72 research outputs found
Characterisation and impact of non-uniformity on multi-junction solar cells (MJSC) caused by concentrator optics
In this work, it has been developed a method to generate non-homogeneous light patterns on multi-junction
solar cells. These patterns have been generated modifying the distance between the CPV receiver and the primary optics,
which is based on a Fresnel lens. In order to diminish the impact of other variables, the incident spectrum, laboratory
temperature and effective concentration have been kept constant: SMRtop-mid = 1 ± 0.02, 25 ± 0.5ºC and 380 ± 3 suns,
respectively. The light patterns on the top and middle subcells are measured using a CCD camera and band-pass filters.
Results show that the electrical performance of the solar cells depends on the spatial and spectral profiles. The present
work introduces a procedure to characterise and evaluate the impact of non-uniformities on the output of multi-junction
solar cells. Nevertheless, this work is not intended to predict the actual output of the cell as a function of the light
profiles, but to provide indications for possible underlying mechanisms.This work is partially funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Spanish Economy Ministry, grant number ENE2016-78251-
Reliability of the resonance frequency analysis values in new prototype transepithelial abutments: A prospective clinical study
Resonance frequency analysis (RFA) requires abutment disconnection to monitor implant stability. To overcome this limitation, an experimental transepithelial abutment was designed to allow a SmartPeg to be screwed onto it, in order to determine the prototype abutments repeatability and reproducibility using Osstell ISQ and to assess whether implant length and diameter have an influence on the reliability of these measurements. RFA was conducted with a SmartPeg screwed directly into the implant and onto experimental abutments of different heights of 2, 3.5 and 5 mm. A total of 32 patients (116 implants) were tested. RFA measurements were taken twice for each group from mesial, distal, buccal and palatal/lingual surfaces. Mean values and SD were calculated and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) (p < 0.05, IC 95%). The implant stability quotient (ISQ) mean values were 72.581 measured directly to implant and 72.899 (2 mm), 72.391 (3.5 mm) and 71.458 (5 mm) measured from the prototypes. ICC between measurements made directly to implant and through 2-, 3.5-and 5-mm abutments were 0.908, 0.919 and 0.939, respectively. RFA values registered through the experimental transepithelial abutments achieved a high reliability. Neither the implant length nor the diameter had any influence on the measurements’ reliability
Optimizing CIGB-300 intralesional delivery in locally advanced cervical cancer
Background:We conducted a phase 1 trial in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer by injecting 0.5 ml of the CK2-antagonist CIGB-300 in two different sites on tumours to assess tumour uptake, safety, pharmacodynamic activity and identify the recommended dose.Methods:Fourteen patients were treated with intralesional injections containing 35 or 70 mg of CIGB-300 in three alternate cycles of three consecutive days each before standard chemoradiotherapy. Tumour uptake was determined using 99 Tc-radiolabelled peptide. In situ B23/nucleophosmin was determined by immunohistochemistry.Results:Maximum tumour uptake for CIGB-300 70-mg dose was significantly higher than the one observed for 35 mg: 16.1±8.9 vs 31.3±12.9 mg (P=0.01). Both, AUC 24h and biological half-life were also significantly higher using 70 mg of CIGB-300 (P<0.001). Unincorporated CIGB-300 diffused rapidly to blood and was mainly distributed towards kidneys, and marginally in liver, lungs, heart and spleen. There was no DLT and moderate allergic-like reactions were the most common systemic side effect with strong correlation between unincorporated CIGB-300 and histamine levels in blood. CIGB-300, 70 mg, downregulated B23/nucleophosmin (P=0.03) in tumour specimens.Conclusion:Intralesional injections of 70 mg CIGB-300 in two sites (0.5 ml per injection) and this treatment plan are recommended to be evaluated in phase 2 studies.Fil: Sarduy, M. R.. Medical-surgical Research Center; CubaFil: García, I.. