Electrochemical treatment of aluminium alloy 7075 in aqueous solutions of imidazolium phosphonate and phosphate ionic liquids and scratch resistance of the resultant materials

The abilitiy of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylphosphonate ([ImPhosphonate]) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium diethylphosphate ([ImPhosphate]) ionic liquids (ILs) to interact with anodized Al7075 T6 aluminium alloy has been studied via electrochemical techniques under different applied potentials, inside and outside the passivation regions. SEM, EDX and XPS analysis have been used to study the composition of the surface coatings. The abrasion resistance after treatment with the ILs has been studied by scratch tests under progressive load, and compared with the performance of the unprotected material and the anodized alloy. While conventional anodization only improves the abrasion resistance of Al7075 in a 30%, the maximum reduction of the penetration depth, 86% with respect to Al7075 and 79% with respect to the anodized alloy, is obtained for the material treated with [ImPhosphonate] at 1 V, in the passivation region. Under these conditions, a phosphorus-containing alumina layer is formed. Applied voltages outside the passivation region for each IL activate the dissolution of the alumina layer and reduce abrasion resistance, not only with respect to the anodized material, but also with respect to the unprotected alloy.This work received the financial support of the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO, Spain) and the EU FEDER Program (Grant MAT2014-55384-P), and the Fundación Séneca, Agencia de Ciencia y Tecnología de la Región de Murcia for a “Ayuda a las Unidades y Grupos de Excelencia Científica de la Región de Murcia (Programa Séneca 2014)” (Grant 19877/GERM/14)

Plan de negocios para la creación de una empresa de servicio móvil "Food Truck" de comida rápida y saludable a base de superalimentos en Santiago de Chile

El presente trabajo final de master consiste en un plan de negocios para comida rápida saludable que mezcla la calidad de productos con la experiencia en servicio y atención al cliente. La ventaja más importante de este plan de negocios está en ofrecer una nueva propuesta de comida rápida a un precio conveniente, que contará con valor nutricional y substitutos saludables a los productos preferidos por los amantes de la comida rápida, junto con una ventaja tecnológica que acercará los productos a nuestros clientes. Esta propuesta inicia a través de un servicio móvil a través de un Food Truck ubicado en la ciudad de Santiago de Chile; debido a que el 41% de los ciudadanos chilenos consumen comida rápida. Nuestra propuesta busca ofrecer una nueva alternativa de comida saludable que no existe aún en esta ciudad, lo que nos convierte en una opción innovadora

Recuperación mutua en la práctica médica: Un estudio narrativo en profesionales de la salud

When we think of wellbeing and medicine is not often considered that in the health sector is not only the health of patients what is at stake. Health professionals, doctors, surgeons, nurses or assistants are also exposed to the influence of their patients in their own physical and psychological health. There are not many studies focused on this fact. In this article will be presented data of a doctoral research in which narrative techniques have been employed, through the study of autobiographical memories of a sample of 24 health professionals of different gender and degree of work experience. In particular, data about their most positive memories from their work in the different positions they have occupied, the experiences they have lived in hospitals and health care agencies and the meanings they have develop. Thus, a theoretical and methodological perspective based on the idea of mutual recovery is presented. A perspective that assumes the double influence of medical practice both the patient who comes for consultation as in the "expert" doctor who helps with his knowledge and experience.Cuando pensamos en bienestar y medicina no es frecuente considerar que en el ámbito sanitario lo que está en juego no es únicamente la salud de los pacientes. Los profesionales de la salud, médicos, cirujanos, enfermeros o auxiliares también están expuestos a la influencia de los pacientes en su propia salud física y psicológica. No existen muchas investigaciones al respecto. Presentamos los datos de una investigación en la que se han empleado técnicas narrativas, a través del estudio de recuerdos autobiográficos, de una muestra de 24 profesionales de la salud de diferente género y grado de experiencia profesional. Concretamente se presentan datos relativos a los recuerdos más positivos relativos a su trabajo en los diferentes puestos que han ocupado, las experiencias que han vivido en hospitales y centros de salud y los significados que han construido a lo largo de esta experiencia. De esta forma, se presenta una perspectiva teórica y metodológica basada en la idea de recuperación mutua. Una perspectiva que parte de la base de la doble influencia de la práctica médica tanto en el enfermo que acude a consulta como en el profesional “experto” que aporta su conocimiento y experiencia

