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espanolTodos los pacientes diabeticos han de ser examinados para identificar el riesgo de ulceracion del pie. Es necesario realizar un reconocimiento temprano y un manejo de los factores de riesgo que predicen un mayor riesgo de amputaciones, siendo la mayoria de estos factores facilmente identificables a traves de la historia clinica, asi como realizar un examen fisico completo del pie de forma anual que incluya inspeccion, evaluacion de pulsos y de sensibilidad. El abordaje terapeutico del pie diabetico requiere de una evaluacion y estratificacion de riesgo previa, en la que se valora la extension y profundidad de la lesion, asi como la presencia de isquemia o infeccion, lo que va a determinar la actitud terapeutica. El cultivo de muestras de la ulcera puede acotar tanto el tiempo como el espectro de la antibioterapia. El manejo integral del pie diabetico incluye un control glucemico estricto, medidas locales y antibioterapia sistemica. EnglishAll diabetic patients have to be screened in order to assess their risk of diabetic foot ulcers. Early identification and management of risk factors for foot amputations is required, easily identifiable by clinical history. Yearly comprehensive physical examination, including foot inspection, foot pulse palpation and foot sensitivity assessment, is also necessary. Therapeutic approach requires prior risk assessment and staging, assessing the extent and depth of the injury, as well as the presence of ischemia or infection. Antibiotic therapy may be reduced by the culture of ulcer samples. Comprehensive management of diabetic foot includes strict glycemic control, local measures and systemic antibiotic therapy.

High velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) technique was used to deposit an Al2O3-30(Ni20Al) coating on AISI 304 stainless steel substrate to improve its corrosion and wear performance at high temperature. First, thermal cycling tests at 750 and 850 °C were conducted in air atmosphere on both coated and uncoated stainless steel substrates to study the effectiveness of coating protection system at different exposure times (2, 6, 10 and 15 days). Then, high temperature corrosion and wear mechanisms were studied by SEM and XRD techniques. These analyses revealed that uncoated specimens were severely corroded but no oxidation on the coated substrates was detected. Oxide growth on the uncoated substrate was mainly formed by spinel (MnCr2O4 and FeCr2O4) and corundum (Fe2O3 and Cr2O3) type oxides. Meanwhile, these oxides were not found on the coated substrate. Wear rate of the coated specimen was found to be reduced from 6.9·10−4 to 8.3·10−5 mm3/N·m compared to that of the uncoated specimen. The exposure to high temperatures improved coating wear resistance: wear rate was four times lower in the coated sample exposed to high temperatures compared to that of the non-exposed coated sample due to the formation of a harder phase of NiO.

Resumen Introduccion El riesgo cardiovascular (CV) global se define como la probabilidad de presentar un evento CV en un periodo determinado, y es considerado por todas las sociedades cientificas como el metodo mas adecuado para evaluar la enfermedad aterosclerotica. Cuantificacion del riesgo Existen diferentes tablas de calculo, basadas en otros tantos factores de riesgo, que deberan ser evaluados en los pacientes antes de realizar ninguna recomendacion. Entre los factores de riesgo modificables se debe realizar una deteccion de hipertension arterial (HTA), diabetes, dislipemias, tabaquismo y sobrepeso/obesidad, ya que a ellos iran dirigidos nuestros esfuerzos terapeuticos. Objetivo El siguiente protocolo resume de manera practica el diagnostico de los distintos factores de riesgo, asi como el calculo y la interpretacion de las principales tablas de riesgo CV aplicables a la poblacion espanola.

