Catechol-O-methyltransferase gene haplotypes in Mexican and Spanish patients with fibromyalgia

Autonomic dysfunction is frequent in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Heart rate variability analyses have demonstrated signs of ongoing sympathetic hyperactivity. Catecholamines are sympathetic neurotransmitters. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), an enzyme, is the major catecholamine-clearing pathway. There are several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the COMT gene associated with the different catecholamine-clearing abilities of the COMT enzyme. These SNPs are in linkage disequilibrium and segregate as 'haplotypes'. Healthy females with a particular COMT gene haplotype (ACCG) producing a defective enzyme are more sensitive to painful stimuli. The objective of our study was to define whether women with FM, from two different countries (Mexico and Spain), have the COMT gene haplotypes that have been previously associated with greater sensitivity to pain. All the individuals in the study were female. Fifty-seven Mexican patients and 78 Spanish patients were compared with their respective healthy control groups. All participants filled out the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Six COMT SNPs (rs2097903, rs6269, rs4633, rs4818, rs4680, and rs165599) were genotyped from peripheral blood DNA. In Spanish patients, there was a significant association between three SNPs (rs6269, rs4818, and rs4680) and the presence of FM when compared with healthy controls. Moreover, in Spanish patients with the 'high pain sensitivity' haplotype (ACCG), the disease, as assessed by the FIQ, was more severe. By contrast, Mexican patients displayed only a weak association between rs6269 and rs165599, and some FIQ subscales. In our group of Spanish patients, there was an association between FM and the COMT haplotype previously associated with high pain sensitivity. This association was not observed in Mexican patients. Studies with a larger sample size are needed in order to verify or amend these preliminary results

Copper-Containing Catalysts for Azide–Alkyne Cycloaddition in Supercritical CO2

Background: Chemical industry has increased the investment into and innovation capacity to supply chemicals from safe and sustainable sources, which will be essential to offering new solutions and supporting the green transition of the global economy and society. In this sense, the use of green solvents and reusable heterogeneous catalysts has emerged as a promising sustainable process strategy for engineering, chemistry and the environment. In this work, different homogeneous (copper bromide, CuBr and copper(II) acetate, Cu (CH3COO)2·H2O) and heterogeneous (Cu Wire, Cu Plate, Cu/β-SiC, pre-treated Cu Wire and pre-treated Cu Plate) copper catalysts were tested for the copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne–azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction. In addition, the influence of different reaction media was analyzed, comparing the use of an organic solvent such as toluene and a green solvent such as supercritical CO2 (scCO2). Methods: Characterization of the catalysts includes by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scan Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AA) and Temperature Programmed Reduction (TPR). Parameters such as catalyst loading, reaction time, reusability and leaching of the catalysts were studied to obtain more information on the CuAAC reaction in scCO2. Results: The pre-treated copper plate achieved a 57% increase in reaction yield compared to the non pre-treated copper plate. However, the recovery and reuse of the pre-treated copper plate showed a severe deterioration and a considerable change in its surface. Cu Wire (without pre-treatment) achieved yields of up to 94.2% after reusing it for five cycles. Conclusions: These results suggest the possibility to exploit the combination of heterogeneous catalysts and scCO2 and justify further research to highlight green solvents and simultaneously address the challenges of reaction, purification and recyclingAntecedentes: La industria química ha aumentado la inversión y la capacidad de innovación para suministrar productos químicos de fuentes seguras y sostenibles, lo que será esencial para ofrecer nuevas soluciones y apoyar la transición ecológica de la economía y la sociedad mundiales. En este sentido, el uso de disolventes verdes y catalizadores heterogéneos reutilizables ha surgido como una estrategia de proceso sostenible prometedora para la ingeniería, la química y el medio ambiente. En este trabajo, diferentes compuestos homogéneos (bromuro de cobre, CuBr y acetato de cobre(II), Cu (CH 3 COO) 2 ·H 2O) y catalizadores de cobre heterogéneos (alambre de Cu, placa de Cu, Cu/β-SiC, alambre de Cu pretratado y placa de Cu pretratado) se probaron para la reacción de cicloadición de alquino-azida catalizada por cobre (I) (CuAAC). Además, se analizó la influencia de diferentes medios de reacción, comparando el uso de un disolvente orgánico como el tolueno y un disolvente verde como el CO 2 supercrítico (scCO 2 ). Métodos: La caracterización de los catalizadores incluye difracción de rayos X (XRD), microscopía electrónica de barrido (SEM), espectrofotometría de absorción atómica (AA) y reducción de temperatura programada (TPR). Se estudiaron parámetros como carga de catalizador, tiempo de reacción, reutilización y lixiviación de los catalizadores para obtener más información sobre la reacción de CuAAC en scCO 2. Resultados: La placa de cobre pretratada logró un aumento del 57 % en el rendimiento de la reacción en comparación con la placa de cobre no pretratada. Sin embargo, la recuperación y reutilización de la placa de cobre pretratada mostró un severo deterioro y un cambio considerable en su superficie. Cu Wire (sin pretratamiento) logró rendimientos de hasta el 94,2 % después de reutilizarlo durante cinco ciclos. Conclusiones: estos resultados sugieren la posibilidad de explotar la combinación de catalizadores heterogéneos y scCO 2 y justifican más investigaciones para resaltar los disolventes verdes y abordar simultáneamente los desafíos de la reacción, la purificación y el reciclaj

