α 1-antitrypsin Pi phenotypes S and Z in Spain: an analysis of the published surveys

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to review published surveys on allelic frequencies S and Z in Spanish populations to evaluate the validity of the reported data.Thirty-four studies published since 1965 were retrieved by MEDLINE, Index Medicus and consultations with experts. The criteria for studies selection were (i) sample size ≥250 individuals; (ii) alpha-1-antitrypsin phenotyping determination performed by means of crossed antigen–antibody electrophoresis or isoelectrofocusing; (iii) S and Z reported outcomes with an upper 95% CI smaller than mean +2 SD, a lower 95% CI smaller than mean −2 SD, and the following ratio: 100× (95%CI upper limit — 95%CI lower limit)/allelic frequency, for both S and Z, included in the mean ±2 SD interval.Thirteen out of 34 surveys retrieved complied with the proposed criteria for S gene frequency analysis and 11 fulfilled the criteria for Z. The greatest frequency for S type is in the north-west of the country (149 alleles per 1000 in Galicians natives), while frequencies in the rest of the country are approximately 100 alleles per 1000. The greatest frequency for Z type has been reported in newborn infants from Valladolid (20·8) and in a randomly selected general population of Asturias (19·7). In the rest of Spain, Z frequencies range from 1·5 to 15 alleles per 1000 genes

Evaluation of anaerobic digestibility of energy crops and agricultural by-products

Abundant wastes from the food and drink supply chain are valuable and infrequently used as anaerobic digestion (AD) substrates. This study quantifies their biomethane potential to contribute to solid waste reduction and energy production. 29 organic materials were evaluated: energy crops (6), pre-treated agricultural by-products (5), livestock slurries (3), agro-industrial wastes (7), fruit and vegetable wastes (4) and co-digestion mixtures of chicken litter (CL) and fruit wastes (4). Results showed highest biogas yields for rendered fat washings (1379 ± 125 mL/g VSfeedstock), fish waste (898 ± 107 mL/g VSfeedstock) and potato waste (768 ± 27 mL/g VSfeedstock). Synergistic benefits of co-digestion were evidenced. CL (20%) with avocado pulp (80%) led to 84% higher biogas than expected from contribution of single substrates

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency in Italy: regional differences of the PIS and PIZ deficiency alleles

Background. Critical to the effective diagnosis and management of disease is information on its prevalence in a particular geographic area such as Italy. Alpha-1- antitrypsin deficiency (AAT Deficiency) is one of the most common serious hereditary diseases in the world, but its prevalence varies markedly from one country to another. AAT Deficiency affects at least 120.5 million carriers and deficient subjects worldwide for the two most prevalent deficiency alleles PIS and PIZ. This genetic disease is known to exist in Italy and is related to a high risk for development of jaundice in infants, liver disease in children and adults, and pulmonary emphysema in adults. Methods. Studies on the genetic epidemiology of AAT Deficiency has resulted in the development of a unique database that permits a unique analysis of the geographic distribution in 14 different regions located at random from Piemonte to Sicilia. Results. The use of Hardy-Weinberg statistical analysis to evaluate the distribution of these two deficiency alleles has demonstrated striking differences in the frequencies of these two deficiency alleles in these 14 different regions with 23/84 pair wise combinations significantly different (P=0.05) for PIS, and 5/84 combinations for PIZ. Conclusions. These findings demonstrate differences that impact the standards of care and diagnosis of AAT Deficiency in Italy since the prevalence of these deficiency alleles is not uniform throughout the country

Phosphorylation-based signaling networks mediate the effect of ligand affinity of the activation of naive primary T-cells

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Crystalline Structure and Vacancy Ordering across a Surface Phase Transition in Sn/Cu(001)

We report a surface X-ray diffraction study of the crystalline structure changes and critical behavior across the (3√2 × √2)R45° → (√2 × √2)R45° surface phase transition at 360 K for 0.5 monolayers of Sn on Cu(100). The phase transition is of the order-disorder type and is due to the disordering of the Cu atomic vacancies present in the low temperature phase. Two different atomic sites for Sn atoms, characterized by two different heights, are maintained across the surface phase transition.This work was funded by the Spanish MINECO under Grants FIS2011-23230 and MAT2014-52477-C5-5-P. E.G.M. and P.S. acknowledge financial support from MINECO through the “Maria de Maeztu” Programme for Units of Excellence in R&D (MDM-2014-0377).Peer Reviewe

Insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva en la clínica de pequeños animales : terapéutica práctica moderna III. Diuréticos y bases xánticas en la clínica diaria