En el presente trabajo se analiza el caso de estudio de la microempresa comercial Instawatch con la finalidad de determinar el nivel de responsabilidad social empresarial (RSE) de la organización mediante la aplicación de un cuestionario en el que se identifican las prácticas de RSE que se llevan a cabo dentro de la misma. Para llevar a cabo este trabajo de investigación, se realizó un estudio descriptivo no experimental el cual se encuentra dividido en tres partes: la primera de ellas consiste en la elaboración del marco teórico; la segunda parte es la recopilación de información; y, la tercera el análisis de los datos obtenidos. Por último, con base a los resultados obtenidos del análisis, se identificó la situación en que se encuentra la empresa respecto a la RSE en el que se encuentra la empresa.&nbsp

Resumen Objetivo El presente estudio pretende establecer la eficacia y tolerabilidad de los opioides en el tratamiento del dolor en pacientes con ulceras cutaneas cronicas y dolor irruptivo incidental. Material y metodo Estudio abierto, multicentrico, prospectivo, no controlado, realizado en unidades del dolor y de ulceras de 5 hospitales de la Comunidad Valenciana. El criterio de inclusion fue dolor basal mayor o igual a 4 segun la escala visual analogica o dolor irruptivo mayor o igual a 4 durante la cura. Los criterios de exclusion fueron alteraciones cognitivas, intolerancia a opioides y rechazo del paciente a dar el consentimiento. El protocolo establecio 5 momentos de evaluacion: basal (primera visita), 15 dias, un mes, 2 y 3 meses. La variable principal del estudio fue el dolor medido con la escala visual analogica en reposo, en movimiento y durante la cura. Se administraron opioides para el dolor basal y se administro fentanilo sublingual para el dolor irruptivo. Resultados Treinta y dos pacientes (86,5%) completaron el estudio. El dolor basal experimento una reduccion media de 3,6 (DE 2,3) puntos en la escala visual analogica, el dolor en movimiento disminuyo 3,9 (DE 2,5), y el dolor durante la cura disminuyo 4,5 (DE 2,8), siendo en todos estadisticamente significativa (p Conclusiones Los resultados de nuestro estudio evidencian que el tratamiento con opioides en pacientes con ulceras cutaneas cronicas proporciona un alivio efectivo del dolor, tanto basalmente como durante la cura, con escasos efectos adversos.

Fish have an internal biological clock that drives their daily rhythms, including those of feeding and reproduction. The European sea bass has been reported to exhibit a phase inversion of its diel feeding pattern: nocturnal in winter (coinciding with the spawning period) and diurnal during the remainder of the year. In this study, we investigated the locomotor activity of sea bass during the spawning and resting periods as well as the possible existence of a daily spawning rhythm by calculating the number of eggs (and their viability) released every hour. The results showed that sea bass locomotor activity was clearly nocturnal (68 ± 4.3% of the daily activity displayed at night) during the spawning season and mostly diurnal (65.5 ± 7.5% of the activity displayed during the day) out of the reproductive period. Spawning occurred during the dark phase with two peaks, 6 and 11 h after lights off. Egg viability was highest in the batch released near the spawning peaks. These findings could be useful for optimizing egg production and to improve hatchery practices, which should take into account the reproduction rhythms of sea bass.

Selection for tolerance to 8 monoterpenoids (linalool, camphor, γ-terpinene, S-carvone, geraniol, estragole, E-anethole, and fenchone) in three pests of stored rice, Sitophilus oryzae, Rhyzopertha dominica and Cryptolestes pusillus, as well as the metabolic mechanisms implicated, was studied. Strains were selected for tolerance towards each monoterpenoid from susceptible insect populations for each of seven generations. After selection, tolerance was observed towards linalool, S-carvone and estragole in S. oryzae and towards camphor in C. pusillus. Populations of R. dominica were not observed to develop tolerance to monoterpenoids. The activity of three enzymatic systems detoxifying these monoterpenoids, microsomal P-450 monooxygenase, esterase, and glutathione S-transferase (GST), were analyzed to study the metabolic mechanisms involved. Esterases could be involved in S. oryzae tolerance whereas P-450 monooxygenases could be involved for most monoterpenoids in selected populations of R. dominica and C. pusillus.