Caracterización clínica, microbiológica y de sensibilidad a antimicrobianos en pacientes con infección nosocomial del tracto urinario: cuatro años y medio de vigilancia epidemiológica

Antecedentes: Las infecciones nosocomiales son entidades importantes por su aumento en la morbimortalidad y en los costos de tratamiento. En Medellín, Colombia, la del tracto urinario (ITU)  es  la segunda infección nosocomial  más incidente, 16,3% del total. El objetivo del presente estudio fue realizar  una caracterización de los  aspectos  clínicos  y microbiológicos de los pacientes con infección nosocomial del tracto urinario en una clínica privada de Medellín, Colombia. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo, longitudinal, descriptivo de las historias clínicas de los pacientes con infección nosocomial del tracto urinario entre enero/2005 y julio/2009. Resultados: Se diagnosticaron 134 casos en 130 pacientes (tasa institucional de 0,27 infecciones por 100 egresos), con alza de 0,21 por cada 100 egresos en 2005 a 0,59 en 2009. La mayoría de los pacientes fueron mujeres (67,7%), con edad promedio de 55 (IQ 27-72) años.  Las comorbilidades más comunes fueron hipertensión arterial  (48,5%)  y enfermedad renal  crónica (16,3%). Los gérmenes más comunes fueron E. coli (54,9%) y K. pneumoniae (12,8%). Hay alta proporción de resistencia a ciprofloxacina,  ampicilina/sulbactam y  trimetoprim/sulfametoxazol.  Conclusión:  La ITU nosocomial  es una entidad relativamente común en la institución estudiada, aunque su tasa es consistentemente inferior a la encontrada en estudios similares. Para el manejo empírico de esta infección parece recomendable iniciar con amikacina o ceftriaxona, utilizando imipenem o meropenem en pacientes sépticos con comorbilidad seria o con alto riesgo de gérmenes multirresistentes. Para el tratamiento de ITU nosocomial por E. coli, la amikacina y la gentamicina parecen buenas  opciones,  al  igual  que la ceftriaxona

Clinical, microbiological and antimicrobial sensitivity in patients with hospital-adquired urinary tract infections: four and half years surveillance