En el presente trabajo revisamos los medicamentos de efectos diuréticos más usados en la clínica de animales de compañía y aportamos nuestra experiencia personal en su uso y en la posible utilización de otros productos menos difundidos. Junto a ellos, y como una parte importante del tratamiento de muchos casos de insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva en el perro, una breve revisión de efectos, usos y problemas que pueden aportar las Xantinas de la clínica diaria.This paper reviews the diuretic drugs most often used in small animal practice and discloses the authors' personal experience in their application and the possible use of other less common products. A brief review of effects, uses and problems of Xantines in routine practice is also made, as an important element of the treatment of many cases of Congestivo Heart Failure in dogs

Care of peripheral intravenous catheters in three hospitals in Spain: Mapping clinical outcomes and implementation of clinical practice guidelines

BACKGROUND: Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) are the most widely used invasive devices worldwide. Up to 42% of PIVCs are prematurely removed during intravenous therapy due to failure. To date, there have been few systematic attempts in European hospitals to measure adherence to recommendations to mitigate PIVC failures. AIM: To analyse the clinical outcomes from clinical practice guideline recommendations for PIVC care on different hospital types and environments. METHODS: We conducted an observational study in three hospitals in Spain from December 2017 to April 2018. The adherence to recommendations was monitored via visual inspection in situ evaluations of all PIVCs inserted in adults admitted. Context and clinical characteristics were collected by an evaluation tool, analysing data descriptively. RESULTS: 646 PIVCs inserted in 624 patients were monitored, which only 52.7% knew about their PIVC. Regarding PIVC insertion, 3.4% (22/646) patients had at least 2 PIVCs simultaneously. The majority of PIVCs were 20G (319/646; 49.4%) and were secured with transparent polyurethane dressing (605/646; 93.7%). Most PIVCs (357/646; 55.3%) had a free insertion site during the visual inspection at first sight. We identified 342/646 (53%) transparent dressings in optimal conditions (clean, dry, and intact dressing). PIVC dressings in medical wards were much more likely to be in intact conditions than those in surgical wards (234/399, 58.7% vs. 108/247, 43.7%). We identified 55/646 (8.5%) PIVCs without infusion in the last 24 hours and 58/646 (9.0%) PIVCs without infusion for more than 24 hours. Regarding PIVC failure, 74 (11.5%) adverse events were identified, all of them reflecting clinical manifestation of phlebitis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the clinical outcome indicators from CPG for PIVC care were moderate, highlighting differences between hospital environments and types. Also, we observed that nearly 50% of patients did not know what a PIVC is

Preconcentration and sensitive determination of the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac on a paper-based electroanalytical platform

This work describes the development of a paper-based platform for highly sensitive detection of diclofenac. The quantification of this anti-inflammatory drug is of importance in clinical (e.g. quality and therapeutic control) and environmental (e.g. emerging contaminant determination) areas. The easy-to-handle platform here described consists of a carbon-ink paper-based working electrode and two metallic wires, provided by a gold-plated standard connector, as reference and counter electrodes. The porous paper matrix enables the preconcentration of the sample, decoupling sample and detection solutions. Thus, relatively large sample volumes can be used, which significantly improves the sensitivity of the method. A wide dynamic range of four orders of magnitude, between 0.10 and 100 μM, was obtained for diclofenac determination. Due to the predominance of adsorption at the lowest concentrations, there were two linear concentration ranges: one comprised between 0.10 and 5.0 μM (with a slope of 0.85 μA μM-1) and the other between 5.0 and 100 μM (with a slope of 0.48 μA μM-1). A limit of detection of 70 nM was achieved with this simple device that provided accurate results with an RSD of ca. 5%. The platform was applied for diclofenac quantification in spiked tap water samples. The versatility of this design enabled the fabrication of a multiplexed platform containing eight electrochemical cells that work independently. The low cost, small size and simplicity of the device allow on-site analysis, which is very useful for environmental monitoring.The authors would like to thank the EU and FCT/UEFISCDI/FORMAS for funding, in the frame of the collaborative internationalconsortium REWATERfinanced under the ERA-NET CofundWaterWorks 2015 Call. This ERA-NET is an integral part of the 2016Joint Activities developed by the Water Challenges for a ChangingWorld Joint Programme Initiative (Water JPI). This work was alsosupported by the EU (FEDER funds through COMPETE) and FCT(project FOODnanoHEALTH, Portugal2020, Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000011 and project UID/QUI/50006/2013) and by the SpanishMinistry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO, projectCTQ2014-58826-R). Estefanía Costa Rama thanks the Governmentof Principado de Asturias and Marie Curie-Cofund Actions for thepost-doctoral grant“Clarín-Cofund”ACA17-20.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Variable effect of 3 different chondroitin sulfate compounds on chondrocytes secreted proteins profile revealed by silac techinique

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