Thermally sprayed Al and Al/SiC composite coatings have been deposited on pure magnesium and their corrosion behaviour in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution has been studied. Al/SiC composite coatings were fabricated with 9 vol.% reinforcement percentage and with porosities around 3.5%, while the porosity of the as-sprayed pure Al coatings was in the range 2.4 vol.% to 4.4 vol.% and depended more on the spraying distance and numbers of layers deposited. A mechanical compaction was applied to the coatings at room temperature and coatings that were nearly free from pores were fabricated for the Al and Al/SiC coatings. In the electrochemical tests, all the coatings showed higher corrosion potentials (about of 200 mV) than uncoated substrates while current densities were nearly two orders of magnitude lower for the Al/SiC composite coatings and three orders of magnitude lower for the pure aluminium coatings. This protective effect was even better in the compacted coatings, currents densities were between five or six orders of magnitude lower than that of uncoated magnesium.

Objective: To identify the different types of cytostatic prescription errors in adult and paediatric oncohematological patients in our hospital and to propose strategies for improvement. Methods: Longitudinal, prospective, observational study in which prescriptions for antineoplastics from the haematology and paediatric oncohaematology departments were validated over a 15-month period. The types of error were classified in accordance with the terminology and taxonomy published by Otero and cols in the document “Medication errors: standardisation of terminology and classification”. Eleven variables were recorded. Amongst other parameters, the following were determined: percentage of overall error, percentage of error in type of prescription, percentage of service error, percentage of pharmaceutical intervention and level of acceptance. Results: A total of 92 errors were recorded which corresponded to 1.4% of the total prescriptions. The most significant errors were: incorrect dose (28.2%), incorrect duration (21.7%), incorrect volume and/or inadequate vehicle (16.3%), and in one case a prescription was made up where the patient was allergic to the specific cytostatic drug prescribed. 81.8% of prescription errors were made manually. In the haematology department a 0.9% error was recorded, as was a 3.5% error in paediatric oncohaematology. Both the rate of pharmaceutical intervention and its level of acceptance were 100%.

A method, using stripping square wave voltammetry (Ad-SSWV), for the simultaneous determination of fenitrothion (FEN) and its metabolites: fenitrooxon (OXON) and 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol (3-MET) in environmental samples is reported. All three compounds produce, at mercury electrode (HMDE), an electrochemical signal due to an adsorptive–reductive process. The electrochemical approach shows a very high overlap degree for FEN and OXON voltammograms, however the adsorption kinetic profile could be used as an additional differential variable between both analytes. Second-order multivariate calibration has been tested to solve the mixture of the three compounds. The second-order assayed methods were parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), unfolded partial least squares (U-PLS), multidimensional partial least squares (N-PLS) and the latest ones were used in combination with the residual bilinearization procedure RBL. U-PLS/RBL model was stated as the best second-order algorithm for the simultaneous determination of these three compounds up to 50 ng mL −1 for each analyte. The detection limits and recovery values were 1.6 ng mL −1 and 92 ± 7% for FEN; 3.7 ng mL −1 and 101 ± 9% for OXON and 0.6 ng mL −1 and 97 ± 8% for 3-MET.

Silica mono-and multilayered coatings have been obtained through a sol–gel route on aluminium matrix composites reinforced with SiC particles for their corrosion protection. Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) was used as alcoxide precursor, and dip-coating technique of the samples was used at different extraction rates. Corrosion protection of the different coating systems have been evaluated in 3.5 wt.% NaCl at different immersion times using several electrochemical techniques including linear polarization resistance, anodic–cathodic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Gravimetric tests have been also used to characterize the protective effectiveness of the coatings, using low angle X-ray diffraction to identify the corrosion products. Coatings characterization before and after corrosion tests have been carried out using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy, studying the mechanisms of corrosion that take part in coated and uncoated composites. A corrosion mechanism for each one of the tested materials has been proposed.

