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This paper describes an analytical approach, based on LC-diode array detector-MS/MS (LC-DAD-MS/MS), for characterizing the fat-soluble micronutrient fraction in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Two different procedures were applied to isolate the analytes from liver and muscle tissue: overnight cold saponification to hydrolyze bound forms and to simplify the analysis; matrix solid-phase dispersion to avoid artifacts and to maintain unaltered the naturally occurring forms. Analytes were separated on a C

Recent advances in neuroimaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker assays have provided evidence of a long preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This period is being increasingly targeted for secondary prevention trials of new therapies. In this context, the interest of a noninvasive, cost-effective amyloid-β (Aβ) blood-based test does not need to be overstated. Nevertheless, a thorough validation of these bioanalytical methods should be performed as a prerequisite for confident interpretation of clinical results. The aim of this study was to validate ELISA sandwich colorimetric ABtest40 and ABtest42 for the quantification of Aβ40 and Aβ42 in human plasma. The validation parameters assessed included precision, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, recovery, and dilution linearity. ABtest40 and ABtest42 proved to be specific for their target peptide using Aβ peptides with sequence similar to the target. Mean relative error in the quantification was found to be below 7.5% for both assays, with high intra-assay, inter-assay, and inter-batch precision (CV

Free-living amoebae of Acanthamoeba genus are opportunistic pathogens distributed worldwide. Strains included in this genus are causative agents of a fatal encephalitis and a sight-threating keratitis in humans and other animals. In this study, 550 clinical samples which were collected between 1984 and 2014 from different patients with suspected infections due to Acanthamoeba were initially screened for the presence of this amoebic genus at the Laboratorio de Amibiasis-Escuela de Bioanalisis at the Universidad Central de Venezuela. Samples were cultured in 2% Non-Nutrient agar plates seeded with a layer of heat killed Escherichia coli. From the 550 clinical samples included in this study, 18 of them were positive for Acanthamoeba genus after culture identification. Moreover, positive samples were confirmed after amplification of the Diagnostic Fragment 3 (DF3) of the Acanthamoeba18S rDNA genus and sequencing was carried out in order to genotype the isolated strains of Acanthamoeba. Furthermore, the pathogenic potential of the strains was checked by performing thermotolerance and osmotolerance assays. Sequencing of the DF3 region resulted in the identification of genotype T4 in all the isolated strains. Moreover, most isolates were thermotolerant or both thermotolerant and osmotolerant and thus were classified as potentially pathogenic strains. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the molecular characterization at the genotype level of Acanthamoeba strains in Venezuela.

APPswe/PS1dE9 and Tg2576 are very common transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD), used in many laboratories as tools to research the mechanistic process leading to the disease. In order to augment our knowledge about the amyloid-β (Aβ) isoforms present in both transgenic mouse models, we have developed two chromatographic methods, one acidic and the other basic, for the characterization of the Aβ species produced in the brains of the two transgenic mouse models. After immunoprecipitation and micro-liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry, 10 species of Aβ, surprisingly all of human origin, were detected in the brain of Tg2576 mouse, whereas 39 species, of both murine and human origin, were detected in the brain of the APP/PS1 mouse. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing the identification of such a high number of Aβ species in the brain of the APP/PS1 transgenic mouse, whereas, in contrast, a much lower number of Aβ species were identified in the Tg2576 mouse. Therefore, this study brings to light a relevant phenotypic difference between these two popular mice models of AD.

Optical elements of soft x-ray beamlines usually have motorized translations and rotations that allow for the fine alignment of the beamline. This is to steer the photon beam at some positions and to correct the focus on slits or on sample. Generally, each degree of freedom of a mirror induces a change of several parameters of the beam. Inversely, several motions are required to actuate on a single optical parameter, keeping the others unchanged. We define optical pseudomotors as combinations of physical motions of the optical elements of a beamline, which allow modifying one optical parameter without affecting the others. We describe a method to obtain analytic relationships between physical motions of mirrors and the corresponding variations of the beam parameters. This method has been implemented and tested at two beamlines at ALBA, where it is used to control the focus of the photon beam and its position independently.

Epidermal sheets spread centrifugally postinjury from the hair follicle infundibulum to reepithelialize the wound bed. Healing progresses faster in skin areas rich in terminal hair follicles. These observations are consistent with the role of the hair follicle as a major reservoir for progenitor cells. To evaluate the feasibility and potential healing capacity of autologous scalp follicular grafts transplanted into the wound bed of chronic leg ulcers, 10 patients with ulcers of an average 36.8 cm 2 size and a 10.5-year duration were included in this pilot study. Within each ulcer we randomly assigned a 2 ¥ 2 cm "experimental" square to receive 20 hair grafts and a nongrafted "control" square of equal size. The procedure seemed to be safe, although major unrelated complications occurred in two patients. At the 18-week end point, we observed a 27.1% ulcer area reduction in the experimental square as compared with 6.5% in the control square (p = 0.046) with a maximum 33.5% vs. 9.7% reduction at week 4 (p = 0.007). Histological analyses showed enhanced epithelialization, neovas- cularization, and dermal reorganization. We conclude that terminal hair follicle grafting into wound beds is feasible in an outpatient setting and represents a prom- ising therapeutic alternative for nonhealing chronic leg ulcers.

Background: Associations found in time-series studies on hospital emergency room (ER) visits due to asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with single air pollutants show some lack of consistency. The respiratory effects of aeroallergens in the air pollution mix are not well established. Non-linear relationships of different airborne pollen types with certain respiratory diseases have also been described. We aim to study the short-term effects of major air pollutants and aeroallergen pollen on asthma and COPD hospital ER visits in the industrial and Mediterranean Spanish city of Cartagena during 1995-1998. Methods: The association of asthma and COPD to ER visits with mean levels of sulphur and nitrogen dioxides (SO 2 and NO 2), total suspended particles (TSP), ozone (O 3), and the main allergenic airborne pollen types were analysed using Poisson regression with Generalised Additive Models, taking into account delayed effects and adjusting for long-term trends, seasonality, weather conditions, holidays and flu notifications. Results: Multipollutant models showed a similar relative risk (RR) increase (in %), of around 5% in asthma and COPD ER visits per 10μg/m 3 SO 2increments. The risk of an ER visit for the same NO 2 increment was 2.6% for asthma and 3.3% for COPD. Visits to the ER due to asthma showed a positive increase with both Urticaceae and Poaceae levels, but did not substantially modify the previous percentages. Conclusions: Air levels of SO 2 and NO 2 were associated with a substantial increased risk in ER visits due to asthma and COPD. The inclusion of Poaceae and Urticaceae pollen did not alter that association. © 2011 SEICAP., BACKGROUND Associations found in time-series studies on hospital emergency room (ER) visits due to asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with single air pollutants show some lack of consistency. The respiratory effects of aeroallergens in the air pollution mix are not well established. Non-linear relationships of different airborne pollen types with certain respiratory diseases have also been described. We aim to study the short-term effects of major air pollutants and aeroallergen pollen on asthma and COPD hospital ER visits in the industrial and Mediterranean Spanish city of Cartagena during 1995-1998. METHODS The association of asthma and COPD to ER visits with mean levels of sulphur and nitrogen dioxides (SO(2) and NO(2)), total suspended particles (TSP), ozone (O(3)), and the main allergenic airborne pollen types were analysed using Poisson regression with Generalised Additive Models, taking into account delayed effects and adjusting for long-term trends, seasonality, weather conditions, holidays and flu notifications. RESULTS Multipollutant models showed a similar relative risk (RR) increase (in %), of around 5% in asthma and COPD ER visits per 10μg/m(3) SO(2)increments. The risk of an ER visit for the same NO(2) increment was 2.6% for asthma and 3.3% for COPD. Visits to the ER due to asthma showed a positive increase with both Urticaceae and Poaceae levels, but did not substantially modify the previous percentages. CONCLUSIONS Air levels of SO(2) and NO(2) were associated with a substantial increased risk in ER visits due to asthma and COPD. The inclusion of Poaceae and Urticaceae pollen did not alter that association.

