However, primers fPD, fU5 and R16F2 showed some mismatches with these sequences.

A collaborative test programme has been undertaken on modified epoxy matrix 8552 reinforced with AS4 carbon fibres, and cyanate 954-3 reinforced with M55J high modulus carbon fibre, both in the form of unidirectional prepreg. To date more than 300 specimens have been tested according to the EN 2561 standard (tensile test parallel to the fibre direction). Different testing conditions such as tabbed and untabbed specimens, dry and wet conditioning, 23 and 70°C test temperature, 7° bevelled or squared off 90° tabs, and the influence of different gripping systems (mechanical and hydraulic) were studied. Average strength values and Young's modulus values are presented with their standard deviations for these materials at every tested condition. In tensile strength measurements, the importance of using tabs for the gripping system and tested material is demonstrated.

A new method for the chemical preparation of conductive polypyrrole-polystyrene sulfonate (PPy-PSS) using FeCl3 as oxidant is proposed. The method is based on the different precipitation rates of the two PPy-based polymers: PPy-PSS and polypyrrole-chloride (PPy-Cl). Thus, by choosing a short reaction time (a few minutes) pure PPy-PSS, free of conductive PPy-Cl, is obtained after filtration. The presence of meta-hydroxy benzoic acid in the reaction medium allows shorter reaction times to be used, and higher yield values of conductive material to be obtained.

Introduccion: En el tratamiento de las lesiones subepiteliales podria plantearse la reseccion endoscopica en casos seleccionados. Una de las tecnicas endoscopicas que ha demostrado ser util y evitar la perforacion de la pared gastrica consiste en la inyeccion intramural de suero fisiologico y posterior reseccion con asa de polipectomia. Sin embargo, si la inyeccion es superficial y no se realiza en la base del tumor la reseccion puede ser tecnicamente muy compleja y finalmente incompleta. Nuestro objetivo ha sido evaluar la utilidad de la ecoendoscopia en la inyeccion submucosa previa a la reseccion endoscopica de lesiones subepiteliales. Material y metodo: Se incluyeron pacientes remitidos a la Unidad de Endoscopias de nuestros hospitales (junio de 2008– diciembre de 2011) para valorar la reseccion de lesiones submucosas y en los que decidio realizar reseccion asistida por ecoendoscopia. Se procedio a la puncion con aguja de 22G colocando la punta entre el borde inferior de la lesion y la muscular propia. Se inyecto suero fisiologico y se comprobo ecograficamente como la muscular propia se separaba de las capas superficiales. Posteriormente con vision endoscopica se procedio a reseccion con asa de polipectomia. Resultados. Se trataba de seis pacientes que presentaban tres lesiones gastricas (dos tumores carcinoides y un polipo inflamatorio fibroide), dos rectales (dos tumores carcinoides) y una duodenal (pancreas heterotopico). El tamano medio de las lesiones fue de 9,8mm (rango 7–13mm), localizadas en cuatro casos en la submucosa y en dos en la mucosa profunda. Se consiguio reseccion completa en una sola sesion endoscopica en cinco de ellas y en un caso fue preciso un segundo procedimiento para conseguir una reseccion completa. No existieron recidivas en un periodo medio de seguimiento de 24 meses (rango: 8–36 meses). En dos casos se produjo sangrado tras la reseccion que se controlo con tratamiento endoscopico. No existieron perforaciones ni otras complicaciones. Conclusion. La ecoendoscopia aumenta la seguridad de la reseccion de lesiones subepiteliales al permitir la inyeccion de suero fisiologico bajo la lesion y comprobar en tiempo real una adecuada separacion entre lesion y muscular propia.

In the fruitfly Drosophila, as in all eukaryotes examined so far, some ubiquitin-coding sequences appear fused to unrelated open reading frames. Two of these fusion genes have been previously described (the homologues of UBI1-UBI2 and UBI4 in yeast), and we report here the organization and expression of a third one, the DUb80 gene (the homologue of UBI3 in yeast). This gene encodes a ubiquitin monomer fused to an 80-amino-acid extension which is homologous with the ribosomal protein encoded by the UB13 gene. The 5′ regulatory region of DUb80 shares common features with another ubiquitin fusion gene, DUb52, and with the ribosomal protein genes of Drosophila, Xenopus and mouse. We also find helix-loop-helix protein-binding sequences (E-boxes). The DUb80 gene is transcribed to a 0.9 kb mRNA which is particularly abundant under conditions of high protein synthesis, such as in ovaries and exponentially growing cells.

