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A set of aromatic copolyimides was obtained by reaction of 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride (6FDA), and mixtures of the diamines 1,4-bis(4-amino-2-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-2,5-di-tert-butylbenzene (CF3TBAPB) and 3,5-diamino benzoic acid (DABA). These polymers were characterized and compared with the homopolymer derived from 6FDA and CF3TBAPB. All copolyimides showed high molecular weight values and good mechanical properties. The presence of carboxylic groups in these copolymers allowed their cross-linking by reaction with 1,4-butanediol. The crosslinked polymer films were extensively characterized and it was observed that the degree of crosslinking was low in the copolyimides possessing a small number of carboxyl groups. The degradation temperature of these crosslinked copolyimides was lower than their corresponding non-crosslinked ones. Glass transition temperatures were higher than 260 oC, showing the non-crosslinked copolyimides the highest values. Young moduli of these crosslinked showed values higher than 1.9 GPa, and slightly lower elongation at break when compared with the precursor copolyimides. All copolyimides (precursor, and crosslinked ones) films could be tested as gas separation membranes. It was seen that CO2 permeability values were around 100 barrer, having better selectivity than that of the homopolymer. Moreover, the plasticization resistance of the crosslinked material having a large number of carboxylic groups was excellent.

A set of aromatic copolyimides was obtained by reaction of 4,4'-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride (6FDA), and mixtures of the diamines 1,4-bis(4-amino-2-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-2,5-di

This chapter presents the most relevant advances achieved during the MIDES project in relation to material development of key elements for microbial desalination cells. The first section is devoted to electrodes. Providing a general overview of the requirements of carbon-based materials to serve either as anodes or cathodes for microbial desalination cells. Advances achieved during MIDES in the development of materials for anode and cathode application are listed. The second section is focussed on ion-exchange membranes for microbial desalination cells. General considerations for the use of these membranes are reported as well as key parameters. Finally, advances in ion-exchange membrane development, in terms of antifouling and their performance in desalination trials, achieved during the MIDES project, are reported.

We conducted a one-center, case-controlled study to determine which medical disorders portend entry into out-of-home care. A total of 137 children aged 4 to 14 in local authority care and 126 controls (at home children) matched by health area, age, and sex were studied. The pediatric Primary Care registry was reviewed for the period from May to September 2017. Compared with children at home, those at entry into the care system were significantly more likely to: experience a poisoning; present with bruising; and suffer from tooth decay, psychiatric, or neurological conditions. Conversely, they were significantly less likely to suffer from asthma, abdominal pain, insect stings, or limb injuries. Analysis of medical history helped to identify children at risk of out-of-home placement.

A series of new diamine monomers, with systematic variations in their chemical structure, by introducing various substituents onto the polymer backbone, have been made to react with two commercial dianhydrides: a very rigid one, pyromellitic dianhydride, (PMDA) and a more flexible one, 2,2′-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA), to obtain a series of polyimide membranes with high fractional free volume (FFV), and their gas separation properties have been studied. In order to gain insight into the relationship between structure and gas separation properties of the polymers, a computer simulation of the polymers has been carried out, by a combination of molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics, to study the effect of the polymeric structure on the permeability and selectivity of the membranes. Moreover, the effect of the probe size on the accessible free volume, which cannot be experimentally determined, has been simulated and related with experimental gas separation parameters as permeability and selectivity. The use of FFV (that corresponds to a probe of zero-radius) cannot predict the behavior of several polymers, which have similar FFV values but different values of permeability and selectivity. However, simulation has permitted to correlate accurately permeability and selectivity with the accessible free volume to probes of different radii., This research was financially supported by the Agencia Estatal de Investigacion of Spain (AEI). Project MAT2016-76413-C2-R2 (AEI/ FEDER, UE

Los fármacos antiarrítmicos de clase IC son ampliamente utilizados para el tratamiento y prevención de arritmias supraventriculares. Aunque son fármacos seguros en pacientes sin enfermedad cardíaca estructural, la proarritmia es un efecto secundario potencialmente grave. Describimos el caso de una paciente que presentó un flutter auricular 1:1 inducido por flecainida, y que además se condujo con aberrancia y morfología de bloqueo de rama izquierda. En estos casos, se plantea el diagnóstico diferencial con taquicardias de origen ventricular, siendo esencial preguntar sobre el uso concomitante de fármacos antiarrítmicos.