Carbon dioxide sorption and melting behaviour of mPEG-alkyne

The understanding of the phase behaviour of the mixture mPEG-alkyne and supercritical CO2 (scCO2) and the study of the variation of the polymer melting point are essential prerequisites in order to determine appropriate operating conditions and develop high pressure processes that allow the obtention of a conjugate mPEG-alkyne with a drug or a protein. In this work, it was observed a progressive decrease of the melting point temperature of mPEG-alkyne induced by the adsorption of CO2. The obtained melting temperatures were correlated using a modification of the Clausius Clapeyron equation. The equilibrium sorption of CO2 into mPEG-alkyne was determined with a variable-volume view cell employing a static method. These experiments were carried out in the temperature range 308 and 318 K, and at 8–17 MPa of pressure. The prediction capabilities of the models of Henry’s Law, Dual-Mode, Sanchez Lacombe Equation of State and Heuristic Model was evaluated.La comprensión del comportamiento de fase de la mezcla mPEG-alquino y CO 2 supercrítico (scCO 2 ) y el estudio de la variación del punto de fusión del polímero son requisitos indispensables para determinar las condiciones de operación adecuadas y desarrollar procesos a alta presión que permitan la obtención de un mPEG-alquino conjugado con un fármaco o una proteína. En este trabajo se observó una disminución progresiva de la temperatura de fusión del mPEG-alquino inducida por la adsorción de CO 2 . Las temperaturas de fusión obtenidas se correlacionaron utilizando una modificación de la ecuación de Clausius Clapeyron. La sorción de equilibrio de CO 2en mPEG-alquino se determinó con una celda de vista de volumen variable empleando un método estático. Estos experimentos se llevaron a cabo en el rango de temperatura de 308 y 318 K, ya una presión de 8-17 MPa. Se evaluó la capacidad de predicción de los modelos Ley de Henry, Modo Dual, Ecuación de Estado de Sánchez Lacombe y Modelo Heurístico

Dataset of working mPEG-alkyne with scCO 2

This article contains data related to the research article entitled "Carbon dioxide sorption and melting behavior of mPEG-alkyne". The presented data gives information on the thermodynamics properties of the solvent and the polymer. The time saturation of mPEG-alkyne in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) was evaluated in a high-pressure variable volume cell in different period of time at different pressure at the same temperature. The effects of pressure and temperature on the density of CO2 when it is above supercritical conditions are determined with Sanchez Lacombe and Bender Equation and compared with the NIST database and values of equation of Bender. The characteristic parameters of CO2 were determined with the equations proposed by Chengyong Wang et al. [1] and the sum of squared error was calculated for each parameter. Furthermore in this work the solubility data of scCO2/polymer mixture were correlated with Sanchez Lacombe Equation of State (SL EOS) and Heuristic model proposed by Irene Pasquali et al. [2]. This work describes the methodology for solving the SL EOS between the polymer and scCO2 and the procedure of determining the solubility parameter with the group contribution method necessary to apply the heuristic model is described.Este artículo contiene datos relacionados con el artículo de investigación titulado "Sorción de dióxido de carbono y comportamiento de fusión de mPEG-alquino". Los datos presentados brindan información sobre las propiedades termodinámicas del solvente y el polímero. El tiempo de saturación de mPEG-alquino en dióxido de carbono supercrítico (scCO 2 ) se evaluó en una celda de volumen variable de alta presión en diferentes períodos de tiempo a diferentes presiones a la misma temperatura. Los efectos de la presión y la temperatura sobre la densidad del CO 2 cuando está por encima de las condiciones supercríticas se determinan con la ecuación de Sánchez Lacombe y Bender y se comparan con la base de datos del NIST y los valores de la ecuación de Bender. Los parámetros característicos del CO 2se determinaron con las ecuaciones propuestas por Chengyong Wang et al. [1] y se calculó la suma del error cuadrático para cada parámetro. Además, en este trabajo se correlacionaron los datos de solubilidad de la mezcla scCO 2 /polímero con la Ecuación de Estado de Sánchez Lacombe (SL EOS) y el modelo heurístico propuesto por Irene Pasquali et al. [2]. Este trabajo describe la metodología para resolver el SL EOS entre el polímero y el scCO 2 y se describe el procedimiento de determinación del parámetro de solubilidad con el método de contribución de grupo necesario para aplicar el modelo heurístico