The potential of three capillary columns based on β-cyclodextrin (i.e., Chirasil-Dex, BGB-172, and BGB-176SE) has been studied for the simultaneous enantiomeric separation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and methylsulfonyl metabolites of PCBs (MeSO(2)-PCBs) employing a heart-cut multidimensional gas chromatographic system (heart-cut MDGC). Among the columns studied, the BGB-176SE capillary column provided the best results, allowing the simultaneous enantioselective resolution of six MeSO(2)-PCBs and six chiral PCBs; the Chirasil-Dex column did not resolve any of the studied MeSO(2)-PCBs; and a poor resolution was obtained for three MeSO(2)-PCBs when the BGB-172 column was employed. The developed method was successfully applied to two fish oil and one cow liver samples commercially available, which showed different enantioselective pattern. PCBs 91 and 176 presented a clear enrichment of the second eluted atropisomer in codfish oil, whereas in fish oil sample, slight enrichment of the first eluted atropisomer of CB45 and the second eluted atropisomer of CB136 were observed.

Aim The aim of this controlled randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the efficacy of a xenogeneic collagen matrix (CM) to augment the keratinized tissue around implants supporting prosthetic restorations at 6 months when compared with the standard treatment, the connective tissue autograft, CTG). Materials and methods This randomized longitudinal parallel controlled clinical trial studied 24 patients with at least one location with minimal keratinized tissue (≤1 mm). Main outcome measure The 6-month width of keratinized tissue. As secondary outcomes the esthetic outlook, the maintenance of peri-implant mucosal health and the patient morbidity were assessed pre-operatively and 1, 3, and 6 months post-operatively. Results At 6 months, Group CTG attained a mean width of keratinized tissue of 2.75 (1.5) mm, while the corresponding figure in Group CM was 2.8 (0.4) mm, the inter-group differences not being statistically significant. The surgical procedure in both groups did not alter significantly the mucosal health in the affected abutments. There was a similar esthetic result and significant increase in the vestibular depth in both groups as a result of the surgery. In the CM group it changed from 2.2 (3.3) to 5.1 (2.5) mm at 6 months. The patients treated with the CM referred less pain, needed less pain medication, and the surgical time was shorter, although these differences were not statistically significant when compared with the CTG group. Conclusions These results prove that this new CM was as effective and predictable as the CTG for attaining a band of keratinized tissue.

Craniosynostosis is the premature fusion of one or more sutures of the skull, which can be syndromic or isolated. Mutations in FGFR1, FGFR2, or FGFR3, among others, are often responsible for these syndromic cases. The associated of FGFR3 mutations with craniosynostosis has been restricted to three mutations, the common p.Pro250Arg in Muenke syndrome, p.Ala391Glu in Crouzon syndrome with acanthosis nigricans, and p.Pro250Leu identified in a family with isolated craniosynostosis. Other FGFR3 mutations result in various skeletal dysplasias: achondroplasia, hypochondroplasia, and thanatophoric dysplasia. Here, we report a novel mutation in exon 8 (IIIc) of FGFR3, p.Ala334Thr, in a young boy with mild craniosynostosis. The mutation segregated with mild craniosynostosis in the family and was absent in 188 normal controls. Alanine 334 is evolutionarily conserved in vertebrates and is located at the amino terminus of the βF loop in the FGFR3c isoform. The mutation is predicted to alter the protein tertiary structure which may impair its binding to its ligand, FGF1. The identification of a mutation in these clinically heterogeneous disorders can aid recurrence risk assessments. Although the implementation of a stepwise screening strategy is useful in diagnostics, mutations in unscreened regions of genes associated with craniosynostosis may explain a small proportion of craniosynostosis cases. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A 43-year-old woman with autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) received octreotide for 12 months, and this was associated with a 6.3% reduction in liver volume, an 8% reduction in total kidney volume and stabilization of renal function. There was also a reduction of cyst size in fibrocystic disease of breast. These data suggest that the cyst fluid accumulation in different organs from patients with ADPKD is a dynamic process which can be reversed by octreotide. This is the first report of a case of simultaneous reduction in hepatic, renal and breast cystic volume with preservation of renal function in a patient with ADPKD receiving octreotide.

Resumen Objetivos Evaluar la validez diagnostica de la puncionaspiracion con aguja fina (PAAF) percutanea en lesiones mediastinicas considerando la biopsia o el seguimiento clinico como patron de referencia. Pacientes y metodos Se realizo PAAF percutanea guiada por TC a 131 pacientes con lesiones mediastinicas. Se uso un TC helicoidal con cortes de 3–10 mm y baja dosis de radiacion (40 mAs, 120 kV). Las muestras fueron examinadas in situ por un citologo para determinar su validez. Se obtuvo comprobacion histologica mediante biopsia o estudio de pieza quirurgica en 73 pacientes y seguimiento clinico en 50, comparandose los resultados globales y en subgrupos. Resultados En 126 pacientes (96,2%) el material fue valido para diagnostico. Ciento tres lesiones (78,6%) fueron consideradas malignas (62 tumores primarios y 41 metastasis) y 23 (17,6%) benignas. En los 123 pacientes de los que se dispuso de seguimiento clinico o patologico, la PAAF permitio identificar malignidad con una sensibilidad del 95,2% (IC95%: 89,2–97,9%), especificidad 84,2% (IC95%: 62,4–94,5%), valor predictivo positivo 97,1% (IC95%: 91,7–99,0%), valor predictivo negativo 76,2% (IC95%: 54,9–89,4%), razon de verosimilitud positiva 6,03 (IC95%: 2,13–17,05) y exactitud 93,5% (IC95%: 87,7–96,7%). La complicacion mas frecuente fue el neumotorax (3 casos). La correlacion citohistologica fue elevada tanto en las lesiones malignas (kappa 0,641) como en las benignas (kappa 0,607). Conclusiones La PAAF percutanea guiada por TC es una tecnica segura y eficaz para el diagnostico de masas mediastinicas con alta rentabilidad para la deteccion de malignidad.

The first CE method enabling the enantiomeric separation of the synthetic pyrethroid cis-bifenthrin (BF) was developed in this work. CD-MEKC was the CE mode employed for this purpose. The influence of several experimental parameters such as temperature, voltage, type and concentration of surfactant (chiral and achiral) and CD was investigated. The use of the bile salt sodium cholate at a concentration of 100 mM in the presence of 20 mM heptakis (2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-beta-CD enabled the separation of cis-BF enantiomers in less than 10 min and with a resolution of 2.8. The analytical characteristics of the developed methodology were evaluated allowing its application to the quantitation of cis-BF in a polyvalent commercial insecticide formulation.