Objetivo Estimar y comparar el nivel de burnout existente en los Servicios de Cuidados Intensivos y Urgencias, y estudiar su asociacion con las caracteristicas sociodemograficas y laborales de los profesionales encuestados. Diseno Estudio descriptivo transversal. Emplazamiento Servicios de Urgencias y Cuidados Intensivos del Hospital Morales Meseguer (Murcia). Muestra . Noventa y siete profesionales de enfermeria, 55 pertenecientes al Servicio de Urgencias y 42 al Servicio de Cuidados Intensivos. Metodo Se emplearon dos instrumentos de evaluacion: una encuesta de variables sociodemograficas y laborales, y el cuestionario Maslach Burnout Inventory , de 1986. Las variables cuantitativas se expresan como media ± desviacion estandar comparadas con t de Student y las cualitativas se comparan con Chi 2 . El analisis de datos se realizo mediante el programa informatico SPSS 12.0 © . Resultados El analisis comparativo de las dimensiones que componen el burnout demuestra que los niveles de agotamiento emocional son significativamente mayores en el Servicio de Cuidados Intensivos que en el de Urgencias (25,45 ± 11,15 frente a 22,09 ± 10,99) p Conclusiones Los niveles encontrados de burnout resultaron ser moderadosaltos. El 5,15% de la muestra total estudiada puntua alto en las tres dimensiones del sindrome, los profesionales de Cuidados Intensivos son los mas vulnerables a padecer elevados niveles de agotamiento emocional y el genero masculino es el mas propenso a las actitudes de despersonalizacion.

There is currently a growing tendency for fruit to be classified and marketed in accordance with quality criteria. One parameter used to evaluate quality in melons and watermelons is total soluble solid content, measured by invasive analytical methods which are incompatible with current quality-assurance requirements for individual pieces of fruit. Use of near infrared (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy as a nondestructive technique for measuring total soluble solid content could therefore be of considerable interest to the fruit and vegetable sector. The present study assesses the use of a NIR diode array spectrometer for estimating total soluble solid content (°Brix) in intact and cut melons and watermelons. NIR calibration models were developed using two sets for each fruit, a 2006 set ( N = 158) and a 2007 set ( N=415) for melon samples and a 2006 set ( N=77) and 2007 set ( N = 183) for watermelon samples, grown in El Ejido (Almeria, Spain). The predictive ability of the calibrations developed were greater for cut fruit ( SECV= 0.60°Brix, r2 = 0.88, RPD=2.94 in melons and SECV = 0.49 °Brix, r2 = 0.85, RPD=2.50 in watermelons) than for intact fruit (SECV = 0.98°Brix, r2 = 0.76; RPD=2.05 in melons and SECV= 0.93°Brix, r2 = 0.65, RPD = 1.69 in watermelons). This study demonstrates the value of NIR spectroscopy for grading cut melons and watermelons, intact melons and possibly intact watermelon fruits into categories of high, medium and low levels of sweetness.

Objective To identify the different types of cytostatic prescription errors in adult and paediatric oncohaematological patients in our hospital and to propose strategies for improvement. Methods Longitudinal, prospective, observational study in which prescriptions for antineoplastics from the haematology and paediatric oncohaematology departments were validated over a 15-month period. The types of error were classified in accordance with the terminology and taxonomy published by Otero and cols in the document “Medication errors: standardisation of terminology and classification.” Eleven variables were recorded. Amongst other parameters, the following were determined: percentage of overall error, percentage of error in type of prescription, percentage of service error, percentage of pharmaceutical intervention, and level of acceptance. Results A total of 92 errors were recorded which corresponded to 1.4% of the total prescriptions. The most significant errors were: incorrect dose (28.2%), incorrect duration (21.7%), incorrect volume and/or inadequate vehicle (16.3%), and in 1 case a prescription was made up where the patient was allergic to the specific cytostatic drug prescribed. Eighty-one point eight percent of prescription errors were made manually. In the haematology department a 0.9% error was recorded, as was a 3.5% error in paediatric oncohaematology. Both the rate of pharmaceutical intervention and its level of acceptance were 100%.

Sol–gel silica coatings have been developed, using a dip-coating process to provide corrosion and wear resistance to aluminium composites reinforced with SiC particles. Pin-on-disk tests indicate that these ceramic coatings reduce the adhesive wear between the steel pin and composite. The coatings extracted at lower deposition speeds are thinner than those extracted at faster speeds, but they show better wear resistance which can be explained by their greater hardness caused by a better consolidated structure.