Las infecciones nosocomiales son entidades importantes por su aumento en la morbimortalidad y en los costos de tratamiento. En Medellín, Colombia, la del tracto urinario (ITU) es la segunda infección nosocomial más incidente, 16,3% del total. El objetivo del presente estudio fue realizar una caracterización de los aspectos clínicos y microbiológicos de los pacientes con infección nosocomial del tracto urinario en una clínica privada de Medellín, Colombia. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo, longitudinal, descriptivo de las historias clínicas de los pacientes con infección nosocomial del tracto urinario entre enero/2005 y julio/2009. Resultados: Se diagnosticaron 134 casos en 130 pacientes (tasa institucional de 0,27 infecciones por 100 egresos), con alza de 0,21 por cada 100 egresos en 2005 a 0,59 en 2009. La mayoría de los pacientes fueron mujeres (67,7%), con edad promedio de 55 (IQ 27-72) años. Las comorbilidades más comunes fueron hipertensión arterial (48,5%) y enfermedad renal crónica (16,3%). Los gérmenes más comunes fueron E. coli (54,9%) y K. pneumoniae (12,8%). Hay alta proporción de resistencia a ciprofloxacina, ampicilina/sulbactam y trimetoprim/sulfametoxazol. Conclusión: La ITU nosocomial es una entidad relativamente común en la institución estudiada, aunque su tasa es consistentemente inferior a la encontrada en estudios similares. Para el manejo empírico de esta infección parece recomendable iniciar con amikacina o ceftriaxona, utilizando imipenem o meropenem en pacientes sépticos con comorbilidad seria o con alto riesgo de gérmenes multirresistentes. Para el tratamiento de ITU nosocomial por E. coli, la amikacina y la gentamicina parecen buenas opciones, al igual que la ceftriaxona.Nosocomial infections are important entities due to their increase in morbidity and mortality and in treatment costs. In Medellín, Colombia, urinary tract infection (UTI) is the second most incident nosocomial infection, 16.3% of the total. The objective of this study was to characterize the clinical and microbiological aspects of patients with nosocomial urinary tract infection in a private clinic in Medellín, Colombia. Methods: Retrospective, longitudinal, descriptive study of the medical records of patients with nosocomial urinary tract infection between January / 2005 and July / 2009. Results: 134 cases were diagnosed in 130 patients (institutional rate of 0.27 infections per 100 discharges), increasing from 0.21 per 100 discharges in 2005 to 0.59 in 2009. Most of the patients were women (67 , 7%), with an average age of 55 (IQ 27-72) years. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (48.5%) and chronic kidney disease (16.3%). The most common germs were E. coli (54.9%) and K. pneumoniae (12.8%). There is a high proportion of resistance to ciprofloxacin, ampicillin / sulbactam, and trimethoprim / sulfamethoxazole. Conclusion: Nosocomial UTI is a relatively common entity in the institution studied, although its rate is consistently lower than that found in similar studies. For the empirical management of this infection, it seems advisable to start with amikacin or ceftriaxone, using imipenem or meropenem in septic patients with serious comorbidity or at high risk of multidrug-resistant germs. For the treatment of nosocomial UTI due to E. coli, amikacin and gentamicin seem good options, as does ceftriaxone

Study of platelet kinetics in immune thrombocytopenia to predict splenectomy response

Despite the efficacy of splenectomy for chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), its considerable failure rate and its possible related complications prove the need for further research into potential predictors of response. The platelet sequestration site determined by 111In-labelled autologous platelet scintigraphy has been proposed to predict splenectomy outcome, but without standardisation in clinical practice. Here, we conducted a single-centre study by analysing a cohort of splenectomised patients with ITP in whom 111In-scintigraphy was performed at La Paz University Hospital in Madrid to evaluate the predictive value of the platelet kinetic studies. We also studied other factors that could impact the splenectomy outcome, such as patient and platelet characteristics. A total of 51 patients were splenectomised, and 82.3% responded. The splenic sequestration pattern predicted a higher rate of complete response up to 12 months after splenectomy (p = 0.005), with 90% sensitivity and 77% specificity. Neither age, comorbidities, therapy lines nor previous response to them showed any association with response. Results from the platelet characteristics analysis revealed a significant loss of sialic acid in platelets from the non-responding patients compared with those who maintained a response (p = 0.0017). Our findings highlight the value of splenic sequestration as an independent predictor of splenectomy respons

Psicoexposoma: una perspectiva holística más allá de la salud y la enfermedad

Antecedentes: el concepto de exposoma surgió como una estrategia para impulsar el estudio exhaustivo de las exposiciones ambientales a lo largo de la vida del individuo y su impacto en la salud. El desarrollo de dispositivos electrónicos para obtener datos de geolocalización, biológicos o biomarcadores de exposición y los avances en las ciencias “ómicas” y en bioinformática permiten la recopilación y el análisis masivo de datos muy diversos. Objetivo: proponer el término psicoexposoma en línea con el concepto de exposoma generado desde las ciencias ambientales. Método: se llevó a cabo una revisión de la literatura para buscar la inclusión de términos psicológicos asociados al concepto de exposoma. Se discute la justificación de un enfoque de psicoexposición para las ciencias psicológicas. Resultados: los términos psicología, psiquiatría o enfermedades neurológicas son escasos en el enfoque del exposoma. La experiencia en el control de variables ambientales sitúa al psicólogo en un punto de partida ventajoso para realizar estudios de psicoexposoma. Conclusión: la psicología puede aprovechar tanto las ciencias de la exposición como las ciencias “ómicas” para crear un enfoque integrado de psicoexposición que pueda ayudar a descifrar la etiología de los trastornos psicológicos y a promover la salud mental del individuo.Background: The concept of the exposome has emerged as a new strategy for studying all environmental exposures throughout an individual’s life and their impact on human health. Nowadays, electronic devices are available to collect data about an individual’s geolocation, biological function, or exposure biomarkers. The appearance of “omic” sciences and advances in bioinformatics have allowed massive data-gathering and analysis from various scientific fields. Objective: to propose the term Psychoexposome in line with the concept of the exposome from the field of environmental sciences. Method: a literature review of psychological terms associated with the exposome concept was carried out and the rationale and benefits of a psychoexposme approach for psychological sciences is discussed. Results: the terms psychology, psychiatry and neurological diseases are scarce in the exposome approach. A long tradition in psychology of performing epidemiological studies and in the study of multifactorial influences traits places psychologists at an advantageous starting point for conducting psychoexposome studies. Conclusion: psychology may take advantage from both exposome and omic sciences to create an integrated psychoexposome approach that may help in deciphering the etiology of psychological disorders and improving people’s mental health