Objective To test the hypothesis that consuming Mediterranean diet and using olive oil for cooking/dressing salads during pregnancy might be associated with less wheezing during the first year of the offspring's life. Methods A study was conducted in 1,409 infants (mean age, 16.6 ± 2.5 months) attending healthy infant clinics in Spain. Dietary data of mothers' intake during pregnancy was collected by means of a parental food frequency questionnaire. Demographic information and data on wheezing during the first year of the offspring's life were also recorded. Infants were stratified according to any wheezing (42.2%) during the first year of life. Results In the univariate analysis, adherence to a Mediterranean diet and using olive oil for cooking/dressing salads during pregnancy were both significantly associated with less wheezing during the first year of life. However, after multivariate analysis, only olive oil consumption during pregnancy remained associated with less wheezing in the studied period (aOR = 0.57 [95% CI = 0.4–0.9]); whereas male gender (1.8 [1.4–2.3]), day care attendance (2.15 [1.5–3.1]), maternal asthma (2.16 [1.3–3.6]), maternal smoking during pregnancy (1.83 [1.3–2.2]), infant eczema (1.95 [1.3–2.9]), and mould stains on the household walls (1.72 [1.2–2.5]) remained associated with wheezing. Conclusion Our findings suggest a protective effect (primary prevention) of olive oil use during pregnancy on wheezing during the first year of the offspring's life. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2010; 45:395–402. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Pyrethroids are synthetic pesticides that originated from the modification of natural pyrethrins to improve their biological activity and stability. They are a family of chiral pesticides with a large number of stereoisomers. Enantiomers of synthetic pyretroids present different insecticidal activity, toxicity against aquatic invertebrates and persistence in the environment so the development of rapid and sensitive chiral methods for the determination of different enantiomers is necessary. Several techniques have been employed for this purpose including gas chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography or more recently capillary electrophoresis and sub or supercritical fluid chromatography. A general view on the different chiral separation methods applied to the analysis of pyrethroids and the most important information about these pesticides is provided in this review.

Although signs and symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) usually occur after adolescence in most girls, early clinical features of PCOS may develop in some girls during the peripubertal years. Early features in prepubertal girls may be considered to be normal "physiological" changes and may delay diagnosis and treatment of PCOS until adulthood. Previous studies have found that some of the metabolic abnormalities of PCOS were present before the onset of hyperandrogenism in daughters of women with PCOS (PCOSd) during prepubertal and pubertal stages. It is unclear, however, at which pubertal stage these abnormalities occur. During the peripubertal period, the gonadal axis is activated and PCOS may become clinically evident. Two studies have suggested that a significant proportion of the first-degree female relatives of a PCOS woman may be at risk for developing PCOS. To test this possibility, this cross-sectional study compared reproductive and metabolic profiles in daughters of women with and without PCOS during prepubertal and pubertal stages. The study subjects were 99 PCOSd at Tanner stage II-V 30 prepubertal [ages 7-10 years] and 69 pubertal [ages 8-15 years] and 84 matched daughters of control women (Cd) (20 prepubertal and 64 pubertal) born to mothers with regular menstrual cycles and without hyperandrogenism. Participants in both groups were given an oral glucose tolerance test, evaluated for hormonal response to a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (leuprolide acetate) and examined with transabdominal ultrasound. Fasting blood samples were drawn for the measurement of plasma glucose and insulin concentrations before and after the glucose load. Serum concentrations of gonadotropins (LH and FSH), sex steroids (testosterone, androstenedione,17a-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and estradiol), as well as SHBG and lipids were also determined. There was no significant difference between the Cd and PCOSd groups in chronological age or body mass index standard deviation scores during any Tanner stage. Compared to the Cd women, those in the PCOSd group had significantly higher ovarian volume and 2-hour insulin at all Tanner stages. Basal testosterone and poststimulated LH, testosterone, and 17-OHP concentrations were significantly higher in Tanner stages IV and V among PCOSd compared to Cd. These findings indicate that PCOSd are at high-risk for metabolic and reproductive abnormalities associated with PCOS during prepuberty and puberty.

Resumen Introduccion y objetivo no hay datos publicados sobre la evolucion de la mortalidad por asma en Espana en el periodo 1960–2005. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido describir la evolucion de la tasa de mortalidad debida al asma en Espana entre 1960 y 2005, tanto en el total de la poblacion como en el grupo de edad de 5 a 34 anos. Material y metodos los datos necesarios para calcular la tasa de mortalidad, esto es, numero de defunciones debidas al asma y poblacion, proceden del Instituto Nacional de Estadistica. En cada caso se obtuvieron los valores totales, por grupo de edad y sexo. A partir de estos datos se calculo la tasa de mortalidad por asma, por 100.000 habitantes. Resultados la tasa de mortalidad por asma para todas las edades era en 1960 de 9,36, y en 2005 de 2,22, con una reduccion en los varones de 12,26 a 0,96 y en las mujeres de 6,58 a 3,44. En el grupo de edad de 5 a 34 anos, los valores de la tasa de mortalidad para ambos sexos oscilan entre 0,4 y 0,1, y se observa una gran variabilidad en su evolucion a lo largo de los anos. Conclusiones la mortalidad por asma ha disminuido a lo largo del periodo analizado, si bien de forma diferente en varones y mujeres, entre las que el descenso es mucho menor. La tendencia y las tasas de Espana son similares a las de la mayoria de los paises de los que se dispone de datos.

Background and objective: No data have been published on trends in asthma mortality in Spain between 1960 and 2005. The aim of this study was to trace these trends for both the general population and the 5- to 34-year age group in Spain. Material and methods: The data on asthma mortality for the general population and by age and sex were obtained from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics and used to calculate the asthma mortality rates per 100 000 inhabitants. Results: The overall asthma mortality rate per 100 000 inhabitants was 9.36 in 1960 and 2.22 in 2005, showing a reduction from 12.26 to 0.96 in males and from 6.58 to 3.44 in females. In the 5- to 34-year age group, the mortality rate for both sexes ranged from 0.4 to 0.1, showing great variability over time. Conclusions: Asthma mortality decreased in the period analyzed, but less in women than in men. The trend and rates in Spain are similar to those of most countries for which data are available.

A major unanswered question in autologous cell therapy is the appropriate timing for cell isolation. Many of the putative target diseases arise with old age and previous evidence, mainly from animal models, suggests that the stem/progenitor cell pool decreases steadily with age. Studies with human cells have been generally hampered to date by poor sample availability. In recent years, several laboratories have reported on the existence, both in rodents and humans, of skin-derived precursor (SKP) cells with the capacity to generate neural and mesodermal progenies. This easily obtainable multipotent cell population has raised expectations for their potential use in cell therapy of neurodegeneration. However, we still lack a clear understanding of the spatiotemporal abundance and phenotype of human SKPs. Here we show an analysis of human SKP abundance and in vitro differentiation potential, by using SKPs isolated from four distinct anatomic sites (abdomen, breast, foreskin, and scalp) from 102 healthy subjects aged 8 months to 85 years. Human SKP abundance and differentiation potential decrease sharply with age, being extremely difficult to isolate, expand, and differentiate when obtained from the elderly. Our data suggest preserving human SKP cell banks early in life would be desirable for use in clinical protocols in the aging population. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.