Silica coatings up to 20 μm thick have been obtained through a sol–gel route on aluminium matrix composites reinforced with SiC particles. Single silica layer and multiple ones have been deposited on the substrates and extensive crack-free surfaces have been achieved with both methods. The topography of the layers has been characterised by means of Scanning Electronic Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy, and dense flat surface has been observed. However, topographical details consisting of spherical zones tend to appear on the surface of multilayered coatings. The mechanical properties of the different coatings have been measured using the nanoindentation technique independently from the substrate underneath, and hardness and elastic modulus similar and even higher than those of fused silica have been obtained for sol–gel multilayered coatings. The microstructure of the coatings has been studied by Transmission Electronic Microscopy, and the appearance of nanocrystals on the flat surfaces has been considered responsible of the mechanical properties measured.

El estrenimiento cronico supone un motivo frecuente de consulta en Atencion Primaria y de automedicacion, pues hasta un 20% de los pacientes mayores de 65 anos emplean laxantes de forma regular. Debido a las multiples causas que lo pueden producir; principalmente trastornos funcionales y, en menor medida, otras causas como la ingesta de farmacos, enfermedades digestivas o extradigestivas y ante la relevancia de las mismas, debemos realizar una buena anamnesis, exploracion y seguimiento de este, intentando llegar al diagnostico etiologico valorando los signos de alarma y solicitando pruebas complementarias ante la sospecha de origin organico. El pronostico en algunas ocasiones podria depender de la precocidad con la que se diagnostique; vease en nuestra paciente, cuya evolucion fue favorable debido al diagnostico y tratamiento precoz del pseudomixoma peritoneal.

A method for the determination of dimethoate in olive oil by adsorptive stripping square-wave voltammetry has been developed on the base that this pesticide is hydrolyzed in basic media giving rise to an adsorptive-reductive peak at −0.780 V. Extraction of dimethoate from olive oil with ethanol-water and posterior clean-up with C18 cartridges is carried out. Response Surface Methodology has been used for the optimization of the extraction procedure. A matrix effect is observed in olive oil extract; therefore the standard addition method must be used. The detection limit is 19.00 ng g−1 and recoveries for three levels of fortification are ranged from 79.9% to 104.5%.

Resumen Objetivo Evaluar la relacion entre los niveles en sangre de tacrolimus, la incidencia de rechazo agudo en enfermos trasplantados de corazon y determinar el rango de concentracion mas adecuado para prevenir el rechazo. Estudiar otros factores predictores del rechazo. Metodo Se realizo un estudio retrospectivo de todos los enfermos adultos trasplantados de corazon entre enero de 2000 y octubre de 2003 en tratamiento con tacrolimus, corticoides y azatioprina/ micofenolato mofetil. La eficacia del tratamiento se evaluo por confirmacion histopatologica del rechazo agudo como grado ≥ 3A segun criterios del Sociedad Internacional de Trasplante de Pulmon y Corazon (ISHLT). Se registraron los resultados de las biopsias endomiocardicas y de los niveles minimos de tacrolimus en sangre durante el primer ano postrasplante. El analisis de los datos se realizo mediante la t de Student, regresion logistica univariante y curva ROC. Resultados Se encontraron diferencias significativas en la concentracion minima de tacrolimus en sangre alcanzada el dia +5 postrasplante entre los enfermos que presentaron algun episodio de rechazo agudo el primer ano y los que no (5,76 ± 3,4 vs 9,66 ± 2,73 ng/ml, p = 0,016). El nivel el dia +5 fue el mejor predictor del rechazo (p = 0,05) de modo que el riesgo de un paciente respecto a otro con una unidad menos en el nivel de tacrolimus es 1,58 veces mayor. 8 ng/ml es el nivel con mayor poder de discriminacion (sensibilidad = 75% y especificidad = 72,7%), de modo que alcanzar una concentracion minima en sangre de 8 ng/ml el dia +5 reduce la incidencia de rechazo agudo de 33 a 80% (p = 0,055, p. exacta de Fisher). Conclusiones Alcanzar niveles minimos adecuados de tacrolimus en los primeros dias postrasplante (al menos de 8 ng/ml el dia +5) puede ser crucial para evitar el rechazo agudo en pacientes trasplantados de corazon.

