NO3- selective mini-electrodes as a tool to investigate the NO3- traffic in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii D.

Ion selective NO3- mini-electrodes were used to measure the external NO3- concentration in C. reinhardtii liquid cultures. Electrodes were prepared using glass capillaries (1.5 mm external diameter). Capillaries were cut in 10 cm long pieces, dehydrated for 45 minutes in an oven and silanized by addition of dimethyldichlorosilane in bencene 0.1% (V/V). Once silanized, the capillaries were baked again for 30 minutes. Once cold the capillaries were backfilled with the NO3- ionophore (Fluka: 72549), which contains PVC (5.75% w/w) dissolved in tetrahydrofurane. Then, the NO3- mini-electrodes were stored in dark in a desiccator until tetrahydrofurane gets evaporated. Before use, NO3- selective mini-electrodes were backfilled with 0.1 M NaNO3 and 0.1 M KCl and connected to a high-impedance differential amplifier (WPI FD223). Mini-electrodes were calibrated in N-free Beijerinck medium, which contains 0.1 mM Cl-. In those conditions, electrodes calibration slope was 54 mV/p NO3- in the range 1 - 1000 µM NO3-. The mini-electrodes were used to continuous monitoring of the external NO3- concentration in liquid culture of different C. reinhardtii strains, incubated in N-free Beijerinck medium supplemented with 100 µM NO3Na. Previous to the assays, strains were N starved for 6 days. In the light, wild type strain uptakes NO3- at a rate of 15 nmol NO3-·106 cells-1·h-1, in the dark this rate was one third of this figure. After 5 h, the external NO3- levelled off at 10 µM in the light and around 30 µM in the dark. C. reinhardtii cells cultured in the presence of 2 mM NO3NH4 do not show significant NO3- uptake nor a mutant strain, defective in nitrate transport and having an active nitrate reductase. However, a mutant strain lacking the nitrate reductase shows an enhanced NO3- uptake rate, compared with the value obtained for the wild type in the light.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

El portfolio digital com a facilitador d'una competència informacional diversificada i reflexiva

Objectiu: identificació i anàlisi de les categories sobre el coneixement implicades en l'adquisició de la competència informacional potenciades per l'ús d'un portfolio digital/PLE (e-Portfolio/PLE) en un àmbit d'educació formal, especialment amb relació al desenvolupament de processos estratègics o condicionals. Metodologia: anàlisi qualitativa mitjançant entrevista semiestructurada i atribució de categories amb codificació interjutges i organització dels codis per representar-los quantitativament. L'entrevista es va fer a estudiants de la Facultad de Educación de la Universidad Católica de Temuco, Xile, i les competències i la categorització de base utilitzada és la proposada per l'IFLA, amb alguns complements. Resultats: en l'educació superior es manifesta una focalització en l'ensenyament i l'aprenentatge de continguts declaratius i procedimentals lligats estretament a la matèria d'estudi, i s'obliden competències més transversals d'alt nivell cognitiu. L'ús de portfolios digitals afavoreix el desenvolupament de competències relacionades amb l'autonomia de l'estudiant. Per això s'ha analitzat la naturalesa i el volum del contingut implicat en el tractament de les competències informacionals per mitjà de l'ús de portfolios digitals/PLE i el lloc que ocupen els processos de caràcter estratègic en l'adquisició del coneixement disciplinari transversal. Ha emergit la necessitat d'ampliar el sistema de categorització de l'IFLA per tal de donar cabuda a processos de reflexió i planificació relacionats amb aquest coneixement estratègic

Assessment of the length of sick leave in patients with ischemic heart disease

Background The prevalence of ischemic heart disease is high. Few recent studies have investigated the periods of sick leave of these patients. Our aim is to determine the length of sick leave after an acute coronary syndrome, its costs, associated factors and to assess the use of antidepressants and/or anxiolytics. Methods An observational study of a retrospective cohort of patients on sick leave due to ischemic heart disease in a health region between 2008-2011, with follow-up until the first return to work, death, or end of the study (31/12/2012). Measurements: length of sick leave, sociodemographic variables and medical prescriptions. Results Four hundred and ninety-seven patients (mean age 53 years, 90.7% male), diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction (60%), angina pectoris (20.7%) or chronic form of ischemic heart disease (19.1%). Thirty-seven per cent of patients took anxiolytics the year after diagnosis and 15% took antidepressants. The average duration of sick leave was 177 days (95% CI: 163-191 days). Patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction returned to work after a mean of 192 days, compared to 128 days in cases with angina pectoris. Patients who took antidepressants during the year after diagnosis returned to work after a mean of 240 days. The mean work productivity loss was estimated to be 9,673 euros/person. Conclusions The mean duration of sick leave due to ischemic heart disease was almost six months. Consumption of psychotropic medication doubled after the event. Older age, suffering an acute myocardial infarction and taking antidepressants were associated with a longer sick leave period