To determine the impact of an additional inspiration CT scan on the conventional ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT protocol in the detection of small pulmonary nodules.One hundred consecutive patients who presented with one or various nodules were studied. Whole-body PET-CT was performed using Gemini (Philips). CT acquisition parameters were 120 kV/25 mAs, the same as those for the transmission/fusion CT (mild expiration) and inspiratory CT.A total of 188 nodules were detected in the inspiratory CT with sizes between 0.3-3 cm. Non-inspiratory CT did not show 20/188 nodules (10.6%) with sizes between 0.3-1cm, this corresponding to 17 patients. The most frequent localization of non-detectable nodules in non-inspiratory CT was the lower lobes. ¹⁸F-FDG uptake was detected by the PET in 83.9% and 72% of nodules with1 cm and between 0.7 and 1cm, respectively. However, only 10.5% of nodules0.7 cm showed increased metabolic activity.In selected patients, inspiratory CT added to conventional PET-CT significantly improves the detection of small nodules (10.6%), especially in those lesions located in the lower lobes, due to respiratory movements, and may have an impact on patient management.

New data on the electrical conductivity of polypyrrole (PPy) grown at the surface of sulfonated polyethylene (SPE) thin films and its stability in air are presented. The influence of the sulfonation degree of PPy-SPE samples and that of pyrrole polymerization time on conductivity levels have been investigated. It is shown that the conductivity derived using the thickness of the conductive surface layer from infrared transmission spectra of PPy-SPE films allows a convenient definition of the percolation transition observed for the electrical conductivity in these materials. The level of electrical stability of PPy involving sulfonic groups is discussed in the light of conductivity data for PPy containing other different counterions.

Polypyrrole grown at the sulphonated surface of thin polyethylene films has been investigated by transmission FTIR spectroscopy. Quantitative analysis of the spectra allowed us to determine the surface concentration of PPy and estimate a number of pyrrole units (∼4) per sulphonic group which is acting as counterion.

The chemical modification of the surface of low-density polyethylene films exposed to an atmosphere of fuming sulfuric acid for different periods of time has been investigated. The degree of surface sulfonation for each treated film was calculated as the weight-increase per unit area. The correlation of the absorbance of infrared bands associated to the sulfonic group with the degree of sulfonation of the films allowed to determine the IR absorption coefficients, especially for the band at 1 040 cm−1.

A 34-year-old woman withDown’ssyndromeandadequatemotor,cognitive,andadaptivedevelopmentpresentedtoourhospital’semer-gencyroombecauseofpoorly-defined,continuousse -vereepigastralgiafor24hours,withnoreductionsorexacerbations, radiating to the back, and associatedwithnausea,bilevomiting,andasthenia.Herpersonalhistoryincludednoallergiesortoxichabits,andthepa -tienthadundergonelaparotomyfortheexcisionofaleft ovarian “chocolate cyst” three years before. Thequestioning on organ systems revealed intermittentdyspepticsymptomssinceyoungagewithnomentiontospecifictriggeringfactors,whichconsistedofpost-prandial fullness, heartburn, non-specific epigastricdiscomfort,andflatulence.Shealsoreportedintermit-tent,self-limitedfluiddiarrheaepisodeswithnopatho -logical products, alternating with normal intestinalrhythm.Physicalexplorationrevealedthephenotypicalman -ifestations of trisomy 21; heart and lung auscultationwasnormal;theabdomenwassoftandtendertodeeppalpationintheepigastrium,withnodefensereactionorotherperitonealirritationsigns;palpationrevealednomassesororganomegalies;bowelsoundswerenor-mal.Theremainingexplorationwasuneventful.The CBC and coagulation tests performed in theemergency room were normal, but biochemistry re -vealedelevatedamylaselevels(660IU/l).Thepatientwasadmittedwithadiagnosisofacutepancreatitis.The patient had a favorable clinical course. At 48hoursafteradmissionshewasasymptomatic,toleratedfluidingestion,andlackedRanson’scriteriaforseveri-ty.Duringadmissionthefollowinglabtestswereper-formed: CBC, coagulation, renal and liver function,andlipids,whichwereallnormal.Serumamylasewas624IU/landlipasewas8,859IU/l.Serumironwas43µg/dl,butferritinandtransferrinlevelswerenormal.C-reactiveprotein(CRP)was0.50mg/dl.Twocopro -culturesshowedthestandardsaprophyticbacterialflo -ra,andno

