Compensation of inorganic acid interferences in ICP-OES and ICP-MS using a Flow Blurring® multinebulizer

A new and easy method has been proposed for compensation of inorganic acid matrix effects in ICP-OES and ICP-MS. The method consists on an on-line standard addition calibration using a Flow Blurring® multinebulizer (FBMN-based system). Experimental conditions of the FBMN-based system are optimized for both ICP-OES and ICP-MS. Under optimized conditions recovery values obtained in the analysis of synthetic acid samples were close to 100% for HNO3 and HCl (with acid concentrations of up to 15% (w w-1)) and H2SO4 (up to 10% (w w-1)) for both plasma-based spectrochemical techniques. The applicability of the proposed method has been evaluated analyzing two whole milk powders, certified reference material and a commercial product, showing excellent recovery values. Compared with other calibration strategies and experimental setups used, the on-line standard addition calibration using the FBMN-based system is faster, easier to handle and significantly reduces reagents and sample consumption.The authors express their gratitude to the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (projects n. CTQ2008 06730-C02-01 and PHB-2010-0018-PC), to the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior in Brazil (Grant CAPES-DGU 243/11), and the Regional Government of Valencia (Spain) (projects n. ACOMP/2009/144 and ACOMP/2010/047) for financial support. The authors gratefully acknowledge OneNeb® (Division of Ingeniatrics Tecnologías S.L.) for the FBMN prototype provided. M.A.A. thanks the University of Alicante for his PhD fellowship. This work is part of the Ph.D. degree of M.A.A

Vacuum Cure (VAC), um relato de caso nos Cuidados Primários.

Acute compartment syndrome requires surgical decompression by fasciotomy, this technique must be urgent and will be key to avoid the establishment of serious sequels. The subsequent approach to these wounds, which are difficult and slow to heal, is a challenge for health professionals and a problem for public health due to high costs and high morbidity. Negative pressure therapy (NPWT) or vacuum assisted closure (VAC) is a non-invasive treatment that achieves wound healing by promoting vascularization, the appearance of granulation tissue and elimination of excess exudate.El síndrome compartimental agudo requiere de la descompresión quirúrgica, mediante fasciotomía, esta técnica debe ser urgente y será clave para evitar la instauración de graves secuelas. El posterior abordaje de estas heridas de difícil y lenta cicatrización suponen un reto para los profesionales de la salud y un problema para la salud pública debido a los altos costes y elevada morbilidad. La terapia de presión negativa (TPN) o cura por vacío (VAC, “vacuum assisted closure”) es un tratamiento no invasivo que consigue la curación de las heridas favoreciendo la vascularización, la aparición del tejido de granulación y eliminación del exceso de exudado.A síndrome compartimental aguda requer descompressão cirúrgica, por fasciotomia, esta técnica deve ser urgente e será fundamental para evitar o estabelecimento de sequelas graves. O tratamento subsequente destas feridas difíceis e de cicatrização lenta é um desafio para os profissionais de saúde e um problema de saúde pública devido aos elevados custos e à elevada morbilidade. A terapia por pressão negativa (NPWT) ou o encerramento assistido por vácuo (VAC) é um tratamento não invasivo que permite a cicatrização de feridas através da promoção da vascularização, do aparecimento de tecido de granulação e da remoção do excesso de exsudado