Association of the severity and progression rate of periodontitis with systemic medication intake

Background/purposeInformation on the systemic medication profiles of patients with periodontitis is limited. Therefore, this retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the relationship between the severity and rate of progression of periodontitis and systemic medication intake using a database of patients who attended the Clinic of Periodontics of the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Costa Rica.MethodsElectronic health records of patients diagnosed with periodontitis based on the Classification of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases and Conditions (2017) were evaluated. Individuals were further categorized based on the severity (stage) and rate of progression (grade). Data extracted from the patient records included age, sex, and self-reported medication intake.ResultsIn total, 930 records were included. Most of the studied population was middle-aged (36–64 years old); 43.01% were male, and 56.99% were female. Four hundred and fifty-seven patients (49.14%) reported taking at least one systemic medication for a chronic condition. Regarding the periodontal treatment phase, 62.37% underwent steps 1–3, and 37.63% underwent step 4. The most common systemic medications taken were for cardiovascular diseases (42.28%), followed by medications for diabetes (14.46%) and neurologic disorders (14.46%). Most patients (59.35%) were diagnosed with Stage III periodontitis. Grade B (48.28%) was the most prevalent. Calcium channel blockers demonstrated a disease severity-dependent association with the periodontal stage (p = 0.021). In addition, systemic medications for diabetes mellitus were associated with periodontal disease severity and rate of progression (all Ps < 0.05).ConclusionsThis study provides indirect evidence of the association between systemic diseases and periodontitis. The positive association between medications used to treat diabetes and the severity and rate of progression of periodontitis may be due to the underlying disease rather than the medications per se

Extracellular cysteine disulfide bond break at Cys122 disrupts PIP2-dependent Kir2.1 channel function and leads to arrhythmias in Andersen-Tawil Syndrome

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Extracellular Kir2.1C122Y Mutant Upsets Kir2.1-PIP2 Bonds and Is Arrhythmogenic in Andersen-Tawil Syndrome.