Genotoxic compounds can act at various levels in the cell (causing gene, chromosome, or genome mutations), necessitating the use of a range of genotoxicity assays designed to detect these different types of mutations. The production of melanoidins during the processing and cooking of foods is associated with changes in their nutritional character, and the discovery of mutagenic substances in pyrolyzed protein and amino acids has raised concern about the safety of these foods. The aim of this work was to test melanoidin fractions in three different in vitro assays (Ames test, Vitotox test, and micronucleus test). These melanoidin fractions were produced from the condensation of glucose with glycine and their separation was conducted by dialysis. The crude reaction mixture (before dialysis) and both the LMW and HMW fractions obtained by dialysis showed no genotoxicity in these assays, despite being tested at concentrations much higher than those naturally found in food products. The LMW fraction, however, showed toxicity at these high concentrations. The volatile fraction produced in this reaction showed genotoxicity only in the Vitotox test, at high concentrations.

Resistin is a secreted adipose tissue hormone that belongs to the resistin-like molecule family. We report here a new alternatively spliced isoform of the rat resistin gene, named S-resistin (short resistin), detected in adipose tissue by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A comparison of this cDNA variant and genomic sequences indicates the lack of the second exon containing the secretory consensus signal. Both cDNAs, resistin and S-resistin, were carboxy-tagged with FLAG epitope and transiently expressed in cultured cell lines. While the resistin-FLAG construct gives the expected pattern for a secretion protein, the S-resistin-FLAG construct yielded a predominant nuclear staining. These results indicate that this splicing event regulates the fate and probably the function of the mature protein.

Study Objective To evaluate the efficacy of enteral acetazolamide treatment for hypochloraemic metabolic alkalosis in critically ill children. Methods We designed an observational retrospective study that included critically ill children admitted to the PICU from January 2010 to December 2013 and treated with acetazolamide for at least 48 h for metabolic alkalosis. We recorded demographic data, dose and type of diuretic treatment, use of mechanical ventilation and acid-base and biochemical data. Acetazolamide was administered enterally and both dose and adverse effects were collected. Results A total of 120 episodes of treatment (86 post-cardiac surgery, 17 cardiac decompensations and 17 patients with respiratory disease) in 93 patients (median age 6 months) were analysed. 85% received a continuous IV furosemide infusion and 14.2% intermittent bolus administration of furosemide. Furosemide doses of patients with respiratory disease were lower (p After 48 h of treatment a significant decline in bicarbonate levels (from 35,3 ± 4,7 to 31,1 ± 3,9 mmol/L, p Average Acetazolamide dose was 8,46 mg/Kg/day. None of the patients suffered from serious side-effects attributable to Acetazolamide. Conclusions Acetazolamide treatment improved metabolic alkalosis secondary to diuretic treatment in critically ill children, contributing to a decrease in PaCO2. Enteral administration was effective and well tolerated without serious adverse effects.

