Golimumab in refractory uveitis related to spondyloarthritis. Multicenter study of 15 patients

Objective: To assess the efficacy of golimumab (GLM) in refractory uveitis associated to spondyloarthritis (SpA). Methods: Multicenter study of SpA-related uveitis refractory to at least one immunosuppressive drug. The main outcome variables were degree of anterior and posterior chamber inflammation, visual acuity, and macular thickness. Results: Fifteen patients (13 men/2 women; 18 affected eyes; mean age 39±6 years) were evaluated. The underlying SpA subtypes were ankylosing spondylitis (n=8), psoriatic arthritis (n=6) and non-radiographic axial SpA (n=1). The ocular involvement patterns were recurrent anterior uveitis in 8 patients and chronic anterior uveitis in 7. Before GLM they have received methotrexate (n=13), sulfasalazine (n=6), pulses of methylprednisolone (n=4), azathioprine (n=3), leflunomide (n=2) and cyclosporine (n=1). Ten of them had also been treated with TNF-? blockers; etanercept (n=7), adalimumab (n=7), infliximab (n=6), and certolizumab (n=1). GLM was given at the standard dose (50 mg/sc/monthly) as monotherapy (n=7) or in combination with conventional immunosuppressive drugs (n=8), mainly methotrexate. Most patients had rapid and progressive improvement of intraocular inflammation parameters. The median number of cells in the anterior chamber at 2 years (0 [0-0]) was significantly reduced compared to baseline findings (1 [0-3]); p=0.04). The mean best corrected visual acuity value also improved (0.84±0.3 at 2 years versus 0.62±0.3 at baseline; p=0.03). Only minor side effects were observed after a mean follow-up of 23±7 months. Conclusions: Our results indicate that GLM may be a useful therapeutic option in refractory SpA-related uveitis

Recent advances in hydrothermal carbonisation:from tailored carbon materials and biochemicals to applications and bioenergy

Introduced in the literature in 1913 by Bergius, who at the time was studying biomass coalification, hydrothermal carbonisation, as many other technologies based on renewables, was forgotten during the "industrial revolution". It was rediscovered back in 2005, on the one hand, to follow the trend set by Bergius of biomass to coal conversion for decentralised energy generation, and on the other hand as a novel green method to prepare advanced carbon materials and chemicals from biomass in water, at mild temperature, for energy storage and conversion and environmental protection. In this review, we will present an overview on the latest trends in hydrothermal carbonisation including biomass to bioenergy conversion, upgrading of hydrothermal carbons to fuels over heterogeneous catalysts, advanced carbon materials and their applications in batteries, electrocatalysis and heterogeneous catalysis and finally an analysis of the chemicals in the liquid phase as well as a new family of fluorescent nanomaterials formed at the interface between the liquid and solid phases, known as hydrothermal carbon nanodots

Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw

Los bifosfonatos, análogos estables de los pirofosfatos inorgánicos, han demostrado su eficacia para el tratamiento de las lesiones osteolíticas asociadas a metástasis óseas o al mieloma múltiple, la hipercalcemia maligna, la enfermedad de Paget y la osteoporosis. Numerosas publicaciones durante los últimos años consideran que la osteonecrosis de los maxilares está asociada al tratamiento con bifosfonatos. El manejo diagnóstico y terapéutico de los pacientes con osteonecrosis de los maxilares es de una enorme dificultad. Es importante que los pacientes sean informados del riesgo de presentar esta complicación para tener la oportunidad de recibir procedimientos dentales previos al inicio del tratamiento. Las medidas preventivas deben realizarse antes, durante y después del tratamiento con bifosfonatos. Ante una osteonecrosis de los maxilares establecida, la actitud debe ser conservadora: enjuagues con clorhexidina y antibióticos. El tratamiento quirúrgico debe reservarse para aquellos pacientes que presenten síntomas.0.140 SJR (2014) Q4, 26/32 Family practice, 411/469 Public health, environmental and occupational healthUE

Variogramas adaptativos: un método práctico para aumentar la utilidad del error de estimación por kriging

Se propone el uso de variogramas adaptativos con respecto a su alcance, meseta, efecto pepita y a su modelo, los que permiten obtener correcciones locales del modelo de la variabilidad de la variable que se estudia. A partir de estos variogramas se obtiene una importante consecuencia: la varianza de estimación por kriging no solo depende de la posición espacial de los datos, sino también, de los valores de la variable que se estudia en esos datos. Finalmente, se enuncian procedimientos prácticos para implementar los variogramas adaptativos y evaluar con precisión el error probable de una estimación