Summary The legumes Canavalia ensiformis and Mucuna pruriens are underexploited in tropical Mexico. Their seeds have good nutritional potential, but contain antinutritional factors. Physicochemical and antinutritional properties were determined for raw flours (RF) and protein isolates (PI) produced from these legumes. Protein content in the PI was 737 g kg–1 for C. ensiformis and 666 g kg–1 for M. pruriens. Protein isolation improved in vitro digestibility, while maintaining high lysine levels and adequate sulphur amino acids content. Antinutritional factors such as cyanogenic glucosides, cyanide precursors from hydrolysis, tannins and trypsin inhibitors were lower in the PIs than in the RFs. The reduction in canavanine levels, a structural analogue of arginine, in the C. ensiformis PI was noteworthy. These PIs thus have potential applications in the development of new food ingredients in tropical regions using processes that improve nutritional value.

An effective high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS) analytical approach was developed for retinoid profiling in raw milk samples (cow, buffalo, ewe, and goat). The analytes were isolated by means of liquid-liquid extraction, including a “lipid freezing” step, with yields exceeding 66%. Since the positive atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometry (APCI-MS) detection is not completely selective, a reliable identification has been accomplished by fully separating the analytes on a tandem C18/C30 column system under non-aqueous reversed phase (NARP) chromatography conditions. After validation, different milk varieties obtained from pasture-fed animals were analysed, providing, for the first time, the retinoid composition of both buffalo’s and ewe’s milk. According to the literature, retinyl palmitate has been found to be the most abundant vitamin A vitamer, but retinyl oleate is the prevalent form in the caprine milk.

Spanish 'Fondo de Investigacion Sanitaria' 'Secretaria de Estado para la Cooperacion Internacional' Regional Government of Murcia, Spain Foundation to Combat Asthma (Stichting Astmabestrijding), Amsterdam, The Netherlands Male gender, asthmatic heredity, perinatal tobacco smoke exposure and respiratory infections have been associated with wheeze in the first years of life, among other risk factors. However, information about what factors modify the time to the first episode of wheeze in infants is lacking. The present study analyses which factors are associated with shorter time to the first episode of wheeze in infants. Parents of 11- to 24-month-old children were surveyed when attending their health-care centres for a control visit. They answered a questionnaire including the age in months when a first wheeze episode (if any) had occurred (outcome variable). The study was performed in 14 centres in Latin America (LA) and in 8 centres in Europe (EU) (at least 1,000 infants per centre). Factors known to be associated with wheezing in the cohort were included in a survival analysis (Cox proportional hazards model). Summary hazard ratios adjusted for all risk factors (aHR) were calculated using the meta-analysis approach with random effects. A total of 15,067 infants had experienced wheezing at least once, out of 35,049 surveyed. Male gender in LA (aHR 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.10, P = 0.047), parental asthma in LA and EU (aHR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00-1.11, P = 0.037), infant eczema in EU (aHR 1.25, 95% CI 1.12-1.39, P < 0.001) and having a cold during the first 3 months in LA and EU (aHR 1.97, 95% CI 1.90-2.04, P < 0.001), in LA (aHR 1.98, 95% CI 1.90-2.06, P < 0.001) and in EU (aHR 1.91, 95% CI 1.75-2.09, P < 0.001) were associated with a shorter period of time to the first episode. Breast feeding for at least 3 months was associated with a longer period, only in LA (aHR 0.91, 95% CI 0.86-0.96, P < 0.001). Cold symptoms during the first 3 months is the most consistent factor shortening the time to the first episode of wheezing; breast feeding for >= 3 months delays it only in LA, whereas eczema shortens it only in EU. Avoiding a common cold in the first months of life could be a good strategy to delay the first wheeze episode; however, cohort studies will help to elucidate this association. Univ Murcia, Virgen de la Arrixaca Univ Childrens Hosp, Pediat Resp & Allergy Unit, Murcia, Spain Univ Santiago Chile USACH, Dept Pediat Resp Med, Hosp El Pino, Santiago, Chile Fed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Pediat, Div Allergy Clin Immunol & Rheumatol, Sao Paulo, Brazil Isala Klin, Princess Amalia Childrens Clin, Zwolle, Netherlands Univ Med Ctr Groningen, UMCG Postgrad Sch Med, NL-9713 AV Groningen, Netherlands Univ Murcia, Dept Pediat, Murcia, Spain IMIB Biores Inst, Murcia, Spain Fed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Pediat, Div Allergy Clin Immunol & Rheumatol, Sao Paulo, Brazil Spanish 'Fondo de Investigacion Sanitaria': PI050480 'Secretaria de Estado para la Cooperacion Internacional': A/3069/05 'Secretaria de Estado para la Cooperacion Internacional': A/5189/06 Web of Science

The international and collaborative art project consisted in producing a communication and a creation channel between two groups of participants affected by acute mental disorders who are clients of mental health services placed in diferent countries: one group is located in Calatayud, Zaragoza (Spain) and the other in London (UK). The framework was based on a creative, free and flexible setting founded on a simple suggestion which was supported with the artist Hundertwasser theory of the “five skins”. El trabajo artístico colaborativo internacional consistió en generar un canal de comunicación y de creación entre dos grupos de participantes afectados por trastorno mental grave y usuarios de servicios de atención a la salud mental ubicados en países diferentes: un grupo situado en Calatayud, Zaragoza (España) y otro en Londres (Inglaterra). El marco de trabajo estuvo basado en la libertad de creación y la flexibilidad partiendo de una sencilla sugerencia apoyada en la "Teoría de las cinco pieles" del artista austriaco F. Hundertwasser.

This paper describes a rapid method for confirming residues of thyreostats in meat-based baby foods by using liquid chromatography - dual polarity electrospray - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ES(±)-MS/MS). Six thioureylenes, belonging to the group of thiouracil and imidazole, were selected for this work: thiouracil (TU), methylthiouracil (MTU), propylthiouracil (PTU), phenylthiouracil (PhTU), mercaptobenzimidazole (MBI) and tapazole (TAP). The amphoteric nature of these compounds allows their electrospray detection in both positive and negative ionisation. Nevertheless, MS detection is not favoured by their low molecular weights, while their chromatographic retention is also thwarted by their high polarity. A pentafluorophenyl (PFP) core-shell phase column was selected to avoid peak asymmetry or peak splitting, and a dual-polarity ionisation method was optimised to obtain a sensitivity as high as possible. The method was validated according to the Commission Decision 657/2002/EC. A simple and fast procedure based on matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD) was optimised to extract analytes from baby foods with recoveries exceeding 82%. Limit of decision (CCα) and detection capability (CCβ) were lower than the permissible maximum concentration (10 ng g

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a familial endocrine-metabolic dysfunction, increasingly recognized in adolescent girls with hyperandrogenism. However, it is difficult to establish whether the metabolic abnormalities described in PCOS are present before the onset of hyperandrogenism. In children, a strong association of adiponectin levels with metabolic parameters of insulin resistance has been described.The objective of the study was to evaluate adiponectin serum concentrations and metabolic parameters in prepubertal and pubertal daughters of women with PCOS to identify girls with increased metabolic risk.Fifty-three prepubertal and 22 pubertal (Tanner stages II-V) daughters of PCOS women (PCOSd) and 32 prepubertal and 17 pubertal daughters of control women (Cd) were studied. In both groups, an oral glucose tolerance test was performed with measurement of glucose and insulin. Adiponectin, leptin, C-reactive protein, SHBG, sex steroids, and lipids were determined in the fasting sample.Both groups had similar chronological ages, body mass index sd score, and Tanner stage distribution. In the prepubertal girls, 2-h insulin was higher (P = 0.023) and adiponectin levels were lower (P = 0.004) in the PCOSd group, compared with the Cd group. In the pubertal girls, triglycerides (P = 0.03), 2-h insulin (P = 0.01), and serum testosterone concentrations were higher (P = 0.012) and SHBG lower (P = 0.009) in PCOSd, compared with Cd, but adiponectin levels were similar in both groups.Some of the metabolic features of PCOS are present in daughters of PCOS women before the onset of hyperandrogenism. Adiponectin appears to be one of the early markers of metabolic derangement in these girls.