Ischemic heart disease and primary care: identifying gender-related differences. An observational study

Background: Gender-related differences are seen in multiple aspects of both health and illness. Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a pathology in which diagnostic, treatment and prognostic differences are seen between sexes, especially in the acute phase and in the hospital setting. The objective of the present study is to analyze whether there are differences between men and women when examining associated cardiovascular risk factors and secondary pharmacological prevention in the primary care setting. Methods: Retrospective descriptive observational study from January to December of 2006, including 1907 patients diagnosed with ischemic heart disease in the city of Lleida, Spain. The clinical data were obtained from computerized medical records and pharmaceutical records of medications dispensed in pharmacies with official prescriptions. Data was analyzed using bivariate descriptive statistical analysis as well as logistic regression. Results: There were no gender-related differences in screening percentages for arterial hypertension, diabetes, obesity, dyslipemia, and smoking. A greater percentage of women were hypertensive, obese and diabetic compared to men. However, men showed a tendency to achieve control targets more easily than women, with no statistically significant differences. In both sexes cardiovascular risk factors control was inadequate, between 10 and 50%. For secondary pharmaceutical prevention, the percentages of prescriptions were greater in men for anticoagulants, beta-blockers, lipid-lowering agents and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers, with age group variations up to 10%. When adjusting by age and specific diagnoses, differences were maintained for anticoagulants and lipid-lowering agents. Conclusion: Screening of cardiovascular risk factors was similar in men and women with IHD. Although a greater percentage of women were hypertensive, diabetic or obese, their management of risk factors tended to be worse than men. Overall, a poor control of cardiovascular risk factors was noted. Taken as a whole, more men were prescribed secondary prevention drugs, with differences varying by age group and IHD diagnosis

Ciclopirox Hydroxypropyl Chitosan (CPX‐HPCH) Nail Lacquer and Breathable Cosmetic Nail Polish: In Vitro Evaluation of Drug Transungual Permeation Following the Combined Application

Background: Onychomycosis produces nail chromatic alterations that lead patients to mask them with cosmetic enamels. Objectives: Evaluate drug transungual permeation and antimycotic activity against selected strains after application of CPX-HPCH nail lacquer (NL) on the nail pre-covered with breathable cosmetic polish. Methods: CPX transungual permeation after applying CPX-HPCH NL once or twice a day on bovine hoof membranes pre-covered with a breathable cosmetic nail polish was compared to that obtained applying CPX-HPCH NL directly on the membrane. The relevant experimental permeates underwent an in vitro susceptibility test. Results: After CPX-HPCH NL application once a day, the drug transungual flux in the presence of cosmetic product tended to decrease while maintaining the antifungal activity. Two daily applications of CPX-HPCH NL on the membrane pre-covered with cosmetic polish exhibited the same permeation profile as daily application of the medicated lacquer directly on the nail as well as the same microbiological activity. Conclusions: The breathable cosmetic nail polish can be applied on the nail affected by onychomycosis in association with CPX-HPCH NL to mask the imperfections. The application of CPX-HPCH NL twice a day appears to be a good solution to obtain the same results as for a daily application without the presence of the cosmetic laye

A multicentre, randomised, parallel‐group, double‐blind, vehicle‐controlled and open‐label, active‐controlled study (versus amorolfine 5%), to evaluate the efficacy and safety of terbinafine 10% nail lacquer in the treatment of onychomycosis

Background: Onychomycosis is a difficult-to-treat fungal nail infection whose treatment can involve systemic or topical antifungal approaches. Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of terbinafine 10% nail lacquer in distal-lateral subungual onychomycosis (DLSO). Patients/methods: Patients with mild-to-moderate DLSO were randomised (3:3:1) to receive double-blind topical terbinafine 10% (n = 406) or its vehicle (n = 410) administered once daily for 4 weeks and then once weekly for 44 weeks, or open-label topical amorolfine 5% (n = 137) for 48 weeks, with a 12-week follow-up period. The primary efficacy endpoint, complete cure rate at Week 60, was a composite of negative potassium hydroxide (KOH) microscopy, negative culture for dermatophytes and no residual clinical involvement of the target big toenail. Results: Complete cure rates at Week 60 in the terbinafine, vehicle and amorolfine groups were 5.67%, 2.20% and 2.92%, respectively (odds ratio (OR) vs vehicle = 2.68; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.22-5.86; p = .0138). Statistically significant differences in responder (negative KOH and negative culture and ≤10% residual clinical involvement) and mycological cure rates (negative KOH and negative culture) at Week 60 were obtained between terbinafine and vehicle. Terbinafine was well-tolerated with no systemic adverse reactions identified; the most common topical adverse reactions were erythema and skin irritation. Conclusions: Terbinafine 10% nail lacquer was an effective treatment for mild-to-moderate onychomycosis improving both clinical and mycological criteria compared with vehicle. Furthermore, there may be some benefits compared to the currently available topical agent, amorolfine 5%. Treatment was well-tolerated and safe