Introduccion Existe poca informacion sobre bacteriemias en pacientes muy ancianos. El objetivo del trabajo fue describir las caracteristicas de estas en esta poblacion. Metodos Estudio prospectivo de las bacteriemias en pacientes mayores de 80 anos y comparacion con pacientes de 18-64 y de 65-79 anos. Resultados Se analizaron 146 bacteriemias en pacientes mayores de 80 anos. En el 66,4% hubo alguna comorbilidad y en el 6,8%, alguna causa de inmunodeficiencia. El 82,2% no tenia enfermedad de base o esta no fue fatal. El origen fue comunitario en 80 casos. Los principales focos fueron: primario (25,3%) y urinario (20,5%); y los aislamientos mas frecuentes: Escherichia coli (28,2%), Staphylococcus coagulasa negativos (14,7%) y Staphylococcus aureus (13,6%). Presentaron sepsis o shock septico el 55,5%, y fallecieron 31 en relacion con la bacteriemia. Los pacientes mayores de 80 anos tuvieron menos frecuencia de inmunodeficiencia y mayor proporcion de infecciones comunitarias y por gramnegativos. La mortalidad relacionada con la bacteriemia fue mayor en el grupo de mas edad y se asocio con la presencia de una enfermedad de base fatal o finalmente fatal, la bacteriemia por S. aureus y con el inicio de un tratamiento empirico inapropiado. Un indice de gravedad de Pitt mas bajo se mostro como una variable protectora. Conclusiones Los pacientes muy ancianos con bacteriemia tienden a presentar menos causas de inmunodeficiencia, mayor frecuencia de infecciones comunitarias y por germenes gramnegativos. Existe mayor riesgo de mortalidad relacionada, sobre todo en presencia de enfermedad de base, bacteriemia por S. aureus o tras un tratamiento empirico inapropiado.

We establish an efficient strategy to optimize the performance of dye-doped host materials consisting of analyzing in a systematic way the dependence of their Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) efficiency and photostability on the composition and structure of the matrices, selected to specifically avoid the thermal and/or chemical (photooxidation) processes, main mechanisms of dye photodegradation. For this study, a number of experimental polyimides have been chosen as a host matrix and their behavior has been compared with that of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). We correlate the optical properties with the oxygen permeation and thermal properties of the different polymeric hosts doped with perylene dyes to deepen the understanding of the photodegradation mechanism predominant in these dyes and to minimize its influence. We demonstrate high efficiency and photostable ASE from waveguides based on polymeric materials doped with Perylene Orange (PO), Perylene Red (PR), and mixtures of both. This enhancement in the optical properties allows reaching high gain and long-lasting distributed feedback (DFB) laser emission based on PO doped polymer matrices, even when operating in an unoptimised resonator.

There is little information on bacteremia in very elderly patients. This study describes the characteristics of bacteremia in this population.This is a prospective study investigating bacteremia episodes in patients over 80 years old in comparison with episodes in patients aged 18-64 and 65-79 years.A total of 146 bacteremia episodes were analyzed in patients over 80 years old. Comorbidity was documented in 66.4% and immunodeficiency in 6.8% of patients. Among the total, 82.2% had no underlying disease or a disease considered non-fatal. Eighty episodes were community-acquired. The main infectious foci included primary (25.3%) and urinary tract (20.5%) infection, and the most frequent isolates were Escherichia coli (28.2%), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (14.7%) and S. aureus (13.6%). Sepsis or septic shock occurred in 55.5% of the cases, and 31 patients died due to a bacteremia-related cause. Immunodeficiency was less frequent in patients over 80 years old, but they had a higher proportion of community-acquired infections and gram-negative infections. Bacteremia-related mortality was highest in the oldest group of patients and was associated with a fatal or ultimately fatal underlying disease, S. aureus infection, and inappropriate empirical antibiotic treatment. A lower Pitt severity score was related to lower mortality risk.Very elderly bacteremic patients showed a lower frequency of immunodeficiency, a higher percentage of community-acquired and gram-negative infections. Bacteremia-related mortality was greater in the most elderly group and was associated with fatal or ultimately fatal underlying disease, S. aureus infection and initiation of inappropriate empirical antibiotic treatment.

e15609 Background: In clinical trials pazopanib (P) was superior to placebo, noninferior to sunitinib, and very well tolerated as 1st-line for mRC, but there is limited information in daily clinical practice. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 159 patients (p) who received P in in 31 centers in Spain during the first 18 month after P approval, to evaluate the timing of use and its efficacy. Results: Mean age was 66 y, 64.8% were males, 81.1% clear-cell, 12% non-clear cell, and 6.9% unspecified. At diagnosis of mRC 73.6% had nephrectomy, 78.6% and 71.7% of p were of good-intermediate risk (MSKCC and Heng criteria respectively). Metastatic sites were lung (59.7%), lymph nodes (26.4%), bone (22.6%), skin/soft-tissues (17.6%), liver (11.9%), CNS (2.5%), and 31.4% others (adrenal, pancreas, etc.). Median follow-up since diagnosis of mRC was 16 months (m). P was given as 1st systemic treatment in 81 p, (50.9%), as 2nd line in 32 p (20.1%, most after sunitinib, 17 due to intolerance), or as ≥3r line (46 p, 29%). Median follow-up after P was 7 m in 1st line, and 10 m in 2nd or ≥ 3rd line. Toxicity was as expected. No toxic deaths were registered. At the time of analysis, 85 p have discontinued P (progression: 73 p, toxicity: 10 p, other causes: 2 p), and 35 p have died. The table shows time to treatment failure due to progression or toxicity (TTF), and overall survival (OS) since the 1st dose of P. There were statistically significant differences in 1st line TTF and OS between MSKCC subgroups. Conclusions: In p with mRC and good-intermediate prognosis, P appears to be as effective in daily clinical practice as it was in 1st line trials. P also showed efficacy in p with poor risk, in 2nd-line (particularly progression or intolerance to sunitinib), and after 2 or more TKIs. Updated analysis will be available in June 2013. [Table: see text]