El texto completo de este trabajo no está disponible en el Repositorio Académico UPC por restricciones de la casa editorial donde ha sido publicado Background: There are no internationally validated questionnaires to investigate the prevalence of infant wheezing. This study was undertaken to validate a questionnaire for the International Study on the Prevalence of Wheezing in Infants (Estudio Internacional de Sibilancias en Lactantes, EISL). Material and Methods: Construct and criterion validity were tested for the question 'Has your baby had wheezing or whistling in the chest during his/her first 12 months of life?'. Construct validity (i.e. the ability of parents and doctors to refer to the same symptoms with the same words) was tested in a sample of 50 wheezing and 50 non-wheezy infants 12-15 months of age in each of 10 centres from 6 different Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking countries. Criterion validity (i.e. the ability of parents to correctly detect the symptom in the general population) was evaluated in 2 samples (Santiago, Chile and Cartagena, Spain) of 50 wheezing and 50 non-wheezing infants (according to parents) of the same age, randomly selected from the general population, who were later blindly diagnosed by a paediatric pulmonologist. Results: Construct validity was very high (κ test: 0.98-1) in all centres. According to Youden's index, criterion validity was good both in Cartagena (75.5%) and in Santiago (67.0%). Adding questions about asthma medication did not improve diagnosis accuracy. Conclusions: The EISL questionnaire significantly distinguished wheezy infants from healthy ones. This questionnaire has a strong validity and can be employed in large international multicentre studies on wheezing during infancy. Revisión por pares

This chapter offers a comprehensive overview of the main application fields of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) technology, highlighting practical aspects, advantages, and shortcomings. The areas covered include environmental and food applications. Emphasis is placed on potentiality and pitfalls of the different LC–MS approaches to perform both confirmation analysis and large-scale screening analysis of pesticides, drugs, and toxins using both low- and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The key role of LC–MS in the emerging omics technologies (proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics) will also be discussed along with “global” or “targeted” strategies to identify a huge number of proteins or metabolites. Latest advances and potential trends using LC–MS are also outlined in the several branches of the analytical chemistry. Keywords: animal foods; confirmatory methods; emerging contaminants; environmental analysis; food analysis; foodomics; food safety; lipidomics; liquid chromatography; mass spectrometry; metabolomics; multiclass analysis; multiresidue determination; plant foods; pesticides; proteomics; screening methods; surface water; toxins; veterinary drugs; wastewater

There is a conflictive position if some foods and Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) consumed by the mother during pregnancy and by the child during the first years of life can be protective for current wheezing, rhinitis and dermatitis at preschool age.Questionnaires of epidemiological factors and food intake by the mother during pregnancy and later by the child were filled in by parents in two surveys at two different time points (1.5 yrs and 4 yrs of life) in 1000 preschoolers.The prevalences of current wheezing, rhinitis and dermatitis were 18.8%, 10.4%, and 17.2%, respectively. After multiple logistic analysis children who were low fruit consumers (never/occasionally) and high fast-food consumers (≥3 times/week) had a higher risk for current wheezing; while intermediate consumption of meat (1 or 2 times/week) and low of pasta by mothers in pregnancy were protected. For current rhinitis, low fruit consumer children were at higher risk; while those consuming meat3 times/week were protected. For current dermatitis, high fast food consumption by mothers in pregnancy; and low or high consumption of fruit, and high of potatoes in children were associated to higher prevalence. Children consuming fast food1 times/week were protected for dermatitis. MedDiet adherence by mother and child did not remain a protective factor for any outcome.Low consumption of fruits and high of meat by the child, and high consumption of potatoes and pasta by the mother had a negative effect on wheezing, rhinitis or dermatitis; while fast food consumption was inconsistent.

Unlike the other fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin K circulates in the human bloodstream at very low levels because of a low intake in the diet. Mammals have developed an efficient recycling system, known as vitamin K-epoxide cycle, which involve quinone, hydroquinone and epoxide forms of the vitamin. Phylloquinone (K(1)) is the main homologue, while menaquinone-4 (MK-4) is both a member of the vitamin K(2) family and metabolite of K(1) in extra-hepatic tissues. Notwithstanding the recent advances, many aspects of the complex vitamin K physiology still remain to be investigated. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop more reliable analytical methods for determining the vitamin K and its metabolites in biological fluids and tissues. Nevertheless, relatively low concentrations, unavailability of some authentic standards and occurrence of interfering lipids make this a challenging task. The method proposed in the present paper can directly and accurately estimate K(1), K(1) 2,3-epoxide (K(1)O), and MK-4 in human serum and plasma at concentrations in the ng/L-μg/L range, using labelled internal standards and a quadrupole linear ion trap instrument operated in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. High sensitivity was achieved by removing signal "endogenous suppressors" and making the composition of the non-aqueous mobile phase suitable to support the positive atmospheric pressure chemical ionization of the analytes. An excellent selectivity resulted from the combination of some factors: the MRM acquisition, the adoption of an identification point system, an extraction optimized to remove most of the lipids and a tandem-C18 column-system necessary to separate isobaric interferences from analytes. The method was validated according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines and its accuracy was assessed by analysing 9 samples from the Vitamin K External Quality Assessment Scheme (KEQAS). Its feasibility in evaluating vitamin K status in human serum was also tested by monitoring a group of six healthy subjects and a group of six patients under oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT). Warfarinised patients did not show deficiency of K1 but levels comparable with those of healthy people and an accumulation of K1O up to 3.760μg/L. MK-4 was not detected in either of the two groups.

Sulfur-vulcanized rubber is a three-dimensional polymer network, insoluble in all organic solvents. For this reason, vulcanization products are difficult to study and identify by conventional analytical techniques. To simplify this task, low molecular weight olefins have been used as model compounds (MCs) in place of rubber in vulcanization experiments.In this work, the vulcanization process was investigated using squalene (SQ) as MC. By-products, intermediates and products were separated by semipreparative reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) with UV detection. Each fraction was collected, concentrated and characterized by flow injection analysis (FIA) and non-aqueous reversed-phase (NARP) LC coupled to positive atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS). Under the latter conditions, an Information-Dependent Acquisition (IDA) was performed on a linear ion trap mass spectrometer to obtain structural information.Several vulcanized compounds containing up to three SQ molecules, cross-linked with chains involving up to 14 sulfur atoms overall, have been identified along with some of their oxidized products (epoxides and hydroperoxides). The FIA-MS spectra showed peak clusters, each of which included two-three subclusters; the interpretation was complicated by the occurrence of more ion species per product, by the unsaturation grade and by the characteristic isotopic distribution of sulfur. The enhanced product ion scan (EPI) spectra, acquired during the IDA experiments, supported the FIA-MS identification allowing one to count the number of sulfur atoms.The sensitivity of the developed analytical strategy was due to the enrichment factor achieved via semipreparative chromatography and the very good response of the APCI detection. Pattern fragmentation and chromatographic behavior simplified the identification of the cured compounds and their oxidized products, whose occurrence was related to the grade of oxidation of SQ used as reagent. Copyright © 2016 John WileySons, Ltd.

