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An increase of bone diseases incidence has boosted the study of ceramic biomaterials as potential osteo-inductive scaffolds. In particular, mesoporous bioactive glasses have demonstrated to possess a broad application in the bone regeneration field, due their osteo-regenerative capability and their ability to release drugs from the mesoporous structure. These special features have been studied as an option to fight against bone infection, which is one of the most common problems regarding bone regeneration therapies. In this work, a mesoporous bioglass functionalized with polyamines and capped with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as the molecular gate was developed for the controlled release of the antibiotic levofloxacin. Phosphate bonds of ATP were hydrolyzed in the presence of acid phosphatase (APase), the concentration of which is significantly increased in bone infection due to the activation of bone resorption processes. The solid was characterized and tested successfully against bacteria. The final gated solid induced bacterial death only in the presence of acid phosphatase. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the solid is not toxic against human cells. The double function of the prepared material as a drug delivery system and bone regeneration enhancer confirms the possible development of a new approach in the tissue engineering field, in which controlled release of therapeutic agents can be finely tuned and, at the same time, osteoinduction is favored., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Infections represent one of the most frequent causes of arthroplasty revision. Thus, design of new antimicrobial scaffolds to reduce implant rejections, bone infections and associated medical costs is highly desired. In recent years, essential oil components (EOCs) have merged as compounds with significant antimicrobial activity that can be attached to specific surfaces to enhance and prolong their antimicrobial effect. Herein calcium phosphate CaP regenerative materials have been coated with a vanillin derivative to combine its original bone regeneration properties with antimicrobial action of EOCs. Materials in form of microparticles and blocks were prepared and fully characterized. Clonogenic viability tests demonstrated that low concentrations of material (10 mg·mL -1 ) resulted effective to kill 100% of E. coli DH5α bacteria. Additionally, vanillin containing scaffolds did not display any toxic effect over cells, yet they preserve the ability to express alkaline phosphatase (ALPL), collagen type 1, chain α1 (COL1A1) and bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-containing protein or osteocalcin (BGLAP), which are genes typically expressed by osteoblasts. These results demonstrate that commercially available scaffolds can be functionalized with EOCs, achieving antimicrobial activity and open up a new approach for the treatment and prevention of infection. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: During the last years, the interest in bone regenerative materials with antibiotic properties has increased, since prosthesis infection is one of the most usual complications in implant surgery. In this work, we report a hybrid system composed by a calcium phosphate material (powders and scaffolds) functionalized with the derivative of an essential oil component (EOC). Our purpose was to provide the calcium phosphate material with antimicrobial activity without harming its bone regenerative capability. The obtained results were encouraging, which opens up the possibility of developing new modified materials for the prevention and treatment of bone infection., (Copyright © 2018 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The crystal structure of two neutral triarylmethane dyes with a p-quinone methide core was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The spectroscopic characteristics of both compounds in 23 solvents with different polarities or hydrogen-bonding donor (HBD) abilities has been studied as a function of three solvatochromic parameters (ET(30), π* and α). Both compounds 1 and 2 showed a pronounced bathochromic shift of the main absorption band on increasing solvent polarity and HBD ability. The correlation is better for compound 2 than for compound 1. The stronger effect and better correlation was observed for compound 2 with the increment of the solvent HBD ability (α parameter).

This paper presents an electronic system for the automatic detection of hazardous gases. The proposed system implements colorimetric sensing algorithms, thus providing a low-cost solution to the problem of gas sensing. It is remotely operated and it performs the tasks of image capturing and processing, hence obtaining colour measurements in RGB (Red-Green-Blue) space that are subsequently sent to a remote operator via the internet. A prototype of the system has been built to test its performance. Specifically, experiments have been carried out aimed at the detection of CO, CO2, NO, NO2, SO2 and formaldehyde at diverse concentrations by using a chromogenic array composed by 13 active and 2 inert compounds. Statistical analyses of the results reveal a good performance of the electronic system and the feasibility of remote hazardous gas detection using colorimetric sensor arrays., (Copyright © 2015 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this work was to develop and evaluate a rapid, easy-to-use optoelectronic system for the shelf-life assessment of squid in cold storage. For this purpose, an optoelectronic nose was designed, which consisted of an array containing six sensing materials prepared by combining different dyes and two inorganic supports (aluminium oxide and silica gel). Samples were packaged with the colorimetric array and kept in cold storage for 12 days. Squid spoilage was monitored simultaneously by the colorimetric array and by the physico-chemical and microbial analyses during storage. Samples exceeded the acceptability limits for microbial counts on the third day. PCA analysis carried out with CIELab showed that the colorimetric array was able to discriminate between fresh squid fit for consumption and spoiled squid. The statistical models obtained by PLS, with the optoelectronic nose, successfully predicted CO2 and O2 content in the headspace as well as microbial growth., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A new chromogenic array for the identification and classification of blue cheeses has been developed. It is based on the response of a chromogenic array composed of five sensing materials prepared by the incorporation of pH indicators to MCM-41 and alumina. Four blue cheeses were tested: Roquefort, Blue Stilton, blue cheese with leaves and blue cheese spread. The colour modulations of the chromogenic array were processed by the principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The statistical PCA analysis showed different responses to each cheese. PLS-DA models were developed by incorporating the data measured at diverse times, and this approach allowed us to obtain a perfect classification of all five cheeses in 5.5h. The results suggest that chromogenic arrays and optoelectronic noses can be a suitable approach to develop simple systems to classify blue cheeses and of potential use for the detection of food fraud., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A simple method based in multivariate analysis of (1)H NMR spectra profiles of urine samples can be used to detect patients with prostate cancer.