Resumen Introduccion Se analiza la efectividad de la consulta de atencion farmaceutica en un programa para el control del dolor cronico severo no maligno de enfermos geriatricos, dividido en fases y realizado en la unidad multidisciplinar de tratamiento del dolor del Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia. Material y metodos Ciento cincuenta pacientes con indicacion clinica de opioide mayor, fueron incluidos en el tercer escalon de la analgesia de la OMS, por el equipo medico y tras una rigurosa seleccion. La consulta de atencion farmaceutica o fase II, realizo un seguimiento de la escalada de dosis, hasta conseguir la estabilizacion del dolor con ausencia de efectos secundarios, asi como el control en la instauracion del tratamiento cronico posterior. Resultados Al finalizar el programa, el 75% de los pacientes controlaron su dolor, precisando una media de 22,7 dias para ajustar la dosis del opiaceo. La dosis media diaria fue de 22,3 mg y el estrenimiento tratado preventivamente desde el inicio. El 59% de los pacientes recibio tratamiento cronico posterior con parches de fentanilo transdermico de 25 μg/h, un 10% continuo con solucion oral de morfina y un 6% morfina de liberacion controlada. El 25% de los pacientes restantes presento incidencias relevantes, detectadas en la fase de escalada terapeutica, que motivaron la suspension del tratamiento y el alta en la unidad por ineficacia terapeutica. A los 24 meses, el 70% de los pacientes continuaban con la dosis inicial. Conclusiones La efectividad de la consulta queda reflejada al conseguir los objetivos del programa.

The aim of this study was to evaluate cyclosporine (CyA) absorption profiles in heart transplantation to establish the most adequate monitoring strategy and determine the optimal therapeutic range for AUC0–4 or C2 levels. A total of 22 full pharmacokinetic studies were performed at steady-state in 22 adult heart transplant recipients (18 men, 4 women). Twelve studies were performed during the first month posttransplant (group I), and 10 studies were done after 1 month (group II). In 9 outpatients we performed an abbreviated AUC0–4. The mean age of the patients was 49 ± 15 years (range, 15–72 years), and the mean weight was 70.4 ± 10.8 kg (mean, 54–98 kg). The CyA dosage had been adjusteded to maintain trough levels (C0) in the putative target ranges of 200 to 400 ng/mL in group I and between 100 to 300 ng/mL in group II. Blood samples were drawn prior to and at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 hours after the morning dose. The CyA blood levels were measured by the AxSYM cyclosporine assay. The AUC was calculated by the trapezoidal rule. Multiple linear regression was done to evaluate the predictive ability of various limited sampling strategies. The C0 correlated poorly, either with the full AUC (r2 = 0.64) or the AUC0–4 (r2 = 0.43), while C2 seemed to be the most accurate single predictor of drug exposure (r2 = 0.92 for AUC0–12; r2 = 0.74 for AUC0–4). For both AUC0–4 and AUC0–12, all 2- or 3-point strategies had r2 values approaching that of the C2 value. In conclusion, C2 is a simple, fast, and accurate value to predict AUC0–4 in routine clinical practice. Its implementation must focus on ensuring the commitment of all unit staff, thus ensuring that patients are sampled on time and minimizing the impact on workload.

