Dialysis and column chromatography for biomass pyrolysis liquids separation

Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UABIn the current study, a novel approach for separating value-added chemicals from pine wood residues' pyrolysis liquids (bio-oil) was effectively carried out. It combined two separation techniques used for the first time in this field: dialysis with water, methanol and acetone, and column chromatography with Amberlite™ XAD7 resin. This strategy made it possible to separate bio-oil into four fractions: (1) pyrolytic lignin, which can be utilized in the synthesis of resins, foams, electrodes, asphalt, etc. (2) acid-rich fraction, with particular relevance to the chemical industry, (3) antioxidant fraction, containing phenolic compounds, with a lot of interest for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry, and (4) a final fraction containing the most non-polar chemicals from bio-oil. Thus, it was possible to develop a process that allows the obtention of bioproducts from woody biomass, a residue obtained in significant quantities in the management of non-profitable forests, making a step forward within the context of circular economy and bioeconomy

Production and separation of value-added compounds from pine wood using pyrolysis and biorefinery techniques

Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UABAltres ajuts: LIFE Programme of the European Union for the project LIFE BIOREFFORMED (LIFE 19 ENV/ES/000544)Value-added compounds were obtained from pine wood bio-oil, converting it into a renewable source for several chemicals: acids (acetic acid), sugars (levoglucosan), furan derivatives (furfural) and phenolics (catechol, phenol, 4-propylguaiacol, vanillin). To achieve this, firstly a comparison of a direct pyrolysis at 500 °C versus a two-staged pyrolysis (300 °C and 500 °C) was made. It was determined that a two-staged pyrolysis ensue in the obtainment of less complex liquid fractions since it concentrates families of compounds in different phases of bio-oil, facilitating their subsequent separation. Secondly, two methodologies (A and B) were designed to establish a procedure for separating the various chemical groups present in bio-oil. Methodology A consisted of a first vacuum distillation followed by an extraction process that combined an alkaline extraction and a simple extraction with ethyl acetate. Methodology B consisted of a first extraction with trioctylamine and ethyl acetate followed by a vacuum distillation and an extraction with hot water. The results showed that methodology A was better for the separation of chemical compounds from bio-oil, obtaining one fraction with the carboxylic acid content and furan derivatives, a second fraction containing the phenolic compounds and a third fraction enriched with the sugar content

Latency reversal agents affect differently the latent reservoir present in distinct CD4+ T subpopulations

CD4+ T cell; HIV-1; Latent reservoirCélula T CD4 +; VIH-1; Reservorio latenteCèl·lula T CD4 +; VIH-1; Reservori latentLatency reversal agents (LRAs) have proven to induce HIV-1 transcription in vivo but are ineffective at decreasing the size of the latent reservoir in antiretroviral treated patients. The capacity of the LRAs to perturb the viral reservoir present in distinct subpopulations of cells is currently unknown. Here, using a new RNA FISH/flow ex vivo viral reactivation assay, we performed a comprehensive assessment of the viral reactivation capacity of different families of LRAs, and their combinations, in different CD4+ T cell subsets. We observed that a median of 16.28% of the whole HIV-reservoir induced HIV-1 transcripts after viral reactivation, but only 10.10% of these HIV-1 RNA+ cells produced the viral protein p24. Moreover, none of the LRAs were powerful enough to reactivate HIV-1 transcription in all CD4+ T cell subpopulations. For instance, the combination of Romidepsin and Ingenol was identified as the best combination of drugs at increasing the proportion of HIV-1 RNA+ cells, in most, but not all, CD4+ T cell subsets. Importantly, memory stem cells were identified as highly resistant to HIV-1 reactivation, and only the combination of Panobinostat and Bryostatin-1 significantly increased the number of cells transcribing HIV within this subset. Overall, our results validate the use of the RNA FISH/flow technique to assess the potency of LRAs among different CD4+ T cell subsets, manifest the intrinsic differences between cells that encompass the latent HIV reservoir, and highlight the difficulty to significantly impact the latent infection with the currently available drugs. Thus, our results have important implications for the rational design of therapies aimed at reversing HIV latency from diverse cellular reservoirs.This study was supported by the American National Institutes of Health (grant R21AI118411 to MJB), the Spanish Secretariat of Science and Innovation and FEDER funds (grant SAF2015-67334-R [MINECO/FEDER]), a unrestricted research grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb S.A.U (PfC-2015 AI424-564) to MJB, the Spanish "Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III"(ISCIII, PI17/01470) to M.G, a research grant from Gilead Sciences (GLD17-00204) to M. B, GeSIDA and the Spanish AIDS network "Red Tematica Cooperativa de Investigacion en SIDA" (RD16/0025/0007) to ER. The Miguel Servet program funded by the Spanish Health Institute Carlos III (CP17/00179) to MJB. The "Pla estrategic de recerca i innovacioen salut" (PERIS), from the Catalan Government to MG

