Host-guest interactions between cyclodextrins and surfactants with functional groups at the end of the hydrophobic tail

The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of the incorporation of substituents at the end of the hydrophobic tail on the binding of cationic surfactants to α-, β-, and -cyclodextrins. The equilibrium binding constants of the 1:1 inclusion complexes formed follow the trend K1(α-CD)>K1(β-CD)>>K1(-CD), which can be explained by considering the influence of the CD cavity volume on the host-guest interactions. From the comparison of the K1 values obtained for dodecyltriethylammonium bromide, DTEAB, to those estimated for the surfactants with the substituents, it was found that the incorporation of a phenoxy group at the end of the hydrocarbon tail does not affect K1, and the inclusion of a naphthoxy group has some influence on the association process, slightly diminishing K1. This makes evident the importance of the contribution of hydrophobic interactions to the binding, the length of the hydrophobic chain being the key factor determining K1. However, the presence of the aromatic rings does influence the location of the host and the guest in the inclusion complexes. The observed NOE interactions between the aromatic protons and the CD protons indicate that the aromatic rings are partially inserted within the host cavity, with the cyclodextrin remaining close to the aromatic rings, which could be partially intercalated in the host cavity. To the authors´ knowledge this is the first study on the association of cyclodextrins with monomeric surfactants incorporating substituents at the end of the hydrophobic tai

A Novel Circulating MicroRNA for the Detection of Acute Myocarditis.

The diagnosis of acute myocarditis typically requires either endomyocardial biopsy (which is invasive) or cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (which is not universally available). Additional approaches to diagnosis are desirable. We sought to identify a novel microRNA for the diagnosis of acute myocarditis. To identify a microRNA specific for myocarditis, we performed microRNA microarray analyses and quantitative polymerase-chain-reaction (qPCR) assays in sorted CD4+ T cells and type 17 helper T (Th17) cells after inducing experimental autoimmune myocarditis or myocardial infarction in mice. We also performed qPCR in samples from coxsackievirus-induced myocarditis in mice. We then identified the human homologue for this microRNA and compared its expression in plasma obtained from patients with acute myocarditis with the expression in various controls. We confirmed that Th17 cells, which are characterized by the production of interleukin-17, are a characteristic feature of myocardial injury in the acute phase of myocarditis. The microRNA mmu-miR-721 was synthesized by Th17 cells and was present in the plasma of mice with acute autoimmune or viral myocarditis but not in those with acute myocardial infarction. The human homologue, designated hsa-miR-Chr8:96, was identified in four independent cohorts of patients with myocarditis. The area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve for this novel microRNA for distinguishing patients with acute myocarditis from those with myocardial infarction was 0.927 (95% confidence interval, 0.879 to 0.975). The microRNA retained its diagnostic value in models after adjustment for age, sex, ejection fraction, and serum troponin level. After identifying a novel microRNA in mice and humans with myocarditis, we found that the human homologue (hsa-miR-Chr8:96) could be used to distinguish patients with myocarditis from those with myocardial infarction. (Funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and others.).Supported by a grant (PI19/00545, to Dr. Martín) from the Ministry of Science and Innovation through the Carlos III Institute of Health–Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria; by a grant from the Biomedical Research Networking Center on Cardiovascular Diseases (to Drs. Martín, Sánchez-Madrid, and Ibáñez); by grants (S2017/BMD-3671-INFLAMUNE-CM, to Drs. Martín and Sánchez-Madrid; and S2017/BMD-3867-RENIM-CM, to Dr. Ibáñez) from Comunidad de Madrid; by a grant (20152330 31, to Drs. Martín, Sánchez-Madrid, and Alfonso) from Fundació La Marató de TV3; by grants (ERC-2011-AdG 294340-GENTRIS, to Dr. Sánchez-Madrid; and ERC-2018-CoG 819775-MATRIX, to Dr. Ibáñez) from the European Research Council; by grants (SAF2017-82886R, to Dr. Sánchez-Madrid; RETOS2019-107332RB-I00, to Dr. Ibáñez; and SAF2017-90604-REDT-NurCaMeIn and RTI2018-095928-BI00, to Dr. Ricote) from the Ministry of Science and Innovation; by Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER); and by a 2016 Leonardo Grant for Researchers and Cultural Creators from the BBVA Foundation to Dr. Martín. The National Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC) is supported by the Carlos III Institute of Health, the Ministry of Science and Innovation, the Pro CNIC Foundation, and by a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence grant (SEV-2015-0505). Mr. Blanco-Domínguez is supported by a grant (FPU16/02780) from the Formación de Profesorado Universitario program of the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports. Ms. Linillos-Pradillo is supported by a fellowship (PEJD-2016/BMD-2789) from Fondo de Garantía de Empleo Juvenil de Comunidad de Madrid. Dr. Relaño is supported by a grant (BES-2015-072625) from Contratos Predoctorales Severo Ochoa para la Formación de Doctores of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. Dr. Alonso-Herranz is supported by a fellowship from La Caixa–CNIC. Dr. Caforio is supported by Budget Integrato per la Ricerca dei Dipartimenti BIRD-2019 from Università di Padova. Dr. Das is supported by grants (UG3 TR002878 and R35 HL150807) from the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association through its Strategically Focused Research Networks.S