The aim of this study was to investigate the absorption profile of tacrolimus (TAC) in heart transplant patients in order to find the best sampling time to predict the total exposure and to explore the target range for optimal clinical immunosuppression. Twenty-five full pharmacokinetic studies were performed in 22 heart transplant patients (11 men and 7 women) at less than 1 year posttransplant. The immunosuppressive treatment was steroids plus azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil and TAC. The mean age was 55 years (36–64 years) and the mean weight 70.49 kg (50–111 kg). After three days of receiving the same dose, eight blood samples were collected at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 hours postmorning dose. TAC concentrations were measured by microparticle enzyme immunoassay (IMx). Area under the concentration-time curve(AUC0–12) was calculated by the trapezoidal rule. Using 0–4 hours TAC blood concentrations, a projected 12 hours AUC (extrapolated AUC0–4) was calculated assuming C0 and C12 were comparable. A high interpatient TAC pharmacokinetics variability that was greater during the absorption phase was observed. A Cmax (30.5 ± 13.8 ng/mL) was reached at 2.3 ± 1.5 h. When target trough levels were achieved (10–20 ng/mL), the mean tacrolimus exposure was 230.6 ± 59.2 ng h/mL (120.14–327.7) (n = 19). Correlation between AUC0–12 and C0 was relatively good (r2 = 0.74). Between individual time points, C4 showed the best correlation (r2 = 0.88). In any case the best strategy to monitor is to obtain the extrapolated AUC0–4 (r2 = 0.98), as a good approach to patients with a poor response to treatment.

Two methods for the determination of iron in olive oil by spectrophotometry and by adsorptive stripping square wave voltammetry (Ad-SSWV) have been developed. These two methods are based on the formation of a 5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,2,3-trione 1,2-dioxime 3-thiosemicarbazone (DCDT)-iron(II) complex in strongly acid media. In both, iron is extracted from the olive oil by using HCl. Spectrophotometric determination of iron with DCDT is based on the feature that the DCDT-Fe complex shows an absorbance maximum at 550 nm. A calibration graph has been constructed from 0 to 4000 ng mL(-)(1), and the detection limit was 115 ng mL(-)(1) (57 ng g(-)(1) in olive oil). On the other hand, the voltammetric determination of the metal is based on the appearance of a peak due to an adsorptive reductive process of the complex that it is observed when the Ad-SSWV technique is used. A calibration graph has been constructed from 0 to 30 ng mL(-)(1), and the detection limit was 0.55 ng mL(-)(1) (13.75 ng g(-)(1) in olive oil according to the proposed procedure).

Nitric oxide (NO) is a signal molecule with functions such as neurotransmission, local vascular relaxation, and anti-inflammation in many physiological and pathological processes. Various factors regulate its intracellular lifetime. Due to its high reactivity in biological systems, it is transformed in the bloodstream into nitrates (NO − 3 ) by oxyhemoglobin. The Griess reaction is a technically simple method (spectrophotometric, 540 nm) for the analysis of nitrites (NO − 2 ) in aqueous solutions. We studied the interference of common anticoagulants in the quantification of nitrate and nitrite in plasma samples by the Griess method. We obtained rat plasma using heparin or sodium EDTA as anticoagulants, then added, or otherwise, known NO − 3 amounts in order to calculate their recovery. We also studied the effect of ultra-filtration performed before Griess reaction on plasma and aqueous solutions of various anticoagulants (heparin, EDTA, and also sodium citrate) to compare the recoveries of added NO − 3 or NO − 2 . We used standards of NO − 3 or NO − 2 for quantification. We conclude that: (i) The bacterial nitrate reductase used to reduce NO − 3 to NO − 2 is unstable in certain storage conditions and interferes with different volumes of plasma used. (ii) The ultrafiltration (which is sometimes performed before the Griess reaction) of plasma obtained with EDTA or citrate is not recommended because it leads to overestimation of NO − 3 . In contrast, ultrafiltration is necessary when heparin is used. (iii) The absorbance at 540 nm attributed to plasma itself (basal value or background) interferes in final quantification, especially when ultrafiltration is not performed. For the quantification of plasma NO − 3 we recommend: sodium EDTA as anticoagulant, no ultrafiltration of plasma, and measurement of the absorbance background of each sample.

