Polymeric distributed feedback lasers by room-temperature nanoimprint lithography

Room temperature nanoimprinting lithography is used to realize a distributed feedback laser by direct dry pressing of the conjugated polymer (poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene]). The laser device exhibits emission at 630 nm with a pump threshold of 25 mu J/cm(2) and a polarization contrast of the emitted light as large as 0.91. Therefore, room temperature nanoimprint lithography turns out to be very effective for producing stable patterns on light-emitting polymers for the one-step fabrication of nanopatterned optoelectronic devices. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics

Divergent responses to thermogenic stimuli in BAT and subcutaneous adipose tissue from interleukin 18 and interleukin 18 receptor 1-deficient mice

Brown and beige adipocytes recruitment in brown (BAT) or white adipose tissue, mainly in the inguinal fat pad (iWAT), meet the need for temperature adaptation in cold-exposure conditions and protect against obesity in face of hypercaloric diets. Using interleukin18 (Il18) and Il18 receptor 1- knockout (Il18r1-KO) mice, this study aimed to investigate the role of IL18 signaling in BAT and iWAT activation and thermogenesis under both stimuli. Il18-KO, extremely dietary obesity-prone as previously described, failed to develop diet-induced thermogenesis as assessed by BAT and iWAT Ucp1 mRNA levels. Overweight when fed standard chow but not HFD, HFD-fed Il18r1-KO mice exhibited increased iWAT Ucp1 gene expression. Energy expenditure was reduced in pre-obese Il18r1-KO mice and restored upon HFD-challenge. Cold exposure lead to similar results; Il18r1-KO mice were protected against acute body temperature drop, displaying a more brown-like structure, alternative macrophage activation and thermogenic gene expression in iWAT than WT controls. Opposite effects were observed in Il18-KO mice. Thus, Il18 and Il18r1 genetic ablation disparate effects on energy homeostasis are likely mediated by divergent BAT responses to thermogenic stimuli as well as iWAT browning. These results suggest that a more complex receptor-signaling system mediates the IL18 adipose-tissue specific effects in energy expenditure.This work has been supported by European Community (FP7/2007n° 245009: “NeuroFAST”), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (PP and MCGG: BFU2007–62683/BFI and PP, MCGG and CD: CIBERobn (CB06/03)) and Xunta de Galicia Grants (MCGG and LL: PGIDIT06PXIB208067PR and GPC2014/030). CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición is an initiative of ISCIIIS

Evaluation of polyneuropathy markers in type 1 diabetic kidney transplant patients and effects of islet transplantation: Neurophysiological and skin biopsy longitudinal analysis

OBJECTIVE - The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether islet transplantation may stabilize polyneuropathy in uremic type 1 diabetic patients (end-stage renal disease [ESRD] and type 1 diabetes), who received a successful islet-after-kidney transplantation (KI-s). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Eighteen KI-s patients underwent electroneurographic tests of sural, peroneal, ulnar, and median nerves: the nerve conduction velocity (NCV) index and amplitudes of both sensory action potentials (SAPs) and compound motor action potentials (CMAPs) were analyzed longitudinally at 2, 4, and 6 years after islet transplantation. Skin content of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and expression of their specific receptors (RAGE) were also studied at the 4-year follow-up. Nine patients with ESRD and type 1 diabetes who received kidney transplantation alone (KD) served as control subjects. RESULTS - The NCV score improved in the KI-s group up to the 4-year time point (P = 0.01 versus baseline) and stabilized 2 years later, whereas the same parameter did not change significantly in the KD group throughout the follow-up period or when a cross-sectional analysis between groups was performed. Either SAP or CMAP amplitudes recovered in the KI-s group, whereas they continued worsening in KD control subjects. AGE and RAGE levels in perineurium and vasa nervorum of skin biopsies were lower in the KI-s than in the KD group (P < 0.01 for RAGE). CONCLUSIONS - Islet transplantation seems to prevent long-term worsening of polyneuropathy in patients with ESRD and type 1 diabetes who receive islets after kidney transplantation. No statistical differences between the two groups were evident on cross-sectional analysis. A reduction in AGE/RAGE expression in the peripheral nervous system was shown in patients receiving islet transplantation. © 2007 by the American Diabetes Association

GHIA (Grupo de Herramientas Interactivas Avanzadas)

Es este documento se resumen las principales líneas actuales de investigación del grupo GHIA en lo que a informática educativa se refiere, así como su contexto y proyectos de futuro.This document summarizes the main research areas of GHIA regarding computer based learning, as well as its context and future work.En el momento actual, agradecemos su apoyo a los proyectos ASIES (TIN2010-17344) y Go-Lite (TIN2011-24139), financiados por el Ministerio de Educación, y al proyecto e-Madrid (S2009/TIC-1650), financiado por la Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid

Utility of a thematic network in primary health care: a controlled interventional study in a rural area

BACKGROUND: UniNet is an Internet-based thematic network for a virtual community of users (VCU). It supports a virtual multidisciplinary community for physicians, focused on the improvement of clinical practice. This is a study of the effects of a thematic network such as UniNet on primary care medicine in a rural area, specifically as a platform of communication between specialists at the hospital and doctors in the rural area. METHODS: In order to study the effects of a thematic network such as UniNet on primary care medicine in a rural area, we designed an interventional study that included a control group. The measurements included the number of patient displacements due to disease, number of patient hospital stays and the number of prescriptions of drugs of low therapeutic utility and generic drug prescriptions by doctors. These data were analysed and compared with those of the control center. RESULTS: Our study showed positive changes in medical practice, reflected in the improvement of the evaluated parameters in the rural health area where the interventional study was carried out, compared with the control area. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of UniNet as a potential medium to improve the quality of medical care in rural areas. CONCLUSION: The rural doctors had an effective, useful, user-friendly and cheap source of medical information that may have contributed to the improvement observed in the medical quality indices