What is the central question of this study? Ischaemia-reperfusion of peripheral tissues protects the heart from subsequent myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion injury, a phenomenon referred to as remote ischaemic preconditioning (rIPC). This study evaluated the possible myocardial triggers of rIPC. What is the main finding and its importance? Remote ischaemic preconditioning reduces infarct size through a vagal pathway and a mechanism involving phosphorylation of Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase, opening of mitochondrial ATP-dependent K(+) channels and an increase in mitochondrial H2 O2 production. All these phenomena occur before the myocardial ischaemia; hence, they could act as 'triggers' of rIPC. It has been proposed that remote ischaemic preconditioning (rIPC) activates a parasympathetic neural pathway. However, the myocardial intracellular mechanism of rIPC remains unclear. Here, we characterized some of the intracellular signals participating as rIPC triggers. Isolated rat hearts were subjected to 30 min of global ischaemia and 120 min of reperfusion (Non-rIPC group). In a second group, before the isolation of the heart, an rIPC protocol (three cycles of hindlimb ischaemia-reperfusion) was performed. The infarct size was measured with tetrazolium staining. Expression/phosphorylation of Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and mitochondrial H2 O2 production were evaluated at the end of the rIPC protocol, before myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion. The rIPC significantly decreased the infarct size and induced Akt and eNOS phosphorylation. The protective effect on infarct size was abolished by cervical vagal section, l-NAME (an NO synthesis inhibitor) and 5-hydroxydecanoate (a mitochondrial ATP-dependent K(+) channel blocker). Mitochondrial production of H2 O2 was increased by rIPC, whereas it was abolished by cervical vagal section, l-NAME and 5-hydroxydecanoate. We conclude that rIPC activates a parasympathetic vagal pathway and a mechanism involving the phosphorylation of Akt and eNOS, the opening of mitochondrial ATP-dependent K(+) channels and the release of H2 O2 by the mitochondria. All these phenomena occur before myocardial ischaemia and could act as triggers of rIPC.

Even in the absence of overt respiratory disease during the neonatal period, reduced lung function (LF) has been reported in preterm infants. We have previously found significantly lower Crs, V9maxFRC, FEV0.5 and FEF25-75 in “healthy” preterm infants when compared to term controls (ERS de Mir, 2014) Objectives: To assess LF at 6 and 18 months of age in preterm infants without neonatal respiratory disease, and compare the measurements to those obtained in healthy fullterm infants. Methods: LF was measured under chloral sedation in 9healthy9 preterm (30-35.8 w) and fullterm Spanish White babies, using the CareFusionTM Masterscreen BabyBody equipment. Results were expressed as z scores to adjust for sex, age and body size (Lum, Ped Pulm 2010; Nguyen, Ped Pulm 2013). Results: 156 infants were initially studied at mean (SD) corrected postnatal age (cPNA) of 5.9 (1.0) months. 112 (57 term and 55 preterm) were followed up at 18.3 and 18.2 months respectively. At 18 months cPNA, results were similar between the groups Conclusions: The differences observed in our cohort between term controls and 9healthy9 preterm infants at 6 months cPNA in Crs, V9maxFRC, FEV 0,5 and FEF 25-75% was no longer evident at 18 months corrected age, suggesting a catch-up of lung function in this group of preterm infants.

This paper presents an analytical strategy for a large-scale screening of carotenoids in tomato fruits by exploiting the potentialities of the triple quadrupole-linear ion trap hybrid mass spectrometer (QqQLIT). The method involves separation on C30 reversed-phase column and identification by means of diode array detection (DAD) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (APCI-MS). The authentic standards of six model compounds were used to optimize the separative conditions and to predict the chromatographic behavior of untargeted carotenoids. An information dependent acquisition (IDA) was performed with (i) enhanced-mass scan (EMS) as the survey scan, (ii) enhanced-resolution (ER) scan to obtain the exact mass of the precursor ions (16-35 ppm), and (iii) enhanced product ion (EPI) scan as dependent scan to obtain structural information. LC-DAD-multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) chromatograms were also acquired for the identification of targeted carotenoids occurring at low concentrations; for the first time, the relative abundance between the MRM transitions (ion ratio) was used as an extra tool for the MS distinction of structural isomers and the related families of geometrical isomers. The whole analytical strategy was high-throughput, because a great number of experimental data could be acquired with few analytical steps, and cost-effective, because only few standards were used; when applied to characterize some tomato varieties ('Tangerine', 'Pachino', 'Datterino', and 'Camone') and passata of 'San Marzano' tomatoes, our method succeeded in identifying up to 44 carotenoids in the 'Tangerine'" variety.

Objective The factors – including asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis – which influence FeNO values in a general population of school children have been studied in order to know to what extent the variability of those values can be explained. Methods FeNO was measured in a population of 240 school children aged 6–12 years by means of a Niox-Mino™ device in a standardised way. Parents filled in an ISAAC-validated questionnaire of symptoms and environmental factors. Diagnoses were checked against clinical records. Height and weight were measured. A multivariate regression analysis including all variables in the questionnaire was performed, which was followed by two Xi stepwise tests in order to build a predictive model which included the main variables influencing FeNO values. Results Among the 240 children, 10 suffered from asthma, 16 from rhinoconjunctivitis and 15 from both conditions. FeNO values (GM ± GSD) in children with rhinoconjunctivitis (19.61 ± 1.20 ppb), with asthma (18.62 ± 1.32 ppb), and with both conditions (17.62 ± 1.19 ppb) tended to be significantly higher than control children (11.42 ± 1.04 ppb), p = 0.0016, p = 0.08 and p = 0.01, respectively. The different predictive models were able to explain only 20–27% of FeNO variability. Conclusions The proportion of FeNO inter-individual variability which can be explained by individual (including suffering from asthma or rhinoconjunctivitis), family, and environmental factors is very low (20–27%). This could have implications on the usefulness of FeNO as a diagnostic tool in asthma.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is common in childhood, with peak prevalence in early childhood. However, international comparisons of prevalence have focused on older children. We analysed differences in prevalence rates of AD and the associations with putative risk and protective factors, among infants in two European and two Central American countries.In 1-yr old infants participating in the International Study of Wheezing in Infants (EISL), prevalence of AD and putative risk and protective factors were assessed by a questionnaire applied to parents. For each risk/protective factor summary, odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated by means of random effects meta-analysis.Data from 9803 infants were analysed. AD prevalence varied from 10.6% (Valencia, Spain) to 28.2% (San Pedro Sula, Honduras). Average AD prevalences were lower in Europe (14.2%) than in Central America (18.2%, p0.01). Consistent with older children, presence of siblings decreased (OR 0.82 [0.72-0.94]), whereas family history of asthma (OR 1.32 [1.10-1.59]), rhinitis (OR 1.33 [1.14-1.54]) and atopic dermatitis (OR 2.40 [1.89-3.05]) increased the risk of infantile AD. However, gender, family size, breastfeeding and socio-economic status were not associated with AD prevalence.This study shows almost threefold differences in the prevalence of AD in infancy between countries. Risk and protective factors involved in the expression of infantile AD differ from those in older children, possibly suggesting a different pathophysiology. There is a need for additional international epidemiological surveys on AD in young children, the peak prevalence age of this condition.