Previous reports have identified interleukin-2 (IL-2), quantified in the supernatants of QuantiFERONA multicentre study of 161 consecutive adult patients undergoing evaluation for active TB at eight TB Units in Spain. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and IL-2 were assessed in the supernatant of QFT after 16-24 h and 72 h of incubation. The accuracy of IL-2 for indicating latent TB infection (LTBI) was assessed by receiving operating characteristic curves. .Twenty-eight participants were not infected, 43 had LTBI, 69 had TB, and 21 were not classifiable. Median (interquartile range) IL-2 concentrations after 72 h of incubation were 0.0 pg/mL (0.0-0.0) in uninfected individuals, 261.0 pg/mL (81.0-853.0) in LTBI individuals, 166.5 pg/mL (33.5-551.5) in patients with extrapulmonary TB, 95.0 pg/mL (26.0-283.0) in patients with smear-negative pulmonary TB, and 38.5 pg/mL (7.5-178.0) in patients with smear-positive pulmonary TB (p0.0001). The area under the curve of the receiving operating characteristic curve (95% CI) of IL-2 after 72 h of incubation for the diagnosis of LTBI was 0.63 (0.53-0.74) when all TB cases were considered as a single group, ranging from 0.59 (0.47-0.71) to 0.72 (0.58-0.85) when only extrapulmonary and smear-positive pulmonary TB cases respectively were considered.Quantification of IL-2 in the supernatant of QFT after a prolonged incubation is not useful to distinguish between LTBI and active disease in clinical practice.

Medullar cord compression secondary to osseous plasmacytomas affecting the vertebrae is an oncological emergency. A 75-year-old woman with recurrent osseous plasmacytomas and thoracic spinal cord compression, previously treated with radiotherapy, was successfully treated with bortezomib and dexamethasone. Three years later, when the plasmacytoma and spinal cord compression relapsed, she was retreated with the same therapeutic scheme, achieving a new complete clinical remission. This is the first reported case of an excellent response to the combination of bortezomib and dexamethasone for spinal cord compression due to osseous plasmacytoma.

The nudibranch Discodoris indecora shows a perfect camouflage on its prey, the dictyoceratid sponge Ircinia variabilis. Shape and colour of the nudibranch are remarkably similar to that of the sponge which is widespread in the shallow waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The metabolite pattern of /. variabilis is dominated by unusual molecules, the sesterterpenoids palinurin and variabilin, containing 25 carbons and displaying at the ends a ^-substituted furan ring and a tetronic acid. However, a chemical polymorphism has been recently described for /. variabilis. Some specimens contain either palinurin or variabilin whereas others possess a mixture of both sestertepenoids. During the study of Mediterranean sponges, a linear sesterterpenoid related to palinurin and variabilin was found in Ircinia fasciculata, that from a taxonomic point of view is closely relatedto Ircinia variabilis. Discodoris indecora shows a typical defence behaviour when it is disturbed, secreting a copious white slime that contains large amounts of palinurin and variabilin. Most likely the animal is able to transfer the sponge metabolites from the digestive glands to mantle glands. Electron micrographs of the nudibranch mantle showed the presence of unicellular glands characterized by a cylindrical vacuole with a big nucleus on the basis. The glands were concentrated in the most conspicuous tubercles of the dorsal mantle. Probably, the sponge metabolites are stored in these glands. Comparative chemical analysis of mucous secretions, dorsal tubercles, mantle, foot, digestive glands and hepatopancreas of D. indecora confirmed this hypothesis. Palinurin and fasciculation were, of course, present in the digestive glands but they were also found in the mucus and in the mantle sections enriched by the above described unicellular glands. The defensive role of palinurin and variabilin, strongly suggested by their anatomical location, was

Combined kidney-liver transplantation is currently the best therapeutic option for patients with end-stage kidney and liver disease. We present our experience of kidney-liver transplantation in a series of 13 patients. The most frequent indications were familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) and polycystosis of the liver and kidney. The 1- and 5-year survival rates of the liver grafts were 75% and 67%, respectively, with no kidney losses during follow-up.

This paper presents an approach to process Spanish linguistic categories automatically. The approach is based in a module of a prototype named WIH (Word Intelligent Handler), which is a project to develop a conversational bot. It basically learns category usage sequence in a sentence. It extracts a weighting metric to discriminate most common structures in real dialogs. Such a metric is important to define the preferred organization to be used by the robot to build an answer.