Online Applied Problem-Based Learning to Determine the Shelf Life of an on-Site Solution of Refrigerated Drug

A problem-based online learning (PBe-L) teaching sequence was designed for calculating the shelf life (expiration date) of an on-site solution of refrigerated drug as part of activities of a Pharmaceutical Physical Chemistry course of Pharmacy major at FES Cuautitlán UNAM in Mexico. The teacher presents students the problem, a group collaborative activity is carried out to search for information in PBL cycles. Students are then shown a virtual experiment that includes experimental results. Another group collaborative activity is carried out for the search of information, for the procedural analysis of the results. Applying knowledge and understanding of the topics of chemical kinetics, temperature effect on the rate of chemical reactions and drug degradation reactions, etc., students solve the problem. Hake's factor was determined for the conceptual gain. A Likert-type satisfaction survey was conducted and compared to the results of a group that was applied to the PBL strategy in person. At the end of the sequence students achieved recognition, comprehension and application learnings and conceptual gain was high. Allowing an integration of its cognitive framework of kinetics topics

Alexithymia and depression in elderly people that get directed physical activity

La relación entre la alexitimia y la depresión y los factores sociodemográficos ha sido estudiada en personas mayores. Sin embargo, el papel atenuador del ejercicio en estas afecciones aún debe ser determinado. En el presente estudio se mide el grado de alexitimia y depresión en adultos mayores, comparando una muestra sedentaria con una de practicantes de actividad física. Se utilizó un diseño descriptivo transversal con una muestra compuesta por 27 participantes, 9 hombres y 18 mujeres de más de 60 años (64 ± 5.1 años), con objeto de medir el grado de alexitimia y depresión que presentaban en el momento de la recogida de datos. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron la escala de depresión de Yesavage, la Escala de Alexitimia de Toronto (TAS-20) y el Cuestionario de Salud SF-12. Los resultados mostraron que los practicantes de actividad física presentaban puntuaciones más bajas en alexitimia y depresión que los sujetos sedentarios, sin que éstas variables estuvieran relacionadas en función del género y la edad. A tenor de los resultados, el ejercicio pudiera jugar algún papel en la modulación de las alteraciones psicológicas

Heterogeneity Governs 3D-Cultures of Clinically Relevant Microbial Communities

The intrinsic heterogeneity of bacterial niches should be retained in in vitrocultures to represent the complex microbial ecology. As a case study,mucin-containing hydrogels -CF-Mu3Gel - are generated by diffusion-inducedgelation, bioinspired on cystic fibrosis (CF) mucus, and a microbial nichechallenging current therapeutic strategies. At breathing frequency, CF-Mu3Gelexhibits aG′andG′′equal to 24 and 3.2 Pa, respectively. Notably, CF-Mu3Gelexhibits structural gradients with a gradual reduction of oxygen tensionacross its thickness (280–194μmol L−1). Over the culture period, a steepdecline in oxygen concentration occurs just a few millimeters below theair–mucus interface in CF-Mu3Gel, similar to those of CF airway mucus.Importantly, the distinctive features of CF-Mu3Gel significantly influencebacterial organization and antimicrobial tolerance in mono- and co-cultures ofStaphylococcus aureusandPseudomonas aeruginosathat standard culturesare unable to emulate. The antimicrobial susceptibility determined inCF-Mu3Gel corroborates the mismatch on the efficacy of antimicrobialtreatment between planktonically cultured bacteria and those in patients.With this example-based research, new light is shed on the understanding ofhow the substrate influences microbial behavior, paving the way for improvedfundamental microbiology studies and more effective drug testing anddevelopment

Cytotoxic effect of sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) in apical cells of onion roots (Allium cepa L.)

Páginas 97-104.El hipoclorito de sodio (NaClO), es un compuesto químico altamente tóxico y ampliamente utilizado por sus propiedades desinfectantes. Una de las especies vegetales más usadas para la detección de diferentes tipos de cambios genéticos causados por sustancias químicas es Allium cepa L. mediante la cual se hacen pruebas para la vigilancia del medio ambiente. El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar el efecto citotóxico del hipoclorito de sodio (NaClO) en células apicales de raíces de cebolla (Allium cepa L.). Se prepararon cinco soluciones de hipoclorito de sodio a diferentes concentraciones más una solución control con tres réplicas para cada tratamiento; se midió el crecimiento de las raíces durante 3 días, se cortaron los ápices sumergiéndose en ácido clorhídrico, posteriormente fueron teñidos con Aceto-Orceina y se observaron al microscopio; se calculó el índice mitótico (IM) y se observaron las anomalías celulares (cromosómicas). Se realizó un análisis de varianza (ANOVA) y prueba de rangos múltiples mediante el método de diferencia mínima significativa (LSD). Los resultados mostraron que no existe una diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre los tratamientos (P>0,05). La concentración donde se presentó un mayor IM fue de 1 ppm. Se evidenciaron las anomalías celulares: en anafase, evidenciando puentes entre cromosomas, hipercromasia, lesiones nucleares y rompimiento de cromosomas en anafase y metafase. Los resultados evidenciaron que Allium cepa es una especie que ofrece un modelo experimental para evaluar el efecto citotóxico, en este caso del hipoclorito de sodio, el cual generó anomalías celulares (cromosómicas) en todas las concentraciones.ABSTRACT: (NaClO) sodium hypochlorite is a highly toxic chemical compound widely used because of its disinfectant properties. One of the most commonly used plants to detect different types of genetic changes caused by chemical substances is Allium cepa L., in tests for environmental monitoring. The objective of this research was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) in apical cells of onion roots (Allium strain L.). Five sodium hypochlorite solutions were prepared at different concentrations, in addition to a control solution, with three replications for each treatment; for 3 days, the growth of the roots was measured; the apices were cut submerging them into hydrochloric acid, subsequently dyed with Aceto-Orcein and were observed under a microscope; the mitotic index (MI) was calculated and the cell anomalies were observed (chromosomal). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple range tests using the Least Significant Difference method (LSD) were performed. The results showed that there was not a statistically significant difference between the treatments (P0.05). The concentration with the highest MI was 1 ppm. The following cellular abnormalities were evidenced: bridge between chromosomes in anaphase, chromatin, nuclear injuries, chromosome breakage in anaphase and metaphase. The results showed that Allium cepa L. is a species that offers an experimental model to evaluate the cytotoxic effect, in this case sodium hypochlorite, which generated cellular abnormalities (chromosomal) in all concentrations.Bibliografía: página 104.Artículo revisado por pares