Our lung transplant unit began activity in October 2008. We have performed 37 lung transplants with a hospital mortality of 2.7% (n = 1). The need for a greater number of donors and the presence of an already existent non-heart-beating donor (NHBD) program for abdominal grafts and tissues encouraged us to consider assessing lung grafts from these donors. It was necessary to develop a new multiorgan preservation methodology, "bithermia preservation." The clinical experience with which during the first year June 2010 to July 2011, including 15 NHBDs is presented herein. The chest x-ray was normal in 6 donors (40%) and 7 had pulmonary infiltrates. Bronchoscopy was normal in 8 donors (53%) but 3 had abundant bleeding airway secretions and signs of bronchoaspiration. Preservation procedures were performed in 6 donors. Pulmonary functional evaluation in 4 donors showed gas measurements to be adequate in 75% of cases. Three double-lung grafts were judged to be valid for implantation, among which we performed 3 lung transplantations, 1 bilateral and 2 unilaterals, while 2 grafts were offered to the National Transplant Organization for other units. No transplant suffered primary graft dysfunction; all 3 showed excellent function allowing early extubation in 2 cases. There was no in-hospital mortality. All 3 patients are alive and leading normal lives; none has bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. In conclusion, the "bithermia preservation" methodology achieved adequate lung preservation in NHBDs, allowing liver, kidneys, and lungs to be obtained from the same donor.

Leukaemia is the most frequent type of cancer at the paediatric age. The cure rate is 80% with intensive chemotherapy, which improves survival but also often increases the frequency of adverse side effects, including those of a neurological nature.To describe the frequency and characteristics of the neurological complications (NC) in patients with acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), as well as to identify factors associated to their presence, neurological morbidity and survival rate.A retrospective study was conducted of the NC present in patients with ALL and AML between 1997 and 2012 treated and followed up by the child onco-haematology unit. The following variables were analysed: demographic data, oncological diagnosis, treatment and NC.Altogether 157 patients were included, 145 without infiltration of the central nervous system at diagnosis and eight with infiltration (rate of NC of 14% and 12%, respectively). The most frequent NC were: neuropathies (31%), altered levels of consciousness (27%), convulsions (22%) and headache (12%). Forty per cent of the patients with NC presented sequelae but none of them died as a consequence of the NC. More NC were detected in the age group of children aged under 6 years with high-degree ALL, at higher levels of severity and in patients who had received a haematopoietic stem-cell transplant, all of them with statistically significant differences.Neurological complications are common in patients with acute leukaemia, especially in those at a high-risk stage (above all if they are under the age of 6 years) and with haematopoietic stem-cell transplant. The associated mortality rate is low.Complicaciones neurologicas en poblacion infantil con leucemia.Introduccion. La leucemia es el cancer mas frecuente en edad pediatrica. Su tasa de curacion es del 80% con quimioterapia intensiva, que mejora la supervivencia, pero que tambien aumenta la frecuencia de efectos adversos, incluyendo los neurologicos. Objetivos. Describir la frecuencia y caracteristicas de las complicaciones neurologicas (CN) en pacientes con leucemia aguda linfoide (LAL) y leucemia aguda mieloide (LAM), e identificar los factores asociados a su presencia, la tasa de morbilidad neurologica y la supervivencia. Pacientes y metodos. Estudio retrospectivo de las CN presentes durante el tratamiento y seguimiento de los pacientes con LAL y LAM entre 1997 y 2012 por la unidad de oncohematologia infantil. Variables analizadas: datos demograficos, diagnostico oncologico, tratamiento y CN. Resultados. Se incluyo un total de 157 pacientes, 145 sin infiltracion de sistema nervioso central al diagnostico y ocho con infiltracion (tasa de CN del 14 y 12%, respectivamente). Las CN mas frecuentes fueron: neuropatias (31%), alteracion del nivel de conciencia (27%), convulsiones (22%) y cefalea (12%). Un 40% de los pacientes con CN ha presentado secuelas, pero ninguno ha fallecido como consecuencia de la CN. Se han detectado mas CN en el grupo de edad menor de 6 años con LAL de alto grado, en niveles de gravedad mas altos y en pacientes que habian recibido trasplante de precursores hematopoyeticos, todas ellas con diferencias estadisticamente significativas. Conclusiones. Las complicaciones neurologicas son frecuentes en los pacientes con leucemia aguda, en especial en aquellos con estadio de riesgo alto (sobre todo si son menores de 6 años) y trasplante de precursores hematopoyeticos. La mortalidad asociada es baja.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are considered to be the cure-all of any pain: from headache and cold symptoms to toothaches and even labour pain. Their wide use in human medicine has been favoured by the possibility to purchase them without medical prescription, their low cost and by the absence of opioid-like side effects. At the same time, their administration to domestic and food-producing animals has become a common practice to improve their well-being. Therefore, human and veterinary applications are the main sources of NSAIDs in the environment and the major pathways are excretion and discharge through sewage treatment plants. Although their environmental occurrence is well-known, there is a lack of data regarding their levels in surface waters of Central Italy. In this study, a monitoring campaign was arranged in some of the most important rivers and lakes of Central Italy, characterised by a different anthropic impact, in spring–summer and autumn–winter 2012. A broad range of NSAIDs for human and animal use was analysed through a reliable analytical method based on liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, appropriately developed and validated. Results have shown the constant presence of all drugs commonly used in human medicine with a composition that mirrored the incidence of seasonal diseases quite well. A veterinary drug (flunixin) was found in Bracciano Lake (Rome district), an important tourist attraction surrounded by farmlands. Salicylic acid is a phytohormone and this explains its presence in all the analyzed samples. All the results collected during the extensive survey have proved that Central Italy is aligned with the rest of Europe since its natural waters have shown low levels of contamination (ng L−1) but with a chronic input.

La gasificación de lodos de depuradora puede constituir una alternativa para un desarrollo energético sostenible además de ser una opción de gestión ante el incremento de su producción y la legislación cada vez más restrictiva. El estudio experimental se ha realizado en plantas piloto de gasificación de lecho fluidizado burbujeante (LFB) de 100 kWt y circulante (LFC) de 500 kWt que trabajan a presión atmosférica y en operación autotérmica y en plantas de limpieza del gas de gasificación, como reactor de craqueo, filtro de mangas de precapa y torre de lavado. Se evalúa la variación y mejora de la calidad del gas utilizando métodos primarios, durante la gasificación, y métodos secundarios, para eliminar alquitranes, en etapas posteriores a la gasificación. Los métodos primarios estudiados son: tasa de alimentación, relación de equivalencia, empleo de distintos agentes gasificantes y materiales de lecho. Y los métodos secundarios: craqueo térmico, adsorción y absorción., Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales

Study objectives To describe the causes and relative frequency of amylase-rich pleural effusion (ARPE), and to study the origin and histologic type of the tumors with ARPE, the strength of the association between ARPE and the result of pleural cytology, and whether pleural amylase (PA) is a prognostic factor in the survival of patients with a malignant pleural effusion. Setting Tertiary-care, university-affiliated hospital. Patients Eight hundred forty-one consecutive patients with pleural effusion prospectively assessed from 1991 to 1999. Results There were 66 ARPEs: 40 neoplastic, and 26 benign with tuberculosis, pancreatitis, and liver cirrhosis as the most frequent causes. Thirty-six percent of patients in our series and 61% of patients with ARPE had a neoplastic disease (odds ratio[OR], 3; p Conclusions The most common cause of ARPE was neoplasm. There was a positive association between ARPE and malignancy, stronger with the highest levels (95th percentile). Lung cancer and adenocarcinoma were the most common tumor and histologic type associated with ARPE. Mesothelioma may also produce ARPE. There was an association between ARPE and the finding of tumor cells in the pleural fluid. The highest PA levels identified a group of patients with a median shorter survival.