BACKGROUND Andersen-Tawil syndrome type 1 is a rare heritable disease caused by mutations in the gene coding the strong inwardly rectifying K+ channel Kir2.1. The extracellular Cys (cysteine)122-to-Cys154 disulfide bond in the channel structure is crucial for proper folding but has not been associated with correct channel function at the membrane. We evaluated whether a human mutation at the Cys122-to-Cys154 disulfide bridge leads to Kir2.1 channel dysfunction and arrhythmias by reorganizing the overall Kir2.1 channel structure and destabilizing its open state. METHODS We identified a Kir2.1 loss-of-function mutation (c.366 A>T; p.Cys122Tyr) in an ATS1 family. To investigate its pathophysiological implications, we generated an AAV9-mediated cardiac-specific mouse model expressing the Kir2.1C122Y variant. We employed a multidisciplinary approach, integrating patch clamping and intracardiac stimulation, molecular biology techniques, molecular dynamics, and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer experiments. RESULTS Kir2.1C122Y mice recapitulated the ECG features of ATS1 independently of sex, including corrected QT prolongation, conduction defects, and increased arrhythmia susceptibility. Isolated Kir2.1C122Y cardiomyocytes showed significantly reduced inwardly rectifier K+ (IK1) and inward Na+ (INa) current densities independently of normal trafficking. Molecular dynamics predicted that the C122Y mutation provoked a conformational change over the 2000-ns simulation, characterized by a greater loss of hydrogen bonds between Kir2.1 and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate than wild type (WT). Therefore, the phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-binding pocket was destabilized, resulting in a lower conductance state compared with WT. Accordingly, on inside-out patch clamping, the C122Y mutation significantly blunted Kir2.1 sensitivity to increasing phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate concentrations. In addition, the Kir2.1C122Y mutation resulted in channelosome degradation, demonstrating temporal instability of both Kir2.1 and NaV1.5 proteins. CONCLUSIONS The extracellular Cys122-to-Cys154 disulfide bond in the tridimensional Kir2.1 channel structure is essential for the channel function. We demonstrate that breaking disulfide bonds in the extracellular domain disrupts phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-dependent regulation, leading to channel dysfunction and defects in Kir2.1 energetic stability. The mutation also alters functional expression of the NaV1.5 channel and ultimately leads to conduction disturbances and life-threatening arrhythmia characteristic of Andersen-Tawil syndrome type 1.The authors thank the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) Viral Vectors Unit for producing the adeno-associated virus serotype 9. Confocal experiments were conducted at the CNIC Microscopy and Dynamic Imaging Unit. The authors thank the CNIC Bioinformatics Unit for generating the in silico homology modeling simulations, F-function analysis, and helpful discussions. The authors also thank the Centro de Supercomputación de Galicia for the use of the Finis Terrae III supercomputer to perform molecular dynamics studies. The CNIC was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, and the Pro CNIC Foundation and is a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence (grant CEX2020-001041-S funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033). This work was supported by the National heart, Lung and Blood Institute under National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant R01HL163943; the La Caixa Banking Foundation project code HR18-00304 (grant LCF/PR/HR19/52160013); grants PI-FIS-2020, PI20/01220, PI-FIS-2023, and PI23/01039 from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and cofunded by the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) and the European Union, respectively; grants PID2020-116935RB-I00 and BFU2016-75144-R funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; the Fundación La Marató de TV3 (736/C/2020) amb el suport de la Fundació La Marató de TV3; the CIBER (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red) de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (grant CB16/11/00458); the European Union’s Horizon 2020 grant agreement GA-965286; and the Program S2022/BMD7229-CM ARCADIACM funded by the Comunidad de Madrid to J. Jalife; grant PID2021-126423OB-C22 (to M. Martín-Martínez) funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grant PID2022-137214OB-C22 (to M. Gutierrez-Rodríguez) funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. The imaging studies were performed in the TRIMA@CNIC (Infraestructura de Imagen Traslacional Avanzada del CNIC) node of the ICTS ReDIB (Infraestructuras Científicas y Técnicas Singulares: Red Distribuida de Imagen Biomédica) grant ICTS-2018- 04-CNIC-16 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and ERDF, and project EQC2018-005070-P funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and FEDER. A.I. Moreno-Manuel holds an formación profesional universitaria (FPU) contract (FPU20/01569) from the Ministerio de Universidades. J.M. Ruiz Robles holds an FPU contract (FPU22/03253) from the Ministerio de Universidades. L.K. Gutiérrez holds an FPI contract (PRE2018-083530) from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad de España cofunded by the Fondo Social Europeo, attached to project SEV-2015-0505-18-2. I. Martínez-Carrascoso holds a PFIS (Contratos predoctorales de formación en investigación en salud) contract (FI21/00243) funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III and the Fondo Social Europeo Plus cofunded by the European Union. M.L. Vera-Pedrosa held contract PEJD-2019-PRE/BMD15982 funded by the Consejería de Educación e Investigación de la Comunidad de Madrid y Fondo Social Europeo.S