Gas temperature determination in microwave discharges at atmospheric pressure by using different Optical Emission Spectroscopy techniques

Non-thermal plasmas sustained at atmospheric pressure are considered as a very promising technology for different purposes, in which the knowledge of the gas temperature is an important issue. In this paper, the gas temperatures of different argon microwave (2.45 GHz) plasma torches were determined by using different Optical Emission Spectroscopy techniques. Thus, they were estimated through the analysis of N2+(B-X) and OH(A-X) molecular spectra. On the other hand, a method based on the measurement of the van der Waals broadening of 588.99 nm Na I line was employed, and the temperatures obtained from it were compared to the rotational temperatures derived from N2+(B-X) and OH(A-X) rotational bands. A reasonable good agreement was found between the values of temperatures obtained by using the 588.99 nm Na I line and those obtained from N2+ rotational band

Measuring the electron density in plasmas from the difference of Lorentzian part of the widths of two Balmer series hydrogen lines

We present an alternative optical emission spectroscopy method to measure the plasma electron density from the difference of widths of two Balmer series hydrogen lines (Hα and Hβ), especially convenient for non-thermal plasmas since with this method, there is no need to know either the gas temperature or the van der Waals contribution to the Lorentzian part of the line. In this paper it has been assumed that the part of full width at half maximum due to Stark broadening can be determined with the approximation of Lorentzian line shape. The method has been applied to the determination of the electron density in an argon microwave-induced plasma maintained at atmospheric pressure, and comparison with the results obtained using other diagnostic methods has been done

Using the Pairs of Lines Broadened by Collisions with Neutral and Charged Particles for Gas Temperature Determination of Argon Non-Thermal Plasmas at Atmospheric Pressure

The spectroscopic method for gas temperature determination in argon non-thermal plasmas sustained at atmospheric pressure proposed recently by Spectrochimica Acta Part B 129 14 (2017)—based on collisional broadening measurements of selected pairs of argon atomic lines, has been applied to other pairs of argon atomic lines, and the discrepancies found in some of these results have been analyzed. For validation purposes, the values of the gas temperature obtained using the different pairs of lines have been compared with the rotational temperatures derived from the OH ro-vibrational bands, using the Boltzmann-plot techniqu

Análisis de los costes asociados al seguimiento de pacientes con VIH que discontinúan el tratamiento antirretroviral por falta de eficacia o toxicidad inaceptable en España

[Abstract] Objective. To assess the use of resources and the costs associated with following up patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus after discontinuation of an antiretroviral treatment and initiation of a new one due to a lack of effectiveness or unacceptable toxicity, as compared to the costs involved in the routine follow-up of patients on antiretroviral treatment, from the Spanish National Health System perspective. Method. The use of resources (clinical tests, medical visits, and hospital pharmacy visits) associated with following three profiles of patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (stable ones, those discontinuing an existing antiretroviral treatment and being switched to a new one due to a lack of effectiveness, and those discontinuing an existing antiretroviral treatment and being switched to a new one due to unacceptable toxicity) was identified, based on clinical practice guidelines and the findings of a multidisciplinary expert panel (n = 5). The experts agreed on the main adverse events leading to discontinuation, classifying them into gastrointestinal, renal, osseous, musculoskeletal, dermatological, hepatic, lipid profile-related, neuropsychiatric and sexual alterations. Unit costs were identified from official healthcare costs databases. The cost (€, 2020) of following up each patient profile was estimated, excluding the cost of the antiretroviral treatment itself, with a time horizon of two years. Results. The per-patient cost of following up stable patients over two years was estimated at €4,148 (tests: €2,293; visits: €1,855). Patient follow-up after discontinuation of an existing antiretroviral treatment and initiation of a different one due to a lack of effectiveness was estimated at €5,434 (tests: €2,777; visits: €2,657). The cost of follow-up after discontinuation of an existing regimen and initiation of a new one due to unacceptable toxicity varied according to the adverse event prompting the switch, ranging from €4,690 for lipid profile dysregulation, to €5,304, for musculoskeletal alterations. In this patient profile, the cost of tests ranged from €2,403 to €3,017, and that of visits from €2,287 to €2,842. Conclusions. The cost associated with following up of patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus after discontinuation of an existing antiretroviral regimen and initiation of a new one is higher than that of routine follow-up, without taking the cost of drugs into account. The treatment discontinuation rate is a relevant factor when selecting the most appropriate therapy for each patient.[Resumen] Objetivo. Estimar el uso de recursos y costes asociados al seguimiento de pacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana tras discontinuación del tratamiento antirretroviral actual debido a falta de efectividad o toxicidad inaceptable y cambio a un nuevo tratamiento antirretroviral, comparado con el seguimiento habitual de los pacientes con tratamiento antirretroviral, desde la perspectiva del Sistema Nacional de Salud español. Método. Se identificó el uso de recursos (pruebas clínicas, visitas médicas, visitas a la farmacia hospitalaria) asociado al seguimiento de pacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana en tres perfiles de pacientes (estable, discontinuación y cambio por falta de efectividad, discontinuación y cambio por toxicidad inaceptable), a partir de las guías de práctica clínica y un panel de expertos multidisciplinar (n = 5). Los expertos consensuaron los principales eventos adversos que conducían a la discontinuación, agrupándolos en: alteraciones gastrointestinales, renales, óseas, musculoesqueléticas, dermatológicas, hepáticas y del perfil lipídico, trastornos neuropsiquiátricos y sexuales. Los costes unitarios se identificaron a partir de bases de datos oficiales de costes sanitarios y de la literatura. Se estimó el coste (€, 2020) del seguimiento en cada perfil de paciente, sin incluir el coste derivado del tratamiento antirretroviral, en un horizonte temporal de dos años. Resultados. El coste por paciente a dos años se estimó en 4.148 € (pruebas: 2.293 €; visitas: 1.855 €) para el seguimiento del paciente estable. El seguimiento del paciente tras discontinuación por falta de efectividad y cambio de tratamiento antirretroviral se estimó en 5.434 € (pruebas: 2.777 €; visitas: 2.657 €). El coste del seguimiento tras la discontinuación por toxicidad inaceptable y cambio de tratamiento antirretroviral varió en función del evento adverso que motivó el cambio, oscilando entre 4.690 € para las alteraciones del perfil lipídico, y 5.304 € para las alteraciones musculoesqueléticas. En este perfil de pacientes, las pruebas variaron entre 2.403 € y 3.017 € y las visitas entre 2.287 € y 2.842 €. Conclusiones. El coste asociado al seguimiento del paciente con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana tras discontinuación y cambio a un nuevo tratamiento antirretroviral es mayor comparado con el seguimiento habitual, sin tener en cuenta el coste farmacológico. La tasa de discontinuación del tratamiento antirretroviral es un factor relevante a la hora de seleccionar la terapia más adecuada para cada paciente