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis

[Purpose]: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. [Methods]: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years,65 to 80 years,and ≥ 80 years.The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the CCI to predict mortality risk. [Results]: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327 < 65 years;1291 65-80 years;502 ≥ 80 years) were enrolled.Fever and heart failure were the most common presentations of IE, with no differences among age groups.Patients ≥80 years who underwent surgery were significantly lower compared with other age groups (14.3%,65 years; 20.5%,65-79 years; 31.3%,≥80 years). In-hospital mortality was lower in the <65-year group (20.3%,<65 years;30.1%,65-79 years;34.7%,≥80 years;p < 0.001) as well as 1-year mortality (3.2%, <65 years; 5.5%, 65-80 years;7.6%,≥80 years; p = 0.003).Independent predictors of mortality were age ≥ 80 years (hazard ratio [HR]:2.78;95% confidence interval [CI]:2.32–3.34), CCI ≥ 3 (HR:1.62; 95% CI:1.39–1.88),and non-performed surgery (HR:1.64;95% CI:11.16–1.58).When the three age groups were compared,the AUROC curve for CCI was significantly larger for patients aged <65 years(p < 0.001) for both in-hospital and 1-year mortality. [Conclusion]: There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in the <65-year group

Magnetic behavior of an array of cobalt nanowires

3 pages, 6 figures.Cobalt nanowires have been electrodeposited into the pores of AnodiscTM alumina membranes after placing on one side a layer of sputtered copper, which acts as electrode and substrate during the electrodeposition. Nanowires are 60 µm long, 170–220 nm in diameter depending on the size of the pores of the alumina membrane. This array of nanowires exhibits uniaxial magnetic anisotropy related to the particular shape of each individual nanowire. On the contrary to the expected behavior in a uniaxial magnetic system, the coercivity of the array exhibits a maximum when the applied field is in a perpendicular direction with respect to the easy axis. This magnetic behavior is analyzed considering dipolar interactions among nanowires, and the magnetization of the array is obtained as a function of the magnetic characteristics of each nanowire using an iterative method.One of the authors (J.M.G.) wishes to thank Volkswagen Audi-CSIC for his grant.Peer reviewe

Invernadero y huerto escolar

El proyecto propone la continuación de las actividades del invernadero y del huerto escolar del centro. Tiene como objetivos despertar el interés por la naturaleza, conocer y experimentar el cultivo de la tierra, identificar las interrelaciones básicas del hombre con la naturaleza y establecer conexiones entre las fases que tiene lugar desde la producción hasta el consumo. Aplica una metodología global, activa y significativa. Trata contenidos sobre características y cuidado de plantas y suelo, humedad y temperatura, tipos de abonos y herramientas, elaboración de semilleros, recolección, funciones del invernadero, respeto hacia el entorno y mantenimiento de la continuidad en el trabajo. La evaluación tiene en cuenta el vocabulario adquirido, la motivación, la participación y la implicación.Madrid (Comunidad Autónoma). Consejería de Educación y CulturaMadridMadrid (Comunidad Autónoma). Subdirección General de Formación del Profesorado. CRIF Las Acacias; General Ricardos 179 - 28025 Madrid; Tel. + 34915250893ES

El huerto escolar

Se trata de un proyecto de huerto escolar dentro del ámbito de la educación de alumnos con necesidades especiales. los objetivos son despertar el interés por la Naturaleza, relacionar la actividad del huerto con otras áreas curriculares en los diferentes ciclos, y ofrecer a los alumnos la posibilidad de una actividad ocupacional. La metodología se organiza en actividades de siembras, riego, abono etc, en el huerto. Se realizan trabajos en clase como la elaboración de unidades didácticas y murales así como la confección de herbolarios y maquetas. Los alumnos-as se agrupan por clases o talleres. La valoración es positiva tanto por la implicación de la comunidad escolar como por haber favorecido la integración de los alumnos de Garantía Social, junto con los de Educación Especial..Madrid (Comunidad Autónoma). Consejería de Educación y CulturaMadridMadrid (Comunidad Autónoma). Subdirección General de Formación del Profesorado. CRIF Las Acacias; General Ricardos 179 - 28025 Madrid; Tel. + 34915250893ES

El invernadero escolar

Proyecto que continúa la experiencia del curso pasado de organización de un invernadero en la escuela. Los principales objetivos son: despertar en los alumnos el interés por el cuidado y respeto del entorno natural, ofrecerles la oportunidad de participar activamente en las tareas de invernadero, y observar el desarrollo de las plantas. Las actividades realizadas son: instalación del invernadero, elección de herramientas, preparación de semilleros, tareas de siembra, riego y mantenimiento, transplantes y recogida de frutos. Se evalúa el apendizaje de los alumnos a través de la observación continua y sistemática de su comportamiento.Madrid (Comunidad Autónoma). Consejería de Educación y CulturaMadridMadrid (Comunidad Autónoma). Subdirección General de Formación del Profesorado. CRIF Las Acacias; General Ricardos 179 - 28025 Madrid; Tel. + 34915250893ES