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología; CubaFil: Coca, M. A.. Clinical Investigation Center; CubaFil: Perera, A.. Clinical Investigation Center; CubaFil: Torres, L. A.. Clinical Investigation Center; CubaFil: Valenzuela, C. M.. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología; CubaFil: Baladrón, I.. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología; CubaFil: Solares, M.. Hospital Materno Ramón González Coro; CubaFil: Reyes, V.. Center For Genetic Engineering And Biotechnology Havana; CubaFil: Hernández, I.. Isotope Center; CubaFil: Perera, Y.. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología; CubaFil: Martínez, Y. M.. Medical-surgical Research Center; CubaFil: Molina, L.. Medical-surgical Research Center; CubaFil: González, Y. M.. Medical-surgical Research Center; CubaFil: Ancízar, J. A.. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología; CubaFil: Prats, A.. Clinical Investigation Center; CubaFil: González, L.. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología; CubaFil: Casacó, C. A.. Clinical Investigation Center; CubaFil: Acevedo, B. E.. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología; CubaFil: López Saura, P. A.. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología; CubaFil: Alonso, Daniel Fernando. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes; ArgentinaFil: Gómez, R.. Elea Laboratories; ArgentinaFil: Perea Rodríguez, S. E.. Center For Genetic Engineering And Biotechnology Havana; Cuba. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología; Cub
CB19 223. Experiencia inicial con el implante de prótesis aórticas vía transfemoral
Introducción y objetivosDesde 2006 se dispone de la vía de implante percutánea para las prótesis valvulares aórticas. Por el momento esta vía percutánea se ha reservado para pacientes de alto riesgo con la cirugía con circulación extracorpórea (CEC). Presentamos la experiencia inicial en nuestro hospital con prótesis aórtica percutánea vía transfemoral.Pacientes y métodosSe intervinieron 33 pacientes (60% mujeres; 81,6±4,4años de edad media) entre junio de 2008 y febrero de 2010. EuroSCORE logístico medio de 21%±12,5; EuroSCORE aditivo 9±2,3; seguimiento medio de 7 meses (1-20). Se implantaron 20 prótesis n.° 23 (60%) y 12 n.° 26 (40%).ResultadosDurante la hospitalización fallecieron tres pacientes (9%). En un paciente no se logró colocar la prótesis (3%). Las complicaciones más frecuentes fueron las vasculares en 10 pacientes (30%), seguidas de la insuficiencia cardíaca en cuatro pacientes (12%) y de la necesidad de implantar un marcapasos en otros dos (6%). Fueron transfundidos 16 pacientes (47%). Estancia en cuidados intensivos 1,8±2,3días, y en hospital 10,8±9,7días. En el seguimiento fallecieron tres pacientes (10%), y seis pacientes (21%) reingresaron en el hospital por causa cardíaca. El ecocardiograma postoperatorio mostró insuficiencia aórtica grado II en cuatro pacientes (14%).ConclusionesLa vía transfemoral permite tratar a pacientes de alto riesgo quirúrgico para el uso de CEC, sin embargo no está exenta de riesgos importantes. Mayor experiencia y seguimiento permitirán conocer los pacientes que más se beneficien de este abordaje
Adaptation and Validation of QUick, Easy, New, CHEap, and Reproducible (QUENCHER) Antioxidant Capacity Assays in Model Products Obtained from Residual Wine Pomace
Evaluation of the total antioxidant capacity of solid matrices without extraction steps is a very interesting
alternative for food researchers and also for food industries. These methodologies have been denominated QUENCHER from
QUick, Easy, New, CHEap, and Reproducible assays. To demonstrate and highlight the validity of QUENCHER (Q) methods,
values of Q-method validation were showed for the first time, and they were tested with products of well-known different
chemical properties. Furthermore, new QUENCHER assays to measure scavenging capacity against superoxide, hydroxyl, and
lipid peroxyl radicals were developed. Calibration models showed good linearity (R2 > 0.995), proportionality and precision (CV
< 6.5%), and acceptable detection limits (<20.4 nmol Trolox equiv). The presence of ethanol in the reaction medium gave
antioxidant capacity values significantly different from those obtained with water. The dilution of samples with powdered
cellulose was discouraged because possible interferences with some of the matrices analyzed may take place.The autonomous government of