A new optoelectronic nose for the shelf-life assessment of fresh sea bream in cold storage has been developed. The chromogenic array used eight sensing materials (based on aluminium oxide and silica gel) containing pH indicators, Lewis acids and an oxidation-reduction indicator. The colour changes of the sensor array were characteristic of sea bream spoilage. Colour modulations were measured on day 0 and for the samples held in cold storage for 2, 4, 7, 9 and 11 days. Determination of moisture content, pH, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), drip loss, ATP-related compounds and K(1)-value and microbial (mesophilic bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae) analyses were carried out on the same days. The changes in the chromogenic arrays data were processed by statistical analysis (PCA). Moreover, PLS statistical studies allowed the creation of models to correlate the chromogenic data with concentrations of mesophilic and Enterobacteriaceae. The results suggest the feasibility of this system to help develop optoelectronic noses for fish freshness monitoring., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A colorimetric array for the chromogenic discrimination of organophosphorous derivatives in gas phase has been developed.

A new optoelectronic nose to monitor chicken meat ageing has been developed. It is based on 16 pigments prepared by the incorporation of different dyes (pH indicators, Lewis acids, hydrogen-bonding derivatives, selective probes and natural dyes) into inorganic materials (UVM-7, silica and alumina). The colour changes of the sensor array were characteristic of chicken ageing in a modified packaging atmosphere (30% CO(2)-70% N(2)). The chromogenic array data were processed with qualitative (PCA) and quantitative (PLS) tools. The PCA statistical analysis showed a high degree of dispersion, with nine dimensions required to explain 95% of variance. Despite this high dimensionality, a tridimensional representation of the three principal components was able to differentiate ageing with 2-day intervals. Moreover, the PLS statistical analysis allows the creation of a model to correlate the chromogenic data with chicken meat ageing. The model offers a PLS prediction model for ageing with values of 0.9937, 0.0389 and 0.994 for the slope, the intercept and the regression coefficient, respectively, and is in agreement with the perfect fit between the predicted and measured values observed. The results suggest the feasibility of this system to help develop optoelectronic noses that monitor food freshness.

The use of a voltammetric electronic tongue as tool for the prediction of concentration levels of certain water quality parameters from influent and effluent wastewater from a Submerged Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor pilot plant applied to domestic wastewater treatment is proposed here. The electronic tongue consists of a set of noble (Au, Pt, Rh, Ir, and Ag) and non-noble (Ni, Co and Cu) electrodes that were housed inside a stainless steel cylinder which was used as the body of the electronic tongue system. As a previous step an electrochemical study of the response of the ions sulphate, orthophosphate, acetate, bicarbonate and ammonium was carried out in water using the electrodes contained in the electronic tongue. The second part of the work was devoted to the application of the electronic tongue to the characterization of the influent and effluent waters from the wastewater treatment plant. Partial Least Squares analysis was used to obtain a correlation between the data from the tongue and the pollution parameters measured in the laboratory such as soluble chemical oxygen demand (CODs), soluble biological oxygen demand (BODs), ammonia (NH(4)-N), orthophosphate (PO(4)-P), Sulphate (SO(4)-S), acetic acid (HAC) and alkalinity (Alk). A total of 28 and 11 samples were used in the training and the validation steps, respectively, for both influent and effluent water samples. The electronic tongue showed relatively good predictive power for the determination of BOD, COD, NH(4)-N, PO(4)-P, SO(4)-S, and Alk., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In conjunction with quenching metal ions, silica nanoparticles carrying terpyridine coordination sites and sulforhodamine B signalling units were employed for the differential fluorometric recognition of anions., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011)

Aim: To evaluate the factors involved in the impairment of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with celiac disease., Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional prospective study was performed in patients with celiac disease who completed two HRQOL questionnaires: the gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) and the EuroQol-5D (EQ)., Results: Three hundred and forty patients (163 controlled with a gluten-free diet, and 177 newly diagnosed with a normal diet) were included. The GIQLI score was significantly better in patients on a gluten-free diet (GFD) than in non-treated patients on their usual diet, both in terms of the overall score (3.3 vs 2.7, respectively; P < 0.001), as well as on the individual questionnaire dimensions. Both the preference value of the EQ as the visual analogue scale were significantly better in treated than in non-treated patients (0.93 vs 0.72 P < 0.001 and 80 vs 70 P < 0.001, respectively). Variables significantly associated with a worse HRQOL score were female gender, failure to adhere to a GFD, and symptomatic status., Conclusion: In untreated celiac disease, the most important factors that influence patient perception of health are the presence of symptoms and a normal diet. HRQOL improves to levels similar to those described in the general population in celiac disease patients well controlled with a GFD.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) has a negative impact on patients' perception of health. Several factors, such as disease activity, influence HRQOL impairment. However, the effect of the phenotypic CD characteristics recognized in the Vienna classification on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains unknown., Methods: HRQOL was measured in CD patients using three questionnaires: the Spanish version of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ-36), the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI), and the EuroQol., Results: One hundred ninety-eight CD patients were included. Scores for the IBDQ-36, PGWBI, and EuroQol dimensions did not differ according to age at diagnosis (177 patients under 40 yr and 21 over 40 yr), disease location (53 in terminal ileum, 62 in colon, 72 in ileocolon, and 11 in upper gastrointestinal tract) or disease behavior (99 nonstricturing-nonpenetrating, 32 stricturing, and 67 penetrating). Multivariate analysis identified as significant independent variables for worse HRQoL: female sex (t: -3.70), higher number of relapses per year (t: -2.71), and worse clinical disease activity (t: -7.82). None of the three Vienna variables reached statistical significance., Conclusions: HRQoL impairment in CD patients is independent of the clinical variables established in the Vienna classification for phenotypic type of disease.