Potential Effects of MSC-Derived Exosomes in Neuroplasticity in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia affecting regions of the central nervous system that exhibit synaptic plasticity and are involved in higher brain functions such as learning and memory. AD is characterized by progressive cognitive dysfunction, memory loss and behavioral disturbances of synaptic plasticity and energy metabolism. Cell therapy has emerged as an alternative treatment of AD. The use of adult stem cells, such as neural stem cells and Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) from bone marrow and adipose tissue, have the potential to decrease cognitive deficits, possibly by reducing neuronal loss through blocking apoptosis, increasing neurogenesis, synaptogenesis and angiogenesis. These processes are mediated primarily by the secretion of many growth factors, anti-inflammatory proteins, membrane receptors, microRNAs (miRNA) and exosomes. Exosomes encapsulate and transfer several functional molecules like proteins, lipids and regulatory RNA which can modify cell metabolism. In the proteomic characterization of the content of MSC-derived exosomes, more than 730 proteins have been identified, some of which are specific cell type markers and others are involved in the regulation of binding and fusion of exosomes with adjacent cells. Furthermore, some factors were found that promote the recruitment, proliferation and differentiation of other cells like neural stem cells. Moreover, within exosomal cargo, a wide range of miRNAs were found, which can control functions related to neural remodeling as well as angiogenic and neurogenic processes. Taking this into consideration, the use of exosomes could be part of a strategy to promote neuroplasticity, improve cognitive impairment and neural replacement in AD. In this review, we describe how exosomes are involved in AD pathology and discuss the therapeutic potential of MSC-derived exosomes mediated by miRNA and protein cargo

Hippocampal adaptations in Mild Cognitive Impairment patients are modulated by bilingual language experiences

Bilingualism has been shown to contribute to increased resilience against cognitive aging. One of the key brain structures linked to memory and dementia symptom onset, the hippocampus, has been observed to adapt in response to bilingual experience - at least in healthy individuals. However, in the context of neurodegenerative pathology, it is yet unclear what role previous bilingual experience might have in terms of sustaining integrity of this structure or related behavioral correlates. The present study adds to the limited cohort of research on the effects of bilingualism on neurocognitive outcomes in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) using structural brain data. We investigate whether bilingual language experience (operationalized as language entropy) results in graded neurocognitive adaptations within a cohort of bilinguals diagnosed with MCI. Results reveal a non-linear effect of bilingual language entropy on hippocampal volume, although they do not predict episodic memory performance, nor age of MCI diagnosis

Prevalence of obesity in the infantile population of a rural zone

Introducción: Se ha realizado un estudio sobre obesidad infantil debido al incremento del sobrepeso y la obesidad en niños y adolescentes, constituyendo un problema de salud que hemos querido valorar y cuantificar en Atención Primaria, para delimitar su impacto y comenzar a tomar medidas preventivas para su control. Material y métodos: Estudio transversal basado en niños de 6 a 11 años de una población rural de la provincia de Almería. Resultados: Se desprende del mismo, que los escolares de 6 a 11 años de edad estudiados, el 12,10% sufría obesidad y un 29,30% tenía sobrepeso, con una prevalencia en conjunto de obesidad y sobrepeso del 41,40%. Conclusión: Los resultados nos alertan sobre el problema de salud en los niños, conservándose con alta frecuencia el sobrepeso y la obesidad en la edad adulta y la patología asociada.Introduction: A study has been realized on infantile obesity due to the increase of the overweight and the obesity in children and teenagers, constituting a problem of health that we have wanted to value and to quantify in Primary care, to delimit his impact and to begin to take preventive measurements for control. Material and methods: Transverse study based on children from 6 to 11 years of a rural population of the province of Almeria. Results: It parts with the same one, that the students from 6 to 11 studied years of age, 12,10 % was suffering obesity and 29,30 % it had overweight, with a prevalence as a whole of obesity and overweight of 41,40 %. Conclusion: The results alert us on the problem of health in the children, remaining with high frequency the overweight and the obesity in the adult age and the associate pathology

Evaluation of Analgesic Tolerance Induced by Metamizole in the Writhing Test Model