Riesgo de hipertensión arterial en población adulta en Matamoros, Tamaulipas, México

RESUMEN Objetivo: conocer el riesgo de hipertensión en la población adulta de la ciudad de Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Método: el diseño fue de tipo descriptivo y transversal, una muestra de 1004 adultos. Se utilizó una cedula de datos sociodemográficos, donde se realizaron 3 mediciones de la presión arterial, de acuerdo a la Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM-030-SSA2-2009. Resultados: El género estuvo conformado del 38.7% de hombres y 61.3% de mujeres. Se observó una prevalencia de hipertensión arterial en 8.6% de la población. Fue mayor en el género masculino con 12.3% que el femenino de 6.3%. El grupo de 60 y más años (14.1%) presenta mayor prevalencia de hipertensión, seguido de 50 a 59 (13.8%) y finalmente el de 40 a 49 con 11.7%. El riesgo de hipertensión es de 87 (8,7%) de la muestra total; la alta presión arterial sistólica con 52 (5,1%), y alta presión arterial diastólica con 56 (5,5%) también deben ser consideradas hipertensión. Cuando se analizan en conjunto, los tres criterios de inclusión para hipertensión arterial suman el 19,4% de riesgo. Conclusión: el riesgo de hipertensión arterial en población adulta está latente, la prevalencia se ubica dentro de la más alta a nivel mundial. ABSTRACT Objective: To know the risk of hypertension in the adult population of the city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Method: The design was descriptive and transversal in a sample of 1004 adults. A sociodemographic data questionnaire was used and three blood pressure measurements were performed according to the Official Mexican Standard NOM-030-SSA2-2009. Results: The gender was made up of 38.7% of men and 61,3% of women. A prevalence of hypertension was observed in 8.6% of the population. It was greater in the masculine gender with 12.3% than the feminine one of 6.3%. The group of 60 and over (14.1%) had a higher prevalence of hypertension, followed by 50 to 59 (13.8%) and finally the group of 40 to 49 with 11.7%. The risk of hypertension is 87 (8.7%) of the total sample; high systolic blood pressure with 52 (5.1%), and high diastolic blood pressure with 56 (5.5%) should also be considered hypertension. When analyzed together, the three inclusion criteria for hypertension add up to a 19.4% risk. Conclusion: the risk of hypertension in the adult population is latent, the prevalence is among the highest in the world

Metodología “learning by doing” para el aprendizaje significativo de la seguridad química en el laboratorio

Búsqueda documental sobre seguridad e higiene con el fin de proporcionar al alumnado la información más actualizada posible que se ajuste a la normativa vigente en nuestro país. Para ello, se recurrirá a la documentación generada por el Servicio de Salud y Prevención de Riesgos Laborares de la UGR. Se recurrirá, asimismo, a las directrices de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), así como a las desarrolladas por la Unión Europea y el Estado Español sobre todo lo concerniente en materia de seguridad e higiene en situaciones sanitarias excepcionales, como el de una pandemia. Con esta documentación queremos que el alumnado obtenga los conocimientos básicos de seguridad e higiene, y sea capaz de identificar las diferentes variables de riesgo presentes en un laboratorio químico como son las relacionadas con sustancias manejadas, con las instalaciones y con la persona. Identificar peligros en el laboratorio e interpretar la documentación relacionada con el laboratorio químico como son las fichas de seguridad de sustancias químicas y los procedimientos de trabajo normalizados de los equipos e instalaciones con un foco especial en el uso de EPI’s. La información se facilitará a través del escaneo/introducción de códigos QR y códigos de barras. Así: - Códigos QR/código de barras en el laboratorio, en cada uno de los equipos, instalaciones y armarios de reactivos. - Códigos QR/código de barras en el laboratorio, en cada uno de los recipientes/contenedores de sustancias químicas. De esta manera y con esta metodología se busca que el alumnado, además de obtener una formación por parte del profesorado, consiga una formación activa en materia de seguridad e higiene en el laboratorio.Documentary search on safety and health in order to provide students with the most up-to-date information possible in accordance with current regulations in our country. For this, the documentation generated by the Health and Occupational Risk Prevention Service of the UGR will be used. Likewise, the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) will be used, as well as those developed by the European Union and the Spanish State on everything related to safety and health in exceptional health situations, such as a pandemic. With this documentation we want students to obtain basic knowledge of safety and health, and to be able to identify the different risk variables present in a chemical laboratory, such as those related to the substances handled, the facilities and the person. Identify risk in the laboratory and interpret documentation related to the chemical laboratory, such as chemical safety data sheets and standard work procedures for equipment and facilities, with a special focus on the use of PPE. Information will be provided by scanning/entering QR codes and barcodes. So: - QR codes/bar codes in the laboratory, in each of the equipment, facilities and reagent cabinets. - QR codes/barcodes in the laboratory, in each of the containers / containers of chemical substances. In this way and with this methodology, it is sought that the students, in addition to obtaining training from teachers, get active training in safety and hygiene in the laboratory.Proyectos de innovación y buenas prácticas docentes, Plan FIDO. Proyecto 21-7

