Combinación de técnicas analíticas y microbiológicas para el estudio de un envase activo antifúngico frente a mohos alterantes de alimentos

La presente Tesis Doctoral nace con el reto principal de profundizar en el estudio del mecanismo de acción de un envase activo antifúngico, lo cual permite mejorar su diseño y convertirlo en un sistema fiable, seguro y eficaz frente a los mohos que puedan crecer en cada uno de los alimentos a los cuales va orientado el envase. A continuación se exponen las cinco secciones en las cuales se ha dividido el trabajo desarrollado. La primera de ellas está constituida por una introducción general donde se tratan los aspectos fundamentales de los aceites esenciales, el nacimiento del envase activo y por último, nociones importantes sobre la morfología y crecimiento de los mohos alterantes de alimentos. A continuación, en la sección II, se exponen los objetivos planteados, los cuales se van resolviendo a lo largo de la sección III. Esta última parte es la más amplia de la tesis, ya que contiene el desarrollo experimental llevado a cabo, el cual se ha esquematizado a su vez en cinco capítulos autocontenidos (esto es, cada uno de ellos engloba una pequeña introducción, materiales y métodos, resultados y conclusiones). El primer capítulo constituyó la base de partida de la tesis, ya que permitió asegurar la reproducibilidad a la hora de extraer y cuantificar el resto de inóculos empleados en la tesis. A continuación, en el segundo capítulo se llevó a cabo un amplio barrido de la actividad antifúngica de diferentes aceites esenciales sobre varias cepas, por medio de diferentes ensayos de micología, tanto en contacto directo como en fase vapor.Tras esto, el capítulo 3 se centró en el estudio del envase activo con canela, para lo cual todos los experimentos con el material se realizaron en fase vapor, y sobre varias cepas de moho. Dichos estudios se evaluaron a diferente pH y temperaturas, las cuales variaron según la cepa en cuestión. El capítulo 4 recoge los datos obtenidos del estudio de mecanismo de acción de los aceites esenciales, llevado a cabo por diferentes técnicas como son las curvas de muerte, infrarrojo de alta resolución (FTIR) y microscopía electrónica de barrido (SEM). Por último, el capítulo 5 trata sobre el efecto de los compuestos volátiles del aceite esencial de canela, en la producción de una las micotoxinas más importantes, la aflatoxina B1. La memoria cierra con las secciones IV, V y VI, las cuales recogen las conclusiones extraídas del trabajo, la bibliografía consultada a lo largo del proceso, y las publicaciones derivadas de todo ello respectivamente

Sucrose esters from Physalis peruviana calyces with anti-inflammatory activity

Physalis peruviana is a native plant from the South American Andes and is widely used in tra- ditional Colombian medicine of as an anti-inflam- matory medicinal plant, specifically the leaves, calyces, and small stems in poultice form. Pre- vious studies performed by our group on P. pe- ruviana calyces showed potent anti-inflamma- tory activity in an enriched fraction obtained from an ether total extract. The objective of the present study was to obtain and elucidate the ac- tive compounds from this fraction and evaluate their anti-inflammatory activity in vivo and in vi- tro. The enriched fraction of P. peruviana was pu- rified by several chromatographic methods to ob- tain an inseparable mixture of two new sucrose esters named peruviose A (1) and peruviose B (2). Structures of the new compounds were eluci- dated using spectroscopic methods and chemical transformations. The anti-inflammatory activity of the peruvioses mixture was evaluated using λ-carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats and lipopolysaccharide-activated peritoneal macro- phages. Results showed that the peruvioses did not produce side effects on the liver and kidneys and significantly attenuated the inflammation in- duced by λ-carrageenan in a dosage-dependent manner, probably due to an inhibition of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2, which was demon- strated in vitro. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of sucrose esters in P. pe- ruviana that showed a potent anti-inflammatory effect. These results suggest the potential of su- crose esters from the Physalis genus as a novel natural alternative to treat inflammatory diseases

Use of the Bible as a pedagogical strategy to promote research

El presente artículo tiene como objetivo implementar el uso de la biblia como estrategia pedagógica para fomentar la investigación, utilizando una metodología de tipo cualitativo desarrollado desde la Investigación como Estrategia Pedagógica (IEP). El desarrollo de la investigación, incluyó como técnicas de recolección de información la observación y la entrevista en profundidad; los cuales fueron aplicados a 40 estudiantes de los grados de 6° a 9° con edades comprendidas entre los 12 y los 16 años. Adicionalmente, se realizaron actividades como debates, roll plays y espacios de socialización. A partir de los resultados obtenidos se llegó a la conclusión de que los estudiantes consideran que la Biblia como medio pedagógico de aprendizaje que permite adquirir nuevos conocimientos de manera didáctica fortaleciendo y fomentando la investigación.The present article has as aim implement the use of the bible as pedagogic strategy to promote the investigation, using a methodology of qualitative type developed from the Investigation as Pedagogic Strategy (IEP), in which the technology of the observation was applied and as I orchestrate a structured interview applied to 40 students of the degrees of 6 ° to 9 ° degree between the ages of 12-16 years performing activities such as debates, roll plays and socialization spaces. From the application it was obtained that students consider that the Bible as a pedagogical means of learning if it allows to acquire new knowledge and in a didactic way strengthening and promoting research