Catalysts used for heterogeneous processes are usually composed of metal nanoparticles dispersed over a high–surface-area support. In recent years, near-ambient pressure techniques have allowed catalyst characterization under operating conditions, overcoming the pressure gap effect. However, the use of model systems may not truly represent the changes that occur in real catalysts (the so-called material gap effect). Supports can play an important role in the catalytic process by providing new active sites and may strongly affect both the physical and chemical properties of metal nanoparticles. We used near-ambient pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to show that the surface rearrangement of bimetallic (rhodium-palladium) nanoparticles under working conditions for ethanol steam reforming with real catalysts is strongly influenced by the presence of a reducible ceria support.

Craniosynostosis, caused by the premature fusion of one or more of the cranial sutures, can be classified into non-syndromic or syndromic and by which sutures are affected. Clinical assignment is a difficult challenge due to the high phenotypic variability observed between syndromes. During routine diagnostics, we screened 182 Spanish craniosynostosis probands, implementing a four-tiered cascade screening of FGFR2, FGFR3, FGFR1, TWIST1 and EFNB1. A total of 43 variants, eight novel, were identified in 113 (62%) patients: 104 (92%) detected in level 1; eight (7%) in level 2 and one (1%) in level 3. We subsequently screened additional genes in the probands with no detected mutation: one duplication of the IHH regulatory region was identified in a patient with craniosynostosis Philadelphia type and five variants, four novel, were identified in the recently described TCF12, in probands with coronal or multisuture affectation. In the 19 Saethre-Chotzen syndrome (SCS) individuals in whom a variant was detected, 15 (79%) carried a TWIST1 variant, whereas four (21%) had a TCF12 variant. Thus, we propose that TCF12 screening should be included for TWIST1 negative SCS patients and in patients where the coronal suture is affected. In summary, a molecular diagnosis was obtained in a total of 119/182 patients (65%), allowing the correct craniosynostosis syndrome classification, aiding genetic counselling and in some cases provided a better planning on how and when surgical intervention should take place and, subsequently the appropriate clinical follow up.

Introduction The identification of early, preferably presymptomatic, biomarkers and true etiologic factors for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the first step toward establishing effective primary and secondary prevention programs. Consequently, the search for a relatively inexpensive and harmless biomarker for AD continues. Despite intensive research worldwide, to date there is no definitive plasma or blood biomarker indicating high or low risk of conversion to AD. Methods Magnetic resonance imaging and β-amyloid (Aβ) levels in three blood compartments (diluted in plasma, undiluted in plasma and cell-bound) were measured in 96 subjects (33 with mild cognitive impairment, 14 with AD and 49 healthy controls). Pearson correlations were completed between 113 regions of interest (ROIs) (45 subcortical and 68 cortical) and Aβ levels. Pearson correlation analyses adjusted for the covariates age, sex, apolipoprotein E (ApoE), education and creatinine levels showed neuroimaging ROIs were associated with Aβ levels. Two statistical methods were applied to study the major relationships identified: (1) Pearson correlation with phenotype added as a covariate and (2) a meta-analysis stratified by phenotype. Neuroimaging data and plasma Aβ measurements were taken from 630 Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) subjects to be compared with our results. Results The left hippocampus was the brain region most correlated with Aβ(1–40) bound to blood cell pellets (partial correlation (pcor) = −0.37, P = 0.0007) after adjustment for the covariates age, gender and education, ApoE and creatinine levels. The correlation remained almost the same (pcor = −0.35, P = 0.002) if phenotype is also added as a covariate. The association between both measurements was independent of cognitive status. The left hemisphere entorhinal cortex also correlated with Aβ(1–40) cell-bound fraction. AB128 and ADNI plasma Aβ measurements were not related to any brain morphometric measurement. Conclusions Association of cell-bound Aβ(1–40) in blood with left hippocampal volume was much stronger than previously observed in Aβ plasma fractions. If confirmed, this observation will require careful interpretation and must be taken into account for blood amyloid-based biomarker development.

This work was prompted by the finding that Aβ1-17 (Aβ17) appeared to be the second-most abundant cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ fragment, after Aβ40. We developed an ELISA to quantify levels of Aβ17 directly accessible in plasma (DA17), recovered from the proteomic plasma matrix (RP17) and associated with the cellular pellet (CP17) that remained after plasma collection. Then, we used a sample of 19 healthy control (HC), 27 mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 17 mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients to explore the association of the diagnostic groups with those direct markers, their ratios or the ratios with their Aβ40 or Aβ42 counterparts. After dichotomization (d) for the median of the sample population, logistic regression analysis showed that in the AD versus HC subgroup, subjects with a dDA/CP17 higher than the median had a significantly greater risk of being AD than those with marker levels equal to or below the median (odds ratio OR; 95% confidence interval; 17.21; 1.42-208.81). Subjects with dRP17/42 below the median had an increased likelihood of being MCI (20.00; 1.17-333.33) or AD (40.00; 1.87-1000) versus being HC, than those with dRP17/42 higher than the median. Although the confidence intervals are wide, these findings suggest that assessment of Aβ17 may increase the diagnostic performance of blood-based Aβ tests which might be developed into minimally invasive first-step screening tests for people with increased risk for AD.

In this work, two mesoporous silicas functionalized with C18 groups (SM-C18 and SBA-15-C18) have been synthesized for their evaluation as stationary phases in SPE for the extraction and preconcentration of seven steroid hormones (estrone, estradiol, estriol, ethinyl estradiol, diethylstilbestrol, testosterone, and progesterone ) from milk. The characterization of both materials by diverse techniques such as transmission electron microscopy, SEM, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, and adsorption-desorption isotherms showed that the mesoporous silicas had a high surface area, high pore volume, and a homogeneous distribution of the pores and that both silicas presented a similar degree of functionalization. An analytical methodology for the simultaneous separation of the seven selected steroids by HPLC-DAD was developed. Both silicas were evaluated as stationary phases in SPE for the extraction of the steroid hormones from milk. This HPLC-DAD method was applied to the analysis of all extracts obtained in the SPE experiments, showing that from the two synthesized mesoporus silicas, SBA-15-C18 silica enabled the extraction of the seven compounds with recoveries between 88 and 108% for all except for estriol, for which a recovery of 62% was obtained. The analytical characteristics of this methodology were evaluated, showing good precision and linearity (R20.994) for all analytes. The comparison of the results obtained with this silica and those obtained with commercial C18 particles and with some other commercial cartridges usually employed in the extraction of steroids showed that SBA-15-C18 silica was able to extract the seven steroids with higher recovery values.