Differential body composition effects of protease inhibitors recommended for initial treatment of HIV infection: A randomized clinical trial

This article has been accepted for publication in Clinical Infectious Diseases ©2014 The Authors .Published by Oxford University Press on Clinical Infectious Disease 60.5. DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciu898Background. It is unclear whether metabolic or body composition effects may differ between protease inhibitor-based regimens recommended for initial treatment of HIV infection. Methods. ATADAR is a phase IV, open-label, multicenter randomized clinical trial. Stable antiretroviral-naive HIV-infected adults were randomly assigned to atazanavir/ritonavir 300/100 mg or darunavir/ritonavir 800/100 mg in combination with tenofovir/emtricitabine daily. Pre-defined end-points were treatment or virological failure, drug discontinuation due to adverse effects, and laboratory and body composition changes at 96 weeks. Results. At 96 weeks, 56 (62%) atazanavir/ritonavir and 62 (71%) darunavir/ritonavir patients remained free of treatment failure (estimated difference 8.2%; 95%CI -0.6 to 21.6); and 71 (79%) atazanavir/ritonavir and 75 (85%) darunavir/ritonavir patients remained free of virological failure (estimated difference 6.3%; 95%CI -0.5 to 17.6). Seven vs. five patients discontinued atazanavir/ritonavir or darunavir/ritonavir due to adverse effects. Total and HDL cholesterol similarly increased in both arms, but triglycerides increased more in atazanavir/ritonavir arm. At 96 weeks, body fat (estimated difference 2862.2 gr; 95%CI 726.7 to 4997.7; P=0.0090), limb fat (estimated difference 1403.3 gr; 95%CI 388.4 to 2418.2; P=0.0071), and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (estimated difference 28.4 cm2; 95%CI 1.9 to 55.0; P=0.0362) increased more in atazanavir/ritonavir than in darunavir/ritonavir arm. Body fat changes in atazanavir/ritonavir arm were associated with higher insulin resistance. Conclusions. We found no major differences between atazanavir/ritonavir and darunavir/ritonavir in efficacy, clinically-relevant side effects, or plasma cholesterol fractions. However, atazanavir/ritonavir led to higher triglycerides and total and subcutaneous fat than darunavir/ritonavir and fat gains with atazanavir/ritonavir were associated with insulin resistanceThis is an Investigator Sponsored Research study. It was supported in part by research grants from Bristol‐Myers Squibb and Janssen‐Cilag; Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI12/01217) and Red Temática Cooperativa de Investigación en SIDA G03/173 (RIS‐EST11), Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain. (Registration number: NCT01274780; registry name: ATADAR; EUDRACT; 2010‐021002‐38)

Anti-Spike antibodies 3 months after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine booster dose in patients on hemodialysis: the prospective SENCOVAC study

Background: Patients on hemodialysis are at high-risk for complications derived from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The present analysis evaluated the impact of a booster vaccine dose and breakthrough severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections on humoral immunity 3 months after the booster dose. Methods: This is a multicentric and prospective study assessing immunoglobulin G anti-Spike antibodies 6 and 9 months after initial SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients on hemodialysis that had also received a booster dose before the 6-month assessment (early booster) or between the 6- and 9-month assessments (late booster). The impact of breakthrough infections, type of vaccine, time from the booster and clinical variables were assessed. Results: A total of 711 patients [67% male, median age (range) 67 (20-89) years] were included. Of these, 545 (77%) received an early booster and the rest a late booster. At 6 months, 64 (9%) patients had negative anti-Spike antibody titers (3% of early booster and 29% of late booster patients, P =. 001). At 9 months, 91% of patients with 6-month negative response had seroconverted and there were no differences in residual prevalence of negative humoral response between early and late booster patients (0.9% vs 0.6%, P =. 693). During follow-up, 35 patients (5%) developed breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antibody titers at 9 months were independently associated with mRNA-1273 booster (P =. 001), lower time from booster (P =. 043) and past breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection (P <. 001). Conclusions: In hemodialysis patients, higher titers of anti-Spike antibodies at 9 months were associated with mRNA-1273 booster, lower time from booster and past breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infectionThe present project has been supported by Fresenius Medical Care, Diaverum, Vifor Pharma, Vircell, Fundación Renal Iñigo Álvarez de Toledo and ISCIII FEDER funds RICORS2040 (RD21/0005