Izaña Atmospheric Research Center. Activity Report 2019-2020

Editors: Emilio Cuevas, Celia Milford and Oksana Tarasova.[EN]The Izaña Atmospheric Research Center (IARC), which is part of the State Meteorological Agency of Spain (AEMET), is a site of excellence in atmospheric science. It manages four observatories in Tenerife including the high altitude Izaña Atmospheric Observatory. The Izaña Atmospheric Observatory was inaugurated in 1916 and since that date has carried out uninterrupted meteorological and climatological observations, contributing towards a unique 100-year record in 2016. This reports are a summary of the many activities at the Izaña Atmospheric Research Center to the broader community. The combination of operational activities, research and development in state-of-the-art measurement techniques, calibration and validation and international cooperation encompass the vision of WMO to provide world leadership in expertise and international cooperation in weather, climate, hydrology and related environmental issues.[ES]El Centro de Investigación Atmosférica de Izaña (CIAI), que forma parte de la Agencia Estatal de Meteorología de España (AEMET), representa un centro de excelencia en ciencias atmosféricas. Gestiona cuatro observatorios en Tenerife, incluido el Observatorio de Izaña de gran altitud, inaugurado en 1916 y que desde entonces ha realizado observaciones meteorológicas y climatológicas ininterrumpidas y se ha convertido en una estación centenaria de la OMM. Estos informes resumen las múltiples actividades llevadas a cabo por el Centro de Investigación Atmosférica de Izaña. El liderazgo del Centro en materia de investigación y desarrollo con respecto a las técnicas de medición, calibración y validación de última generación, así como la cooperación internacional, le han otorgado una reputación sobresaliente en lo que se refiere al tiempo, el clima, la hidrología y otros temas ambientales afines

Flow cytometry for fast screening and automated risk assessment in systemic light-chain amyloidosis

Early diagnosis and risk stratification are key to improve outcomes in light-chain (AL) amyloidosis. Here we used multidimensional-flow-cytometry (MFC) to characterize bone marrow (BM) plasma cells (PCs) from a series of 166 patients including newly-diagnosed AL amyloidosis (N = 94), MGUS (N = 20) and multiple myeloma (MM, N = 52) vs. healthy adults (N = 30). MFC detected clonality in virtually all AL amyloidosis (99%) patients. Furthermore, we developed an automated risk-stratification system based on BMPCs features, with independent prognostic impact on progression-free and overall survival of AL amyloidosis patients (hazard ratio: ≥ 2.9;P ≤ .03). Simultaneous assessment of the clonal PCs immunophenotypic protein expression profile and the BM cellular composition, mapped AL amyloidosis in the crossroad between MGUS and MM; however, lack of homogenously-positive CD56 expression, reduction of B-cell precursors and a predominantly-clonal PC compartment in the absence of an MM-like tumor PC expansion, emerged as hallmarks of AL amyloidosis (ROC-AUC = 0.74;P < .001), and might potentially be used as biomarkers for the identification of MGUS and MM patients, who are candidates for monitoring pre-symptomatic organ damage related to AL amyloidosis. Altogether, this study addressed the need for consensus on how to use flow cytometry in AL amyloidosis, and proposes a standardized MFC-based automated risk classification ready for implementation in clinical practice

The synovial and blood monocyte DNA methylomes mirror prognosis, evolution, and treatment in early arthritis

Identifying predictive biomarkers at early stages of inflammatory arthritis is crucial for starting appropriate therapies to avoid poor outcomes. Monocytes (MOs) and macrophages, largely associated with arthritis, are contributors and sensors of inflammation through epigenetic modifications. In this study, we investigated associations between clinical features and DNA methylation in blood and synovial fluid (SF) MOs in a prospective cohort of patients with early inflammatory arthritis. DNA methylation profiles of undifferentiated arthritis (UA) blood MOs exhibited marked alterations in comparison with those from healthy donors. We identified additional differences both in blood and SF MOs after comparing patients with UA grouped by their future outcomes, i.e., good versus poor. Patient profiles in subsequent visits revealed a reversion toward a healthy level in both groups, those requiring disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and those who remitted spontaneously. Changes in disease activity between visits also affected DNA methylation, which was partially concomitant in the SF of UA and in blood MOs of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Epigenetic similarities between arthritis types allow a common prediction of disease activity. Our results constitute a resource of DNA methylation-based biomarkers of poor prognosis, disease activity, and treatment efficacy for the personalized clinical management of early inflammatory arthritis.We thank CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya and the Josep Carreras Foundation for institutional support. The authors thank all the patients who graciously donated their time and samples to further arthritis research. We are also thankful to Núria Sapena, Marta Bassas, and Cristina González, nurses from the outpatient clinic of the Department of Rheumatology, for their help in the management of biologic samples. This research was funded by Fondo de Investigación en Salud (FIS) grant PI17/00993 from the Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII) (to JDC); by grants SAF2017-88086-R and PID2020-117212RB-I00 / AEI / 10.13038/501100011033) from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) (to EB); and by the Thematic Networks for Cooperative Research (RETICS) grant provided by ISCII, Research Network for Inflammation and Rheumatic Diseases (RIER) RD16/0012/0013, cofinanced by the European Fund for Regional Development’s (FEDER) Una manera de hacer Europa program (to JDC and EB).Peer reviewe

Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bloodstream Infections in Patients with Cancer: Differences between Patients with Hematological Malignancies and Solid Tumors

Objectives: To assess the clinical features and outcomes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bloodstream infection (PA BSI) in neutropenic patients with hematological malignancies (HM) and with solid tumors (ST), and identify the risk factors for 30-day mortality. Methods: We performed a large multicenter, retrospective cohort study including onco-hematological neutropenic patients with PA BSI conducted across 34 centers in 12 countries (January 2006-May 2018). Episodes occurring in hematologic patients were compared to those developing in patients with ST. Risk factors associated with 30-day mortality were investigated in both groups. Results: Of 1217 episodes of PA BSI, 917 occurred in patients with HM and 300 in patients with ST. Hematological patients had more commonly profound neutropenia (0.1 x 10(9) cells/mm) (67% vs. 44.6%; p < 0.001), and a high risk Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) index score (32.2% vs. 26.7%; p = 0.05). Catheter-infection (10.7% vs. 4.7%; p = 0.001), mucositis (2.4% vs. 0.7%; p = 0.042), and perianal infection (3.6% vs. 0.3%; p = 0.001) predominated as BSI sources in the hematological patients, whereas pneumonia (22.9% vs. 33.7%; p < 0.001) and other abdominal sites (2.8% vs. 6.3%; p = 0.006) were more common in patients with ST. Hematological patients had more frequent BSI due to multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa (MDRPA) (23.2% vs. 7.7%; p < 0.001), and were more likely to receive inadequate initial antibiotic therapy (IEAT) (20.1% vs. 12%; p < 0.001). Patients with ST presented more frequently with septic shock (45.8% vs. 30%; p < 0.001), and presented worse outcomes, with increased 7-day (38% vs. 24.2%; p < 0.001) and 30-day (49% vs. 37.3%; p < 0.001) case-fatality rates. Risk factors for 30-day mortality in hematologic patients were high risk MASCC index score, IEAT, pneumonia, infection due to MDRPA, and septic shock. Risk factors for 30-day mortality in patients with ST were high risk MASCC index score, IEAT, persistent BSI, and septic shock. Therapy with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was associated with survival in both groups. Conclusions: The clinical features and outcomes of PA BSI in neutropenic cancer patients showed some differences depending on the underlying malignancy. Considering these differences and the risk factors for mortality may be useful to optimize their therapeutic management. Among the risk factors associated with overall mortality, IEAT and the administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor were the only modifiable variables

Immune response generated with the administration of autologous dendritic cells pulsed with an allogenic tumoral cell lines lysate in patients with newly diagnosed DIPG

Background and objective. Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a lethal brainstem tumor in children. Dendritic cells (DCs) have T-cell stimulatory capacity and, therefore, potential antitumor activity for disease control. DCs vaccines have been shown to reactivate tumor-specific T cells in both clinical and pre-clinical settings. We designed a phase Ib immunotherapy (IT) clinical trial with the use of autologous dendritic cells (ADCs) pulsed with an allogeneic tumors cell-lines lysate (ATCL) in patients with newly diagnosed DIPG after irradiation (RT). Methods. Nine patients with newly diagnosed DIPG met enrollment criteria. Autologous dendritic cell vaccines (ADCV) were prepared from monocytes obtained by leukapheresis. Five ADCV doses were administered intradermally during induction phase. In the absence of tumor progression, patients received 3 boosts of tumor lysate every three months during the maintenance phase. Results. Vaccine fabrication was feasible in all patients included in the study. Non-specific KLH (9/9 patients) and specific (8/9 patients) antitumor response was identified by immunologic studies in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Immunological responses were also confirmed in the T lymphocytes isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 2 patients. Vaccine administration resulted safe in all patients treated with this schema. Conclusions. These preliminary results demonstrate that ADCV preparation is feasible, safe and generate a DIPG-specific immune response detected in PBMC and CSF. This strategy shows a promising backbone for future schemas of combination immunotherapy