Castilla y León (Project BU268A11-2
Protein Content and Oil Composition of Almond from Moroccan Seedlings: Genetic Diversity, Oil Quality and Geographical Origin
The protein and oil content and the fatty acid profile of the kernels of selected almond genotypes from four different Moroccan regions were determined in order to evaluate the kernel quality of the plant material of these different regions. The ranges of oil content (48.7–64.5 % of kernel DW), oleic (61.8–80.2 % of total oil), linoleic (11.4–27.0 %), palmitic (5.6–7.7 %), stearic (1.3–3.1 %), and palmitoleic (0.4–0.9 %) acid percentages agreed with previous results of other almond genotypes, but the protein content (14.1–35.1 % of kernel DW) showed that some genotypes had higher values than any previously recorded in almond. Some genotypes from mountainous regions showed kernels with very high oil content as well as high and consistent oleic and linoleic ratio, establishing a possible differentiation according to the geographical origin. These differences may allow establishing a geographical denomination for almond products. In terms of genetic diversity, oleic and linoleic acids were confirmed to be the most variable components of almond oil chemical composition among genotypes. Additionally, the genotypes with extreme favorable values, such as high protein content, could be incorporated into an almond breeding program aiming at an increase in kernel quality.Peer ReviewedPrunus amygdalusProtein contentOil contentFatty acidsQualityGenetic resourcesBreedingPublishe
The outcome of boosting mitochondrial activity in alcohol-associated liver disease is organ-dependent.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) accounts for 70% of liver-related deaths in Europe, with no effective approved therapies. Although mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the earliest manifestations of alcohol-induced injury, restoring mitochondrial activity remains a problematic strategy due to oxidative stress. Here, we identify methylation-controlled J protein (MCJ) as a mediator for ALD progression and hypothesize that targeting MCJ may help in recovering mitochondrial fitness without collateral oxidative damage.
APPROACH AND RESULTS
C57BL/6 mice [wild-type (Wt)] Mcj knockout and Mcj liver-specific silencing (MCJ-LSS) underwent the NIAAA dietary protocol (Lieber-DeCarli diet containing 5% (vol/vol) ethanol for 10 days, plus a single binge ethanol feeding at day 11). To evaluate the impact of a restored mitochondrial activity in ALD, the liver, gut, and pancreas were characterized, focusing on lipid metabolism, glucose homeostasis, intestinal permeability, and microbiota composition. MCJ, a protein acting as an endogenous negative regulator of mitochondrial respiration, is downregulated in the early stages of ALD and increases with the severity of the disease. Whole-body deficiency of MCJ is detrimental during ALD because it exacerbates the systemic effects of alcohol abuse through altered intestinal permeability, increased endotoxemia, and dysregulation of pancreatic function, which overall worsens liver injury. On the other hand, liver-specific Mcj silencing prevents main ALD hallmarks, that is, mitochondrial dysfunction, steatosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress, as it restores the NAD + /NADH ratio and SIRT1 function, hence preventing de novo lipogenesis and improving lipid oxidation.
CONCLUSIONS
Improving mitochondrial respiration by liver-specific Mcj silencing might become a novel therapeutic approach for treating ALD.This work was supported by grants from Ministerio de
Ciencia e Innovación, Programa Retos-Colaboración
RTC2019-007125-1 (for Jorge Simon and Maria Luz
Martinez-Chantar); Ministerio de Economía, Industria y
Competitividad, Retos a la Sociedad AGL2017-
86927R (for F.M.); Instituto de Salud Carlos III,
Proyectos de Investigación en Salud DTS20/00138
and DTS21/00094 (for Jorge Simon and Maria Luz
Martinez-Chantar, and Asis Palazon. respectively);
Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Fondo de Investigaciones
Sanitarias co-founded by European Regional
Development Fund/European Social Fund, “Investing
in your future” PI19/00819, “Una manera de
hacer Europa” FIS PI20/00765, and PI21/01067 (for
Jose J. G. Marin., Pau Sancho-Bru,. and Mario F.