IL-7/IL-7R gene variants impact circulating IL-7/IL-7R homeostasis and ART-associated immune recovery status

Altres ajuts: This study would not have been possible without the collaboration of all the patients and medical and nursing staff who have taken part in the project. This work was supported by Gilead Fellowship Program GLD14/293 and GLD17/00299 and Consejería de Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo, Junta de Andalucía (Proyecto de Investigación de Excelencia; CTS2593). YMP and ERM are supported by the Servicio Andaluz de Salud through Programa Nicolás Monardes (C-0013/17 and C-0032/17, respectively). We are also grateful to GESIDA for ''Premio para Jóvenes Investigadores 2019'' to AR. Authors greatly appreciate the comments and criticisms of the anonymous reviewers that greatly helped to improve the manuscript.A relationship between polymorphisms in genes encoding interleukin 7 (IL-7) and its cellular receptor (IL-7R) and antiretroviral therapy (ART)-associated immune recovery in HIV subjects has been previously reported. However, details of this relationship remain unclear, and the association of these polymorphisms with circulating IL-7/IL-7R levels is scarce. Here, we explored whether IL-7/IL-7R axis was associated with quantitative CD4 T-cell recovery in HIV-infected subjects. IL-7/IL-7R polymorphisms were assessed by genotyping, and multiple inheritance models were used to estimate both, their association with low pre-ART CD4 T-cell counts and incomplete immune recovery status after 48 weeks of suppressive ART. Integrated data from genetic variants association and soluble plasma IL-7/IL-7R quantification suggest that IL-7/IL-7R genotype expression could alter the homeostatic balance between soluble and membrane-bound receptors. The haplotype analyses indicates that allele combinations impacts pre-ART circulating CD4 T-cell counts, immune recovery status and the absolute increment of CD4 T-cell counts. The knowledge about how IL-7/IL-7R axis is related to quantitative CD4 T-cell recovery and immune recovery status after initiating ART could be useful regarding T-cell reservoirs investigations in HIV subjects

Plant and animal endemism in the eastern Andean slope: challenges to conservation

Andean slope: challenges to conservatio

An Influenza A/H1N1/2009 Hemagglutinin Vaccine Produced in Escherichia coli

The A/H1N1/2009 influenza pandemic made evident the need for faster and higher-yield methods for the production of influenza vaccines. Platforms based on virus culture in mammalian or insect cells are currently under investigation. Alternatively, expression of fragments of the hemagglutinin (HA) protein in prokaryotic systems can potentially be the most efficacious strategy for the manufacture of large quantities of influenza vaccine in a short period of time. Despite experimental evidence on the immunogenic potential of HA protein constructs expressed in bacteria, it is still generally accepted that glycosylation should be a requirement for vaccine efficacy.We expressed the globular HA receptor binding domain, referred to here as HA(63-286)-RBD, of the influenza A/H1N1/2009 virus in Escherichia coli using a simple, robust and scalable process. The recombinant protein was refolded and purified from the insoluble fraction of the cellular lysate as a single species. Recombinant HA(63-286)-RBD appears to be properly folded, as shown by analytical ultracentrifugation and bio-recognition assays. It binds specifically to serum antibodies from influenza A/H1N1/2009 patients and was found to be immunogenic, to be capable of triggering the production of neutralizing antibodies, and to have protective activity in the ferret model.Projections based on our production/purification data indicate that this strategy could yield up to half a billion doses of vaccine per month in a medium-scale pharmaceutical production facility equipped for bacterial culture. Also, our findings demonstrate that glycosylation is not a mandatory requirement for influenza vaccine efficacy

The Pierre Auger Observatory III: Other Astrophysical Observations

Astrophysical observations of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays with the Pierre Auger ObservatoryComment: Contributions to the 32nd International Cosmic Ray Conference, Beijing, China, August 201

Highlights from the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Pierre Auger Observatory is the world's largest cosmic ray observatory. Our current exposure reaches nearly 40,000 km$^2$ str and provides us with an unprecedented quality data set. The performance and stability of the detectors and their enhancements are described. Data analyses have led to a number of major breakthroughs. Among these we discuss the energy spectrum and the searches for large-scale anisotropies. We present analyses of our X$_{max}$ data and show how it can be interpreted in terms of mass composition. We also describe some new analyses that extract mass sensitive parameters from the 100% duty cycle SD data. A coherent interpretation of all these recent results opens new directions. The consequences regarding the cosmic ray composition and the properties of UHECR sources are briefly discussed.Comment: 9 pages, 12 figures, talk given at the 33rd International Cosmic Ray Conference, Rio de Janeiro 201