Facile synthesis and characterization of MnxZn1-xFe2O4/activated carbon composites for biomedical applications

"The synthesis of MnxZn1-xFe2O4 ferrites (x = 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6) by means of the co-precipitation method is reported. Furthermore, a composite of Mn0.4Zn0.6Fe2O4/activated carbon was prepared with the mechanosynthesis method. The magnetic, structural, morphological and chemical properties were analyzed by means of VSM, XRD, SEM, FTIR and Boehm's titration. The heating capacity was evaluated under a magnetic field using solid-state induction heating equipment, in addition a hemolysis test was performed using human red blood cells. With regard to the synthesis of manganese-zinc ferrite, the results indicated that Mn0.4Zn0.6Fe2O4 ferrite showed higher saturation magnetization (64.48 emu/g) than the other ferrite obtained, with superparamagnetic behavior. The Mn0.4Zn0.6Fe2O4/activated carbon composite was able to heat in concentrations of 10 mg/ml under a magnetic field (10.2 kAm-1 and frequency 200 kHz), increasing the temperature up to 42.5 °C. The hemolysis test indicated that the presence of activated carbon reduces the hemolytic behavior of the ferrite. Thanks to its heating capacity and non-hemolytic activity, theMn0.4Zn0.6Fe2O4/activated carbon composite is a potential candidate for use in biomedical applications.

RIP2 plays a role in cardiac Ca2+ mishandling prompted by chronic kidney disease

post-print81,7 K

Autoantibodies against EPCR are found in antiphospholipid syndrome and are a risk factor for fetal death

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is associated with thrombosis and fetal death but the pathologic mechanisms are poorly understood. Since endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) plays a role in the anticoagulant system and in placental development, we hypothesized that anti-EPCR autoantibodies may be involved in clinical manifestations of APS and in fetal loss. The levels of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG anti-EPCR autoantibodies were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 43 patients with APS and 43 controls. Anti-EPCR levels were higher in APS patients than in controls. Interestingly, one of the IgM anti-EPCR autoantibodies inhibited the generation of activated protein C on endothelium. Since markedly high anti-EPCR levels were found in women with fetal death, 87 patients with a first episode of unexplained fetal death were subsequently analyzed and their anti-EPCR levels were compared with 87 matched controls. We found that anti-EPCR autoantibodies constitute an independent risk factor for a first fetal death episode: the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for anti-EPCR autoantibodies above the 95th percentile were 23.0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.0-266.3) for IgM and 6.8 (95% CI, 1.2-38.4) for IgG. Anti-EPCR autoantibodies can be detected in APS patients and are independent risk factors for fetal death

IgG4-related disease: Is rituximab the best therapeutic strategy for cases refractory to conventional therapy? Results of a systematic review

Introducción: La enfermedad relacionada con IgG4 es una condición fibroinflamatoria caracterizada por infiltración linfoplasmocítica con predominio de células plasmáticas IgG4+, fibrosis y en la mayoría de los casos niveles séricos elevados de IgG4. Puede afectar cualquier órgano y llevar a manifestaciones clínicas variables. El tratamiento con esteroides es la piedra angular, sin embargo, el porcentaje de recidivas es alto. Estudios recientes han mostrado efectos favorables con rituximab. Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad relacionada con la respuesta altratamiento con rituximab en los pacientes con enfermedad relacionada con IgG4 refractarios a uso de esteroides y otras terapias inmunosupresoras. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda sistemática en bases de datos especializadas EMBASE, LILACS, PUBMED y OVID-Cochrane de publicaciones hasta diciembre de 2017. Resultados: Posteriormente al análisis de calidad se seleccionaron 27 artículos (264 pacientes en total) para la revisión final de los cuales 23 correspondían a reportes de caso y series de caso (105 pacientes), 3 a estudios observacionales de seguimiento a una cohorte (129 pacientes) y un ensayo clínico (30 pacientes). La enfermedad relacionada con IgG4 se presenta predominantemente en pacientes de sexo masculino con una edad promedio entre 50 y 70 anos. ˜ El compromiso orgánico es múltiple con un promedio de 3,5 órganos comprometidos, siendo lo más frecuente el compromiso orbitario, glandular y ganglionar. Los pacientes de los diferentes estudios incluidos recibieron diversos tratamientos previo al inicio de rituximab, entre ellos glucocorticoides y fármacos antirreumáticos modificadores de la enfermedad. El porcentaje de respuesta en aquellos casos donde el rituximab se empleó como terapia de segunda línea fue del 90,7%; en el 10% de los pacientes se empleó rituximab como primera línea con un porcentaje de respuesta del 100%. Conclusión: El uso de rituximab en pacientes refractarios a terapias de primera línea se asocia a un alto porcentaje de respuesta y a menor dependencia a glucocorticoidesIntroduction: IgG4 related disease is a fibroinflammatory condition characterised by lymphoplasmocytic infiltration with predominance of IgG4+ plasma cells, fibrosis, and in most cases elevated IgG4 serum levels. It can affect any organ and result in varying clinical manifestations. Steroids are the cornerstone of treatment, however there is a high percentage of relapse. Recent studies have demonstrated favourable effects with rituximab.Objective: To evaluate effectiveness related to the response to treatment with rituximab in patients with IgG4 related disease refractory to steroids and other immunosuppressant therapies. Materials and methods: We undertook a systematic search of the specialist databases EMBASE, LILACS, PUBMED and OVID-Cochrane for publications up until December 2017. Results: After the quality analysis, we selected 27 articles (264 patients in total) for the final review, of which 23 were case reports and case series (105 patients), 3 were observational follow-up cohort studies (129 patients), and there was one clinical trial (30 patients). IgG4 related disease presents predominantly in male patients aged between 50 and 70 years on average. Multiple organs are compromised with an average of 3.5 compromised organs. Orbital, glandular and lymph-node compromise is most frequent. Patients in the different studies we included had received various treatments prior to starting rituximab, including glucocorticoids and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. There was 90.7% response in the cases where rituximab was used as second line therapy; rituximab was used as first line treatment for 10% of the patients with a 100% response rate. Conclusion: The use of rituximab for patients refractory to first-line treatments was associated with a high response percentage and less dependence on glucocorticoids