Adaptation and validation of the Spanish version of the patient-oriented prostate utility scale (PORPUS)

Objective: the Patient-Oriented Prostate Utility Scale (PORPUS) is a combined profile and utility-based quality of life measure for prostate cancer patients. Our objectives were to adapt the PORPUS into Spanish and to assess its acceptability, reliability, and validity. Methods: the PORPUS was adapted into Spanish using forward and back translations and cognitive debriefing. PORPUS was administered jointly with the SF-36 and the Expanded Prostate Index Composite (EPIC) to 480 Spanish prostate cancer patients treated with radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy. The Spanish PORPUS scores' distribution and reliability were examined and compared with the original instrument. To evaluate construct validity, relationships were assessed between PORPUS and other instruments (testing hypotheses of the original PORPUS study), and among known groups defined by side effect severity. Results: reliability coefficient was 0.76 (similar to the original PORPUS' 0.81). Spanish PORPUS items presented correlations ranging 0.57-0.88 with the corresponding EPIC domains, as in the original PORPUS study (0.60-0.83). Both PORPUS-P and PORPUS-U showed significant differences and large effect sizes (0.94-1.90) when comparing severe versus no problem groups on urinary, bowel, sexual and hormonal side effects defined by EPIC. Conclusions: a conceptually equivalent Spanish version was obtained, with high reliability and good construct validity, similar to the original Canadian PORPUS version. It can therefore be used to measure health-related quality of life and utilities in Spanish prostate cancer patients

Expression of CD20 after viral reactivation renders HIV-reservoir cells susceptible to Rituximab

Rituximab; Viral reactivation; CD20Rituximab; Reactivació viral; CD20Rituximab; Reactivación viral; CD20The identification of exclusive markers to target HIV-reservoir cells will represent a significant advance in the search for therapies to cure HIV. Here, we identify the B lymphocyte antigen CD20 as a marker for HIV-infected cells in vitro and in vivo. The CD20 molecule is dimly expressed in a subpopulation of CD4-positive (CD4+) T lymphocytes from blood, with high levels of cell activation and heterogeneous memory phenotypes. In lymph node samples from infected patients, CD20 is present in productively HIV-infected cells, and ex vivo viral infection selectively upregulates the expression of CD20 during early infection. In samples from patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) this subpopulation is significantly enriched in HIV transcripts, and the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody Rituximab induces cell killing, which reduces the pool of HIV-expressing cells when combined with latency reversal agents. We provide a tool for targeting this active HIV-reservoir after viral reactivation in patients while on ART.This study was supported by the American National Institutes of Health (grant R21AI118411 to M.B.), the Spanish Secretariat of Science and Innovation and FEDER funds (grant SAF2015-67334-R [MINECO/FEDER]), the Spanish "Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III" (ISCIII, PI17/01470), GeSIDA and the Spanish AIDS network Red Tematica Cooperativa de Investigacion en SIDA (RD16/0025/0007). M.B. is supported by the Miguel Servet program funded by the Spanish Health Institute Carlos III (CP17/00179). M.G. is supported by the "Pla estrategic de recerca i innovacio en salut" (PERIS), from the Catalan Government

Impact of COVID-19 infection on the outcome of patients with ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We evaluated whether stroke severity, functional outcome, and mortality are different in patients with ischemic stroke with or without coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. METHODS: A prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study in Catalonia, Spain. Recruitment was consecutive from mid-March to mid-May 2020. Patients had an acute ischemic stroke within 48 hours and a previous modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0 to 3. We collected demographic data, vascular risk factors, prior mRS score, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, rate of reperfusion therapies, logistics, and metrics. Primary end point was functional outcome at 3 months. Favourable outcome was defined depending on the previous mRS score. Secondary outcome was mortality at 3 months. We performed mRS shift and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: We evaluated 701 patients (mean age 72.3±13.3 years, 60.5% men) and 91 (13%) had COVID-19 infection. Median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was higher in patients with COVID-19 compared with patients without COVID-19 (8 [3–18] versus 6 [2–14], P=0.049). Proportion of patients with a favourable functional outcome was 33.7% in the COVID-19 and 47% in the non-COVID-19 group. However, after a multivariable logistic regression analysis, COVID-19 infection did not increase the probability of unfavourable functional outcome. Mortality rate was 39.3% among patients with COVID-19 and 16.1% in the non-COVID-19 group. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, COVID-19 infection was a risk factor for mortality (hazard ratio, 3.14 [95% CI, 2.10–4.71]; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ischemic stroke and COVID-19 infection have more severe strokes and a higher mortality than patients with stroke without COVID-19 infection. However, functional outcome is comparable in both groups

Competencias de la profesión enfermera

La Comisión de Enfermería y sus Especialidades Específicas del Consejo Catalán de Especialidades en Ciencias de la Salud encargó a un grupo de trabajo que definiera las competencias de la profesión de enfermería. El trabajo presenta 112 competencias de enfermería agrupadas en 10 categorías