La tolerancia analgésica se define como la necesidad de dosis crecientes para lograr el efecto deseado. En este artículo presentamos datos experimentales de la búsqueda de tolerancia analgésica inducida por metamizol en un modelo de dolor inducido por ácido acético al 0,9% conocido como prueba de constricción abdominal o prueba de Writhing. El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar el desarrollo de tolerancia analgésica al metamizol en el modelo de prueba de Writhing. Experimental: se utilizaron grupos de ratones Balb/C 6±2. Se les administró metamizol en diferentes protocolos, posteriormente se les realizó un estímulo doloroso con ácido acético al 0,9% vía intraperitoneal, se evaluó durante 30 minutos y se contó tiempo de latencia, número de estiramientos abdominales para calificar la respuesta al dolor, posteriormente se les administró naloxona para buscar signos de abstinencia. Nuestros resultados demostraron que existe una tendencia a desarrollar tolerancia analgésica al metamizol después de su administración repetida.Analgesic tolerance is defined as the need for increasing doses to achieve the intended effect. In this paper we present experimental data from the search for analgesic tolerance induced by metamizole in a pain model induced by 0.9% acetic acid known as abdominal constriction test or Writhing test. The aim of this study was to identify the development of analgesic tolerance to metamizole in the Writhing test model. Experimental: groups of Balb/C mice 6±2 were used. They were administered metamizole in different protocols, and subsequently underwent a pain stimulus with 0.9% acetic acid via intraperitoneal, evaluated for 30 minutes and counting time of latency, number of abdominal stretches in order to rate pain response, subsequently naloxone was administered to look for signs of withdrawal. Our results demonstrated that there is a tendency to develop analgesic tolerance to metamizole after its repeated administration

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Ulva fasciata

The chemical composition and biological properties of Ulva fasciata aqueous-ethanolic extract were examined. Five components were identified in one fraction prepared from the extract by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and palmitic acid and its ethyl ester accounted for 76% of the total identified components. Furthermore, we assessed the extract’s antioxidant properties by using the DPPH, ABTS, and lipid peroxidation assays and found that the extract had a moderate scavenging effect. In an experiment involving preexposition and coexposition of the extract (1–500 µg/mL) and benzo[a]pyrene (BP), the extract was found to be nontoxic to C9 cells in culture and to inhibit the cytotoxicity induced by BP. As BP is biotransformed by CYP1A and CYP2B subfamilies, we explored the possible interaction of the extract with these enzymes. The extract (25–50 µg/mL) inhibited CYP1A1 activity in rat liver microsomes. Analysis of the inhibition kinetics revealed a mixed-type inhibitory effect on CYP1A1 supersome. The effects of the extract on BP-induced DNA damage and hepatic CYP activity in mice were also investigated. Micronuclei induction by BP and liver CYP1A1/2 activities significantly decreased in animals treated with the extract. The results suggest that Ulva fasciata aqueous-ethanolic extract inhibits BP bioactivation and it may be a potential chemopreventive agent

Clasificación de grupos morfofuncionales del fitoplancton en seis sistemas lénticos de las regiones Caribe, Andina y Amazónica de Colombia

La clasificación basada en rasgos y grupos funcionales establecidos en la morfología del fitoplancton posibilitó una aproximación factible y objetiva en la evaluación de seis sistemas de diferente tipo, origen, morfología y condición limnológica pertenecientes a las regiones amazónica, andina y caribe de Colombia. Se estableció específicamente la relación entre las variables continuas y categóricas del fitoplancton (volumen, superficie, dimensión lineal máxima, presencia de aerótopos, mucílago, flagelo y exoesqueleto de sílice) con los parámetros limnológicos de transparencia, profundidad máxima, temperatura y concentración de iones inorgánicos. Se seleccionaron entre dos y ocho estaciones durante tres o cuatro periodos climáticos en series anuales entre el 2005 y el 2007 tomando las muestras en la zona limnética. Los taxones identificados se clasificaron en uno u otro grupo funcional basado en la morfología (GFBM) según las dimensiones morfológicas y la presencia de rasgos especializados de cada taxón. Entre los resultados más relevantes se destacó el grupo V (flagelados unicelulares de tamaño medio a grande) en ambientes poco pro-fundos y turbios, con excepción de la llanura del Bajo Sinú en el Caribe, donde dominaba el grupo VII (colonias mucilaginosas con los lípidos y aerótopos). En los lagos profundos y de gran transparencia en montañas sobresalieron los grupos IV (tamaño medio y ausencia de rasgos especializados) y VII. Los grupos propuestos en la clasificación permitieron exponer los patrones funcionales del ensamblaje del fitoplancton y explicar significativamente su variación en respuesta a las características de los sistemas