Manejo Integral de Agua y Suelo en Centroamérica. Bases científicas para el desarrollo rural comunitario.

Este libro recoge los frutos de la colaboración y trabajo conjunto de un grupo de Universidades Iberoamericanas entre 2007 y 2012 el marco de las actividades del Programa de Cooperación Comunidad, Agua y Bosque en Centroamérica (CAB Centroamérica, http://www2.caminos.upm.es/Departamentos/imt/Topografia/Cab/cab.html ). Las actividades se han realizado con el apoyo del Programa de Cooperación Universitaria PCI-AECID IBEROAMÉRICA, de la Dirección de Cooperación para el Desarrollo de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid y de los fondos propios de las Universidades latinoamericanas, con especial mención a la Universidad de Costa Rica, coordinadora de los trabajos en Centroamérica. El inicio de esta colaboración se produjo en 2007 a partir de la identificación de un objetivo común: profundizar la investigación sobre la dinámica agua-suelo-planta para mejorar la producción y la calidad del agua de los sistemas de abastecimiento comunitarios en Centroamérica

Recent experiences in Spain

Se presenta un resumen del trabajo realizado por el grupo en materia de modelización de la calidad del aire urbano

Consenso colombiano de atención, diagnóstico y manejo de la infección por SARS-COV-2/COVID-19 en establecimientos de atención de la salud Recomendaciones basadas en consenso de expertos e informadas en la evidencia

The “Asociación Colombiana de Infectología” (ACIN) and the “Instituto de Evaluación de Nuevas Tecnologías de la Salud” (IETS) created a task force to develop recommendations for Covid 19 health care diagnosis, management and treatment informed, and based, on evidence. Theses reccomendations are addressed to the health personnel on the Colombian context of health services. © 2020 Asociacion Colombiana de Infectologia. All rights reserved

Exploring Health Science Students’ Notions on Organ Donation and Transplantation: A Multicenter Study

The knowledge acquired during university education about organ donation and transplantation (ODT) decisively influences the information future health professionals transmit. This is important in ODT where the participation of the general public is essential to obtain organs. Objective: To determine notions of Spanish medicine and nursing students on ODT and its relationship with attitude toward ODT. Methods and Design: and design. We conducted a sociologic, multicenter, and observational study. The population for our study consisted of medical and nursing students in Spanish universities. Our database was the Collaborative International Donor Project, stratified by geographic area and academic course. A validated questionnaire (PCID-DTO-RIOS) was self-administered and completed anonymously. Our sample consisted of 9598 medical and 10, 566 nursing students (99% confidence interval; precision of ±1%), stratified by geographic area and year of study. Results: The completion rate for our study was 90%. Only 20% (n=3640) of students thought their notions on ODT were good; 41% (n=7531) thought their notions were normal; 36% (n=6550) thought their notions were scarce. Comparing groups, there were differences between those who believed that their notions on ODT were good (44% nursing vs 56% medical students; P < .000), and those who believed it scarce (54% nursing vs 46% medical students; P < .000). Notions on ODT were related with attitude toward the donation of one''s own organs: those who considered their notions were good were more in favor then those who considered it scarce (88% vs 72%; P < .000). Conclusion: Only 20% of Spanish medical and nursing students thought their notions on ODT were good. Having good knowledge is related to a favorable attitude towards ODT. Receiving specific information on the subject could improve their knowledge about ODT during their training