Development of Physics learning activities

La utilización de simulaciones y actividades que hacen uso de herramientas informáticas permite integrar los contenidos teóricos y prácticos en actividades atractivas para el alumno. Presentamos varias de estas actividades en asignaturas del grado de Física, pero que pueden adaptarse a asignaturas de otros grados. Se ha observado una mejora en las competencias en el uso de las TICs, así como una mejora en la comprensión de los fenómenos estudiados por parte de los alumnos.The use of simulations and activities including computing tools allows teaching activities integrating both the theoretical and practical aspects of a subject. Some examples are presented for subjects of the Physics Degree. We observed an improvement of the use of computing tools as also a better understanding of the physical phenomena described in these activities

Diet and SIRT1 Genotype Interact to Modulate Aging-Related Processes in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: From the CORDIOPREV Study

We investigated whether long-term consumption of two healthy diets (low-fat (LF) or Mediterranean (Med)) interacts with SIRT1 genotypes to modulate aging-related processes such as leucocyte telomere length (LTL), oxidative stress (OxS) and inflammation in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). LTL, inflammation, OxS markers (at baseline and after 4 years of follow-up) and SIRT1-Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs7069102 and rs1885472) were determined in patients from the CORDIOPREV study. We analyzed the genotype-marker interactions and the effect of diet on these interactions. Regardless of the diet, we observed LTL maintenance in GG-carriers for the rs7069102, in contrast to carriers of the minor C allele, where it decreased after follow-up (p = 0.001). The GG-carriers showed an increase in reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio (p = 0.003), lower lipid peroxidation products (LPO) levels (p < 0.001) and a greater decrease in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels (p < 0.001) after follow-up. After the LF diet intervention, the GG-carriers showed stabilization in LTL which was significant compared to the C allele subjects (p = 0.037), although the protective effects found for inflammation and OxS markers remained significant after follow-up with the two diets. Patients who are homozygous for the SIRT1-SNP rs7069102 (the most common genotype) may benefit from healthy diets, as suggested by improvements in OxS and inflammation in patients with CHD, which may indicate the slowing-down of the aging process and its related diseases

Real-world safety and effectiveness of maintenance niraparib for platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer: A GEICO retrospective observational study within the Spanish expanded-access programme

[Aim] To describe patient characteristics, effectiveness and safety in a real-world population treated with niraparib in the Spanish expanded-access programme.[Patients and methods] This retrospective observational study included women with platinum-sensitive recurrent high-grade serous ovarian cancer who received maintenance niraparib within the Spanish niraparib expanded-access programme. Eligible patients had received ≥2 previous lines of platinum-containing therapy, remained platinum-sensitive after the penultimate line of platinum and had responded to the most recent platinum-containing therapy. Niraparib dosing was at the treating physician's discretion (300 mg/day fixed starting dose or individualised starting dose [ISD] according to baseline body weight and platelet count). Safety, impact of dose adjustments, patient characteristics and effectiveness were analysed using data extracted from medical records.[Results] Among 316 eligible patients, 80% had BRCA wild-type tumours and 66% received an ISD. Median niraparib duration was 7.8 months. The most common adverse events typically occurred within 3 months of starting niraparib. Median progression-free survival was 8.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.6–10.0) months. One- and 2-year overall survival rates were 86% (95% CI 81–89%) and 65% (95% CI 59–70%), respectively. Dose interruptions, dose reductions, haematological toxicities and asthenia/fatigue were less common with ISD than fixed starting dose niraparib, but progression-free survival was similar irrespective of dosing strategy. Subsequent therapy included platinum in 71% of patients who received further treatment.[Conclusion] Outcomes in this large real-world dataset of niraparib-treated patients are consistent with phase III trials, providing reassuring evidence of the tolerability and activity of niraparib maintenance therapy for platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer.[ClinicalTrials.gov registration] NCT04546373.Peer reviewe