Milk lactose is hydrolysed to galactose and glucose in the small intestine of mammals by the lactase/phlorizin hydrolase complex (LPH; EC 3.2.1.108/62). The two enzymatic activities, lactase and phlorizin hydrolase, are located in the same polypeptide chain. According to sequence homology, mature LPH contains two different regions (III and IV), each of them homologous to family 1 glycosidases and each with a putative active site. There has been some discrepancy with regard to the assignment of enzymatic activity to the two active sites. Here we show differential reactivity of the two active sites with mechanism-based glycosidase inhibitors. When LPH is treated with 2',4'-dinitrophenyl 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 2', 4'-dinitrophenyl-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-beta-D-galactopyranoside (2), known mechanism-based inhibitors of glycosidases, it is observed that compound 1 preferentially inactivates the phlorizin hydrolase activity whereas compound 2 is selective for the lactase active site. On the other hand, glycals (D-glucal and D-galactal) competitively inhibit lactase activity but not phlorizin hydrolase activity. This allows labeling of the phlorizin site with compound 1 by protection with a glycal. By differential labeling of each active site using 1 and 2 followed by proteolysis and MS analysis of the labeled fragments, we confirm that the phlorizin hydrolysis occurs mainly at the active site located at region III of LPH and that the active site located at region IV is responsible for the lactase activity. This assignment is coincident with that proposed from the results of recent active-site mutagenesis studies [Zecca, L., Mesonero, J.E., Stutz, A., Poiree, J.C., Giudicelli, J., Cursio, R., Gloor, S.M.Semenza, G. (1998) FEBS Lett. 435, 225-228] and opposite to that based on data from early affinity labeling with conduritol B epoxide [Wacker, W., Keller, P., Falchetto, R., Legler, G.Semenza, G. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 18744-18752].

We describe a case of prolonged neuromuscular block (longer than 8 hours) after administration of mivacurium. The patient was shown to be homozygous for the atypical butyrylcholinesterase gene. We discuss our treatment of the patient as well as other cases described in the literature, emphasizing the need for neuromuscular monitoring.

Ubiquitin belongs to a multigene family. In Drosophila two members of this family have been previously described. We report here the organization and expression of a third member, the DUb52 gene, isolated by screening a Drosophila melanogaster genomic library. This gene encodes an ubiquitin monomer fused to a 52-amino acid extension protein. There are no introns interrupting the coding sequence. Recently, it has been described that this extension encodes a ribosomal protein in Saccharomyces, Dictyostelium, and Arabidopsis. The present results show that the 5′ regulatory region of DUb52 shares common features with the ribosomal protein genes of Drosophila, Xenopus and mouse, including GC- and pyrimidine-rich regions. Moreover, sequences similar to the consensus Ribo-box in Neurospora crassa have been identified. Furthermore, a sequence has been found that is similar to the binding site for the TFIIIA distal element factor from Xenopus laevis. The DUb52 gene is transcribed to a 0.9 kb mRNA that is expressed constitutively throughout development and is particularly abundant in ovaries. In addition, the DUb52 gene has been found to be preferentially transcribed in exponentially growing Drosophila cells.

In a sample of 20 healthy men (ASA I) we studied the thermal effects induced after epidural anesthetic blockade with bupivacaine (0.625%) and their relationship with the level of sensitive blockade to puncture or to cold. After 30 min of epidural injection of bupivacaine the level of cephalic analgesia was D IX (D IX +/- 2 segments) and that of cold discrimination D VII (D VII +/- 2 segments) being the thermo-algesic differential blockade of 2 to 3 segments. During epidural anesthesia there was a significant increase in foot skin temperature (4.1 +/- 1 centigrade degrees, p less than 0.001) without any appreciable skin temperature change at the thorax, abdomen, thigh, and calves. It is concluded that epidural anesthesia with bupivacaine (0.625%) at a sensitive analgesic level D IX produces significant increases in skin temperature only at the foot. This indicates that the extension level of sympathetic blockade is lower that of the analgesia.

Growth of conductive Polypyrrole on the surface of sulphonated Polyethylene films dipped in a Pyrrole/FeCl 3 water solution was carried out. Results on morphology and microanalysis of the thin conducting layers using SEM, EDX and XPS and electrical conductivity data are discussed.

5 pags., 7 figs., 3 tabs., An X-ray photoelectron study of sulfonated polyethylene films, with different sulfonation degrees (SD) before and after pyrrole polymerization at their surfaces is presented. For SD values of about 2g/m2 the outer surface of polyethylene film becomes fully sulfonated. Sulfonic groups which act as a counterion of the grown polypyrrole (PPy) monitor partially the fixation of PPy at the outer surface. A variation of the pyrrole rings/counterion ratio (7.4-3.9) depending on SD values has been found. © 1991 American Chemical Society., Financial support of this work was from CICYT under project MAT88-0159. We thank Mr. E. Pardo for collection of XP spectra. C.A. acknowledges to Ministry of Education and Science, Spain, for a doctoral fellowship. We greatly appreciate the suggestions and comments of the reviewers