Fraga respectively); Departamento de Industria del
Gobierno Vasco (for Maria Luz Martinez-Chantar);
Asturias Government (PCTI) co-funding 2018-2023/
FEDER IDI/2021/000077 (for Mario F. Fraga.);
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
MICINN: PID2020-117116RB-I00, CEX2021-001136-S
PID2020-117941RB-I00, PID2020-11827RB-I00 and
PID2019-107956RA-100 integrado en el Plan Estatal
de Investigación Científica y Técnica y Innovación,
cofinanciado con Fondos FEDER (for Maria Luz Martinez-Chantar, Francisco J Cubero., Yulia A Nevzorova
and Asis Palazon); Ayudas Ramón y Cajal de la Agencia
Estatal de Investigación RY2013-13666 and RYC2018-
024183-I (for Leticia Abecia and Asis Palazon); European Research Council Starting Grant 804236 NEXTGEN-IO (for Asis Palazon); The German Research
Foundation SFB/TRR57/P04, SFB1382-403224013/
A02 and DFG NE 2128/2-1 (for Francisco J Cubero
and Yulia A Nevzorova); National Institute of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
(NIAAA) 1U01AA026972-01 (For Pau Sancho-Bru);
Junta de Castilla y León SA074P20 (for Jose J. G.
Marin); Junta de Andalucía, Grupo PAIDI BIO311 (for
Franz Martin); CIBERER Acciones Cooperativas y
Complementarias Intramurales ACCI20-35 (for Mario F.
Fraga); Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte
FPU17/04992 (for Silvia Ariño); Fundació Marato TV3
201916-31 (for Jose J. G. Marin.); Ainize Pena-Cearra is
a fellow of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/
EHU); BIOEF (Basque Foundation for Innovation and
Health Research); Asociación Española contra el Cáncer
(Maria Luz Martinez-Chantar and Teresa C. Delgado.);
Fundación Científica de la Asociación Española Contra
el Cáncer (AECC Scientific Foundation) Rare Tumor
Calls 2017 (for Maria Luz Martinez-Chantar); La Caixa
Foundation Program (for Maria Luz Martinez-Chantar);
Proyecto Desarrollo Tecnologico CIBERehd (for Maria
Luz Martinez-Chantar); Ciberehd_ISCIII_MINECO is
funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III.S
Comparison of two recombinant erythropoietin formulations in patients with anemia due to end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis: A parallel, randomized, double blind study
BACKGROUND: Recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) is used for the treatment of last stage renal anemia. A new EPO preparation was obtained in Cuba in order to make this treatment fully nationally available. The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and safety properties of two recombinant EPO formulations in patients with anemia due to end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis. METHODS: A parallel, randomized, double blind study was performed. A single 100 IU/Kg EPO dose was administered subcutaneously. Heberitro (Heber Biotec, Havana, formulation A), a newly developed product and Eprex (CILAG AG, Switzerland, formulation B), as reference treatment were compared. Thirty-four patients with anemia due to end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis were included. Patients had not received EPO previously. Serum EPO level was measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) during 120 hours after administration. Clinical and laboratory variables were determined as pharmacodynamic and safety criteria until 216 hours. RESULTS: Both groups of patients were similar regarding all demographic and baseline characteristics. EPO kinetics profiles were similar for both formulations; the pharmacokinetic parameters were very close (i.e., AUC: 4667 vs. 4918 mIU.h/mL; Cmax: 119.1 vs. 119.7 mIU/mL; Tmax: 13.9 vs. 18.1 h; half-life, 20.0 vs. 22.5 h for formulations A and B, respectively). The 90% confidence intervals for the ratio between both products regarding these metrics were close to the 0.8 – 1.25 range, considered necessary for bioequivalence. Differences did not reach 20% in any case and were not determined by a formulation effect, but probably by a patients' variability effect. Concerning pharmacodynamic features, a high similitude in reticulocyte counts increments until 216 hours and the percentage decrease in serum iron until 120 hours was observed. There were no differences between formulations regarding the adverse events and their intensity. The more frequent events were pain at injection site (35.3%) and hypertension (29%). Additionally, further treatment of the patients with the study product yielded satisfactory increases in hemoglobin and hematocrit values. CONCLUSION: The formulations are comparable. The newly developed product should be acceptable for long-term application
Evolution of Chilean colonizing populations of Drosophila subobscura: lethal genes and chromosomal arrangements
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