Clinical presentation and proteomic signature of patients with TANGO2 mutations

Transport And Golgi Organization protein 2 (TANGO2) deficiency has recently been identified as a rare metabolic disorder with a distinct clinical and biochemical phenotype of recurrent metabolic crises, hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis, rhabdomyolysis, arrhythmias, and encephalopathy with cognitive decline. We report nine subjects from seven independent families, and we studied muscle histology, respiratory chain enzyme activities in skeletal muscle and proteomic signature of fibroblasts. All nine subjects carried autosomal recessive TANGO2 mutations. Two carried the reported deletion of exons 3 to 9, one homozygous, one heterozygous with a 22q11.21 microdeletion inherited in trans. The other subjects carried three novel homozygous (c.262C&gt;T/p.Arg88*; c.220A&gt;C/p.Thr74Pro; c.380+1G&gt;A), and two further novel heterozygous (c.6_9del/p.Phe6del); c.11-13delTCT/p.Phe5del mutations. Immunoblot analysis detected a significant decrease of TANGO2 protein. Muscle histology showed mild variation of fiber diameter, no ragged-red/cytochrome c oxidase-negative fibers and a defect of multiple respiratory chain enzymes and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10 ) in two cases, suggesting a possible secondary defect of oxidative phosphorylation. Proteomic analysis in fibroblasts revealed significant changes in components of the mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi network and secretory pathways. Clinical presentation of TANGO2 mutations is homogeneous and clinically recognizable. The hemizygous mutations in two patients suggest that some mutations leading to allele loss are difficult to detect. A combined defect of the respiratory chain enzymes and CoQ10 with altered levels of several membrane proteins provides molecular insights into the underlying pathophysiology and may guide rational new therapeutic interventions.</p

Systematic Collaborative Reanalysis of Genomic Data Improves Diagnostic Yield in Neurologic Rare Diseases

Altres ajuts: Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament de Salut; Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament d'Empresa i Coneixement i CERCA Program; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación; Instituto Nacional de Bioinformática; ELIXIR Implementation Studies (CNAG-CRG); Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Raras; Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa; European Regional Development Fund (FEDER).Many patients experiencing a rare disease remain undiagnosed even after genomic testing. Reanalysis of existing genomic data has shown to increase diagnostic yield, although there are few systematic and comprehensive reanalysis efforts that enable collaborative interpretation and future reinterpretation. The Undiagnosed Rare Disease Program of Catalonia project collated previously inconclusive good quality genomic data (panels, exomes, and genomes) and standardized phenotypic profiles from 323 families (543 individuals) with a neurologic rare disease. The data were reanalyzed systematically to identify relatedness, runs of homozygosity, consanguinity, single-nucleotide variants, insertions and deletions, and copy number variants. Data were shared and collaboratively interpreted within the consortium through a customized Genome-Phenome Analysis Platform, which also enables future data reinterpretation. Reanalysis of existing genomic data provided a diagnosis for 20.7% of the patients, including 1.8% diagnosed after the generation of additional genomic data to identify a second pathogenic heterozygous variant. Diagnostic rate was significantly higher for family-based exome/genome reanalysis compared with singleton panels. Most new diagnoses were attributable to recent gene-disease associations (50.8%), additional or improved bioinformatic analysis (19.7%), and standardized phenotyping data integrated within the Undiagnosed Rare Disease Program of Catalonia Genome-Phenome Analysis Platform functionalities (18%)

Measuring the air fraction and the gas temperature in non-thermal argon plasma jets through the study of the air influence on the collisional broadening of some argon atomic emission lines

Cold atmospheric argon plasma jets have shown to be very promising in medicine and they are being currently used for therapeutical uses such as the healing of wounds or the treatment of tumors. Because they run in the open atmosphere, they generate copious amounts of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, which play an outstanding role in their biological action. But, in this kind of reactor, unknown amounts of air enter the plasma region depending on the experimental conditions, changing the chemistry in them, and eventually their effects. In this work, we propose a new spectroscopic method to measure the amount of air in argon non-thermal (including cold atmospheric) plasma jets through the collisional broadening of Ar I 840.86 and Ar I 842.46 nm emission lines. The method allows the simultaneous determination of the gas temperature. For validation purposes, it was applied to a microwave-induced plasma jet working at different operational conditions. Results were consistent with those obtained from the rotational temperature derived from simulations of N2 (2nd positive system) rovibrational band