Increased cerebrospinal fluid levels of cytokines monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (MIP-1β) in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Introduction: Neuroinflammation has recently been described in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, the precise role of such proinflammatory cytokines as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1� (MIP-1�) in ALS has not yet been determined. In this study, we determined cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) MCP-1 and MIP-1� levels and assessed their association with the duration and severity of ALS. Methods: Concentrations of MCP-1 and MIP-1� were determined in the CSF of 77 patients diagnosed with ALS and 13 controls. Cytokine levels were analysed in relation to ALS duration ( 12 months) and severity ( 30 points on the ALS Functional Rating Scale administered at hospital admission). Results: Higher CSF MIP-1� (10.68 pg/mL vs 4.69 pg/mL, P < .0001) and MCP-1 (234.89 pg/mL vs 160.95 pg/mL, P = .011) levels were found in the 77 patients with ALS compared to controls. There were no differences in levels of either cytokine in relation to disease duration or severity. However, we did observe a significant positive correlation between MIP-1� and MCP-1 in patients with ALS. Conclusions: The increase in MIP-1� and MCP-1 levels suggests that these cytokines may havea synergistic effect on ALS pathogenesis. However, in our cohort, no association was found witheither the duration or the clinical severity of the disease

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The materials production and processing facility at the Spanish National Centre for fusion technologies (TechnoFusión)

Proceedings of : The 26th Symposium of Fusion Technology (SOFT-26), Porto (Portugal),- 27 september - 1 october 2010.In response to the urgent request from the EU Fusion Program, a new facility (TechnoFusion) for research and development of fusion materials has been planned with support from the Regional Government of Madrid and the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain. TechnoFusion, the National Centre for Fusion Technologies, aims screening different technologies relevant for ITER and DEMO environments while promoting the contribution of international companies and research groups into the Fusion Programme. For this purpose, the centre will be provided with a large number of unique facilities for the manufacture, testing (a triple-beam multi-ion irradiation, a plasma-wall interaction device, a remote handling for under ionizing radiation testing) and analysis of critical fusion materials. Particularly, the objectives, semi-industrial scale capabilities and present status of the TechnoFusion Materials Production and Processing (MPP) facility are presented. Previous studies revealed that the MPP facility will be a very promising infrastructure for the development of new materials and prototypes demanded by the fusion technology and therefore some of them will be here briefly summarized.This work has been supported by Madrid Community through the project TECHNOFUSION (S2009/ENE/1679).Publicad

Clinical effect of deep water running on non-specific low back pain: A randomised trial

Objectives: To evaluate clinical effect of deep water running(DW R) on non-specific low back pain. Outcome measures were pain, disability,general health and physical fitness.  Materials and methods: Experimental, randomized,  controlled trial involving 46 persons with CLBP over 15 weekswith two experimental processes, each three times a week. Evidence-basedProgram (EBP, personalized physical exercise program, manual therapy andhealth educa tion) was the common process to which was added 20 minutes ofpersonalized intensity DW R at the aerobic threshold. Measurements were made at the beginning and end of the studyof pain, disability, general health and physical fitness.  R esults: The pain of CLBP were homogeneous at baseline.Significant changes between group were don’t found for pain in favour of the EBP+DW R group (p<0.3). The within-group differences were highly significant for all clinical and functional variables. The effect was clinically relevant forpain in the EBP+DW R group (0.70) and in the EBP group (0.58), and for disability degree it was also relevant in theEBP+DW R group (0.48) and relevant for the EBP group (0.36). Conclusion: Significant improvement was seen inCLBP when EBP was complemented with the high-intensity exercise of DW R

Resolution of practical cases in small groups in the teaching of “general and analytical chemistry” subject of degree in pharmacy

El Proyecto realizado por el equipo docente del Departamento de Química Analítica de la Facultad de Farmacia de Sevilla, ha utilizado la técnica de enseñanza en pequeños grupos (EPG) que constituye una faceta esencial en la renovación de las metodologías docentes para la incorporación y adaptación de las enseñanzas universitarias al Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior. La actividad propuesta se ha llevado a cabo en la asignatura “Química General y Analítica” del Grado en Farmacia. Con el objetivo de mejorar el aprendizaje del alumno y fomentar el trabajo en equipo del mismo, se ha subdividido en tres cada uno de los seis grupos asignados a “Clases Prácticas en el aula”, logrando un número de alumnos presentes en la misma (20 alumnos) que permite la impartición de la docencia con una dinámica distinta a la lección magistral. La actividad desarrollada ha tenido una gran acogida por parte de los alumnos donde un alto porcentaje de los mismos consigue superar sin grandes dificultades el apartado del examen destinado a casos prácticos.The Project developed by the Educational Team of the Department of Analytical Chemistry (Faculty of Pharmacy, Seville), has used the technique of Small Groups Learning (SGL) that constitutes an essential facet in the renovation of the educational methodologies for the incorporation and adaptation of the university lessons to the European Space for Higher Education. The proposed activity has been carried out in the “General and Analytical Chemistry” subject of the Degree in Pharmacy. With the aim of improving the learning of the student and fomenting the work in equipment of the same, it has been subdivided in three each one of the six assigned groups to “Practical exercises in the classroom”, obtaining a number of present students in the same (20 students) that allows the imparting of teaching with a dynamic different from the magisterial lesson. The developed activity has presented a great reception by the students and a high percentage of the same is able to surpass without great difficulties the section of the examination destined to practical cases

NL mind-best: aweb server for ligands and proteins discovery; theoretic experimental study of proteins of giardia lamblia

Comunicaciones a congreso

P14 282. Endocarditis protésica. experiencia de 20 años

ObjetivosRevisamos la experiencia de nuestro centro en endocarditis protésica (EP).Material y métodosEntre 1990–2010, se intervienen 62 casos, que representaron el 23% de 276 casos totales de endocarditis y 2,46% de pacientes valvulares (precoces 0,58% con 20 casos, tardías 1,68% con 42 casos). No hubo diferencias en tipo ni localización de las prótesis, ni en incidencia entre las dos décadas (2,59% en 1990–2000 y 2,32% en 2000–2010). Edad media 59 años. Gérmenes: S. viridans 20,9%; S. epidermidis 16,1%; S. aureus 11,6%; C. burnetii 9,6%; enterococos 8%; difteroides 6,4%; hongos 6,4%. En un 8% de los casos se encontraron gérmenes raros aislados, mientras que no se identificó germen en 12,9%. Se intervinieron de forma urgente el 30% de pacientes (19 casos, el 45% de formas precoces y el 23% de formas tardías).ResultadosLa mortalidad precoz fue del 16%, a expensas sobre todo de EP precoz (12%). La supervivencia global a 10 años fue del 50%, con diferencias entre los dos grupos (EP precoz 15%; EP tardía 66%). El 70% de supervivientes se encuentra actualmente en clase funcional I-II/IV.ConclusiónLa EP sigue teniendo una incidencia relativamente elevada en nuestro medio. La EP precoz tiene una mortalidad muy elevada. La cirugía de la EP tardía tiene muy buenos resultados a largo plazo